Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi exchanged a glance and smiled. Both could see the delight shining in each other's eyes. The one who had successfully summoned the two-colored Pill Lightning was none other than Dan Chen, a direct descendant of the Pill Tower's Dan Family.
Moreover, she was still so young. If her growth continued at this pace, she would likely surpass even them one day—and when that day came, the Pill Tower would undoubtedly reach new heights of glory.
Leaning slightly forward, Xuan Kongzi's gaze settled upon Dan Chen, his tone filled with open admiration.
"Dan Chen possesses remarkable potential. She must be nurtured carefully from now on. However, her physique remains rather frail—it may hinder her future breakthroughs. We must find a way to strengthen it."
Tian Leizi's dark face broke into a rare smile. Seeing such promise from the younger generation always brought joy to the heart.
"Indeed. She's already stronger than we were at her age. With proper guidance, she has the makings of a true powerhouse."
Ever since she'd seen the Bone Chilling Flame earlier, Xuan Yi's focus had been entirely fixed on the cold-faced young man, Xiao Yan in Disguise. Now, hearing Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi's conversation, she finally returned to her senses.
"You're both right," she said with a faint, charming smile. "Dan Chen does have the qualifications. If she's willing, I wouldn't mind taking her as a disciple myself."
Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi exchanged helpless looks. They could both tell her words were more polite than sincere. When one encountered such a prodigy, it hardly mattered whether the person agreed—first, you tried to teach them. If fate allowed, you passed on everything; if not, even a few words of guidance were worthwhile.
With Dan Chen's success in summoning the two-colored Pill Lightning, the entire competition shifted dramatically. The gap was now absolute—no matter how extraordinary the 7th Tier High-Grade or Peak-Level Pills were, none could compare to an 8th Tier Pill.
8th Tier Pills belonged to another realm entirely. Pills below that tier possessed only traces of spirituality, but once they reached the 8th Tier—they gained true sentience.
To call them living beings was no exaggeration. Such pills were kings among kings.
Even Song Qing, Xiao Yan, and the other Alchemists—no matter their unwillingness—knew that from this point onward, the championship had slipped beyond their reach.
Song Qing's face darkened. He could hardly believe that the gentle, timid girl who blushed at every word had actually crossed that final threshold before him.
Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, shaking off the numbness from the thunder strikes he'd endured. Watching Dan Chen's pale but joyful face, a bitter smile touched his lips.
He felt a heavy sense of powerlessness. Even after obtaining a mysterious fragment of black iron and using the incomplete incantation carved upon it, he had barely brushed against that elusive boundary. Now this younger girl had already stepped firmly across it—and as for Liu Xi… every encounter with him had ended in costly defeat.
And now Liu Xi stood as a Mid Level 8th Tier Alchemist, renowned across the Central Plains.
Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly, the frustration burning in his chest turning into steely resolve. 'I can't give up. I still have my teacher to save, my father to rescue, my clan to avenge… and Xun'er…'
His determination reignited like flame.
By the time the two-colored Pill Lightning appeared, the entire square was already in an uproar. Cheers and shouts thundered toward the heavens, echoing across the city.
Many had seen 7th Tier Pill Lightning before, but an 8th Tier Pill? Only a handful in the entire continent could claim such a sight. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.
Even Dan Chen herself, despite her pale complexion, could not suppress the smile of satisfaction on her lips. For someone of her fragile body to succeed in refining an 8th Tier Pill was a miracle worth celebrating.
Just then, a melodious laugh drifted through the air.
"Hehe… Dan Chen, little sister, you've made great progress these years. But this time, elder sister will be the one to take the lead again…"
Dan Chen turned toward the voice to see Cao Ying slowly rising to her feet. Her alluring face was pale but calm, her beauty carrying that dangerous, seductive edge unique to her. Compared to herself, Cao Ying's condition was clearly far better.
Alchemy had always been Cao Ying's pride—and the reason behind her nickname, "Enchantress." Before Liu Xi appeared, she had never once believed she could lose to anyone.
Today, no matter how brightly Liu Xi's light shone, she would prove to the world that the name Cao Ying was just as dazzling.
A confident smile curved her lips, proud and radiant like a phoenix spreading its wings. Her slender jade hands formed a seal, and she shouted softly, "Rise!"
As her voice fell, a blinding pillar of light shot from her cauldron straight into the sky.
The light tore through the clouds, and in the heavens above, dark mist rapidly condensed. Under countless stunned gazes, two colors emerged—then a third.
Crimson lightning surged among the clouds. Though faint, it was unmistakably the third color of Pill Lightning.
The crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch. Hearts pounded wildly as people's eyes went red with fervor.
Three-colored Pill Lightning—something beyond imagination. If two colors symbolized an 8th Tier Pill, then three colors meant perfection within that rank—unprecedented!
Cheers erupted once again.
"Three-colored lightning! Incredible! If two colors were already rare, then what about four? Could there be a four-colored Pill Lightning next?!"
Xuan Kongzi stroked his beard, smiling in satisfaction as he looked upon his proudest disciple. Cao Ying, radiant and poised, stood like a phoenix among mortals.
Song Qing's expression turned ashen. The sight of Cao Ying's three-colored Pill Lightning crushed the last remnants of his pride. All his years of arrogance—reduced to nothing.
'So the fool… was me after all.'
On another platform, a gray-haired old man stood slowly after Cao Ying's display. His calm, aged face bore a wry smile.
"This generation of Pill Tower's youths… every single one is a monster."
As his words faded, he waved his sleeve, and the lid of his cauldron flew open. A brilliant light surged skyward, shaking the heavens with its intensity.
The pressure spreading from his cauldron was terrifying—far greater than even Cao Ying's.
At the end of that beam, clouds formed rapidly once more—azure, silver, and red. Another three-colored Pill Lightning appeared, its radiance more complete, more stable than Cao Ying's.
Cao Ying frowned slightly at the sight, her brief lead instantly erased. But she quickly relaxed again. This elder was far older than she—his superior refinement skill was no shame to lose against.
As long as she kept advancing, surpassing him would be only a matter of time. Her true rival… was someone else entirely.
Her gaze turned toward Liu Xi, eyes burning with determination.
"It's you, Master Liu. Let's see just how high your limits truly are. After all… you're the one I aim to surpass."
Xuan Kongzi blinked in surprise, then sighed with a helpless smile. "So even that old monster Qing Hua showed up. Hiding his identity to compete at his age—shameless."
Xuan Yi chuckled softly, her charming eyes glancing toward Xiao Yan with curiosity. "In the past, he and Yao Chen spent years in the far north, all for the Bone Chilling Flame. Now that the Bone Chilling Flame has reappeared… I wonder what he's feeling right now."
(End of Chapter)
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