Half-step Heaven Realm Soul

Amid wave after wave of horrified gazes, the Pill Lightning in the sky completely formed into a vortex. The heavens and earth were veiled in black, forcing everyone to retreat, their eyes filled with shock.

The vortex condensed faster and faster, its tearing force shredding every tree within several miles into fragments. Even a human would be completely devoured by the wind blades upon contact.

Not only that, a dazzling Five-Colored Heavenly Lightning suddenly shot out from the terrifying vortex and violently struck toward Jiang Cheng's location.

The powerful shockwave instantly cracked the mountains beneath Jiang Cheng across a vast area. Yet his expression remained unchanged, without the slightest fear of the berserk energy.

He had not panicked even when refining a pill that triggered Nine-Colored Pill Lightning. Why would he fear such insignificant Five-Colored Heavenly Lightning?

Jiang Cheng's body trembled, and the phantom flames of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame appeared before everyone. Golden threads intertwined, forming an enormous net that rose to meet the Pill Lightning in the sky.

The instant the two collided, a deafening explosion erupted. The sheer force of the sound left even Dou Wang Experts dizzy and temporarily deafened.

First Elder Su Qian's face paled as he said, "This is the first time I have seen an Eighth-Grade Pill emerge. What sort of relationship did the Dean have with Mister Jiang Cheng, for him to be willing to refine an Eighth-Grade Pill at any cost?"

Vice Dean Hu Gan awkwardly scratched his head and took out the list of items Mister Jiang Cheng required. When Su Qian saw the final item, his expression changed dramatically.

Because the final item clearly bore four words: "Fallen Heart Flame."

Su Qian stared at Vice Dean Hu Gan beside him, somewhat at a loss. "This handwriting is... the Dean's..."

"Yes."

Hu Gan sighed. "We can still recognize the Dean's messy handwriting. It seems the Dean had long intended to use the Fallen Heart Flame in exchange for Mister Confucian Sage's help."

First Elder Su Qian closed his eyes. After pondering for a long while, he said calmly, "So be it. If our Jia Nan Academy can truly produce two Dou Venerate Experts, then giving the Fallen Heart Flame to Mister Confucian Sage will be worth it. Besides, Mister Confucian Sage only needs to infuse a strand of Fallen Heart Flame energy into the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower to maintain the academy's advancement."

"That was what I thought as well." Hu Gan nodded with a smile and handed over the Eighth-Grade Pill that had triggered Nine-Colored Heavenly Thunder. It was far too precious; keeping it on himself was unsafe.

This was Jiang Cheng's payment for exchanging for the Fallen Heart Flame. The Dou Venerate Pill, meanwhile, was merely to fulfill an agreement he had made with Dean Mang Tianchi years ago.

Yet at that moment, the Eighth-Grade Pill Lightning vanished in an instant, leaving everyone utterly shaken.

Qian Mu stroked his small beard and smiled lightly. "As expected of Pill Lightning produced by an Eighth-Grade Pill. It is truly terrifying. Even some Dou Venerate Experts would likely be unable to withstand such a vast attack."

As soon as the Pill Lightning disappeared, several Startled Swans shot out like bolts of lightning. They were so fast that even the Thousand Hundred Elders had not reacted to what had happened.

However, Jiang Cheng casually waved his hand, drawing the several light and shadows that had flown out earlier back into his palm. His powerful Dou Saint Aura directly subdued the Eighth-Grade Pills.

Jiang Cheng placed the pills into four individual Medicine Bottles, then casually tossed two bottles toward the Thousand Hundred Elders. "These are Eighth-Grade Pills, Dou Venerate Pills. After taking them, you will break through to the Dou Venerate realm in half a year. If your talent is good enough, you may even rise two stars within three years."

At those words, the two Peak Dou Zong Experts were already moved to tears, nearly dropping to their knees in gratitude.

"Thank you, Mister, for granting us a new life."

Jiang Cheng merely nodded slightly before storing the remaining two Medicine Bottles in his Storage Ring. When Yun Yun and Cai Lin broke through in the future, taking them would aid their cultivation.

As for Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, he had other plans for them.

"The agreement from back then has been fulfilled. Mang Tianchi, you can rest easy now."

Jiang Cheng murmured to himself, then turned to look at the dozens of Alchemists in the distance. Among them were even several Sixth-Grade Alchemists.

The leading Sixth-Grade Alchemist shrugged, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in salute. "I never expected Senior Confucian Sage to possess not only extraordinary strength, but also such consummate skill in alchemy. Old Man truly admires you. May I ask what realm Mister Confucian Sage's Soul Power has reached?"

From First-Grade to Seventh-Grade Alchemists, all possessed Mortal Realm Souls. The reason they could not touch the threshold of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist was simple: their souls had not reached the Spirit Realm.

Only those with Spirit Realm Souls could refine Eighth-Grade Pills. This was a threshold; only after reaching the Spirit Realm Soul could one qualify as an Eighth-Grade Alchemist.

Heaven Realm Souls corresponded to Ninth-Grade Alchemists. Across the entire Dou Qi Continent, there were only a handful of Ninth-Grade Alchemists.

Emperor Realm Souls were even more powerful. Anything associated with the word "Emperor" was far from simple. The Emperor Realm Soul was an iconic realm; after stepping into it, one could contend with an Eight-Star Dou Saint based on Soul Power alone.

Furthermore, in theory, one could refine Emperor-Grade Pills after reaching the Emperor Realm Soul. However, because Origin Qi no longer existed between heaven and earth, Emperor-Grade Pills had vanished without a trace.

Jiang Cheng looked at the respectful Sixth-Grade Alchemist below and said evenly, "Half-step Heaven Realm."

The moment those words were spoken, all the Alchemists present could not help casting envious looks his way. Half-step Heaven Realm meant that Mister Confucian Sage could refine Ninth-Grade Pills.

The Sixth-Grade Alchemist was also dumbstruck. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and exclaimed, "I never expected Mister to reach the Half-step Heaven Realm at such a young age. We are truly in awe."

"Senior, do you accept disciples? I can become your disciple!"

The crowd began scrambling to become Mister Confucian Sage's disciple. Yet Jiang Cheng shook his head. Their aptitude was still too poor; they simply could not shoulder great responsibility.

"My apologies, but I have not considered accepting disciples. If I ever do, I will seek those whose hearts are free of distractions. You are all too disorderly."

His words left the Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Alchemists rather embarrassed. Becoming a disciple of the Confucian Sage was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns throughout the world.

The others could only shake their heads helplessly, though they became even more convinced of Jia Nan Academy's formidable backing. Could it be that their Dean was also a Dou Saint Expert?

However, this matter no longer had anything to do with them. They could only watch eagerly as the Thousand Hundred Elders tucked the Dou Venerate Pills, which could help them break through to the Dou Venerate realm, into their robes.

With the alchemy complete, everyone tactfully departed Jia Nan Academy without harming or suppressing anyone there.

Otherwise, with Mister Confucian Sage present, he could have ensured that none of them ever returned.