First Attempt at Pill Refinement

The power in Zhou Liang's hands faded, and his jade-like ice-blue left hand returned to its normal flesh color.

The strong, sharp dragon claws gradually receded as well. His pointed nails retracted, the dragon-scale-like patterns slowly sank beneath his skin, and his enlarged palm returned to normal.

He then cleared away the items on the table, disposed of the highly potent toxins, and washed the residual poison from the cauldron and containers.

After putting everything away, he stood, walked to the door, opened it, and headed outside.

This book was first published on Taiwan Novel Network, offering an excellent reading experience with error-free, properly ordered chapters.

Watching the specks of sunlight in the sky, Zhou Liang made his way to the training ground and stopped beside a practice dummy.

He took a deep breath, raised his left hand, and used the method of the Five-Colored Palm to drive his Soul Power forward in a strike.

An ice-blue palm print burst from his body and shot forward in an instant.

Bang!

The sound of impact came from ahead. Blue mist rose from the dummy, accompanied by strange noises.

Upon listening closely, they were clearly the sounds of water freezing.

When the mist dispersed and revealed the scene within, Zhou Liang was still immensely surprised, even though he had already anticipated the damage.

A palm print had appeared on the chest of the dummy, which could withstand a Soul Elder's attacks without so much as a scratch.

From that palm print outward, a thin layer of solid ice had frozen over the dummy. That was likely the source of the earlier sounds.

"The Ice-and-Fire Power, the power of the Red-Blue Buff, the enhancement from enlightenment, and the cultivation of the Five-Colored Palm—layer upon layer, they created this immense power."

Zhou Liang gazed at the dummy covered in blue ice and pondered inwardly.

"This level of power is already at the limit of a Soul Elder. After all, a single strike can leave a mark, and ninety percent of Soul Elders can't achieve that. Even Tang San couldn't do it without using hidden weapons." A smile gradually appeared on Zhou Liang's lips.

"And there's still enormous room for improvement. From now on, close combat will no longer be my weakness!"

After saying that, Zhou Liang raised his right hand. Crimson power surged forth, instantly transforming it into a ruby-like dragon claw that radiated even greater force.

A dragon-claw-shaped palm print, wreathed in blazing flames, crashed toward the dummy.

Boom!

A sound like an explosion thundered through the area.

A red-and-blue shockwave burst outward.

It swept gently past Zhou Liang's body, lifting a strand of his hair.

The dummy now bore a deep dragon-claw mark beside the palm print.

Blazing flames burned within the dragon-claw mark. Even without anything to fuel them, they continued burning for more than ten seconds.

Only after the flames died out did Zhou Liang leave in satisfaction. He came to an open area and sat down cross-legged.

"I've mastered these two palm techniques. It's time to start practicing with these pills as well!" Zhou Liang slowly closed his eyes and began recalling the various formulas.

"The Ziwu Dragon Armor Pill should be the hardest. Making its fragrance spread for a hundred thousand li is entirely beyond the means of the martial arts world. If I can refine this pill, then within the scope of the martial arts world, no one should be able to surpass my pill-refining skills."

Zhou Liang studied the formulas and contemplated quietly.

"The Rhinoceros-Piercing Earth-Dragon Pill has something in common with the Ziwu Dragon Armor Pill. One draws out poison, while the other repels it. Once I thoroughly understand both formulas, what would happen if I improved them and refined them with the Serene Fragrance Qiluo Immortal Herb as the main ingredient?"

The corners of Zhou Liang's mouth lifted as he considered it curiously.

"And after taking the Nine-Turn Bear-Snake Pill, one can strengthen the body, gain immense strength, and become indestructible. If I refine it with the Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum as the main ingredient, just how far could that indestructible body be enhanced?"

Thinking of this, Zhou Liang became incredibly excited. He rose to his feet and hurried toward the medicine room.

He ran straight into someone and instinctively reached out, wrapping an arm around her soft, willow-like waist and pulling her tightly into his embrace.

"Ah!"

Dugu Yan cried out in fright. Once she saw it was Zhou Liang, she patted his chest twice and complained somewhat resentfully.

"You scared me to death!"

Zhou Liang watched as Dugu Yan lightly patted her chest, which had only just begun to develop, sending ripples through it.

"Yan Yan, are you all right?" Zhou Liang quickly shifted his gaze and asked with concern.

Dugu Yan, who had seen everything, curled her lips into a faint smile. She slowly wrapped her arms around Zhou Liang and said,

"I'm fine!"

Dugu Yan slipped her hand into Zhou Liang's clothes and spoke softly.

"You're in such a hurry. What are you going to do?" Dugu Yan raised her head and asked slowly.

"I thought of a formula, so I want to go back and try it." Feeling that cool little hand, Zhou Liang's heart stirred. Unfortunately, while his mind was burning with excitement, his body was somewhat lacking in vigor.

"What formula? Why are you so excited?" Dugu Yan asked, slightly surprised.

"I can't really say until I've refined it. Come on, let's go try it!" Zhou Liang said to Dugu Yan.

"Okay!" Dugu Yan nodded, her interest piqued.

Zhou Liang then took Dugu Yan's small hand and pulled her toward the medicine room.

Upon arriving, they found shelves filled with a dazzling assortment of medicinal ingredients, while all kinds of tools for processing them were neatly arranged on racks. These had all been purchased with the profits from those three pesticides.

"Yan Yan, help me out. We're starting now!" Zhou Liang said to Dugu Yan beside him after entering the medicine room.

"Okay!" Dugu Yan nodded.

Zhou Liang moved among the dazzling array of medicinal ingredients, searching carefully. Every ingredient was available. After taking them out, he arranged them in order.

He began explaining how to process them to Dugu Yan, and the two of them got to work together.

They immediately became busy, and time slowly passed.

Though they were young, both were skilled at handling poisons. Thus, after several hours, they completed the preparation steps.

Zhou Liang stood before a stone platform, upon which rested a half-meter-tall cauldron.

Dugu Yan stood behind him, staring intently at Zhou Liang and carefully observing his every next move.

After slowly exhaling, Zhou Liang began the final refinement of the portions of medicinal ingredients they had prepared.

Ice-Blue Hand and Crimson Hand power flowed into his hands, and their transformation immediately drew Dugu Yan's attention.

That's the Ice-Blue Hand? Why has it become so beautiful? Then that red one must be the corresponding Crimson Hand. It looks so ferocious—its power must be incredible, right?

These thoughts flashed through Dugu Yan's mind. Then, noticing that Zhou Liang had already begun, she quickly cast them aside and focused on observing closely.

Time slowly passed amid alternating red and blue glows.

When the light gradually dimmed, the pill refinement was complete. The steaming cauldron was slowly opened.

Dozens of soybean-sized pills, each round and plump, appeared before them.

These were the pills Zhou Liang had refined: Lesser Rejuvenation Pills.