Although Yang Lie didn't fully understand what was happening, he chose not to question it. Following Yu Xiaogang's instructions, he walked over to a furnace-like device specially prepared for the process.
He carefully placed the piece of Crimson Blood Amber into the furnace before circulating his spirit power and activating his Martial Soul Possession.
A crimson fan engulfed in blazing flames instantly appeared in his hand.
This was Yang Lie's Martial Spirit—the Crimson Fire Fan. Every swing of the fan released powerful flames capable of melting even the toughest materials.
As the Martial Spirit manifested, six spirit rings appeared around him. His First Soul Ring immediately lit up, and with a single wave of the fan, a torrent of crimson flames surged into the furnace like a raging sea.
Suspended in midair by the mechanism inside the furnace, the Crimson Blood Amber was gradually heated by the intense fire. Its surface glowed bright red before slowly beginning to soften.
Seeing this, Yang Lie activated his Second Soul Skill without hesitation, increasing the intensity of the flames even further.
Under the relentless heat, the Crimson Blood Amber continued to melt until it finally transformed into wisps of fragrant smoke. Guided by a specially designed passage inside the furnace, the smoke flowed directly into the secret cultivation chamber.
Inside the chamber, Yu Xiaogang had already prepared himself.
As the smoke drifted toward him, he calmly circulated his spirit power and began absorbing it.
To his surprise, the smoke carried no choking or burnt smell. Instead, it released a refreshing fragrance filled with the scent of ancient trees and blooming plants.
The aroma spread throughout his body, bringing an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort.
Even more astonishing was the temperature. Although the smoke had been produced through intense flames, it wasn't hot at all. Instead, it felt cool and refreshing as it entered his body.
Yu Xiaogang didn't allow himself to be distracted for long.
He quickly focused his mind and began refining the medicinal essence contained within the Crimson Blood Amber.
As the immense medicinal power flowed through his meridians, it steadily transformed into his own strength.
Almost immediately, Yu Xiaogang sensed dramatic changes throughout his body.
His spirit power increased.
His physical strength improved.
Even his mental power became noticeably stronger.
The more he refined the medicinal energy, the more amazed he became by the extraordinary effects of the Crimson Blood Amber.
Its medicinal power far exceeded his expectations.
Feeling his strength rise at an incredible speed, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but wonder just how powerful he would become after completely refining the herb.
---
Outside the chamber, Yang Lie finally finished burning the first piece of Crimson Blood Amber.
More than half of his spirit power had been exhausted.
He let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I never imagined such a tiny piece of amber would be so difficult to burn," he muttered in disbelief. "What kind of treasure is this?"
As a Fire-attribute Spirit Emperor, Yang Lie possessed tremendous control over flames.
With the amount of fire he had just produced, he could have easily set an entire city ablaze.
Yet burning a single piece of Crimson Blood Amber had nearly drained him.
Its toughness was simply unbelievable.
Yu Yuanzhen stepped forward with a satisfied smile and patted him on the shoulder.
"You've worked hard. Take a short rest. After Xiaogang finishes refining this piece, you'll burn the second one."
The simple praise instantly erased Yang Lie's exhaustion.
The Sect Master... praised me personally!
His heart pounded with excitement.
Does this mean I've finally caught the Sect Master's attention?
Thinking about his future within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yang Lie felt his fatigue disappear completely.
"Sect Master, don't worry!" he declared enthusiastically. "I'm not tired at all! I'll definitely finish burning the second piece as well!"
Yu Yuanzhen nodded with satisfaction.
"If only those stubborn elders in the sect were this easy to motivate," he thought with a helpless sigh.
Afterward, everyone quietly waited outside the cultivation chamber.
Hours slowly passed.
Several times, they considered entering to check on Yu Xiaogang's condition.
However, fearing they might interrupt his cultivation, they restrained themselves.
Half a day passed before the tightly sealed chamber door finally opened with a soft creak.
Yu Xiaogang slowly walked out.
His expression was strangely blank, as though he still couldn't believe what had happened.
Seeing this, Yu Yuanzhen's heart skipped a beat.
"Xiaogang! What happened? Are you alright?"
Yu Xiaogang snapped back to reality after hearing his father's voice.
He looked at everyone before speaking in a dazed tone.
"Father... I've reached Rank 40."
Silence.
Yu Yuanzhen stared at him.
"...What did you say?"
"Rank 40."
Yu Xiaogang repeated the words slowly.
After refining only part of the Crimson Blood Amber's medicinal power, his spirit power had already broken through to Rank 40.
At first, even he couldn't believe it.
He had checked his cultivation level over a dozen times before finally accepting the truth.
Yu Yuanzhen rubbed his forehead in disbelief.
"Wait... what Rank were you before entering the chamber?"
Before Yu Xiaogang could answer, the Grand Elder spoke first.
"He was Rank 35."
His memory was crystal clear.
Yu Xiaogang had definitely entered the chamber as a Rank 35 Spirit Elder.
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes widened.
"So... one piece of Crimson Blood Amber increased your cultivation by five full Ranks?"
Even someone as experienced as Yu Yuanzhen found the result unbelievable.
Five Ranks.
In only half a day.
The improvement exceeded even the gains he had received from absorbing his eighty-thousand-year torso Spirit Bone and thirty-thousand-year skull Spirit Bone.
Of course, Yu Yuanzhen was already a Titled Douluo, so every Rank required an enormous amount of spirit power.
Still, the comparison remained astonishing.
After taking a deep breath, he slowly calmed himself.
"I honestly thought you'd gain one or two Ranks at most."
Both he and the Grand Elder had previously consumed immortal-grade herbs.
Yu Yuanzhen had advanced from Rank 96 to Rank 97.
The Grand Elder had progressed from Rank 88 to Rank 90, though his breakthrough was partly because he had already reached the peak of Rank 88 and only lacked the final opportunity.
In reality, both of them had effectively gained only one major Rank through their immortal herbs.
That experience had led Yu Yuanzhen to believe that the greatest value of immortal-grade herbs lay in enhancing talent, evolving Martial Spirits, and increasing future potential rather than dramatically raising cultivation.
Yet Yu Xiaogang had gained five entire Ranks.
Even more importantly, the increase in spirit power was merely a secondary effect.
The Crimson Blood Amber's greatest value still lay in improving talent, strengthening the Martial Spirit, and raising one's cultivation potential.
For any Spirit Master, advancing five Ranks represented years of saved cultivation.
Yu Xiaogang was still in the prime years of cultivation, making those five Ranks even more valuable.
In terms of long-term benefits, this breakthrough was no less significant than obtaining a ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone.
As the realization finally settled over everyone present, they looked at Yu Xiaogang with expressions of shock, admiration, and excitement.
The Crimson Blood Amber had exceeded every expectation.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)