At this moment, within Liu Lingâs Crimson Serpent Cauldron, the light red medicinal liquid seemed to sense the compressive force from its surroundings, and it suddenly began to fluctuate violently. With each surge, powerful ripples of energy erupted from it, colliding with the invisible force formed by soul power.
âBang!â
On the stone platform, the cauldron quivered slightly, producing a crisp collision sound from within.
As the cauldron trembled, Liu Lingâs expression changed subtly. His foot stomped heavily on the ground, and his palm, hovering above the cauldron, clenched fiercely forward as if trying to crush the very air in front of him.
With the tightening of Liu Lingâs grip, the violently churning liquid in the cauldron suddenly froze. The invisible hand formed by his soul power surged in strength at once. The originally large mass of liquid had shrunk to the size of a ping-pong ball, but as it reached this point, it fiercely resisted, refusing to move to the final step.
âItâs resisting so strongly!â Liu Lingâs face paled as he concentrated on the cauldron.
This was already Liu Lingâs fourth attempt at refining a fifth-tier pill. With the experience from his previous three tries, he knew that any mistake at this stage would mean all prior efforts would be wasted. This was why he had rested for such a long time after purifying all the ingredients.
Given that he had only recently advanced to a fifth-tier alchemist, his success rate for refining a Dragon Force Pill, which was among the higher-grade fifth-tier pills, was not high. However, after refining the Green Lotus Core Flame, practicing the powerful techniques passed down by Gu He, and achieving a breakthrough in his cultivation, his confidence had surged, pushing him to challenge his limits.
The changes in Liu Lingâs expression were noticed by the crowd in the square. They had also seen the cauldron's trembling earlier, and now everyone held their breath, eyes fixed intently on the scene.
Detecting the disturbance coming from Liu Lingâs cauldron, Fa Ma was now certain that the pill being refined was indeed a fifth-tier pill. After all, a fourth-tier pill could never produce such intense energy ripples.
âLiu Ling, you must succeed!â
Fa Ma silently prayed. At this moment, Xiao Yanâs pill was already complete, and there was no way it could surpass Xiao Yi Xianâs four-tier pill with colored fragrance. All of Fa Maâs hopes now rested on Liu Ling.
âSenior brother, you can do it!â
On the edge of the square, Xiao Yi Xian, who was nurturing her pill, also noticed the commotion. A hint of concern flashed in her eyes.
âLooks like heâs feeling the pressure,â Xiao Yan murmured to himself. This was the first time heâd seen Liu Ling struggle so much during a refinement. If it werenât for the competition, he might have even wished for Liu Lingâs success.
âI will become a sixth-tier alchemist. I will not be defeated by a fifth-tier pill!â
As his soul power contended with the energy within the medicinal liquid, a thought flashed through Liu Lingâs mind. He took a deep breath of the warm air around him, his face turning red with strain. His right hand, hovering over the cauldron, first opened slowly and then trembled as it gradually clenched into a fist. A low, forceful command escaped his throat:
âCondense for me!â
With the command, Liu Lingâs hand gripped tightly, and the ping-pong ball-sized liquid in the cauldron shuddered. In an instant, it began to shrink at a visible rate. Within moments, the liquid had vanished, replaced by a thumb-sized, light red embryonic pill.
The most difficult stepâforming the pillâhad been completed. Beads of sweat dripped from Liu Lingâs forehead as he took several deep breaths. The suppressed cyan flames began to release their heat gradually, roasting the rough-shaped pill.
âExcellent! Heâs formed the pill embryo!â
Seeing this, more than ninety percent of the spectators let out a sigh of relief. Forming the pill embryo meant that half of the battle was won.
Gazing at the pill, rough and enclosed in cyan flames, Liu Ling allowed himself a brief moment of relaxation before regaining full concentration.
Although the pill was rough in form, it already possessed some of the basic effects of a fifth-tier pill, the âDragon Force Pill.â Judging by its value, the outcome of this competition might already be determined.
âJust stay steady, and the championship will be yours!â
On the high platform, Fa Ma silently prayed. As a fifth-tier alchemist himself, he knew that even if a fifth-tier pill reached the embryonic stage, the subsequent process was still full of dangers. A single misstep could destroy the already-formed embryonic pill.
At this moment, within the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, under the shroud of cyan flames, the dark red pill began to spin rapidly. As its rotation intensified, the searing heat of the cyan flames gathered into thin, invisible strands and continuously infused into it.
âClang!â
During the rotation, a wave of dark red energy rippled from the pill, crashing heavily against the inner walls of the cauldron and emitting a crisp, loud sound.
Noticing the changes in the dark red pill, Liu Lingâs expression grew more serious. He knew this chaotic energy was a result of the pill's formationâa situation he had faced three times before. However, this time, the energy surge was the most intense.
âBang! Bang! Bang!â
Within the cauldron, the dark red embryonic pill continuously released energy ripples that struck the cauldron walls. If not for the sturdiness of the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, it might have shattered under the repeated impacts.
Watching Liu Ling control the flames, Xiao Yan and the Little Princess, standing nearby, were so tense they momentarily forgot to breathe.
âLuckily, Iâve already broken through to Dou Wang; otherwise, suppressing these energy surges would have been difficult!â
Seeing the dark red pill in the cauldron gradually become smooth and round, Liu Lingâs tense nerves finally began to relax.
âBoom!â
Under countless gazes, Liu Ling suddenly lifted his hand and struck the cauldron lid. Instantly, the lid flew up, and with it came a dense fragrance unique to a fifth-tier pill. A bright red pill shot out from the cauldron.
Liu Ling quickly grabbed a prepared jade bottle and captured the flying fifth-tier pill.
âSuccess!â
âGu He has truly found a treasure. Liu Lingâs potential will undoubtedly make him an extraordinary genius in the future, stepping beyond the Jia Ma Empire, reaching the Northwest Continent, and even the Central Plains...â
Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon!
Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!
/anish_44