Dao Disciple's Third Realm Heaven!

Since learning to refine pills, Chen Xian had not stepped outside for three straight days.

He was like a man possessed, guarding that Bronze Pill Furnace day and night without rest.

The flame control techniques that had once been somewhat clumsy had, after hundreds of repetitions, become as natural as breathing.

"Ignite!"

In the courtyard, Chen Xian let out a low shout. His Dao Consciousness spread like a spiderweb through the formation, densely enveloping the interior of the furnace.

Inside the furnace at this moment, three portions of Qi Induction Pill ingredients floated simultaneously.

The furnace fire surged, the herbs crackled and popped, and medicinal liquid continuously flowed out.

But Chen Xian was not flustered in the slightest. He controlled the heat with precision.

The furnace trembled slightly, but it remained within manageable limits.

If any disciple from Pill Peak had witnessed this scene, their jaws would have dropped to the ground.

Refining three portions of ingredients at once, without the slightest disorder.

Such terrifying control was simply not something a first-grade Dao Disciple could achieve.

At the very least, a third-grade Pill Master or higher would dare to refine three portions of first-grade pill ingredients in a single batch.

"Separate liquid, combine pills, collect!"

Chen Xian withdrew his hands and peered into the furnace mouth. Fifteen round, jade-like Qi Induction Pills floated quietly inside, undergoing the final warm rest with the residual flame.

On ten of those pills, a faint green hue swirled—the Water Emerald Pattern, a mark of first-grade intermediate quality.

"Hah... refining three portions at once, the quality is still a bit hard to control. If it were two portions, they'd all be intermediate grade."

Chen Xian wiped the fine sweat from his brow. There was no fatigue in his eyes; instead, they sparkled with vitality.

Moreover, over these three days, he had discovered something astonishing.

While refining pills, he could actually temper his Dao Consciousness!

Every precise extraction of medicinal liquid, every suppression of conflicting medicinal properties, even every division of the liquid into clusters—all of it consumed his Dao Consciousness wildly.

And each time his Dao Consciousness neared depletion, he would take a Consciousness Returning Pill.

Under the nourishment of that cool medicinal power, his exhausted Sea of Consciousness would be like parched land meeting a long-awaited rain, frantically restoring his Dao Consciousness.

This cycle of squeezing dry and then recovering made his Dao Consciousness increasingly solid, and his inner vision lasted longer and longer.

"Four hundredth Qi Induction Pill, two hundredth Foundation Building Pill... finally done."

Chen Xian swept his gaze over the densely packed medicine bottles in his Jade Ring, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up wildly.

The ingredient allotment issued by the Mission Hall had included two extra portions to account for a three-out-of-one loss rate.

But with Masterful Pill Crafting's one hundred percent success rate, he had not only quickly completed the mission.

He had also used the surplus backup ingredients to refine an additional four hundred Qi Induction Pills and two hundred Foundation Building Pills.

And these extra pills naturally became his own.

Chen Xian's heart was full of delight. Completing the mission while pocketing free pills—this kind of work felt great.

By now, the night was deep.

He sat cross-legged back on the bed, preparing to break through to Dao Disciple Seventh Layer.

In just three days, his inner vision duration had rapidly increased from three hundred eighty breaths to nine hundred fifty breaths.

He was now just one step away from Dao Disciple Seventh Layer.

"Tonight, I will break through!"

He took out the last three Consciousness Returning Pills and placed them in his mouth. The medicinal power slid down his throat. Chen Xian felt a crisp explosion in his spiritual platform under the triple dose of medicinal force.

His Dao Consciousness instantly expanded. No longer was it like threads or wisps as before; instead, it transformed into a surging, unceasing river!

As it coursed through his body, the writhing of his internal organs, the flow of Dao Qi through every meridian, and even the fine patterns on the Xuanyun Sword Bone were as clear as if engraved in his mind.

His breathing was like the tolling of a bell, long and continuous. Chen Xian silently counted the duration in his heart.

Nine hundred ninety-eight breaths... nine hundred ninety-nine breaths!

"Dao Disciple Seventh Layer, break!"

With the completion of the final breath, Chen Xian's heart roared like an enraged ox.

At that moment, his Sea of Consciousness trembled violently, as if chaos were being split open for the first time.

The once illusory Dao Consciousness solidified completely in that instant, transforming into a nearly tangible perception.

Dao Consciousness covered every corner of his physical body, precisely grasping every subtle change in his flesh and blood.

Chen Xian felt his control over his body multiply. Every bone, every muscle was under his command.

His physical state was adjusted to its peak at every moment.

"So this is the Third Realm Heaven of a Dao Disciple?"

Chen Xian opened his eyes. His once murky gaze was now clear and bright like stars. He felt as if he had slept an exceptionally good sleep, his entire being refreshed and invigorated.

This absolute control over his body made him want to burst out laughing.

"Sword Control Technique... I can finally learn the Sword Control Technique!"

Early the next morning, Chen Xian walked with his hands behind his back, his steps light and brisk as he headed toward the Mission Hall.

Liu Yuanbao was still busy today, sweating profusely.

And beside him, Chen Xian saw Elder Qiu, who had surprisingly come to sit and help inspect the pills.

"Oh, Steward Liu, Elder Qiu, good morning."

Chen Xian walked up with a grin, waving his hand as rows of jade bottles spread across the table for submitting tasks.

"Yuanbao, here are one hundred Qi Induction Pills and one hundred Foundation Building Pills. Take a look."

Liu Yuanbao's hand trembled, nearly dropping the registry in his grip. "Grandmaster? You... you've finished all the tasks?"

He uncorked a bottle and saw that each round pill shimmered with a faint green light.

"All with patterns?"

Liu Yuanbao sucked in a cold breath and looked at Qiu Daowen. "Elder Qiu, take a look at this quality..."

Qiu Daowen picked up a pill, brought it to his nose and sniffed lightly, then let out a long sigh, his tone complex. "The medicinal power is rich, the pill poison faint. These are all good first-grade mid-tier pills."

"Grandmaster... your talent truly shames us pill cultivators. What a pity, if only you were younger..."

Qiu Daowen's expression was complicated. A few days ago, Liu Yuanbao had run to Sect Master Peak to report that Grandmaster Chen had taken on pill-refining tasks and finished them all in a single day.

The Sect Master didn't believe it, so he sent someone from Pill Peak to verify. He happened to have interacted with Grandmaster Chen during morning lessons three days ago, so he volunteered for the job. Today was the day Grandmaster submitted his tasks, so he waited here.

And Grandmaster had indeed come!

The pill-refining tasks were complete too.

Two hundred first-grade pills, not a single one missing, and the quality wasn't ordinary—they were patterned first-grade mid-tier pills.

If word got out, not even the Sect Master would believe it, let alone him!

"Ah, Elder Qiu, stop right there!"

Chen Xian quickly waved his hand. "This old man is too old to hear the word 'pity.' Now that I can refine pills, I'll just do my part for the sect."

"Besides, I'm not necessarily worse at eighty than some twenty-year-old lad. Who says I can't become the Pill Saint of this generation?"

Qiu Daowen paused, then smiled. "Grandmaster speaks truly!"

Liu Yuanbao beamed. "Grandmaster, these pills exceed the task requirements. By the rules, I'll add half a Contribution Point extra per Qi Induction Pill as a reward!"

"Fine, handle it as you see fit. I'll take these tasks, and you send the herbs directly to my courtyard."

Chen Xian waved dismissively, casually plucked two red task plaques from the wall, and asked offhandedly, "Where do I buy the Sword Control Technique?"

"Right here on Morning Sun Peak. Just go to the Ten Thousand Sword Hall. If your Sword Path reaches Dao Disciple seventh level, you can get it for free." Liu Yuanbao replied respectfully.

After speaking, he glanced at the two empty spots on the wall.

If he remembered correctly, those were second-grade Spring Return Pill refining tasks, weren't they?

Hadn't it only been a few days, and Grandmaster was already going to refine second-grade pills?

Before he could ask, Chen Xian had already pocketed the task plaques and stepped out the door.

Walking along, Chen Xian noticed that Morning Sun Peak was unusually lively today.

Many unfamiliar faces had appeared in the sect's entry plaza.

They were a group of spirited young people, dressed in a way that didn't match outer disciples.

Most wore robes embroidered with fine patterns—cloud motifs or golden lions—bearing an air of distinction, clearly from noble families.

They pointed at the Sword Sect's mountain gate, their brows carrying the unique arrogance of aristocratic youth.

Chen Xian spotted some among them wearing robes with copper coin patterns, each exuding wealth, subtly surrounded by peers of the same age, forming the center of attention.

"The Qian Family is here too?"

Chen Xian paused to watch from a distance, recalling the attire he'd seen on the Qian Family before, and mused to himself.