104: Sixth-tier magical beast, Xuan Yan Frost Dragon

Jiang Donghua couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head as he saw the three of them staring at the jade, looking as if they wanted to take a bite out of it.

Lei Lie couldn't help but speak directly.

"Is this thing meant to be sliced like a cake for us to eat directly?"

"Senior Brother Lei, if you swallow this thing directly, I'm afraid even your iron stomach would be burned through."

While teasing, he took out several pieces of high-grade suet jade from his storage ring. A wisp of crimson Dou Qi rose from his palm, melting them into a jade knife as thin as a cicada's wing.

"Although the earth core fire jade marrow contains immense fire-attribute energy, its outer 'jade shell' is formed from the essence of millennia of magma, making it incredibly hard. Ordinary knives and swords cannot cut through it at all."

He flicked the jade knife with his fingertip, producing a crisp hum.

"Only jade of the same origin can cut it open without damage."

Liu Qingsi leaned in with interest, toxic mist swirling around her fingertips, yet she dared not touch it rashly, fearing to contaminate the spiritual material.

"Junior Brother knows quite a lot. It seems you've been secretly peeking at Master's Medicine Ceremony often?"

Her red lips curved slightly, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.

Jiang Donghua let out two dry laughs, not responding, only focusing on manipulating the jade knife, slowly cutting along the natural Texture on the surface of the jade.

The moment the blade touched the jade shell, it actually made a faint "sizzling" sound, as if it were burning.

Lei Lie squatted beside him, staring with wide eyes, and couldn't help but mumble.

"This thing is even harder to chew than my stick!"

Xiao Han stood with his arms crossed, his stern gaze fixed on Jiang Donghua's movements, and suddenly spoke.

"Will the energy burst out instantly once the jade shell cracks?"

Jiang Donghua's hands kept moving as he nodded and said,

"Yes, so it must be caught with a suet jade bottle, otherwise the essence will be lost, and the effect will be greatly reduced."

As soon as his voice fell, the jade knife finally cut into the core, and a scorching golden-red light burst forth!

"Retreat!"

Jiang Donghua shouted in a low voice, quickly aiming the jade bottle at the crack.

In an instant, a drop of liquid, crimson as blood yet clear as jade, slowly seeped out and fell into the bottle, causing the entire jade bottle to faintly turn red, with fine fire patterns appearing on its surface.

Lei Lie gasped.

"Good heavens, this thing looks hotter than magma!"

Jiang Donghua, however, revealed a satisfied smile.

"It's done. This is the true earth core fire jade marrow!"

Liu Qingsi's eyes flickered slightly as she softly said,

"Just one drop has such power. If it were refined into a pill..."

Xiao Han's gaze was profound as he slowly said,

"It's enough to allow a Peak Dou Ling to directly break through to Dou Wang."

Lei Lie rubbed his hands, grinning.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's divide it quickly!"

Jiang Donghua, however, shook his head.

"Don't rush, the energy of this jade marrow is too volatile. Direct consumption will surely lead to death. We need to find an Alchemist to formulate and neutralize its properties first."

Upon hearing this, the three of them all stared at him.

Jiang Donghua felt his scalp tingle under their gaze and chuckled dryly.

"Uh, although I know a bit about alchemy, for this level, I still need to find my Master."

Lei Lie slung an arm around his shoulder, laughing heartily.

"Let's go! To your Master! If this succeeds, I'll treat you to drinks!"

Jiang Donghua looked at the six bottles of earth core fire jade marrow in his hand, feeling both excited and apprehensive.

The energy contained in this item was too violent; even a Peak Dou Wang expert would surely explode and die if they consumed it rashly, let alone his current strength, which was far from that level.

"Sigh, if Master were here, it would be great."

He murmured softly, his fingertips gently caressing the jade bottle, feeling the scorching fluctuations emanating from within.

Lei Lie paced back and forth nearby, clearly impatient, but due to Mo Xuan's status as a Fifth-Grade Alchemist, he couldn't openly complain. He could only grumble,

"Junior Brother Jiang, where exactly has your Master gone? We can't just keep waiting, can we?"

Jiang Donghua gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"Master's whereabouts have always been erratic. Sometimes he goes out to gather herbs and is gone for ten days to half a month. I can't say for sure when he'll return."

Liu Qingsi glanced at Lei Lie, her red lips slightly curved, her tone languid.

"What's the rush? The jade marrow is already in hand; it's not going to grow legs and run away. Since Junior Brother Jiang promised to help us refine it, he wouldn't go back on his word, would he?"

Jiang Donghua quickly nodded.

"Of course not! It's just that it might require a few more days of waiting."

Xiao Han stood with his arms crossed, his gaze deep, and said indifferently,

"No matter. There are still missions in the Inner Academy, and we can't stay here indefinitely. Junior Brother Jiang, just notify us when your Master returns."

Although Lei Lie was anxious, he knew he couldn't force the issue and could only sigh.

"Alright, then we'll head back to the Inner Academy first. Junior Brother Jiang, don't make us wait too long!"

Jiang Donghua nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, once Master returns, we'll immediately begin refining, and it will definitely not delay the cultivation of you Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

Liu Qingsi chuckled softly, a toxic mist swirling around her fingertips, subtly brushing across Jiang Donghua's cheek.

"Junior Brother, don't disappoint us, okay?"

Jiang Donghua's heart skipped a beat from her gaze, and he quickly let out two dry laughs.

"Senior Sister, rest assured, how could I dare!"

The three said no more and turned to leave. Before Lei Lie left, he patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder and grinned.

"Once the pill is refined, I'll treat you to drinks!"

Jiang Donghua watched them leave. It wasn't until their figures disappeared from sight that he let out a long sigh, looked down at the jade marrow in his hand, and murmured,

"Master, oh Master, please come back soon."

He put away the jade bottle and then looked at the white jade shell that had been cut. Although it had lost its core jade marrow, it was, after all, formed from the essence of millennia of magma, making it incredibly hard.

"This thing would make a good defensive protective gear."

He stroked his chin, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

"If I could refine it into a heart-protecting mirror, it might save my life at a critical moment!"

Thinking of this, his mood improved slightly. He also put the jade shell into his storage ring and turned to walk towards the depths of the Alchemy Department.

Deep within the vast mountain range, ancient trees towered, clouds and mist swirled, and occasionally, a few low beast roars echoed, making the leaves rustle.

Two figures sped through the forest, none other than Dean Lei Tian of the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy and Fifth-Grade Alchemist Mo Xuan.

Dean Lei Tian's physique was robust; with every step he took, the ground trembled slightly. His brows were tightly furrowed, clearly indicating his impatience, and he finally couldn't help but speak.

"Old Mo! Along the way, this isn't right, that isn't right. What kind of Sixth-Tier Demonic Beast do you actually want?"

Mo Xuan, dressed in a grey robe with a stern face, snorted coldly at the remark and said without turning his head,

"For an Alchemist, the most important thing is the flame he refines himself! Do you think just any Sixth-Tier Demonic Beast will do? If the flame quality isn't good enough, will you still want this old man to refine Dou Ling Pills in the future?"

Dean Lei Tian was choked for a moment, his mouth twitching, and he said helplessly,

"Alright, alright, you call the shots! But we've been wandering in these mountains for several days already. If this continues, I'm afraid even Seventh-Tier Demonic Beasts will be disturbed!"

Mo Xuan's steps paused, his gaze sharply sweeping towards a distant valley, and he whispered,

"Found it."

Dean Lei Tian followed his gaze, only to see a giant beast, crimson all over with a pair of wings on its back, coiled on a large rock deep within the valley. Hot flames swirled around its body, scorching the surrounding air until it distorted.

"Sixth-Tier — Profound Flame Cold Flood Dragon?!"

Dean Lei Tian's pupils contracted, his tone grave.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Mo Xuan's eyes as he slowly said,

"Indeed, this beast's flame is extremely pure. If its Beast Fire can be refined, my Disciple Jiang Donghua's alchemy skills will surely advance further."

Dean Lei Tian took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and said in a deep voice,

"Then let's make our move! But this fellow is not easy to deal with. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Mo Xuan sneered, flicked his sleeve, and a dark red pill appeared in his palm, emitting an eerie fluctuation.

"Don't worry, this old man is well-prepared."

Seeing this, Dean Lei Tian grinned.

"Good! Then let's do it!"

Before his words finished, the two figures flashed, transforming into two afterimages, and charged straight towards the valley!