Xiao Yi and Jin Feiyan moved unhindered and arrived in the alchemy room.
Fu Yuan and others were in the process of concocting pills. The Treasure Pavilion had launched a full-scale total offensive against the Nangong Family, and pill pharmacies throughout the Great Qian Dynasty had lowered their prices. The daily consumption of pills was extremely terrifying.
"Director, you're here!"
Everyone said one after the other.
Fu Yuan also put down his work, walked up to Xiao Yi, and respectfully saluted, "Xiao, I was blind before and failed to recognize that you are the true Alchemy Grandmaster. Please punish me!"
Ever since the day Nalan Qianqiu and the others passed on the alchemy techniques advised by Xiao Yi to Fu Yuan.
Fu Yuan could now control five Pill Furnaces at the same time.
This leap in progress made Fu Yuan completely convinced and sincerely impressed by Xiao Yi.
Now, it wasn't just a matter of voluntarily leaving after the ten-year agreement.
Even if Xiao Yi drove him away, he wouldn't be willing to leave.
Xiao Yi raised his palm lightly and helped Fu Yuan stand up slowly, saying with a smile, "Fu, you're too polite. Since we're all fellow members of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, we are companions. How can there be punishment between us?"
Gratefulness filled Fu Yuan's heart. He opened his mouth, seemingly having something to say but hesitated.
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "Fu, is there something you wish to discuss with me? There's no need for such caution between us, just speak plainly!"
Fu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Xiao, I am puzzled about something in alchemy..."
"Hahaha, I thought it was something serious. Go on and tell me!" Xiao Yi laughed.
Fu Yuan promptly said, "I have been a Seven-Star Alchemist for many years, but I have never found the clue to concocting Grade-Eight pills. Although every attempt does complete each step properly, the quality of the pills I create is extremely low. Until now, the most successful Grade-Eight pill I have made is only of low quality..."
Xiao Yi said, "So, that's the issue... Fu, if I'm not mistaken, since you entered the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, you've had no breakthroughs in at least thirty years, correct?"
Fu Yuan showed a look of surprise; he didn't expect Xiao Yi to discern his cultivation issue at a glance. He nodded and said, "It's been thirty-one years. No matter how I cultivate, I can never make any further progress..."
"And that's where the problem lies!"
Xiao Yi said indifferently, "The quality of a pill is deeply related to the purification of the herbal essence and the refinement of the heaven and earth energies during the Solidifying Pill process. When Fu broke through the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, it must have been with the aid of external forces. But these forces also affected the quality of your qi, naturally preventing you from perfectly enhancing the quality of Grade-Eight pills!"
Fu Yuan looked perplexed, staring incredulously at Xiao Yi.
His breakthrough to the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm indeed happened because he accidentally acquired a Thousand-Year Golden Dragon Herb, which allowed him to break through his shackles.
But other than himself, no one knew about this!
How could Xiao Yi pinpoint it exactly?
Fu Yuan watched Xiao Yi with an excited face, earnestly saying, "Please save me, Xiao!"
Xiao Yi laughed, "It's actually quite simple, just enter the Pill Furnace!"
Fu Yuan was taken aback.
Enter the Pill Furnace?
Jin Feiyan was astonished, "Master, are you planning to make a Human Refining Elixir?"
Fu Yuan and the others: "..."
A line of black lines crossed Xiao Yi's forehead as he glared at her fiercely, then explained, "What aided your breakthrough contained an overbearing medicinal power which, despite facilitating your breakthrough, left a substantial amount of medicinal power lingering in your body. Over these years, this medicinal power has taken deep root, and only by refining it through the Pill Furnace can the problem be fundamentally resolved!"
Fu Yuan's face showed hesitation. Entering the Pill Furnace was truly alarming!
If there were any mishaps, one would become a literal human pill.
After hesitating for a while.
Fu Yuan gritted his teeth and said, "Please assist me, Xiao!"
Fu Yuan directly headed towards one of the pill furnaces and dove into it like a wisp of smoke, immediately sealing the furnace from inside. Xiao Yi's figure soared into the air, and with a push of his palm towards the front, the gigantic pill furnace roared as it uprooted from the ground.
It hung in midair, entwined and buoyed by countless threads of elemental qi.
The surrounding hundreds of alchemists all stopped their actions, each looking on with a horrified expression. They had never heard of someone being refined inside a pill furnace. It was well-known that the temperature inside a pill furnace could easily reach thousands of degrees, and at its highest, it could even soar to tens of thousands of degrees.
Even the physical body of someone from the Dharma Manifestation Realm would struggle to endure such a terrifyingly high temperature.
This required an extremely high level of control over the furnace fire.
Xiao Yi's form danced in front of the pill furnace, his ten fingers flickering with flames that he breathed into the furnace.
The flames blazed fiercely, with Fu Yuan's pained grunts occasionally emanating from within.
"He's not going to refine the person to death, is he?"
"Xiao's alchemical skills are incredibly impressive; how could he make such a novice mistake?"
Everyone discussed amongst themselves.
The pill furnace buzzed and with a bang landed back on the ground.
Xiao Yi clapped his hands and said, "Open the furnace after 24 hours, and no one is allowed to come near it in the meantime!"
"Don't worry, Xiao, I'll personally keep watch!"
Nalan Qianqiu quickly nodded, stepping forward to take his position in front of the pill furnace.
Xiao Yi nodded and then waved his hand to disperse the crowd before asking, "Master Nalan, how are things going?"
Nalan Qianqiu squinted his eyes and murmured in a low voice, "Everything is proceeding according to plan!"
Xiao Yi's mouth curved into a slight smile, a cold light flickering in his narrowed eyes, "The trap has been set, just waiting for you to jump in!"
The following day, at high noon.
Outside the Imperial Capital's Vermilion Bird Gate.
Xiao Yi, Yu Huaxian, Hai Wei, and Li Jinjun had been waiting here for quite some time. All the warriors who ranked among the top ten thousand geniuses had gathered, each wearing a look filled with intense anticipation and excitement.
After seven days of genius battles, they had emerged victorious.
About to join the Xiaoshanhe Institute.
To receive the many rewards promised by Xiao Yi.
Inside the Great Qian Dynasty, there stood numerous sects, especially the ten great sects.
If one's family had some connections, or one possessed sufficiently dazzling talent, they were generally spotted by one of the great sects around the age of ten or so. Among these people, many were over twenty years of age.
The ten great sects did not regard them highly.
If they had to rely on themselves, their martial arts journey would undoubtedly be difficult, with limited prospects.
Now, the Xiaoshanhe Institute was offering them hope!
"Dean, everyone has arrived!" Yu Huaxian stepped forward and said respectfully.
Xiao Yi smiled, "No rush, we are still waiting for some people!"
Yu Huaxian was baffled.
After a momentary wait...
Hoofbeats could be heard approaching, led by Chen Shuiwen, Li Shengtian, and Tian Xiao, with Qi and Yang Ling at their side.
Yu Huaxian looked surprised and frowned, "What are they doing here?"
Xiao Yi smiled faintly, his words deliberate, "They've come to meet their death!"