Daoists may present their Wood Treasury Pass and Bone Token to the Great Sage of Great Virtue and Might, the Transformed Skeleton Demon, and the Ice-Sealed Master, to receive one Nascent Soul Pill and one Spiritual Root Bone respectively…

Driven by the fierce heat of the alchemical fire, the components in Cauldron A, which had remained motionless down to the millimeter, finally showed the faintest signs of melting.

"Luckily I prepared a large supply of twelfth-tier Alchemic Fire Charcoal, along with the alchemical formation array to assist in amplifying the furnace fire; otherwise, I wouldn't even be able to melt the spiritual material of the Ziyou Lotus."

Ye Qin managed a wry smile.

This was the plight of a Golden Core stage alchemist; even though his mastery of alchemy was high enough, the flames he could manifest were not nearly hot enough, forcing him to rely on numerous external aids. If he were a Nascent Soul cultivator now, refining this Spiritual Root Potential Pill would be far simpler.

With a wave of his hand, dozens more spiritual materials suspended within the alchemy chamber were tossed into the cauldron all at once.

These materials transformed into a stream of medicinals, flying in an orderly procession toward the Ziyou Lotus seed. They were rapidly reduced to various liquid essences by the alchemic fire, enveloping the seed. Simultaneously, under the spiraling heat current, these essences became shimmering lines of spiritual fluid, multicolored and brilliant, faintly forming a magical array.

After an immeasurable amount of time, the spiritual materials, including the Ziyou Lotus seed, began to emit wisps of a rich, fragrant spiritual essence as they gradually dissolved.

Ye Qin let out a slight breath of relief, yet he dared not let his guard down for a moment, continuously adding various spiritual materials to the cauldron.

According to the formula for the Spiritual Root Potential Pill, the grade, type, and spiritual attributes of the ingredients must not deviate in the slightest, lest a conflict cause the medicinal liquid to be ruined.

The Spiritual Root Potential Pill, which steals the marvels of heaven and earth, is incomparably wondrous, forcefully altering and increasing a cultivator's spiritual roots. Its refining difficulty far surpasses that of top-grade spiritual pills used by cultivators of the same rank for breaking through tiers, cultivation, or dispelling poisons.

When the final spiritual material sank into the furnace, under the tempering of the intense fire, it took a full score of days before the spiritual materials completely transformed into a liquid essence of crystalline, flowing brilliance.

At this moment, the medicinal liquid formed from the spiritual ingredients pulsed with circulating colors and divine light, its spiritual aura overwhelmingly potent.

"Unite the Crucible!"

Having focused his spirit on refining for scores of days, the somewhat exhausted Ye Qin could finally relax his efforts.

He formed a hand seal, sealing the alchemy cauldron, and added quite a few Alchemic Fire Wicks, urging the furnace fire to surge, allowing the crucible fire to slowly refine the medicinal liquid into a pure elixir.

After completing these steps, Ye Qin only needed to watch the furnace fire carefully, observing the changes in the spiritual energy within the cauldron, thus temporarily freeing himself from exerting other efforts.

The refining of the Spiritual Root Potential Pill required over three hundred types of spiritual materials, and the changes in spiritual energy were extremely complex, far more so than in other high-grade elixirs. A single violent fluctuation in spiritual energy during the combination process could cause a sharp surge in the medicinal liquid within the crucible, leading to refining failure.

Ye Qin then consumed an Ink Jade Spiritual Pill, cultivating while keeping a vigilant eye on the elixir.

During the process of refining this Spiritual Root Potential Pill, a vast amount of spiritual energy from high-grade herbs diffused outwards, causing the spiritual energy density throughout the alchemy chamber to surpass that of the outside world by hundreds, even thousands, of times. He naturally would not miss such an excellent opportunity.

Ye Qin patiently cultivated, occasionally replenishing the Alchemic Fire Charcoal to maintain the heat.

Thus it continued until three months later, when the dragon's mouth at the top of the crucible subtly began to emit the auspicious glow signaling that the spiritual pill was nearing completion.

And during these few short months of cultivation, the spiritual energy Ye Qin absorbed from the external environment was equivalent to what he would normally absorb during several years of seated meditation. This result brought him an unexpected and pleasant surprise.

However, this was largely thanks to the effects brought about by the numerous high-grade medicinal ingredients, including the Ziyou Lotus essence; without them, such a significant effect would have been impossible.

Ye Qin sent his divine sense into the alchemy cauldron, observing the medicinal liquid, which now radiated a faint, diffused radiance. Its volume had already shrunk by more than half, coalescing in the center of the cauldron, slowly circulating under the push of the heat current.

The Ziyou Lotus seed, aided by the synergistic properties of over three hundred auxiliary spiritual materials and assisted by the alchemical formation array, had completely melted away.

Ye Qin simultaneously used a Fire Control Art to continue boosting the fire at the bottom of the furnace while shifting his alchemical seals to urge the medicinal liquid in the crucible to condense into a pill.

"Combine the Medicine!"

However, the heat current in the cauldron began to diminish, and the medicinal liquid slowly began to settle, its circulation growing increasingly sluggish, showing signs of stagnation. If condensation wasn't completed before it stopped, the process would halt.

A sharp gleam flashed in Ye Qin's eyes. He pointed a hand seal with his left hand and simultaneously waved his right. A twelfth-tier Alchemic Fire Charcoal resting beside him was enveloped by his mana, instantly turning into fine charcoal dust that shot into the bottom of the furnace.

"Whoosh!"

The fire at the base of the furnace instantly flared into an even more scorching crimson, burning fiercely. The entire cauldron was engulfed in the blaze, forcibly compelling the almost stagnant elixir to continue its condensation.

"Pop!~"

With a slight, muffled explosion, the heat current within the cauldron began to accelerate.

Under the drive of Ye Qin's hand seals, the circulation of the medicinal liquid sped up again. Under the combined force of the internal and external spirals of the heat current, the liquid that was on the verge of halting immediately began to spin, continuing its condensation.

Yet, Ye Qin’s expression grew increasingly solemn.

While forcibly increasing the furnace heat successfully spurred the liquid’s continued condensation, the spiritual energy within the cauldron began to destabilize, with various energies turning frantic.

In these brief moments, beads of sweat rolled down Ye Qin’s forehead, his body tense, not daring to spare a single thought elsewhere.

Finally, after the furnace fire had burned for another half an hour, a spiritual pill of dazzling, brilliant light was about to form in the center of the crucible.

Just then, a premonition of ominous change suddenly struck Ye Qin’s heart.

In his mind, countless variations of medicinal properties and spiritual energies flashed by like lightning.

"Boom!"

The formerly gentle and magnificent five-colored radiance suddenly turned intensely fierce and wild, and countless beams of light erupted from the nascent pill.

The light grew stronger and stronger.

In the end, only a surging red light remained, flickering and swallowing the entire alchemy cauldron.

With a loud bang, the violent red light, accompanied by a vigorous surge of spiritual energy, exploded from within the cauldron. The resulting semi-liquid, semi-solid red mass burst open, scattering into a pile of dross, instantly losing its colorful luster, falling to the bottom of the furnace, and even emitting wisps of green smoke from the intense heat.

"Pfft... Hmph!"

Unable to forcibly suppress the surging spiritual energy of the pill, Ye Qin felt a sudden tightness in his chest and could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained the ground before him and the cauldron.

Ye Qin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth; his expression was grim, yet he was helpless.

The first attempt to refine a twelfth-tier heaven-defying spiritual pill had indeed failed!

But thankfully, the failure only occurred at the final step of condensation. The preceding refining steps had been executed almost flawlessly, without error.

Ye Qin rose, his face expressionless, and opened the cauldron. With a sweep of his sleeve, he gathered the dross inside the furnace, wrapped it in mana, and tossed it into the Floating Earth Island within his Purple Mansion for recycling into spirit stones.

Then, he stood still, pondering deeply for a long time, filled with resignation.

"This formula requires too many spiritual materials, and each has its own spirituality. To balance their spirituality and medicinal properties during the combination phase is truly not easy. One misstep leads to conflict, shattering the spiritual power and medicinal nature of the pill... resulting in an explosion."

Ye Qin shook his head, musing internally.

"However, this refining attempt has eliminated most of the potential points of error. If I carefully consider how to maintain the spiritual balance, my success rate for refining this pill next time will increase by several tens of percent."

This failure in refining the Spiritual Root Potential Pill wasted invaluable spiritual materials into dross.

Next, he needed to cultivate another full set of ingredients. The Ziyou Lotus fire seed only required half a year to acquire one. Six months later, he would attempt the Spiritual Root Potential Pill again.

While pondering, Ye Qin strode out of the alchemy chamber to check on Huangfu Bing'er’s cultivation progress.

Huangfu Bing'er had grown accustomed to living on this spiritual island. Each day, besides cultivation and occasional pill refinement, she spent time reading various array books and practicing the Sword Control Art. Though her life was quiet, it was fulfilling.

In the subsequent months, Ye Qin occasionally went out to clear his mind, internalizing the experiences gained from the last refining attempt. He slowly nurtured the Ziyou Lotus and various medicinal materials, and studied and deduced the spiritual power and medicinal properties of other auxiliary ingredients, preparing for the next refinement.

Half a year later.

With all three hundred-plus spiritual materials, including the Ziyou Lotus fire seed, fully prepared, Ye Qin began refining the Spiritual Root Potential Pill once more.

After spending several more months, drawing on the experience and comprehension from the previous attempt, Ye Qin managed to transform the three hundred-plus materials into medicinal liquid without incident or surprise.

A mass of five-colored liquid, the size of an infant’s fist, shone brilliantly, and a trace of fire-red liquid, the size of a fingertip, flowed back and forth like a swimming dragon, appearing almost alive.

The entire process was surprisingly smooth.

This day was set for the condensation of the pill.

Ye Qin spent the entire day restoring his spirit and mana, and prepared top-tier Alchemic Fire Charcoal, talismans, and other necessary items, making complete preparations. He had a strong premonition that he had a sixty to seventy percent chance of achieving condensation in one go.

Even Huangfu Bing'er, who was in seclusion cultivating, and Bai Xiu'er, who often trained alongside the local tribal warriors on the island, now waited outside the alchemy chamber to guard the process and await news, as this pill was critically important.

Finally, when no trace of movement or tremor could be seen on the surface of the elixir in the cauldron, Ye Qin, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open.

"Haste!"

As a faint sound of wind and thunder emanated from the furnace, Ye Qin gave a light shout, simultaneously clapping his palm down. Immediately, five talismans were seen shooting toward the formation flags surrounding the cauldron, transforming into two masses of fire that enveloped the flags.

The fire-colored alchemy formation flags flickered with inscribed runes, shooting out sparks of light. Each flag projected a ray of intense firelight, which intertwined before finally focusing upon the alchemy cauldron in the center.

The furnace fire, only an inch high at the base, did not surge visibly high, but nearly half of it had turned red. The intense heat made the air in the ten-zhang radius alchemy chamber scorching hot; breathing it in felt like a sharp, burning sting, utterly unbearable.

"Condense!"

The sound of wind and thunder within the cauldron grew louder, and the five-colored liquid spun rapidly amidst the intensely climbing heat.

At last, the time was ripe. Ye Qin shouted twice in succession, fully activating the Fire Control Art while simultaneously hurling several pieces of top-tier Alchemic Fire Charcoal, which transformed into streaks of light, directly into the furnace fire.

Immediately following this, he condensed a sword gleam on his right thumb and sliced his middle finger, instantly ejecting three drops of blood rich in vital essence. These drops shot toward the furnace fire, the furnace body, and the dragon's mouth at the top, respectively. He spared no expense in using his own vital essence to forcibly control the spiritual energy within the cauldron.

"Boom!"

The blood drops vanished instantly upon merging with the three targets.

Then, the furnace fire at the base turned entirely fire-red, with even its tips showing a hint of alluring purple.

The surging furnace fire violently erupted and spun, enveloping the entire alchemy cauldron.

Within the crucible, masses of illusory flames could be seen, taking the shapes of flying birds and running beasts, dancing and swirling. The alchemy chamber was filled with seemingly present, yet elusive, cries, creating an overwhelmingly powerful spectacle.

At the same time, high above the mountain peak where the cave dwelling was located, thousands of feet in the air—

A mass of inky black thunderclouds suddenly appeared, covering the sky and obscuring the horizon across hundreds of miles. These thunderclouds rapidly spun and converged, forming a swirling vortex eye directly above the island. In an instant, the spiritual island was beset by changing winds and clouds, roaring seas, flashes of lightning, and rolling thunder.

"This is... a Pill Tribulation!?"

Ye Qin, who had remained perfectly still in the alchemy chamber, felt the massive cosmic changes outside, and his expression instantly changed dramatically!