Light Sea, Immortal Pivot, First Saint Sect.
Before them stood a colossal alchemy furnace, flames roaring within it. Through the fire, forty-nine medicinal pellets could faintly be seen undergoing tempering.
Around the furnace stood a large group of Elixir Peak disciples. Yet contrary to what many might have imagined, not one of them looked expectant. Every face was grim, and all manner of protective treasures, spells, and divine abilities surrounded them, as though they were waiting for something.
"Is it almost here?"
"Judging by the time, it should be about now. This time, they're using the [Four-Nine Great Expansion Alchemy Method], which Master supposedly created after much painstaking thought."
"When hasn't it been?"
"I'd rather Master demonstrated some old-fashioned alchemy method than use a new one. Not a single new method of his has failed to blow up!"
"I want to run. Can I?"
"Run? Haven't you seen the layer of mysterious light covering us overhead? As long as Master doesn't withdraw it, we couldn't get out even if Heaven collapsed."
The place buzzed with voices.
Above the alchemy furnace, Liantian Dou looked down at the disciples with utter disdain, shaking his head without pause. "This is the worst batch of disciples I've ever taught!"
Almost at the same time, a figure appeared at his side.
It came with a soft chuckle. "Oh? In what specific way are they so bad?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Liantian Dou did not even turn around. He had recognized Butian Que by voice alone and replied irritably, "Their protective measures, of course."
"Their treasures are unstable, their divine abilities incomplete, and their spells unrefined. How can such flimsy protections handle the risk of a furnace explosion? The first batch of disciples we taught understood this much better. Greater Yin, for example. That girl was actually