Pill Complete

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

"When the pill is finally formed, the heavenly phenomenon will appear as a pillar of light shooting into the sky. I don't want the pill chamber I put so much effort into 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 gazes toward Gu He.

Gu He's hand seals suddenly changed. The flames within the Medicine Cauldron surged fiercely, filling the entire cauldron, while amid those flames, a dazzling point of green light grew increasingly eye-catching. The green point contracted and expanded, and with each pulse, waves of energy rippled outward ever more rapidly. Because the energy concentration in the pill chamber had decreased, the slightly weakened energy blasts instead became even more powerful. Fama hurriedly used Dou Qi to shield Xiao Yi Xian. Otherwise, with only a Dou Zhe's strength, she would already have been injured by such energy impacts.

The green point contracted and expanded faster and faster, as though it were brewing something. After nearly a quarter of an hour, the point abruptly shrank to its smallest size!

Boom!

After remaining contracted for several minutes, the point of light suddenly expanded. In the end, the surging green radiance enveloped the entire pill chamber and even seeped out through the roof. Immediately afterward, a thunderous explosion rang out from nowhere, and a green pillar of light shot from the Medicine Cauldron straight into the sky!

Gu He rose from his cushion and beckoned with one hand, using his soul power to draw the pill out from within the pillar of light. A moment later, a wisp of green light drifted out and hovered over his palm. The enormous pillar of light, as though it had lost its source of energy, trembled faintly several times before gradually turning illusory and finally dissipating completely.

The green glow in Gu He's hand gradually dispersed, revealing its true form: a jade-green pill the size of a longan. Its surface was perfectly round, and its medicinal fragrance wafted out of the pill chamber, spreading through nearly the entire core area of the Alchemist Guild with its penetratingly fresh scent.

"This scent can't be mistaken. It's a Sixth-grade pill. The Pill King succeeded! Unbelievable—he succeeded on his first attempt."

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

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

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

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

Fama did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the pill and solemnly said, "Pill King, I truly need this pill. To me, it is not merely a Spirit Dou Pill, but a guide to the path ahead. If you ever have any requests in the future, so 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 refinement. Moreover, because I had to concentrate on refining the pill, I gave no explanation during the process. That was somewhat remiss of me. Giving you this pill was meant as compensation. If you put it that way, I will truly feel uneasy." Gu He spoke seriously.

Fama shook his head with a bitter smile. "The Pill King truly gets hung up on details. Given our friendship, even if I had not said that, if you asked me to handle something, would I fail to do it properly?"

Hearing Fama's words, Gu He could not help but laugh, and Fama also burst into hearty laughter.

"Xiao Yi Xian, go downstairs and rest first. Elder Fa and I still have some matters 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 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 absorbed in watching the refinement that I overlooked it. I have not yet shown you the residence prepared for you."

"Pill King, shall we first take your young disciple to her room to rest, then discuss the rest?"

"Mm, I have no objections."

After Gu He agreed, Fama led the way to the accommodations arranged by the Alchemist Guild. Leaving the Alchemist Guild building and heading right, they soon came upon a quiet bamboo grove. A gentle breeze blew through it, making the emerald bamboo leaves rustle.

Fama pointed at the faintly visible house amid the bamboo grove and said to Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian, "The Pill King enjoys quiet. There is a house deep in this bamboo grove. It is not only peaceful and beautiful, but also rich in energy. I believe you two will like it."

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

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

They stepped onto a narrow path through the bamboo grove, wide enough for two people to walk side by side. A few emerald bamboo leaves lay scattered across it, and the surroundings seemed to grow tranquil.

At the end of the path stood a square house directly facing the trail, fitting the traditional north-facing-back and south-facing-front arrangement. Not far before its door grew several patches of unknown flowers, while a small plot had been opened up to cultivate some relatively rare medicinal herbs, adding distinct colors to the sea of green.

The house was fully furnished, clean, and tidy.

Gu He said with satisfaction, "Xiao Yi Xian, stay here for now. Elder Fa and I will go to the second floor to discuss something. We'll be down shortly."

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

Once Gu He sat down, 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. Logically, there should have been nothing requiring such a private discussion.

"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, he repeated to Fama what he had previously told Xiao Yi Xian.

Fama's face was filled with shock after listening. He sighed, "I never imagined that souls were divided into realms as well. If you had not told me, I fear I would never have known of these distinctions in my entire life."

Gu He thought to himself, Not necessarily. According to your life in the original story, you would obtain a Soul Cultivation Scroll after reaching the high tier of the seventh grade. Becoming an Eighth-grade Alchemist would be a certainty, and by then, you would definitely know the distinctions between soul realms.

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

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

Fama stood up at once and asked excitedly, "A Soul Cultivation Scroll from ancient times—can it truly strengthen soul power?"