Chapter 264: The Mieshen Pill Emerges!

At Canghai Peak, inside a Class-3 Superior Fire Vein cave dwelling.

Qin Ming stepped inside; the cave dwelling was fully equipped with alchemy chambers, artifact-forging rooms, rune-inscribing rooms, and quiet chambers for cultivation.

The deeper he went, the higher the temperature rose, but Qin Ming, possessing the True Ultimate Body, felt no great fear of the Class-3 earth fire.

Above the fire vein, Yunze Xiancheng used special arrays to channel the fire vein's energy through the arrays, directing the wild, unstable earth fire into individual rooms.

Otherwise, Class-3 Superior earth fire was no weaker than the Three Pure Fires of a Jin Dan elder.

A normal Foundation Establishment cultivator would be unable to withstand even a speck of it.

Thus, cultivators renting these dwellings—like Sun Dadan—though at late Foundation Establishment, dared not venture beyond the outer chambers.

But Qin Ming's goal was different; his True Ultimate Body's spell-resistance attribute rendered him immune to Class-3 spell attacks, let alone this Class-3 fire vein.

He followed the tunnel carved by Yunze Xiancheng, pressing deeper inward.

Half a stick of incense later.

A crimson lava fissure appeared before Qin Ming's eyes.

Wild flames drifted through the air.

Hot, viscous lava flowed through the earth vein; occasionally, rocks from nearby walls tumbled in, spewing high jets of flame that burst open in the air.

Only someone with Qin Ming's terrifying physical strength could reach this place.

"Hmm, the environment is quite suitable. This will do."

Qin Ming gazed at the cave dwelling, lit red by the earth fire, and nodded in satisfaction.

Then.

He did not rush to plant spirit plants; instead, he took out a set of anti-scouting arrays and arranged them around the area.

Although Yunze Xiancheng had privacy-protection arrays in place, Qin Ming, for safety's sake, decided to add his own seals.

After all, he intended to use his Golden Finger to accelerate spirit herb growth—better safe than sorry.

After setting the seals, Qin Ming retrieved the spirit seed of the Fire-Bathed Jin Lian: a withered yellow lotus pod held eight spirit seeds.

He had already succeeded in cultivating the Fire-Bathed Jin Lian within the plant illusion realm.

This time, planting and nurturing it again was second nature.

Qin Ming took out the "Zhong Huang Qingkong Lingrang" he had purchased, wrapped the Fire-Bathed Jin Lian seeds in it, then used his spiritual sense to place them at the heart of the molten fire.

Immediately after, Qin Ming activated one 【Strong Adaptation】 term, applying it to the golden lotus seeds.

Having done this, Qin Ming began methodically using his spiritual sense to capture the drifting fire essence nearby and guide it into the spirit soil.

This cycle repeated for over three months.

Within the Zhong Huang Qingkong Lingrang in the lava, a crimson-gold aura emerged, radiating divine light.

"The spirit seeds have finally been successfully cultivated—they've gained vitality, taken root and sprouted."

"Six seeds survived—within my expectations."

Qin Ming's ink-black eyes fixed ahead, his expression utterly calm, his heart as still as a deep well—neither sorrowful nor joyful.

Then, he instantly activated his mind; five 【Temporal Leaves】 terms vanished from his spiritual sea and settled upon the spirit seeds.

In an instant.

The vast temporal-spatial power of the sea descended upon the seeds; six crimson-gold spirit plants were reborn within the blazing earth fire.

The Fire-Bathed Jin Lian resembled the Youyou True Yin Flower—transparent, with dense extreme yang energy flowing inside, like clusters of crimson-gold flame spirit plants.

Three days later.

An unusual medicinal fragrance swept over Qin Ming, invigorating his entire spirit.

At the same time.

On each of the six Fire-Bathed Golden Lotuses, a golden term appeared.

【Name】: Fire-Bathed Jin Lian 【Term】: Prolonged Lifespan ×5 (Maturity 92%) "Another two hundred and fifty years of lifespan"

Qin Ming stared at the term on the spirit plant, pondering silently.

He cultivated the Dao for immortality—longer lifespan was always better—and a smile curled his lips.

Next, he waited for the Fire-Bathed Jin Lian to absorb sufficient extreme yang energy, to gestate golden lotus seeds and maximize its medicinal potency.

This process would also take time.

Qin Ming decided to remain here, guarding the lotus until it fully matured.

Then.

He took from his storage bag the Xuan Jade Furnace and spirit materials, preparing to begin refining the Class-3 Mieshen Pill.

Qin Ming exhaled, and a blue-green flame emerged, taking the form of a fire bird.

He no longer needed external earth fire for alchemy.

The Class-3 Soul-Devouring Poison Flame, shaped as a bird, sensed the dense fire vein energy here, let out a joyful cry, then dove beneath the alchemy furnace.

Qin Ming methodically followed the alchemy formula's steps, beginning his operations.

……

Time passed slowly; another year went by.

Outside the fire vein cave dwelling at Canghai Peak.

"May I ask, Brother Lü, has Brother Qin not emerged yet after more than a year inside?"

"Replying, Brother Sun: Brother Qin has not left the cave dwelling since entering."

Since learning Qin Ming had rented the Class-3 Superior fire vein cave dwelling to refine pills,

Sun Dadan had been unable to sleep or eat for the past year.

It wasn't jealousy—he, too, was a gifted alchemist, and such feelings were hard for outsiders to understand.

For Sun Dadan had once suffered a devastating failure, and he desperately wanted to know whether Qin Ming could succeed.

Over the past year, Lu Wanjun had been rendered speechless by Alchemist Sun Dadan, yet she dared not offend the face of such a great alchemist.

Alchemist Sun Jinnian came almost every other day to inquire about the status of Fellow Daoist Qin's rented cave dwelling.

After he visited too frequently, even True Person Canghai began to notice the situation here.

Nalan Xi summoned Lu Wanjun to the hall atop the peak and asked indifferently, "What has happened at the Fire Vein cave dwelling?"

"Why does Alchemist Sun keep running over there?"

Lu Wanjun hurriedly reported the cause of events truthfully to True Person Nalan Xi.

After hearing this, True Person Canghai Nalan Xi fell into deep contemplation.

Her dark eyebrows knitted together, and she asked in a speculative tone:

"In that case... could it be that Fellow Daoist Qin Ming, having rented the cave dwelling for a full two years, is possibly refining some sort of high-grade spirit pill?"

"Perhaps even a third-grade medicinal pill."

"No wonder Alchemist Sun cannot sleep and stands guard at the cave entrance."

Lu Wanjun replied, "Before Fellow Daoist Qin entered the cave dwelling, I once inquired briefly; he said he was indeed preparing to research an ancient pill formula, so it must be so."

She too was inwardly astonished, never expecting that Fellow Daoist Qin merely renting a cave dwelling would attract the attention of the City Lord.

Not only that.

Within Yunze Xiancheng, high-grade alchemists and artifact refiners renting cave dwellings often saw Sun Jinnian pacing before the cave dwellings halfway up the mountain, yet never entering to refine pills.

Finally, a cultivator could no longer suppress their curiosity and asked Alchemist Sun, "Elder Sun, what are you doing?"

"You neither rent a cave dwelling nor leave, just waiting here constantly."

"Could it be that you are preparing to take on disciples?"

"Thus, you are here observing the coming and going of alchemists."

"How about me?"

Upon hearing such a question from the visitor, Sun Jinnian immediately bristled with anger, shouting, "Go, go, go! Who told you that this old man intends to take on disciples?"

Nevertheless, he could not withstand the crowd's interrogation; under the pressing questions of several fellow second-grade alchemists, he hesitantly revealed the reason.

"What?!"

"Grandmaster Qin has been inside for over a year without coming out?" "It is said he entered seclusion to research an ancient pill formula?"

"This is extraordinary!"

"Fellow Daoist Qin is so young yet has already reached the rank of a top-tier second-grade alchemist; with one more step, wouldn't he be attempting to break through to become a third-grade grandmaster..."

"Is this possible?"

"Hmm, breaking through to become a third-grade Dandao Sect grandmaster is as difficult as scaling the heavens, no less challenging than breaking through to the Jin Dan stage in cultivation; in this old man's view, Fellow Daoist Qin is likely only researching a top-tier second-grade pill formula."

"Indeed, indeed, I agree with Fellow Daoist's assessment; no matter how high Fellow Daoist Qin's talent, it is impossible to break through to the third grade so quickly."

"It has been over a hundred years since a third-grade Dandao Sect grandmaster appeared in the Wild Immortal Realm."

"Regardless, we will only know once Fellow Daoist Qin emerges from seclusion."

From then on, besides Alchemist Sun Jinnian, several renowned alchemists of senior standing in Yunze Xiancheng appeared at the entrance of the Fire Vein cave dwelling halfway up Canghai Peak.

Time slowly passed.

Another year went by.

Inside the cave dwelling.

Over these two years, apart from tending to the Bathing Fire Jin Lian, Qin Ming had been researching the refinement of the Dust-Extinguishing Pill.

The difficulty of refining this third-grade Dust-Extinguishing Pill somewhat exceeded Qin Ming's expectations.

When he first started, he thought it would not be much more difficult than the third-grade Zhurong Pill he had successfully refined before.

But when Qin Ming truly set about refining it, he startlingly discovered that the difficulty of refining the Dust-Extinguishing Pill was the most complex among all the spirit pills he had ever refined.

Over the past two years, while refining pills and summarizing his experiences, the spiritual materials in his storage bag had been nearly exhausted by him.

"The Dust-Extinguishing Pill truly lives up to its reputation as a pill for Jin Dan cultivators to advance their cultivation; refining it presents quite a challenge."

He now had only three attempts remaining.

In the blink of an eye, the third year arrived.

The time for Qin Ming's rented cave dwelling had also expired.

The various grandmasters waiting outside the cave dwelling for results were itching with anticipation, each scratching their ears and cheeks in anxiety.

"Could it be?"

"Two years have passed; could something have happened to Grandmaster Qin?"

"Should we go in and check inside?"

"Indeed, since the cave dwelling term has expired anyway, Fellow Daoist Lu, why don't you send a voice transmission to ask Fellow Daoist Qin?"

Looking at this group of grandmaster-level figures of supreme status before her, Lu Wanjun found herself unable to make a decision for a moment.

She could only rush urgently to the main hall to report the situation to True Person Canghai.

After listening, Nalan Xi could not help but stare in surprise.

"The third year... and there is still no sign of Fellow Daoist Qin Xiao coming out..."

After pondering briefly, she spoke in an authoritative voice: "Henceforth, all spirit stone fees for Fellow Daoist Qin Xiao's cave dwelling rental shall be waived."

"Furthermore, transmit my order: no one is permitted to disturb Fellow Daoist Qin Xiao's closed-door cultivation."

"Anyone who dares to interfere shall be expelled from the Xiancheng and dealt with accordingly."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wanjun was shaken to her core; she never expected that Nalan Xi, a Jin Dan ancestor, would actually choose to make such a decision.

"Yes!"

After receiving the order, Lu Wanjun dispersed the onlookers with True Person Canghai's command.

Inside the cave dwelling.

Qin Ming unleashed the divine ability 'Four Seasons Divine Light,' extracting the medicinal embryos from the spiritual materials.

His expression remained calm, his heart maintaining equanimity; he felt no discouragement despite numerous failures over the past two years.

After all, his primary goal was to cultivate the Bathing Fire Jin Lian, not to refine pills.

Clumps of colorful, flowing medicinal liquid hovered before Qin Ming.

Filled with dreamlike radiance, they added a strange hue to this red, third-tier fire vein location.

"Yin and Yang separate and unite; condense for me!"

With a solemn expression, Qin Ming's hand seals shifted, causing all the medicinal liquid before him to fall into the Profound Jade Furnace as he began the final step of pill condensation.

This was also the first time Qin Ming had devoted such a long duration of time and energy to pill refining; the difficulty was imaginable.

Among the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation, reaching a high-level tier in any of them requires talent, time, energy, and burning spirit stones; none can be lacking.

Otherwise, high-tier alchemists could not possess a status far surpassing that of ordinary cultivators.

Chirp! Roar! Two beast cries erupted from within Qin Ming's pill furnace!

Immediately after, a seven-colored mist appeared above the Profound Jade Furnace, emitting an astonishing Dao halo.

Within the mist, faint illusory shadows of a pair of flood dragons and colorful phoenixes drifted uncertainly.

With the emergence of the Dust-Extinguishing Pill, dragons and phoenixes cry in unison! Three golden spiritual pills, radiating astonishing spiritual energy halos, hovered quietly within the furnace.

One Dust-Extinguishing Pill washes away the root dust of tribulations! It is the legendary miraculous medicine that Jin Dan cultivators dream of obtaining.

Outside the cave dwelling, in the sky.

The astonishing phenomenon caused by Qin Ming's successful pill refining, the auspicious shadows of dragons and phoenixes, wove and spiraled continuously from within the fire vein cave dwelling, extending out into the open sky.

A swath of hazy rosy light spanning several tens of zhang condensed above Cave Dwelling Number One, knotting together without dispersing.

Although it was merely like a dream flower, blooming briefly like the epiphyllum, this scene was witnessed by those who had been watching this place.

And by the high-tier cultivators who had come to rent cave dwellings.

"Th-this celestial phenomenon is..."

"A third-tier pill has formed; dragons and phoenixes cry in unison, triggering a resonance between heaven and earth!!"

Sun Jinnian looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with shock, his heart a mix of complex emotions, his thoughts unable to settle for a long time.

"What?!"

"A third-tier spiritual pill!"

"Master Qin actually succeeded!"

"No, in the future we must probably call him Grandmaster Qin."

"Earth-shattering news! To think that our Wei Kingdom Immortal Realm could produce a third-tier Dandao Sect Grandmaster; witnessing such a grand event with my own eyes makes this life worthwhile! Hahahaha!"

In an instant, news of the phenomenon at the third-tier cave dwellings of Canghai Peak exploded like a bomb in water, stirring up towering waves.

In the main peak hall, True Person Canghai had learned of the news immediately.

The next instant.

Her figure blurred, and she vanished instantly from the Wang Zuo.

Outside the third-tier fire vein cave dwelling.

Nalan Xi emitted a vast spiritual pressure, descending abruptly at the cave dwelling entrance.

Her face showed neither joy nor sorrow; she merely gazed faintly at the area above the cave dwelling with eyes calm as water.

Yet within Nalan Xi's heart, waves were churning.

For even she had not expected that Qin Ming would succeed in one stroke.

"Judging by this momentum, it seems to be an extremely rare existence even among third-tier pills..."

"Qin Xiaoyou... I never expected you could reach this step."

"..."

The myriad cultivators outside the cave dwelling, seeing that even True Person Canghai had been stirred into action, hastily bowed their heads respectfully and saluted:

"Greetings, True Person Canghai!"

(End of Chapter)