Refining high-level elixirs allows for no carelessness; even a small oversight can lead to the complete ruin of all previous efforts, which is why it takes an extremely long time.
From the extraction of medicinal ingredients to their fusion, all the way to the final pill formation, Cao Ying spent a full twenty-plus days!
Visibly, her enchanting and beautiful face was now covered in a pallor, but even so, the smile on her lips remained as captivating as ever.
Alchemy was Cao Ying's pride; her reputation as the "Enchantress" was not unfounded. Years of arduous training in the Pill Tower culminated today with this elixir, a perfect testament to her mastery!
"It's almost complete. Once this elixir is out, Sister Cao Ying's fame will likely soar even higher. Even Dou Zun powerhouses won't dare to look down on her."
Zi Yan scanned the dense crowd of onlookers in the plaza. Cao Ying hadn't deliberately concealed the news of her alchemy. As the pill formation neared completion, more and more people were drawn to the scene.
Among them were many geniuses of the younger generation.
For instance, Song Qing, whom Chen Xiao had met before.
And also Dan Chen, who had specifically rushed over from the Dan Family.
This genius of the Dan Family, due to her peculiar soul, was somewhat timid in nature, but in alchemy, she possessed a persistence no less than Cao Ying's.
Unfortunately, after Cao Ying met Chen Xiao, the two who were once evenly matched had gradually drifted apart, and the gap between them had grown wider and wider.
"In terms of alchemy, among the younger generation, Ying'er is currently the foremost figure in the Central State."
Chen Xiao nodded slightly, looking at the much-anticipated Cao Ying. He felt a sense of shared pride, even a subtle thrill of nurturing her growth.
The status of an eighth-grade alchemist, in a certain sense, was more valued than that of an ordinary Dou Zun.
And for Cao Ying to have grown to this point so quickly, Chen Xiao could proudly claim to have played a significant role.
Setting aside the future, based on the present, Dan Chen and even Xiao Yan were far inferior to Cao Ying.
As for those like Song Qing, they were even less worthy of mention.
"This is wonderful. In the future, our Purple Firmament Pavilion will have another prominent figure."
As Zi Yan chuckled, a phoenix-like proud curve appeared on Cao Ying's face on the high platform. She swiftly formed hand seals with her jade hands, then let out a soft cry: "Rise!"
"Bang!"
As her cry fell, a massive, dazzling pillar of light shot out from the medicinal cauldron before Cao Ying, soaring straight into the sky!
The light was blinding, and the clouds in the sky rapidly condensed. Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, two distinct colors suddenly appeared.
One green, one red!
"An eighth-grade elixir, she actually refined it!"
"She must have just entered the Spirit Realm, right? And she can already refine an eighth-grade elixir with two-colored pill lightning. The Cao Clan Enchantress is truly terrifying!"
"That Pavilion Master of the Purple Firmament Pavilion is truly blessed."
"If you could reach Dou Zun in your early twenties, you'd have such blessings too."
The entire plaza erupted into a frenzy at this moment. Pairs of red-rimmed eyes gazed at the brilliantly colored thunderclouds in the sky, their hearts filled with excitement and surging emotions as they discussed animatedly.
Amidst the crowd, Dan Chen remained silent, feeling immense pressure. She gritted her teeth, cast one last glance at Cao Ying, and quietly departed with the people from the Dan Family.
Undeniably, Cao Ying was now far ahead of her, but she still firmly believed this was only temporary. One day, she would close the gap with Cao Ying, until she was on par, or even surpassed her!
Every genius should possess such ambition.
In alchemy, Dan Chen would not admit defeat.
On the other side of the crowd, Song Qing stared at the thunderclouds in the sky, dumbfounded, a sense of immense frustration washing over him.
He recalled how he had naively thought of claiming such a monstrous talent for himself in the past, and now his face felt hot, as if he had been slapped hard.
Taking a deep breath, Song Qing's complex gaze shifted to the high platform not far from Cao Ying, locking onto the young man beside the woman with the fiery figure. A hint of envy flashed in his eyes...
And also, a sense of relief.
When the gap becomes too immense, one doesn't even feel the urge to compare.
Those unrealistic thoughts had now completely vanished.
Chen Xiao was unaware of the emotional shifts in others, nor did he deliberately pay attention.
As the two-colored thunderclouds grew more solid, Chen Xiao took a step forward, arriving beside Cao Ying.
"Ying'er, leave the rest to me."
Refining an eighth-grade elixir with Dou Huang strength had severely depleted Cao Ying. She had consumed many elixirs to recover Dou Qi along the way, barely managing to hold on until now.
But even so, this was her limit.
The pill lightning attracted by an eighth-grade elixir was something a depleted Dou Huang could not possibly handle.
It was fortunate that there was no rule on the Dou Qi Continent stating that alchemists had to personally endure the pill lightning, otherwise, their efforts would have been in vain today.
Looking at Chen Xiao, a tender smile appeared on Cao Ying's pale, pretty face. She gave a soft "Mm," without any pretense. Then, under the gaze of all eyes, she held Chen Xiao's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
After persevering for over twenty days, her exhaustion was immense; even standing felt tiring now.
Chen Xiao took an elixir and fed it into her mouth. He then waved his hand slightly, and with a flash of light from his storage ring, a Heavenly Demon Puppet immediately soared into the sky.
"Boom!"
As if provoked, the long-brewing pill lightning immediately tore through the clouds and struck down.
Unfortunately, despite the grand display, it was difficult to inflict any substantial damage.
The Heavenly Demon Puppet was like a bug; unless the pill lightning could instantly shatter it into dust, as long as it could move, it would be like a stubborn piece of taffy, impossible to shake off. It endured the pill lightning again and again, then absorbed its power, rapidly strengthening itself!
In this manner, with thunder rumbling across the sky, the Heavenly Demon Puppet repeatedly met the lightning head-on.
At the high platform where Chen Xiao and Cao Ying were located, it was like a pristine sanctuary, completely unaffected. They could even whisper and chat.
Witnessing this scene, the crowd in the plaza felt as if they had been force-fed a large, dry bun.
Even Zi Yan, with her usually carefree nature, felt a pang of envy. She secretly resolved to replicate this scene herself in the future.
The commotion of the two-colored lightning clouds lasted for nearly ten minutes before gradually subsiding.
During these ten minutes, almost a hundred bolts of extremely terrifying lightning streaked from the clouds. Each one was enough to make a Dou Zun expert tremble.
However, the result was that not only did these lightning bolts fail to destroy the elixir, but they instead became the sustenance for the Heavenly Demon Puppet's advancement, causing its surface to be covered in brilliant silver, with even hints of golden luster appearing.
Clearly, this Heavenly Demon Puppet had reached the Earth rank and was now progressing towards the Heaven rank!
After the lightning clouds dispersed, Chen Xiao recalled the Heavenly Demon Puppet, but he did not put it back into his storage ring.
"Ying'er, keep this Heavenly Demon Puppet. You can use it to receive pill lightning when refining pills in the future, and it will also provide you with some self-protection."
After erasing the soul imprint within it, Chen Xiao said to Cao Ying.
Cao Ying would not continue to stay in the Pill Tower for intense cultivation anymore. After returning to the Purple Firmament Pavilion, although Chen Xiao and the others would be there and she would generally be safe, possessing some power was definitely not a bad thing.
Most importantly, the Heavenly Demon Puppet was truly suitable for Cao Ying.
She would undoubtedly be refining pills frequently in the future. With the Heavenly Demon Puppet present, it would be more convenient, and it could also help enhance the overall strength of the Purple Firmament Pavilion.
It was a win-win situation, so why not?
With this thought, Chen Xiao took out all the Heavenly Demon Puppets he had on him and gave them to Cao Ying.
Nine of them, under the amplification of the formation, could already display the strength of a one-star Dou Zun.
However, this level of combat power was no longer of substantial help to Chen Xiao at his current stage.
Cao Ying smiled charmingly and did not refuse. After leaving her soul imprint, she flicked her jade-like hand and stored the puppets into her storage ring.
At this point, there was no need for them to be so formal with each other.
After putting away the puppets, Cao Ying then looked at the spherical elixir within the brilliant pillar of light in mid-air. She could faintly see a spiritual little dragon coiled around the elixir.
As Cao Ying gently raised her hand, the pillar of light immediately dissipated, and a rich aroma of elixir spread out, filling the entire plaza.
"An eighth-grade elixir, with spirit as the priority. The stronger the spirit, the better the quality. Ying'er, you've just entered the eighth grade, and you've managed to refine an eighth-grade elixir with two-colored pill lightning. You've done very well. However, your Dou Qi strength should also be improved. When you reach the Dou Zong level, refining eighth-grade elixirs will be even easier," an ancient voice suddenly sounded.
As their gazes shifted, everyone soon saw Xuan Kongzi, dressed in white robes, in the sky.
His appearance was silent and unannounced. Even Chen Xiao and Zi Yan, the strongest individuals present, had not detected him at all.
"Thank you, Teacher. Ying'er understands."
Upon seeing Xuan Kongzi appear, Cao Ying quickly pulled away from Chen Xiao's shoulder, stood up straight, and bowed.
Xuan Kongzi nodded slightly, waved his sleeve, and a jade bottle immediately shot out, carrying the Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill from mid-air, landing before the two of them.
Then, he once again summoned the Heavenly Demon Puppet and had it return to Chen Xiao's side.
This Heavenly Demon Puppet was even more brilliant and dazzling than the previous one. Its entire body had almost transformed into gold, with only a small area near its heart not fully covered.
It exuded a terrifying aura comparable to that of a Dou Zun expert, making one's heart palpitate.
"Thank you, Senior."
Chen Xiao cupped his fists in thanks. He exchanged a look with Cao Ying, and they each put away the elixir and the puppet.
Xuan Kongzi took a step forward, and his figure also landed on the high platform.
"Given your relationship with Ying'er, there's no need to be so formal with me. Just like Ying'er, you can call me Teacher or Guild Leader."
Chen Xiao nodded in agreement.
Xuan Kongzi watched with a smile, his gaze finally settling on Cao Ying.
"Ying'er, what I told you earlier was not false. At this point, I have nothing more to teach you. You don't need to continue staying in the Pill Tower. Whether you want to return to the Cao Family or go with Chen Xiao to the Purple Firmament Pavilion, either is fine."
In front of her elders, Cao Ying was very serious.
"Teacher, Ying'er will visit you often."
"Heh heh, go ahead. The Pill Tower is always here, and you can come back whenever you wish. Moreover, the Pill Gathering is not far off. I do hope that before the Pill Gathering arrives, I can refine another Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill."
Cao Ying was stunned for a moment. Thinking of the effects of the Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill, she finally understood. She glanced at Chen Xiao beside her, and her face couldn't help but blush slightly.
Chen Xiao was also speechless, but he was quite certain that Xuan Kongzi's small wish was likely to go unfulfilled.
After all, sowing was easy, but he truly had no Bodhi Seeds left now.
Even if it was an advance payment, it was more cost-effective to directly advance the Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill!
After bidding farewell to Xuan Kongzi, the three of them returned to Cao Ying's small courtyard.
"Sister Cao Ying, why don't you come back to the Purple Firmament Pavilion with us? Qifeng Mountain has been too quiet lately. Normally, apart from Chen Xiao, I don't have anyone to talk to. Besides, you two are inseparable now, you definitely don't want to be apart, right, Chen Xiao?"
Listening to Big Zi Yan's murmuring, both Chen Xiao and Cao Ying couldn't help but chuckle.
However, she couldn't be bothered to correct them.
As long as the meaning was conveyed, that was enough.
"Zi Yan is right. Ying'er, what do you think?"
Chen Xiao definitely couldn't undermine her. Even though he knew in his heart that the chances of Cao Ying returning to the Purple Firmament Pavilion with them were actually quite slim.
As expected, under their gazes, Cao Ying lightly shook her head.
"I also want to see the Purple Firmament Pavilion, but not right now. I've been cultivating diligently in the Pill Tower for these past few years and haven't been home much. I want to go back to the family for a visit. Once all these pills are refined, I'll bring them over to find you all then."
Cao Ying's refinement of eighth-grade pills this time attracted many spectators, even the Dan Family came. However, not a single person from the Cao Family was present.
This was certainly not because the Cao Family didn't value Cao Ying. On the contrary, it was because after receiving the medicinal ingredients Cao Ying had sent back, the Cao Family had been incredibly busy.
Cao Ying wanted to return to the family, firstly to see her family, and secondly, to help out.
Chen Xiao didn't insist and nodded, "Then, in a couple of days, I'll send you back."
"Okay."
Another two days?
Cao Ying looked at Chen Xiao suspiciously, her gaze fixed on his waist.
...
Five days later, Vast Sea City, Cao Family.
Under the watchful eyes of many Cao Family elders, Chen Xiao and Zi Yan finally managed to break free.
The Cao Family's attitude towards them this time in Vast Sea City was several times more enthusiastic than the last, even holding a grand celebration.
Especially Cao Ying's mother, who would pull Chen Xiao aside to talk for a long time every day, smiling so broadly her mouth couldn't close.
The reason for their happiness was twofold: firstly, Cao Ying had officially become an eighth-grade alchemist.
Secondly, the progress of the young couple delighted them.
Previously, things were uncertain, and they always had worries. Now, it was different. The deed was done, and their relationship had truly become inseparable.
Under the warm hospitality of the Cao Family, Chen Xiao's departure date was repeatedly postponed until today, when he was finally able to leave.
However, as he tore open a spatial passage and stepped into it, Chen Xiao keenly sensed that Zi Yan, who was beside him, was unusually quiet today. She seemed downcast, as if in a bad mood.
"Don't worry, it's just that Auntie was too enthusiastic these past few days. It's a bit hard to get used to leaving so suddenly."
Noticing Chen Xiao's concerned gaze, Zi Yan explained.
But from Chen Xiao's understanding of her, this was likely not the real reason.
After a moment of thought, Chen Xiao had a guess in his mind.
"Zi Yan, when we go back this time, how about I take you to meet your father?"
"My father?" Zi Yan looked over blankly, suspecting she had misheard.
From the time she could remember, the word "father" had been absent.
After transforming, she had no clansmen, no family, no friends by her side.
It wasn't until she was brought back to the Inner Academy by Su Qian that this situation gradually began to change.
Now, she had found her clan, had many close sisters, and had Chen Xiao. Only the part about her parents remained a void.
When she was on Dragon Island, she had seemingly casually asked the clansmen, but the answer she received was that the old Dragon Emperor had been missing for thousands of years, his fate unknown. Even the current state of Dragon Island was due to the old Dragon Emperor's disappearance.
"Yes, your father, the old Dragon Emperor!"
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