540: Chapter 540 Returning to the Star Pivot

Night had completely fallen.

Star Pivot Hall was situated atop the main peak of Formation Peak, appearing like a massive fortress suspended in a sea of stars amidst the pitch-black night.

Su Ming, dressed in the purple robes signifying his status as a True Disciple, ascended the white jade steps. The hem of his purple robes fluttered slightly in the night breeze, making no sound of friction.

Ying stood spiritedly on his left shoulder. After absorbing the dense Spiritual Qi within the Sect, its originally black feathers appeared even more glossy and smooth, its golden eyes flashing with a sharp light in the darkness.

The gates of Star Pivot Hall were wide open.

There were no guards, nor any complex Restrictions.

Su Ming walked to the hall's entrance, paused to tidy his lapels, and then stepped over the high bronze threshold.

No lamps were lit inside the hall.

The only source of light came from an incredibly massive star map suspended in mid-air in the center of the hall. Countless tiny points of light, representing Formation nodes, flowed slowly in the void according to some profound Law, casting flickering light and shadow across the entire hall.

Master Xuan Heng stood quietly directly beneath the star map with his hands behind his back, his back turned to the hall entrance.

The loose, deep blue Daoist robe he wore seemed cavernous on him. He stood there as if he were one with the star map and the entire hall.

Su Ming stopped three zhang away from Master Xuan Heng.

He folded his hands in front of him and bowed deeply, performing a perfectly standard Disciple's salute.

“Disciple Su Ming pays respects to Revered Master.”

Su Ming's voice was steady and clear, echoing slowly within the hall.

The light from the star map flickered slightly.

Master Xuan Heng did not turn around immediately, maintaining his posture of looking up at the star map for three full breaths.

“You've returned.”

No trace of emotion could be heard in Master Xuan Heng's voice; it was like the water in a bottomless well.

“Yes.” Su Ming straightened up, but his hands remained respectfully at his sides.

Su Ming raised his right hand and smoothly brushed it over his Storage Pouch.

A small, translucent jade bottle, like mutton-fat white jade, quietly appeared in his palm.

Holding the jade bottle in both hands, he took two steps forward and solemnly placed it on the stone table carved with intricate Array Patterns in front of Master Xuan Heng.

“Revered Master, the ten-thousand-year void azure stone marrow, your Disciple has brought it back.”

Master Xuan Heng's gaze fell upon the jade bottle.

Even Master Xuan Heng, who usually kept his emotions hidden, could not help but have a rare flicker of movement in his eyes upon seeing this peerless Spirit Medicine.

He reached out his right hand, his withered fingertips lightly brushing over the top of the jade bottle.

The stopper of the jade bottle slid off soundlessly.

In an instant, an incredibly massive and terrifying vitality erupted from the small bottle like a volcanic eruption.

The originally cold air in Star Pivot Hall seemed to be injected with countless amounts of vigor in this moment. Even the points of light in the star map suspended in mid-air shook violently due to the impact of this vitality.

Master Xuan Heng closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Excellent quality.” Master Xuan Heng reopened his eyes and flicked his finger, resealing the bottle with the stopper, instantly cutting off that startling vitality.

Without any hesitation, Su Ming brushed his Storage Pouch again.

Two other exquisite jade boxes appeared side-by-side on the stone table.

“nine nether mysterious lotus. phoenix nirvana branch.”

Su Ming took half a step back, looking at the three peerless items on the stone table.

“Revered Master, the three main medicinal ingredients are now complete.” Su Ming's voice was extremely steady, but at this moment, he naturally posed the question he had been contemplating on the flying boat.

“Only, regarding the Pill Formula for the heaven-mending pill...” Su Ming paused at the right moment, his eyes showing a fitting trace of confusion and inquiry.

Master Xuan Heng looked at Su Ming, and a faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He seemed to have long expected Su Ming to ask this question.

“You rascal, you clearly have your own thoughts on the matter, yet you insist on hearing it from me personally.” Master Xuan Heng shook his head.

He turned around and lightly swept his wide sleeve over the stone table. The three jade boxes filled with peerless Spirit Medicine instantly disappeared, taken into his storage space.

“The Pill Formula for the heaven-mending pill has been with me from the very beginning.”

Master Xuan Heng placed his hands behind his back and turned his gaze back to the star map in mid-air.

“It is an extremely fragmented ancient formula. Years ago, while I was traveling through the Central Continent, I obtained it by chance.”

“Since both the Pill Formula and the ingredients are ready.” Su Ming bowed slightly and asked the most crucial question, “Revered Master, I wonder who the candidate for the Alchemy will be...”

Master Xuan Heng turned around and looked at Su Ming.

“Danding Peak, Elder Qing Yang.”

Master Xuan Heng's tone became extremely solemn when he spoke this name.

Su Ming quickly searched his memory for this name. In the rumors of the Cloud Hidden Sect, the most famous person on Danding Peak was the Peak Revered Master. As for this Elder Qing Yang, wasn't he the one who, a hundred years ago, after an Earth Rank High Grade Medicinal Pill furnace exploded, swore a solemn oath to seal his furnace for a century?

“You need not worry.” Master Xuan Heng seemed to see through Su Ming's concerns and said indifferently, “Although Qing Yang has sealed his furnace for a hundred years, he and I are life-and-death friends. Over this century, his cultivation in the Dao of Alchemy has not regressed; instead, because of his immersion in solitude, he has faintly touched upon a higher threshold. In the entire Cloud Hidden Sect, only he is qualified and capable of refining this batch of heaven-mending pills.”

“Disciple understands.” Su Ming lowered his head and responded without hesitation.

“But you must not let your guard down.”

Master Xuan Heng's tone suddenly became extremely severe, and the air in the hall seemed to freeze at that moment.

“The heaven-mending pill is an item that plunders the creation of heaven and earth. The refining process is extremely long and dangerous.”

Master Xuan Heng walked step by step to Su Ming, his deep gaze staring intently at him.

“On the final day of the pill's completion, the Law of heaven and earth will send down pill calamity. That is the will of heaven and earth to erase Heaven-Defying objects. Qing Yang will need to focus all his efforts on controlling the furnace fire and will have no room to distract himself to resist it.”

“And you,” Master Xuan Heng pointed at Su Ming's chest, “as the owner of the medicine for this batch of pills, you must be present throughout the entire process. When the pill calamity descends, you must use your own strength to endure that wave of backlash.”

Su Ming's breath hitched slightly.

“If you cannot endure it, the pill will be destroyed and the person will perish.” Master Xuan Heng's voice was as cold as a wintry wind in an ice cellar. “If you endure it, your shattered dao foundation can be reconstructed as it was before.”

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Su Ming had no way back, nor did he need one.

He slowly raised his head to meet Master Xuan Heng's severe gaze.

Folding his hands in front of him, Su Ming bowed very solemnly and deeply.

“Disciple will definitely not fail the mission.”

Master Xuan Heng looked at the resolute-eyed Disciple before him, a very hidden trace of admiration flashing in his eyes.

He swept his large sleeve and turned around.

“Go back and rest.” Master Xuan Heng's voice returned to tranquility. “Adjust your state to its peak. Tomorrow morning, come to Star Pivot Hall to find me.”

“I will take you up to Danding Peak.”