The commotion caused by Xiao Hua's pill refinement technique and the rare medicinal ingredients had stirred quite a wave. However, those present were far from ordinary individuals. Many had already experienced the depth of Xiao Hua's abilities, and thus, they quickly calmed their emotions and chose to wait patiently for the outcome.
Pill refinement—especially for high-tier medicinal pills—often demanded a long period of time. For an alchemist of Xiao Hua's caliber, taking ten days to half a month was considered entirely normal.
Everyone here understood this well. Not a single soul displayed impatience. Instead, all eyes remained fixed on the flame-forged cauldron, within which the elegant phoenix danced in silence. Where others might have grown restless watching a pill refinement, these gathered experts showed not even the slightest trace of it.
After all, the refinement of a Tier 9 Treasure Pill was an event of extreme rarity—even across the vast expanse of the Central Plains. To witness it with their own eyes, and at such close range, was an opportunity no one dared take lightly.
Time flowed silently, and in the blink of an eye, thirteen days had passed. Surprisingly, Xiao Hua had only encountered failure twice throughout the entire refinement process. After those two setbacks, his actions became noticeably smoother and more refined.
It was clear that he had quickly understood the cause of his earlier failures. Rather than becoming dispirited, he accepted them calmly, gaining valuable insight that deepened his comprehension.
Finally, as the morning sun began to peek over the distant mountains and light mist drifted across the land, Xiao Hua slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint of clarity flashed within them, like still water disturbed by a ripple.
Before the eyes of everyone who had been silently observing him, Xiao Hua quietly stood up.
Buzz!
The flame-forged cauldron before him trembled softly, emitting a faint, vibrating hum.
"This is..."
Surprise flickered across the faces of many. Though they had sensed a subtle movement from the cauldron, no clear aura leaked from within. They could not sense a thing—yet Xiao Hua had already stood, as though the refinement had reached its conclusion.
Their confusion deepened, but none dared to make a sound.
Xiao Hua paid no mind to the puzzled looks on Xun Er and the others' faces. With a slow, steady motion, he raised his hand and pointed toward the fire cauldron from a distance.
Lifting a single finger, he gently uttered, "Soar."
Ming!
The elegant flame phoenix within the cauldron let out a clear, ethereal cry at his command. Its radiant wings unfurled, and with a graceful flap, it soared out from the fire cauldron. The moment it departed, the flame cauldron silently dissipated into nothingness, as though it had never existed.
Ming! Ming! Ming!
The phoenix flew in wide circles, weaving through the air above them in a dazzling dance, its cries ringing out like the sound of a heavenly bell echoing across the land.
As its elegant flight continued, Xun Er and the others noticed that the phoenix's glowing frame was beginning to swell—gradually expanding, as if nurturing something deep within.
The elegant phoenix's body expanded until it stretched thousands of feet across the sky, its blazing form lingering high above as an overwhelming pressure swept through the land. In an instant, the temperature across the mountain range surged, drowning the cold morning winds beneath a tide of searing heat.
Even the crisp chill of dawn could not withstand the oppressive blaze, while Xun Er and the others grew solemn, their expressions tensed under the weight of the phoenix's might.
Yet Xiao Hua remained calm and unmoved by the pressure. His fingers began to move, swiftly forming a series of seals. Each motion left behind countless afterimages, like flowing water tracing an ancient rhythm.
"Immortal Phoenix Agglomerating Pill."
With his final word, the majestic flame phoenix in the sky let out a cry that pierced the heavens. A thunderous wave of energy erupted from its blazing form, shaking the very air as it began to undergo a shocking transformation.
"Is this… medicinal fluctuation?" Su Qian murmured in disbelief. Even when he was young and travelled around the Central Plains, he had never experienced this scene.
A look of astonishment surfaced on the faces of Xun Er and the others as they finally sensed the pulse of energy. For nearly two weeks, not even a hint of fluctuation had escaped the cauldron—yet now, it surged forth like a tide breaking free.
"To forge an object from flame and conceal the pill within... This is a technique to shape fire into form, allowing it to serve as a vessel," Gu Shan remarked inwardly as he observed the fire phoenix dispersing waves of medicinal energy.
He thought of the experienced alchemists of the Yao Clan—but aside from a handful of old monsters hidden deep within that clan, few possessed the ability to execute such a feat.
Bang!
Even as the thought crossed his mind, the fluctuations from the fire phoenix grew increasingly violent. A deep, echoing rumble suddenly swept across the heavens, startling all who were watching. The skies began to dim as dark clouds rushed in from all directions.
But these were no ordinary storm clouds—they were a rich, oppressive black, so dark that even the light of day was swallowed by their descent.
Black clouds spread across the sky. Despite the absence of rumbling thunder, everyone's soul seemed to tremble as they looked into those deep-black clouds. They seemed to be able to suck one's gaze in.
"What kind of thunderclouds are these…? Even the nine-coloured Pill Lightning isn't this terrifying…" Zi Yan murmured softly, her face pale with shock as she stared at the churning sea of black clouds above.
Many presents felt their hearts tremble. A dreadful realization surfaced in their minds like a shadow slowly taking form.
The only kind of pill that could summon a force greater than the nine-coloured Pill Lightning—which would be attracted to the tier 8 pills—was a legendary existence beyond it: the Tier 9 Medicinal Pill.
"Black Demon Lightning…" Gu Shan's voice trembled slightly, his gaze locked on the heavens. "This lightning only appears during the refinement of a Tier 9 pill…"
"He's truly refining a Tier 9 Treasure Pill…" the white-haired old man muttered blankly, his tone laced with disbelief.
"And as a Dou Zong, no less… I've never heard of such a thing in all my years," the black-robed elder added with solemn reverence.
The three elders exchanged glances, then let out a collective sigh. A faint, helpless smile curved their lips as the same thought passed through their hearts—
'It seems… the Young Miss's eyes were far keener than any of ours…'
"However… how does he intend to withstand that lightning?" the black-robed old man asked with a furrowed brow, having noticed something unusual.
"This…"
Gu Shan and the white-haired old man exchanged glances before slowly shaking their heads. Even they had no answer.
They knew Xiao Hua had only invited them here to observe—he hadn't explained anything beyond that.
But this was no ordinary matter.
The Black Demon Lightning was not something that could be taken lightly. Forget Xiao Hua's current cultivation as a Dou Zong—even they, as elite Dou Zuns, would hesitate to receive such a strike head-on.
Because of that, their curiosity only deepened. How exactly did Xiao Hua intend to endure this lightning tribulation? Did he possess some kind of hidden treasure that could withstand its fury and protect the pill from being destroyed?
Xiao Hua stood atop the mountain pillar, his gaze fixed on the churning black clouds above. Fortunately, no one could see his expression—because it wasn't solemn, anxious, or grim.
It was pure excitement.
After all, this was the first time he had ever witnessed the appearance of Black Demon Lightning. And its presence meant only one thing—he was about to succeed in refining a Tier 9 Treasure Pill.
The gap between an eighth-tier alchemist and a ninth-tier alchemist might seem like a single tier in name, but in truth, the difference in status was as vast as heaven and earth.
What stirred him even more was the deeper significance behind this moment. This was the first of the twelve Black Demon Lightnings he needed to absorb in order to fulfill the conditions required to challenge the ninth level of the Heavenly Judgement Lightning's trial.
Naturally, he could not suppress the thrill rising within him.
However, he also understood the danger. From within those black clouds, he could feel an unimaginably dense and oppressive force of annihilation—far beyond the destructive might of nine-colored Pill Lightning. It was not something that could be taken lightly.
'I've grown used to enduring nine-colored Pill Lightning… and now I have to absorb Black Demon Lightning? Truly, the world has an odd sense of fairness…'
He sighed inwardly, bitter amusement flickering in his thoughts. The strength of the Black Demon Lightning was so terrifying that even elite Ban Shengs would avoid confronting it directly.
Yet regardless of the risk… he had to do it.
If he hesitated now, every effort he had made to reach this point would crumble into nothing. There was nothing more discouraging than a path full of pain that led nowhere—nothing more disheartening than effort without reward.
The layers of black clouds churned ominously in the distant sky, utterly unmoved by Xiao Hua's presence. The entire mountain range was engulfed in a heavy silence. No thunder roared, no winds howled. And it was precisely this deathly quiet that instilled an even deeper sense of dread.
Ten minutes passed.
Suddenly, in the heart of the black clouds, a circular spatial rift silently appeared. It was pitch-black—deeper than night itself—like an abyss with no end, a void that devoured all light.
The moment that eerie void took shape, goosebumps surged across the bodies of Xun Er and the others, even though they were watching from hundreds of feet away.
And if they felt that much pressure from a distance, Xiao Hua—standing directly beneath it—was enduring something far worse.
A tense, excited grin stretched across his face as a monstrous aura burst forth from within him, no longer restrained. His hands moved rapidly, forming seal after seal in an instant. The speed was so fast that countless afterimages overlapped, creating the illusion of many hands acting at once.
Once the final seal was formed, his voice rang out with three clear, resolute cries.
"Heavenly Tribulation Body—Embryo Peak! Azure Tribulation Peak! Velvet Amethyst Change!"
In that instant, Xiao Hua's aura erupted, leaping to the peak of Dou Zun. Amethyst and sky-blue crystal fragments materialized across the surface of his body like a divine armor. His jet-black hair took on a faint purple hue. His left eye shifted from crimson to violet, while his right eye turned from cyan to a vibrant lime.
According to what Xun Er had told him last night, his current strength was equivalent to that of an advanced Ban Sheng.
But that didn't mean he could actually defeat one.
Even so, he had no choice but to face it. If he faltered now, he might not even be able to initiate the ninth level of the Heavenly Judgement Lightning's trial.
With firm resolve, Xiao Hua stepped forward, placing himself directly in the path between the massive fire phoenix and the churning black clouds above.
"What is he trying to do?" Gu Shan's voice trembled slightly as his eyes locked onto the figure standing between the phoenix and the thunderclouds.
Chi!
Before anyone could respond, a sharp, piercing sound echoed from the dark void in the sky. At that moment, just after Xiao Hua's aura had surged to its peak, a thick bolt of black lightning—about the width of an arm—violently shot out of the vortex.
Without warning or hesitation, the bolt streaked down toward the majestic fire phoenix—and naturally, toward Xiao Hua, who stood squarely in its path.
Xun Er and the others wore expressions of shock as they witnessed the descent of the black lightning. Though it didn't appear large, the terrifying power it contained caused them to instinctively retreat several steps.
But Xiao Hua did not flinch.
Instead, he soared even higher into the sky, meeting the descending bolt head-on—with no fear in his eyes, only unshakable determination.
Bang!
The black thunderbolt flashed, appearing before Xiao Hua in an instant. A heartbeat later, it struck him without mercy.
"AAAAAHHHH…!"
A painful, guttural scream tore from Xiao Hua's throat as the black lightning crashed into him, his cry quickly swallowed by a deafening explosion that echoed across the mountain range.
The moment the black lightning collided with Xiao Hua's body, a terrifying storm of destruction erupted outward. Man and lightning became the center of an apocalyptic burst, shaking the heavens. The sky itself seemed to fracture like shattered glass, cracking apart beneath the force.
Yet, to everyone's astonishment, Xiao Hua's body did not explode or collapse.
Instead, it was as though the bolt of lightning had struck an immovable mountain. The black lightning was unable to pass through him—it was stopped dead in its tracks, unable to reach the majestic fire phoenix behind him.
At that moment, the Heavenly Judgement Lightning within Xiao Hua's body crackled to life, surging outward like a starving beast. It began to devour the black lightning greedily, as if it had gone years without nourishment.
But even as the Heavenly Judgement Lightning absorbed the destructive force, the pain Xiao Hua endured was unimaginable. The savage, violent energy raged through his body like a flood, tearing at his insides with each pulse.
Worse still, this was only the beginning.
One after another, bolts of black lightning descended from the skies, each one carrying an even denser force of destruction. But Xiao Hua did not move. He stood firm, unmoving like a mountain beneath the heavens.
Though his body had screamed out once, no further sound escaped his lips. Despite the overwhelming agony, both his body and mind slowly began to adapt—though the process was painfully slow, like a crawling snail.
Still, he endured.
No retreat. No collapse.
Only silent resolve beneath the tribulation of lightnings.
"What is that damn brat doing? Is he trying to die?!"
Gu Shan's face turned pale, his voice laced with disbelief, fury, and shock. The other elders shared the same expression, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.
Their gazes turned to Xun Er—only to see calm solemnity in her eyes, alongside a quiet sense of awe. The other girls around her were the same.
This startled the elders.
None of them showed fear or panic. Instead, there was only unwavering trust in Xiao Hua.
Xun Er could feel the weight of their gazes, and so did the other ladies. In unison, they lowered their eyes slightly, then lifted them again—staring back at the elders with a calm yet penetrating gaze.
For some reason, when Gu Shan, Su Qian, and the two Guardians from Jia Nan Academy met those eyes, a strange feeling welled up in their hearts. It was as if something deep and unfathomable was watching them in return.
"Elder Gu Shan," Xun Er's soft voice echoed, laced with a mysterious smile as she looked at him, "do you truly believe I love him simply because he was by my side as a child? That it is merely innocent affection from youth? Do you believe I remain steadfast to him only because of his talent?"
Her words landed gently but struck deep.
Gu Shan and the other two elders from the Gu Clan were momentarily at a loss for words. That was exactly what they had believed all along—naïve childhood affection and admiration for strength.
Hearing Xun Er's quiet rebuttal, Su Qian and the Guardians of Jia Nan Academy fell silent as well. Unlike the Gu Clan's elders, they had seen more… and knew that what bound Xiao Hua and Xun Er went far beyond mere youth and talent.
Xun Er gently shook her head and began to speak. Though thunder rumbled from the Black Demon Lightning above, her silken voice reached their ears clearly—calm and unwavering.
"Do you know... because of his strange and unique Qi Method, he must endure a lightning tribulation every time he attempts to advance? Even at the weakest strength, he faces lightning strikes capable of annihilating a Dou Huang without fear."
She lifted her head, her gaze locking onto the lone figure amidst the raging black lightning. Despite the relentless descent of thunderbolts striking his body, her lips curled into a gentle smile—one that held warmth and profound affection.
"Though the rewards are great, the pain he endures is agonizing. He must withstand destructive strength that surpasses his own strength—not just once, but multiple times over."
She paused, then slowly lowered her head. Her eyes swept over Gu Shan and the others, her gaze sharp and piercing, as if seeing into the depths of their souls. A cold sweat trickled down their backs; an involuntary shiver coursed through their spines.
"I admire him because he chose to walk that path with unwavering resolve. I stand in awe of his will—not faltering even when facing certain doom. I trust him with my heart, knowing he would never betray my love or bring harm to me, whether directly or indirectly. I fell for him not just because of what he has achieved, but because through it all, he remains humble, respectful, and never lets arrogance taint his soul."
She paused again, then turned her gaze toward Little Fairy Doctor and Queen Medusa, both of whom smiled softly in return. Xun Er gave a faint nod.
"That's why... I love him. That's why we all love him—and why we choose not to bring conflict or discord between us."
Gu Shan, the white-haired old man, and the black-robed elder fell silent. Only now did they truly understand the reason behind her unwavering heart—why Xun Er admired, respected, and loved Xiao Hua so deeply.
Their gazes shifted toward the young man enduring the Black Demon Lightning with nothing but his physical body. After Xun Er's explanation, they realized the reason he offered no resistance—it wasn't carelessness, but necessity. He had to absorb the lightning's power in order to advance.
A quiet admiration stirred within their hearts.
The young man's unshakable will and resolute mind had completely convinced them—Xun Er's choice, her judgment, had not been wrong.
Even among the younger generation of the Eight Ancient Clans, there was no one who possessed such resolve. If given a choice, none of them would ever step onto this path. No matter how great the reward, they would deem it madness—no different from courting death.
Yet this young man... had been forced to walk this road after unknowingly selecting such a Qi Method. He could have stopped. He could have abandoned it the moment he understood the risks. But he didn't.
Even in the Lei Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans famed for their cultivation of Lightning Qi Methods, none would dare walk such a path—much less persist in it.
But Xiao Hua did.
That alone proved—without the slightest doubt—that he had already surpassed the entire younger generation of the Eight Ancient Clans.
Gu Shan and the others sighed helplessly and shook their heads. They turned away, quietly watching the unfolding scene. But deep down, they understood—no words, whether from them or anyone else, could sway Xun Er's heart or sever her love and affection for Xiao Hua.
The raging storm of energy in the sky persisted for over ten minutes before gradually dispersing. As the tempest faded, the torn space above slowly began to mend itself. Warm sunlight once again poured down from the heavens, bathing the mountain in a gentle glow.
One by one, eyes turned back to the sky.
There, amidst the aftermath, stood a young man—his body battered and drenched in blood. The earlier storm of destruction had left him in a miserable state, barely standing.
In some places, his flesh had been torn away, revealing flawless jade-like bones beneath. Intricate red and orange runes faintly shimmered along their surface, though even they now appeared dim and weakened. A faint crack could be seen marring one of the jade bones—a sign of just how terrifying the Black Demon Lightning truly was.
Xiao Hua took out a Phoenix Breath Pill—one he had refined during his seven-year retreat. Until now, he had never once used it. After all, it was rare for him to suffer injuries, even while absorbing the nine-colored Pill Lightning.
Without hesitation, he tossed the pill into his mouth and swallowed. In the next moment, he could feel its medicinal strength surging through his body, swiftly mending his wounds and restoring his energy. Within a single breath's time, all his injuries vanished, and his condition returned to its peak.
Xiao Hua let out a long breath and exhaled the turbid air from his chest. As he sensed the dissipating storm overhead, his tense body gradually relaxed.
"It seems I'll need to refine more Phoenix Breath Pills..." After stretching lightly, he donned a fresh set of robes. A faint smile rose on his lips.
He made a silent note to prioritize the refinement of this pill—he could not afford to be caught unprepared when absorbing the next Black Demon Lightning.
Still, with this, he had officially stepped into the ranks of Tier 9 Treasure Alchemists.
This new status… would undoubtedly become a great advantage once he stepped foot into the Central Plains, after initiating the ninth level of Heavenly Judgement Lightning.
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