Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

The world was silent. Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu stood in an observation pavilion at the summit of the volcano.

They weren’t alone. Dozens of the Gu clan’s alchemists had gathered to watch. After all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime event. It might well have been the first time in the history of the Six Territories that five elite tier-eight alchemists had joined forces to refine a single pill.

Even the most complex formulas required no more than three alchemists working together, which had long been considered the limit for coordinated pill refining. The formula became exponentially more complex with each additional alchemist, leaving no room for even the slightest lapse in coordination.

Many of the white-haired elders looked at Xiang Huaizhi with deep respect. His skill was a rarity even among tier-eight alchemists, and the opportunity to observe him in a joint refining session up close was rarer still.

Meng Wanshu didn’t quite see what all the fuss was about and thought the onlookers were overreacting. But what she saw next left her speechless, convincing her that this formula really did require all five alchemists.

The five alchemists’ auras synchronized into a harmonious balance.

Boom!

The enormous azure cauldron ignited. Heavenly fire swirled inside it, and the cauldron let out a low wail.

Sixty-six fire ports lined the base of the massive cauldron, each carved with mysterious runes. Flames erupted from each one of them. Three types of heavenly fire clashed inside the cauldron.

The ground shook, and the mountain peak trembled. Scorching magma erupted over a hundred zhang into the air like a fire dragon bursting free. Streams of glowing red lava fell onto the cauldron’s surface, radiating intense heat and sending up thick plumes of blue smoke. Yet none of it could reach the six figures hovering above.A mysterious pulse of flame energy blanketed the volcano’s interior, and the temperature soared.

An elderly tier-seven alchemist standing beside Li Guanqi had broken into a sweat. With his cloudy eyes fixed on the cauldron, he muttered, “A cauldron that size, and they completed the cauldron-warming in just six breaths! The temperature inside must be unimaginable.”

Buzz!

The cauldron’s lid erupted with a thunderous roar. Tricolored flames flickered amidst the rising vapor. Countless projections of spirit plants materialized in the air, coalescing from concentrated spirit light.

Li Guanqi focused on Xiang Huaizhi. He worked with remarkable speed, conjuring several hundred spirit herb projections almost in step with the others.

Then the alchemists witnessed the most audacious sight yet. Every single projected spirit herb was tossed into the cauldron at once. Xiang Huaizhi had been the one to take the lead.

The white-haired elder beside Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes and said gravely, “As expected of an elite tier-eight alchemist. What confidence in his own control!”

The surrounding alchemists nodded in agreement. Without absolute mastery, no one would dare attempt something like that. Adding all the materials at once meant each alchemist had to control over a thousand separate streams of flame simultaneously to extract their essences. Each spirit plant required its own temperature and level of heat, and each had to be enveloped in spatial force to keep the spirit essences from interfering with one another.

The dazzling extraction techniques left over a hundred alchemists gasping in shock. No one had expected Xiang Huaizhi to carry out every step flawlessly the first time he worked with the group.

Meng Wanshu sighed in admiration. “Senior Xiang has incredible skill. Not a single error from start to finish.”

In truth, Guo Feng and the others had each made minor mistakes during the process, though none would affect the finished pill. Meanwhile, Xiang Huaizhi had made no mistakes at all.

Li Guanqi’s eyes gleamed, and he murmured, “Senior Xiang can probably do that because his abilities far surpass those of everyone else here. That’s the only explanation for such a flawless performance. His understanding of alchemy and his techniques are on an entirely different level.”

Meng Wanshu nodded. The simulation soon reached its final stage. Since they weren’t actually refining real spirit herbs, the process moved quickly.

Gu Changsheng opened his eyes with a hint of pleasant surprise and let out a sigh of relief. “Thankfully, there weren’t any major problems this time. Let’s take a moment to settle our nerves, then move on to the real thing while we still have some momentum. Everyone, we may only have one set of materials, but don’t let that weigh on you. Just relax and do your best.”

Xiang Huaizhi waved his hand casually. “That barely cost me any energy. You all take a moment to adjust. Call me when you’re ready.”

He stood up and crossed a hundred zhang in an instant, landing on the observation pavilion’s railing. He looked down at Li Guanqi and slowly crouched down. “Your sworn brother’s name is Cao Yan, right?”

Li Guanqi smiled and nodded.

Xiang Huaizhi pondered for a moment, then asked, “What kind of person do you think he is?”

Li Guanqi hadn’t expected the question. He considered it carefully before replying, “He’s… stubborn, I suppose. Very loyal. He doesn’t talk much, but when a fight breaks out, he’s always in the thick of it, fighting more wildly than anyone else.”

Li Guanqi meant every word. To him, Cao Yan had always been a man of few words and heavy fists.

“Do you think he wants to pursue alchemy?” Xiang Huaizhi asked.

Li Guanqi hesitated, then looked Xiang Huaizhi straight in the eye and said softly, “He used to love alchemy. More than anything! But now… he probably wants to work on his fist techniques instead…”

Xiang Huaizhi hadn’t expected that response. He’d only asked on a whim. While he felt his legacy shouldn’t be entrusted to just anyone, he wasn’t opposed to taking on an apprentice.

However, Li Guanqi’s words truly piqued his interest. Xiang Huaizhi folded his arms and stayed crouched on the railing, studying Li Guanqi with an amused look. “Why is that?”

Li Guanqi shrugged. “As I said, Third Brother puts the people closest to him above everything else. After what he went through growing up, I’m the most important person in his life, followed by Ye Feng. Sha abducted Ye Feng, and we still don’t know where he is. That’s why Third Brother would rather work on his fist techniques.”

Xiang Huaizhi smiled faintly. “Once this refining is finished, I’ll go see him myself. Don’t tell him.”

Li Guanqi’s eyes lit up. He took a deep breath and said with utmost solemnity, “Thank you, Senior!”

Xiang Huaizhi waved it off, returned to his spot, and closed his eyes to regulate his aura.

Meng Wanshu was delighted as well. If Cao Yan could study under Xiang Huaizhi, the connections alone would give him enormous influence.

Just as Li Guanqi began to feel hopeful, his expression suddenly changed. He reached behind him and pulled out a golden life jade slip. Its surface was wreathed in demonic qi, and its golden glow flickered weakly

Meng Wanshu’s eyes narrowed. “Is that…”

Before Li Guanqi could answer, a sharp crack rang out, and a finger-length fissure opened across the surface of Ye Feng’s life jade slip.

Li Guanqi’s hands trembled as he stared at the crack. His heart sank.