Having learned that the Pill Gathering begin, Xiao Yan naturally devoted all his energy to improving his alchemy skills.
After leaving the ancestral hall, he immediately immersed himself in the cultivation room. Flames rose continuously in the medicine cauldron, and he poured in medicinal herbs one by one without hesitation. The fragrance of herbs and the dregs of herbs alternated, and Xiao Yan became more and more adept at refining seventh-grade pills under such constant consumption.
In the blink of an eye, three months have passed.
The minimum requirement to participate in the Pill Gathering is to be Tier Six High-Level Alchemist. With Xiao Yan's current alchemy skills, meeting this requirement would be a piece of cake. However, what he hopes for is to stand at the top of the Pill Gathering and have the opportunity to meet the leading figures of the Pill Tower, rather than simply participating.
Therefore, after three months of continuous refining, Xiao Yan was able to ensure that his alchemy skills were stable at the level of Tier Seven Mid-Level Alchemist. As for the next step, it would naturally be to try refining high-level seventh-rank pills.
Although Xiao Yan had successfully refined a high-grade seventh-rank pill, it was only limited to a high-grade seventh-rank Ancestor Transformation Pill. Moreover, that one attempt had almost exhausted Xiao Yan's energy. Although he had made several attempts during this period, the final result was unsurprisingly failure.
High-Level Alchemist are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Reaching this level involves a world of difference between each realm. Many alchemy masters only reach the level of Tier Seven Mid-Level Alchemist in their entire lives. Xiao Yan was able to master the refining techniques of mid-level seventh-grade pills in just a few months, which is extremely rare among alchemists of the same level. Therefore, he naturally cannot be in a hurry to make high-level seventh-grade pills.
Inside the dimly lit, spacious, and enclosed room, an intensely high temperature permeated the air, making the already stuffy room even more unbearable. The dryness and sweltering heat alternated in the scorching air; if an ordinary person were here, they probably wouldn't be able to endure it for even a moment.
In the stifling atmosphere, a slender figure sat cross-legged before a huge cyan-gold medicine cauldron. Inside the cauldron, dark red flames roared, and astonishing heat waves constantly crashed against the inner side of the cauldron, only echoing into the secret chamber after being reduced by more than half.
Within the flames, a palm-sized, mottled viscous liquid was slowly merging under the constant refining of the Heavenly Flames. The ethereal flames seemed to possess a life of their own, carefully removing impurities from the viscous liquid, which then vanished into nothingness within the flames. The mottled viscous liquid, containing streams of violent energy, gradually became purer under this meticulous refining process.
Sitting cross-legged before the medicine cauldron was none other than Xiao Yan, who was practicing his alchemy skills. In the past period of time, although his success rate in making high-grade seventh-rank pills had improved, the results were not significant. Out of more than ten attempts, he only succeeded once or twice, and one of them was quite difficult. Such a speed might have been enough to amaze everyone under normal circumstances, but with the Pill Gathering approaching, such results were far from meeting Xiao Yan's own expectations.
"Laugh..."
Just as the medicinal liquid was gradually merging, a slight misalignment of a violent medicinal force within it caused the large mass of liquid, refined over nearly a day, to instantly turn to ashes. Xiao Yan immediately lowered his head, his face pale. This was the sixteenth time he had tried to refine it again, and he never expected it to end like this once more. While feeling disappointed, a sense of unease also quietly rose within him. Fortunately, Xiao Yan was already used to such situations. Having reached this point, he naturally wouldn't truly fall into a state of frenzy because of a few failed attempts at refining medicine.
After composing himself, Xiao Yan could only walk out of the secret chamber in a depressed mood, repeatedly pondering the various details of the medicine-refining process. Suddenly, two people walked towards him from the opposite direction, instantly breaking Xiao Yan's thoughts.
What are you doing here?
Looking at the Huo Rong siblings before him, Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback. He had been in seclusion, diligently practicing his alchemy skills, and unless something major happened, Bai Hua and the others wouldn't disturb him around the stone chamber. Therefore, upon seeing Huo Xing and Huo Xin, Xiao Yan couldn't help but frown immediately and said in a deep voice:
"Could it be Bai Hua...?"
Before he could finish speaking, the Huo Xing facing him suddenly stretched out his palm, a faint light shimmering in his hand. Then, a wooden box made entirely of Fire Banyan Wood appeared.
The moment the wooden box appeared, a rather strange energy quietly overflowed from it. When Xiao Yan sensed that energy, he felt his entire body and even his soul tremble slightly.
"This is..."
"This item is unique to my Fire Banyan Clan and is called Flame Lingzhi."
With a gentle push of Huo Xing hand, the wooden box was delivered to Xiao Yan under the influence of an invisible force.
" The Flame Lingzhi of the Fire Banyan Clan?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression froze for a moment, followed by a look of astonishment.
He had also seen this thing by chance in some ancient books of the Xiao Clan. It is said that this thing was originally the treasure of the Fire Banyan Clan. Although it is a medicinal material, only the Fire Banyan Clan can successfully raise it. Once the Flame Lingzhi is swallowed, it can enable the user to have the legendary Origin Body. Unless on the verge of death, the Soul Origin will not be damaged or destroyed. This is one of the reasons why few people could kill it during the Fire Banyan Clan's heyday.
The miraculous effects of the Flame Lingzhi once drove countless alchemists across the continent into a frenzy. There was even Tier Eight Alchemist who summoned powerful figures at great cost to seize it from the Fire Banyan Clan. However, with the decline of the Fire Banyan Clan, the Flame Lingzhi has long since disappeared into the annals of history. Nowadays, it is likely that no one on the continent can produce it.
Yet this legendary artifact, so widely circulated in myths and legends, has now appeared before Xiao Yan.
" The Flame Lingzhi Mushroom was originally created by my Fire Banyan Clan ancestors using special methods, combining the power of magma with the earth's veins. The success rate is extremely low. This particular one was left behind by Grandpa Huo Qing when my brother and I broke through our cultivation levels. I originally planned to have Xiaoxin refine it after our cultivation stabilized recently, but..."
At the end of his Huo Xing, Huo Xing glanced at the girl Huo Xin beside him, slowly exhaled, and said:
"We are aware of Senior Bai Hua's situation. Therefore, after much consideration with her, this girl still intends to present this item to you. After all, compared to us, you, who bear heavy responsibilities and are also an alchemist, are more suited to the power contained within."
Seeing this, Xiao Yan was taken aback, then shook his head with a wry smile. For the Fire Banyan Clan, the Flame Lingzhi was not only a treasure to protect the clan, but also a last resort to save their lives, so how could there be any question of whether it was suitable or not?
"I will try my best to handle the matter of the Pill Gathering, but you should keep the Flame Lingzhi Mushroom for yourselves. It is a treasure left to you by the Fire Banyan Clan. If I take it, wouldn't I be abandoning all my moral principles?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Xing was speechless for a moment. He opened his mouth slightly, exchanged a glance with Huo Xin beside him, then nodded slightly. Suddenly, he clenched his outstretched hand, and with a loud bang, the wooden box Flame Lingzhi burst open. As a pure aura spread outwards, Huo Xing smiled resolutely, and with a wave of his hand, the Flame Lingzhi Mushroom floated in front of Xiao Yan, saying:
" The Flame Lingzhi Mushroom must be stored in a wooden box made of Fire Banyan Wood. If the box is destroyed, the medicinal power of the Flame Lingzhi Mushroom can only be stored for three more days. After three days, its energy will begin to dissipate. Therefore, Senior Xiao Yan, you should hurry up."
Gazing at the Flame Lingzhi emanating pure medicinal power, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel somewhat bewildered. Although he also yearned for this treasure,...
After a long while, Xiao Yan finally gave a bitter smile. Since things had come to this, he probably couldn't refuse any longer. He could only wave his hand and use his Heavenly Flames to form a thin barrier, covering the surface of the Flame Lingzhi. Looking at the brother and sister smiling at each other, he clasped his hands in gratitude, and then with a flick of his wrist, he put it into his Storage Ring.