Xiao Bai withdrew his soul force from the pill formula, organizing the information in his mind. A glint of understanding flashed in his eyes.
The Dragon Strength Pill, a fifth-tier elixir, granted its consumer immense physical strength for a short time. This power was unrelated to Dou Qi amplification, deriving purely from the body's raw force.
"This Dragon Strength Pill is a bit trickier to refine than your average fifth-tier pill. Still planning to go for it?" Elder Huo asked, his tone neutral, having chosen this formula to make Xiao Bai reconsider.
"It's manageable," Xiao Bai replied with a reserved smile, nodding.
Elder Huo stifled a scoff, thinking to himself, If this kid wants to try, let him. It's just a few ingredients—I can afford the loss. Let's see how he handles the Dragon Strength Pill!
The surrounding elders, initially spectating for amusement, noted Xiao Bai's unchanged expression after reviewing the formula. A spark of anticipation kindled in their hearts.
Xiao Bai's gaze swept over the ingredients on the table, his mind already mapping out the refining process. During his three months with the Snake-People Tribe, under Yao Lao's guidance, he'd gained a deep understanding of alchemy. Through constant discussions and experiments with Yao Lao, he'd worked hard to make his unconventional alchemist methods appear orthodox to outsiders.
Approaching the pill furnace, Xiao Bai inspected it briefly and nodded. Though he'd never used a formal furnace, he was well-versed in their operation. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of crimson flame arced into the furnace. Instantly, roaring flames, laced with faint thunderous rumbles, surged within.
The Dragon Strength Pill required around forty different ingredients, their medicinal properties interacting in a complex, tangled web. Without exceptional soul force, even memorizing them was a challenge, let alone controlling the precise balance during refinement. This was why high-tier alchemists needed powerful soul force—not just for flame control but for orchestrating the entire process.
Recalling the procedure once more, Xiao Bai waved his hand, tossing two withered-branch-like herbs into the furnace. The flames devoured them, and a steady stream of ingredients followed, his movements fluid and seamless.
The elders watching, initially casual, began to brighten with interest. Regardless of whether Xiao Bai succeeded, his technique—smooth as flowing water, without a hint of hesitation—was visually captivating, a clear sign he had real skill.
Elder Huo, however, stood apart, his face grave. His initial skepticism turned to confusion, then disbelief. As an expert, he saw what others missed. Some of Xiao Bai's steps deviated from the formula, leading Huo to think he was improvising recklessly.
If he keeps this up, the batch will fail. Does he even know how to refine? Ignoring the formula is nonsense! Huo thought.
But as the process continued without mishap, his doubts grew. Instead of failure, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted from the furnace. Elder Huo's eyes gleamed with incredulity.
How's he doing this? He no longer dared to question Xiao Bai outright. The method was beyond his understanding. Wanting to ask, he held back, watching Xiao Bai's focused refinement with bated breath, afraid to miss a single detail.
"Ingredients extracted. Next… fusion," Xiao Bai murmured with a faint smile, eyeing the rolling pale red liquid in the furnace. Glancing at the crowd pressing closer, he said轻松ly, "You all look more nervous than I am, and I'm the one refining. It's just a fifth-tier pill—relax. I've got this."
The elders were speechless. Just a fifth-tier pill? As if they're common vegetables! Elder Huo, a fifth-tier alchemist, strutted around like he owned the place because of it.
"Quit talking and focus! You're at this stage—don't mess it up!" Elder Huo snapped, staring at the furnace as if it were a priceless treasure, shooting Xiao Bai an anxious glance at his nonchalant attitude.
Xiao Bai rolled his eyes inwardly, teasing under Huo's murderous glare, "Look at you, all worked up. Elder, I'm telling you, alchemy can't be rushed. What if I make a mistake?"
"Haha!" The other elders burst out laughing, delighted to see the usually domineering Elder Huo put in his place.
Amid the chuckles, Xiao Bai split his soul force into two streams, channeling them into the furnace. One controlled the temperature, while the other enveloped the liquid, compressing and fusing it with a sudden burst.
The liquid roiled violently. Xiao Bai's soul force tracked every fluctuation, each ripple of medicinal energy clashing with his soul force.
Bang!
The black furnace trembled slightly. The liquid, unable to expand outward, collapsed inward at a visible rate, shrinking rapidly. In a blink, a thumb-sized pale red pill formed within.
As the pill took shape, a surge of pale red, volatile energy rippled from the furnace, spreading across the platform, accompanied by a subtle medicinal fragrance that filled the air.
"It's done!" Even the alchemy-ignorant elders lit up, recognizing the energy and scent as signs of success. Their eyes locked onto the furnace, eagerly awaiting the pill's reveal.
"Hurry, open the furnace and take it out!" Elder Huo urged, barely containing himself.
Xiao Bai didn't keep them waiting. With a wave, the furnace lid lifted, revealing a pale red pill gleaming like a ruby.
"Elder Huo, care to inspect it?" Xiao Bai said with a light smile, noting Huo's eager, hand-rubbing anticipation.
Overjoyed, Elder Huo snatched the floating pill, examining it closely. He sniffed it, then closed his eyes to sense it. When he opened them, his gaze blazed with awe. "Its form is perfectly round, its properties pure, its energy abundant, and it's infused with a vibrant life force. A supreme-grade pill—absolutely supreme!"
The other elders' jaws dropped at Huo's enraptured expression. Known for his arrogance, Huo had never praised anyone's alchemy—yet here he was, stripped of his usual pride.
"Xiao Bai, explain!" Elder Huo demanded, voicing the questions he'd held back to avoid interrupting.
Pondering briefly, Xiao Bai rubbed his chin. "It's about soul force. Mine's decent, so I combined some steps, performing them simultaneously instead of following the formula exactly."
"I see!" Elder Huo nodded, enlightened. He'd suspected Xiao Bai's method would fail, but now it clicked. He'd done similar things with third- or fourth-tier pills, but only dared to experiment at that level.
A thought struck him, and he eyed Xiao Bai oddly. "You're really a fifth-tier alchemist?"
"What are you even saying, Huo? The pill's in your hand, and you're still doubting?" the gray-robed elder snapped.
"You know nothing!" Elder Huo shot him a look, then explained to the confused crowd, "High-tier alchemists don't always follow formulas when refining lower-tier pills. Strict adherence is for alchemists learning at their tier. High-tier alchemists simplify processes, combining steps to save time."
"So, is it wrong to suspect he's beyond fifth-tier?"
The elders gasped, their eyes turning fervent. Could he be above fifth-tier?
Xiao Bai gave a wry smile. Elder Huo, who'd doubted an eighteen-year-old could be fifth-tier, now suspected he was higher. "I'm definitely fifth-tier," he confirmed helplessly.
Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian watched with amusement, pride swelling as they gazed at the figure at the center. Xiao Xun'er, having seen Xiao Bai's meteoric rise since breaking through to Dou Zhe, was thrilled with everything about him—except his flirtatious streak. Xiao Yi Xian thought, So what if I couldn't become an alchemist? My man's not just an alchemist but a genius, fifth-tier at such a young age.
As dusk fell, the selection tournament concluded. Xiao Bai finally extricated himself from the enthusiastic elders, walking back with a sigh.
"Those old guys were way too intense!" he said, wiping sweat from his brow, shuddering at the memory of their eager gazes. He turned to Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian, grumbling.
"Hehe, a young alchemist who can effortlessly refine fifth-tier pills is treated like a Dou Wang or even Dou Huang. Of course they're excited!" Xiao Xun'er said with a radiant smile.
"Right! Before, the elders were a bit reserved with us, but after you refined that pill, they got noticeably more polite," Xiao Yi Xian added, her eyes twinkling.
"How's that? Your husband's pretty impressive, right?" Xiao Bai said, feigning smugness.
"Pfft! Xian'er, let's go. Ignore this narcissist!" Xiao Xun'er's cheeks flushed, and she shot him a playful glare, pulling Xiao Yi Xian ahead.
Xiao Yi Xian's face reddened too. As Xiao Xun'er tugged her along, she glanced back, catching Xiao Bai winking at her. Her heart skipped, and she quickly turned away, thinking, Shameless!
"Haha!" Xiao Bai laughed, his mood buoyant as he watched the two graceful figures ahead, ignoring the curious stares around them.
___
Seven days later, the top five from the selection tournament were set to enter the Scripture Depository.
In a spacious, well-lit room, bookshelves crisscrossed, filled with ancient tomes exuding a scholarly aura. A young man and woman stood quietly before a desk, where a white-haired elder reviewed documents, the room steeped in silence.
A knock broke the stillness. The elder set down the papers, calling, "Come in." Three figures entered, eliciting varied reactions.
The young man's pupils shrank, his face betraying fear and wariness. The young woman's expression held a trace of apprehension. The elder, however, smiled warmly. "You three are finally here!"
His gaze lingered briefly, a hint of surprise in his heart. In just a few days, the two girls' cultivation had risen noticeably. But looking at Xiao Bai, he felt a touch of exasperation.
Without knowing his cultivation and alchemist status, Xiao Bai seemed utterly ordinary, save for his looks and demeanor, blending in like any commoner.
"Alright, everyone's here, and you know why you're here, so I'll keep this brief," Hu Qian said, standing with a smile. "As the top five, you've earned the right to try your luck in the Scripture Depository. Follow me."
He approached the wall behind him, tapping it lightly. A low rumble sounded, and a dark passageway appeared.
Hu Qian led the way. The other two glanced nervously at Xiao Bai, hesitant to go first. Xiao Bai sighed, taking Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Xun'er by the hand and stepping in. Only then did the remaining pair hurriedly follow.
Inside the passage, dim light spilled from the walls above, faint but sufficient to illuminate the path.
Moments later, they emerged into a deep valley. At its center stood a massive, imposing pavilion that took the breath away.
Drawing closer, Xiao Bai's gaze swept over the structure, an ancient aura washing over him. Above the main entrance, a weathered plaque bore three timeworn characters, faintly visible: Scripture Depository.
Leading the five, Hu Qian approached, stopping about twenty paces from the pavilion. He bowed, clasping his fists. "The selection tournament has concluded, and the top five have been chosen. I've brought them here. Please, honored elders, open the gate!"
As his words fell, Xiao Bai's keen soul force detected a subtle spatial fluctuation at the entrance. Two gray-robed figures materialized, seated cross-legged, appearing in everyone's view.
So these are the Thousand and Hundred Elders, Xiao Bai thought, seeing for the first time such masterful use of spatial power. Among those he'd met, only Medusa and the little golden dragon had shown similar abilities, but neither matched these two.
The elders remained motionless, as if deaf to Hu Qian's words. Hu Qian maintained his respectful salute, prompting a wry thought from Xiao Bai: This posturing, as if they can't prove their strength without it.
Suddenly, he sensed a faint probing presence. His expression remained calm, eyes lowering as if unaware.
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