"Teacher, what pill is Brother Xiao Ting refining?"
Neither Elder Huo nor anyone else knew. Xiao Yan didn't know either, but he could ask Yao Chen.
"I don't know," Yao Chen replied, surprising Xiao Yan.
"You don't know?"
"Well, for now it's not that hard to guess."
"How is that possible? You taught Brother Xiao Ting pill refining, and he can only make 4th-rank pills. All the formulas came from you. Why don't you know?"
"The first half is correct, but the prescription may not have come from me alone."
"So…" Xiao Yan glanced at Xun Er, who stood a short distance away.
"The pill Xiao Ting was currently refining was based on a special 4th-rank formula Xun Er had passed on to him."
"This is just my guess—one possibility," Yao Lao's voice sounded again.
"Judging from his technique, he seems to be improving the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, but he added Entangling Vine Flower. Its medicinal effect should have enhanced the pill, yet it antagonizes another herb, weakening the overall efficacy instead."
As an 8th-rank alchemist, even without seeing the exact formula, Yao Chen could deduce the general situation from experience and knowledge of heaven-and-earth spiritual medicines.
"What is the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"It's a top-grade 4th-rank pill," Yao Lao answered. "It directly increases a person's strength. The effect applies only to Dou Master and raises training level by one star. Most importantly, there is almost no resistance—you can take two consecutively and still benefit."
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. "So when I reach Dou Master, I can refine two Purple Heart Breakthrough Pills and steadily increase my strength by two stars each time?"
"That's the idea." Yao Chen chuckled, watching Xiao Ting refine with interest.
Thirty minutes flew by. Waves of condensed energy radiated from the pills inside the cauldron.
Xiao Ting used soul power to control the cauldron, gathering the power of all herbs in a special way and condensing them into three lumps.
Yes—Xiao Ting was simultaneously refining three 4th-rank pills. Only his powerful soul force and the soul-weapon cauldron made this possible.
Under his control, Purple Beast Flame flew into the cauldron. Not even the medicinal fragrance leaked out; the efficacy of all three pills was perfectly sealed.
"The time has come!"
Xiao Ting narrowed his eyes and lightly waved his wrist. He took out a ceramic bottle, dripped three drops of accompanying amethyst source liquid, and added it to the cauldron with soul power.
Adding new materials near the end of the process was incomprehensible to most alchemists.
But Yao Chen finally understood and secretly asked, "Adding companion amethyst source? The alchemist who created this formula must be a genius. It neutralizes the resistance of two heaven-and-earth spiritual medicines and makes the energy richer."
"This pill is still 4th rank. Refining difficulty is similar to Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill, but its effect and range are wider."
"It can be taken at Dou Master stage—increases training level by about three stars. Only one pill may be taken."
"If taken by a Dou Master, training level rises by one star, but resistance increases—up to three pills may be taken."
Xiao Yan's mind was filled with only one thought. "Teacher, this is harder to refine than Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill, right?"
"Hmm." Yao Lao understood Xiao Yan's intention. "His growth speed as an alchemist is the fastest I've ever seen. But with soul power already at the peak of the mortal realm at such a young age, it's only natural."
He sighed in admiration.
Once the soul reaches the spirit realm, it basically possesses photographic memory. For the current Xiao Ting, even learning 9th-rank pill formulas would be extremely easy.
But knowledge is only knowledge—practice still requires practice, and excellent spiritual medicines require proper formulas.
The higher the grade of heavenly medicine, the harder it is to refine, and the methods differ.
The techniques of refining and fusing various spiritual medicines, and the precise timing of adding them—all of these contributed to Xiao Ting's high soul realm and rapid early growth. Of course, in the later stages he would grow even faster than other alchemists. That was the extraordinary talent of a true genius.
"Done!"
Xiao Ting waved his hand. Three pills flew out of the cauldron.
Purple Beast Flame vanished. With a surge of energy, the rich medicinal fragrance instantly spread through the air.
"This is the energy fluctuation of a top-grade 4th-rank pill!" Elder Huo yanked out his beard, lips trembling, and shouted in disbelief. "He's closer to a 5th-rank alchemist than I am!"
Top-grade 4th-rank spiritual pills were extremely rare, with very few practice opportunities.
Most 4th-rank alchemists were proficient in ordinary 4th-rank formulas. Only advanced, rare, and excellent 4th-rank pills were likely to be attempted by 5th- or 6th-rank alchemists.
Xiao Ting's technique, the quality of the pills, and—most astonishingly—refining three different pills simultaneously with the help of the soul cauldron were all incredibly impressive.
Even doing so, it would be difficult for most to refine two of the most common low-grade 4th-rank pills at the same time.
"Come here!"
Xiao Ting waved his hand. Battle Qi surged out, trying to retrieve the three pills.
At that exact moment, a purple light flashed in the air and appeared in front of the pills.
A purple-haired figure in white dresses, battle-aura wings on their backs, reached out to grab one of the pills.
"Don't even think about it."
Flames erupted around Xiao Ting. His body soared into the air like a burning meteor.
All three pills flew toward him wrapped in Battle Qi, but one was slowed by the Battle Qi emanating from the white-dressed girl's body.
"Since you stole my pill, I won't be polite."
Xiao Ting raised his hand and struck with his palm. Inner Battle Qi surged, transforming into a several-meter-wide flame palm that flew toward the girl in white.
At the same time, he reached out, grabbed the pill flying toward him, and stored it in his ring without thinking.
"Who's afraid of whom!"
Feeling the approaching heat wave, the girl in white showed no fear. Instead of advancing, she retreated and threw a simple, unadorned punch.
Terrifying power transformed into a fierce fist wind that shot straight at the giant flame palm. The two collided instantly.
Boom!
The flame-wrapped palm and fist exploded on impact.
The shockwave spread dozens of feet. The last pill was blasted high into the air.
Bang!
Both Xiao Ting and the white-dressed girl moved at incredible speed. They arrived in the air simultaneously and reached for the pill.
"Take this!"
The girl in white gathered her strength and threw a direct punch at Xiao Ting's chest.
This was a punch from a 5th-rank Ancient Void Dragon. Although weakened in human form, even an ordinary Dou Emperor would be injured if hit.
"That girl Zi Yan is being reckless and rude again." Su Qian sighed inwardly and raised his hand, preparing to use spatial ability to clean up the aftermath.
But the next moment his eyes narrowed.
"Brilliant technique. Has Xiao Ting's soul control already reached this level?"
…
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