Pill Success, Tier Two Fist Gauntlet, Twelve Qi and Blood, Grand Celebration

Time flew by, and it was finally the day Wang Yue had agreed to refine pills with Fu Shuangyun.

The streets of the Wang Clan were still cool in the early morning. As Wang Yue stepped out of his residence, he heard several people talking not far away. Their conversation was all about the "Grand Ceremony of the Three-Headed Buddha."

"Did you hear? The Grand Ceremony of the Three-Headed Buddha is being moved up! My old man has already started preparing incense and candles, saying he's going to ask for a peace charm!"

"Isn't that right! We originally thought we'd have to wait over a month, but who knew a young abbot came to the temple? As soon as he took office, he changed the date, saying it was to follow the will of heaven."

Wang Yue's footsteps paused, and he frowned. He had heard from Wanyan Shun before that the Grand Ceremony of the Three-Headed Buddha was an important festival for Changyun County and its surrounding areas, usually held at the end of the month. Why had it been moved up so suddenly?

He took a couple of steps forward and asked the Wang Clan disciples who were chatting, "Isn't the Grand Ceremony still more than a month away? Why has it been moved up?"

Seeing that it was Wang Yue, they quickly stopped talking and bowed respectfully, "Senior Brother! We're just repeating what our elders said; we don't know the specific reasons. We only know that the new abbot at the temple is much younger than the previous one, and he ordered the ceremony to be held earlier. He also said that this Grand Ceremony will bring special blessings, attracting people from other counties who want to join the excitement."

A young abbot? Holding it earlier? A sharp glint appeared in Wang Yue's eyes. He unconsciously rubbed his sleeve cuff. This matter seemed rather unusual. Wanyan Shun had mentioned before that blessings from gods and buddhas could help disciples gain enlightenment, and now the Grand Ceremony was being moved up.

He pondered for a moment, a plan forming in his mind: With so many people attending, one more wouldn't make a difference. He might as well go and take a look. It would also be a good opportunity to witness the scene of ancient people praying to gods and buddhas, and perhaps he could even uncover the truth behind these blessings.

Suppressing his doubts, Wang Yue quickened his pace and soon arrived at the Pill Refining Courtyard.

The Cloud Sea Cauldron in the courtyard had already been cleaned and stood quietly in the center. The cloud patterns carved on its body emitted a faint luster in the morning light. Fu Shuangyun was standing by, organizing the medicinal ingredients. Seeing Wang Yue arrive, a smile appeared on his face, "You're quite punctual. What's wrong? Nervous for your first time refining pills?"

Wang Yue nodded honestly, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity, "Master, I am indeed a bit nervous. It's my first time doing this, and I'm afraid of making mistakes." Although he possessed the talents of [Pill Refining] and [Hundred Pills Mastery], he didn't want to appear too abnormal.

Fu Shuangyun nodded slightly and placed a wooden medicine box on the stone table next to Wang Yue. Inside, the medicinal ingredients for refining the Blood Replenishing Pill were neatly arranged. There were over a dozen stalks of Astragalus and Angelica for replenishing Qi, a few pieces of licorice to harmonize the medicinal properties, and the most crucial main ingredient: a small piece of Scarlet Blood Ginseng, about the size of a fingernail, with a dark red color and a rich medicinal fragrance.

"The medicinal ingredients are all here, and the quantities have been measured. Just follow the steps." Fu Shuangyun stepped back a few paces and stood in the corridor, adopting a posture of observation rather than intervention. Wang Yue knew that Fu Shuangyun wouldn't offer any hints. Pill refining required the unity of heart and hand; the experience gained through one's own exploration was the true skill.

Wang Yue took a deep breath and walked to the Cloud Sea Cauldron. He first checked the charcoal at the bottom of the furnace, ensuring it was dry and free of moisture, before lighting the fire. He didn't rush to add more firewood but instead let the small fire slowly warm the furnace body. This was the "warming the furnace and nurturing the cauldron" emphasized in the [Pill Refining] talent, which ensured even temperature distribution within the furnace, preventing the subsequent medicinal ingredients from being heated unevenly.

When the furnace body was slightly warm, Wang Yue gradually added the charcoal, controlling the size of the flame. At the same time, he opened the furnace lid to allow air circulation within the furnace. Once the temperature inside reached a point where it was "warm to the touch but not scalding," he picked up the auxiliary ingredients from the medicine box and, following the principle of "light first, then heavy," added the Astragalus and Angelica into the furnace.

The moment the medicinal ingredients entered the furnace, a faint, fresh herbal fragrance wafted out. Wang Yue didn't pause. He gripped the knob of the gas release hole on the side of the furnace with his right hand, turning it every so often. Sometimes he would open a small gap to allow the steam from the medicinal ingredients, along with impurities, to escape. Other times, he would close it completely, concentrating the heat within the furnace to accelerate the release of the medicinal properties.

As the auxiliary ingredients gradually melted, the medicinal fragrance inside the furnace grew stronger. Wang Yue keenly noticed that the medicinal fragrance in the air had shifted from a slightly bitter herbal scent to a rich and sweet aroma, indicating that the time was right. He quickly picked up the piece of Scarlet Blood Ginseng and carefully placed it into the furnace. Simultaneously, he completely closed all the gas release holes, causing the temperature inside the furnace to soar instantly, firmly locking the vital essence of the Scarlet Blood Ginseng within.

In just a moment, a powerful medicinal fragrance that made one's heart tremble erupted, several times stronger than before. Even Fu Shuangyun, standing at a distance, instinctively straightened his body, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

Wang Yue dared not delay. He immediately picked up the cold water bucket beside him and splashed it onto the charcoal at the bottom of the furnace. With a whoosh, the cold water met the high-temperature charcoal, instantly generating a large amount of white mist. The flames inside the furnace were immediately extinguished. This was "sudden cooling to lock properties," which allowed the pills to solidify at high temperatures while retaining their core medicinal properties.

As the white mist gradually dissipated, Wang Yue took a deep breath, gripped the handles of the furnace lid with both hands, and slowly lifted it. A rich medicinal fragrance that stirred one's Qi and Blood rushed towards him. At the bottom of the furnace lay more than a dozen perfectly round pills, all crimson in color, emitting a faint glow. Not a single one was a charred waste pill.

"It's done!" Fu Shuangyun's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked forward, even more excited than Wang Yue. He picked up a jade jar prepared nearby and carefully scooped out the pills, placing them on a white porcelain plate to count them. "Twelve Blood Replenishing Pills were successfully refined, with four waste pills. And... two high-quality ones!" He said the last sentence with particular solemnity. The success rate for high-quality Blood Replenishing Pills was extremely low. Even he couldn't guarantee that every batch would yield high-quality pills. For Wang Yue to produce two on his first attempt was beyond mere good talent!

Fu Shuangyun took out a porcelain bottle from his embrace, placing all twelve refined pills and the two high-quality Blood Replenishing Pills into it. After sealing the bottle, he handed it to Wang Yue, "This is the result of your first pill refining. Keep it yourself."

Wang Yue received the porcelain bottle with both hands. It felt heavy in his grasp, and his heart was filled with joy. With the Blood Replenishing Pills he had refined himself, his cultivation of the Blood Dragon Secret Method and the nourishment of his Qi and Blood would be even faster in the future. The pills were refined by himself, and he had an entire root of Scarlet Blood Ginseng. The other ingredients were just minor components, allowing Wang Yue to produce and sell them himself in the future.

Fu Shuangyun looked at the porcelain bottle in his hand, his expression complex. He had recognized three hundred types of medicinal ingredients in seven days and could independently refine Blood Replenishing Pills in three days, even producing two high-quality ones. Such talent, even if placed in the Fire Forging Peak of the Dragon Transformation Sect, was unheard of. He couldn't understand it: how could a disciple from a small county clan possess such terrifying learning ability?

"Master Fu, I have stored the pills. I will take my leave now. If I have any questions in the future, I will come to you for guidance." Wang Yue bowed to Fu Shuangyun, his tone still respectful, without any arrogance due to his successful pill refining.

Fu Shuangyun snapped back to reality and waved his hand, "Go. Carefully ponder the pill refining process today; it will be beneficial for your future improvement in pill refining." He watched Wang Yue's retreating back, secretly making up his mind. This child's talent was too astonishing. He had to report this matter to Elder Zhu as soon as possible. Perhaps he could be admitted to the Fire Forging Peak for special training.

Wang Yue, holding the porcelain bottle, walked towards the Essence Chamber in the Patriarch's mansion.

In the following days, Wang Yue lived an exceptionally fulfilling life. Every day before dawn, he went to the Pill Refining Courtyard. Seeing his outstanding talent in pill refining, Fu Shuangyun no longer held back. He not only taught Wang Yue how to identify rare medicinal ingredients but also took out several scrolls of Tier One Mid-Grade pill recipes, explaining the key points of medicinal ingredient compatibility and heat control for pills ranging from Qi Condensation Pills to Body Tempering Pills.

With the [Hundred Pills Mastery] talent as his foundation, coupled with Fu Shuangyun's guidance, Wang Yue's pill refining skills improved by leaps and bounds. In just a few days, he had mastered the refinement of three Tier One pills, with a success rate consistently above eighty percent and a high-quality rate reaching twenty percent. This left Fu Shuangyun sighing repeatedly about the formidable capabilities of the younger generation.

In the afternoon, Wang Yue would arrive at the forging workshop on time. Perhaps it was the complementary effect of exerting maximum force during weapon forging and the nourishment from the Essence Chamber. Over these past few days, Wang Yue's physical strength had visibly increased. His arms, which would become sore and swollen after half an hour of swinging the hammer, could now continuously forge for an hour without rest. Even the cultivation of the Blood Dragon Secret Method had accelerated significantly. He had mastered most of the variations of the sixth stance and was only one step away from complete mastery.

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The days passed by in a blur of pill refining, medicinal quenching, and iron forging. In the blink of an eye, it was the day before the Grand Ceremony of the Buddha.

In a compartment of the Essence Chamber, Wang Yue stood amidst a mist-like essence. Eleven streams of Qi and Blood surged within his body like a tide. He took a deep breath, circulated the Blood Dragon Secret Method to its extreme, and simultaneously took a high-quality Blood Replenishing Pill. Today, he was going to break through to the twelfth stream of Qi and Blood!

"Hah!" A low roar erupted from Wang Yue's mouth. The Qi and Blood within his body suddenly condensed, crashing against the invisible barrier of Qi and Blood like a rushing river. This was the unique bottleneck of breaking through the limits of Qi and Blood in the Blood Condensation Realm. The more Qi and Blood condensed, the more solidified the barrier would become.

The moment his Qi and Blood collided with the barrier, Wang Yue felt a dull pain in his chest, his meridians feeling as if they were being torn apart. But he didn't stop. Instead, he urged the medicinal power of the Blood Replenishing Pill, causing the eleven streams of Qi and Blood to impact the barrier repeatedly, like a surging tide. In just a moment, the barrier that had previously rendered him helpless shattered with a bang under the dual impact of Qi and Blood and medicinal power! The twelfth stream of Qi and Blood, emerged!

Wang Yue's eyes shot out a brilliant light. A new surge of Qi and Blood, like a newborn red sun, slowly rose in his dantian, emitting a heart-palpitating, profound aura.

The next second, twelve surges of Qi and Blood simultaneously erupted with warm energy, washing over his limbs like magma. This refinement was more intense than the tenth and eleventh surges combined. The tearing pain in his muscles made Wang Yue groan involuntarily, cold sweat instantly soaking his clothes. But he gritted his teeth and endured, letting the Qi and Blood refine his bones and meridians.

After an unknown amount of time, the refinement gradually ended. The intense pain receded, replaced by an unprecedented sense of power. His body felt as if it had been reshaped, with significant improvements in strength, speed, and resilience. Even his senses had sharpened, allowing him to clearly hear the subtle sounds of wind and grass outside the secret chamber.

Wang Yue took a slight breath, feeling the twelve surges of Qi and Blood coursing through his body. He couldn't help but fantasize, "If I could condense sixteen surges of Qi and Blood, and then master the first level of the Blood Dragon Secret Method, how strong would I be then?"

But he quickly collected his thoughts and sighed softly, "The road ahead is long and arduous; I will seek it both above and below. The Blood Condensation Realm is merely the starting point of martial arts; I cannot be too eager for success."

Actually, according to his original plan, he would wait until his Qi and Blood naturally filled up to the point of overflowing before breaking through, which would make his foundation more solid. However, tomorrow was the Buddha's Grand Celebration, and he wasn't sure what situations he might encounter. Condensing the twelfth surge of Qi and Blood in advance was also for an extra layer of security.

"Since I've broken through, I'll forge myself a handy weapon!" A hint of anticipation flashed in Wang Yue's eyes. He turned and walked towards the forging workshop. He had saved up three pieces of eighty-forged refined iron, which were perfect for crafting a pair of fist gauntlets. They would not only enhance his close-combat defense but also allow him to exert greater power when combined with the Dragon Transformation Fist.

That's right, the Dragon Transformation Fist Martial Soul on the hammer had already been extracted by Wang Yue.

As soon as he entered the forging workshop, a familiar figure emerged from behind the tool rack – it was Liu Haibing.

"Master Liu!" Wang Yue quickly bowed and cupped his fists in greeting.

Liu Haibing chuckled, walked forward, and patted his shoulder. His tone was filled with undisguised praise: "You kid, your progress recently has been truly meteoric. Just a few days ago, you could barely forge sixty-forged iron, and now you're already on the verge of eighty-forged. It's astonishing!"

He had been secretly observing Wang Yue these past few days. While he was no longer surprised by the speed of Wang Yue's progress, he couldn't help but marvel at it.

Wang Yue smiled slightly, not offering further explanation. He walked directly to the forging platform, picked up a pair of tongs, grabbed a piece of eighty-forged refined iron, and was about to place it into the furnace.

Just then, Liu Haibing unbuckled the golden-gleaming Weapon Forging Hammer from his waist and handed it to Wang Yue. His tone was casual, "Use this. Your Black Iron Hammer's force is too scattered; forging eighty-forged iron with it is prone to errors."

Wang Yue's eyes instantly lit up. He took the Weapon Forging Hammer with both hands. Even though he had already extracted the [Hundred Forgings] and [Hundred Weapons] talents from the hammer before, as soon as he held it, he felt a familiar sense of connection.

It was as if the hammer had already merged with his arm. The residual insights of weapon forging on the hammer flowed into his mind like a gentle stream, deepening his understanding of hammer techniques.

"Thank you, Master Liu!" Wang Yue suppressed his excitement, placed the refined iron into the furnace, ignited the charcoal, and began forging the fist gauntlets.

The sound of the hammer echoed in the workshop, heavy blows shaping the outline of the fist gauntlets. Quenching, tempering, polishing – every step was precise. Under the enhancement of the [Hundred Forgings] talent and the Weapon Forging Hammer, the prototype of the fist gauntlets quickly took shape.

He worked until evening. The afterglow of the sunset streamed through the window into the workshop, and Wang Yue finally completed the last polishing step. A pair of entirely black fist gauntlets lay quietly on the anvil. The surface of the fists was covered with fine hammer marks, the knuckles had raised spikes, giving them a sharp yet flexible appearance. The edges were inlaid with a thin layer of copper, enhancing their defense and aesthetics.

The moment the fist gauntlets were formed, a faint golden light flashed across their surface. A prompt immediately popped up on Wang Yue's status panel:

[Tier Two Item: Black Patterned Fist Gauntlets] [Tier Two Combat Talent: Foresight]During combat, you can faintly predict the opponent's next move. [Tier Two Talent: Hundred Battles]Every hard-won victory will make you stronger!

"It's actually a dual talent, and one of them is a combat talent!" Wang Yue's expression was startled, and his heart was filled with ecstasy. [Foresight] could improve combat prediction, and [Hundred Battles] could make him stronger with each battle. These two talents were tailor-made for actual combat!

He carefully put on the fist gauntlets and flexed his fingers. There was no sense of stiffness at all. Instead, he could clearly feel the gauntlets fitting perfectly with his arms, as if they had grown there naturally.

"Master Liu, this junior will take his leave now!" Wang Yue bowed to Liu Haibing, eager to return and familiarize himself with the fist gauntlets and his new talents.

Liu Haibing waved his hand, watching Wang Yue rub the fist gauntlets as he walked away, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

A scene from his youth suddenly flashed through his mind. Back then, he had just forged his first Tier One long sword and was brandishing it on a cliff behind the sect's mountain, pretending to be a majestic sword master, which made his fellow disciples laugh heartily.

"It's truly nostalgic..." Liu Haibing murmured softly, a hint of remembrance in his eyes. "Back then, Master was still very young. He always said I was 'too impatient and couldn't settle down.' Now that I think about it, Master was absolutely right."