Sizzle...
The room was thick with a heavy, focused silence, broken only by the low, hungry roar of the alchemical flames. The two alchemists standing off to the side had their eyes wide open, bloodshot from a mixture of sheer tension and rapt excitement. They were genuine Qi Refining cultivators, but their current state—their shallow, ragged breathing and white-knuckled grips on their robes—was a testament to how profoundly nervous and thrilled they were to be witnessing this. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, reflecting the flickering azure light of the furnace.
At the center of it all, Su Min manipulated the heavenly flames with an almost lazy precision. Her cultivation base was far beyond theirs, and the depth of her spiritual power could easily rival even a Golden Core expert. since she wasn't in any particular hurry, she took her time. She refined the concoction with a master's calm, her movements fluid and economical, her fingers dancing through the air as she wove threads of spiritual energy into the mixture.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Su Min's hands stilled for a fraction of a second. A chilling, ghostly presence had manifested in the corner of the room without any warning, like a sudden frost creeping across a windowpane. The two alchemists shivered violently, their robes rustling as they instinctively huddled closer together. This entire room was saturated with the oppressive, dry heat of the Nanming Lihuo, a heavenly flame that wasn't to be trifled with. Yet this woman, Xie Yingying, stood there completely unaffected. Her own innate aura passively suppressed the fire's intensity around her, creating a small, localized island of cool stillness that smelled of winter air and frozen stone.
"Good thing you didn't get any closer. Otherwise, you would be compensating me for this entire batch of pills," Su Min remarked without looking up. Her attention never truly left the swirling, incandescent energies within the cauldron.
"I'm well aware of my physique's limitations," Xie Yingying replied. She rolled her eyes with a faint sigh that was almost inaudible over the fire's steady rumble. "But you, refining third-tier mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pills with such ease? It seems your soul power has improved since reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment."
"Huh? Why is she being so much nicer to me all of a sudden? What has she been up to?"
Su Min was inwardly puzzled. Previously, the two of them had maintained a relationship of mutual wariness, a careful dance of power and politeness where every word was measured. But now, Xie Yingying's demeanor had softened noticeably. She hadn't said it outright, but the change in her tone was undeniable; the sharp edges had been sanded down to something smoother and more approachable.
What Su Min didn't know was that Xie Yingying had done some digging on her past, and the findings had been entirely unexpected. Though she knew better than to take every story at face value, the fact that Su Min had been hailed as a saint and a savior by common folk in the southern frontier had genuinely intrigued her. It didn't fit the mold.
She had interacted with Su Min long enough to recognize that while the woman could put on a facade when needed, it was more for self-preservation than some self-righteous act of holiness. That simple fact alone spoke volumes about Su Min's core character. And so, almost without realizing it, Xie Yingying had relaxed around her. Her tone was naturally gentler as a result.
Besides, Su Min was a prodigious alchemist. When the time came for Xie Yingying to walk her own Golden Core Avenue, having such a person as a stable ally would be invaluable. And the Nanming Lihuo? It was a true heavenly flame, one known for its fierce discernment. It didn't accept just anyone as its host.
The Blazing Sun Body might be considered mediocre in Xie Yingying's esteemed view, but when paired with that specific flame, it became a combination to be reckoned with.
"A shame, though," Xie Yingying mused silently, her expression unreadable. "If she had been born with the Sacred Flame Heavenly Body or the Solar Sovereign Body, it would have been even better. But the Solar Sovereign Body on a woman? Tsk..."
She rubbed her temples at the thought. That would have been a truly awkward and complicated existence, drawing far too much of the wrong kind of attention.
Unaware of Xie Yingying's internal commentary, Su Min refocused on her task. Her brow furrowed in concentration.
Though she had enough spare attention to monitor her surroundings, she wasn't idle enough to deeply analyze someone's shifting moods. Besides, the Foundation Establishment Pills were at their most critical stage. All the medicinal essences had been perfectly extracted, leaving only the final and most challenging step: pill formation. The air itself seemed to vibrate with condensed spiritual energy, the pressure making the wooden beams of the room groan.
"Gulp..."
The two alchemists swallowed hard, their throats dry. Every single time they failed in their own alchemical attempts, it was always at this exact step. Now, witnessing the woman they considered the greatest alchemist in the land refine such high-tier pills was an invaluable, once-in-a-lifetime lesson. They dared not even blink, for fear of missing a single micro-action.
Xie Yingying, meanwhile, subconsciously let her gaze sweep the room. Her instincts were far sharper than those of the two juniors. She knew from her sect's ancient texts how perilous this moment was. Any external disturbance or any flicker of distraction could ruin everything. At best, the pills would be destroyed and the precious ingredients lost. At worst, the alchemist could suffer a catastrophic backlash and perish on the spot.
Of course, she didn't know that with Su Min's current transcendent skill and control, refining Foundation Establishment Pills would, at worst, result in a failed batch. There was no real danger to her personally. Her foundation was too solid. Otherwise, Su Min would have secluded herself in a warded chamber rather than refining so casually in front of two novices.
Almost immediately, a rich, tangible medicinal fragrance blossomed within the room. It was so thick it felt as if one could taste it on the tongue—a sweet and potent aroma of botanical nectar and purified spirit. Everyone present stiffened in shock, especially Xie Yingying. Her eyes widened a fraction.
"She has probably reached third-tier high-grade alchemy, she just hasn't tried refining those specific pills yet," Xie Yingying thought, her mind racing with the implications. "But this level of spiritual condensation, this purity… even some fourth-tier alchemists can't achieve it. No matter what, I must secure her lasting goodwill. When the Golden Core Avenue opens, her favor will be priceless. If necessary, I can even offer her a sealing crystal so she doesn't have to waste her natural lifespan waiting."
Narrowing her eyes, Xie Yingying's plans solidified in her mind. She had been sealed in this lower realm for a specific, profound reason, one tied to a unique inheritance that only appeared on the Golden Core Avenue. And Su Min's future potential made her an investment worth making—a cornerstone for her own ambitions.
"FIVE!!!"
A collective, sharp gasp erupted from the two alchemists as Su Min retrieved five perfectly formed, gleaming pills from the charcoal-black furnace. The pills shimmered with a soft internal light, their surfaces flawless and reflecting the golden glow of the hearth.
The furnace itself, being only a Yellow-tier low-grade artifact, had suffered greatly from the escalating demands of Su Min's process and the heavenly flame's intensity. It was now covered in a web of fine cracks, its spiritual essence nearly depleted. It looked as if it might crumble into dust at any moment.
But no one paid any attention to the furnace's sorry state. Even Xie Yingying stared at the pills, momentarily dumbfounded by the sheer efficiency. Five high-quality pills from a single batch was a legendary feat, something spoken of in alchemy manuals but rarely seen in practice.
"Alright, we are done here," Su Min announced. Her smile was one of quiet satisfaction as she carefully placed the pills on a jade tray. "All the weapons and pills you requested have been refined."
She began dividing the pills with practiced ease. Two were kept for herself, while the remaining three were handed over to the stunned representatives from Prince Yong's Mansion. Now that all three of their key figures had reached Foundation Establishment, they could safeguard such treasures themselves. It was a transaction completed.
As for her, it was time to finalize her plans for the Corpse Immortal's demise. The sooner, the better. She could feel the urgency like a ticking clock in her spirit.
"Let's go," Su Min said, turning to Xie Yingying. Her expression shifted back to one of business. "Prince Yong has gathered plenty of intelligence for us. As for your pill, we will refine it after this matter is settled. I assume it's for your Golden Core breakthrough?"
She now felt confident in her ability to refine third-tier high-grade pills, though she expected a few failed batches as she acclimated to the new tier. Her remarkable efficiency, of course, was largely thanks to the Nanming Lihuo. In terms of pure assistance to alchemy, only the legendary Six Ding Divine Fire was said to surpass it.
"Agreed." Xie Yingying didn't argue. There was no need. The understanding between them was clear.
Su Min was correct. That specific pill was indeed for her upcoming Golden Core breakthrough. While the Golden Spirit Pill was the standard choice for most, those with unique techniques or rare physiques, like her Lunar Sovereign Body, required a far more tailored and potent alternative—something that could harmonize with the profound cold of her essence.
===
Yingying, don't casually rising a flag like that. Don't you know the more you don't want it, the more it will happen???
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We've already reached Chapter 100~! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و
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