The Final Stage
Ten days slipped by quietly under the watchful eyes of countless anxious gazes.
The Thousand Stone Platforms in the sky are no longer as bustling as they once were. More than 70% of the platforms have dimmed, and the Alchemist on them have either successfully attracted the Pill Lightning or left in despair.
On the remaining stone platform, flames continued to rise, but the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Those who had persevered until now were all true elites, and the pills they were refining were at least Tier 7 High-Grade, or even Tier 8!
"Boom!"
A bolt of Silver Lightning tore through the clouds and struck a stone platform with great force, but its owner managed to withstand it with great difficulty.
As the Pill Lightning dissipated, a round pill, radiating a shimmering light, was joyfully collected into Jade Bottle by its owner. This was the third instance of Pill Lightning attracted by Tier 7 Medicinal Pill that day.
However, these Tier 7 Pill Lightning, which would normally cause a stir outside, seemed to be merely decorative in the sky above the plaza at this moment. Everyone's eyes were intentionally or unintentionally focused on a few stone platforms, especially the central area.
The stone platform where Lin Ming stood seemed to be a world of its own.
The Dark Red Myriad Beast Cauldron floated silently, its ancient beast patterns seemingly breathing, absorbing the immense energy emanating from within.
After ten days and nights of tireless refining, the essence of nearly a thousand medicinal herbs, including four main ingredients with distinct attributes and the energy-fueled Eighth Order Monster Core, had been perfectly fused together under the miraculous tempering and harmonization of the Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame.
At this moment, suspended inside the cauldron is a mass of viscous liquid about the size of a human head.
The liquid possessed a Chaos color, seemingly encompassing all the colors of the world. Within it, the faint sounds of Dragon Roar Phoenix Cry and phoenixes singing could be heard, and patterns of Ice Frost and Fire flashed alternately. Furthermore, the earth-like heaviness intertwined with the domineering aura of Magic Core. A terrifying energy, causing the surrounding space to ripple slightly, flowed slowly within it, like a sleeping Giant Dragon.
The elixir is already taking shape! It even shows faint signs of solidifying.
With Lin Ming's Soul Perception, he could clearly "see" how terrifying the energy contained in this medicinal liquid was. If he were to guide it to condense into Pill Formation, the resulting Pill Lightning would be at least Five-Colored Pill Lightning!
More likely, it's the Six-Colored Pill Lightning that would make countless Tier 8 Alchemist look up to it!
At that time, he will undoubtedly win the Pill Gathering Champion, without any doubt.
However, at this crucial moment when success was about to be achieved, Lin Ming stared at the Radiant Flow liquid inside the Medicinal Cauldron, his brows furrowing slightly, and a rare hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
Winning the championship? Yes, that was one of his original goals in participating in the Pill Gathering. Winning the championship with Tier 8 Medicinal Pill that possesses five or even higher Six-Colored Pill Lightning would be enough to make him famous throughout the continent and gain the prestige and resources that countless people dream of.
But... is that all?
A captivating and alluring red figure involuntarily surfaced in his mind. It was Ya Fei, the Ya Fei who had grown up with him in Wutan City.
In my memory, that Little Girl called out "Brother Lin Ming" from behind me, but she was secretly saddened by her mediocre cultivation talent within the family, yet she always put on a brave face in front of him, a girl who managed everything impeccably...
At this moment, Lin Ming asked himself, was his initial motivation for refining this pill truly just for the championship title?
No, the deeper reason is for Ya Fei! It's to fulfill the promise made back then, to completely improve her limited aptitude, so that she can truly embark on the Path of the Strong and shine with her own brilliance that no one can ignore!
The championship is the goal, but what Lin Ming truly desires deep in his heart is to refine a pill that can fundamentally Defying Fate Ya Fei's fate!
While directly Pill Formation can produce a higher quality elixir than Primordial Beginning Pill, the power it contains is more geared towards general energy enhancement and Bloodline Stimulation. For Ya Fei, it's not a bloodline issue, but rather a limitation of her Cultivation Talent and physical constitution. It's not targeted enough! It might forcibly increase her strength to some extent, but it can hardly fundamentally compensate for her innate deficiency.
"Bodhi Treasure Liquid contains boundless vitality and creation, nourishing the origin of all things and reshaping their foundation; Saint Soul Marrow is Soul Treasure, capable of stabilizing the soul, clarifying the mind and seeing one's true nature, and enhancing enlightenment... If these two can be perfectly integrated, this elixir may truly possess the miraculous effect of transforming Ya Fei and Defying Fate!"
The thought flashed through my mind like lightning: Extremely risky!
The Pill Prototype was already established, and its energy was in a delicate balance. Adding two rare and extraordinary Heaven and Earth Rare Item with completely different attributes and extremely high energy levels at this moment would be tantamount to throwing two red-hot irons into solidifying glass, which could very likely cause the entire energy system to collapse and all previous efforts to be wasted!
But... what if he succeeds? For the woman he grew up with, who always believed in him and supported him, and to fulfill that weighty promise, it's worth the gamble!
Lin Ming's eyes instantly became incredibly firm, and that last trace of hesitation was completely crushed.
Without further hesitation, he moved his mind, and the two Jade Bottle that had been floating beside him, yet to be used, were lifted up by a gentle Soul Power and flown above the Medicinal Cauldron.
The Emerald Green Jade Bottle's stopper popped open automatically, drawing out the thick, jade-like Bodhi Treasure Liquid, radiating boundless vitality and the power of creation, which dripped into the Chaos liquid like green sprites.
Immediately afterwards, the Milky White Jade Bottle quietly opened, and a small portion of the Saint Soul Marrow, which resembled liquid diamonds and shimmered with the Soul Starlight, was carefully separated and integrated into it.
The addition of these two forces is like throwing two giant stones into a calm lake!
"Boom--!!"
The Myriad Beast Cauldron suddenly trembled violently, emitting a series of groans as if it were about to come to life! The ancient beast patterns on the cauldron's body flickered wildly, as if they were about to come to life!
Inside the Medicinal Cauldron, the previously balanced and stable Chaos- colored medicinal liquid instantly boiled and surged violently!
The transformative power of the Bodhi Treasure Liquid, like a warm spring tide, attempted to nourish all things and reshape everything, but it clashed violently with the already raging dragon, phoenix, and Monster Core Power within the elixir. Meanwhile, the Origin Power of the Saint Soul Marrow, like invisible tentacles, sought to penetrate every corner of the elixir's power and enhance its Spirituality, but it also stirred up the still-untamed Spirituality of the medicinal herbs, causing the energies of various attributes to collide and tear each other apart like wild horses!
Three vastly different yet incredibly powerful energies formed a tripod within the Medicinal Cauldron, intertwining, clashing, and devouring each other! The resulting energy fluctuations were so chaotic that the air around the Myriad Beast Cauldron twisted into a spiral shape, emitting a piercing tearing sound.
The Cauldron Lid bounced violently from the impact, and the turbulent energy emanating from the gaps, carrying an aura of destruction, cut out fine black marks in the surrounding space.
Energy imbalance! And an extremely serious imbalance at that!
At this moment, the Medicinal Cauldron was like a powder keg that could explode at any moment! If it got out of control, not only would all the hard work of the past ten days be wasted, but the terrifying explosive force could even seriously injure Lin Ming, making him completely disqualified from continuing the competition! This would mean that his journey in this Pill Gathering would come to an abrupt end at this moment, ending in failure!
On the high platform, Xuan Kongzi, Tian Lei Zi, Xuan Yi, and Yao Chen almost simultaneously changed their expressions slightly, their gazes turning solemnly towards Lin Ming.
"Nonsense! The Pill Prototype is already determined; how can we rashly add such a domineering and wondrous ingredient?" Tian Lei Zi couldn't help but shout.
"Bodhi Treasure Liquid, Saint Soul Marrow... What is he trying to do? Refine the legendary Ninth Grade Treasure Pill? But this method is too dangerous!" The beautiful eyes in Xuan Yi were full of worry.
Yao Chen leaned forward slightly and said in a deep voice, "This boy... has grand ambitions. But this step is far too risky. If his Soul Power is even slightly insufficient, he will be doomed."
Throughout the square, countless eyes sensed the destructive energy emanating from the Central Stone Platform, and a clamor and exclamations immediately arose.
"What happened? What about Master Lin Ming...?"
"Such terrifying energy fluctuations! The Medicinal Cauldron is about to explode!"
"What did he just add? Did something go wrong with the refining process?"
Among the crowd, Xiao Yi Xian, who had come from afar and was secretly encouraging Lin Ming, suddenly covered her red lips with her jade hand. Her charming eyes were filled with worry and tension, and her heart instantly jumped into her throat.
Faced with this perilous situation that would drive any Alchemist to despair, Lin Ming's expression remained calm and Ice-Sealed. He took a deep breath, and his eyes unleashed a vast, boundless surge of Soul Power, which he held no longer holding back!
The Spirit Realm Grand Perfection!
That boundless and unparalleled Soul Power, like an invisible tide, instantly enveloped the entire interior of the Myriad Beast Cauldron.
It was no longer the precise control of before, but a forceful intervention in the struggle between the three violent energies, which was almost brute forceful yet contained profound mysteries!
His Soul Power transformed into the strongest framework, forcefully stabilizing the collapsing Medicinal Liquid Structure;
It transformed into the most precise regulator, guiding the Bodhi Treasure Liquid Vitality to neutralize the rage, and guiding the Saint Soul Marrow Soul Power to soothe the restlessness;
It transformed into the most domineering controller, using absolute will to suppress the three unruly energies, forcing them to merge towards a new and more perfect balance!
This was an extremely mentally taxing process. Lin Ming's face turned pale at a visible speed, veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat poured down his face. However, his hands, which controlled the Soul Power, remained as steady as a rock, without the slightest tremor.
In his eyes, there was only determination; for that promise, he could not fail!
Time seemed to slow down at that moment. Under countless breathless gazes, the humming of the violently shaking Myriad Beast Cauldron gradually subsided, and the beast patterns flashing on its body slowly calmed down.
The destructive energy turbulence emanating from the gaps in the Cauldron Lid began to be slowly drawn back into the cauldron, like a gentle stream.
After experiencing the initial cataclysmic upheaval, the Chaos -colored medicinal liquid inside the cauldron began to deepen and become more restrained in color.
The Bodhi Treasure Liquid Emerald Green and the Saint Soul Marrow Starlight are no longer the source of conflict, but rather, like the most exquisite patterns, they are perfectly inlaid and integrated into the Chaos background, forming a more profound and harmonious pattern.
A strange Medicinal Fragrance, far more powerful and vibrant than before, seemingly containing the very Life Transformation and the Soul Sublimation, began to permeate the air...
It worked!
Under the terrifying Soul Power Control of a Spirit Realm Grand Perfection, Lin Ming forcefully turned this crisis, which was capable of destroying everything, into an opportunity for the Pill Ascension!
A truly Peerless Spirit Pill capable of Defying Fate and reshaping Ya Fei's foundation and enhancing her aptitude is about to take shape!
Everyone's heart was in their throats as the Myriad Beast Cauldron gradually calmed down.
They knew that when this elixir, which had gone through so many trials and tribulations and carried such promises and painstaking efforts, was finally born, it would surely bring about a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon would shake the entire Sacred Pill City!