The enormous medicine cauldron, its entire body a bluish-gold color and covered with various landscapes of mountains and rivers, landed heavily on the stone platform. As the massive cauldron fell, a buzzing vibration emanated from the point of impact with the stone platform.
Gazing at the completely repaired cauldron before him, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming. After Luo Ao's repair, the Luo Heavenly Cauldron now appeared even more imposing than before. The cracks that covered its entire body had disappeared, replaced by a more substantial and stable aura. The cyan-gold cauldron reflected an eerie cyan light under the sunlight, making it appear as if flames were burning on it. Even when touched, it wasn't as cold as ordinary cauldrons, but rather carried a slight warmth. As expected of a cauldron on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking, it was indeed quite different.
After a moment of surprise, Xiao Yan opened his mouth and, as he mobilized his internal Origin Qi, a blazing purple flame burst forth from his mouth. After Formation Plate, it poured directly into the cauldron through the fire inlet, then suddenly erupted, transforming into a large ball of raging fire that surged and churned within the cauldron, further raising the temperature inside.
As Xiao Yan mobilized his internal Origin Qi, the Heavenly Formation Platform he was on suddenly exhibited a strange phenomenon. The previously calm runes on the ground began to flicker and spread, eventually reaching the four sides of the stone platform and stopping at the edges of the four stone pillars. Then, rings of light continued to climb upwards until all four stone pillars were illuminated. Golden light swirled around the four stone pillars, shooting out and then converging at one point. Finally, a golden array shield formed above the stone platform, which appeared to be left by someone before him.
Seeing the scene unfolding before him, Xiao Yan's slightly tense emotions gradually relaxed. At the same time, he was amazed by the array master's skills. These seemingly ordinary runes actually concealed such techniques. If he hadn't mobilized his internal Origin Qi just now, he probably wouldn't have been able to discover the special connection between these runes. Especially the four stone pillars, the drawings on them were even more surprising to him.
Regaining his composure, Xiao Yan's gaze returned to the medicine cauldron before him. As flames surged within, Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve, and a burst of light flashed rapidly on his Storage Ring. One after another, medicinal herbs flew out, enveloped in Origin Qi, and floated above the cauldron in astonishing numbers, creating a rather beautiful sight.
The Soul-Forging Pill, a sixth-tier elixir, has the effect of strengthening the Soul Origin. Once used, it can enhance the resilience of one's Spiritual Strength. It is an invaluable treasure for alchemists and array masters. Of course, the effects of the Soul-Forging Pill cannot be stacked, so a person can only use it once in their lifetime. If used more, it will have no effect. The medicinal materials required for its refining are quite numerous, numbering over five hundred, most of which are rare medicinal materials that can enhance the Spiritual Strength of ordinary people. They are priceless and unavailable on the market. Xiao Yan obtained several of them by chance, and they are only enough for him to use twice at most. If he fails, then the Soul-Forging Pill will be a complete failure.
Once the pill is Soul-Forging Pill, using its special properties to resist the power of the Heavenly Flames and refine the Huo Zhu's body would be a good option.
After carefully reviewing the pill formula several times and memorizing some key points, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. As he looked up, a blazing light flashed deep within his eyes. When the temperature inside the cauldron reached its peak, Xiao Yan suddenly raised his hand, transforming it into a palm, and struck the cauldron. The instant a clear collision sound rang out, many of the hundreds of medicinal herbs floating around the cauldron rushed into it, only to be engulfed by the raging flames within.
Under the frenzied refining of the Heavenly Flames, the surface of the medicinal herbs either gushed out streams of turbid and viscous juice, formed a solid surface, or surged with violent energy from within, temporarily resisting the attack of the Heavenly Flames. However, Xiao Yan did not care about this. He calmed his mind, his cross-legged body remained still, and his eyes slowly closed. With his enormous Spiritual Strength, everything inside the medicine cauldron fell into his mind without any error.
Two hours later, all the medicinal herbs inside the cauldron underwent a transformation. Under the terrifyingly high temperature of the purple flames, all the herbs were condensed into pure powder and liquid, and then, under the exquisite control of Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength, they gradually fused together.
The first step was successfully completed, which was indeed within Xiao Yan's expectations. However, the second step, the Pill Fusion, would probably not be so smooth.
Because most of these raw materials share similar medicinal properties, there are far fewer medicinal materials available to harmonize the medicinal properties. This is not due to a lack of prepared medicinal materials, but rather because the Soul-Forging Pill is inherently like this. Its excessive pursuit of enhancing Spiritual Strength has led to an overly extreme refining method, resulting in an excessive amount of Spiritual Strength contained in the liquid and powder, making the medicinal properties naturally more potent. Therefore, achieving fusion with it is certainly not an easy task.
The initial step in the fusion process is to first combine several relatively mild medicinal liquids and powders. Once the medicinal properties have gradually stabilized, the resulting viscous ointment is then slowly blended together. Although the process sounds simple, truly integrating the immense medicinal power within the liquids is not an easy task.
With unwavering patience and immense Spiritual Strength, this initial fusion process lasted for nearly an hour, during which Xiao Yan consumed a considerable amount of his Origin Qi and Spiritual Strength. Fortunately, however, everything remained relatively stable.
Inside the medicine cauldron, the hundreds of liquids and powders of varying sizes had now mostly condensed into a dozen or so new viscous medicinal clumps about the size of a palm. The medicinal power within them had also largely merged. Although not perfect, they were stable at the same level, and at least there would be no energy surges.
Next, it will be time for the remaining dozen or so medicinal pills to be fused together. If successful, then the most crucial step in making the Soul-Forging Pill will be complete.
However...
"Buzz!"
As two of the medicinal clumps gradually approached under Xiao Yan's control, a violent energy surge suddenly erupted from within them, slamming violently against the inner wall of the cauldron. Instantly, a loud, clear sound wave spread rapidly, causing the entire cauldron to tremble violently.