Chapter 315: Seventh-Rank Alchemist!

Gazing at the black alchemy furnace before him, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, flicked his fingers, and a terrifying flame forged from eight different flames appeared—its beautiful tail streaking straight into the furnace, where it instantly erupted.

Roaring flames churned endlessly within the furnace; the temperature rose further, and the power of this fused flame could be imagined.

According to Xiao Yan's estimation, this newly fused different flame's power likely now ranked among the top five to eight.

As the flame surged, a faint dry heat began to permeate the surrounding heavens and earth.

As the flames rose, Xiao Yan swept his sleeve, and one by one, medicinal materials drifted out of his storage ring, suspended in midair beyond the stone platform, enveloped in aura—each like a tiny glowing orb, dazzling to behold from below.

Seeing Xiao Yan prepare to refine pills, Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement; she pulled out a small stool and sat in the front row to watch.

"Instant Qi Pill—it's a consumable elixir, barely reaching Seven-Rank Low Grade, capable of restoring vast amounts of aura in an instant. Even Dou Zong experts benefit greatly from it; if used during a battle when both sides are drained of aura, swallowing one such pill might just reverse the tide."

The elixir Xiao Yan was refining this time was the Instant Qi Pill—a pill capable of instantly restoring terrifying amounts of aura, typically used only by Dou Zong or Dou Huang Peak experts, lest excessive aura backfire.

Its main ingredients consisted of four types: three Six-Rank Medicinal Ingredients, one Seven-Rank Medicinal Ingredient, plus a Sixth-Rank Magic Core, alongside over sixty lower-grade auxiliary herbs.

Fortunately, those tiny Swallowing Clan creatures only absorbed the beasts' bloodline power, leaving behind numerous Magic Cores—conveniently available for Xiao Yan's pill alchemy.

Over the past half-year, Xiao Yan had not refined Seven-Grade Pills for the first time, but most attempts ended in failure; a few succeeded but bore flaws, and no Pill Lightning had ever descended.

Had the failed medicinal materials not been usable to make Pills for Zi Yan, Xiao Yan would surely have been scolded to death.

The Instant Qi Pill was the closest Xiao Yan had ever come to successfully refining a Seven-Grade Pill—so this time, he intended to use it to knock open the door to Seventh-Rank Alchemist!

Every detail of the Instant Qi Pill Formula slowly surfaced in Xiao Yan's mind, key points etched into his memory without omission.

Nearly seventy refining materials—this many herbs for a single pill was more than even the Breakthrough Pill or Emperor Pill; it was the first time Xiao Yan had seen such a quantity.

After several deep breaths, scattered thoughts flashed through his mind and were swiftly purged; he lifted his head, sensed the furnace's temperature, nodded slightly, and with a subtle gesture, a beam of light shot forth, transforming into a tiny, emerald-green fruit that landed in his palm.

As the green fruit entered, the dormant flames within the furnace surged like ravenous wolves, swallowing it whole.

Refining Seven-Grade Pills no longer involved extracting herbs one by one; some required pairwise extraction, even multiple herbs together—constant observation via Soul Force and precise flame temperature adjustments were essential.

Simultaneously refining so many herbs demanded strict control over Soul Power and Fire Control Power—but fortunately, Xiao Yan now possessed both the qualification and strength.

The multitude of herbs entering the flames withered rapidly within mere breaths, their bodies dissolving into ash, while pure medicinal essence dripped down—under Xiao Yan's exquisitely controlled Soul Force, they merged slightly before evenly dripping onto the single Seven-Rank Medicinal Ingredient, fusing with it.

By the time all herbs were refined, two days and one night had passed; refining Seven-Grade Pills, due to their sheer number of ingredients, was extremely time-consuming.

When all medicinal properties and the Magic Core merged, the heavy Black Demon trembled violently—had this been an ordinary alchemy furnace, that single shake would have shattered it outright.

Xiao Yan's expression flickered uncertainly as he stared at the raging Magic Core within the furnace; he let out a cold snort, and from the fused different flame, a wisp of Black Flame surged forth—Mao Wu, acting on its own will, devoured all residual beast hatred within the core without damaging it.

Sensing the calm within the liquid mass, Xiao Yan exhaled slightly; the subsequent steps became far more stable—this appearance suggested that once all medicinal forces fully merged, an embryonic pill would gradually form.

And this waiting lasted an entire day!

Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes, gazing upward—the sky now bore faint celestial phenomena; countless clouds gathered, slowly forming a vortex.

"It's about to form!" The Lion King gasped, looking up at the dark cloud vortex—undoubtedly, this was the phenomenon of a Seven-Grade Pill!

Seven-Grade Pills possess a degree of sentience; when forming, they manifest Pill Qi Condensing Spirit, triggering terrifying Sky Phenomenon and summoning Pill Lightning.

From afar, it resembled the end of the world—upon emerging, if the Alchemist so much as stumbled, the sentient pill might fly away.

Xiao Yixian, Zi Yan, and even the Heavenly Flame Elder fixed their gazes intently—if Xiao Yan truly succeeded in refining a Seven-Grade Pill, it would mean he had half-stepped into Seventh-Rank Alchemist; with more practice, his alchemy would inevitably improve.

Moreover, this fellow's Soul Power and Fire Control Power already surpassed ordinary Seventh-Rank Alchemists—he'd advance even faster!

"A typical Seven-Rank Low Grade Pill summons one Pill Lightning, whose power equals a strike from a Three- to Five-Star Dou Zong," the Heavenly Flame Elder said grimly; as a Dou Zun, he had witnessed Seven-Grade Pills before and knew their marvels.

Seeing Xiao Yixian move to assist, the Heavenly Flame Elder swiftly blocked her: "Your Eternal Calamity Poison body is unstable, already at its critical threshold—don't interfere recklessly."

Xiao Yixian had reached Star Seven Dou Zong—she was perilously close to eruption. And the Eternal Calamity Poison body could erupt prematurely—not necessarily only at the moment of becoming a Dou Zun.

"Besides, don't underestimate him—he's now a Three-Star Dou Huang. It's time he tested his mettle." The Heavenly Flame Elder smiled, gazing at the tiny figure against the sky, a hint of pride in his eyes.

At this moment, five swirling different flames floated slowly around Xiao Yan; facing the Heavenly Might, he felt no fear whatsoever.

This was merely the strike of a Dou Zong—not a true Dou Zong. To withstand one blow? Xiao Yan wasn't afraid.

"So this is Pill Lightning?"

His gaze locked onto the silver lightning writhing like a serpent through the dark clouds, sensing the immense power within, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with astonishment—and burning fervor.

Countless Alchemists spent their lives dreaming of refining a high-grade elixir capable of summoning Pill Lightning—considered by them the greatest honor.

And Xiao Yan was no different!

"Fire Spirit Appears!"

Void Swallowing Flame, Earth Sub Flame, Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame—five distinct Spirit Flames emerged, standing beside Xiao Yan.

"Five Spirit Flame Formation!"

At this moment, Xiao Yan resembled the Flame Emperor; with a sweep of his hand, the five different flames obeyed his command, forming an array—the flames linked together in a wondrous bond.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!! Instantly, as the five different flames formed the array, strange phenomena erupted in the sky; the space of heaven and earth violently trembled, the previously tranquil Heavenly Energy now surged chaotically, as if pulled by an unseen force—flowers and grass dried up instantly.

As if enraged by this "Yan Emperor," the thunder above writhed like a dragon, the BOOM BOOM BOOM growing ever louder.

BOOM! In the next instant, silver lightning converged fiercely within the clouds; soon, the entire sky grew oppressively heavy—the dark clouds split open a fissure, and a silver bolt, half a foot long and wide, shot forth with a thunderclap that shook heaven and earth.

Like a colossal silver serpent, it erupted from the clouds—its target: the pill behind Xiao Yan, no larger than a dragon's eye.

Seeing the silver lightning hurtle down, Xiao Yan's eyes darkened with seriousness; he raised his hand, terrifying aura and Soul Power bursting from his body!

"Five Spirit Departing Fire Shield!"

Facing the colossal lightning, Xiao Yan wouldn't be foolish enough to clash head-on—his goal was merely to block it, not to kill heaven itself.

ZZZZ—five spirits formed the array; instantly, a five-colored Spirit Flame Shield appeared before Xiao Yan—a Five Wheel Departing Fire Spirit Shield stood between him and the silver lightning.

Departing Fire can burn heaven—and it can block Heavenly Might!

In Xiao Yan's fervent gaze, the terrifying silver lightning slammed into the Spirit Flame Shield.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!! ZZZZZZ!! The lightning and the Spirit Flames collided—immediately, the force of impact drove the Departing Fire Shield downward, tongues of flame flaring wildly; yet the silver lightning fared no better—thin arcs of lightning scattered everywhere, striking the ground with thunderous booms, carving craters into the earth.

But no matter how fiercely the lightning struck, it could not breach Xiao Yan's Five Wheel Departing Fire Grand Formation; though this Pill Lightning was Heavenly Might, his different flames were also born of heaven and earth—unafraid.

Soon, the silver lightning began to weaken—after all, this was only a Seven-Rank Low Grade Pill, summoning only one strike, while Xiao Yan possessed a Heaven Tier Low Grade Cultivation Method, supplying endless aura.

When the Pill Lightning weakened sufficiently, a wisp of Black Flame suddenly surged from the Five Wheel Departing Fire Array—Mao Wu, audacious to the extreme, was truly swallowing heaven with flame!

Having evolved into Earth Sub Flame, Mao Wu dared to swallow even Heavenly Might—it let out a satisfied burp.

"Want to run!" Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened; his Soul Force surged through his body and instantly seized the Instant Qi Pill trying to escape.

"I held back the Heavenly Tribulation for you, and you don't even say thanks—still trying to run!" Xiao Yan flicked his finger, sending the Instant Qi Pill into the Jade Bottle he had already prepared. Preserving a Seven-Grade Pill is itself an art.

Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes shimmered with a strange light as she gazed at Xiao Yan, clad in the silver-white Alchemist Long Robe—he had truly reached the level of a Seventh-Rank Alchemist!

Xiao Yan is barely over twenty-two years old! He's already a Seventh-Rank Alchemist! This is terrifying!

Feeling Xiao Yixian's admiring gaze upon him, Xiao Yan's vanity was greatly satisfied; his nose even seemed to lift slightly.

"Xiao Yixian, I'm giving you this Pill." Xiao Yan cleared his throat softly, one hand behind his back, speaking with the air of a wealthy man.

"Give it to me!" Xiao Yixian gasped.

"This Instant Qi Pill is for Dou Zong users. Here, you're the only Dou Zong. If you cultivate that Heavenly Rank Dou Technique, one pill should grant you one more use. An extra use of a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique in battle could be the deciding factor." Xiao Yan said gravely, handing the Pill Bottle to Xiao Yixian.

The legacy of the Youdu Venerable was unsuitable for anyone—even a Dou Zong Poison Master would gain little from it. Much of it was tied to the Eternal Calamity Body; even its strongest Dou Technique could only be cultivated by one with the Eternal Calamity Body. Naturally, it all belonged to Xiao Yixian.

Taking the Jade Bottle Xiao Yan offered, Xiao Yixian did not refuse; she smiled gently and nodded.

"Xiao Yan, when do we go back?" Zi Yan pouted. She had been locked up here for half a year; she was about to rot from boredom.

Xiao Yan pinched Zi Yan's soft little cheek and laughed: "Today!"

Hearing Xiao Yan finally planned to emerge, not only Zi Yan but even the Lion King and the Little Lion King wore expressions of excitement—they could finally return.

Xiao Yan smiled. He needed to go back too—not just because the Sect Grand Meeting was about to begin, but more importantly, he needed to return to the Soul Sovereign.

The power of Void Swallowing Flame had startled even Xiao Yan. Mao Wu hadn't just evolved—it had swallowed the massive Spirit-Swallowing Clan, using the Spirit-Swallowing Clan's own power.

Naturally, Xiao Yan obtained the Dou Di Bloodline!

The Blood Bottle, which had once contained only a single drop hidden within Void Swallowing Flame's space, was now half-full.

"No wonder the Soul Sovereign's Dou Di Bloodline is so potent, producing so many strong cultivators—Void Swallowing Flame's true form likely absorbed the power of the Spirit-Swallowing King."

Xiao Yan hadn't forgotten: Hun Lao Gui had once produced a whole bottle of Dou Di Bloodline. Now he understood—it was through Void Swallowing Flame's power that he seized the Bloodlines of other Dou Emperor Family disciples.

Moreover, to cultivate the Emperor Soul Scripture, Xiao Yan needed Six-Grade Bloodline Power—he had only gathered half so far.

He needed to return to the Soul Sovereign and demand answers from Hun Xu Zi!

Removing the Alchemist Long Robe, Xiao Yan donned again the pitch-black Soul Robe, pulled on the Hood, and his lips curled upward—his eyes instantly turned cold and sharp.

"It's time to properly welcome the audience waiting outside so long."

Xiao Yixian and the others donned black robes to conceal their faces and followed behind Xiao Yan. No need to guess—outside, a huge crowd must be waiting for the Space Lock to be unlocked again!

(End of Chapter)