Chapter 338

Time passed, and when Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder had completely refined the Magic Cores, everything changed; as all medicinal properties and Magic Cores fused completely, for a moment, the entire peak and surrounding ten li were shrouded in Pill Fragrance, two differently colored Pill Fragrances continuously drifting from the Alchemy Furnace.

Amid this Pill Qi and Pill Fragrance, a medicinal aroma emanated; merely smelling it instantly brought a revitalized spirit, evoking a sensation as if rejuvenated—this feeling was most peculiar.

"Sima Lin refined the Beast Emperor Body Strengthening Pill to enhance physique—what elixir did the Bone Child Elder refine?"

Moreover, as the Pill Qi grew denser, faint roars of dragons and bellows of elephants emerged within the Bone Child Elder's Pill Qi, as if Azure Dragons and Elephants were present—powerful beastly aura radiated from the Pill Fragrance!

"Dragon and Elephant sounds, Pill Fragrance appearing azure-gold—could the Bone Child Elder have refined the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Pill?!"

"Dragon-Elephant Prajna Pill!? Isn't its Pill Formula already lost?!"

"It's about to form." At this moment, spectators were more tense than the competing Alchemists; for most, regardless of how this contest ended, they all hoped these two would succeed in forming Elixirs.

A hum—finally, as everyone waited with bated breath, countless clouds gathered in the heavens; when these clouds amassed like an ocean, a vortex appeared above Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder's heads, condensing into a massive dark cloud, within which thunderous roars echoed, growing louder and louder.

"Pill Lightning! Pill Lightning has come!! If they withstand it, the Elixir is complete!" Seeing the dark clouds above grow louder, an elder Alchemist cried out.

Not every Seven-Rank Low Grade Elixir can summon Pill Lightning; only those of sufficient quality, with minimal flaws, can attract it.

After reaching Seven-Grade, an Elixir's quality is measured by the type and number of Pill Lightning it summons. Legends say Eight-Grade Elixirs summon colored Pill Lightning—the more colors, the rarer and more perfect the Elixir's effects.

Whether Sima Lin's Beast Emperor Body Strengthening Pill or the Bone Child Elder's Dragon-Elephant Prajna Pill, both were Seven-Rank Low Grade Elixirs—but both summoned Pill Lightning!

"A Seven-Grade Elixir that summoned Pill Lightning—this is absolutely top-tier!" For a moment, even the calm leaders of the Ten Sects couldn't stay seated, all exclaiming in awe.

A Seven-Grade Elixir that summoned Pill Lightning was extremely useful even for high-level Dou Zongs like She Tianhao.

"The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Pill permanently grants the body Dragon and Elephant power; not only does it strengthen the physique, but when attacking, the combined Dragon and Elephant power significantly boosts Dou Technique potency," said an Alchemist who had just completed a Six-Grade Peak Elixir.

Like the Yin-Yang Azure Dragon Elixir, which granted Xiao Yan a trace of Dragon Qi—though the Yin-Yang Azure Dragon Elixir's greatest effect was breaking down to rebuild, with Dragon Qi merely a bonus.

But the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Pill was different—its sole effect was to imbue the user with Dragon Qi and Elephant power, enhancing the potency of their Dou Techniques upon consumption.

Boom! Boom!!! Two Pill Lightnings struck almost simultaneously, targeting the Elixirs within the Alchemy Furnaces.

Instantly, both shouted loudly, simultaneously summoning defensive gear, their Dou Qi surging wildly to resist the Pill Lightning.

"Their Pill Lightnings seem identical—could it be a tie?"

"No, look closely—the Bone Child Elder's Pill Lightning is stronger, and his storm cloud covers a wider area."

"Mystic Flame—Mystic Flame is Heaven and Earth's fire; using it in Spirit Refining inevitably imparts a faint Heaven and Earth Power to the Elixir, even infusing it with the Mystic Flame, naturally elevating its quality."

Without surprise, both were Dou Zong-level; though the Pill Lightning equaled a Five Star Dou Zong's strike, it was only a single blow—and with proper preparation, one could usually withstand it.

"Success!" Seeing the Pill Lightning vanish, many exhaled in relief, unable to suppress cheers and smiles: "What an excellent Elixir!"

Seeing the two captured Elixirs, Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder showed no joy; instead, their expressions turned grave as they gazed toward Xiao Yan's direction.

"Huh? That Yan Alliance Alchemist hasn't finished yet?"

"Is he putting on a show? Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder both failed twice during extraction, wasting time—how could he be slower?"

"I bet he failed and can't face the crowd—he's trying to find a way out."

"Hmph, nine out of ten he failed. This is a Pill Lightning-summoning Elixir—he's definitely lost, just thinking how to escape," someone inside muttered, displeased and jealous of Xiao Yan.

But the elder experts present remained silent, for they sensed something—within the closed blue lotus bud, something was gestating!

Suddenly, Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder, whose Soul Force was strongest, both stiffened, snapping their gazes toward Xiao Yan.

The bud opened!

Whirr!!! The bud formed from Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire slowly unfurled like a blooming lotus, petal by petal.

But when the bud fully opened, the anticipated golden radiance and holy light did not erupt—instead, a torrent of black mist exploded from the lotus.

Woooo!!! Wails of ghosts and howls of wolves echoed—the black mist resembled countless demons released, ominous! Extremely ominous!

"What kind of demon is this?!"

"Is this… Pill Fragrance???"

The lingering Pill Fragrance from Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder's Elixirs was instantly drowned by this tidal wave of black mist—the entire Guang Chang and Shan Mai were shrouded in this eerie black vapor.

"So foul! What is this? Is he refining a Poison Pill?!"

Hai Bodong and others immediately covered their noses; Hai Bodong sneered: "What the hell is Xiao Yan doing? What is this?!"

They never doubted Xiao Yan's Alchemy skill—but they simply couldn't fathom why his Spirit Refining was like this! Had something gone wrong?!

The first to sense the anomaly was Zi Yan, who had consumed the most Medicinal Materials as a member of the Ancient Dragon Clan.

"Huh?" Zi Yan's nose twitched, her eyes blinked in surprise: "Wait… there's a hint of fragrance?"

Soon, those with exceptionally keen Soul Force began to detect—within the black mist lay a trace of fragrance; merely inhaling it made the mind tremble, as if the Spiritual Soul would ascend!

This fragrance could only be sensed through Soul Force!

"Foulness hiding fragrance!? What kind of Pill Fragrance is this?!"

Instantly, all Alchemists froze—including Sima Lin and the Bone Child Elder—they had never seen black Pill Fragrance, let alone one that was foul yet concealed a fragrance capable of making the Spiritual Soul tremble.

This bizarre Pill Fragrance left them stunned, utterly unable to discern what Elixir Xiao Yan was refining.

At this moment, as the black Pill Fragrance continuously surged from the Alchemy Furnace, Xiao Yan's figure slowly emerged.

Dressed in black robes, his hands like demons wielding the furnace of Earth Domain—this scene looked terrifying beyond measure.

"Formed!" Xiao Yan roared, slapping the Alchemy Furnace—peng! The lid flew open, a denser black mist erupted, surging straight toward the heavens!

Within that terrifying black column, a dark, unpolished Elixir floated, speckled with faint purple dots.

Even the most ignorant knew Xiao Yan's Elixir was no ordinary thing—and it had succeeded!

Finally, Xiao Yan slapped the Alchemy Furnace; the storm clouds above rapidly condensed, gathering far faster than the Pill Lightning summoned by the Bone Child Elder and Sima Lin.

As if Heaven itself refused to grant him time to prepare, a vortex immediately formed above Xiao Yan's head, its roar growing louder and louder.

"Pill Lightning has come," someone exclaimed in awe: "Within such a short time, we've witnessed three Pill Lightnings—this is truly astonishing. I've never seen anything like it."

At this moment, everyone held their breath, waiting for the Pill Lightning to strike, all eager to see whether Xiao Yan, with only Dou Huang-level power, could survive it.

After all, Xiao Yan's cultivation was merely Three Star Dou Huang.

"Old Master Yao, lend me your power," Xiao Yan sent a Soul Resonance into his storage ring.

"Huh? Didn't you say you could resist Pill Lightning yourself?" Heavenly Flame Zunzhe asked in confusion—but his movement was swift; a powerful Soul Force enveloped Xiao Yan, pushing his Cultivation Realm to Peak Dou Huang—halfway to Dou Zong.

"There's no choice—if I don't kill everyone here, I shouldn't reveal too soon that I possess multiple Heavenly Flames. This isn't Jia Nan Academy," Xiao Yan said helplessly.

Boom—a powerful and terrifying lightning strike instantly descended from the sky.

"Hahaha, come on!" Xiao Yan laughed loudly, bent his knees, then pushed off hard, charging straight toward the Pill Lightning.

"This guy's insane!"

"Kuang! He's deliberately confronting the Pill Lightning?! Even if his strength has improved, he's still only half-step Dou Zong!"

The best way to deal with Pill Lightning is, of course, to defend and endure it, just like Xiao Yan and Bone Child Elder did before.

Xiao Yan swiftly formed hand seals with his left hand, then thrust forward a palm toward the charging Pill Lightning—a massive palm imprint erupted forth.

"Mountain Splitting Seal!"

Boom!!! The massive palm imprint slammed head-on into the Pill Lightning; the collision generated terrifying energy that surged outward. But the Mountain Splitting Seal was clearly insufficient—in just a moment, the Pill Lightning pierced through it like a divine spear.

Xiao Yan smiled at the corner of his mouth; that brief moment was enough. His right hand had already completed the hand seals, all his terrifying Dou Qi condensed into his right palm.

"Ocean Upheaval Seal!"

Xiao Yan struck again with another palm—this time, the palm imprint resembled a cataclysmic tsunami, surging with endless, rolling power, exuding a sense of softness overcoming hardness.

Boom!!! The two forces entangled together; the Ocean Upheaval Seal, like the sea itself, flowed with unceasing power, unlike the brute force of the Mountain Splitting Seal.

Finally, under Xiao Yan's sunny smile, both the Pill Lightning and the Ocean Upheaval Seal vanished together.

"Hm?" Xiao Yan frowned—he noticed the Pill Lightning was gone, but the thundercloud hadn't dispersed!

Seven-Grade Elixir isn't Eight-Grade; Seven-Grade Elixir produces only one Pill Lightning, never two. A Seven-Grade Intermediate Elixir only strengthens the Pill Lightning, it doesn't multiply it.

Only Eight-Grade Elixir summons colored Pill Lightning that grows both in number and strength.

At this moment, the thundercloud above Xiao Yan hadn't vanished—it was even growing larger, as if absorbing the Pill Lightning from Sima Lin and Bone Child Elder.

Seeing this strange phenomenon, Xiao Yan dared not be careless; he secretly activated the Burning Scripture. If all else failed, he'd have to use the Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes and the Five Wheel Departed Fire Technique.

At this moment, everyone else also sensed something was wrong. The Azure Sea Wyvern brought the Yan Alliance members to Xiao Yan's side; Qing Lin was about to step forward, but She Tianhao blocked her.

Qing Lin frowned, about to speak, but She Tianhao spoke first: "Qing Lin, you are the Holy Maiden of the Sky Serpent Clan. Some things you shouldn't interfere with."

Fortunately, the delayed Pill Lightning, after much deliberation, ultimately chose to vanish quietly.

Xiao Yan exhaled in relief, his gaze sharpening—the Qing Lotus Earth Core Fire in the Alchemy Furnace whooshed into a lotus shape, wrapping around the fleeing Great Soul Black Purple Pill.

"I worked hard to take the lightning strike for you, and you still want to run?"

Xiao Yan nodded to the Yan Alliance members, then slowly descended back to Guang Chang, his left hand cradling the Qing Lotus, a faint smile on his lips, as he walked calmly toward Bone Child Elder, whose face had turned pale.

"Master Xiao Yan, what effect does your Elixir have? Are you selling it?" At this moment, on the Shan Mai, an elderly Alchemist with white hair spoke up.

Xiao Yan, with his signature sunny smile, said leisurely: "What's the rush? My bet isn't over yet."

At this moment, no sect leader—not even the Sky Serpent Clan or Shi Ming Sect—said a word. Xiao Yan's Alchemy skill had moved everyone deeply.

The Yan Alliance isn't just rising—it's going to dominate! Dominate all the Alchemists of the Northwest Region!

Some even glanced secretly at Qiu Ping—perhaps the Yan Alliance will become the sixth family of the Dan Domain!

"Now, who won and who lost?" Xiao Yan asked, smiling at Bone Child Elder.

At this moment, Bone Child Elder's face was ashen; he could no longer maintain his former haughty posture. He stood utterly shattered, his expression vacant.

Sima Lin, too, was sensible—he slowly stepped back. From the Pill Lightning alone, it was clear he ranked third, and since he hadn't made a bet with Xiao Yan, he was merely an observer—no need to offend Xiao Yan.

At this moment, Bone Child Elder stood frozen. He had originally intended to seize Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames; if Xiao Yan dared resist, he'd have had the perfect excuse to kill him and take the flames.

But he never expected—his prized Alchemy skills had lost to Xiao Yan! From the Pill Lightning alone, it was obvious Xiao Yan's Elixir quality had reached Seven-Grade Intermediate!

Although the Soul Sect rated the Great Soul Black Purple Pill as Seven Rank Low Grade, that was the Soul Sect—their standards were always extremely high; Xiao Yan had been humiliated several times by Hun Lao Gui before.

(End of Chapter)