"Fortunately, my Dragon Soul Cauldron is sturdy enough. If it were an ordinary medicine cauldron, it would have shattered under the pressure of this dou qi."
Gu He couldn't help but silently praise his cauldron as he observed it trembling only slightly under the violent dou qi surges.
Outside the alchemy room, Miteer Tengshan paced anxiously in the corridor, occasionally stopping to glance at the tightly shut door, his face etched with worry.
'It must succeed...' Mittel Tengshan prayed inwardly.
Just then, a violent tremor shook the alchemy room.
Miteer Tengshan's expression darkened.
'Could it have failed?' The thought made his face turn grim.
But moments later, a powerful wave of dou qi surged forth, rapidly taking shape. At the same time, a rich medicinal aroma wafted out from the room.
"It's success!" Sensing the intense dou qi fluctuations, Miteer Tengshan was momentarily stunned before his face lit up with ecstasy.
However, the dou qi inside the alchemy room suddenly skyrocketed to terrifying levels. With a deafening boom, a half-foot-thick beam of dou qi erupted from the room, piercing straight through the ceiling and shooting into the sky.
Miteer Tengshan stared in shock at the radiant pillar of light.
'Is this the power of a sixth-grade pill upon formation?'
The dou qi beam rising above the Mittel Auction House instantly drew the attention of countless powerful figures in the imperial capital. Many gasped in astonishment before swiftly rushing out of their residences. Within moments, a crowd of experts had gathered outside the auction house.
Upon closer inspection, some recognized the phenomenon, and exclamations erupted: "That pillar of light is infused with medicinal dou qi—someone must be refining a high-grade pill inside!"
"Only seventh-grade pills usually cause such a spectacle, but the disturbance isn't quite that grand. Could it be a rare sixth-grade pill?"
"Tsk tsk, whatever it is, it's no ordinary pill. I wonder which master alchemist is at work? Could it be Grandmaster Fa Ma from the Alchemist Association?"
"Hah! Grandmaster Fa Ma is only a peak fifth-grade alchemist. There's no way he could refine a sixth-grade pill!"
As more and more experts gathered, whispers spread like wildfire. Some who overheard the discussions eyed the beam of light with greed—such a pill was undoubtedly extraordinary.
"Whoosh!"
The sound of rushing wind cut through the air as several figures flashed across the sky, hovering in midair as they gazed in awe at the radiant pillar.
"Such a phenomenon must accompany the refinement of a sixth-grade pill. I wonder which master is working within the Miteer Auction House?"
Among them, an old man in a simple linen robe—Jia Xing Tian, the guardian of the Jia Ma Royal Family—stared intently at the auction house, his expression thoughtful.
Beside him, a middle-aged man with Dou Qi wings—Mu Chen, head of the Mu Family—nodded solemnly.
"Given this scale, the pill is nearing seventh-grade potency. Even Pill King Gu He shouldn't be capable of refining something like this."
Jia Xing Tian's eyes flickered. "Not long ago, word spread that Pill King Gu He has successfully refined a sixth-grade high-tier pill."
Mu Chen stiffened. "Are you suggesting the one refining inside is… Gu He himself?"
"Most likely." Jia Xing Tian's expression darkened. "It seems the royal family has pressured the Miteer Family too much. I never expected Miteer Tengshan to actually invite Gu He."
To the Jia Ma Royal Family, the Misty Cloud Sect was a looming threat. With Dou Emperor Yun Yun at its helm and the secluded Yun Shan possibly breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, the sect's power far surpassed that of the royal family.
For years, the two forces had maintained a fragile peace, but beneath the surface, tensions simmered. Both sides covertly vied for influence, though neither dared to provoke outright conflict.
The royal family had long suspected the Miteer Family's neutrality. Now, with Gu He's presence and the refinement of a sixth-grade pill, Jia Xing Tian couldn't help but wonder—had the Miteer Family allied with the Misty Cloud Sect?
His gaze sharpened as he spotted another figure in the distance.
"Nalan Jie is here too." Mu Chen followed his line of sight and scoffed. "It seems the Dou Spirit Pill he obtained last time not only helped him break through but also suppressed the Branding Iron Poison in his body."
Jia Xing Tian's voice turned icy. "Branding Iron Poison isn't so easily suppressed."
After a pause, he commanded, "Find out what pill Gu He is refining and whether the Miteer Family has truly sided with the Misty Cloud Sect."
With that, he cast one last glance at the auction house and departed.
…
Back in the alchemy room, the resonant chime of the cauldron gradually faded. A milky-white pill inside suddenly erupted with a dazzling glow, encased in white light as it shot out of the cauldron, attempting to flee.
"This Deep Green Longevity Pill is truly extraordinary—it actually tries to escape upon birth!"
Gu He chuckled before raising his hand. A powerful suction force yanked the pill back into his grasp, and he swiftly sealed it inside a jade vial.
As the pill settled, its restless dou qi finally calmed. Gu He exhaled deeply, satisfaction washing over him.
This alchemy session had drained him considerably.
…
Enjoying the story? Get early access to 10 advanced chapters for just $3.
Your support helps me bring more translated content to you, faster.
patreon.com/DarkLord621