Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill? I'll Teach You How to Refine It!

Under the night sky, most of the Xiao Family had already fallen silent. Only the valley behind the mountain, isolated by space, and the newly built Alchemy Room personally arranged by Xiao Chen still shone with light.

Inside the Alchemy Room, Medicinal Fragrance hung thick in the air, and energy swirled within it. A dark-red Medicine Cauldron of ancient design, engraved with intricate runes and far superior to any cauldron in the Jia Ma Empire, floated in midair. Beneath it burned not ordinary fire, but a stable high-temperature flame exquisitely simulated by Xiao Chen with dou qi.

Xiao Yan was wholly focused, his Soul Power spreading like a web as he meticulously controlled every change within the Medicine Cauldron. He was attempting to refine a Peak Fifth-grade Pill—the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill!

This was the limit of his current alchemy grade, and also the stepping stone he intended to use to advance to a Sixth-grade Alchemist. The Medicinal Ingredients had long been prepared, but before the great battle with the Misty Cloud Sect, he had not been fully confident. Now, after his brother Xiao Chen's Foundation Cleansing, his Soul Power had greatly increased, and his control over dou qi was no longer what it had been. He could not wait to give it a try.

One precious Medicinal Ingredient after another was tossed into the Medicine Cauldron, rapidly melting and being purified under the high heat until they became pure medicinal liquids of varying colors. Xiao Yan's movements flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, displaying his solid fundamentals. However, when he reached the crucial step of merging several medicinal liquids with conflicting attributes and preparing to form the pill, fine beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead. His Soul Power was being rapidly drained, while the energy within the Medicine Cauldron grew restless, faintly showing signs of losing control.

"Steady the heat. There is too much Wood Attribute medicinal liquid—use Fire Spirit Power to suppress it slightly. Pay attention to balancing the properties of the Ice Spirit Flame Grass. It does not merely cool; it harmonizes!" A calm voice sounded from the side. It was Xiao Chen, standing with his hands behind his back as he observed the refinement process.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately adjusted as instructed. He separated a trace of Bone Spirit Cold Flame's aura—though he had not completely devoured it, he could already borrow some of its chill—and carefully merged it into the agitated medicinal liquid, while subtly adjusting the intensity of the other flames. Sure enough, the energy in the Medicine Cauldron that had been on the verge of colliding and exploding was gradually guided back into balance and slowly fused together.

However, just as the medicinal liquid was about to condense into pill form, another sudden change occurred! A violent surge of energy burst from the incompletely fused pill core, attempting to forcibly break free from the restraints of his Soul Power!

Xiao Yan's face paled. His Soul Power surged out like a tide as he desperately suppressed it, yet it felt as though he were trying to hold down a raging beast with his bare hands. It was an extreme struggle. The Medicine Cauldron shook violently, and it seemed that all his prior efforts would be wasted—or worse, the cauldron might explode!

At that moment, Xiao Chen moved.

He did not even approach the Medicine Cauldron. He merely extended his right index finger and lightly pointed at the rampaging energy core from afar.

"Condense."

As though his words became law, an invisible, intangible Power of Space containing absolute control descended in an instant, completely imprisoning and compressing that tiny patch of rampaging medicinal energy! The medicinal liquid that had been on the verge of scattering rapidly condensed and contracted under the forceful kneading of this power, visible to the naked eye. Its radiance withdrew, and the pill fragrance suddenly became rich and intense!

The pressure on Xiao Yan eased. Not daring to slacken, he immediately seized the opportunity and urged the flames with all his strength for the final warming.

A moment later, the flames dispersed. Three pills the size of longan fruit, completely green and encircled by three clear cloud-like patterns, spun out of the Medicine Cauldron and fell into the Jade Bottle Xiao Yan had prepared. Pill Formed in Three Colors—it was unmistakably a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill of the finest quality!

"Success!" Xiao Yan gripped the still-warm Jade Bottle, his face filled with excitement, but even more with sudden realization and contemplation.

"Brother, was that... the Power of Space? It can be used for alchemy like this?" Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Chen, his eyes full of curiosity. The alchemy Yao Lao had taught him was based more on Soul Power and flame control. He had never imagined that the Power of Space could intervene with such subtlety.

Yao Lao's phantom also appeared, his gaze upon Xiao Chen filled with astonishment and inquiry. "Inconceivable! To apply the Power of Space with such fine control, forcibly stabilize the medicinal properties, and compress them into a pill... what terrifying command over energy and space must that require? Xiao Chen, this method of yours is something this old man has never heard of!"

Xiao Chen smiled faintly, walked to the Medicine Cauldron, and said, "The path of alchemy is, at its core, the control and fusion of heaven-and-earth energy and the spirituality of Medicinal Ingredients. Soul Power is perception and guidance, while flame is the tool for tempering and fusion. As for space... why can it not serve as the framework for shaping and stabilization?"

He casually took several ordinary Medicinal Ingredients and tossed them into the Medicine Cauldron, explaining as he demonstrated. "Look. Purifying Medicinal Ingredients and removing impurities can be viewed as the separation and cleansing of 'space.'" With a slight movement of his fingertip, the impurities in the medicinal liquid were precisely stripped away by the Power of Space.

"The fusion of medicinal properties, the conflict of energies with different attributes, can be viewed as the collision of different 'spaces.' Forceful suppression is not the best approach. The key is to guide them and construct a stable 'inner space' to contain them." He controlled several clusters of medicinal liquid with different attributes, forming an exceedingly thin spatial membrane around them before allowing them to slowly make contact and fuse. The process was terrifyingly smooth.

"As for pill formation, it is even more a process of shaping a stable 'pill space.' External flames and Soul Power provide pressure, while the medicinal properties within are the materials. If one can use the Power of Space to build a structure from within, one can achieve twice the result with half the effort, greatly increasing both the pill formation rate and its quality."

Xiao Chen's words were like opening the door to a new world before Xiao Yan and Yao Lao! They had never understood alchemy from the perspective of "space"!

"Of course, this method places extremely high demands on Soul Power and one's comprehension of space. Those below the Dou Zun realm would find it difficult to attempt. Brother Yan, you only need to understand the concept for now. It will also benefit your fine control over flame and Soul Power." Xiao Chen dispersed the flames, and several round ordinary pills dropped into his hand, their quality unexpectedly excellent.

Xiao Yan savored his brother's demonstration and explanation as though entranced. Many obscure and difficult points he had encountered in alchemy before now suddenly felt clear. This was not a specific refining technique, but an infusion of a higher-dimensional concept!

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother!" Xiao Yan thanked him sincerely. He understood that the value of this concept his brother had imparted far exceeded that of a Fifth-grade Pill.

Yao Lao was also deeply moved. "A single conversation with you is worth ten years of study. Xiao Chen, your insights into alchemy have already formed a school of their own! This old man has learned much!" His words came from the heart. The accomplished were teachers, and Xiao Chen's understanding of the essence of alchemy had benefited even him, an Eighth-grade Alchemist Grandmaster, immensely.

Xiao Chen replied modestly, "You flatter me, Senior. These are merely opportunistic side paths, not worth mentioning beside your solid and profound system of alchemical knowledge. Brother Yan is fortunate to have your guidance."

Watching his brother and teacher show such mutual respect, warmth surged through Xiao Yan's heart. He had the best teacher and the strongest brother to guide him. On this path toward becoming strong, he walked with incomparable assurance.

"Brother, I feel like I have a new understanding of alchemy. I want to try refining the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill once more!" Fighting spirit burned in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"Go ahead." Xiao Chen nodded encouragingly.

Within the Alchemy Room, flames rose once more, and Medicinal Fragrance filled the air. This time, Xiao Yan's technique was visibly more composed and confident, while his grasp of the medicinal properties became ever more exquisite.

Xiao Chen stood to the side, watching his younger brother concentrate on alchemy, a gratified smile appearing on his face.

Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish.

In his own way, he was helping his brother grow faster, so that he could face the fiercer storm that was soon to come.