This was the most crucial step—and the most dangerous one.
Bao Yun drew a deep breath and slowly brought his hands together. The pill fire within the furnace contracted with it, shrinking from covering the entire furnace into a concentrated cluster beneath the nascent pill, gently baking it over a low flame.
This process could be neither too fast nor too slow. Too fast, and the pill would explode; too slow, and its medicinal properties would seep away.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze.
The cave was utterly silent, save for the faint crackling of pill fire and the low hum of the slowly spinning pill.
Bao Yun extended his divine sense into the pill furnace, sensing every minute change in the pill at all times.
He knew that the process of pill condensation required an exceedingly long time. He could not rush, nor could he grow impatient.
Another hour passed.
The nascent pill gradually shrank, going from the size of a fist to the size of an egg, then to the size of a walnut.
Its originally gentle luster also became increasingly restrained, as though all its essence had been compressed into that tiny pellet.
Finally, after the pill condensation had continued for a full hour, the pellet suddenly let out a crisp hum, then shuddered violently.
An incomparably rich pill fragrance burst from the furnace, instantly filling the entire cave.
The scent was refreshing to the heart and mind. Merely taking one breath of it made one feel thoroughly at ease, while even one's immortal essence seemed to increase faintly.
The seven star patterns on the Seven-Star Pill Furnace lit up at once. A pillar of light shot into the sky, piercing through the mountain's belly and soaring straight into the heavens.
"Not good."
Bao Yun's expression