The dregs from the failed seventh furnace of the Two Energies Heavenly Elixir were driven into his body. The True Qi, having undergone the second and third suppressions, now ground against itself, emitting audible "creaking" sounds. Vast energy flooded every capillary and the finest meridian within Gu Xichen's frame. His body was rapidly strengthening; the streamlined knots of muscle swelled and contracted explosively, the motion agitating the surrounding air into muffled, heavy thuds.

This renewed strengthening caused another transformation in Gu Xichen’s **. A thin fissure split from the center of his brow, running straight down to his Dantian. Large patches of white, dead skin began to peel away from the fissure’s edges, revealing newborn skin beneath—alabaster white and as smooth as fine grease.

Enormous energy poured into his five viscera, stimulating the five-colored streams erupting within them to become even richer.

The surging five-colored streams traveled from the Dantian straight into the Purple Mansion, where a small portion was absorbed by Gu Xichen's Soul Origin. The greater bulk was consumed by the pagoda suspended within the Taiji vortex.

While Gu Xichen gritted his teeth, frantically digesting the immense medicinal power he had absorbed, the gradually brightening Taiji vortex suddenly released wave after wave of transparent, ripple-like pulsations. Furthermore, the twenty-four-layered pagoda emitted a faint azure light, which, in tandem with the pulsations, permeated Gu Xichen's Sea of Consciousness within the Purple Mansion.

Like spring breeze turning to nourishing rain, without Gu Xichen realizing it, these two sets of ripples gradually merged into his Soul Origin, slowly integrating with his Sea of Consciousness in the Purple Mansion.

The Sea of Consciousness in the Purple Mansion, carved out by the black crystalline sphere, was vast in scope. However, supported by these two waves, Gu Xichen’s Sea of Consciousness began to expand outward once more. His Soul Origin became increasingly vibrant and agile. Gradually, countless fine threads of purple-silver shot out from his Soul Origin, fusing seamlessly with his existing mental power.

In the span of a mere blink, Gu Xichen's mental power surged by fifty percent more than before.

The Spirit Rose Origin was the Earth; mental power was the flora growing upon that Earth. Infertile, cramped Earth could only sustain withered weeds; but fertile, expansive Earth could foster towering forests stretching across ten thousand miles. Gu Xichen's current Soul Origin was immense and robust, radiating spiritual energy—it was practically a boundless, fertile continent.

Wave after wave swept through Gu Xichen’s Sea of Consciousness; his Soul Origin became increasingly refined, gradually compressing inward. His mental power grew exponentially stronger, causing strands of purple-silver mental energy to appear everywhere within his vast, boundless Sea of Consciousness.

Time ticked by, second by second. Just as Gu Xichen was nearing the point of completely assimilating the medicinal essence of the ruined Two Energies Heavenly Elixir, dozens of golden stars orbiting the Taiji vortex within his Purple Mansion suddenly began to tremble intensely, radiating waves of golden ripples that surged toward his Soul Origin.

Dozens of voices chirped and chattered within Gu Xichen's Soul Origin. Vast knowledge regarding formations, alchemy, and the esoteric arts of Qimen Dunjia flooded in like a tide. The immense roar of sound caused a splitting headache, and the massive torrent of knowledge nearly overwhelmed his Soul Origin, threatening to shatter it into pieces.

In that split second, the twenty-four-layered pagoda emitted a clear chime. The deep sapphire bead from the pagoda’s first layer floated out, suddenly disintegrating into countless blue halos that melted into Gu Xichen’s Soul Origin. Immediately following were the beads from the second layer, then the third. Finally, all twenty-four beads, themselves riddled with cracks, merged into Gu Xichen’s Soul Origin.

Gu Xichen’s soul had previously resembled thin clouds of mist, as if a strong gust could extinguish it. But after integrating these twenty-four beads, his Soul Origin underwent a marvelous metamorphosis. Transforming from thin mist, it gradually became clear water, then thickened into viscous glue, and finally condensed into the tenacity of liquid mercury. In the end, although his Soul Origin still retained a foggy appearance, its nature had become as unbreakable as alloyed steel.

A massive suction force pulled him forward, drawing Gu Xichen’s Soul Origin into the pagoda.

The azure pagoda hovered within the Taiji vortex, the immense vortex spinning around it, while Gu Xichen’s Soul Origin floated comfortably within the pagoda’s embrace.

The sounds and the colossal amount of knowledge that had nearly exploded Gu Xichen’s head now felt no more threatening than a small stream flowing into the channel of a great river. The dozens of golden stars vibrated even faster, the voices more eager, and more knowledge poured in ceaselessly.

The Taiji vortex spun on and on, appearing as if it had done so since before time began, immune to change.

The pagoda remained perfectly still in the center of the vortex, silently drawing in the five-colored Qi emanating from Gu Xichen’s viscera, silently safeguarding his soul.

Unconsciously, Gu Xichen retrieved another set of raw materials for the Two Energies Heavenly Elixir from his Small Qiankun Pouch. He moved towards the alchemy furnace with fluid grace; with a slight tap of his finger, the furnace lid flew open. With a beckoning gesture, a spiritual spring shot in from outside, the spirit-rich stream rushing into the cauldron to scour the medicinal residue clean. He then returned the various ingredients to the furnace.

Seated upon the meditation cushion, he rapidly formed a series of profound spiritual seals with both hands. Various spiritual seals shot forth, and the Earth Flames beneath the furnace obediently shifted according to Gu Xichen’s will.

The furnace gradually preheated, emitting wisps of warm vapor. The ingredients were refined precisely, after which a great fire billowed upward, its intense heat enveloping the various herbs, slowly extracting their potent essence. This time, even richer vermilion elixir gas spewed from the lid, yet the gas carried no fragrance—not a shred of the herbs’ essence was wasted.

Innumerable invisible psychic fluctuations coiled around the entire furnace. Gu Xichen controlled the furnace flames with exquisite precision. He observed the changes in the herbs as easily as studying the lines on his palm, constantly adjusting the heat up or down. Lines of intricate spiritual seals were continuously etched onto the furnace, enveloping the herbs in countless flares of divine light. Gradually, not a single impurity remained in the cauldron; only a mass of azure liquid spun rapidly within. At a thought from Gu Xichen, dozens of beams of spiritual light shot out from the furnace, accurately cleaving the azure liquid into thirty-six portions of precisely identical size.

As soon as the azure liquid was divided, Yin and Yang energies were drawn in from outside the furnace. Black and white streams of Qi flowed into the azure liquid, transforming it into black and white ** which then began to spin rapidly.

Absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this manner, after about three days and three nights, the thirty-six masses of black and white ** had gradually solidified almost to substance.

With a flick of his fingers and the execution of several condensation formulas, a sound like thunder and fire roared in his Dantian, accompanied by the faint howls of dragons and tigers. Thirty-six points of black and white intense light blasted open the furnace lid and shot toward the sky. The alchemy chamber filled with an intense fragrance, and the powerful energy fluctuations made Gu Xichen stagger. The thirty-six beams of light circled rapidly within the chamber a few times before shooting toward the alchemy room doorway with a piercing sound of breaking air.

"Heh heh! Stay right where you belong!"

A boundless joy suddenly filled Gu Xichen’s heart. He slowly opened his eyes, and two beams of purple light shot out several feet ahead of him. With a gentle sweep of his right hand toward the thirty-six fleeing elixirs, a potent suction force erupted from his palm. The thirty-six pills let out faint cries of sorrow as he snatched them all before him.

In a moment of divine inspiration, a patch of fine Lunar Profound Flames suddenly burst forth from Gu Xichen’s palm.

The Two Energies Heavenly Elixir, as its name implied, was condensed from Yin and Yang energy. However, during the refinement process, the intensely powerful Acquired Flame had been used. This resulted in the elixir being intensely hot, with the Yang energy overpowering the Yin energy, meaning the elixir, though formed, was not of the highest quality.

But as the Lunar Profound Flames appeared, a stream of pure Innate Yin energy gently brushed over the thirty-six elixirs. The acquired fiery heat within the elixirs vanished without a trace. Struck by the chilling Yin energy, the explosive medicinal power, which had threatened to burst forth from the pills, suddenly retracted inward. Not a single gleam of light escaped the elixir; the fragrance that had previously permeated the chamber also vanished completely.

The thirty-six thumb-sized pills, dull in color, emitting no luster and possessing no scent, appeared black and white, resembling lumps of crude pottery, were held in Gu Xichen’s hands.

Though unimpressive in appearance, each of the thirty-six pills was harder than steel and weighed at least ten catties apiece.

"Divine objects conceal themselves; this is the mark of a superior spirit elixir!"

Gu Xichen suddenly gained this insight. He smiled, looking at the Two Energies Heavenly Elixirs in his hands, and the purple light in his eyes receded. The elegant clear Qi drifting around him quickly retracted into his body. The unusual, radiant luster on his hair and skin disappeared, making him seem to transform from a piece of the finest mutton-fat jade into an ordinary piece of granite.

Not a single trace of vital energy leaked outward; his being formed a small world unto itself, where all True Qi and spirit consciousness circulated freely, smoothly, and harmoniously.

Suddenly, Gu Xichen gained a new understanding of the Primordial True Canon. His strengthened mental power connected with the Primordial Dao Embryo, allowing him to perceive certain residual information.

After pondering for a while, he slowly took out thirty-six jade bottles and placed the elixirs inside one by one, sealing them. With a casual flick of his wrist, he swept the alchemy furnace aside.

Staring at the fierce Earth Flames before him, Gu Xichen shook his hand and tossed out the massive corpse of a Qilin.

Countless marvelous insights and techniques flooded his mind. Gu Xichen briefly reviewed this sudden influx of memory, a satisfied smile forming on his face.

"Excellent. I was planning on soliciting help for some matters, but now it seems relying on myself is sufficient."

After a moment of contemplation, he approached the Qilin and proceeded to pluck off all its scales. The Qilin possessed thirty-six thousand scales in total. Each scale weighed a hundred catties, totaling an astonishing thirty-six million catties. Moreover, every scale radiated waves of heat, within which the faint swirl of Innate Scarlet Flames could be detected.

Nodding in satisfaction, Gu Xichen chuckled, "It's time to prepare for the future. Hmm, the Primordial True Canon is nearly complete; what lies beyond?"

Taking a deep breath, Gu Xichen looked toward the door of the alchemy chamber.

Two elk chased a tiny white crane, flying past in a naturally interesting, inherently harmonious scene. Reminder: Mid-session break. Soon, soon, soon. Monthly tickets, monthly tickets, monthly tickets (To be continued).