195: Daoist alchemy confirms, Nine Yin Yellow Springs

Deep within the Mittel Auction House in Tianbei City, inside a secret chamber temporarily commandeered by Li Ao and protected by layers of Soul barriers.

The Medicine Cauldron floated in the air. Below the cauldron was not ordinary flame, but the "Ashes of Fire," condensed by Li Ao using his own Dou Qi mixed with a trace of Nirvana Power. This flame was dull in color, yet its temperature was incredibly high, and it carried the strange characteristic of incinerating all things and returning them to their Origin. This was a method of fire control he had devised himself based on the techniques recorded in the Nirvana Heavenly Scripture.

What he intended to refine was not an ordinary Medicinal Pill, but the "nine yin yellow springs pill," specifically used to resist extreme fire poison and protect the heart meridian. This pill ranked at Seventh-Grade Peak, possessed extremely cold medicinal properties, and was completely contrary to the environment of the Yan Clan's territory, perfectly aligning with the principle of Yin and Yang counteraction. The main ingredient required for the Alchemy, "Nine Serene Yellow Springs Grass," and several other auxiliary herbs, were all urgently collected by Ya Fei through the Mittel Family's channels at a considerable cost.

Li Ao held his breath and focused his mind, his Soul Power acting like the most precise instrument, controlling every minute change within the Medicine Cauldron. Stalks of medicinal herbs emitting cold Qi were thrown into the cauldron. Under the scorching of the Ashes of Fire, they quickly transformed into medicinal fluid essence, their Impurities silently annihilated by the Nirvana Power, leaving only the purest components.

The refining process was not smooth sailing. The extreme Yin power contained within the "Nine Serene Yellow Springs Grass" was exceedingly domineering and violently clashed with the medicinal properties of the other auxiliary herbs; a slight mistake could cause the cauldron to explode. Li Ao concentrated fully, using his powerful Soul Power to forcibly reconcile and suppress the conflict, guiding the medicinal fluids toward slow Fusion.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. Refining a Seventh-Grade Peak Medicinal Pill was by no means easy for him now. This was not only a test of Dou Qi and Soul Power but also an extreme tempering of his Heart-Nature and control over energy.

Time passed slowly. The energy fluctuations inside the Medicine Cauldron grew increasingly intense. Under the scorching of the Ashes of Fire and the guidance of Li Ao's Soul Power, medicinal fluids of various colors began to converge and compress toward a central point, faintly forming the prototype of a Medicinal Pill the size of a Dragon's eye, with nine bizarre spiral patterns on its surface.

Just at the final moment before the Medicinal Pill was about to fully form, an anomaly suddenly occurred!

The pill prototype violently shook, and an extremely cold and turbulent energy erupted uncontrollably, actually striking against Li Ao's Soul Power, attempting to break free from his control! This was the precursor to the "nine yin yellow springs pill" backlash!

If it were an ordinary Alchemist, they would likely be flustered and might even be injured by the backlash. But a sharp glint flashed in Li Ao's eyes.

"Before me, you dare act presumptuously?"

With a thought, the nirvana star core, which had been dormant deep within his Qi Sea, trembled slightly. A purer and deeper Nirvana intent followed his Soul Power and descended directly into the Medicine Cauldron!

The moment that turbulent cold energy came into contact with this supreme Nirvana intent, it was as if it had met its natural predator; it instantly became docile, ceased struggling, and obediently merged into the pill prototype.

"Buzz—"

The Medicine Cauldron emitted a clear chime, and the lid automatically opened. A faint blue light, wrapped in gray-white Qi flow, shot into the sky. A rich medicinal fragrance instantly permeated the entire secret chamber, mixed with a chilling coldness that made one's heart palpitate!

The pill is complete!

Li Ao reached out and grabbed the Medicinal Pill, which was the size of a Dragon's eye, entirely faint blue, and covered with nine perfect spiral patterns, landing in his palm. The pill was bone-chilling to the touch, and the extreme Yin power contained within was pure and vast—it was a "nine yin yellow springs pill" of extremely high quality!

Looking at the Medicinal Pill in his palm, a trace of realization flashed in Li Ao's eyes.

"Alchemy is like cultivation; harmonizing Yin and Yang and balancing the Five Elements is essentially a form of control and application over the energy of heaven and earth. My Nirvana Power is not only capable of destruction but can also use the absolute will of 'End' to forcibly suppress and govern all runaway energy, forcing it to return to 'Order'."

This session of Alchemy not only allowed him to successfully refine the required Medicinal Pill but also gave him a new understanding of how to use his own power. Nirvana is not merely destruction; it is also a supreme power of "Rule."

Over the next few days, Li Ao opened the cauldron again and refined several auxiliary Medicinal Pills, such as the "Qi Recovery Pill" for rapidly restoring Dou Qi, and the "Ice Heart Pill" for treating fire-element injuries, in preparation for unforeseen needs.

At the same time, he began consciously adapting to extremely hot environments. He asked Steward Hoper to find some "Fire Fiend Stones," which only originate near subterranean lava, placed them in the secret chamber, and activated them to emit high temperatures and fire poison. He then positioned himself within, operating the nirvana star core to sense, analyze, and even devour the scorching, turbulent energy.

Initially, the scorching Qi made him feel slightly uncomfortable, and his skin felt a stinging pain. But soon, the nirvana star core displayed its essential nature of encompassing the end of all things. Whether it was extreme cold or extreme heat, before it, they were merely forms of energy. Gray-gold Qi flowed around Li Ao, stripping away and refining the scorching fire-attribute energy thread by thread, converting it into the most Origin Nirvana Power to nourish himself.

He even attempted to introduce a trace of Fire Fiend Qi into the blade of the "silent ruin." The pitch-black blade trembled slightly, and the scorching energy violently clashed with the Nirvana Death Qi inherent in the blade. However, under the forced governance of Li Ao's will, the two reached a fragile balance, causing an almost imperceptible dark red stream of light to occasionally flash across the blade, adding a touch of strangeness and dominance.

"That should be enough," Li Ao said to Medusa, who was waiting outside, several days later.

Medusa looked at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her purple eyes. She could sense that Li Ao's aura seemed more perfectly rounded and restrained than before his seclusion. Within the faint sharpness he exuded, there seemed to be an added trace of scorching Qi, forming a strange Fusion with his inherent Nirvana Power.

"Your adaptability is stronger than this King imagined," Medusa said coolly.

Li Ao smiled slightly: "It was merely a shortcut. The true test lies with the Yan Clan."

With all preparations complete, the two wasted no more time. They bid farewell to Hoper, left Tianbei City, and embarked on a new journey toward the southwestern region of Central Plains.

Shortly after they left, news regarding Li Ao refining a high-grade Medicinal Pill in Tianbei City and his imminent departure for the southwestern region quietly spread through various channels.

Certain eyes hidden in the shadows began to turn toward that land filled with volcanoes.

The southwestern region of Central Plains, the Hundred Thousand Volcanoes, the Yan Clan. A new storm was about to be stirred up on that burning land.