"Xiao Yun, be careful!"
Zi Yan turned her head to look at the figure standing with hands behind his back, not forgetting to caution him.
Jiang Yun's eyes, however, were fixed on the pill in the medicinal cauldron. After pondering for a moment, he finally spoke, "Zi Yan, there may be changes occurring later. Be careful. If things become uncontrollable, retreat first. You know me, simple thunder from pills can't harm me!"
Jiang Yun didn't intend for Zi Yan to leave. He knew that, even if he told her, she wouldn't leave during such a critical time.
"Mm!"
Zi Yan gave Jiang Yun a slightly puzzled look, but seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she softly acknowledged. What the situation would turn out to be, only she would know by then.
After receiving her response, Jiang Yun glanced at the impending Heavenly Lightning in the sky. His normally calm eyes showed a fleeting ripple as he looked at the pill in the medicinal cauldron.
Above the seventh-grade pill is the eighth-grade pill. The biggest difference between the two is whether they have spirituality.
It is this spirituality that makes eighth-grade pills so precious. The more spiritual a pill is, the higher its quality, which is a well-established rule in the alchemy world.
Some highly spiritual pills can even absorb pure energy from heaven and earth to replenish themselves.
To refine such a pill, one must have a Spiritual Realm soul to imbue the pill with spirit. Now that Jiang Yun has reached this stage, can he imbue the Di Yuan Pill with spirit?
Even if it doesn't reach the eighth-grade due to material constraints, it could still enhance the quality.
For the pill he was making for Su Qian, Jiang Yun hoped to achieve perfection. Of course, the precondition was that he could afford the trial.
With that thought, Jiang Yun suddenly looked up. He released his terrifying soul power for the first time, causing everyone present to freeze, their chests feeling an oppressive weight.
Even the Heavenly Lightning in the sky paused!
"What a terrifying soul force!" Hu Qian and the others looked in awe at the figure on the platform. It was their first time realizing that soul power could reach such a level.
"Is this the legendary Spiritual Realm soul?" Unlike Hu Qian and the others who were unaware of soul divisions, Elder Huo, being an alchemist, knew more. At this moment, he remembered a rumor.
He stared intently at Jiang Yun on the stone platform, with undisguised fervor in his eyes.
As Jiang Yun clasped his hand, spiritual seals continuously flew out, forming a small array at a rapid pace!
Sensing the spiritual energy gathering from heaven and earth, Jiang Yun shouted, "Converge!"
His vast soul power surged out without reservation, rapidly converging countless invisible spiritual energies around the pill.
Once the surrounding spiritual energy seeped into the pill, the rolling thunderclouds in the sky began to churn violently, as if drawn by some force.
This scene, like a bomb, shocked everyone in the entire inner academy.
"The thunderclouds in the sky are changing!"
An incredulous shout rang out, drawing countless astonished eyes to the thunderclouds above Jiang Yun's head.
Indeed, as he applied the push, the originally formed pill lightning began to churn again.
"Look, is there a hint of color?"
A doubtful voice emerged, and upon closer inspection, they saw a faint red color in the rolling thunderclouds. However, it quickly dissipated into nothingness.
"Failed, huh?"
Seeing the fleeting red in the sky, Jiang Yun sighed but soon said, "It wasn't a complete failure. After all, it's just a seventh-grade pill. The quality of the materials matters. Besides, this method is still experimental and can be perfected in the future."
"I didn't expect that by tweaking the spirit gathering array a bit, it could achieve such results. If the medicine clan knew about this, would they go mad?"
Thinking maliciously, Jiang Yun soon returned to reality, where the pill lightning still needed to be dealt with.
At this moment, the thunderclouds in the sky grew denser, as if about to press down on the ground, giving an oppressive feeling.
Silver lightning snaked through the clouds, occasionally colliding and creating deafening thunderclaps, instilling fear in everyone.
Jiang Yun glanced at the pill lightning in the sky and then at Zi Yan, who was standing tense. He softly asked, "Are you confident?"
Hearing this, Zi Yan tightly stared at the silver serpents in the clouds, feeling the immense power within. A deep seriousness appeared in her eyes.
But Zi Yan was not one to admit defeat, "Hmph, little difficulty; such power can't trouble me!"
Seeing the stubborn Zi Yan, Jiang Yun chuckled, took a step forward, and held her hand, saying softly, "Alright, our task is done, time to let others handle it."
Under Zi Yan's puzzled gaze, Jiang Yun said loudly, "Senior Qian, Senior Bai, to safely withstand the pill lightning, we need the help of you two."
Upon hearing Jiang Yun's call, Su Qian, who was about to act, paused and noticed two elderly gray figures appear beside Jiang Yun.
Unlike the previous appearance, Jiang Yun now sensed the spatial fluctuations around the two elders. Sharing a glance with Zi Yan, Jiang Yun knew she felt the same.
The once mysterious methods no longer held secrets as their strength increased.
Seeing the familiar figures, Su Qian and the others felt relieved. With these two, there would be no problems!
Elders Qian and Bai didn't mind the thunder tribulation in the sky but rather looked at Jiang Yun with interest, "How did you discover us?"
Before Jiang Yun could answer, Elder Qian understood, "I get it. You've already achieved the Spiritual Realm soul; in this aspect, we can't compare. Such concealment methods seem like showing off our skills before an expert."
Jiang Yun smiled without saying a word, considering it tacit approval.
With such turmoil in the inner courtyard, it was impossible for them not to notice. He sensed their presence the moment the pill lightning appeared.
With two peak Dou Zong as his backing, what's a mere pill lightning?
"Among the students I've seen, you are the most outstanding. You've achieved a Spiritual Realm soul already; may you soon become an eighth-grade alchemist!" Elder Bai encouraged Jiang Yun with a hint of excitement.
An eighth-grade alchemist!
For them, stuck at the peak of Dou Zong for who knows how long, forming a connection with an eighth-grade alchemist meant Dou Zun was within reach.
"I will!" Jiang Yun replied, calm and composed, satisfying the two elders, who then turned to the sky.
"Boom!"
Silver lightning grew fiercer within the clouds. After a dozen seconds, an opening appeared, and a half-foot-wide silver bolt shot down towards the medicinal cauldron atop the stone platform.
"Pill Lightning! It's been ages since I've last seen it!" Elder Bai exclaimed, admiring the descending bolt.
With a light touch, the terrifying pill lightning shattered, astonishing everyone watching.
The lightning dissipated, replaced by dark clouds churning even more violently. Soon, another silver bolt, twice as strong, shot down from the clouds.
"Heh, impressive power, worthy of a near-colored pill lightning for a peak seventh-grade pill!" Elder Bai chuckled, forming intricate hand seals with his dried hands.
With his movements, intense spatial fluctuations spread out, distorting the space around the falling lightning till it tore apart, dispersing into countless silver strands over the stone platform.
As the clouds darkened, the oppressive feeling spread across the entire inner courtyard. Intense spatial waves emanated as the elders continued their sealing, eventually tearing open a massive space rift.
The bolts, diverted into the black endless space, caused no disturbances.
After half an hour of bombardment, the thunderclouds exhausted their energy.
As they dissipated, the inner courtyard's oppressive atmosphere lifted, and everyone exhaled in relief from the tension of the heavenly might.
After the thunder tribulation, Elders Qian and Bai encouraged Jiang Yun before disappearing mysteriously again.
Once they left, Jiang Yun turned to the cauldron. The perfected Di Yuan pill made him smile. Carefully, he placed it into a jade bottle.
"Xiao Yun, let me see!" Zi Yan exclaimed, appearing with a fragrant breeze, eyes fixed on the pill, drooling slightly.
"This is for the elder; you can't eat it!" Jiang Yun teased, making her pout.
"I'm not reckless! I know you'll make one eventually, right?" Her hopeful eyes met Jiang Yun's.
With a smile, Jiang Yun neither agreed nor denied.
"Jiang Yun!"
Su Qian arrived with a few elders.
"Chief Elder, it's successful, without wasting materials. This pill should elevate you two stars, perhaps three with some luck!"
Under their fiery gazes, Jiang Yun handed over the jade bottle to Su Qian.
"Thank you!" said Su Qian, deeply moved.
Jiang Yun smiled, urging him to refine it soon.
Su Qian, after arranging things, swiftly went to secluded cultivation to refine the pill.
Jiang Yun spent three days discussing alchemy with Elder Huo, who finally let him return to his quarters, satisfied.
Back at the dorm, he found Zi Yan in the courtyard, playing bored with the pendant he crafted from the Bodhi Tree remnants to nourish the soul. Bathed in moonlight, she exuded a serene holiness, painting a beautiful picture.
Seeing this rare quiet side of Zi Yan, a ripple stirred in Jiang Yun's heart.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he approached, noticing her wistful look.
"Nothing," she shook her head, then smiled. "Shall we go?"
Jiang Yun nodded. Neither liked farewells, hence their decision to leave quietly under the night sky.
"Do we look like eloping lovers?" she asked with sudden interest.
"No," Jiang Yun replied straightforwardly.
"How dull!" she pouted.
"Let's go," Jiang Yun said, placing a letter down.
With a snort, she spread her fighting energy wings and shot into the sky, followed closely by Jiang Yun.
As they were leaving Jia Nan Academy, a familiar powerful aura emerged from the inner courtyard.
"It's the old fox!" Zi Yan exclaimed.
"Yes, it seems he broke through. Six-star Dou Zong now, sending us off."
"Who needs a send-off," she muttered, her voice fading as they vanished from sight.
In the courtyard, Su Qian set down the letter, gazing complexly towards their direction.
"Fly high. The Dou Qi Continent's vast skies await you. Return when you're tired."
(End of chapter)