Chapter 314: Man-Made Calamity

In Hall Six, a hundred cultivators each had a wisp of flame suspended above their palms; under their control, the flames swelled and shrank, brightened and dimmed.

Hua Changxi moved among them, occasionally pointing out the control techniques for the 'Flame Manipulation Art' to some.

During this time, many cultivators wore obvious expressions of delight.

For no other reason, they found that after Hua Changxi's guidance, they were more precise not only in flame manipulation but also in their control of spiritual energy than before.

After understanding the flame control abilities of those present, Hua Changxi took out some first-grade spiritual herbs: "Next, I will explain the complete alchemy process."

"Step one: clearly decide what kind of pill to refine, and prepare the corresponding spiritual herbs according to the pill formula."

"Step two: after gathering all the spiritual herbs, they must also be washed and processed. Note that the quality of the processing directly affects the quality of the resulting pills."

"Step three: decompose and purify the required herbal components, and break down and grind the needed herbs into powder."

"Step four: fuse the medicinal ingredients and remove impurities."

"Starting from steps three and four, the demands on the alchemist increase significantly. Not only must the alchemist be familiar with the spiritual herbs, but they must also master the differences in the medicinal properties of each part of the herbs."

"Furthermore, they must have extremely high control over spiritual power; otherwise, insufficient decomposition, insufficient grinding, insufficient fusion, or insufficient impurity removal will all affect the pill's quality."

"Next is step five, the most critical and important step in alchemy: condensing the medicinal materials into a pill. Whether the pill can take shape determines whether this batch of pills is successfully refined."

"The final step is to seal the medicinal properties and spiritual energy of the pill."

Hua Changxi looked at everyone: "The steps of alchemy are not overly complicated, but refining high-quality pills is not that easy. If you wish to go far on the path of alchemy, you must lay a solid foundation in all aspects."

"Now, I will demonstrate the process of refining a first-grade Yuanling Pill."

The alchemy furnace Hua Changxi used for teaching was only an ordinary furnace. To let everyone see the alchemy steps clearly, she deliberately slowed down her movements.

The spirit flame was lit, and one by one, spiritual herbs flew into the furnace: decomposition, grinding, fusion...

Everyone watched with rapt attention, including the second-grade and third-grade alchemists present.

Every step of Hua Changxi's alchemy was extremely concise, exuding a Dao resonance of returning to simplicity.

Soon, a rich scent of pills diffused throughout Hall Six.

The pill coalesced and took shape!

The furnace lid opened, and ten first-grade Yuanling Pills emitting a green glow appeared in everyone's sight.

They were supreme-grade pills!

Although they had long known that Hua Changxi's alchemy skills were not poor, and had guessed that she could refine supreme-grade pills, seeing her so easily produce nearly perfect supreme-grade pills still greatly shook everyone present.

Director Gu's eyes flickered, and a guess leaped into his mind: Could it be that the Alchemy Flame of the First Street of Nine Streets was lit by Hua Changxi?

Not only did he think so, but many others present also had such speculations.

Hua Changxi summoned the ten first-grade supreme-grade Yuanling Pills before her; on the smooth pills, there was a conspicuous green pattern: "These are first-grade pills, so they only have one pill pattern."

After speaking, she waved her hand, and the ten Yuanling Pills began to circulate within Hall Six.

The listeners immediately suppressed the many thoughts in their minds and earnestly examined the first-grade supreme-grade pills before them.

"If you want to know the quality of the pills you refine, you only need to look at one thing: whether the pill pattern is complete."

"Low-grade pills have the most flawed pill patterns, and the brightness of the pattern is the dimmest."

"Low-grade pills also contain the most impurities. Consuming too many low-grade pills not only leaves residual pill toxins in the body but can also damage the spiritual root."

"Supreme-grade pills have complete pill patterns, suffused with pill luster, and consuming supreme-grade pills has almost no side effects."

The first-grade supreme-grade Yuanling Pills Hua Changxi refined had bright, prominent pill patterns that completely encircled each pill.

"Alright, I have demonstrated the complete steps of alchemy and the actual operational process. Now, take out your furnaces and refine a batch of first-grade pills for me to see."

Upon hearing this, everyone took out their prepared alchemy furnaces and spiritual herbs, and one by one began to refine pills.

Among those present, most were already alchemists. Except for a few whose alchemy level was decent, the rest had obvious deficiencies.

Hua Changxi quietly watched everyone refining pills. At this moment, she just wanted to understand their alchemy level, so she did not step forward to correct them.

When she saw Dongfang Xu and Dongfang Hao, her gaze flickered slightly.

To be honest, seeing these two in Hall Six surprised her a little, since they had come with the Xia family to the Medical Affairs Department and were theoretically members of the Guardian Clan faction.

Today, besides the apprentices from Danyuan Peak, everyone else present was from the power circles of the capital's noble families, so the appearance of these two people was exceptionally conspicuous.

However, the two of them were quite skilled in alchemy.

When most people had finished refining one batch of pills, Hua Changxi saw that it was getting late and simply said, "Let's stop here for today. Class dismissed."

Watching Hua Changxi's retreating figure, Dongfang Xu packed away his furnace and said to Dongfang Hao, "This Hua Changxi's class is actually worth attending—quite rewarding."

Dongfang Hao nodded in agreement: "In the art of alchemy, I'm afraid even Qingyao can't match her."

Dongfang Xu tilted his head: "Sister Qingyao is very talented, but compared to Hua Changxi, something always seems missing."

Dongfang Hao was silent for a moment, then said, "Qingyao is a vine clinging to the two mountains of the Xia and Meng families; Hua Changxi is a single tree rooted deep in the earth."

Dongfang Xu's eyes suddenly lit up after hearing this: "Brother, that comparison is very fitting."

Dongfang Hao sighed inwardly—with Hua Changxi around, it would be difficult for the Guardian Families to elevate Qingyao to the position of Holy Land Master.

In the days that followed, Hua Changxi spent her days at Hall No. 6 teaching alchemy techniques, and her nights back at Danyuan Peak cultivating the *Twelve Forms of Soul Control*.

Day by day slipped away, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-November.

On the sixteenth of November, Hua Changxi was guiding Mu Qingying in the technique for sealing the medicinal properties and spiritual power of pills when suddenly a deafening sound like a mountain splitting and the earth cracking exploded—as if something had burst—startling everyone, their faces turning pale.

"What happened?"

"Look, what is that?"

In the southern direction of the capital, spiderweb-like black fissures appeared in the sky, and countless scorching, crimson fire spiritual energy gushed out.

That part of the sky looked exactly like an eggshell that had been cracked open by someone.

This scene made everyone's pupils constrict.

"That's... a spatial rift!"

Hua Changxi's expression also changed drastically. Through the spatial rift, she saw the fiery red Fusang tree.

Something had happened to the Qisheng Palace!

Thinking of Hua Liulang, who was at the Qisheng Palace, Hua Changxi said nothing. She condensed a spiritual cloud, instantly flashed into the air, and flew rapidly toward the direction of the Qisheng Palace.

Around the artifact refining workshop where the Qisheng Palace ruins were located, spatial rifts continued to spread and grow larger. Nearby commoners were either sucked into the rifts, severely injured by them, or burned by the gushing fire spiritual energy.

The death and injuries were so horrific it was like being in a purgatory.

When Hua Changxi arrived, she was greatly startled by this bloody scene.

She wanted to save people, but because the spatial rifts affected such a vast area, she didn't even know where to start.

"Space is tearing apart! The Qisheng Palace requests all fellow Daoists to join forces to suppress the spatial rifts!"

A voice filled with urgency and pleading rang through the air, and immediately several figures flew out, releasing spiritual power in an anxious attempt to stop the rifts from spreading.

As soon as the words fell, countless cultivators flew out from all directions and began to jointly suppress the spatial rifts.

Hua Changxi also joined in, but soon she realized this wouldn't work—cultivators' spiritual power was limited, and they couldn't hold out for long.

Just then, Tong Yao suddenly rushed over, grabbed Hua Changxi's arm, his face full of anxiety: "Changxi, now only you can help the Qisheng Palace."

Hua Changxi paused: "How can I help?"

Tong Yao pulled her along: "Come with me first; we'll talk as we go."

Seeing this, Hua Changxi withdrew her spiritual power and let Tong Yao pull her as they flew toward the ground.

"Someone used a Dao weapon to blast the Qisheng Palace's protective grand formation, causing a large-scale tear in space. If the rifts continue to spread, it will lead to spatial collapse."

"By then, not only will the old site of the Qisheng Palace be severely damaged, but even the Fusang Divine Tree will suffer heavy harm."

Tong Yao quickly explained what had happened: "Using spiritual power to suppress it can only slow the spread of the rifts. Once the suppressing force disappears, the space will still collapse."

Hua Changxi hadn't expected the current situation to be caused by human action: "What do you want me to do to help?"

By now, the two were standing on the ground. Tong Yao looked solemnly at Hua Changxi, a hint of hesitation on his face, as if he found it difficult to speak.

Hua Changxi listened to the cries of agony rising and falling around her, her mind agitated and restless: "Just say it—whether I can help or not, I'll decide for myself."

Tong Yao stopped dilly-dallying: "I heard from Xia Yang and Xia Xue that you once entered the space where the Fusang Divine Tree resides."

Hua Changxi nodded.

Tong Yao: "The Great Sun Divine Flame is the supreme treasure of the Artifact Saint Palace; combined with the Artifact Saint Palace's Sky-Forging Hammer Technique, it can repair spatial rifts."

Hua Changxi understood his meaning: "You want me to enter the spatial rift and manifest the Great Sun Divine Flame?"

Tong Yao nodded: "I know it's very dangerous, but the Artifact Saint Palace truly has no other way."

Hua Changxi fell into contemplation. Entering the spatial rift was undoubtedly dangerous, but she had mastered the Law of 'Rift', so in that regard she was not afraid.

What she worried about was being unable to withstand the power of the Great Sun Divine Flame.

Looking at the many cultivators in the high sky who were struggling to suppress the spread of the spatial rift, Hua Changxi gritted her teeth. She would treat it as tempering her body with the Great Sun Divine Flame: "Alright, I agree."