Turning on the furnace, Feng Shen ensured it was filled with purified water drawn from the Spirit Springs. He then began tossing in various pills, herbs, and plants.
As the ingredients sank into the swirling water, changing the color of the water.
Feng Shen sat down cross-legged on the ground, as he forcefully opened his meridians. Causing him to cough up more blood, however he ignored it.
Using his Qi to control the fire beneath the furnace, he carefully regulated the temperature. As he did, the water inside began to gently bubble.
Colors started shifting from clear to deep green, then to a vivid gold, as the medicinal properties of each plant fused together.
Feng Shen's eyes narrowed in concentration as he adjusted the flame, refining the essence of each ingredient.
A faint herbal scent filled the room, growing more intense as the water turned thicker, its vibrant hues signaling that the essence was merging.
'Now the critical phase—the condensation of the pill,' Feng Shen thought. Having been a master of alchemy in his past life, this process felt almost effortless to him.
For most alchemists, this process would have taken weeks, if not months.
However, Feng Shen was different.
He had the exact ingredients and knew how to control the fire with perfect precision, making no mistakes along the way.
So, the process took only a few minutes. However, Feng Shen was exerting a tremendous amount of Qi, causing his insides to break down.
His entire body throbbed with pain as he coughed up blood, each time thicker and more viscous.
Feng Shen was truly pushing his body to the limit, and he knew it. Yet, he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted, no matter how painful it was.
He focused his mind, channeling more of his Qi into the furnace, guiding the essence of the ingredients to solidify.
The flame threatened to go out of control, but Feng Shen kept it in check, even as it intensified the pain in his insides.
Suddenly, a bright flash erupted within the furnace, and the water's surface churned violently.
'This is the moment of truth!' Feng Shen made small adjustments to the temperature one last time. He began perfectly balancing the fire and water.
As the turmoil settled, the vibrant colors began to dim, coalescing into a shimmering, round shape at the center of the furnace.
Feng Shen leaned closer, sensing the energy radiating from the newly formed pill.
"Now," he whispered under his breath, extending his hand toward the furnace. The heat intensified as he prepared to retrieve the pill, the air crackling with energy.
Feng Shen plunged his arm and hand into the searing water, ignoring the intense pain as he grasped the pill slowly and carefully to avoid breaking it.
He meticulously pulled it from the furnace, feeling his skin blistering in the hot water.
"Finally!" Feng Shen let out a laugh as he held the Meridian Pill in his wet, damaged hand. Without wasting a moment, he tossed it into his mouth, suddenly feeling a surge of energy coursing through his body.
It felt gentle and healing at first, but then it suddenly transformed into extreme pain as it forcefully began to open his meridians, fully and truly unblocking them.
In a hurry, Feng Shen grabbed a towel from one of the stools and bit down on it, trying to silence his screams as the pain felt like his entire body was on fire from within.
He also didn't want others to hear him, knowing he was vulnerable while the Meridian Pill did its work. He couldn't afford to be attacked while immobilized in such a state.
All the while, Feng Shen's forbidden bloodline began to heal his burned arm and hand, slowly restoring his skin.
Since it was at its weakest level, it took a moment to react. However, it soon began to progress rapidly, significantly enhancing the regeneration time.
This was a win-win for Feng Shen. Not only would his meridians fully unblock, but his forbidden bloodline was also growing stronger in the process.
Forcing himself to sit cross-legged again, he focused inward, monitoring the changes within his body.
From what Feng Shen could see, his meridians were rapidly unblocking, one after another, allowing Qi to flow freely throughout him.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his meridians were fully unblocked. He sensed a wave of toxicity building up inside him.
'Now the finale stage…'
Knowing he had to let it go, or else he would explode, Feng Shen allowed it to blast from his body and into the air, releasing the harmful energy that had accumulated.
The entire ceiling above was destroyed in a violent explosion, sending debris flying as the toxic energy shot into the sky like a brilliant beam, illuminating the surroundings with a dark glow.
Feeling only pure energy coursing through him now, Feng Shen couldn't help but burst into maniacal laughter, dropping the towel from his mouth. "Heh… Heh-heh… Hahaha!"
Ignoring the destruction he had caused, he reveled in the joy of finally being able to cultivate again. The prospect of reclaiming his former power filled him with an ecstatic thrill.
After all, without cultivation, a cultivator was nothing more than a waste—a cripple who would suffer under the Heavens.
And at that point, the only way a cultivator could bring honor to himself was through suicide.
What's the point of living in a world where suffering is all you know?
Standing up with a wild, crazy expression, Feng Shen's ears perked as he heard someone approaching. Suddenly, the door slid open rapidly.
"You! Boy! Are you the one who used that furnace!?" Roared Chang Tao, an old man with a medium-sized, fluffy white beard and long white hair.
An eye patch covered one of his eyes, while his other eye was glowing blue.
He wore a long, flowing robe made of rich, dark fabric that draped elegantly around him, adorned with intricate golden embroidery depicting alchemical symbols.
"Well, I'm the only one here, aren't I?" Feng Shen replied cheerfully. He didn't mind the old man's disrespect; after all, he was in a good mood.
Though, if he wasn't in such a mood, he would have killed this old man on the spot.
Feng Shen believed he owned everything, and wherever he went was perfectly fine.
Upon hearing this, that he was the person who had used that furnace, Chang Tao's angry expression transformed into a broad smile.
If he had a dog tail, it woulda wagged.
In a flash, Chang Tao leaped into the air, spinning gracefully before landing directly into a kneel before Feng Shen, bowing and touching his forehead to the floor.
"I beg you, please, take me as your disciple!"