Refining the Dou Ling Pill

"Master, when are we going to make our move?"

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian asked Yao Chen impatiently.

"No rush. That evil disciple has his own faction, so he won't leave. While we were gathering information earlier, we learned that an auction is being held soon. Let's go take a look first."

The two of them were quite curious when they heard about the auction. Xiao Yan had heard of auctions back in the Jia Ma Empire, but had never attended one himself. Xiao Yi Xian had never left Green Mountain Town since she was a child, so she had never seen anything like an auction, either.

"Teacher, what kind of things will they have at the auction?"

"I heard this auction is held once every three years. The grand finale is an ancient soul technique."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and slowly explained it to the two of them.

Xiao Yan was curious about what a soul technique was, so he continued to question Yao Chen.

"What is an ancient soul technique?"

"These techniques only existed in ancient times. Almost none have survived to the present day."

"Cultivating soul techniques can strengthen the soul. They're skills unleashed through soul power. In a battle between opponents of equal cultivation, someone who can use a soul technique can often crush their opponent."

"Those with powerful souls, such as alchemists, stand to gain the most from learning soul techniques."

When they heard that soul techniques could strengthen the soul, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan's eyes widened. They both wanted one badly.

"Master, let's go to the auction here right now!"

Xiao Yi Xian said urgently to Yao Chen.

"Girl, don't rush. The auction won't be held for another five days. Let's make preparations first. We refined quite a few pills in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, but most of them were Fourth-Grade. We don't have much hope of winning that soul technique."

"What should we do, then, Master?"

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian's helpless expression, Yao Chen smiled kindly at her. Then a fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he said,

"It's all right, girl. This is the Black Corner Region. If we can't win it at auction, we'll just take it by force."

Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan were startled by his words. They rarely saw their teacher so ruthless, and fell silent.

Seeing the two little ones stop talking, Yao Chen instructed them,

"Go get some rest for now. Little Yan, try refining a Fifth-Grade Pill over the next few days. Girl, you can watch and learn."

"Okay, Teacher!"

Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan each returned to their rooms.

The next morning, Xiao Yan prepared to refine a Peak Fifth-Grade Pill—the Dou Ling Pill. Xiao Yi Xian came to his room early to watch and learn alchemy.

After half a year together, the two had developed a tacit understanding.

Xiao Yan stood in the middle of the room, his expression focused and grave.

He took a deep breath and summoned the mysterious, beautiful blue flame from within him: Ice Lotus Blazing Flame.

As soon as Ice Lotus Blazing Flame appeared, the temperature in the room plunged. The deep-blue flame danced slowly in his palm like a blooming ice flower, giving off wisps of chill.

Xiao Yi Xian stood quietly to one side, her beautiful eyes full of anticipation and nerves.

She knew Xiao Yan had little chance of successfully refining the Peak Fifth-Grade Dou Ling Pill this time.

Xiao Yan took the black pill cauldron his teacher had given him to use, Black Demon, from his Storage Ring.

Carefully, Xiao Yan guided Ice Lotus Blazing Flame into the bottom of the black pill cauldron. A thin layer of ice instantly coated it.

He quickly picked up the medicinal herbs and fed them into the black pill cauldron one by one, in an orderly fashion.

As the herbs went in, a faint sizzling sound came from inside the cauldron.

The low temperature of Ice Lotus Blazing Flame made the herbs solidify rapidly, but under Xiao Yan's superb control, they slowly began to melt again. The various medicinal liquids gradually blended together.

Xiao Yi Xian stared unblinkingly at the black pill cauldron. Xiao Yan's hands formed a complex series of seals at lightning speed as strands of soul power poured into the furnace, precisely controlling the flame's temperature and the progress of the pill refinement.

Second by second, time passed. The medicinal liquid inside the black pill cauldron began to roil and boil, giving off a rainbow of colors.

Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Xiao Yan's forehead, but his gaze remained firm and focused. He didn't dare relax for even an instant.

Xiao Yi Xian clenched her hands nervously at his side, silently cheering him on.

She could tell the refinement had reached a critical stage. The slightest mistake would ruin all their efforts.

Suddenly, the black pill cauldron shook violently, and a wild surge of energy erupted from inside.

Xiao Yi Xian's heart leapt into her throat. "Senior Brother Xiao Yan, be careful!" she cried.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and increased the blue flame's output, doing everything he could to stabilize the situation inside the black pill cauldron.

His clothes snapped in the turbulent blue flames, and a strained expression crossed his face.

After a harrowing struggle, the black pill cauldron finally began to settle down.

Xiao Yan let out a long breath, then continued focusing all his attention on controlling the flame as he gave the medicinal liquid its final refinement.

The room was now filled with a rich medicinal fragrance that was refreshing to breathe in.

Xiao Yi Xian knew the pill was almost ready.

At last, Xiao Yan gave a loud shout and swept both hands outward. Ice Lotus Blazing Flame withdrew from the bottom of the black pill cauldron. The lid slowly rose, and a round,

rainbow-colored pill rose into the air.

Xiao Yan reached out and beckoned. The pill dropped into his hand.

He carefully examined its color and patterns, then broke into a satisfied smile.

"Success, Junior Sister! This is a Peak Fifth-Grade Dou Ling Pill!"

Xiao Yan shouted excitedly to Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward and looked at the pill in Xiao Yan's hand, her eyes brimming with delight and admiration. "Senior Brother Xiao Yan, you really did it!"

Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I have Ice Lotus Blazing Flame's great power to thank, as well as our teacher's guidance during this time."

Yao Chen was meditating in his room, and he too sensed that Xiao Yan had successfully refined the Fifth-Grade Dou Ling Pill.

"That boy really is talented. This Fifth-Grade Dou Ling Pill is almost on par with an ordinary Sixth-Grade Pill."

The next four days passed with Xiao Yan refining pills. Tomorrow was the day the auction would begin.

During this time, Xiao Yan had refined the Dou Ling Pill four times. He succeeded twice and failed twice. Overall, the results were pretty good.

That evening, Yao Chen called Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian to his room.

"Little Yan, you did quite well refining the Dou Ling Pill these past few days. You're already touching the threshold of a Sixth-Grade alchemist."

Xiao Yan immediately bowed to Yao Chen and said humbly,

"It's all thanks to your teaching, Teacher."

"Hahaha, no need to be modest. We've all seen how much you've grown, Little Yan. In just over half a year, you've learned to refine the Peak Fifth-Grade Dou Ling Pill. Even I have to look at you in a new light."

Yao Chen gazed at Xiao Yan with satisfaction and praised him generously.

"The auction begins tomorrow. Get a good night's rest. You've worked hard refining pills these past few days."