Inside a cultivation room filled with the fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs, Lin Feng and Elder Huo had been discussing for over half a month, and they had practically mastered the key to advancing to the sixth-grade alchemist realm.
"Elder Lin Feng, why don't I try it first?"
The two stood facing each other, with nothing beside them except for the medicine cauldron. Elder Huo suddenly spoke, and Lin Feng hesitated.
"Elder Huo, why don't we rest for a while? Half a month of continuous research, while not a big deal for us Dou Wangs, should still be approached with the best effort when it comes to advancing in alchemy!"
Elder Huo, his expression full of anticipation, paused after noticing his slightly tired face, then suddenly realized what Lin Feng meant.
"Have I become obsessed all these years? Perhaps this is why I've failed to advance so many times!"
Upon realizing this, Elder Huo suddenly bowed deeply to Lin Feng, who was still stunned, so quickly that Lin Feng couldn't stop him.
"Elder Huo, what's this?"
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder Lin Feng. Otherwise, with my current mindset, even with the blessing of a sixth-grade alchemy technique, the risk of failure in alchemy would be extremely high."
After replying, Elder Huo suggested resting for three days to adjust his condition to its best before returning for the final advancement. Lin Feng, of course, readily agreed.
Returning to his courtyard, he found it empty. Seeing the crooked handwriting on the table, Lin Feng understood the reason. It turned out that Zi Yan had felt bored after Lin Feng went into seclusion, and with the food Lin Feng provided, she had endured the aura of the strange fire in the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower and entered it to cultivate her inner fire.
With nothing else to do, Lin Feng watered the peach tree with some spiritual liquid. Instead of practicing his battle qi or studying the pill formula, he went to his comfortable bed and fell asleep.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Early that morning, Lin Feng and Elder Huo arrived at their original cultivation room simultaneously. Seeing that both were in good spirits, they felt a surge of confidence.
After preparing everything, Elder Huo let out a soft breath and turned to Lin Feng, who was watching.
"Elder Lin Feng, let me be the one to open this long-awaited door!"
Elder Huo said, then closed his eyes to regulate his breathing for a moment. Once he was in peak condition, he slowly opened his eyes; his mind was as calm as a still pond.
Watching from the side, Lin Feng secretly praised, "Elder Huo will surely get his wish this time!"
Elder Huo skillfully took out various medicinal herbs one by one. The pill he was going to refine this time was called the Seven-Core Pill.
Seven-Core Pill: A sixth-grade pill. Its main effect is that within one hour of consumption, it will give one an extremely keen intuition for fire-attribute battle qi and a significant boost to soul perception. This boost will decrease after one hour, but will stabilize at a certain point. If cultivated properly, this soul perception can be permanently retained.
Elder Huo fed the medicinal herbs one by one into the cauldron, and a crimson flame rose from his aged palm. With a wave of his hand, he sent it into the cauldron.
"The beast fire of the sixth-tier peak magical beast, the Crimson Flame Tiger, is indeed superior to my Azure Flame, but it is much weaker than the power of the Azure Flame fused with the other two sixth-tier beast fires."
Lin Feng stared at the beast fire in Elder Huo's hand, lost in thought. Although the combined power of the three sixth-tier Azure Flames was comparable to a typical seventh-tier beast fire, alchemy required meticulous control.
The ferocity of beast fire was inherently difficult to control, let alone forcibly combining different types of beast fire for pill refining. This was why Lin Feng used only the Azure Flame, except for the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, when refining other pills.
"It seems I must hurry and acquire that strange fire as soon as possible! If I successfully advance to the sixth rank, I can refine even more powerful protective pills, making the absorption of the strange fire much safer!"
*Bang!*
While Lin Feng pondered, Elder Huo's movements never stopped. One by one, the medicinal herbs were refined into the shapes required by the pill formula.
"Truly skilled!" Although he had discussed matters with Elder Huo many times, this was the first time he had refined a pill of such a high rank. Lin Feng couldn't help but secretly admire Elder Huo's skillful techniques.
Although Elder Huo hasn't advanced to the sixth rank due to the lack of a successor in alchemy, his understanding of the principles of refining pills below the sixth rank far surpasses that of ordinary fifth-rank alchemists, and is even comparable to those newly entering the sixth rank.
Of course, he can't compare to a pill-refining fanatic like Lin Feng. Don't let Lin Feng's seemingly young age fool you; when it comes to the quantity of pills they refine, it's hard to say who refines more.
Relying on the "Grinding Wheel Soul Forging Method" and his own powerful soul force, coupled with the support of the Five Elements Technique's abundant battle qi, he often refines dozens or even hundreds at a time, sometimes even refining multiple pills simultaneously. Other alchemists, on the other hand, can only refine one or two before having to rest due to the strain on their soul force or battle qi.
For example, Xiao Yan, who is about to cultivate the Burning Blade Technique, often needs to consume other pills to restore his battle qi while refining pills. Thinking of this, Lin Feng felt that the Burning Blade Technique wasn't so appealing after all.
Aside from Xiao Yan's various fortuitous encounters, who else could collect so many strange flames? Even ancient imperial clans, after obtaining such a technique, would likely not care much. Unless it's an opportunity to become an emperor, what harm is there in absorbing a few strange flames? In the face of true powerhouses, it's merely giving away opportunities.
If one were to collect so many strange flames, it would be better to use them to cultivate future generations. Of course, all of this is on the premise that one doesn't know the Burning Technique is an opportunity to become an emperor; otherwise, the terrifying power of imperial clans is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
After thinking for a while, Lin Feng came back to his senses and continued to observe Elder Huo's refining process, which would also be of some reference value for his subsequent advancement.
Time slowly passed amidst the crackling sounds of the flames in the cauldron in front of Elder Huo. During this time, Lin Feng did not leave halfway, partly to observe the experience, but also partly to protect the elder.
Although this place was in the inner courtyard, even if the Black Corner Region alliance came to attack, there would be enough time to seal the core and wait for the next refining.
However, nothing is ever truly safe than a miracle. For alchemists, inspiration for advancement is extremely rare. If it's interrupted, who knows when it will be regained, let alone for an old friend like Elder Huo who has been stuck before the sixth rank for many years.
However, just when Lin Feng thought Elder Huo would advance smoothly this time, an unexpected event suddenly occurred.
"Thump!"
(End of Chapter)