Chapter 86 - Alchemy!

In the mundane world, elixirs are divided into twelve grades, and each grade is further categorized into five qualities: common-grade, middle-grade, high-grade, top-grade, and Supreme-grade.

Leng Yan was about to refine a Grade Eight top-grade Qingyun Pill. This elixir is known for its detoxifying properties and is exactly what Dongfang Caiyun needs for her cure!

Ordinarily, alchemy requires extensive experience to successfully refine high-grade elixirs. However, Leng Yan was running out of time and had to succeed on the first attempt; otherwise, Dongfang Caiyun would perish!

Magma slowly flowed as bubbles rose within it, bursting into red flames.

On the banks beside the magma, Leng Yan, with a solemn expression, moved his hands to control the sun essence wheel, cutting along the rock wall.

Debris fell, tumbling into the magma and igniting fierce flames. Leng Yan intended to carve an alchemy furnace into the rock wall. He chose this volcanic site because it could harness the earth fire. Furthermore, the long-baked rock was extremely solid and conducted heat effectively.

After a day, Leng Yan finally carved the shape of an alchemy furnace into the rock wall. But an alchemy furnace must do more than just channel fire; it must also have formations engraved on it to withstand high temperatures. Otherwise, it would explode, rendering all efforts futile!

What kind of formations to engrave? How will the alchemy be conducted? All required Yun Nantian’s guidance for Leng Yan to succeed.

“Senior, the alchemy furnace is ready. What should I do next?” Leng Yan asked through his spiritual awareness in the immortal land.

Yun Nantian’s voice was still weak. He softly said, “Engrave the Bronze Wall Iron Fortress formation at the fire source of the furnace. Engrave the Vermilion Bird Fire Condensation formation at the melting point. At the condensation site, engrave the Black Tortoise Water Essence formation. On the top of the furnace, engrave the Tranquility Formation.”

“I’ve never heard of these formations before, how should I engrave them?” Leng Yan frowned.

“These formations are from the immortal firmament continent; they’re rarely known in the immortal’s abode realm, so it’s normal you haven’t heard of them. Never mind, I’ll transmit the formations and the principles of alchemy to you through divine sense. Do not seek me out in the next ten years, or my divine sense will be exhausted, and I will dissipate into ashes!” Yun Nantian said helplessly.

A sharp pain pierced through Leng Yan’s mind, a symptom of Yun Nantian forcibly imparting memories. Leng Yan didn’t pay further attention to Yun Nantian but immediately began to study this knowledge carefully.

Then, Leng Yan bit his fingertip and used his blood as a medium to engrave the formations. Red lines formed on the alchemy furnace as Leng Yan focused intently, fearing he might draw the patterns incorrectly.

“Bronze Wall Iron Fortress secures the furnace, enduring the fiery forging of the spirit refining elixir!” he chanted, as his blood glowed red. Upon completing the chant, he drew the last line with his fingertip, and suddenly, the alchemy furnace was enveloped in a golden light, shining brilliantly. This was the effect of the Bronze Wall Iron Fortress formation, strengthening the furnace to prevent an explosion!

Having completed the Bronze Wall Iron Fortress formation, Leng Yan raised his finger again and softly chanted, “Vermilion Bird, spirit of fire, reborn from flames with Divine Power, I beseech the Vermilion Bird spirit to descend, aid me with the divine fire to refine the spirit refining elixir!”

As the formation was engraved, a Vermilion Bird coiled around the furnace’s body. With Leng Yan’s final touch, the flames within the volcano surged, the temperature spiking suddenly.

The flames grew increasingly intense, eventually forming a Vermilion Bird’s shape, spreading its wings and flying into the alchemy furnace.

Seeing these phenomena gave Leng Yan a growing sense of hope, and he hurriedly continued his work.

After three hours, Leng Yan finally completed all the formations. The alchemy furnace shone with a kaleidoscope of colors, surrounded by various extraordinary phenomena.

“This is the moment of truth!” Leng Yan took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

The primary factor in refining high-grade elixirs is the quality of materials. The fewer impurities in the ingredients, the higher the quality, thus increasing the likelihood of producing a high-grade elixir.

Leng Yan’s first task was to purify the materials of any impurities, starting with ten pieces of royal jelly.

With a wave of his hand, ten bed-sized pieces of royal jelly appeared in the sea of fire. Leng Yan pointed with a single finger and softly commanded, “Fire refine!”

The volcano’s fierce flames seemed to obey Leng Yan’s command, rushing eagerly towards the ten pieces of royal jelly.

In the blink of an eye, ten flame lotuses formed beneath the royal jelly, continuously purifying it of impurities!

“Sizzle…”

The royal jelly melted under the fierce flames, and Leng Yan used his magical power to hold it together, continuing the refinement process.

Over time, the original bed-sized royal jelly reduced to pearl-sized orbs, now pure essence. Ten royal jelly orbs shimmered like small, golden spheres.

“Royal jelly, into the furnace!” Leng Yan flicked his hand, and the ten royal jelly orbs flew into the alchemy furnace. He then brought out the deer antler and poison dragon blood pearl, which couldn’t be refined by fire and needed to be ground into powder instead.

Setting up a barrier around himself to ward off approaching flames, Leng Yan used the Purple Gold Emperor Technique to conjure a grinding stone, tossing in the two materials and beginning the grinding process.

After another hour, the blood pearls and deer antler had been ground into powder. Leng Yan mixed them together and cast them into the alchemy furnace.

“Vermilion Bird Fire Condensation Array, activate!” he murmured. A Vermilion Bird’s cry echoed, and intense flames rose within the furnace.

He cast another technique, using the Black Tortoise Water Nurturing Technique to sprinkle a pool of rootless water, which promptly evaporated into Water Qi. This Water Qi mixed with the materials, with the royal jelly coating the blood pearl and deer antler powder.

The fierce flames burned for fifteen minutes, and Leng Yan, calculating the time precisely, commanded loudly, “Earth fire, arise!”

Earth fire, also known as yin fire, lacks temperature but purges corrosive substances from the medicine, ensuring the elixir won’t harm the user.

Suddenly, the magma parted, and a green flame rose from within. Leng Yan quickly employed the Scarlet Flame Emperor Technique to draw the yin fire into the alchemy furnace.

As the yin fire entered the furnace, popping sounds emerged-the sound of corrosive toxins being refined from the ingredients!

Leng Yan extended his spiritual awareness into the alchemy furnace to monitor the elixir’s transformation. Suddenly, the elixir burst open, becoming a pool of liquid, the materials indistinguishable, as they had truly merged.

He then directed a stream of water to encase the liquid, withdrawing the yin fire, leaving only the flames blazing fiercely!

A light smoke rose from the top of the furnace, carrying a subtle fragrance into the air. Yet Leng Yan couldn’t afford to celebrate, as now was the crucial moment. Success or failure hinged entirely on this phase!

“Blazing Inferno!” Leng Yan shouted, as the Vermilion Bird let out a cry, spreading its wings and absorbing the flames from the entire Volcano. Even the magma lost its heat temporarily.

Leng Yan could feel the tremendous heat emanating from the Vermilion Bird, worrying if the alchemy furnace could withstand such high temperatures!

With the replenishment from the flames, the Vermilion Bird cried out again and dashed into the alchemy furnace. The furnace was roasted by the ultra-high temperature, gradually turning red and emitting smoke; even the golden glow of the Bronze Wall Iron Fortress formation was subdued. Leng Yan’s heart was in his throat-if the furnace could endure, success was near; if it shattered, all would be lost.

“You must hold on; Dongfang Caiyun’s life is in your hands!” Leng Yan whispered, clenching his fists tightly.

Through his spiritual awareness, he watched as the elixir inside the furnace gradually took shape, elevated by the flames, and slowly ascended into the core formation layer. Leng Yan’s heart lifted alongside it. Once it entered the core formation layer, he planned to withdraw the flames and infuse rootless water to nurture the elixir with Water Qi.

However, this step was the most dangerous. The sudden cooling of the furnace from high temperatures by Water Qi could cause it to explode!

Finally, the elixir reached the core formation layer. Taking a deep breath, Leng Yan exclaimed loudly, activating the Black Tortoise Water Nurturing Technique to pour a stream of rootless water into the furnace.

“Hiss…”

A heart-stopping sound erupted as Water Qi rose, with Leng Yan maintaining intense focus on the exterior of the alchemy furnace.

As more water flowed in, the accumulation of Water Qi increased, and the furnace’s color shifted from red to scarlet.

Seeing the furnace’s condition stabilize, Leng Yan slowly felt a sense of relief. But suddenly, a “crack” sound reached his ears, causing his heart to skip a beat, a feeling of suffocation and impending doom enveloping him as if it were the end of the world.