Chapter 207: Xiao Li Takes the Thunder
Faced with the terrifying lightning of the Dan Thunder, Xiao Yan decided not to let the pill endure it alone.
While the energy within the fire pillar was immense, it was insufficient to fully withstand the lightning of a high tier seventh grade pill. After all, the power of such a Dan Thunder was equivalent to the full force strike of a Seven or Eight Star Dou Zong.
Fortunately, Xiao Yan's strength had now reached a frightening level.
With a single step, he appeared above the Yin Yang Marrow Cleansing Pill. Gazing at the lightning that caused even the strongest in Jia Ma Empire to pale, his eyes remained calm. Behind his black robe, faint glowing lines appeared as five fiery tattoos lit up in succession.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan clenched his fist and launched it toward the descending lightning bolt!
Shock and Awe
"He's... He's going to punch the Dan Thunder?!"
The gathered experts were stunned, their eyes wide in disbelief.
Many Dou Huangs and Dou Zongs involuntarily gasped. Fighters below Dou Huang couldn't sense the true power of the lightning, but those stronger could clearly feel its destructive might.
Among those present, only Xiao Li and Venerable Fu Ding seemed capable of enduring such a blow unscathed. Even Yun Shan, as a Dou Zong, would likely face certain death if struck directly by the thunder.
However, when Xiao Yan's fist collided with the bolt, there was no earth shattering explosion. Instead, a deathly silence filled the air. Moments later, a terrifying ripple spread outward.
The once blinding lightning disintegrated into countless fragments of silver light.
"Crack!" The space around the collision began to spiderweb with cracks before shattering into countless fragments, revealing a massive void nearly ten meters wide where Xiao Yan stood.
A Display of Strength
Gasps echoed across the crowd as countless people stared, dumbfounded.
A lightning bolt powerful enough to rival an Eight Star Dou Zong's strike had been shattered with a single punch.
"Terrifying..."
"Too terrifying..."
Xiao Yan's display left the audience in awe.
Xiao Li's Complicated Feelings
Xiao Li looked at his younger brother, standing proudly in the air, and found himself at a loss.
He had thought Xiao Yan's leap to Five Star Dou Zong was already beyond extraordinary. Now, he realized his brother's physical strength had reached even more terrifying heights.
If Xiao Li were to fight Xiao Yan now, the outcome was uncertain. Despite his Eight Star Dou Zong level and the elite techniques, secret arts, and clan markings of the Xiao family, he couldn't guarantee a win.
One year ago, Xiao Yan still relied on him for protection. Now, Xiao Yan's strength far exceeded the need for any guardianship.
These thoughts left Xiao Li feeling both proud and somewhat conflicted.
Cloud Mist Sect's Awe
Elsewhere, Yun Shan stared in disbelief, his old eyes wide.
"If Xiao Yan had attacked Cloud Mist Sect like this a few months ago, I wouldn't have stood a chance," Yun Shan muttered, shaking his head.
What kind of monster had they provoked?
After his shock subsided, Yun Shan's expression shifted to one of joy.
Xiao Yan's rise was a great boon for Yun Shan, whose granddaughter Yun Yun and disciple Nalan Yanran were part of Xiao Yan's inner circle. A stronger Xiao Yan meant greater benefits for his sect.
"When Yun Yun returned and confessed her relationship with Xiao Yan, I almost cried with joy," Yun Shan thought. It felt like being a small town mayor whose daughter had married into the royal family.
The Pill's Completion
As the shattered space slowly healed, Xiao Yan descended gracefully, now holding the finished pill a black and white Yin Yang Marrow Cleansing Pill.
Thanks to the Yin Yang Sacred Flame, the pill had absorbed an extra boost, resulting in exceptionally high quality for his first attempt.
Carefully placing the pill into a jade bottle, Xiao Yan didn't stop there. Instead, he sat cross legged, beginning to recover his energy.
In the distance, Ya Fei's eyes glistened with emotion. She understood that Xiao Yan had crafted this pill specifically for her. A gift of this caliber was beyond anything she could have dreamed of.
In the past, she would never have imagined anyone going to such lengths for her, let alone making a pill valuable enough to spark wars among empires.
Next Step: Yin Yang Life Soul Pill
Despite the success of the Yin Yang Marrow Cleansing Pill, Xiao Yan's ambitions extended further.
His true goal was to refine the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill, a pinnacle grade seventh tier pill.
Unlike the Marrow Cleansing Pill, the Life Soul Pill was capable of reviving the dead its formula rivaling the complexity of Yao Lao's Yin Yang Mystic Dragon Pill.
While the Mystic Dragon Pill helped the dying reach new heights, the Life Soul Pill could drag a soul back from the brink of eternal damnation.
This was the pill required to resurrect Yun Po Tian.
The Start of a Challenge
After an hour of rest, Xiao Yan's eyes opened, brimming with determination. Ensuring his condition was perfect, he exhaled deeply and reignited the cauldron with seven colored flames.
The first ingredient to emerge from his storage was a plant with unnerving features a brightly colored flower with a face like bloom complete with eyes, nose, and mouth.
This was the Ghost Face Flower, one of the core ingredients for the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill.
This plant could only grow under unique circumstances, sprouting from the remains of powerful beings in a region filled with Nine Nether Qi.
Each Ghost Face Flower symbolized the complete erasure of a soul from the world, granting it the power to manipulate life and death. Its value was astronomical, rivaling even that of a Breaking Sect Pill.
"Let's begin," Xiao Yan murmured.
The crowd held their breath as Xiao Yan prepared to tackle the most challenging pill of his life.
As the Ghost Face Flower dropped into the cauldron, an eerie, piercing scream echoed out, resembling the cry of an infant. The sound seeped through the cauldron, reaching the spectators outside.
While Xiao Yan remained unaffected, many of the weaker onlookers turned pale. It was as if the sound had dragged them into a nightmarish illusion, leaving their expressions filled with terror.
"Whatever your tricks, you'll submit to me!"
Xiao Yan snorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, the flames within the cauldron surged, engulfing the Ghost Face Flower entirely. The terrifying cries were quickly muffled by Xiao Yan's overwhelming soul power.
As the flames burned hotter, the dark mist emanating from the Ghost Face Flower began to dissipate. Without its protective shroud, the flower withered rapidly. The once eerie human face etched on its petals drooped before finally bursting apart, transforming into a pile of jet black powder.
Seeing the black powder, Xiao Yan waved his hand, summoning a miniature seven colored fire lotus that wrapped around the powder to preserve and refine its essence.
Main Ingredients Added
After extracting the Ghost Face Flower's essence, Xiao Yan wasted no time. He began adding the primary ingredients for the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill, including the Soul Reviving Demon Fruit and the Life Death Grass.
Each ingredient was meticulously refined. Knowing their rarity and value, Xiao Yan exercised the utmost care waste was not an option, even for the well resourced Xiao Clan.
As the hours stretched on, day turned into night. Once again, the Refining Square was bathed in the radiant glow of seven colored flames.
A Test of Endurance
Three days and nights passed. Many of the weaker cultivators struggled to remain awake. The sheer duration of the process was taxing, but they refused to leave, knowing this event was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The exhausted yet determined crowd remained fixated on the young figure at the center of the square.
For the alchemists among them, the experience was nothing short of exhilarating. Despite their weariness, their eyes gleamed with excitement. For some, this event could serve as the catalyst for a breakthrough in their craft.
Even those who didn't advance would leave with newfound knowledge and a story worth bragging about for years to come.
Pill Refining Continues
The Yin Yang Life Soul Pill, classified as a peak tier seventh grade pill, required an extraordinary level of precision. Even with Xiao Yan's powerful Heavenly Flame a fusion rivaling the top ten on the Heavenly Flame Rankings the process extended over five days and nights.
Throughout this time, many spectators resorted to meditating to maintain their focus. Others, particularly lower ranked alchemists, popped energizing pills to fight off their drowsiness and maintain their concentration on the glowing cauldron at the center.
For five days and nights, the Refining Square shone with dazzling seven colored light. Finally, on the fifth night, the seven colored flames began to retract, signaling the nearing completion of the process.
As the flames gradually closed in, forming a radiant seven colored flower bud, the crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch.
The Arrival of Dan Thunder
As the pill reached its final stages, the sky above Jia Ma Empire darkened once more. Compared to the earlier Dan Thunder for the Yin Yang Marrow Cleansing Pill, this one seemed far more menacing.
While some attributed the ominous atmosphere to the nighttime setting, Xiao Yan knew the truth.
This Dan Thunder was indeed significantly stronger, befitting a peak tier seventh grade pill. The energy within it rivaled the full force strike of a Dou Zong at their peak.
For Xiao Yan, even with his current strength, defending against this thunder without revealing his trump cards would be no easy feat.
Just as Xiao Yan prepared to face the thunder, a figure suddenly appeared above the cauldron.
Xiao Li Steps In
"Little Yan, leave this Dan Thunder to me!" Xiao Li's voice rang out confidently.
"Second Brother, are you sure you can handle this level of thunder?" Xiao Yan teased with a smile, though his tone carried a hint of genuine concern.
"Heh, did you forget? Your second brother specializes in lightning based Dou Qi." Xiao Li turned to grin at Xiao Yan. "For most people, this Dan Thunder is dangerous, but for me, it's a feast!"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan hesitated briefly before nodding. "In that case, I'll leave it to you, Second Brother."
With a shift in his hand seals, Xiao Yan controlled the seven colored flames to release the pill's energy fully. The radiant flower bud slowly unfurled, releasing a heavenly aroma that swept across the square.
The scent jolted even the most exhausted alchemists awake, their bloodshot eyes now filled with unrestrained fervor.
Another seventh grade pill was about to be born!
The Clash with Dan Thunder
As the flower bud bloomed, the oppressive black clouds overhead churned violently. A moment later, a massive bolt of lightning descended. Compared to the earlier Dan Thunder, this one illuminated the entire capital in a blinding flash of silver light.
"Perfect!" Xiao Li roared with excitement, his eyes burning with battle lust.
Gripping a silver spear that materialized in his hands, Xiao Li's aura erupted. Terrifying lightning based Dou Qi surged from his body, coalescing into a colossal silver spear nearly a hundred meters long.
"Let's see whose lightning is stronger!" Xiao Li bellowed, hurling the spear toward the descending thunderbolt.
The collision between the hundred meter long spear and the silver thunderbolt unleashed a blinding white light and a deafening boom that echoed across the empire.
For a moment, the entire Jia Ma Empire was bathed in dazzling silver light, brighter than daylight.
Victory Amidst the Aftermath
The blinding light faded as quickly as it appeared, revealing Xiao Li still standing tall in the sky. His clothes were tattered, his hair disheveled, and faint sparks of electricity crackled across his body.
Despite his bedraggled appearance, his grin was triumphant.
Many onlookers stared at him in awe.
"Who is this man? To withstand such power… And he's Xiao Yan's brother? What kind of monstrous family is this?"
Brotherly Banter
"Second Brother, you look a little worse for wear," Xiao Yan remarked with a playful smirk.
"You just don't get it," Xiao Li replied, laughing. He raised his spear, now glowing brighter than before.
Xiao Yan quickly realized what had happened. Xiao Li hadn't just withstood the Dan Thunder he had used it to temper his weapon and refine his strength. His aura had grown even stronger.
Shaking his head with a smile, Xiao Yan reached out. With a pull of his palm, a pill with swirling black and red patterns emerged from the cauldron, floating gently into his hand.
The Yin Yang Life Soul Pill was finally complete.