16
The Elders of the Alchemy Department were even more uncontrollably excited.
They regarded this as a once-in-a-thousand-years fated opportunity to improve their own Alchemy skills.
They had long since begun discussing among themselves, preparing to go and observe with the most devout learning attitude.
The entire Inner Court of Jia Nan Academy was plunged into an unprecedented state of excitement and anticipation due to the exclusive Alchemy event of the "Azure Demon Lord" that was set to begin in five days.
Xiao Qing's reputation within Jia Nan Academy had reached a height that even he himself had not anticipated.
Everyone was eagerly looking forward to the Alchemy platform that would soon stand in the center of the square five days later.
Chapter 110, Seventh Grade Peak Medicinal Pill, Breaking Sovereign Pill!
As the first rays of the morning sun fell, the central square of the Inner Court of Jia Nan Academy was already bustling with noise.
The newly completed Alchemy platform stood tall and imposing, built entirely of bluestone, three zhang high, with a wide surface and intricate flame patterns carved around it.
The open space below the platform was already crowded with students and instructors who had come to observe.
Even the roofs of the surrounding buildings were packed with people, and everyone's gaze was focused on the figure in green robes in the center of the platform.
Xiao Qing stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd below.
What he was going to demonstrate today was not just Alchemy, but the ultimate application of soul Power and Fire Control.
With a gentle wave of his sleeves, dozens of medicinal herbs emitting various halos of light floated in front of him, neatly arranged in four rows.
"Master Xiao is about to start!"
An Alchemy Department student excitedly tugged at his companion's sleeve.
Xiao Qing did not rush to use fire, but slowly closed his eyes. Powerful soul Power surged out like a tide, meticulously sweeping over every medicinal herb.
This was a habit he had learned from Yao Chen.
Perceiving the properties of the herbs with soul Power before refining to ensure nothing went wrong.
A moment later, Xiao Qing opened his eyes and spread his palms upward.
Two flames, one cyan and one blue, rose simultaneously, like two spirit snakes intertwining in the air.
In an instant, the Heaven and Earth energy in the square began to fluctuate violently, and the air was filled with a scorching aura.
"Two types of Heavenly Flames! It really is two types of Heavenly Flames!"
A burst of exclamations suddenly rang out from below the platform.
An Alchemy Department student standing in the front row was so excited he almost jumped up, but was held down in time by the teacher beside him.
The Chief of the Alchemy Department, Elder Huo, had a slightly trembling hand as he stroked his beard, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement: "Heavenly Flames repel each other, this is common knowledge in the Alchemy world!"
"For an ordinary person to obtain one is already a huge fated opportunity, yet Master Xiao can actually control two at the same time, and make them coexist without conflict..."
"This kind of Fire Control technique is something I have only seen once in my life!"
An even more shocking scene appeared.
With a thought from Xiao Qing, the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame and the Sea Heart Flame actually began to slowly merge, eventually transforming into a brand new cyan and blue flame.
This flame was more solid than the original two Heavenly Flames, with a glaze-like luster flowing on its surface.
"This is..."
Elder Huo suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open.
"A new Heavenly Flame formed by the Fusion of two types of Heavenly Flames? How is this possible!"
In the astonished gazes of the crowd, Xiao Qing divided this Heavenly Flame, which he named "Heavenly Azure Glazed Flame", into four.
Each condensed into an exquisite flame Medicine Cauldron, floating in mid-air.
The four fire cauldrons were different in shape, but all emitted heart-palpitating energy fluctuations.
"Master Xiao intends not to use a Medicine Cauldron to refine pills, but to use fire as a cauldron! He intends to perform Void Alchemy!!"
An Alchemy Department teacher's voice trembled, and the recording pen in his hand almost fell to the ground.
"He... is he going to refine four batches of Medicinal Pills at the same time?"
"Master Xiao's Alchemy attainments are truly superb!!"
Grand Elder Su Qian, who was standing not far from the platform, paused slightly as he stroked his beard, his eyes flashing with sharp light.
"To be able to use one heart for four tasks, using fire as a cauldron! This kind of soul control, even if I were to flatter him, I couldn't keep up!"
Xiao Qing was seemingly unaware of the commotion below the platform, his entire focus immersed in Alchemy.
He formed hand seals, his soul Power precisely controlling the four fire cauldrons while simultaneously throwing different medicinal herbs into the cauldrons.
Refining, Fusion, pill condensation... the entire process was as smooth as flowing water, as if he were not refining Medicinal Pills, but performing an exquisite artistic performance.
In the depths of the the void, which ordinary people could hardly perceive, two blurry figures quietly watched this scene.
"Qian Mu, what do you think of this child?"
Bai Lie's voice carried a hint of undisguised exclamation.
Qian Mu's gaze never left the platform, his tone solemn and full of praise: "His soul Power has reached the Spirit Realm, his Fire Control is as easy as moving his own arm, and what is even more rare is his control over the flames."
"Fifth Grade Medicinal Pills are easily handled, and using one heart for four tasks is effortless! Bai Lie, I have a premonition that the Eighth Grade Realm is likely just a matter of time for him."
"Su Qian has truly forged a significant good connection for our Jia Nan Academy this time," Bai Lie sighed softly.
As time passed, the Medicinal Pills in the four fire cauldrons gradually took shape.
A rich medicinal fragrance permeated the entire square, making people feel refreshed upon smelling it.
When the final pill condensation hand seal was completed, four round, jade-like Medicinal Pills flew out from the fire cauldrons and landed in the jade bottles Xiao Qing had long prepared.
The whole process took no more than half an hour, but the crowd below was silent, everyone still immersed in the brilliant performance just now.
"The, the fourth Medicinal Pill is also done..."
A student said stammeringly, breaking the silence.
Suddenly, earth-shaking cheers erupted in the square.
The Alchemy Department students were so excited that they hugged each other, as if it were they who had completed the Alchemy.
Elder Huo walked quickly to the front of the platform and asked with a trembling voice: "Master Xiao, that flame after the Fusion just now..."
Xiao Qing smiled slightly and said: "This flame is named Heavenly Azure Glazed Flame, it is what I formed by fusing the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame and the Sea Heart Flame recently!"
"Heavenly Flame Fusion... although there are records in ancient books, I have always thought it was just a legend!"
Elder Huo sighed with great emotion and said: "Seeing it today, I have no regrets in this life!"
In the following days, Xiao Qing would go on stage to perform Alchemy every day.
From Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade, there were many types of Medicinal Pills, and his techniques were unpredictable.
Huangji Pill, Dou Spirit Pill, Calamity-Breaking Pill...
These high-level Medicinal Pills, which were rarely seen in the Black-Corner Region, were refined one by one in his hands as if they were ordinary items.
In the first few days, the square was overcrowded, and even the surrounding trees were covered with curious students.
But as time passed, some students with lower cultivation began to be unable to support themselves.
The energy pressure and soul shock emitted when high-level Medicinal Pills took shape made it difficult for them to stay for a long time.
Even so, the number of people who came to observe every day was still considerable.
"Look!"
"Master Xiao is refining a Sixth Grade Huangji Pill today!"
"It is said that it can help a Dou Huang expert increase their star level!"
A student pointed at the platform and shouted excitedly.
His companion sighed: "If I could learn even one-tenth of Master Xiao's skills, my life would be worth it."
The teachers and students of the Alchemy Department became the most loyal audience.
They brought thick notebooks, recording every one of Xiao Qing's techniques and every change in the flames with great eagerness.
Some even specially made special memory crystals, wanting to record the entire process to study repeatedly.
"Teacher Li, I seem to... seem to have touched the threshold of a Third Grade Alchemist!"
A Second Grade student said excitedly to the teacher beside him.
"More than just you!"
That Teacher Li was also glowing, and said.
"I have been trapped at the Peak of the Fourth Grade for many years, but watching Master Xiao refine pills these days, I have actually faintly touched the bottleneck of the Fifth Grade! I have found the great path to becoming a Fifth Grade Alchemist! This is a huge fated opportunity!"
Even more surprisingly, several talented Alchemy Department Elders made a breakthrough one after another during the observation process, and their Alchemy skills improved by one grade.
One of the white-haired Elders was even in tears, bowing deeply to the platform: "Master Xiao's guidance, I will never forget it as long as I live!"
Some fanatical students simply set up tents on the edge of the square, sleeping in the open, just to grab a good spot.
This trend of seeking knowledge soon infected the entire Inner Court, and the atmosphere for Cultivation was unprecedentedly high.
Continuous high-intensity refining was a significant consumption, even for Xiao Qing's Qi.
Every few days of refining, he would announce a pause for a few days, allowing everyone to digest what they had learned, and he himself would also take a short rest.
Whenever this happened, those students who occupied good spots would not move an inch, fearing that if they left, they would miss the excitement that followed.
...
One morning, three months later.
After Xiao Qing completed the refining of another batch of Sixth Grade Medicinal Pills, he announced loudly: "All Sixth Grade Medicinal Pills have been refined."
"Seven days later, I will attempt to refine a Seventh Grade Medicinal Pill here."
Once the news came out, the entire Inner Court was completely boiling.
Almost all students and Elders gathered in the square again, and even some old guys who had been in closed-door Cultivation for years were alarmed and made an exception to come out and observe.
In the quiet room of his residence, Xiao Qing was adjusting his state.
Floating in front of him was the Pill Formula for the "Breaking Sovereign Pill" and several main medicinal herbs emitting terrifying energy.
These medicinal herbs were treasures that Jia Nan Academy had treasured for many years, and now they were all taken out for this batch of Medicinal Pills.
The Bone Flame Ring warmed up slightly, and Yao Chen's emotional voice sounded in Xiao Qing's heart: "Seventh Grade Peak Medicinal Pill... kid, your progress speed even makes me, your teacher, feel surprised!"
"With your current soul Realm, I'm afraid it won't be long before you can attempt an 8th-Grade Pill."
Xiao Qing smiled slightly and was about to answer, but was interrupted by a crisp voice.
"Xiao Qing, you will definitely succeed!" Zi Yan sat on the side with her chin in her hands, her big eyes full of trust.
"When the Pill Lightning comes down, I'll help you beat it!"
Xiao Qing laughed at this and rubbed her hair: "Pill Lightning is not a joke, you'd better just watch obediently from below."
Although he said that, his heart was full of peace and confidence.
Tomorrow will be the moment he leaves the most colorful mark in this Jia Nan Inner Court!
Just as the Inner Court was preparing for the refining of the Seventh Grade Medicinal Pill.
Deep in the Demon Flame Valley, hundreds of miles away, a roar suddenly came from the Cave Dwelling where Earth Demon Old Ghost was in closed-door Cultivation.
"Seventh Grade Medicinal Pill? Jia Nan Academy... it's you again! That old guy Mang Tianchi is gone! Yet you still dare to bully me like this! And that hateful Azure Demon Lord!"
Baleful Qi soared into the sky, and the entire valley was trembling.
"When I come out of closed-door Cultivation, I will definitely make you pay the price!"
...
At the same time, inside the Soul Hall Branch Hall, a figure shrouded in black mist was listening to a subordinate's report.
"Two types of Heavenly Flames... and one of them is Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame? Could it be that an old friend of that old guy Yao Chen has come to take revenge for him?"
The black shadow's voice carried a hint of playfulness.
"It seems this Azure Demon Lord is even more interesting than we imagined."
"Go, send a message to Venerable Mu Gu, and tell him that his grand-nephew's Heavenly Flame has now fallen into someone else's hands."