The Lotus Spark technique was deceptively simple in its explanation but incredibly profound in practice.
It demanded absolute control over the flame’s purity and stability, requiring the practitioner to harmonize the flame with the Essence of the ingredients being refined.
Shen Yuan sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees as he summoned the newly upgraded Pure Heart Flame.
The brilliant golden flame emerged on his palms, its intense heat tempered by his own will.
He let the flame flicker gently, sensing its energy and rhythm as he synchronized it with his breathing.
“Focus,” Shen Yuan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
The first step of the technique required him to channel his spiritual sense into the flame, deepening his connection to it.
As his consciousness merged with the flame, he could feel its every flicker and flow. It was as though the flame had become an extension of his very soul.
Hours passed as Shen Yuan meticulously practiced, adjusting the flame’s intensity and flow until it reached an almost ethereal stability.
The Pure Heart Flame no longer felt like an external tool; it pulsed in perfect harmony with his Qi.
Suddenly, a soft hum resonated through the chamber as the flame on his palm took the shape of a delicate lotus.
The petals shimmered with golden light, exuding an aura of purity and stability that filled the room.
“Success,” Shen Yuan said softly, a faint smile curling his lips. He dispersed the flame with a flick of his wrist and opened his eyes, which glimmered with contentment.
[Good work, Yuan’er!]
Yue Lan’s cheerful voice rang in his mind.
[You’ve mastered the first level of the Crimson Lotus Flame Art faster than I expected. I’m impressed!]
“Oh, even you know to praise me? Thanks for it,” Shen Yuan replied, his tone calm but laced with satisfaction. “This technique is indeed profound. Now that I’ve mastered the first level, it’s time to explore the recipes.”
He reached out with his spiritual sense, diving back into the vast sea of knowledge within the Verdant Flame Phoenix Legacy.
Countless recipes unfolded before him, each meticulously detailed with ingredient lists, preparation methods, and refinement techniques.
He carefully selected a few recipes to begin his practice:
Spirit Rejuvenation Pill: A pill designed to restore spiritual energy rapidly.
Body Tempering Elixir: Enhances physical resilience and strengthens the skeletal structure.
Essence Condensation Pill: Aids in consolidating Qi during breakthroughs.
Verdant Vitality Pill: Boosts overall vitality and healing speed.
“These recipes should be enough for now,” Shen Yuan muttered as he reviewed the ingredient lists.
Each pill required dozens of herbs and rare materials, most of which he had already gathered from the treasury or bought during his travels.
He stood and walked over to the alchemical materials he had prepared earlier. Carefully, he began sorting the herbs and ingredients according to the recipes.
The Spirit Rejuvenation Pill required Morning Flame Orchid, Moonlight Lotus, and Sun Lily Crystal Flowers as its primary components, along with a dozen supplementary herbs.
Shen Yuan spent a bit of time meticulously preparing the materials, grinding, soaking, and purifying each ingredient.
His hands moved with precision, guided by the knowledge imprinted in his mind.
Once the materials were ready, he placed them beside the alchemical cauldron. Sitting before it, he summoned the Pure Heart Flame, which emerged on his palm with a steady golden glow.
“Let’s begin,” Shen Yuan said, his voice filled with a hint of excitement.
He ignited the cauldron, carefully adjusting the flame’s intensity using the Lotus Spark technique.
One by one, he added the ingredients, each releasing a faint glow as they dissolved into the cauldron.
His spiritual sense closely monitored the process, ensuring the essence of the ingredients blended without any issue.
Time seemed to slow as Shen Yuan guided the flame, his focus reaching extreme heights.
The chamber filled with a faint herbal aroma, and a soft golden light emanated from the cauldron.
After more than half an hour, the cauldron emitted a low hum, signaling the completion of the refinement process.
Shen Yuan opened the cauldron, and a brilliant golden glow greeted him. Inside lay three pills, each radiating spiritual energy and marked with two distinct veins.
“High-grade Spirit Rejuvenation Pills,” Shen Yuan said, his voice filled with pride. “Not bad for the first attempt.”
[Not bad? These pills are exceptional for your first refinement using this technique! And this is the first batch of Spirit Tier pills that you have refined at that.]
Yue Lan chimed in, her tone brimming with excitement.
Shen Yuan smiled faintly as he carefully stored the pills. “Just wait and watch; I won’t let my Emperor Grade Talent go to waste.”
Without wasting time, he began preparing for the next recipe: the Bone Tempering Elixir.
Over the next couple of days, Shen Yuan refined pill after pill, each attempt building on the knowledge and experience gained from the previous one.
His mastery of the Lotus Spark technique deepened with every batch, and the quality of his pills continued to improve.
By the end of the third day, Shen Yuan’s storage ring was filled with an impressive collection of high-grade Spirit Tier pills, each a testament to his growing prowess in alchemy.
“Eh, that’s enough. I can give these pills to the sect to show my gratitude. Most of them are pills with 2-6 pill veins as well. They will be quite helpful for disciples,” Shen Yuan said as he closed another vial of pills.
[True, these should be some of the best pills they can even get in this area.]
Shen Yuan stretched his arms while exhaling a long breath as he nodded his head. “Now I should learn the second level of the Crimson Lotus Flame Art to refine pills for myself.”
He closed his eyes and focused his mind on the next stage of the Crimson Lotus Flame Art: Blossoming Inferno.
This level was far more complex than Lotus Spark, created to intensify the flame without letting it lose control, enabling the refinement of higher-grade ingredients and unlocking the potential to forge complex pills.
The intricacy of the technique demanded not only extreme focus but also strong spiritual fortitude, pushing the practitioner to their limits.
“Blossoming Inferno… let’s see how far I can push this,” Shen Yuan muttered, an excited smile playing on his lips.
As he meditated, the knowledge of the technique flowed into his consciousness, each line and principle imprinting itself clearly.
The technique required Shen Yuan to harmonize the flame with his spiritual sense at a much deeper level than before, making the flame an extension of his will.
The Pure Heart Flame appeared in his palms, its golden hue burning brighter as Shen Yuan began practicing the new techniques.
The first step was learning to increase the flame’s intensity while maintaining its purity.
Shen Yuan adjusted the flame’s heat in gradual increments, focusing on stabilizing its essence even as it grew more powerful.
Sparks flared as the flame roared to life, its edges dancing wildly before he reined it back in.
“Tsk, steady… balance the power…” Shen Yuan whispered, sweat forming on his brow as he poured his spiritual energy into the flame.
Minutes turned into an entire hour as he practiced relentlessly.