Cultivation Begins with Skill Points-Chapter 186: The Pill is Formed

"Master."

"Zhong Lin has arrived, and just in time, for I am about to begin alchemy."

Yin Daoyan, full of excitement, babbled on, continually discussing the critical aspects of refining the Breakthrough Pill with Zhong Lin.

"Greetings, Deputy Sect Master."

Seeing Zhong Lin’s arrival, Elder Lian Shan and the three Supreme Elders who had been waiting here all greeted him one after another.

Although Zhong Lin’s seniority was far below theirs, in this Martial Arts World, strength always prevails, especially now that Zhong Lin is the Deputy Sect Master of the Sword Cauldron Sect.

Zhong Lin nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on the Medicine King Tripod.

This tripod was about the height of a person, with three legs and two ears, engraved with cloud patterns. Each of the four corners had a dragon-shaped sculpture, not for decoration, but because the inside was hollow, allowing impurities and heat to be expelled during the alchemy process, thereby better controlling the heat inside the tripod.

Yin Daoyan proudly introduced, "Zhong Lin, this is our Sword Cauldron Sect’s Medicine King Tripod, a thousand years old. The countless alchemy practices over the years have filled this tripod with endless Medicine Qi. Using this tripod for alchemy can directly enhance the elixir’s quality by a level."

Zhong Lin also gazed heatedly at the medicine tripod before him as, for a Pill Master, a good Alchemy Furnace is equivalent to a divine weapon in the hands of a Martial Artist, something they yearn for day and night.

Outside the Alchemy Room, people were coming and going. To refine the Breakthrough Pill, several thousand people from the Sword Cauldron Sect were being mobilized unconditionally; it was truly a grand undertaking.

However, for the entire sect, no matter how grand the spectacle, it was worth it, because the Breakthrough Pill was too crucial, tied to the sect’s legacy, and no errors were permissible.

Each auxiliary medicine sent up was personally inspected by Yin Daoyan and Elder Lian Shan, picked out one by one, even checked several times to ensure not a single mistake was made.

Just seeing these auxiliary medicines made Zhong Lin click his tongue; the Heavenly Essence Fruit as the primary medicine was already rare, and each of these auxiliary medicines was extremely precious, some even thousand-year-old rare plants. Although not as precious as the Heavenly Essence Fruit, to ordinary people and even royalty, they were treasures not easily found.

Without the unique geographical environment and the precious Medicine Garden on Spirit Medicine Peak, even the auxiliary medicines for alchemy would not be gathered.

To prepare these auxiliary medicines, along with the sunning, grinding, and processing steps, took a full half month before finally starting alchemy.

The exclusive Alchemy Room slowly closed under everyone’s watchful eyes. Even Sect Master Yu Jinglei could only wait outside, forbidden to enter before getting permission.

This alchemy was the grandest event in the Sword Cauldron Sect in a hundred years, affecting the sect’s future development, with no room for any accident.

Inside the Alchemy Room, only Yin Daoyan, Elder Lian Shan, and Zhong Lin, the three Fourth Grade Alchemists, were left. However, the two were the ones alchemizing, and Zhong Lin was merely observing from the side.

At this moment, Yin Daoyan and the others stood in front of the Medicine King Tripod, performing the final inspection.

"Master, how confident are you in this alchemy?"

"Tenfold."

Zhong Lin raised an eyebrow, surprised at the bold claim.

Elder Lian Shan spoke from the side, "Your master and I have spent our lives preparing to refine the Breakthrough Pill. Though never attempted, we have rehearsed it countless times in dreams. This time, success is the only option, failure not allowed."

Elder Lian Shan swallowed a Great Rejuvenation Pill, placed his hands under the Pill Furnace, and activated the Fiery Sun Heart Scripture, enveloping the entire Medicine King Tripod with scorching inner breath in an instant.

Yin Daoyan did not hesitate, putting the prepared medicinal materials into the Pill Furnace one by one. His movements were neither fast nor fancy, but each was so natural, steady, and majestic, almost as if each action bore the weight of a mountain like Taishan.

Of course, Elder Lian Shan also played a role, his control over temperature was intricate, and his cooperation with Yin Daoyan was complementary, making it perfect.

Watching their movements, Zhong Lin felt a sudden enlightenment in his heart.

Time passed slowly, Elder Lian Shan already having consumed over a dozen Great Rejuvenation Pills, his complexion pale, arms trembling slightly. The prolonged inner breath transmission caused aching sensations in his meridians, indicating overuse.

With a grave expression, Yin Daoyan added the last bit of medicinal materials into the Pill Furnace, took a deep breath, controlled the Pill Furnace with an indrawn hand, and adjusted the various medicinal materials within it using inner breath.

Alchemy is never a boiling pot but an integration of various medicines interacting as principal, minister, assistant, and envoy. Any mistake could alter the medicinal properties, turning Treasure Pills into Wasted Pills or Poison Pills.

During this time, Elder Lian Shan finally had a chance to rest, promptly sitting cross-legged to nurture his meridians.

The two alternated like this to ensure nothing went wrong inside the Pill Furnace.

A day later, under the deliberate control of the two, all the medicinal materials inside the Medicine King Tripod had melted, their medicinal powers activated to the extreme. Every step was precisely calculated, with no errors.

By this point, Zhong Lin knew that this was the most critical moment of alchemy.

Yin Daoyan suddenly moved, using swift actions for the first time since entering the Alchemy Room.

His large hand brushed over the copper tripod’s lid, which immediately rose to his palms. The ready Heavenly Essence Fruit was thus introduced at the exact moment.

Then, the copper tripod lid was securely sealed again, the flames controlled by Elder Lian Shan gradually shrinking.

Another full hour passed, and the elixir activity inside the Pill Furnace gradually stabilized, marking the final moment before the elixir’s formation.

As expected, Yin Daoyan and Elder Lian Shan’s faces briefly showed joy, quickly replaced by solemnity.

The closer success seemed, the less one could relax, for failing at this stage would be enough to drive someone into seeking release.

Hiss!

White smoke with a hint of gray-brown was expelled from the five dragon mouth sculptures, indicating the exhaust generated within.

Finally, Elder Lian Shan retracted his inner breath, panting heavily at the side.

Yin Daoyan also paused, his eyes closely watching the Pill Furnace glowing slightly.

Moments later, as the Pill Furnace’s heat dispersed completely, Yin Daoyan waved his right hand, sending the cover of the Pill Furnace flying off. The three simultaneously looked inside.

Two fiery red elixirs lay quietly inside the Pill Furnace.

Yin Daoyan quickly retrieved two prepared jade boxes, lightly slapped the Medicine King Tripod, and a trace of True Qi traveled through the Pill Furnace to the elixirs. Immediately, the two elixirs leapt into the air as if guided by an invisible hand, finally landing inside the jade boxes.