Previously, he memorized the medicinal properties of the herbs, but didn't thoroughly study the compatibility of their pharmacological characteristics.
Huo Yuhao was also unaware of the origins of the elixir book Su Yu held. While Su Yu operated the pill furnace with the book as a guide, Huo Yuhao assisted him.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
"Tsk tsk, it's finally looking different."
Su Yu lifted the lid of the pill furnace, revealing perfectly round and full elixirs, gleaming with spiritual luster and exuding a rich fragrance, and he smiled with satisfaction.
It's not that it took him a month to produce this single batch of elixirs.
It's just that this batch was the most satisfactory, reaching the standard he had in mind for the first time.
Alchemy is about perfectly activating the medicinal properties after refinement, making the effect at least twice as potent as direct consumption; otherwise, the elixir shouldn't be refined.
"Yuhao, try this Essence Nourishment Pill."
Among the dozen or so perfect products within the huge pill furnace, Su Yu extracted one and handed it to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao took the elixir and swallowed it directly.
The past month for him was both painful and joyful.
After refining a large number of elixirs, his Soul Power increased by one level instantly.
As for the impurities and pill toxins in the elixir, as they had just accumulated in the body, all were purified by the purifying power of Su Yu's Second Soul Skill.
The purification process, however, was somewhat painful.
Yet the rapid rise in Soul Power felt exhilarating, and Huo Yuhao had no complaints.
An hour later, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes.
"Brother Yu, this batch of elixirs has almost no impurities. Regarding the enhancement of Soul Power, perhaps I took too many, so the effect is not as potent, but still better than last time. Compared to the initial batch, excluding resistance development, the effect is at least triple."
...
With proficiency in alchemy techniques, control over herb dosage, and grasp of the right heat, Su Yu began adding precious herbs.
Three months later.
"The Great Rejuvenation Pill is finally refined."
Opening the furnace, Su Yu took out his recent masterpiece which he had steadily refined for an entire month.
The perfectly round elixir had a sheen of watery luster, its spirituality restrained, exuding a fragrant aroma. Even taking one breath made Su Yu, a Soul Saint, feel his Soul Power circulate more quickly.
"Allowing a Soul Beast to directly swallow this Great Rejuvenation Pill would elevate its cultivation by a thousand years."
Typically, a Soul Beast's Soul Power far exceeds a Soul Master's of the same level, especially in larger beasts.
Moreover, Soul Beasts rarely know how to refine independently.
Even under this premise, one Great Rejuvenation Pill could directly enhance a Soul Beast's cultivation by a thousand years; for a Soul Master, even a Soul King, it starts at a minimum of a Fifth-level Soul Power.
As for Su Yu as a Soul Saint, he could likely increase by one level directly.
The key point is that this batch yielded a full nine elixirs!
Of course, the Spirit Herbs and Elixirs harvested from Phoenix Continent were largely consumed.
"Given my circumstances, the first three Great Rejuvenation Pills could have their effects fully utilized. Beyond that, the impact might diminish."
Regarding Huo Yuhao, maybe the effect of three pills would equate to the theoretical efficacy of two.
The more he refines thereafter, the lesser the effect.
Ultimately, the two decided on the distribution: Su Yu would refine three pills, Huo Yuhao would also refine three, leaving the remaining three for Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
One Great Rejuvenation Pill could enable the sibling duo to reach Soul Emperor Level, potentially raising two to three levels of Soul Power at least.
After allocation, Su Yu and Huo Yuhao began refining the elixirs.
They didn't continue refining in Profound Nether Sect. After returning the alchemy room, they left and sought a place rich in Primordial Energy.
Returning the alchemy room in advance, Xu Yang was in a good mood, happily sending them off. Although the refinement of Profound Water Pill was minimally impacted, Xu Yang felt highly rewarded.
Not until he received a report from the sect's elder in charge of alchemy did he realize that even the residual medicinal aroma in the room invigorated Life Force enough to accelerate Soul Power circulation, causing a half-level increase in a brief period. Xu Yang's expression grew unsightly.
Damn, where did these two rascals get so many Spirit Herbs, ensuring such high-grade elixirs?
Only obtained a snake ganoderma with much diminished medicinal properties, totally losing out!
...
Arranging soul-guiding devices to prevent unexpected disturbances, Su Yu and Huo Yuhao began refining the elixirs.
The principle of elixir potency in enhancing Soul Power lies in stimulating internal Soul Power and the medicinal power's transformation of the body.
According to what Su Yu understood, enhancing Soul Master Soul Power Level involves perceiving various insights within Soul Power, imprinting its traits into the Soul Master's meridians and throughout the body.
Su Yu's immense Life Force can offer inexhaustible vitality for Soul Power and elevate the imprinting efficiency within meridians.
Elixir potency also accelerates this efficiency.
Differing from Life Force, elixir potency's impact on this aspect is much more pronounced. It not only invigorates Soul Power thoroughly but its inherent energy insights merge well within the body.
Refining elixirs takes a process as well.
After refining three elixirs, three months swiftly passed.
Su Yu merely spent two months, breaking through three levels to reach Level 79 with the Great Rejuvenation Pill's assistance.
During the previous four months of alchemy, Huo Yuhao and Su Yu consumed some intermediary elixirs, respectively increasing Soul Power by three and one level.
Overall, in six months—four months of alchemy and two months of elixir refinement—Su Yu's Soul Power increased by four levels!
It's certainly profitable.
As for Huo Yuhao, only after Su Yu refined the Great Rejuvenation Pill for another month did he fully absorb the potency of three Great Rejuvenation Pills.
Before refining the elixirs, his Soul Power had already reached Level 49.
First Great Rejuvenation Pill refined, broke through to Level 50, Mistaken God Butterfly granted him the Fifth Soul Ring; he directly surged to Level 55.
The subsequent two had diminished effects but still propelled his Soul Power near Level 59, almost reaching Level 60.
Opening his eyes, sensing his powerful Soul Power, Huo Yuhao felt a sense of having lived through an eternity.
Just half a year ago, he was at Level 46 Soul Sect, but now, at Level 59, he could achieve the sixth Soul Ring and become a Soul Emperor anytime!
Indeed, fortune appears just like this!
Simultaneously, Huo Yuhao began to regain confidence.
Previously, only a year younger than Su Yu, he faced a nearly thirty-level deficit.
Yet, the gap quickly narrowed.
At least from thirty levels to twenty.
Of course, Huo Yuhao knew raising Soul Power would grow harder over time. Yet, even in seeing the numerical gap in Soul Power consistently shrink, he felt a sense of relief.
At least the hope of catching up still existed.
Unlike Senior Xiao, whose soul-guiding device skills can barely reduce the numerical gap at all...
"Unknowingly, more than half a year has passed; let's go probe the Sun and Moon Empire's situation."
With only about a year remaining for the Soul Fighting Competition, Xu Tianran should cease any further disturbances.
Can send Huo Yuhao back.
Besides having Huo Yuhao by his side, sometimes the Spiritual Detection seemed quite convenient but also posed considerable inconvenience.
For instance, not daring to adventure recklessly.
What might be exploration for Su Yu is an adventure for Huo Yuhao.
Returning to a nearby town, Su Yu inquired about the current continent's situation.
"Heard Sun and Moon Empire's at war again."
"Alas, the new emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire is truly restless; should be replaced, I say!"
"Exactly, immediately began wars after ascending; if their internal affairs stabilize, won't the chaos intensify?"
A group of Grand Soul Masters with an air of advising rulers voiced their thoughts boldly.
"Alas, heard that rebellious factions within Sun and Moon Empire are almost obliterated."
"Hm, a bunch of incompetents. Xingluo Empire and Celestial Soul Empire applied pressure simultaneously, couldn't harm them internally!"
"..."