Chapter 193: "Smell It Maybe You'll Catch Xun'er's Perfume"
"Heavenly Luck Pill?!"
Everyone present was shocked, especially Su Qian, who was well aware of the significance of this pill, capable of helping a peak Dou Zong ascend to the Dou Zun stage.
He had once dreamed that, when he reached the peak of Dou Zong, no matter the cost, he would find a way to acquire one to help him break through. Part of his motivation to foster good relations with Yao Lao was this exact purpose: to someday request a Heavenly Luck Pill.
Yet before he had even started working on this plan, Lu Bu had already taken out the pill formula.
"Instead of just strengthening Dou Wang level combat power, wouldn't it be better to focus on adding two Dou Zuns to Jia Nan Academy?" Lu Bu suggested, pointing toward the academy's two peak Dou Zong protectors, Qian and Bai Lao. If those two broke through to Dou Zun, then unless the Hall of Souls launched a full scale invasion, their defenses would be sufficient.
"Two Dou Zuns?" Xiao Yan was momentarily dumbfounded. Having been violently defeated by Lu Bu during the Inner Academy competition and failing to place in the top five, he had never visited the library and therefore had no idea that Jia Nan Academy still had two peak Dou Zong protectors.
Even Yao Lao was stunned. He had always assumed Su Qian was the academy's only Dou Zong, as he had never met Qian and Bai Lao due to focusing on Xiao Yan.
Without saying a word, Lu Bu flicked his wrist and produced another scroll. "Here's another option: Breaking Zong Pill. There are plenty of Dou Huang peak level experts in the academy. It's time to help them break through."
"...I'm currently just a soul entity. My strength is reduced to a tenth of what it used to be, so I can't refine high level pills," Yao Lao said helplessly. He had already considered this, but given his current limitations, it was impossible.
"Senior, you must find a way to make it work," Lu Bu replied coldly. "If you don't, you'll be captured by the Hall of Souls, have your soul essence extracted, and lose any chance of ever restoring your physical body. Do you understand?"
At the mention of the Hall of Souls, Xiao Yan's face turned pale. He had once heard Lu Bu mention the Hall's soul capturing experiments in the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, but he hadn't realized the extraction of soul essence would have such devastating consequences.
Yao Lao's expression darkened as well. The half conscious state he had endured while dormant was already tormenting enough. He couldn't imagine returning to that condition. Yet compared to losing the possibility of regaining a physical body, that discomfort seemed trivial.
"Grand Elder Su Qian, please prepare these medicinal ingredients both for the Heavenly Luck Pill and the Breaking Zong Pill." Lu Bu handed over a list of materials, then turned to Xiao Yan and Elder Huo. "Xiao Yan, you too. Take out the spoils you got from the Pill Emperor's Treasury. Elder Huo, you and Xiao Yan will refine some Soul Nourishment Elixir to help this old senior recover."
"Understood," Su Qian replied, immediately disappearing with the list.
"..." Elder Huo, stunned by Su Qian's lack of hesitation, remained silent. He was baffled as to why a mere student like Lu Bu could give orders to Su Qian, and why the Grand Elder followed them without resistance.
"Alright." Xiao Yan's expression turned serious as he retrieved his cauldron to start refining the Soul Nourishment Elixir a Tier 5 pill he had learned to prepare after breaking through to Dou Wang, specifically for healing Yao Lao's injuries.
Elder Huo grew even more confused. Lu Bu and Xiao Yan were from the same class, both Dou Wangs and both alchemists. By all accounts, they should be rivals, like Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing from the Inner Academy. Yet Xiao Yan seemed to follow Lu Bu's instructions without hesitation. It was incomprehensible.
"Do as he says," Yao Lao said, glancing at the puzzled Elder Huo with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Senior!" Elder Huo replied, putting his doubts aside. He had been informed of Yao Lao's identity when they first met: the legendary Yao Lao, the greatest alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Elder Huo to observe and learn from such a master, something he never could have imagined experiencing. He wouldn't waste it.
Yao Lao extended his hand, pulling Xiao Yan's storage ring to him. He sifted through its contents before releasing over a hundred medicinal ingredients into the air, leaving them suspended around him. Some were for the Heavenly Luck Pill, others for the Breaking Zong Pill all treasures from Han Feng's treasury in the Pill Emperor's domain.
Lu Bu had forfeited his claim to these spoils during the battle against the Hall of Souls' protector. However, the most valuable loot had already ended up in Lu Bu's hands, including Han Feng's storage ring and its contents.
Xiao Yan chuckled, a hint of smugness flashing across his face. "These are all from Han Feng's treasure vault. It's a shame you weren't there at the time, Lu Bu you missed out."
"...Is that so?" Lu Bu gave him a faint smile, his expression unreadable.
Moments later, Su Qian returned with two storage rings filled with medicinal ingredients.
"So fast?" Lu Bu asked, surprised. Refining the Heavenly Luck Pill a Tier 7 pill required not just two sets of ingredients for two pills, but at least four full sets.
"Haha… Jia Nan Academy has built up quite a collection over the years," Su Qian replied with a chuckle. Despite the academy lacking alchemists above Tier 6, its location in a resource rich forest meant its stores of rare ingredients were vast, both in quantity and quality.
"Grand Elder Su Qian, once the Heavenly Luck Pill is completed, I'll help you refine a Lesser Aid Pill. Have you ever taken one before?" Lu Bu asked with a sly grin, sensing an opportunity to access the academy's vast stores of ingredients.
"Are you serious?" Su Qian's eyes lit up. His recent breakthrough to the four star Dou Zong stage was largely thanks to the Snow Soul Pill Yao Lao had given him. If Lu Bu could refine a Lesser Aid Pill, his advancement to five star Dou Zong would be guaranteed a dream he had chased for years.
"Of course!" Lu Bu replied confidently.
Meanwhile, Elder Huo stood frozen, unsure how to process what he was hearing. Was this kid really capable of refining a Lesser Aid Pill?
"Enough talk. Let's begin," Yao Lao said, taking a deep breath to refocus as his Bone Chilling Flame flared up once more in the Black Demon Cauldron.
Su Qian nodded and flicked his wrist, releasing the ingredients from his storage rings. The air immediately filled with a rich medicinal aroma that spread through the forest.
With a flick of his finger, Lu Bu summoned a crimson cauldron, which landed with a deep, resonant thud.
"Huh? That's the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron!" Yao Lao froze, his usually calm demeanor giving way to rare surprise. This cauldron was a legendary item ranked on the Celestial Cauldron List rare and priceless.
"What?!" Xiao Yan's eyes turned green with envy. He had long coveted Yao Lao's Black Demon Cauldron, and while he didn't necessarily need one, owning a legendary cauldron was undeniably appealing.
"It's nothing special certainly no match for your Black Demon Cauldron, Senior," Lu Bu said modestly. "I only got it because Xiao Yan killed Han Feng and gave me the storage ring. Otherwise, I wouldn't have it."
Pfft! Xiao Yan felt as though he'd been stabbed in the heart. So that was why Lu Bu had shown no interest in Han Feng's other spoils he had already hit the jackpot.
"Lu Bu, where did you get the Heavenly Luck Pill formula?" Yao Lao asked, his face darkening as he attempted to change the subject. Watching Lu Bu gleefully undermine his disciple was starting to grate on him.
"I don't have this pill formula," Yao Lao said solemnly. In the past, his pride had made him look down on pills like the Heavenly Luck Pill, which directly boosted cultivation. As a result, he never used, collected, or even refined one.
In Yao Lao's eyes, the Heavenly Luck Pill was fundamentally different from pills like the Imperial Extreme Pill or Dou Spirit Pill. The latter were auxiliary pills that accelerated cultivation, and as long as one avoided unstable Dou Qi, they were harmless.
But the Heavenly Luck Pill, as a direct power boosting external aid, was something he deemed inadvisable.
"Oh, that…" A sly smile crept across Lu Bu's face.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan had a bad feeling. This guy was about to stir up trouble again.
As expected, Lu Bu spoke slowly, "It was a gift from Xun'er. One evening before Xiao Yan joined Jia Nan Academy, we were under the moonlight, just the two of us, alone in a room... Ah, what an unforgettable night."
Xiao Yan's face turned dark, and he felt an urge to punch someone.
"Brother Xiao Yan, do you want to take a whiff?" Lu Bu said, handing over the Heavenly Luck Pill formula with a teasing smile. "Who knows? Maybe it still carries Xun'er's perfume."
Xiao Yan's expression darkened further, and he slapped Lu Bu's hand away. After spending so much time with Xun'er, he knew how much she disliked Lu Bu.
Everything Lu Bu was saying now had to be nonsense. The pill formula might have been forcibly taken from Xun'er, just like how this scoundrel had tried to rob him in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
But it didn't make it any less annoying!
"Cough, cough… Enough nonsense. Let's begin refining the pill!" Yao Lao interrupted with a similarly dark expression. He had initially tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, but it had only made things worse.
With a wave of his hand, Yao Lao summoned the Heavenly Luck Pill formula and began reading it. But the more he read, the graver his expression became.
The Heavenly Luck Pill was a Tier 7 high grade pill, and refining even one would push him to his limits. Yet if he didn't refine it, he might not survive at all.
"Damn it…" Yao Lao sighed heavily. With another wave of his hand, a few medicinal ingredients floated into the Black Demon Cauldron. The bone white Bone Chilling Flame roared to life, starting the purification process.
Seeing this, Lu Bu ignored Xiao Yan, stepped over to his Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, and sat down cross legged. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, clearing his mind of distractions.
Unlike Yao Lao, who was a seasoned veteran of pill refinement, Lu Bu was still a novice. He needed to be cautious wasting ingredients was one thing, but wasting time was another matter entirely.
Yao Lao glanced at Lu Bu and nodded slightly in approval. The boy was indeed remarkable: calm, composed, and steady traits rarely found in alchemists. For the first time, a pang of regret stirred in Yao Lao's heart.
Perhaps back in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, when Lu Bu had approached him with a request, he should have taken him as a disciple…
But Yao Lao quickly dismissed the thought. He had already offered to take Lu Bu as a student later on, but Lu Bu, being as proud as he was, had turned him down. Their chance at a mentor student relationship had ended the moment Yao Lao initially refused him.
As the two began their work, Xiao Yan and Elder Huo each retrieved their cauldrons, preparing to refine the Soul Nourishment Elixir for Yao Lao.
Meanwhile, Su Qian grew increasingly tense. He released his aura, creating a protective barrier around the four alchemists as they worked.
About half an hour later, Lu Bu slowly opened his eyes. A flash of green light flickered within them as the Green Lotus Core Flame surged forth. With a thought, his soul power erupted, sending dozens of medicinal ingredients floating into the air before dropping into the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron.
"This…" Elder Huo was stunned, feeling an almost instinctive urge to kneel. How could this young man's soul power be so terrifyingly strong?
Looking to Su Qian for answers, Elder Huo hesitated to ask.
"The boy refined a Tier 7 pill just last month and even triggered Pill Lightning," Su Qian said quietly, his tone carrying a mix of awe and admiration.
Elder Huo's eyes widened in shock. What?!
On the other side, Lu Bu and Yao Lao were already deep into their refinement process. Their hands danced through intricate seals, their techniques dazzling and swift. Soul power surged intermittently, and ingredients transformed into powders or liquids with astounding precision.
Watching from the sidelines, Su Qian felt overwhelmed by the complexity of it all.
"No wonder alchemists are the most coveted profession on the continent…" Su Qian shook his head in amazement. "Their brilliance comes with a price."
Time passed slowly, with over twenty days slipping by in the blink of an eye. The rich scent of medicinal herbs filled the forest. Were it not for the spatial barrier and Su Qian's presence, the scent alone would have driven the magical beasts outside the Inner Academy into a frenzy.
Within the clearing, the crimson and black flames beneath the two cauldrons continued to burn brightly. However, Lu Bu's face was now as pale as a sheet, drained of all color. He looked like someone who had been dead for three months.
Yao Lao didn't fare much better. His spectral form was so faint it seemed as though a single gust of wind could scatter him into nothingness.
Xiao Yan watched with mounting anxiety, his heart pounding in his chest. He feared for his mentor's safety, but there was nothing he could do to help.
"Damn it… I need to improve my alchemy skills!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his eyes red with frustration at his own inadequacy.
"Calm down. They'll be fine," Elder Huo reassured him with a pat on the shoulder.
The two had already completed the Soul Nourishment Elixir without much trouble. Compared to what Lu Bu and Yao Lao were attempting, their task was child's play.
Just then, a gray robed figure materialized silently behind them.
"Who's there?!" Xiao Yan shouted.
"It's Elder Qian," Elder Huo said, immediately bowing deeply. He pulled Xiao Yan down with him, signaling him to show respect.
"Elder Qian, why have you come?" Su Qian asked, hurrying over.
"Elder Bai noticed something unusual in the Inner Academy. He said someone was refining pills, and it felt different from the norm. I came to investigate," Elder Qian said in a slow, deliberate tone. Refining pills was nothing extraordinary, but for Elder Bai to notice while guarding the Fallen Heart Flame in the Heavenly Flame Tower, it had to be out of the ordinary.
Elder Qian's expression shifted when his gaze fell upon the two figures in front of the cauldrons. A young man and a soul entity working together a highly unusual sight.
"Are they refining… Tier 7 pills?" Elder Qian asked, his calm demeanor giving way to surprise. Such high level pills were rarely seen, even during his travels in Central Plains.
"Yes, exactly," Su Qian said, his tone laced with pride. Lu Bu was, after all, a student during his tenure as Grand Elder.
Before Elder Qian could reply, the surrounding spiritual energy surged violently. Dark clouds rolled in overhead, carrying the oppressive weight of Pill Lightning.
"Pill Lightning!" Elder Huo and Xiao Yan exclaimed, their voices tinged with excitement. For any alchemist, triggering Pill Lightning was a long cherished dream.
"Incredible…" Elder Qian murmured, his face betraying rare astonishment.
Before the Pill Lightning could strike, a beam of light shot into the sky.
Boom!
The heavens seemed to respond with an even greater show of might, the pressure so intense it left the entire Inner Academy gasping for air.
"Two… two Tier 7 pills at once?!" The voice came from afar, as a gray figure flickered into view a second elderly man had arrived.
"Elder Bai, you're here too?" Su Qian said with a chuckle, clearly pleased. It seemed these two reclusive elders couldn't sit still any longer.
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