As the blue-colored Lightning Beast finished absorbing the last remnants of the Heaven Demon Phoenix's spirituality, it immediately began devouring the violent remnant aura. In just a short while, the once overwhelming presence of the Heaven Demon Phoenix vanished completely from the Spiritual Space. The oppressive ferocity that had lingered here also faded into oblivion.
The Lightning Beast then returned to Xiao Hua's body, and he could feel the nourishment of his soul, enhanced by the spirituality the Lightning Beast had consumed.
"It seems the remaining aura from this corpse has completely transformed into spiritual tonics for me..." Xiao Hua sighed, though there was a trace of helplessness in his voice.
Shaking his head slightly, his spirit remained standing amidst the empty void within the Spiritual Space. With the remnant aura within those radiant wings refined, the most troublesome step in crafting the 'Four Divine Phoenixes, Soaring Across the Heavens' was now behind him. From here on, he only needed to follow the prescribed steps and forge his own divine wings!
A gleam of determination flashed in his eyes—this was but another step toward his ultimate goal.
Xiao Hua's spirit returned to his physical body. As he settled back within himself, his tightly closed eyes trembled briefly before slowly opening, revealing a deep, newfound clarity.
A mouthful of turbid air followed his throat as he exhaled slowly. At that moment, his entire body surged with a fresh tide of energy. Strengthening his Spiritual Strength by devouring the remnant aura of the Heaven Demon Phoenix had not only revitalized his soul but also dispelled the fatigue from the spiritual battle he had just fought.
Lifting his gaze, his eyes fell upon the green-red blood that stained the battlefield. With a casual wave of his hand, the corpse of the Heaven Demon Phoenix quivered, and a faint, blood-red thread of energy began to seep out. The energy agglomerated in mid-air, condensing into nine pristine Blood Essences, glowing with an ominous crimson light.
Before him now lay ten Blood Essences harvested from the Heaven Demon Phoenix's corpse. A true treasure trove, brimming with vitality and power, capable of greatly enhancing both his physical body and the wings he would soon craft.
One of the rings on his fingers shimmered briefly, and a black-jade bottle materialized in his hand. With another wave, eight of the Blood Essences flew into the bottle, leaving two suspended in the air. He sealed the remaining essences with his 'Tribulation Lotus Flame,' ensuring that their presence could not be detected by any members of the Heaven Demon Phoenix tribe.
Xiao Hua's gaze shifted toward the ten nails hovering ominously above the Heaven Demon Phoenix's corpse. With a swift motion of his hand, a powerful suction force surged forth, drawing the nails toward him.
"I wonder if these nails can be used to repair—or rather, complete—my Heavenly Suppression Band," he thought, feeling the weight of the relic in his hand. "Though its ability to suppress Dou Qi has become less effective, it's still something I want to perfect…"
His eyes narrowed in thought. In the future, everyone—whether it's Xiao Yan, Lin Dong, Mu Chen, or even Zhou Yuan—will have an artifact that defines them.
Xiao Yan wields the Heaven Xuan Ruler, a black ruler that has felled Hun Tiandi who have reached Dou Di. Lin Dong possesses the Lightning Emperor Spectre, brimming with destructive lightning energy.
Mu Chen, through his remarkable crafting abilities, fused the Great Meru Demonic Pillar and Heavenly Emperor Sword into his Great Meru Saint Pillar, a spiritual artifact that have exchange countless times with Heavenly Evil Monarch before ultimately killing him.
As for Zhou Yuan, his Heavenly Yuan Brush became his Life Source Material when he ascended to the God Realm, transforming into his main divine weapon.
Each of them had a unique bond with their artifacts, forged by their techniques and destinies.
Xiao Hua knew the same would be true for him. His artifact would not only symbolize his journey but would also embody his techniques and soul. After briefly inspecting the nails, he set them aside for the time being. There was no rush.
First, he needed to focus on refining the 'Four Divine Phoenixes, Soaring Across the Heavens' and crafting his first pair of divine wings. Only then would he turn his attention to completing the Heavenly Suppression Band.
"One step at a time," he murmured to himself. His path to power was far from over, but every piece he gathered brought him closer to his ultimate goal.
Xiao Hua lifted his gaze once more to the massive corpse of the Heaven Demon Phoenix. With a casual flick of his finger, a golden-green flame erupted from his body, dancing around him like a celestial fire.
With a sweeping motion of his arms, the golden-green flame surged outward, leaving his body and sweeping over the enormous corpse. The flames roared, spreading across the entire body of the Heaven Demon Phoenix, engulfing it completely.
Under the flame's fierce power, the corpse slowly began to dissipate into nothingness, leaving behind a treasure trove of priceless remains. Vibrant, colorful feathers, sharp spiked bones, and even a pair of piercing eyes—all treasures of immense value.
Yet, Xiao Hua's attention was firmly fixed on the jade-bone wings, which now floated in the air, their colorful feathers stripped away, revealing the raw, powerful framework beneath.
He knew, however, that his task was far from finished.
With a sharp focus, Xiao Hua controlled the golden-green flames with his Spiritual Strength, gathering the scattered flames into a single, formidable cluster. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the concentrated fire onto the jade-bone wings.
As the flame touched the wings, Xiao Hua increased its intensity, causing the golden-green inferno to flare wildly. The temperature skyrocketed, sending waves of scorching heat throughout the platform. The once stable ground now resembled a fiery furnace, as the jade-bone wings began to bake under the relentless flames.
Puff—!
With a muffled explosion, faint traces of blood-red air escaped from the jade bone wings, releasing a faint sizzle as they met the terrifying heat of the 'Tribulation Lotus Flame.' The sinister aura that lingered within the wings dissipated into nothingness, burned away completely by the flame's intense power.
"Now that those deeply hidden remnant auras have been purged, nothing will hinder me from refining these wings," Xiao Hua murmured softly, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face.
However, his expression quickly turned wry as he considered the arduous nature of refining Magical Beasts that carried the Phoenix Bloodline. One pair of wings alone had proven to be a troublesome endeavor, and the thought of the other three pairs he'd need to craft sent a subtle weariness through him. "If one is this difficult, I don't even want to imagine what awaits me with the rest..."
But there was no turning back now. Xiao Hua's resolve remained firm. Even though he had successfully expelled the lingering auras, he did not withdraw his flames. Instead, he maintained the searing heat, relentlessly grilling the jade bone wings to ensure that every last impurity was eradicated.
After what seemed like an eternity of intense grilling, the jade bone wings, which had until now remained silent, began to show signs of transformation. From the crystal-clear surface of the bones, a single droplet of thick, jade-colored liquid silently emerged and fell, swirling within the golden-green flames without dissipating. The churning of that first bead marked the beginning of a chain reaction.
One droplet became many as the jade-colored liquid seeped continuously from the bone marrow. A faint trickling sound filled the air as the liquid gathered beneath the wings, forming a small, half-inch-deep pool of gleaming jade essence. The once-mighty wings, massive and awe-inspiring, were now reduced to less than half their original size, their essence slowly condensed into the liquid below.
Yet, despite this transformation, Xiao Hua remained composed and unperturbed. His gaze remained steady as he calmly controlled the temperature of the 'Tribulation Lotus Flame,' ensuring it remained at a precise, constant heat—neither too high nor too low.
As time continued to pass, the jade bone wings steadily shrank, their size diminishing with each passing moment, while the pool of jade liquid beneath them grew denser and more concentrated. The room was filled with a quiet intensity, only broken by the occasional soft, clear sound of shattering, reverberating through the air like a fragile glass breaking.
Xiao Hua's eyes flickered as he realized that the jade bone wings had completely dissolved, leaving behind only the thick, vibrant jade liquid. The process was nearing its peak. Due to the immense heat of the 'Tribulation Lotus Flame,' small bubbles began rising from the liquid, and with each one that burst, a strange and potent energy rippled through the air, creating a faint but powerful pressure.
"If I recall correctly, Xiao Yan took four hours to refine this stage, yet it has only taken me two..." Xiao Hua muttered with a wry smile. Despite wielding a flame far more powerful than the one Xiao Yan had used in the future, it still took him a considerable amount of time to reach this point.
Yet, unbeknownst to Xiao Hua, the challenge he faced was not due to any flaw in his technique. In reality, the corpse he now refined was in its prime, the remnant aura within it still fierce and untamed. When Xiao Yan would come across this same corpse years into the future, the passage of time would have weakened the lingering aura, making the refining process less arduous.
That slight difference in aura, though seemingly insignificant, could change everything. A mere fraction of added strength in a powerful beast's remnant spirit was enough to lengthen the refinement time significantly. It was only natural that Xiao Hua's process would take longer, as he contended with a stronger and more violent essence than the one Xiao Yan would later face.
Xiao Hua's mind stirred slightly, and with a subtle shift in focus, the temperature of the golden-green flame surged dramatically. His expression turned solemn, and with a graceful flick of his wrist, the bones and feathers he had collected from the Heaven Demon Phoenix's corpse began to gather in front of him.
In addition to the Heaven Demon Phoenix's remains, Xiao Hua retrieved the countless bones that Lady Azure had diligently found and stored within one of the Storage Rings. These bones were separated into two distinct groups: one gleamed with a radiant silver hue, while the other shimmered with an elegant green.
The silver bones belonged to Magical Beasts with lightning affinities, while the green bones came from those attuned to the wind. Xiao Hua knew that by incorporating both sets into his wings, the result would be extraordinary.
When his wings faced a thunderstorm or fierce winds, they would resonate with the natural lightning and wind energies in the sky, drastically amplifying his speed. This resonance effect would be one of the keys to unleashing the full potential of his divine wings.
Although these bones and feathers might not possess the overwhelming might of the Heaven Demon Phoenix's bloodline, they still held considerable power. Each had once belonged to Rank 8 Magical Beasts, capable of contending with even Dou Zuns at their peak. The synergy of lightning and wind, combined with the Heaven Demon Phoenix's divine essence, would make the wings not only swift but capable of devastating feats.
The energy coursing through his body was incomparably pure and dense, brimming with a force so immense that when fused with the power within the bones of the Heaven Demon Phoenix, it would be akin to adding wings to a tiger.
Without hesitation, he tossed all of the bones and feathers into the golden-green flames, watching as they gradually transformed into shimmering silver-gold powder. He had expected to hear a thunderous roar, the type of resonance caused by such powerful materials. However, the terrifying might of the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning seemed to suppress all sound, swallowing it in silence.
A faint disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he remained focused. With careful hands, he retrieved the silver-gold powder and scattered it into the jade-colored liquid before him.
Next, he directed his attention to the two hovering Blood Essences. One of them was gently guided into the heart of the golden-green flames. As it merged, the jade-colored liquid and the Blood Essence began to react.
The moment the two substances touched, a subtle ripple spread across the liquid's surface. This ripple wasn't simple—it represented a hidden resistance, a force that had to be overcome before the merging could occur. If this resistance wasn't identified and properly managed, the merging would surely fail.
Xiao Hua concentrated his mind, using the ripple as a guide to locate the precise equilibrium between the two forces. Only by achieving perfect balance could the jade-colored liquid and the Blood Essence merge seamlessly.
This type of merging demanded a level of precision far beyond ordinary means—it required absolute mastery of one's Spiritual Strength. At the same time, he needed to maintain the exact temperature and complete control over the flames. A single misstep, no matter how small, would result in catastrophic failure.
Xiao Hua's Spiritual Strength manifested as countless delicate threads, spreading across every inch of the two droplets of liquid. Even the slightest fluctuation was instantly perceived by him, his senses sharp and unyielding.
Ordinarily, this would be the most challenging phase of refinement. However, Xiao Hua had been trained under the strict guidance of Lady Azure, who had taught him the art of controlling flames and harnessing Spiritual Strength with unparalleled precision. Moreover, after his intense battle with the Devil Spiritual Fruit, his control had reached a level of perfection. What once seemed an impossible task now felt well within his grasp.
Upon identifying the delicate point of equilibrium, Xiao Hua wasted no time. He swiftly merged the jade-colored liquid and the Blood Essence together. As the fusion took place, he exhaled in quiet relief, watching as the liquid darkened slightly—a sign of his success. The merger was flawless.
Xiao Hua let a long breath escape and changed the hand seal, causing the temperature of the Tribulation Lotus Flame to gradually decrease. The once blazing flame softened, now radiating the gentle warmth of a flame meant for slow refinement, as it carefully grilled the pool of dark-jade liquid below.
"It seems these steps cannot be rushed... otherwise, I might inadvertently vaporize everything," Xiao Hua murmured to himself, sighing inwardly with a trace of helplessness.
He would have preferred to finish this process swiftly, but haste would only lead to ruin. If the heat was too intense, the liquid could easily evaporate, and the precious materials painstakingly gathered to form it would be lost. Patience was the only path forward.
Shifting his gaze, Xiao Hua turned his attention to the final Blood Essence hovering beside him. His Spiritual Strength flowed from between his brows, wrapping around the Blood Essence like invisible threads, gently guiding it closer.
"Now, I can focus on completing the medicinal formula," he whispered to himself, his voice steady with determination.
The medicinal formula Xiao Hua spoke of was not an ordinary recipe, but one of his own creation—developed through a combination of painstaking experimentation and the guidance of Lady Azure.
Under her tutelage, Xiao Hua had learned far more than just the art of refining medicinal pills. He had delved deeply into the knowledge of medicinal ingredients, mastering the ability to distinguish their various types, understanding their primary and secondary properties, and perfecting the intricate methods of using lesser ingredients to produce high-grade pills.
Of course, due to the limited time they had together, Lady Azure had not been able to impart all her vast knowledge. Even so, what she had taught him was more than enough. Xiao Hua had absorbed every bit of wisdom she passed on, and with it, he had gained the ability to craft his own original medicinal formula.
Although their time together was brief, it was sufficient for him to achieve this breakthrough.
Before his focus shifted fully to the task at hand, Xiao Hua had informed Xue Yue and Xun Er when they returned from recovering the hidden treasures left behind by the fallen Heaven Demon Phoenix. He had also expressed his intention to complete his medicinal formula and begin the refinement process immediately after.
Naturally, both of them understood the gravity of the situation. Knowing the extreme concentration required for alchemy and the disastrous backlash Xiao Hua might face if disturbed, they waited outside, standing guard in silence to ensure he could work without any interruptions.
....
After two days and nights of uninterrupted brewing, the cave remained shrouded in a deep silence, the only movement being the slow swirling of the dark-jade liquid.
Xiao Hua raised his head, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips. At last, he had completed his medicinal formula. After thoroughly inspecting all ten of his storage rings, a wave of relief washed over him—he possessed every last ingredient required to craft the precious pill. But before that, he must first succeed in forging the wings of 'Four Divine Phoenixes, Soar and Dance Across the Heavens.'
His gaze shifted toward the golden-green flame. Within its roaring blaze, the dark-jade liquid churned slowly, its former fluidity transformed into a dense, viscous substance—so thick it seemed on the verge of solidification.
If the refinement continued for just a few more hours, the once flowing liquid would likely harden into a solid cluster, becoming a mass of impenetrable dark-jade rock.
Xiao Hua exhaled gently, his eyes calm as his vast Spiritual Strength surged from the space between his brows. Like an invisible river, it flowed smoothly into the flame, threading its way into the viscous dark-jade liquid.
The thick liquid trembled violently at the intrusion of Xiao Hua's Spiritual Strength, as though it possessed a will of its own. It began to writhe, as if some hidden force deep within it was struggling to emerge, like a large, invisible hand reaching into its depths, pulling at something bound within.
The dark-jade liquid's convulsions continued for but a moment, before it twisted into a shocking transformation—a pair of enormous bone wings, each spanning ten feet. Along the edges of the wings, countless silver thorns jutted out, each one an inch long, gleaming with a sharp, lethal beauty.
Mysterious lines of various colors etched themselves across the surface of the bone wings, intertwining and swirling in an intricate pattern, creating an appearance both strange and breathtakingly beautiful.
As the wiggling ceased, faint arcs of lightning flickered around the wings, while gusts of wind danced across their surface. Slowly, the lightning and wind intertwined, condensing into a vibrant array of feathers that shimmered with a multitude of colors, adding an awe-inspiring elegance to the newly-formed wings.
If the bone wings had once exuded a strange yet captivating beauty, now, adorned with vibrant feathers, they radiated an aura of elegance and nobility that would seize the attention of all who beheld them. The sight was utterly striking, impossible to ignore.
Xiao Hua gazed deeply at the magnificent wings, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. A wry smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he muttered helplessly, "If I reveal these wings... the Heaven Demon Phoenix clan will surely hunt me down."
Instead of feeling joy at his creation, a wave of frustration washed over him, a headache building as he contemplated the troubles these wings would bring. After all, the wings were nearly identical to those of the Heaven Demon Phoenix—a resemblance that could not be overlooked.
Despite his lingering concerns, Xiao Hua chose not to dwell on them.
With a single thought, the temperature of the 'Tribulation Lotus Flame' surged abruptly. As the flames began to retract, retract back into Xiao Hua's body, a pair of miniature colorful wings floated gently before him, radiating an entrancing beauty.
'I wonder... should I gift these to Xun'er instead?' he thought, captivated by their allure. If Xun Er wore these wings, her already stunning beauty would be further enhanced, beyond compare.
He shook his head, dismissing the idea. He would refine another pair in the future. Even if he failed to acquire the materials again, he could always rely on the System to obtain a Heaven Demon Phoenix corpse and craft them anew.
Xiao Hua bit down on his middle finger, allowing a droplet of fresh blood to form. It dripped onto the vibrant wings, and the moment it made contact, the wings greedily absorbed the blood, as though they had been waiting for it. Instantly, an intense, radiant glow burst forth, accompanied by a low, resonant hum. The wings trembled before transforming into a streak of colorful light, circling around the cave before shooting directly into Xiao Hua's back.
A brief flicker of discomfort spread across his back, but it was gone almost as soon as it appeared. Xiao Hua knew the sensation was a searing burn, but after surviving the wrath of the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, this burning felt no more than a needle's prick—a minor irritation compared to the agony he'd once endured.
Though the pain was negligible, the lingering discomfort was still noticeable...
With a mere thought, Xiao Hua stirred his mind, and suddenly, a majestic phoenix cry echoed from deep within his body. In response, a sharp gust of wind roared through the cave. In a flash, the large, radiant wings erupted from his back, their vibrant colors shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
Xiao Hua stood still for a moment, his eyes locked on the magnificent wings. After a brief pause, determination filled his gaze. It was time to test their power.
As the colorful wings gently flapped, a muffled rumble of lightning accompanied by a wild whistling sound filled the air. Xiao Hua could instantly feel the surrounding wind and lightning energy become incredibly responsive, as if the very elements of heaven and earth were bending to his will.
What surprised him even more was the newfound freedom in his body. It was as though the ground no longer restricted him—as if he were a fish swimming freely in the vast sea, unshackled by any bounds or limitations.
After a moment of sensing the immense energy contained within the vibrant wings, a satisfied smile crossed Xiao Hua's face. He had gained more than expected. Without further hesitation, he willed the wings to retreat. In response, they shrank rapidly, glowing faintly before transforming into two fine lines of light that shot back into his body and vanished into his back.
Yet, despite his satisfaction, one worry lingered in his mind. He frowned slightly as he pondered it—these wings exuded an overbearing aura, a dominance that left no room for compromise. He could sense that if he ever attempted to refine wings from a lower-grade Magical Beast, these wings would not tolerate their presence. Sharing the same space with inferior wings seemed impossible under the force of such overwhelming power...
"Not that I planned on using a low-grade Magical Beast, anyway." Xiao Hua chuckled softly, his worries fading as a satisfied smile curved his lips. He dismissed the thought and clenched his hand. Instantly, a surge of golden-green flame erupted from his palm, blazing with a fierce, majestic aura.
Afterward, he allowed himself a much-needed rest for two days, recuperating both body and spirit. His mind was set on the task at hand.
During that time, he consumed one of the dark-violet Devil Sprouting Fruit that Lady Azure stored within his Storage Ring. As its spiritual energy surged through his body, his Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi rapidly recovered, reaching their absolute peak.
With a mere wave of his hand, the flame spiraled out of his body. In an instant, his vast Spiritual Strength flowed from his brow, spreading out like an invisible force, weaving itself into the flame. The golden-green fire began to condense and, under the control of his powerful mind, agglomerated into a brilliant cauldron, its surface shimmering with radiant energy.
This was a secret technique Lady Azure had personally taught him. Simply using fire as a cauldron wouldn't be enough to withstand the devastating shockwaves released by medicinal pills above tier six.
However, when his boundless and immensely powerful Spiritual Strength—imbued with the terrifying might and traits of Heavenly Astral Lightning—was added to the mix, it was only natural that the cauldron formed from his flame could easily withstand the violent shockwaves of even tier eight medicinal pills.
The two of them called this technique the 'Extreme Fire Cauldron,' a method that demanded not only immense Spiritual Strength but also flawless mastery over one's flame control
Xiao Hua let out a soft sigh. As an alchemist, it was only natural to desire a personal medicinal cauldron. In fact, only novice alchemists of the first or second tier typically lacked one. Yet, despite being an eighth-tier alchemist, he was the first in the history of alchemy to reach such heights without possessing his own cauldron.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips as the thought crossed his mind. He had once considered refine and use Heavenly Flames for an Alchemy. But the moment that idea surfaced, he swiftly cast it aside. He had once dared to suggest it to Lady Azure once, hoping for her guidance.
She hadn't answered. Instead, she merely smiled—a smile that sent an icy chill down his spine, colder than the deepest winter's frost. At that moment, terror unlike anything he had ever known gripped his soul. Without a second thought, he immediately apologized, his heart pounding in fear.
Even now, recalling that smile, a faint shiver ran down his back. The horror he felt that day was beyond words.
As the Primogenitor of all flames, even mentioning the use of Heavenly Flames felt like an affront to Lady Azure. Such words undermined her authority, and Xiao Hua vividly recalled how her wrath had simmered beneath the surface. It had taken quite some time for her fury to subside, and after that experience, Xiao Hua wisely chose never to bring up the matter again.
Fortunately, his System offered a solution. For the cost of a 500,000 ACP, it could assist him in forging a medicinal cauldron capable of withstanding the might of the Primordial Heavenly Flames. Though the offer seemed tempting, Xiao Hua couldn't help but wonder if it was truly necessary.
After all, the 'Extreme Fire Cauldron,' empowered by his vast Spiritual Strength, could potentially endure even the shockwaves of a tier nine medicinal pill, once his Spiritual State advanced to the Heavenly State.
Moreover, he couldn't help but wonder why this medicinal cauldron was priced so cheaply. After all, according to the description, this cauldron was capable of withstanding the destructive force and extreme heat of his flames…
While it was true that he would be the sole user, such a treasure should not be sold at such a low price. Besides, with the System, this cauldron would remain in pristine condition, flawless and without a single imperfection…
Still, whether he needed the cauldron now or not was a matter for another day. For now, his focus had to return to refining the medicinal pill based on the formula he had just perfected. That, above all else, was the priority.