Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”It’s actually refining a high-grade Earth-tier elixir!”

Many low-rank Meridian Refining Masters from the Hidden Dragon Continent showed eager expressions. To them, such a elixir was nothing short of divine.

Though they did not know the specific formidable effect of the Fire Pu Pill, the mere grade of high-grade Earth-tier was enough to unsettle everyone—the opportunity was truly once in a blue moon.

As Qian Sanyuan said, it was greatly beneficial for low-level Meridian Refining Masters to observe the pill refining of high-level masters. Perhaps, they could gain insights from the refining process of these seniors and break through in their Meridian Refining Technique.

”Fire Pu Pill?”

When Yun Xiao heard the name of the elixir, his eyebrows knitted imperceptibly, a silent thought that Vice Chairman Qian might be overestimating himself.

For the reincarnated Yun Xiao, who was once the Long Xiao Battle God, how could he not know about the high-grade Earth-tier Fire Pu Pill? However, his familiarity with the medicinal properties and the pill-formation process was exactly why he was not optimistic.

”Vice Chairman Qian, I think it would be more appropriate for you to refine a ’Water Pu Pill’!”

Just as everyone was heating up with anticipation and Qian Sanyuan was taking out more than a hundred types of medicinal ingredients from his Waist Storage, intending to fire up the furnace, an incongruent voice rang out again, and it sounded familiar to the crowd.

”Is it Yun Xiao again?”

When people turned their heads, they instantly realized and felt a bit odd because, yet again, it was Yun Xiao. Why can’t this lad keep quiet for a moment?

Not only was the audience stunned, even Qian Sanyuan, who was holding a certain herb, stiffened his hand for a moment before murmuring in wonder, ”How does this lad know I can also refine the Water Pu Pill?”

In fact, the elixir that Qian Sanyuan wanted to refine was called the ”Five Elements Pu Pill,” and the Fire Pu Pill was just one of its variants. Its greatest effect was to enhance the power of flame within a Fire-attribute cultivator.

By analogy, the other four elements—Wood, Water, Metal, Earth—also correspond to the enhancement of the abilities of cultivators with those attributes, and each type of the Five Elements Pu Pill reached the high-grade Earth-tier.

The success rate of alchemy is not guaranteed; as a peak Earth-rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master, Qian Sanyuan’s success rate in refining the Five Elements Pu Pill wasn’t very high.

Perhaps he was stimulated by what happened during his previous medical treatment, where he had intended to refine a middle-level Earth-tier elixir, but on impulse he raised the grade to high-tier Earth-rank.

But who would have thought that before he even began refining, Yun Xiao questioned his plan to refine the Fire Pu Pill—was this a doubt on his Alchemy Technique?

As an Earth-rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master and Vice President of the Meridian Refining Master Association, Qian Sanyuan had his own pride. You, Yun Xiao, may have a unique style in treating illnesses, which I cannot match, but when it comes to Alchemy and Medicine Refining, perhaps there’s no room for you to speak?

Alchemy and curing the sick are entirely different; one must be familiar with the properties of countless medicinal ingredients. Among them, which ones would reject each other and which need a neutralizing agent for integration—these things one must also know, right?

Qian Sanyuan simply couldn’t believe that Yun Xiao, so young, so monstrously talented in treatment and healing, could be extraordinary in Alchemy and Medicine Refining as well, so he had no intention of changing his mind.

”Alas, unwilling to listen to the advice of the elders will lead to regret right before your eyes!”

Seeing Qian Sanyuan insist on his own way, Yun Xiao could not help but shake his head helplessly, and although that mumbling was faint, Yao Zhiyuan, who was closest to him, still heard it.

”Young Master Yun Xiao, do you think there is a problem with Vice Chairman Qian refining the Fire Pu Pill?”

Yao Zhiyuan would not miss any chance to inquire and promptly asked this question, and he did not conceal his volume much, allowing nearby people like Meng Liyang and others to overhear, all pricking up their ears.

”A problem? Maybe. It still depends on Vice Chairman Qian’s control ability over the Fire Pu Pill!”

Yun Xiao did not reveal his real concerns because he was not very clear about Qian Sanyuan’s pill-refining level. While it was possible a complication could arise due to certain factors, it was also possible that with Qian Sanyuan’s strong control, he could resolve the complication and successfully refine the Fire Pu Pill.

For things that he was not entirely certain of, Yun Xiao would not easily conclude. However, after his words, Yao Zhiyuan’s eyes quickly flashed a hint of cold laughter.

”Hehe, if even Vice Chairman Qian’s control ability is not enough, I doubt anyone present would believe that.”

Eventually, Yao Zhiyuan made a remark that resonated with people like Meng Liyang and others nearby. Perhaps, only bigshots from Tenglong Continent like them understood just how formidable Qian Sanyuan’s Alchemy Technique truly was.

The process of alchemy is extremely tedious and lengthy. Recall how Nie Qianqiu, the Crown Prince of Lingtian Empire, once spent a whole day and night refining a low-level Spiritual Rank elixir.

Even though Qian Sanyuan’s Meridian Refining Technique surpasses Nie Qianqiu by an untold factor, what he is refining is an advanced Earth Rank Fire Pu Pill, which is incomparable to the former.

Hence, everyone had been waiting for a full three days. When the dawn of the third day arrived, everyone felt a tremor under their feet as if something was about to burst forth from the depths of the earth.

”Advanced Earth Rank elixirs are truly extraordinary!”

Some Meridian Masters who had reached the peak of Advanced Spiritual Rank, such as Yu Shu Yao Zhiyuan and others of their caliber, all knew what the energy fluctuations emanating from the depths of the earth beneath their feet were.

Any elixir that reaches Earth Rank must, before it takes shape, draw in a thread of Earth Power to sacrifice into it. Otherwise, even if the elixir forms successfully, it cannot be considered a true Earth Rank elixir.

The strength of Earth Rank elixirs lies in this Earth Power, which allows one to strengthen their Cultivation by leveraging the power of the earth upon consumption.

The Fire Pu Pill has already reached the level of advanced Earth Rank, and thus requires an even greater amount of Earth Power. Moreover, being a Fire Attribute elixir, what it draws from is a special type of Earth Core Fire.

Thus, as everyone sensed the Earth Power, they also felt a faint scorching heat seemingly emerging with it. Under the guidance of Qian Sanyuan, this heat infiltrated the alchemy furnace, then slowly seeped into the nascent form of the elixir.

Even from a distance, these Meridian Masters could see the nascent form of the elixir gradually becoming more rounded, and some imperfections were being slowly smoothed over by the power of the Earth Fire.

However, what the others did not see was that as time passed, Qian Sanyuan’s complexion was becoming somewhat unsightly; he seemed to have detected some underlying issues.

In fact, within these three days, there was only a mistake during the fusion of one of the herbs, which did not cause much delay. It could even be considered a success.

The earlier steps of melting and merging the herbs are the most time-consuming and most prone to failure. Once the nascent form of the elixir takes shape, the probability of failure significantly reduces.

Unfortunately, the Five Elements Pu Pill is unlike ordinary elixirs, and the Fire Pu Pill requires the invocation of Earth Core Fire to enhance the Fire Attribute strength within the elixir.

There is a specific amount of Earth Core Fire needed, and the reason for Qian Sanyuan’s deep frown is that he suddenly realized that the Earth Core Fire in Baiyue City of Xuanyue Imperial City seems insufficient, which might likely lead to his Fire Pu Pill’s refinement falling short.

”Could it be that Yun Xiao foresaw this situation?”

For a moment, the thought flashed through Qian Sanyuan’s mind. He recalled Yun Xiao’s sudden suggestion to refine the Water Pu Pill at the onset of his alchemy three days ago.

As a peak strength in the Earth Bending Realm and having reached the peak of Advanced Earth Rank in the Power of Soul, Qian Sanyuan had already sensed the various Attribute energies from the Earth Power when invoking it.

Deep within the earth are the Five Elements, with metal, wood, water, fire, and earth all present. At this moment, when Qian Sanyuan invoked the Fire Attribute, he discovered that deep beneath the Xuanyue Imperial City, the most abundant was actually the Water Attribute.

That’s why Qian Sanyuan was reminded of Yun Xiao’s words from before—it wasn’t a random suggestion. Indeed, if he had followed Yun Xiao’s advice and refined the Water Pu Pill, it most likely would have been successful by now.

”Just as expected!”

As Qian Sanyuan internally fretted, Yun Xiao, who was not far off, had already given a slow nod. The latter’s guess was correct; having visited the Xuanyue Imperial City several times before, Yun Xiao naturally understood plenty about the Earth Power of this city.

Sun and moon represent the natural order of the heavens—the sun belonging to yang and the moon to yin. Xuanyue Empire, with ’moon’ as part of its name, likely has a lineage where the physical constitution carries more Yin Attribute.

Yun Xiao had sensed this, whether from the Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding or the King Xuan Haoran, even though the Third Prince Xuan Zhi had activated a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein. However, his innate Yin Attribute may not allow his Meridian Refining Technique to advance far.

As Yin corresponds to water, and since the Royal Bloodline of Xuanyue carries more of that trait, the location chosen for their national capital at the founding of the empire couldn’t possibly have been a place with a Fire Attribute as rich as Yurong Mountain.

Beneath the Xuanyue Imperial City lies a tumultuous underground Yin river, resulting in the entire city being perennially enveloped by Yin Energy. Though there are some Fire Attributes present, they are not very prevalent.

Hence, when Yun Xiao earlier suggested that Qian Sanyuan should refine the Water Pu Pill, the success rate would have undoubtedly been much higher. But the man refused to listen and insisted on refining the entirely opposite Fire Pu Pill.

Now, the Fire Attribute in the Earth Power is not only insufficient, but the strong presence of the Water Attribute may feel uncomfortable and cause intense rejection, making the successful formation of the Fire Pu Pill even more challenging.

As Yun Xiao and Qian Sanyuan’s thoughts raced, people like Yao Zhiyuan or Meng Liyang on the side could vaguely guess this possibility. So at this moment, their gazes towards Yun Xiao were filled with awe and fear.

Should Yun Xiao’s reminder three days ago have been a prediction, this young man’s understanding of alchemy might be just as strong, if not stronger, than Qian Sanyuan’s.