The flames in the Medicine Cauldron roared as Ye Xiu used his soul power to control the temperature. When it was just right, he flicked a finger, and the Purple Leaf Gold Vein Grass flew into the cauldron.
Sizzle—
The purple leaves tumbled in the flames, slowly dissolving into a pool of purple liquid.
Ye Xiu wrapped the liquid in his soul power and peeled away the impurities bit by bit. The useless dross turned into black smoke and drifted away, leaving the liquid purer and purer.
Next came the Green Spirit Fruit, the Angelica Flower, the Earth Dragon Root...
One ingredient at a time, he tossed them in, refined them, and purified them, until several pools of differently colored liquid floated inside the cauldron.
The entire process flowed as smoothly as running water, without a single unnecessary movement.
Most of the people around him were Alchemists, and gradually they began to notice the subtleties of Ye Xiu's technique.
"Good heavens..." someone swallowed. "That technique..."
"Quiet. Don't disturb him."
Lin Fei stood completely still. She had thought being a first-tier Alchemist was something to be proud of, but watching Ye Xiu now, she finally understood what a gap in skill really meant.
Xue Mei drew a quiet breath, her gaze complicated. She had studied alchemy under President Frank and considered herself one of the best among her peers, yet the young man before her had shattered her pride to pieces.
For Ye Xiu now, refining a fourth-tier pill was as easy as eating a meal or drinking tea.
As time passed, the refining process soon reached the fusion stage.
The various pools of liquid slowly drew together, touched, and began to fuse.
Ye Xiu remained unhurried, controlling them with his soul power and guiding them together bit by bit.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the pools of liquid had completely merged into a mass about the size of a baby's fist. It began to condense, gradually taking the shape of a pill.
Ye Xiu continued to wrap the nascent pill in his soul power, while increasing the flow of his battle qi.
The flames blazed hotter, continuously tempering the nascent pill.
Its pitted surface slowly grew smooth, and the pill became rounder and rounder.
A little while later.
Ye Xiu gave a low shout. "Rise!"
He slapped the Medicine Cauldron. The flames went out in an instant, and the lid flew open. Five emerald pills, each the size of a longan, shot out of the cauldron.
Ye Xiu snatched up the jade bottle beside him and caught them in midair.
All five pills landed inside.
The hall fell so silent it seemed deserted.
Frank stood frozen, motionless for a long time.
He had lived for more than sixty years and practiced alchemy for over forty, but he had never seen anything like this.
Five pills from one batch of ingredients?
And all of them fourth-tier?
Otto stood nearby with his mouth agape, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
Lin Fei's expression was a sight to behold, turning red, then white. She had just advised him not to deceive himself, and now her face burned with shame.
The people around them looked as if they had seen a ghost. Not one dared even breathe too loudly.
A fourth-tier Alchemist this young—the significance and value of that were simply enormous! He was someone with the potential to reach the seventh tier in the future!
Before long, surely the entire Jia Ma Empire, perhaps even the whole Northwest Continent, would be shaken by this, wouldn't it?
Ye Xiu handed the jade bottle to Frank. "Examine the pills."
Frank took the bottle, poured out a pill, and held it up close for inspection.
It was perfectly round, its surface smooth. A ring of emerald ripples seemed to shimmer across it, like ripples spreading on water—a Pill Pattern.
"A Pill Pattern..." Frank murmured. "Only a pill refined to the very peak of its quality could possibly develop one."
He examined it over and over, then finally looked up at Ye Xiu, his expression impossibly complicated.
"Friend, uh, Master..." he began, his voice a little hoarse. "Forgive my impertinence, but how old are you?"
"Fifteen," Ye Xiu replied.
Frank: "..."
Otto: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Lin Fei's head buzzed. Fifteen? A fourth-tier Alchemist? And he had even produced a Pill Pattern?
Xue Mei's fingers curled slightly. She was silent for a long time, then simply shook her head.
Frank took a deep breath, put the pill back into the jade bottle, and returned it to Ye Xiu.
"You passed as a fourth-tier Alchemist," he said. "No, I should say that with your abilities, Master, the fourth tier isn't your limit. You refined a top-quality fourth-tier pill so effortlessly. You must be a fifth-tier Alchemist, right?"
Ye Xiu nodded. "Yes."
The hall filled once more with gasps.
A fourth-tier Alchemist had already overturned everything they thought possible. And now it turned out he was a fifth-tier Alchemist?
A fifteen-year-old fifth-tier Alchemist?
Lin Fei opened her mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. She turned to Xue Mei and saw that she, too, was silent.
The two rivals who had competed for years now felt that all their squabbles had become a joke. They had been nothing but frogs at the bottom of a well.
Frank smiled bitterly. "I've lived for more than sixty years, and today has truly opened my eyes."
He paused, then continued, "Master, would you be willing to register with the association? You wouldn't have to do anything—just come by once in a while to guide the younger members. We can discuss the terms."
Ye Xiu didn't even think about it before shaking his head. "No need."
Frank gave an awkward smile but didn't press him. He hurriedly sent someone to prepare the paperwork.
Half an hour later.
Ye Xiu and Xiao Yi Xian left the association.
Xiao Yi Xian walked beside him, sneaking glances at him several times along the way.
Ye Xiu turned to look at her. "What are you looking at?"
Xiao Yi Xian's face flushed, and she lowered her head. "Nothing... I just think you're amazing, Master."
Ye Xiu said nothing.
Xiao Yi Xian hesitated, then asked quietly, "Master, where are we going next?"
Ye Xiu looked up at the sky.
"The Tagor Desert," he said.
Xiao Yi Xian was taken aback. "What are we going there for?"
"What do you think an Alchemist needs most?" Ye Xiu said. "Something that can make an Alchemist stronger."
Xiao Yi Xian shook her head. "What is it, Master?"
"Heavenly Flames," Ye Xiu answered.
"Oh." Although she had no idea what Heavenly Flames were, Xiao Yi Xian nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
She followed Ye Xiu onward, a feeling she couldn't quite describe suddenly rising in her heart.
This person would be her master from now on.
It felt wonderful to be able to follow him.
Ye Xiu reached the city gate and stopped, turning to look at her.
"Are you ready?"
Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready."
Ye Xiu scooped her up in his arms, and a pair of flame wings spread out behind him.
Boom!
Purple-gold light shot into the sky and vanished over the distant horizon in the blink of an eye.
Nestled in his arms, Xiao Yi Xian watched Heiyan City grow smaller and smaller below, and the corners of her mouth slowly lifted.
Master, I'll follow you wherever we go.
On the second floor of the association, Xue Mei stood by the window, gazing at the streak of purple-gold light disappearing into the distance. She remained silent for a long time.
Lin Fei came to stand beside her and said softly, "He's gone."
"Mm."
"Where do you think he'll end up?"
Xue Mei was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Somewhere beyond our imagination."
Lin Fei gave a bitter smile. "True."
The two stood side by side, looking at the empty sky, each lost in her own thoughts.
After a long while, Lin Fei suddenly spoke. "I was just telling him not to deceive himself. I could kick myself for being so stupid!"
Xue Mei turned to look at her. For once, she didn't make a cutting remark. She merely patted Lin Fei gently on the shoulder.
Then they each returned to their own Medicine Cauldron.
The flames inside the cauldrons were lit again, but this time, both of them worked much harder.
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