89: The void solidifies into a cauldron, and all fires submit.

Dead silence!

The square, which had been boisterous, was now so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Tens of thousands of gazes, filled with indescribable shock and horror, were fixed on the figure in the green robe, and the flickering, pitch-black flame in his palm!

The flame was as deep as eternal night, as if it could swallow even light. It lacked the usual fiery intensity of ordinary flames, instead exuding a chilling, deathly stillness that made one's Soul tremble. However, it was this seemingly calm flame that emitted a primal pressure, surpassing all other fires!

Under this pressure, the tens of thousands of flames on the square, which had originally been competing for brilliance—whether they were powerful Beast Fire, strange Heaven and Earth Fire, or even those few lower-ranked strange fire—now dimmed their light and flickered violently, as if they had encountered a born emperor. Some Beast Fire of slightly poorer quality even extinguished with a "puff," and their masters suffered a backlash, turning pale and spitting out fresh blood!

All fires bowed in worship, none dared to disobey!

"What... what kind of flame is this?!" a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, who possessed the strange fire "Green Lotus Fire," asked with a dry voice and a face full of disbelief. His proud Green Lotus Fire was now as docile as a sheep, clearly conveying fear.

"My Turtle Spirit Earth Fire... is actually trembling?! It's ranked thirteenth on the strange fire ranking list!" another Prodigy from a major Family exclaimed in shock. He desperately urged his Qi, but found that the connection between him and the Turtle Spirit Earth Fire had become incredibly obscure, and the flame simply wouldn't obey!

"Void... Is it the Void Swallowing Flame?! Impossible! How could such a divine object appear in the hands of a young man?!" On the high platform, a knowledgeable Pill Tower Elder's beard trembled, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty. He had felt the recorded pressure of the second-ranked Void Swallowing Flame. Although this flame in front of him was somewhat different, lacking the domineering quality of devouring Heaven and Earth, and possessing more of a Concept of quietude and Return to Stillness, its essential level was absolutely terrifying!

Only a few strange fire in the entire arena could barely maintain their form, but they too had their light restrained, not daring to show the slightest arrogance. This included the Prodigy from Burning Flame Valley who possessed the "Nine Dragon Lightning Flame" (ranked twelfth on the strange fire ranking list), and a wisp of bone-white flame (Bone Chilling Flame, ranked eleventh on the strange fire ranking list) hidden within another mysterious Black-Robed Youth. But their gazes towards Li Ao were also filled with unprecedented solemnity and apprehension.

Li Ao became the absolute center of the entire square!

Facing the shock of the entire arena and countless complex gazes, Li Ao's expression remained calm. The flame in his palm was naturally the "Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire." Although it was not the Origin, after being nourished by his Annihilation Rule and refined by his own Qi and blood, it had long since taken on the unique characteristic of "Return to Stillness." Its power and suppression of all fires were even superior to ordinary Child Fire.

He ignored the external disturbances, and his Soul Power surged out like an invisible tide, not into the Medicine Cauldron, but directly enveloping a portion of the "soul spirit pill" Medicinal Pill ingredients on the assessment platform.

Immediately after, under the astonished gaze of everyone, the wisp of pitch-black flame in his palm suddenly expanded and deformed, actually outlining and condensing itself in the air. In an instant, it transformed into an illusory Medicine Cauldron, more than half a person tall, completely composed of pitch-black flames!

On the body of the cauldron, profound runes vaguely flowed, exuding a deep, desolate aura, as if it could melt all things and return them to nothingness.

"Using... using fire to condense a cauldron?!"

"He's not using a physical Medicine Cauldron?! He's directly using a strange fire to condense a Medicine Cauldron for Alchemy?!"

"To what exquisite degree does he need to control the flame?! And how strong does his Soul Power need to be?!"

Exclamations rose one after another, each wave higher than the last! Ordinary Alchemist, even a Seventh-Rank Grandmaster, needed to rely on high-quality Medicine Cauldron to stabilize the flames and condense Medicinal Pill power. Directly condensing a cauldron with fire not only demanded extremely high Soul control, where a slight mistake could lead to the cauldron being destroyed and the Medicinal Pill wasted, but also required absolute confidence in one's own flame! What's more, he was using such a terrifying strange fire!

This had already exceeded the cognitive scope of many Alchemist!

On the high platform, the Pill Tower Elder who had previously recognized the extraordinary nature of the flame, his pupils contracted again, and he murmured, "Not just a strange fire... this child's Soul Power, I'm afraid it has already reached... the Late Stage of the Soul Realm, or even Great Perfection?! Such a young Great Perfection Soul Realm Soul?! This..."

Another Elder beside him took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "This child is no ordinary person! This Pill Gathering is going to be interesting!"

Li Ao ignored all the discussions, his mind completely immersed in Alchemy. For him, condensing a cauldron with the Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire was not difficult. This flame was already in perfect harmony with his will, like an arm directing a finger. The condensed flame Medicine Cauldron could further maximize the power and characteristics of the flame, especially suitable for refining Medicinal Pill related to the Soul.

"Go."

With a thought, stalks of processed Medicinal Pill ingredients, enveloped by powerful Soul Power, were sequentially placed into the pitch-black flame Medicine Cauldron.

As soon as the Medicinal Pill ingredients entered, they were not subjected to fierce burning like in ordinary Alchemy, but were enveloped by a gentle yet irresistible "Void" power. The Impurities within were silently decomposed and annihilated, leaving only the purest Medicinal Pill liquid essence. The entire process was silent, yet astonishingly efficient!

On the other assessment platforms, those top Prodigy, such as Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the white-robed youth who possessed the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, finally recovered from their initial shock. They took a deep look at Li Ao's fluid, almost artistic refining process, their Battle Intent growing stronger, and they too collected their thoughts, beginning to fully refine their own soul spirit pill. However, the flames in their palms were still inevitably suppressed to some extent, requiring more Heart-Nature to stabilize.

Time passed as an incense stick slowly burned.

On the square, Alchemist constantly exploded their Medicine Cauldron due to uncontrolled flames, insufficient Soul Power, or operational errors, and left the arena dejectedly. Those who could maintain their composure in such an environment and successfully refine a soul spirit pill were all individuals with tenacious Heart-Nature and solid Foundation.

Approximately half an incense stick later, an extremely rich Medicinal Pill fragrance, which made one's Soul feel comfortable, was the first to spread from the flame Medicine Cauldron where Li Ao was located!

The Medicinal Pill fragrance condensed without dispersing, faintly forming a circle of light silver halo above his Medicine Cauldron!

"Medicinal Pill Qi condensing into a halo! It's a perfect quality soul spirit pill!"

Someone knowledgeable exclaimed. To refine a perfect quality Fifth-Rank Peak Medicinal Pill in such a short time, in such an inconceivable way, was simply astonishing!

Li Ao flicked his finger, and the flame Medicine Cauldron quietly dissipated. A Medicinal Pill the size of a Dragon's eye, perfectly round and flawless, with a faint silver halo lingering on its surface, floated in his palm, exuding vast and pure Soul energy.

He didn't even look at it, casually tossing the Medicinal Pill into the testing jade plate beside the assessment platform. The jade plate glowed brightly, indicating it had passed.

Having completed all this, Li Ao closed his eyes and stood still, adjusting his breathing, as if all the surrounding noise and attention had nothing to do with him.

His performance made countless people feel a chill in their hearts. This composure and calmness were not a pretense, but stemmed from absolute confidence in his own strength!

As time passed, top Prodigy like Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the white-robed youth also successively formed their Medicinal Pill. Although the quality was not as perfect as Li Ao's, it also reached a high level, and they successfully passed the assessment.

When the last wisp of incense ash fell, the preliminary round ended. Of the tens of thousands of participants, less than a thousand remained! The elimination rate was astonishing!

Most of the Alchemist who passed the assessment showed joy on their faces, while also casting gazes of awe, apprehension, and curiosity towards the figure in the green robe who had seemed out of place from beginning to end.

Everyone understood that this Pill Gathering, due to the appearance of this person, was destined to be different from any previous one!

A supervising Elder flew down and began to announce the list of those who passed the preliminary round. When the name "Li Ao" was called, the entire arena once again cast their attention.

After the list was announced, the Elder's gaze swept over the Alchemist who had passed the assessment and said in a deep voice, "Congratulations to all of you for passing the preliminary round. Three days later, the second round of the Pill Gathering, the 'Soul Illusionary Realm' assessment, will be held at the entrance of the 'Soul Realm' within the Pill Tower. At that time, the top one hundred will be determined, who will be qualified to enter the final Alchemy duel! I hope you all prepare well!"

Soul Illusionary Realm!

Everyone's hearts tightened, knowing that it was the true test of an Alchemist's Foundation—a cruel checkpoint for Soul Power.

Li Ao slowly opened his eyes, a hint of interest flashing within them.

Soul Illusionary Realm? Perfect, he could use this opportunity to further temper his Soul and probe the depths of this Pill Tower.

With a movement of his body, he quietly left the square under the gaze of many eyes.

As he left, the terrifying flame pressure that had enveloped the entire arena finally dissipated, and all the Alchemist let out a long sigh of relief, feeling their palm flames return to normal.

But the name Li Ao, and his awe-inspiring act of "Void Condensing Cauldron" that shocked the entire arena, had already swept through the entire Pill City like a storm, reaching the ears of all major and minor forces, as well as those truly top-tier existences.

Pill City, because of him, was once again in turmoil!

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