Some were elated beyond measure, while others hung their heads in defeat—not every Alchemist could successfully refine a pill and withstand the Pill Lightning that followed.
An old man with snow-white hair stood trembling, his robes tattered and burnt through, yet his laughter rang loud and unrestrained. He had succeeded in resisting Pill Lightning and refined a Mid Level 7th Tier Pill—an achievement that would earn him the position of Senior Deacon or even Guest Elder within the Pill Tower.
Outside the Tower, such a pill would grant him prestige among the continent's first-rate powers such as the Three Valleys or Four Pavilions; wherever he went, he would be welcomed with respect and flourish effortlessly.
Nearby, a middle-aged Alchemist stood in stunned despair, his cauldron belching thick black smoke. His furnace had exploded—either from recklessly attempting a pill beyond his ability or making a critical mistake mid-process. Whatever the cause, his attempt had failed, leaving not even a trace of a pill behind.
Among the hundreds still present, such cases were not rare. Yet one thing was certain—the champion's name would not be among theirs.
Only forty-nine Alchemists still remained at their cauldrons; from them, the final victor would emerge.
All noise faded into insignificance around Liu Xi. His consciousness was fully immersed within the cauldron, nurturing the pill embryo with Spiritual Power, infusing it with vitality.
The terrifying energy fluctuations within were veiled beneath dense layers of Spiritual Power, concealing the true grade of the pill being nurtured inside the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron.
This step was painstaking and intricate—but it was also the one that determined the final quality of the pill.
Another seven days passed.
High above the azure sky, storm clouds suddenly rolled in, thunder rumbling as the power of heaven and earth gathered in waves.
"Look—Song Qing! What a formation! That's the aura of a Peak Level 7th Tier Pill!"
"No—it's even greater than that! Stronger than any 7th Tier pill so far. Its quality might be higher!"
As Song Qing roared and struck his cauldron, a radiant pillar of light burst skyward, piercing the clouds. Within that beam, a perfectly round pill shimmered faintly like a pearl, and the heavens answered with roaring thunder intent on its destruction.
Yet Song Qing's expression remained unchanged. His eyes were shadowed with gloom and frustration.
He had aimed for an 8th Tier Pill, but the invisible wall before that threshold held firm—a vast chasm that refused to yield no matter how he tried to cross.
Even among the Pill Tower's senior Elders, few could achieve what he had. His talent was undeniable.
But when Song Qing turned his gaze outward, he saw that Liu Xi, Cao Ying, and Dan Chen hadn't spared him a glance—they were wholly absorbed in their own refinement.
A dark haze clouded his face. He had hoped to surpass Liu Xi, to make Cao Ying turn her gaze back toward him. Now, unless Liu Xi, Cao Ying, and Dan Chen all failed simultaneously, victory was impossible.
An absurd fantasy.
The clouds grew darker. Lightning flashed and thunder roared.
Bolts of thunder fell one after another as Song Qing mobilized his Dou Qi, enduring each strike head-on. He couldn't allow the Pill Lightning to destroy his pill.
'I still have a chance. As long as I enter the top ten, I'll earn the right to attempt subduing the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Once I tame it, I can become an 8th Tier Alchemist. Liu Xi only stands so tall because of his Green Lotus Core Flame. If I get the Three Thousand Burning Flame—stronger by far than his—I'll surpass him soon enough!'
He clung to that delusion like a drowning man grasping at his final straw, never once questioning why a Heavenly Flame of that caliber would allow itself to be subdued by him.
Meanwhile, more than ten other Alchemists were reaching their final stages. Their cauldrons trembled violently, surging with power on the verge of eruption.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, eleven dazzling beams of light erupted into the heavens. The sky filled with churning clouds that pressed down like a living storm, dark and heavy enough to blot out the sun.
"Another wave of high-grade 7th Tier Pills! And one of them rivals Song Qing's strength—he's even using a Heavenly Flame! Who is that? I've never heard of him before!"
The cold-faced young man—none other than Xiao Yan in disguise—looked pale beneath the storm's reflection. Raising his eyes toward the rolling thunderclouds, his clenched fists trembled, his eyes flickering with unwillingness that soon melted into quiet bitterness.
'Teacher… I failed to protect your honor. But if I can make it into the top ten, I'll earn a chance to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame. I must succeed.'
'After Xun'er returned to her clan, she used the excuse of the Hall of Souls' ambush to persuade her family to destroy several of their branches—but they found no trace of you. Still, I know you're alive. You and Father… I'll save you both.'
He touched the fiery imprint on his forehead—the mark that allowed him to control the Bone Chilling Flame, and through it, faintly sense Yao Chen's life or death.
In mere moments, more than a dozen high-grade 7th Tier Pills had emerged. Twelve pillars of Pill Lightning now split the heavens, a spectacle so grand that the crowd roared with awe. The cheers shook the world like crashing waves.
Song Qing's face darkened further. Failing to outshine Liu Xi, Cao Ying, or Dan Chen was already humiliating—now some nameless newcomer had matched his results. He glared at the disguised Xiao Yan with growing disgust, every glance fueling his irritation.
Thunder rolled endlessly. Blinding bolts of lightning tore across the sky, striking down upon the stone platforms below. The air vibrated with deafening intensity.
Amidst the chaos, Liu Xi, Cao Ying, and Mu Gu paid no heed to the thunder. Their minds remained firmly fixed upon their own cauldrons.
On another platform, Dan Chen sat cross-legged. Her delicate face was pale, her frail body trembling. Only her strong Spiritual Power allowed her to hold out this long—but she had reached her limit.
Her eyes remained locked on her cauldron, hands forming seal after seal as her Spiritual Power poured into it. Finally, her movements froze; her cheeks flushed crimson, and she spat a mouthful of blood—sending it directly into the cauldron.
Bang!
In that instant, a blinding light exploded outward, as though a miniature sun had ignited within the cauldron. The overwhelming energy burst free, shattering the high-grade cauldron into countless fragments.
From within the debris, a radiant green beam surged skyward. The oppressive storm clouds above recoiled as if in fear, scattering in all directions.
Under countless stunned gazes, the beam pierced the heavens. At its end, clouds condensed rapidly, forming a colossal thundercloud nearly a hundred meters wide.
But this time—the thundercloud gleamed with two distinct colors: azure and silver.
"Two-colored lightning! An… 8th Tier Pill—she's refined an 8th Tier Pill! Another 8th Tier Alchemist has appeared!"
As those words rang out, the entire plaza erupted into an uproar. The crowd's excitement boiled over—thousands roared in awe, their cheers shaking the very skies.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.