Chapter 29: Hard Training in Alchemy
"Ridiculous! When have I ever taught improper alchemy?" Yao Lao widened his eyes, though a hint of guilt flashed across his face.
"Stop wasting time. Let's get started." Xiao Yan cast him an impatient glance. Once he set his mind to something, he wasted no time, unwilling to let even a second go to waste.
Hearing this, Yao Lao's expression grew serious.
"With your current Dou Qi cultivation and soul strength, you have the foundation to become a seven tier alchemist. All you need is to keep honing your alchemy skills through practice."
"Since you're already capable of refining peak five tier pills, it's time for you to attempt six tier pills." With a wave of his hand, Yao Lao summoned a pile of precious medicinal ingredients into the alchemy chamber.
"Refining six tier pills isn't easy. Start with the simplest, the Void Spirit Pill, and then move on to the Azure Serenity Longevity Pill, the Rejuvenation Violet Spirit Pill, and finally the Imperial Extreme Pill. The difficulty will increase with each one. I'll observe and point out any mistakes."
Yao Lao tossed a few scrolls to Xiao Yan. Except for the one containing the formula for the Rejuvenation Violet Spirit Pill, Xiao Yan already had the rest. He opened the new scroll, and moments later, a stream of information flowed into his mind.
"Void Spirit Fruit, Violet Spirit Seven Leaf Grass..."
Once he had memorized the details of the pill recipes, Xiao Yan also reviewed the Void Spirit Pill's process in his mind. Only then did he begin his work.
A flick of his finger released a burst of green flame, which soon engulfed the entire alchemy cauldron. As the temperature steadily rose, Xiao Yan reached for the primary ingredient for the Void Spirit Pill: the Void Spirit Fruit, which he carefully placed into the cauldron.
Then, he added a few auxiliary ingredients.
However, Xiao Yan didn't dump all the ingredients at once. Refining a six tier pill required nearly a hundred different materials, and the process was complex. A single misstep could lead to failure. Therefore, Xiao Yan was cautious, splitting the ingredients into three batches to extract their essences one by one.
"Phew!" After extracting the essences of all the ingredients, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, closing his eyes to center himself and recover some Dou Qi.
Even with his formidable Dou Qi, refining a six tier pill was a taxing endeavor.
Once he felt ready, he reignited the flame and began combining the extracted essences according to the recipe's precise sequence.
"The temperature's a bit too high."
"For the Void Spirit Fruit's juice, roasting it with intermittent flames yields better results."
The green flames reflected off Yao Lao's face, making him appear slightly sinister. Yet, his expression was nothing but serious.
Though he wasn't the one refining the pill, his professionalism as a top tier alchemist shone through, offering meticulous guidance at every step.
Under Yao Lao's tutelage, Xiao Yan's alchemy skills improved rapidly.
As a near nine tier alchemist, Yao Lao's status was akin to a grandmaster in both the Xiao and Yao clans. Before becoming the Xiao Clan's Imperial Son, even Xiao Yan would have had to show him utmost respect.
After an hour of focused effort, the cauldron emitted a gentle tremor. The pill's completion released a surge of energy, colliding with the walls of the cauldron and producing a melodious chime.
"That sound is as beautiful as a good cauldron," Xiao Yan quipped to himself, reining in his emotions as he retrieved the pill.
The pill was milky white, radiating a soft glow. Just a whiff of its fragrance was enough to invigorate one's spirit.
"Impressive. Succeeding on your first attempt at refining a six tier pill shows your extraordinary talent," Yao Lao said with a satisfied smile, reaffirming his belief in Xiao Yan's monstrous potential.
"Take a short break before moving on to the next pill. Remember, every successful alchemist hones their craft through countless repetitions and materials."
Xiao Yan nodded, sitting cross legged to rest for half an hour before starting on his next pill.
Meanwhile, a similar scene played out in Xuan Yi's alchemy chamber.
"I did it!" Cao Ying exclaimed, retrieving a dark green pill from her cauldron.
The faint medicinal aroma lingered in the air, a testament to her own extraordinary talent.
Fifth Tier Pill: Azure Turtle Longevity Pill
The Azure Turtle Longevity Pill is a fifth tier alchemical pill that, once consumed, grants the user a prolonged lifespan, mirroring the longevity of a fifth tier magical beast, the Azure Armored Longevity Turtle. It's a favored method among aging powerhouses to extend their lives.
However, the pill comes with a price: the user's strength is restricted to only 30% of their full potential. Exceeding this limit nullifies the pill's effects, requiring another dose to regain the longevity benefits. Despite this drawback, the pill remains highly sought after by elderly experts.
"Not bad. You've finally managed to refine a fifth tier pill." Xuan Yi's face showed satisfaction as she looked at her disciple.
Cao Ying, who was still a few months shy of her fifteenth birthday, had successfully refined a fifth tier pill. Soon, she would officially become a fifth tier alchemist.
A fifteen year old fifth tier alchemist such a prodigy was a rarity in even the past hundred years of the Dan Tower's history.
"Not enough!" Determination and intensity were etched across Cao Ying's delicate, alluring face.
"If I want to defeat Xiao Yan, this is nowhere near enough!" she said resolutely before reigniting the Blood Demon Flame to continue her alchemy.
"This child…" Xuan Yi's expression grew complicated as she observed Cao Ying's serious demeanor.
Cao Ying, a girl who had always been idolized by her peers, had for the first time been bested by someone her own age and not just in any field, but in her strongest domain: fire manipulation.
"Yao Chen, that old fox… He probably knew Ying'er's strength, yet he still had such confidence in his disciple. Just what kind of monstrous talent is this Xiao Yan?"
The thought made Xuan Yi inwardly curse Yao Chen. "It's bad enough you used to bully me, but now even your disciple is bullying mine!"
In another alchemy chamber within the Dan Clan's resting area, Dan Chen was also diligently improving her alchemy skills. Her soft, pale face bore a look of determination rarely seen on her.
The Competition Begins
The seven days passed in the blink of an eye, and the highly anticipated Dan Region Youth Alchemy Competition officially began.
While it didn't compare to the Pill Gathering, a grand event that encompassed all of Central Plains and even the entire Dou Qi Continent, this competition was still a lively occasion for the people of the Dan Region.
In Holy Pill City, the bustling streets were packed with crowds. Many young alchemy prodigies from various places gathered, eager to showcase their skills.
Xiao Yan's Alchemy Training
"Boom!" A terrifying energy fluctuation erupted from within Xiao Yan's cauldron, comparable to the self detonation of a Dou Wang expert.
However, most of the explosive force was contained by the cauldron, and the remaining trace was easily dispersed by a wave of Xiao Yan's hand.
"That's the third failure," Xiao Yan muttered, his reddened eyes glinting as he took a deep breath.
"It's only your third attempt," Yao Lao said reassuringly. "While the Imperial Extreme Pill isn't the most advanced of sixth tier pills, it's still among the top tier. Even with your exceptional talent, failure is natural especially given how overworked you've been these past few days."
Yao Lao glanced at the twelve jade bottles lined up neatly in front of Xiao Yan. Over the past seven days, Xiao Yan had attempted 30 refining sessions. Of these, 12 were successful, and 18 ended in failure. The amount of precious medicinal materials he had used would have made even a Dou Zong expert green with envy.
Yet, Yao Lao didn't even blink at the wasted resources. What truly impressed him was Xiao Yan's relentless determination the fierce resolve to excel at whatever he set his mind to.
Talent and a powerful background aside, it was Xiao Yan's grit and resilience that left Yao Lao deeply in awe.
"Rest, Xiao Yan. You've been pushing yourself too hard. Sometimes, a well rested body and mind can make all the difference in success."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded. He casually popped a Spirit Recovery Pill into his mouth and sat cross legged to meditate.
The relentless seven days of alchemy had drained him. Even his soul power was nearly depleted. Certain tasks required a balance between effort and rest to achieve the best results.
While Xiao Yan rested, in another alchemy chamber, Cao Ying also reached a breakthrough.
"I've done it!" Cao Ying exclaimed as she carefully drew a deep green pill from her cauldron.
The atmosphere of rivalry between these young prodigies continued to intensify as the competition loomed ever closer.
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