Each attempt brought him closer to mastering the technique, and after some more time, Shen Yuan felt the transformation in his control.
The Pure Heart Flame now burned with a vivid crimson hue, its edges rippling with golden flames.
It pulsed with an intensity he had never had control over, yet it obeyed his will perfectly.
[Well done, Yuan’er!]
Yue Lan’s voice rang in his mind.
[You’ve reached a level where you can refine Earth Grade pills. Let’s see how you handle the pressure of that!]
Shen Yuan smirked. “I have only used this level of intense fire while attacking, which I had nearly no control over. Now it will be fun to test this.”
He reached for the alchemical materials he had prepared for Earth Grade pills. He decided to start with something straightforward yet challenging enough to test his new skills.
Recipe: Core Nourishment Pill
Primary Ingredients: Starleaf Grass, Radiant Moon Herb, Azure Flame Orchid.
Supplementary Ingredients: Nine different spiritual herbs to balance the pill’s composition.
Purpose: Enhances Qi in the Origin Core of a cultivator to solidify its foundation.
Shen Yuan meticulously prepared the ingredients, grinding, soaking, and refining each component.
The process took longer than Spirit Grade pills due to the complexity and potency of the materials.
Once the materials were ready, he placed them beside the cauldron.
Summoning the Pure Heart Flame, now stronger than ever due to Blossoming Inferno, Shen Yuan ignited the cauldron.
The flame roared to life, its crimson and golden hues illuminating the chamber.
“Let’s begin,” he said, his voice calm.
Shen Yuan carefully added the ingredients one by one. Each herb released its spiritual essence as it dissolved into the cauldron, merging with the flame’s intense energy.
The challenge of Earth Grade pills lay in merging the potent energies of the ingredients, which could easily clash and destabilize the pill.
Using both Lotus Spark and Blossoming Inferno, Shen Yuan intensified the flame’s heat while maintaining its stability.
His spiritual sense monitored the cauldron closely, ensuring the essences mixed harmoniously.
The cauldron began to hum, a sign that the energies were reaching a perfect equilibrium.
Shen Yuan’s focus deepened as he guided the flame with precision, allowing it to envelop the mixture entirely.
The room filled with a radiant glow as the pill began to take shape.
The process was far more demanding than Spirit Grade pills, but Shen Yuan’s mastery of both Lotus Spark and Blossoming Inferno allowed him to maintain the required control.
After nearly an hour, the cauldron emitted a low chime, signaling the completion of the refinement. Shen Yuan opened the lid, and a brilliant golden light spilled out.
Inside lay two pills, each radiating spiritual energy and marked with three distinct veins.
“Three-veined Earth Grade pills… not bad for a first attempt,” Shen Yuan said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He carefully stored the pills in a jade vial, sealing them to preserve their potency.
[Man, when are you going to take a rest? Do you want to become an Alchemy God in a single day?]
Yue Lan playfully teased.
[You’ve exceeded my expectations yet again. These pills could fetch a fortune if sold—or secure you powerful allies if gifted.]
Shen Yuan chuckled. “I might do that, and gifting is also not out of the question as I can cook up a batch of these pills whenever I want. But first, I will give it to those who I care about.”
[Wan Ling and the other little girls? That is also good; they need to increase their cultivation base as well. Each pill will have dozens of times higher effect than what they will find in the market as well.]
“And they won’t be harmful for them; after all, a pill with pill veins has no impurities.” Shen Yuan smiled lightly as he looked at the other processed herbs.
Encouraged by his success, Shen Yuan continued refining other Earth Grade pills, each attempt honing his skills further for the pill he wanted to refine later:
Vital Essence Pill: Restores vitality and heals internal injuries.Heavenly Surge Elixir: Boosts cultivation speed temporarily.Iron Bone Pill: Enhances physical strength and durability.
By the end of the second day, Shen Yuan’s storage ring was filled with an array of Earth Grade pills, ranging from four to six veins.
The chamber was thick with the herbal aroma of refined pills, a testament to his relentless efforts at improving his skills.
As Shen Yuan extinguished the Pure Heart Flame, he leaned back, his gaze thoughtful.
“I think I have honed my skills enough to refine the Pristine Origin Pill for myself. That pill will be vital for my breakthrough.”
[True, your breakthrough speed will skyrocket with that pill; it’s one of the best for Origin Core Creation Realm cultivators after all.]
“Yes, and I can help Wan Ling and Han Qingyu with these pills as well. I should make preparations for it now.”
Shen Yuan carefully laid out the ingredients for the Pristine Origin Pill, their auras filling the chamber with a serene presence.
He glanced at each item, ensuring their purity and quality matched the stringent requirements for this Earth Grade pill. The difficulty of this pill rivaled some of the low-grade Heaven Rank Pills.
“This will be my most challenging refinement yet,” Shen Yuan muttered, summoning the Pure Heart Flame into his palm.
The crimson-golden flame flickered steadily, its warmth filling the chamber.
He adjusted his posture, took a deep breath, and activated Blossoming Inferno, allowing the flame to grow in intensity while maintaining its stability with Lotus Spark.
Shen Yuan began by grinding the Ethereal Crystal Powder and the Cloudmist Herb into a fine mixture, their essence blending flawlessly under his precise control.
The powder emitted a faint shimmer, indicating it was ready.
Next, he soaked the Silver Star Lotus Petals in Pure Spring Essence, their ethereal glow intensifying as they absorbed the liquid’s energy. The petals softened, their Essence radiating a calming aura.
“Perfect,” Shen Yuan murmured, carefully setting the prepared ingredients aside.
He turned his attention to the Glacial Essence Pearl, the core ingredient of the pill.
Placing it into the alchemy cauldron, he ignited the Pure Heart Flame, gradually increasing its intensity to coax the Essence from the pearl.
The cauldron hummed softly as the Glacial Essence Pearl began to melt, releasing its pure, icy energy.
Shen Yuan added a drop of Nine-Heaven Jade Essence, amplifying the pearl’s purity and ensuring its Essence remained stable.
With steady hands, he added the essence of Golden Azure Fruit, its vibrant Essence merging seamlessly with the pearl.
The cauldron’s interior glowed faintly, a clear sign of the harmonious fusion of the ingredients.
Shen Yuan’s focus deepened as he added the Moonlit Dewdrop, its yin energy balancing the powerful yang Essence within the mixture.
He followed with the Silver Star Lotus Petals, gently stirring the cauldron to harmonize the energies.
The hard part lay in maintaining the yin-yang equilibrium. Shen Yuan’s spiritual sense enveloped the cauldron, monitoring every little fluctuation that happened inside.
He adjusted the flame’s intensity using Blossoming Inferno, ensuring the ingredients merged flawlessly.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked, the process demanding absolute precision. The room filled with a soothing herbal aroma, the Essence-rich atmosphere enhancing his concentration.