On Wonderful Pill Peak.
In a secluded courtyard, wisps of smoke drifted through waves of pill fragrance.
Six Pill Refiners with two-striped badges at their waists stood in the Pill Room, every gaze fixed on the young figure at its center.
Compared with the rosy-lipped, white-toothed boy of years past, he had matured considerably. A trace of steadiness now rested between his brows.
But the six paid none of that any mind. They watched intently as he performed one pill-refining technique after another, processing the medicinal ingredients with unhurried precision.
As time passed, the admiration in their eyes grew deeper.
When their gazes met, none bothered to hide their appreciation.
"Xuan Luo's Crane Burning Hand was utterly free of showy flourish. His foundations are clearly solid, not just polished on the surface."
"I'd say that Cloud Transformation Hand just now was even more astonishing. Like an antelope hanging by its horns, it left no trace to follow. His proficiency surpasses ours!"
"Now I finally know what a Pill Refining genius looks like!"
"That's what genius is. He didn't need to pile up practice by sheer volume. He could put a technique to use as soon as he got it, and his speed of comprehension was astonishing."
"Everyone, surely Xuan Luo is qualified to join us?"
"If he isn't, then who on all of Wonderful Pill Peak would be?"
When the young man lifted the furnace lid and a rich pill fragrance spilled out, the six fell silent mid-conversation.
In its place came cries of heartfelt praise.
"Excellent!"
"Worthy of a genius the Su Ling Sect sees only once a century!"
"A century? Senior Brother Zhu, you're being too modest. In my view, the sect might not produce another with Xuan Luo's Alchemy Talent in a thousand years!"
Amid the praise,