First Form Condensation!

"Forget it. No point thinking about it so much. I'll ask Old Man Yao another day and find out."

"Now that I have the Earth Core Flame, I can try refining a First-grade Qi Replenishing Pill."

Lu Yu was in high spirits. With a flip of his palm, an ancient scroll carrying a faint medicinal fragrance appeared in his hand—it was the formula for the First-grade Qi Replenishing Pill that Yao Chen had given him.

He immediately unfurled the scroll and began studying it carefully...

A few days later, At the Xiao Family's Back Mountain, inside a remote cave.

A crimson flame danced in Lu Yu's palm. The last wisp of impurity in the Medicine Cauldron was burned away, and several round, glossy green pills spun in circles, giving off a rich medicinal fragrance.

The First-grade Qi Replenishing Pill was complete!

"Finally succeeded..." Lu Yu let out a long breath, a trace of joy appearing in his eyes. Over the past few days, he had tried again and again, and finally, relying on the precise flame control of the Earth Core Flame, he had successfully refined a first-grade pill, officially stepping across the threshold of an alchemist.

"Oh? You can refine first-grade pills now?"

Old Man Yao, who had been guiding Xiao Yan in his cultivation, sensed the commotion over here. His illusory figure drifted over, and his gaze landed on the crimson flame that had yet to go out in Lu Yu's palm. His brow lifted. "This flame..."

Lu Yu smiled. "This junior obtained it by luck. It is a flame nurtured by heaven and earth. I don't know where it would rank on the Exotic Flame Ranking, so I would ask Senior Old Man Yao to give it a few comments."

Hearing this, Yao Chen carefully examined the Earth Core Flame for a moment, then shook his head slightly and said, "This flame of yours can barely be considered an embryonic exotic flame. If we truly had to rank it, I'm afraid it couldn't even squeeze in at the very bottom of the Exotic Flame Ranking."

He paused, then said with interest, "However, being able to refine a first-grade pill with this kind of flame shows your talent for flame control is quite good."

Lu Yu said with some disappointment, "It can't even compare to those exotic flames at the very bottom of the ranking?"

Yao Chen gave a light snort. "How precious are exotic flames? You brat, you really know how to dream."

"Although this flame of yours is only an embryonic exotic flame, it far surpasses those Beast Flames. You should be satisfied, kid."

Then his tone changed, and he said, "But since you are already a First-grade Alchemist, this old man will teach you a few more flame-control techniques, lest you waste such a flame."

The corners of Lu Yu's mouth lifted slightly, and he cupped his fists. "Then this kid thanks Senior Old Man Yao for your guidance."

Four months later, Inside a quiet courtyard.

Lu Yu sat cross-legged, forming seals with both hands. Dou Qi flowed around him like a vortex, madly devouring the surrounding energy of heaven and earth. This whale-like absorption continued for a full half hour before it gradually calmed.

"Phew—"

As the last wisp of energy entered his body, Lu Yu's body suddenly trembled, and he opened his mouth to exhale a breath of turbid air. When he opened his eyes, his dark pupils flashed with sharp light.

"Seven-star Dou Master..."

He moved his limbs, and his joints let out crisp cracks. Sensing the surging Dou Qi within his body, the corners of his mouth could not help lifting into a smile.

Over these four months, he had also carried out four simulations. Two of them ended in accidents—once, he was carried off right at the start by a passing Heaven Piercing Stage Spirit Beast, and once, he died in the aftershock of a battle between experts.

The other two simulations were more dangerous than deadly. He obtained a bottle of Heavenly Soul Nurturing Liquid and an Earth-tier low-grade Dou Technique—Heavenly Dragon Flame Finger.

The Heavenly Soul Nurturing Liquid was one of the rare spiritual items used by experts of the Great Thousand World to break through the Soul Tribulation. It had marvelous effects in repairing the soul and resisting the scorching of the Soul Tribulation Fire. Lu Yu gave it to Old Man Yao to repay him for his careful guidance during this time.

The old man was also rather gratified. As a return gift, he gave Lu Yu the complete inheritance of a Seventh-grade Alchemist, a generous gift for this unofficial disciple.

Just then, a clear, ringing cry suddenly came from inside the room. The surrounding energy of heaven and earth surged wildly, gathering into the room like a tide. In just a moment, a powerful aura erupted and instantly swept through the entire courtyard.

"One-star Dou Master!" A hint of surprise flashed through Lu Yu's eyes. "This girl broke through quickly."

He shook his head and chuckled, his tone carrying a bit of emotion. "The cultivation speed of the Calamity Poison Body is truly terrifying."

The energy fluctuations in the courtyard gradually calmed, and the wooden door was pushed open with a creak.

Little Fairy Doctor stepped out in white robes. Her fair skin carried a faint jade-like luster, and her body still revealed a Dou Master pressure that had not yet fully been withdrawn.

"Congratulations." Lu Yu leaned against the stone table and chuckled. "Three days faster than I expected."

A wisp of deep purple poison mist curled around Little Fairy Doctor's fingertip, and her eyes flickered slightly. "It's all thanks to the poisons you gave me." She paused. "Tonight... do we begin dual cultivation?"

Lu Yu's expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, "You just broke through. Stabilize your cultivation first. We'll begin tonight."

Little Fairy Doctor nodded slightly, and the deep purple poison mist at her fingertip quietly dispersed. She slowly walked to the stone stool in the courtyard, sat down, and closed her eyes to regulate her breathing.

Lu Yu quietly watched the Young Girl before him, who was focused on cultivation. After thinking for a moment, he took out several fragrant medicinal herbs. The Earth Core Flame danced at his fingertip, refining them into a cup of emerald Medicinal Tea.

"Drink this first." He pushed the Medicinal Tea in front of Little Fairy Doctor. "It can help you stabilize your realm faster."

Little Fairy Doctor opened her eyes, accepted the teacup, and took a light sip. Her brow lifted slightly. "You added Root Nurturing Fruit to strengthen the foundation and nurture the source?"

"And Clear Heart Three-leaf Grass." Lu Yu smiled. "The amount is small, but it helps a lot in stabilizing the mind."

Little Fairy Doctor nodded, then drank it all in one go.

Time flowed by slowly. When the moon rose to the center of the sky, the fluctuating aura around Little Fairy Doctor finally became completely steady. She let out a long breath and raised her eyes to look at Lu Yu, who had been protecting her at the side the whole time.

"It's ready."

Lu Yu nodded and pushed open the door to the inner room. "It's easy to be disturbed outside. Let's go in."

With the creak of the door, the two stepped into the inner chamber. Little Fairy Doctor sat down by the bed, raised her fair hand lightly, and removed her long boots, revealing a pair of jade feet wrapped in plain white silk socks. A few small pale purple flowers were embroidered on the tips, faintly visible in the candlelight.

"What... do I need to do?" Her tone was calm, but it could not hide the blush at the tips of her ears.

Lu Yu took off his shoes and sat cross-legged across from her. In a gentle voice, he said, "Just circulate the Yin Scroll technique. I'll circulate the Yang Scroll and guide you." As he spoke, he took out a White Jade Bottle. "If you feel any discomfort, take this Qi Recovery Pill at once."

Little Fairy Doctor drew a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes. As the technique circulated, a soft white glow rose around her, her skin turning as translucent as jade. Seeing this, Lu Yu also began circulating the Yang Scroll technique, then reached out and held those soft, boneless pale hands.

Her touch was cool and delicate, making Lu Yu's mind waver despite himself. He hurriedly gathered his focus and said in a low voice, "We're starting."

Before his words had faded, a sudden change erupted. Where their palms met, black and white auras abruptly intertwined, forming a huge Energy Vortex. The energy between heaven and earth surged wildly, turning into streams of rainbow light that poured into Lu Yu's body.

"Mm..." Little Fairy Doctor let out a muffled groan, and the Seven-colored Poison Line on her abdomen flickered bright and dark. Her slender fingers tightened unconsciously, her nails almost digging into the back of Lu Yu's hand.

At that moment, earthshaking changes were taking place inside Lu Yu's body. The black and white auras shuttled through his meridians like Wandering Dragons, finally forming a slowly rotating Yin-Yang Fish pattern in his dantian.

Countless black Light Points emerged from deep within his bone marrow and were linked one by one by mysterious rays of light. In the haze, they outlined the illusory shape of a tower.

The instant the final ray of light connected, Lu Yu's dantian suddenly shook violently. The illusory form of a pitch-black Pagoda Tower slowly took shape, mysterious runes twining around its body as it gave off a heart-palpitating fluctuation.

"The second realm of the Great Pagoda Art—done!"

A sharp gleam flared in Lu Yu's eyes. This Pagoda Tower, hovering between illusion and reality, was precisely the mark of the Great Pagoda Art stepping into the second realm, the realm of Form Condensation.

This tower could not only assist cultivation, but was also a weapon that combined offense and defense. However, right now it was only an embryonic form. Only by breaking through to the third realm, "Pagoda Transformation," could he nurture a true Pagoda Tower.

Little Fairy Doctor slowly opened her eyes, a faint blush appearing on her pale face. "Did it succeed?"

Lu Yu nodded and smiled. "It succeeded, but if I want to condense a true Pagoda Tower, it'll still take quite a long time."

Little Fairy Doctor froze slightly, then a shy flush rose on her cheeks. That delicate, pouting look made Lu Yu's heart stir despite himself.

"I understand. Let go of my hand first. Helping you condense the Pagoda Tower has used up all the Dou Qi in my body."

Before Little Fairy Doctor finished speaking, her body involuntarily tilted forward. Lu Yu was quick-eyed and quick-handed, catching her thin shoulders in one motion, only to feel an icy chill beneath his fingers.

"Careful!" His brows furrowed slightly, and his other hand had already taken out the jade bottle. "Hurry and take the Qi Recovery Pill."

The Young Girl weakly shook her head, her falling hair revealing the slender line of her neck. "No need... just let me regulate my breathing for a while." As she spoke, she tried to struggle upright, but because she had no strength, she fell back into Lu Yu's arm.

Feeling the faint trembling of the person in his arms, Lu Yu, as if guided by some unseen impulse, raised his hand and brushed aside the loose strands of hair on her forehead.

"Don't force yourself." His voice softened without him realizing it. "I'll help you regulate your breathing. The Great Pagoda Art Yang Scroll can also help the Yin Scroll cultivate."

Little Fairy Doctor lifted her eyes and met Lu Yu's concerned gaze head-on. A rosy hue spread from the tips of her ears down to her neck, and she hurriedly turned her face away. "Do... do as you like."