A bizarre scene unfolded. While others undergoing the Emperor Ascension ritual battled avatars of the Heavenly Dao, Xue Qianwei, a devoted alchemist, was about to—literally—perform alchemy live.
Before her appeared a colossal alchemical furnace. A surge of new memories flooded her mind. Her lips twitched. The ritual required her to refine a Grade Ten pill, a legendary Emperor Pill. Such pills were incredibly rare, practically non-existent, in almost all cultivation worlds.
Xue Qianwei had only just broken through to Immortal King, and hadn't even formally refined a Grade Nine pill, yet here she was, about to attempt a Grade Ten.
Chu Yang watched the spectacle, lost in thought. While she wasn't fighting, failure in refining the pill meant death. Moreover, refining such a pill wouldn't be a simple matter; the failure rate would surely be high. He was curious about the origin of this peculiar karmic thread.
Soon, he understood. Xue Qianwei also understood. Initially, she was stunned when the Heavenly Dao commanded her to refine a Grade Ten pill. But then, a thought struck her: she possessed the knowledge! Long ago, she had absorbed a manual called the "Alchemist Emperor's Handbook," which contained the insights of an Alchemist Emperor on the art of pill refinement. This included detailed memories of refining Emperor Pills. Her consistently high refining efficiency was, to a large extent, a product of this handbook's guidance. Her cultivation had finally reached the required level, and those memories seamlessly integrated into her experience, feeling entirely natural.
She then turned to Chu Yang, who was watching her, and gave him a thumbs-up, a broad smile conveying reassurance. Under the gaze of everyone present, she used the furnace manifested by the Heavenly Dao and began the live refinement.
"Fire!"
With a wave of Xue Qianwei's hand, a scorching phoenix materialized from the heavens, accompanied by faint phoenix cries. All the alchemists stared intently at her actions. This was likely the only opportunity in their lives to witness an alchemist's ascension to Immortal Emperor. To refine a pill as part of the process, in a way, was simpler than cultivators challenging the Heavenly Dao avatar. At least, they didn't have to endure direct attacks.
The memories from the "Alchemist Emperor's Handbook" flooded Xue Qianwei's mind like a tide, her eyes filled with understanding.
"When refining a pill that surpasses your cultivation level, do not doubt its feasibility," Xue Qianwei's voice echoed across the world, addressing all the students of alchemy academies.
"When a pill reaches Grade Eight, heaven and earth infuse it with life force. My previous success was due to me supplying it with life force. When a pill reaches Grade Nine, it not only gains life force but also seizes the creation of heaven and earth, transforming into a sentient being. In such cases, when we refine across levels, we can briefly burn our own Dao Fruit. This allows for more potent flames and greater control over the furnace..."
"And when a pill reaches Grade Ten, it's as you see now. A Grade Ten pill is not merely about creating life; it embodies the truths of the Great Dao. It is the fundamental truths that the 'Dao of Alchemy' extracts from various other Daos, then meticulously blends within the furnace."
"But where do these fundamental truths of the Great Dao originate? Naturally, through tracing their origins. Every immortal herb contains the principles of a certain miraculous Great Dao. Our flame tempering, which previously refined medicinal potency, now refines the Great Dao truths within the herbs."
As she spoke, the immortal herbs before Xue Qianwei, under her flame tempering, melted into wisps of mysterious Dao rhythm. These rhythms then followed the flames, guiding their way back to the Heavenly Dao. Naturally, only Immortal Kings could perceive these phenomena. Generally, no alchemist knew about this; even many Grade Nine alchemists were not privy to this method of tracing origins.
But she had the "Alchemist Emperor's Handbook." She knew the entire process of refining a Grade Ten pill. The only impediment was her cultivation level, which prevented her from fully grasping these concepts experientially. For alchemists like Ming Yi, Xue Qianwei's explanation would immediately enlighten them, but they would still require extensive practice to validate these theories. Cautiously, they had not yet challenged the Heavenly Dao.
"In essence, the refinement of Grade Ten pills is merely the fusion of Great Dao truths. Within the furnace, these truths undergo a series of chemical reactions. However, these reactions can be quite intense, requiring the alchemist to meticulously manage and suppress the medicinal ingredients within the furnace."
Xue Qianwei continued her discourse while controlling the furnace's flames, meticulously refining and condensing various herbs. As time passed, Xue Qianwei fell silent, unable to speak and focus simultaneously. Everyone watched with rapt attention.
Chu Yang turned to Li Mengyun, who stood beside him, looking dazed, and asked, "What do you think? Any impressions?"
"Sister Xue is so amazing..."
In the blink of an eye, a day passed. Yet, no one left. The crowd gathered in the plaza of the Cultivation Era grew larger. Even those who weren't alchemists wished to witness Xue Qianwei's ascension ritual. The process of pill refinement by an alchemist was lengthy; a normal refinement could take a year or two. However, the Heavenly Dao wasted no time; its trial accelerated the process. The furnace was a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao, and the herbs Xue Qianwei used were also its creations. As long as her steps were correct, the Heavenly Dao would expedite certain condensation processes for her.
Finally, on the third day, Xue Qianwei, who had been silent for a long time, let out a sigh of relief, her voice ringing out once more.
"That was the most difficult step. A single misstep would have led to my demise. This process has been accelerated by the Heavenly Dao. It doesn't seem to require the actual refinement of a Grade Ten pill; as long as each step is performed correctly, it will help skip some of the tedious waiting times."
"And now, the fact that I can speak to you means the refinement has entered its final stage."
"We must seize the moment when the Dao rhythm is most potent and the life force erupts..."
As they continued to wait, a jolt ran through the alchemists present, and gasps of amazement erupted: "I can feel it!" Immense Dao rhythm surged forth at that moment. The furnace blazed with a sky-piercing radiance. A terrifying pressure enveloped the furnace before Xue Qianwei, and the Heavenly Dao seemed to rage, poised to unleash lightning to shatter everything in sight.