Refinement

After Lin Ming easily finished being roasted by the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire for the duration of an incense stick's burning, Tang Zhen gave Lin Ming a deep look, his doubts completely gone, and announced loudly, "The selection is over. The qualified one is Master Lin Ming, Master Huan!"

The result was as expected. Although the 6th Grade Alchemist were disappointed, they were convinced of the outcome, especially after witnessing Lin Ming's effortless performance.

Tang Zhen kept his promise and had the prepared gifts distributed to the Alchemist who were not selected. Then, he led Lin Ming and Master Huan through the heavy guards to a key alchemy site deep in the Blazing Flame Valley.

Tang Zhen glanced at Master Huan, whose face was still somewhat pale, and said in a calm tone, "Young friend Lin Ming, Master Huan, you two have both demonstrated sufficient qualifications. Now, please follow me to the Pill Refinement Room, where we can discuss the specifics."

Then, as the guards pushed open the gate, Tang Zhen made way for Lin Ming and Master Huan to pass.

Stepping into the alchemy room, the temperature was even higher, and the air was filled with incredibly pure fire-attribute energy. In the center of the Pill Refinement Room stood a massive Medicinal Cauldron. The Medicinal Cauldron was dark brown all over, as if it had been sculpted from a single piece of cooled lava. Its body was covered with naturally formed patterns, like the ravines of a mountain range. A heavy, steady, and powerful aura, as if it could suppress the lava at the earth's core, emanated from it!

"Mountain Melting Cauldron!" Master Huan, no longer weak, couldn't help but whisper, his eyes flashing with deep envy and awe.

When the dark brown Medicinal Cauldron exuding a heavy and majestic aura— the Mountain Melting Cauldron— Mountain Melting Cauldron into view, Tang Zhen stroked its rough yet warm body, solemnly looking at Lin Ming and Master Huan, finally revealing the ultimate goal. "Gentlemen, what we need to refine this time is Tier 7 High-Grade pill— the Fire Bodhi Pill!"

Tier 7 High-Grade! Even though Master Huan was somewhat prepared, he couldn't help but gasp, his expression becoming even more solemn. Lin Ming's eyes also narrowed slightly. A Tier 7 High-Grade pill was already the pinnacle of his current alchemy skills, extremely difficult to achieve.

"The Fire Bodhi Pill is extremely potent and yang in nature, and its refining process is exceptionally dangerous. The slightest carelessness will result in the destruction of the pill and the explosion of the cauldron."

After speaking, Tang Zhen added in a deep voice, "Therefore, the three of us need to work together. I will personally control the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, relying on my absolute control over the Heavenly Flames, to ensure the safe extraction of all the medicinal herbs. As for you two masters, you will each be responsible for the subsequent fusion and Pill Condensation steps of the medicinal essence I have extracted, according to the pill formula I have given you. This will distribute the pressure and increase the success rate of Pill Formation."

As he spoke, he took out two Jade Slip that exuded an ancient aura and handed them to Lin Ming and Master Huan respectively. "These are the parts that you two are responsible for. You must thoroughly understand them before the alchemy begins, and there can be no mistakes!"

After handing over their respective portions of the pill formulas to Lin Ming and Master Huan, Tang Zhen's gaze fell particularly on Lin Ming, and he added in a solemn tone, "Especially in the final stage of medicinal power fusion and pill formation, the requirements for soul micro-management and flame balance are extremely high. At that time, I will need to put in a lot of effort, young friend Lin Ming."

This was practically a clear indication that, in Tang Zhen's mind, Lin Ming was the key figure in this alchemy session!

Tier 7 High-Grade pill, Heavenly Flames Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking Mountain Melting Cauldron... This was undoubtedly the most challenging battle of his alchemy career to date! Lin Ming solemnly replied, "This junior will certainly do my utmost!"

He then took the Jade Slip, his Soul Power quickly immersing itself in it, beginning to analyze the incredibly complex refining steps. He knew that the real test had only just begun. But Lin Ming was filled with confidence, not only for the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations, but also to test just how high his current alchemy skills could reach!

His Soul Power swiftly swept over the incredibly complex information, and he understood that the refining of this Fire Bodhi Pill was indeed extraordinary. He then raised his head, looking at the Mountain Melting Cauldron and the solemn-looking Tang Zhen, his eyes igniting with intense fighting spirit.

Pill Refinement Room, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to drip water. Under the precise control of Tang Zhen's Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, the Mountain Melting Cauldron emitted a deep hum, and the mountain-like patterns on its body faintly glowed with red light, as if earth fire was flowing within it.

Refining Tier 7 High-Grade Fire Bodhi Pill was far more difficult and dangerous than imagined. With his Dou Venerate strength and absolute control over the Heavenly Flames, Tang Zhen had successfully extracted dozens of extremely rare and potent medicinal herbs, transforming them into dozens of colorful and energetic medicinal essences that floated in specific areas within the cauldron, slowly following a mysterious trajectory like stars.

Next comes the most crucial fusion step! This requires combining medicinal liquids with conflicting properties and different energies in perfect proportions and at the right time. The slightest mistake will trigger a chain reaction, causing an energy imbalance and ruining all previous efforts!

"Master Lin Ming, Master Huan, prepare to Pill Fusion!" Tang Zhen's voice was deep and tense, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Lin Ming and Master Huan had already memorized the complex steps they were responsible for. Upon hearing this, they immediately pushed their Soul Power to the limit, like the most sensitive tentacles, penetrating deep into the cauldron and locking onto the groups of medicinal liquids that they needed to control.

"Tier One: Integration!"

At Tang Zhen's command, the two attacked simultaneously!

Lin Ming was in charge of eight types of medicinal liquids, which were mild but had extremely complex properties: wood, earth, and some neutral Fire Attribute liquids.

His Soul Power acted like the most skilled conductor, precisely guiding each drop of medicinal liquid. The cyan-gold Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire split into several agile fire lines, not burning violently, but rather using a rhythmic "baking" and "entwining" to slowly bring the medicinal liquids closer together and allow them to permeate each other.

The resistance between the medicinal liquids was gradually dissolved under his control, like ice and snow melting, slowly coalescing into two slightly larger, deeper and more harmonious semi-fused liquids. The whole process seemed slow, but it was as steady as a rock, proceeding step by step with great care.

The task is equally arduous for Master Huan.

He needed to deal with five medicinal liquids with the most domineering attributes, leaning towards Jin Shi and extreme fire. His Sky Cold Fire was inherently yin and cold, and now, facing these extremely yang and intense medicinal liquids, it was like trying to mix boiling oil with ice water, putting him at a disadvantage from the start.

His expression was solemn as he unleashed his Soul Power without reservation. The pale white flames carefully enveloped the restless medicinal essence, suppressing its instinctive rejection.

His technique was skillful and experienced. With the profound skills of a Seventh Grade Alchemist, he managed to forcibly fuse the three most violent gold and Fire Attribute liquids into a dark golden liquid. Although the energy fluctuations were still intense, it had finally stabilized initially.

Next, he began to combine two other slightly inferior but equally remarkable medicinal liquids.

Time passed in intense concentration. Both of them had beads of sweat on their foreheads, a testament to the immense depletion of their Soul Power.

Seven days later, Lin Ming was the first to complete all the Tier One fusions he was responsible for. The medicinal liquid belonging to him in the cauldron had transformed into three fusion liquids of different colors, but with balanced internal energy flow.

Although Master Huan was slower and the process was more difficult, he eventually succeeded in fusing the five medicinal liquids he was responsible for into two clumps! One was a dark gold, fiery and domineering; the other was crimson, flowing with a molten lava-like luster.

Thus, the Tier One of fusion was successfully completed! The dozens of scattered medicinal liquids inside the cauldron have now been transformed into five more powerful and relatively stable fused bodies.

Tang Zhen breathed a slight sigh of relief, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. Completing the first step was already an extraordinary achievement.

"The Tier Two, merging!" Tang Zhen's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement, "To ultimately combine the medicinal liquids you each fused into one!"

This is the final and most crucial step! It requires perfectly fusing the three clusters that Lin Ming fused with, along with the two clusters that Master Huan fused with. These five clusters contain vast energy bodies with completely different, and even subtly antagonistic, attributes, into one, laying the foundation for the Fire Bodhi Pill!

The two dared not delay and once again activated their Soul Power.

Lin Ming manipulated his three wisps of medicinal liquid, slowly guiding them towards the center. His Soul Power was incredibly subtle, and the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire maintained a constant temperature, like the most patient craftsman, guiding the three wisps of medicinal liquid to permeate and blend with each other. Although the process was slow, it remained stable.

Meanwhile, the situation for Master Huan took a sharp turn for the worse! He needed to fuse the two clumps of liquid he had been combining—dark gold and crimson—first. These two clumps of liquid were already a combination of domineering attributes, and now, upon close contact, they were like two enraged Fierce Beasts, producing a violent repulsion!

"Buzz--!"

Dark gold and crimson energies clashed violently, creating an invisible energy storm within the cauldron!

Master Huan let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale instantly. He desperately tried to suppress the Sky Cold Fire, but the pale white flame appeared so lifeless under the backlash of these two supreme yang forces, swaying violently as if it would be extinguished at any moment.

"No... no good! I... can't hold on any longer!" Master Huan gritted his teeth, his Soul Power was being depleted like a flood, and he felt his control over the two clumps of liquid rapidly slipping away!

Tang Zhen's expression changed drastically, and he immediately separated a Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire to forcibly suppress it.

But it was too late!

"Puff--!"

Master Huan coughed up a mouthful of blood, staggered backward, and the soul connection was instantly severed! The two globs of dark gold and crimson liquid, now freed from their restraints, unleashed their violent energy like wild horses!

Moreover, this out-of-control energy acted as a fuse, instantly igniting the three clumps of medicinal liquid that Lin Ming was fusing nearby, as well as other energy remnants within the cauldron that had not yet participated in the final fusion!

The entire Mountain Melting Cauldron emitted a deafening roar, its Cauldron Lid trembling violently. Terrifying turbulent energy currents, like out-of-control Flood Dragon, surged and tore wildly within the cauldron! It was on the verge of exploding completely, destroying all the hard work in the end!

The elixir was destroyed and the cauldron exploded in an instant!

"So it failed again?!" Tang Zhen's heart sank to the bottom, his eyes filled with despair!

Seeing this, Tang Huo'er's pretty face turned ashen, and a hint of sadness flickered in her beautiful eyes. Was this truly her fate?

At that moment, a hand grasped Tang Huo. Following the hand, Tang Huo saw Xiao Yi Xian looking at him with sincere and trusting eyes.

Looking into Xiao Yi Xian's powerful eyes, a voice, calm yet resolute, boomed out of despair like a thunderclap and reached Tang Huo'er's ears from the center of the desolation.

"Valley Master Tang, stabilize the cauldron fire! Leave the final fusion to me!"