279: I'll avenge you in the future.

Outside the private room of the Medicine Spirit Pavilion, Lei Lie's burly figure paced back and forth restlessly, his massive feet making dull thuds on the floor.

He had been waiting here for several hours, from high noon until the sun began to set in the west.

The tea on the table had long gone cold, and one plate of food after another had been devoured by him.

At first, he had studied the potted medicinal plants in the room with some interest, but later he simply sat on the floor, idly counting the floor seams.

"How long has he been in there? Why is there no sound at all?"

Lei Lie scratched his steel-bristle-like short hair, his rugged face filled with anxiety and worry.

He wasn't worried about being hungry; he was worried about the situation inside.

"Old Mu's injuries are a terminal illness that even the Grand Elder shook his head at! So many Fifth and Sixth-Rank Alchemists came to examine him, but every single one left helpless, without even a peep! Brother Jiang is formidable, but can he really do anything?"

The more he thought about it, the more uncertain he felt, fearing that Jiang Donghua, in his attempt to save Old Mu, might end up getting himself into trouble.

If that happened, he would truly regret it for the rest of his life!

However, as time passed, his initial worry was gradually replaced by another emotion.

He suddenly slapped his large, fan-like palm, producing a crisp 'pah' sound, and a look of sudden realization and extreme excitement appeared on his face as he muttered to himself.

"No! Old Lei is truly foolish!"

"If the treatment wasn't going well, or if something went wrong, Brother Jiang would have come out long ago! Or at least there would be some noise coming from inside!"

"But now, there's no sound of fighting or pain inside, it's terrifyingly quiet!"

"What does this mean? It means the treatment is very likely in progress, and at the very least, it hasn't failed!"

"Maybe it's even having a damn effect!"

As this thought emerged, Lei Lie immediately trembled with excitement!

"Holy crap! Brother Jiang's methods are too heaven-defying!"

He widened his ox-like eyes, and his breathing became heavy.

"A problem that so many old fellows couldn't solve, he might actually be able to fix it?!"

"How is this a Fourth-Grade Alchemist? With this strength and these methods, he's probably already surpassed a typical Sixth-Rank Alchemist!"

Thinking of this, a fervent light suddenly burst forth from Lei Lie's eyes!

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking, and made an extremely solemn decision in his heart.

"Old Lei, in this life, I'm good at fighting, but not at thinking!"

"But I've realized that following the right person is stronger than anything else!"

"Brother Jiang is a genius, his methods are extraordinary, and he's loyal!"

"He's willing to take great risks for his friends! If Old Lei doesn't cling tightly to such a strong leg, then I'd be a true idiot!"

"Hold on tight, the leg is thick! Sooner or later, I'll also be able to rise to prominence with him!"

He no longer paced anxiously but sat down again, his back straight, a simple but incredibly firm smile on his face.

He would wait here patiently, even if it took forever!

He had already decided that Jiang Donghua was the greatest opportunity in Lei Lie's life!

This brother, he was determined to keep!

This strong leg, he would hold on to firmly!

Time flew by, like the sun and moon.

Inside the secret chamber, the passage of time was isolated from the outside world.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had quietly passed.

The vast torrent of energy that had once raged wildly, almost bursting the entire space, had now completely subsided and vanished without a trace.

The energy fluctuations permeating the air became extremely stable, contained, and profound, like a calm, deep sea after a storm.

The two figures sitting cross-legged on the stone bed, whose bodies had been abnormally swollen like inflated balloons, had long since returned to their normal physiques.

Their breathing became long, steady, and powerful; each inhalation could trigger a subtle resonance with the surrounding heaven and earth energy, and each exhalation carried a pure energy afterglow.

Clearly, both had passed the most dangerous stage of refinement and entered the final phase of consolidating their realm and settling their gains.

After an unknown period of time.

Jiang Donghua's eyes, which had been closed for over ten days, fluttered slightly, then slowly opened.

In his eyes, there was no longer the sharp edge of youth, but a depth and tranquility that came from profound experience; deep within his pupils, an invisible Soul Flame quietly burned, and wherever his gaze fell, even the air seemed to become clearer and more vibrant.

He slowly and deeply exhaled a turbid breath, which seemed to carry a trace of residual Soul Power, creating faint ripples in the air.

"Hoo..."

He stretched his body, which had become slightly stiff from prolonged sitting, and felt the unprecedented fullness of power within him and the clear sensation at the soul level, a complex and emotional smile involuntarily appearing on his face.

"Life is unpredictable, and opportunities are truly wonderful beyond words!"

He sighed softly.

The gains from this seclusion far exceeded his imagination!

What made him feel a hint of regret yet immense relief was that after absorbing Venerable Huanhai's vast soul origin, his Soul Power.

Although it soared all the way, it ultimately stopped steadily at the peak realm of Mortal Realm Great Perfection!

It was only a hair's breadth away from the Spirit Realm Soul, which symbolized the status of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist Grandmaster!

"Ultimately, it still lacked a bit of refinement and opportunity!"

Jiang Donghua understood that breaking through the soul realm was not merely a matter of accumulating energy; it required enlightenment and a specific kind of opportunity.

Forcing the breakthrough might even be counterproductive.

However, reaching Mortal Realm Great Perfection was already a realm countless Alchemists dreamed of!

This was enough to elevate his alchemy, soul perception, and control over Dou Techniques to a whole new level!

And the greater gain came from Venerable Huanhai's hundreds of years of alchemy experience and memory fragments!

Although incomplete, it contained countless rare Pill Formulas, unique herb processing methods, exquisite flame control techniques, and a profound understanding of various difficult diseases and energy attributes, like a vast treasure trove, imprinted deep within his mind!

These invaluable knowledge and experiences would require him to spend a long time slowly digesting, absorbing, and practicing, but they would undoubtedly pave a broad path for him to pursue higher-grade alchemy in the future!

Recalling Venerable Huanhai's final instructions and the reason for his demise.

He gently clenched his fist, making a heavy promise in his heart.

"Senior Huanhai, although you never asked, I owe you such a great kindness!"

"One day, if I, Jiang Donghua, have sufficient strength and encounter those from the Hall of Souls who commit heinous acts."

"I will certainly seek justice for you!"

"As for Sound Valley, if I gain strength in the future, I will also help look after it for senior."

This was not a promise made in a moment of impulse, but the nascent feeling of responsibility born from karma and his true nature.