Accepting Disciples, Ten-Thousandfold Returns: Starting from Battle Through the Heavens - Part 16

Elder Chen nodded at this.

"Nothing else!"

Qin Hao shook his head. Although he wanted to exchange the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques he had acquired earlier for ones he needed, this was not the place for such exchanges.

The academy's cultivation methods and Dou Techniques were not stored here, but in the library pavilion. That place was normally not open to outsiders. If Qin Hao wanted to enter, he could only seek out the Grand Elder.

"Alright, wait here!"

After saying that, Elder Chen headed straight to the second floor.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Elder Chen came back down. With a wave of his hand, box after box appeared on the table, all containing the medicinal ingredients Qin Hao had requested.

After confirming that everything was correct, Qin Hao did not linger any longer. After bidding Elder Chen farewell, he returned to his residence once more.

As for exchanging cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, there was no rush for now.

"Scarlet Qilin, I'm going to refine some pills. Stand guard for me and don't let anyone disturb me!"

After giving the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King his instructions, Qin Hao spoke directly.

"Yes, Master!"

Upon hearing Qin Hao's order, the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King immediately replied.

After making the arrangements, Qin Hao entered his cultivation room.

He took out the Azure Profound Cauldron, followed by piles of medicinal ingredients. What he was about to attempt was the refinement of a sixth-tier pill.

After adjusting himself to his peak condition, Qin Hao finally began refining. A cluster of flames drifted from his palm and settled beneath the Azure Profound Cauldron.

Then, Qin Hao began adding the medicinal ingredients into the cauldron one batch at a time according to the proper steps. His powerful soul force enveloped the Azure Profound Cauldron completely.

Compared to fifth-tier pills, sixth-tier pills were clearly far more difficult to refine.

The number of medicinal ingredients required for a sixth-tier pill was at least thirty percent greater than for a fifth-tier pill. The fusion of the various medicinal liquids alone was already no small challenge.

Then there was control over the heat, as well as the timing for fusing the different medicinal liquids. These were all far beyond what was required for fifth-tier pills.

Fortunately, Qin Hao's soul realm was sufficiently high, making his soul perception exceptionally sharp—far surpassing that of an ordinary sixth-tier alchemist.

Moreover, Qin Hao had inherited the legacy of a top-tier eighth-tier alchemist. Whether in methods or knowledge, he was far beyond what he had been before.

Thus, Qin Hao did not feel much difficulty at all. He even seemed quite at ease, his movements flowing as naturally as drifting clouds and running water.

In the blink of an eye, more than two hours passed.

Within Canaan Academy's Inner Academy, the once clear and pleasant weather suddenly changed. Winds and clouds churned, while the previously calm natural energy of heaven and earth began to surge violently.

The surrounding natural energy seemed to be drawn by something, converging toward a single direction.

That direction was precisely where Qin Hao's small courtyard stood. Before long, the immense natural energy formed a small spiritual-energy vortex that poured toward the little building below.

Such intense fluctuations in the natural energy naturally caught the attention of the Inner Academy's experts. Many figures rose into the sky, all turning their gazes toward Qin Hao's residence.

"Is that... a pill-formation phenomenon!? It's coming from Elder Qin's courtyard. Is Elder Qin refining pills?"

"That's not right. Wasn't Elder Qin only a fourth-tier alchemist? To trigger fluctuations in the natural energy, it would have to be at least a fifth-tier pill, right? Has Elder Qin become a fifth-tier alchemist?"

Quite a few people had already gathered around Qin Hao's courtyard, their faces filled with uncertainty and shock.

Yet none dared approach any closer. The Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King was hovering in the air, its eyes brimming with warning. Naturally, no one dared get too near.

"Sixth tier! This isn't the phenomenon of a fifth-tier pill being formed at all! This is a phenomenon that only occurs when a sixth-tier pill is about to be formed!"

At that moment, an astonished voice rang out. The speaker was an elder dressed in a fiery red robe, staring fixedly at the energy vortex in the sky.

"A sixth-tier pill!? How is that possible!?"

"Old Huo, you're not joking, are you? Elder Qin can refine sixth-tier pills?"

After hearing the old man, many could not help asking, their eyes filled with disbelief.

If anyone else had said it, they would have dismissed it with scorn. But the red-robed elder before them was Elder Huo, the strongest alchemist in Canaan Academy's Inner Academy alchemy department.

"It really is a sixth-tier pill! This..."

Before long, Grand Elder Su Qian arrived as well. As a Dou Zong expert, Su Qian had naturally recognized that this was a celestial phenomenon that only appeared before a sixth-tier pill was formed.

Meanwhile, in the cultivation room, Qin Hao had reached the most critical stage. His hands continuously formed one pill seal after another, while his powerful soul force surged without pause. Not even the slightest irregularity could escape his perception.

Buzz!

After he formed the final hand seal, the lid of the Azure Profound Cauldron flew open. Three streaks of light shot out instantly. Qin Hao reached out, forming a pill-collecting seal, and the three pills radiating a milky white glow fell into the jade bottle in his hand.

"Three pills? Not bad, not bad!"

Looking at the three pills in the bottle, Qin Hao revealed a satisfied smile.

He was clearly very pleased with this result.

This time, he had refined something called the Primordial Beast Spirit Pill, a sixth-tier healing pill—and not an ordinary sixth-tier healing pill at that.

It was a top-grade healing pill specifically designed for Magic Beasts.

In the original story, Xiao Yan had refined a similar pill, the Primal Bone-Reforming Pill, for the Jia Ma Empire's royal guardian Magic Beast, the Nethersea Flood Dragon.

However, Qin Hao's Primordial Beast Spirit Pill was considerably higher in both grade and effectiveness than the Primal Bone-Reforming Pill. He had obtained its formula from Cang Xuanzi's notes.

Naturally, Qin Hao had refined this pill for the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King.

Although Qin Hao had previously given the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King quite a few healing pills, they had only been fifth-tier pills.

They had healed a significant portion of its injuries, but for it to recover completely, it would still need at least two or three years of recuperation.

But with the Primordial Beast Spirit Pill, things were different. Given the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King's current recovery, taking one Primordial Beast Spirit Pill would allow it to fully recover its peak strength within ten days to half a month at most.

Even the deficiencies in its blood vitality and vital energy caused by giving birth could be fully restored.

After putting away the pills, Qin Hao stopped and slowly rose to his feet.

It was not because he needed rest, but because he had already sensed the presences outside. He needed to settle matters outside before continuing.

Qin Hao was not surprised in the slightest by their arrival. Forget the sixth-tier pill he had refined—even a fifth-tier pill would certainly have alarmed many people.

"Greetings, Grand Elder. Greetings, esteemed elders!"

After stepping outside, Qin Hao saw the Inner Academy elders who had been kept outside by the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King. He immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"Qin Hao, was that a sixth-tier pill you refined just now!? You can already refine sixth-tier pills?"

Elder Huo was the first to lose his composure and ask. Though his words sounded doubtful, his tone carried deep certainty.

Everyone else also fixed their eyes on Qin Hao.

"Yes, Elder Huo!"

Qin Hao nodded without concealing anything. Or rather, he had never intended to hide it. He wanted these people to know.

There would definitely be plenty of people seeking him out to refine pills in the future. With his terrifying pill-refinement success rate and pill yield, he could absolutely make a fortune.

The veteran elders of Canaan Academy's Inner Academy were all quite wealthy, especially those at the Dou Huang level, who were practically overflowing with riches. They were all his potential customers.

After all, Elder Huo, previously the academy's most skilled alchemist, had only been a fifth-tier alchemist. The pills he refined did not hold much appeal for Dou Huang-level experts.

But a sixth-tier alchemist was different. Sixth-tier pills were far more enticing to Dou Huang experts than fifth-tier pills could ever be.

Through refining the Primordial Beast Spirit Pill, Qin Hao had also gained a clear understanding of his current alchemy level.

Aside from some particularly obscure sixth-tier pills with special requirements, ordinary sixth-tier pills could not trouble him.

Even Emperor's Extreme Pills and Sect-Breaking Pills—he was confident he could refine them.

Even among sixth-tier alchemists, his alchemy skills would definitely rank among the very best. At the very least, he was far superior to the Pill King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire from the original story.

Even compared to Han Feng, the so-called Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region, he was no weaker in the slightest—perhaps even stronger.

Han Feng was Yao Chen's disciple, so his inheritance was certainly not lacking. But Qin Hao had likewise obtained the legacy of a top-tier eighth-tier alchemist, so he was no worse than Han Feng.

Han Feng's advantage over Qin Hao in alchemy was his possession of the Heavenly Flame, the Sea Heart Flame!

Qin Hao's advantage, meanwhile, was his Spiritual Realm soul. This was something Han Feng could never match, even if he rode at full speed.

As for the difference in pill cauldrons, the Myriad Beasts Cauldron might have been somewhat better than the Azure Profound Cauldron, but it could not create an absolute advantage.

Therefore, Qin Hao was confident that his current alchemy skills were at least no weaker than Han Feng's.

With a thought, a pill appeared in Qin Hao's hand. In an instant, a rich pill fragrance spread through the air.

"It really has the aura of a sixth-tier pill!"

The moment the pill appeared, everyone's eyes burned with fervor as they looked at Qin Hao.

They understood perfectly well what a sixth-tier alchemist represented. Han Feng, the famed figure of the Black-Corner Region, had been able to establish Maple City into such a colossal force largely because of his identity as a sixth-tier alchemist.

"What pure energy. This pill's quality has actually reached such a level! This is simply... incredible!"

Among them, Elder Huo was still the most shocked. Though he had not reached the sixth-tier alchemist level, his discernment was certainly not poor.

He quickly realized that this sixth-tier pill was clearly not the sort of pill barely qualifying as sixth tier. Its quality was absolutely among the finest, second only to pills that had developed pill patterns.

This was clearly not something an ordinary sixth-tier alchemist could refine. In other words, Qin Hao had not only reached the sixth-tier alchemist level—his skills among sixth-tier alchemists were surely extraordinary as well.

"Elder Qin Hao, may I ask if you can refine an Emperor's Extreme Pill?"

An elder could not help asking, anticipation appearing on his face. This elder was none other than Elder Chen, whom Qin Hao had previously met at the Treasure Pavilion.

Elder Chen was a Dou Huang-level expert. Fifth-tier and ordinary sixth-tier pills found it difficult to stir his interest, but Emperor's Extreme Pills were clearly different.

The moment Elder Chen's words fell, several figures among the surrounding elders revealed expectant looks in their eyes. Without exception, they were all Dou Huang-level experts.

"An Emperor's Extreme Pill... I haven't refined one before, but with my current alchemy skills, refining an Emperor's Extreme Pill wouldn't be too difficult!"

Qin Hao replied, a confident look appearing on his face. He had no intention of hiding his abilities.