Pill Formed

Fama led Xiao Yi Xian to the wall of the pill chamber and lightly pressed a switch, opening the roof. The energy concentration in the chamber immediately dropped considerably.

"When the pill is finally formed, the heavenly phenomenon will manifest as a pillar of light shooting into the sky. I don't want the pill chamber I spent so much effort building to be destroyed just because a Sixth-grade pill is being refined." Seeing Xiao Yi Xian look at him in confusion, Fama explained. Xiao Yi Xian nodded to show that she understood, and the two of them turned their attention to Gu He.

Gu He's hand seals suddenly changed. The flames within the Medicine Cauldron surged violently, filling the entire cauldron. Amid those flames, a dazzling green speck of light grew increasingly brilliant. The green speck contracted and expanded, and with each pulse, waves of energy rippled outward faster and faster. With the energy concentration in the pill chamber lowered, the slightly weakened energy impacts instead became even more powerful. Fama hurriedly used Dou Qi to shield Xiao Yi Xian; otherwise, as a mere Dou Zhe, she would already have been injured by such energy impacts.

The green speck pulsed ever faster, as though it were brewing something. After nearly a quarter of an hour, it suddenly shrank to its smallest point!

Boom!

After remaining contracted for several minutes, the tiny speck abruptly expanded. In the end, the surging green radiance enveloped the entire pill chamber and even seeped out through the roof. Then, a thunderous explosion rang out from thin air, followed by a green pillar of light that shot from the Medicine Cauldron into the heavens!

Gu He rose from his meditation cushion and beckoned with one hand, using his soul power to draw the pill from within the pillar of light. Moments later, a thread of green radiance drifted out from the light pillar and hovered above his palm. The enormous pillar seemed to lose its source of energy, trembling slightly before gradually turning illusory and finally dissipating completely.

The green light in Gu He's hand gradually scattered, revealing its true form: a jade-green pill the size of a longan. Its surface was perfectly round, and its medicinal fragrance spread beyond the pill chamber, filling nearly the entire core area of the Alchemist Guild with its penetrating scent.

"This fragrance can't be mistaken. It's a Sixth-grade pill. The Pill King succeeded in refining it! Unbelievable—he actually succeeded on the first attempt."

"As expected of the number one alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire."

"Lord Gu He is incredible. I wonder when I'll ever reach that level."

Naturally, Gu He had no idea that the successful refinement had stirred such astonishment below. He handed the newly refined Spirit Dou Pill to Fama and said, "Elder Fa, there is only so much one can gain from a single observation. Take this pill. You watched it take shape, so I believe you will be able to discern even more from it."

Through this round of pill refinement, Fama had vaguely touched upon the realm of a Sixth-grade Alchemist. He had known before that there was an enormous gap between a Peak Fifth-grade Alchemist and a Sixth-grade Alchemist, but he had never understood exactly how great that gap was. By watching Gu He refine pills this time, he had clearly seen the differences between himself and a Sixth-grade Alchemist in every aspect. Instead, this made the path ahead far clearer to him.

Fama did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the pill and said solemnly, "Pill King, I truly need this pill. To me, it is not merely a Spirit Dou Pill, but a guide to the road ahead. From now on, if you have any requests, as long as they are within my ability, I will not refuse."

"You are too serious, Elder Fa. You had already paid the price to observe my pill refinement. And during the process, I had to focus entirely on refining, so I did not explain anything. That was somewhat inadequate on my part. Giving you this pill was meant as compensation. If you put it that way, I will truly feel uneasy." Gu He spoke with a serious expression.

Fama shook his head with a bitter smile. "Pill King, you really are too particular. Given our friendship, even if I had not said that, would I fail to handle things properly if you asked me to do something?"

Gu He could not help laughing when he heard Fama's words, and Fama also burst into hearty laughter.

"Xian'er, go downstairs and rest first. Elder Fa and I still have something to discuss." After laughing, Gu He spoke to Xiao Yi Xian beside him.

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Gu He and Fama laughing with a baffled expression, only for Gu He to then tell her to leave first. However, after staying here for a day and a half, she was already exhausted. All she wanted now was to take a bath and sleep, so she nodded and asked, "Master, where are we staying?"

Before Gu He could speak, Fama slapped his forehead. "I was so engrossed in watching the pill refinement that I neglected this. I haven't even shown you the residence prepared for you."

"Pill King, shall we first take your young disciple to her room to rest before discussing anything else?" Fama turned slightly toward Gu He.

"Mm, I have no objections."

After Gu He agreed, Fama led the way toward the accommodations arranged by the Alchemist Guild. After leaving the Alchemist Guild building and walking to the right, they soon reached a quiet bamboo grove. A breeze passed through it, making the emerald bamboo leaves rustle softly.

Fama pointed to the faint outline of a house within the bamboo grove and said to Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian, "The Pill King prefers peace and quiet. There is a house deep within this bamboo grove. It is not only tranquil and beautiful, but also rich in energy. I believe the two of you will like it."

"Then I'm quite looking forward to it." Gu He was rather satisfied with such an arrangement.

Xiao Yi Xian did not answer. She merely stood beside Gu He with a smile on her lips.

They entered the narrow path through the bamboo grove, wide enough for two people to walk side by side. A few emerald bamboo leaves lay scattered across the path, and the surroundings seemed to grow quiet as well.

At the end of the path stood a square house directly facing it, following the traditional north-facing, south-oriented layout. Not far from the door were several patches of unknown flowers, while a small plot had been cleared to grow some relatively precious medicinal herbs, adding different colors to the sea of green.

The house was fully furnished, clean, and orderly.

Gu He said with satisfaction, "Xian'er, stay here for now. Elder Fa and I are going upstairs to discuss something. We'll be right back down."

Gu He and Fama went up to the second floor and casually chose a room.

Once Gu He had taken a seat, Fama could not help asking in confusion, "What does the Pill King wish to discuss with this old man?" The pill refinement was already complete, so logically, there should have been nothing that required such a private conversation.

"Has Elder Fa ever heard of the Four Realms of the Soul?"

"The Four Realms of the Soul?" Fama frowned even more deeply and repeated the words in confusion.

"Yes, the four realms of the soul." As he spoke, Gu He repeated to Fama what he had previously told Xiao Yi Xian.

Fama's face was full of shock after hearing it. He sighed, "I never imagined that the soul was divided into realms as well. If you had not told me, I'm afraid I would never have known of their distinctions in my entire life."

Gu He thought to himself, That may not be true. According to the original story, you would obtain a Soul Cultivation Scroll when you reached the high Seventh-grade. Becoming an Eighth-grade Alchemist would be certain then, and by that point, you would definitely know about the distinctions between soul realms.

But outwardly, he said politely, "What are you saying, Elder Fa? With your alchemy skills, you will one day come into contact with such knowledge. It is merely a matter of sooner or later. I was simply fortunate enough to find related records in a Dou Wang cave dwelling from an ancient era."

"The main reason I wished to speak with Elder Fa is that I want to exchange a fragment of a soul cultivation technique I obtained from there for some pill formulas."

Fama immediately rose to his feet and asked excitedly, "A Soul Cultivation Scroll from ancient times—can it truly strengthen soul power?"