Chapter 7454
Pill Completion
Xiao Chen looks to be only in his early twenties. Even if he started studying alchemy from the womb, he might not be able to reach the third rank even if he spent his entire life studying it, let alone the fourth rank.
That's a legendary level; in the entire martial arts world of the Dragon Kingdom, no one has been able to consistently refine it for nearly a hundred years!
His initial expectation was that Xiao Chen could refine a top-grade first-rank or low-grade second-rank pill, which would have been enough to garner the attention of the Pill Sect. But Xiao Chen's opening statement was a bombshell that would shake the entire alchemy world!
This completely overturned his entire understanding of the growth of an alchemist; it was utterly unbelievable!
"Mr. Xiao, is this really true?" Chen Shouzhou's voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement and shock, and cold sweat even seeped from his forehead.
"I have no need to joke." Xiao Chen's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was still calm. "If you don't believe me, just prepare the alchemy furnace and the corresponding materials, and I can refine it on the spot so you can see it with your own eyes."
This was exactly the effect he wanted. Only by demonstrating absolutely overwhelming alchemy skills and creating an unshakeable deterrent would Chen Shouzhou lower his guard and any wishful thinking, and reveal the core secret he truly desired.
Chen Shouzhou stared intently at Xiao Chen for a long time, trying to find even a trace of a joke on his face, but all he saw was composure and certainty.
He gritted his teeth, as if he had made a desperate gamble: "Alright! Mr. Xiao, please come with me! As long as Mr. Xiao can refine any kind of second-grade, fifth-level or higher pill on the spot, you may take any spiritual plants and medicinal herbs in this courtyard!"
"At the same time, whatever Mr. Xiao wants to ask, as long as Mr. Chen knows the answer, he will answer it without reservation!"
The second rank with five patterns was already his second-best verification standard. As long as Xiao Chen could achieve it, even if he didn't reach the fourth rank level, it would be enough for the Pill Sect to treat him as an honored guest.
"Lead the way." Xiao Chen said succinctly, holding the Ice Soul Jade Marrow Grass in his palm, and took the lead.
About ten minutes later, the two arrived at the private alchemy workshop in the core area of the manor.
This place is completely different from the previous open-air exhibition hall, and it pays more attention to privacy and the professionalism of alchemy: the inner walls of the workshop are engraved with spirit-gathering runes, the temperature and humidity are constant, and the air is filled with a faint fragrance of medicine and spiritual energy.
In the center stands a pill furnace about the height of a person, forged entirely from a composite of dark blue special ceramics and black iron alloy. The furnace body has smooth lines and is inlaid with four crystal screens that display the spiritual power, temperature, and fusion degree of the medicinal properties inside the furnace in real time.
On the temperature-controlled material platform next to the furnace, several rare medicinal herbs prepared in advance by Chen Shouzhou were already neatly arranged, each one with ample quantity and excellent appearance.
"Mr. Xiao, do you think the environment, equipment, and medicinal herbs here are suitable?" Chen Shouzhou's tone was more respectful than before, and he even subconsciously lowered his posture.
Xiao Chen did not answer, his gaze quickly sweeping over the alchemy furnace and the material platform, and he nodded slightly.
The next moment, he walked straight to the alchemy furnace. Unlike Shen Moxuan, he did not rely on instruments to preheat the furnace, nor did he start the program step by step. Instead, he stretched out his right hand, palm down, and pressed it lightly on the spiritual energy inlet on the top of the furnace.
His eyes were slightly closed, and his aura suddenly became mysterious and unpredictable. There was no dazzling burst of fire, but a scorching and condensed invisible spiritual power slowly flowed into the alchemy furnace from his palm.
The crystal screen embedded in the furnace wall lit up instantly, and the red curve representing fire-type spiritual power steadily climbed. The temperature inside the furnace rose rapidly at a precise rate, yet remained stable and orderly without the slightest disorder, demonstrating ultimate control.
Chen Shouzhou held his breath and stared wide-eyed, barely daring to breathe too heavily.
When they saw that Xiao Chen could precisely activate and control the "Melting Core Spirit Array" at the core of the alchemy furnace without relying on any external energy source or activating complex magic arrays, solely with his own spiritual power, they were amazed.
It felt as if all the blood in his body rushed to his head; the shock he felt had already exceeded his limits.
This is something that ordinary alchemists cannot do; it requires an extremely terrifying microscopic control over spiritual power, and a thorough understanding of the essence of fire!
"Spirit... Spiritual Source Directly Guided, Divine Will Controlling the Furnace?" Chen Shouzhou exclaimed in a low voice, his face flushed, his body leaning forward slightly due to extreme excitement, having long since abandoned the dignity and composure of the Vice Sect Master of the Pill Sect. "This... This is the initiation sign of the 'Heart Refining Method,' which has been lost for hundreds of years! A realm that only Grandmasters of the Pill Dao can reach in legends!"
"Keep quiet."
Xiao Chen never opened his eyes, only uttering two words in a cold tone, yet carrying an undeniable pressure that instantly overwhelmed Chen Shouzhou's excitement.
Chen Shouzhou felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water. His whole body stiffened, and he immediately shut his mouth. He even subconsciously took a half step back, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his back, and a genuine sense of fear flashed across his face.
If outsiders were to see this, they would surely be horrified. Given Chen Shouzhou's status and strength in the Northwest alchemy world, when has he ever shown such awe to a young man, not even daring to breathe loudly?
At this moment, the furnace temperature had already climbed to the extreme value for refining the Spirit Nourishing Pill. The deep blue furnace wall faintly revealed a dark red luster, and the spiritual energy inside the furnace flowed steadily and orderly.
Xiao Chen suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. His left hand suddenly changed its hand seals, and he lightly tapped the spiritual pattern nodes on the side wall of the alchemy furnace from a distance.
Driven by both mechanical means and spiritual energy, the furnace lid silently slid open a crack, perfectly accommodating the angle for adding the medicine.
Immediately afterwards, he gestured with his right hand, as if playing a zither, and the rare medicinal herbs, categorized by type, seemed to be imbued with life.
Following a precise trajectory, they floated up in the order of refining, landing steadily in the alchemy furnace without the slightest error or confusion.
Then, Xiao Chen quickly formed an ancient and complex hand seal in front of him, and a surge of powerful spiritual energy, carrying pure divine essence, burst forth.
Instead of roughly enveloping the medicinal herbs inside the furnace, it transformed into countless fine, hair-like spiritual threads, seeping into the furnace's interior without leaving any gaps, precisely controlling the refining speed of each herb and guiding the fusion trajectory of each medicinal force.
The only sounds in the workshop were the low hum of the alchemy furnace and the subtle flow of spiritual energy; it was so quiet that one could hear Chen Shou-zhuo's rapid heartbeat.
Time passed quietly, in just six or seven minutes. Compared to the usual half-hour time it takes for an alchemist to refine a second-grade pill, this speed was already considered incredible.
Suddenly, a clear and refreshing fragrance, yet brimming with vitality, burst forth from the cracks in the alchemy furnace, instantly engulfing the entire workshop and dispelling the faint metallic and medicinal dregs odor. Even the spiritual energy in the air became warm and mellow.
"Zheng,"
A clear and melodious sound, like the chime of a jade chime, emanated from the furnace, its lingering resonance a sign that the elixir was complete.
"Alright." Xiao Chen slowly withdrew his power, and all the divine essence and spiritual energy he had released receded back into his body like a tide. His expression was as calm as ever, as if the exquisite alchemy operation he had just performed was nothing more than a casual gesture, without any cost.
Chen Shouzhou's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He took several deep breaths of the air, thick with the aroma of elixirs, before he could finally steady himself and move his stiff legs to the alchemy furnace. (End of Chapter)