Chapter 24: Pill Explosion

The top-grade alchemy fire, the coal fire of the seventh-grade high-grade Yuan Stone, gradually rose, flickering with a bluish-purple flame. The immense Primordial Force within the coal Yuan Stone slowly dissipated in this flame.

Above the flame, an antique Alchemy Furnace steamed within the fire. Jiang Xincheng slowly placed a small piece of Seven Refined Iron into the Alchemy Furnace, which was quickly burned into silvery-white molten iron by the bluish-purple Primordial Force flame.

His Spiritual Sense spread out, winding around the silvery-white molten iron in fine threads, constantly observing the temperature changes of the molten iron and waiting for the moment to add the Century-Old Tree Root.

The Century-Old Tree Root had been crushed into powder by Jiang Xincheng, so fine that it was finer than flour by several times, and one could no longer tell that it was powder from a Century-Old Tree Root.

With a faint earthy smell, these Century-Old Tree Roots contained quite peculiar medicinal power. A hundred years of unwavering growth had formed today’s towering giant tree.

The roots were the foundation of the giant tree, containing the power tempered by the tree over a hundred years, rooted firmly and solidly. The Seven Refinements Pill required this very power within them.

At a certain moment, the silvery molten iron in the Alchemy Furnace began to steam, and it was at this time that Jiang Xincheng moved. With his right hand, he pinched the extremely fine powder and sprinkled it down, spreading it evenly, striving to ensure that each drop of molten iron could absorb an equal amount of the Century-Old Tree Root powder.

At the same time, in the Alchemy Furnace, the silvery molten iron began to steam, roar, and leap, drop by drop, absorbing the powder of the Century-Old Tree Root.

Sweat appeared on Jiang Xincheng’s forehead. At this moment, he not only had to control each drop of the silvery molten iron but also had to control the Century-Old Tree Root powder, striving to spread it evenly and ensure that the amount of Century-Old Tree Root powder in each drop of silvery molten iron did not vary by more than one percent.

Achieving this was undoubtedly very difficult; the slightest mistake could risk the furnace exploding.

His Spiritual Sense was operating at its limit. At this moment, Jiang Xincheng’s Spiritual Sense realm was only at the early peak of the Soldier Realm, making it quite difficult to control so much silvery molten iron. The slightest mistake would lead to total failure, and this was only the simplest of the initial steps.

However, relying on the rich experience from his previous life, although it was quite difficult, Jiang Xincheng completed this step in just a few minutes. Once this step was done, the next, even more challenging step was to hammer the wood into the steel.

He needed to temper the Century-Old Tree Root, infuse it deep into the Seven Refined Iron, and merge it with the Seven Refined Iron until they became one.

Taking a deep breath and feeling the majority of his Spiritual Sense Power remaining in his Spirit Sense Sea, a glint flashed in Jiang Xincheng’s eyes, and he slowly closed them.

In the Alchemy Furnace, the silvery molten iron split into three parts, like three silvery iron sheets. Under the influence of the invisible white Devouring Origin Force, they began to sound “thump, thump, thump…”

The Primordial Force acted like a hammer, tempering the silvery molten iron.

Time and again, over and over, he used his Spiritual Sense to control and the Primordial Force as a hammer, driving the Century-Old Tree Root deep into the molten iron, merging them into one.

Each round consumed a large amount of Spiritual Sense and Primordial Force, and each time he had to exert all his effort. Only in this way could he refine a better Seven Refinements Pill with stronger medicinal power.

Each day felt like a year; every second was a test for Jiang Xincheng, and every minute was a torment. His Spiritual Sense was still somewhat insufficient, making it quite difficult to refine the Seven Refinements Pill.

However, only by successfully refining the Seven Refinements Pill could he consolidate his realm in the shortest time and achieve a dual improvement in both Spiritual Sense and Primordial Force.

In just five minutes, which felt to Jiang Xincheng like undergoing a major surgery without anesthesia, his body was already covered in sweat, and he began to tremble slightly. If not for the decades of enduring hardships and too much pain and suffering, Jiang Xincheng would not have been able to hold on for so long. Fortunately, he made it through.

The first challenge in refining the Seven Refinements Pill was integrating the Century-Old Tree Root powder into the molten iron, and the second challenge was thoroughly hammering the Century-Old Tree Root powder into the silvery molten iron. After passing these two challenges, the rest would be much easier.

Feeling the brilliantly shining silvery molten iron in the Alchemy Furnace, Jiang Xincheng’s sweat-covered face broke into a bright smile. These two challenges were over, and it would be easier from now on.

After resting briefly and allowing the alchemy fire to temper the three pieces of silvery molten iron for a moment, Jiang Xincheng started moving again.

One by one, auxiliary Spiritual Herbs fell into the Alchemy Furnace, evenly blending into the silvery molten iron or circling around it. All the medicinal power slowly infiltrated the silvery molten iron.

Time flowed by, and several hours passed in the blink of an eye. The path of alchemy required patience above all; the slightest impatience could lead to failure, ranging from the pill being destroyed to the furnace exploding, causing serious injury or even life-threatening danger.

Fortunately, after decades of training in his previous life, Jiang Xincheng now possessed patience that, if not unmatched in the present age, could certainly be considered top-tier.

It was not until 8 p.m. that the refinement of the Seven Refinements Pill reached its final stages. Jiang Xincheng did not relax in the slightest; instead, he became even more careful and cautious.

The last ten percent of the effort is the hardest. The following steps might seem simple, but the slightest carelessness could risk failure in pill refinement, leaving no room for any negligence.

In the Alchemy Furnace, three black pills, each the size of a walnut, slowly rotated. On these three walnut-sized pills, seven silver stripes shimmered with a brilliant light.

This was the rudimentary form of the Seven Refinements Pill.

Jiang Xincheng did not dare to be careless. He carefully controlled the Primordial Force fire, carrying out the final tempering.

Half an hour later, Jiang Xincheng’s expression turned serious. He pointed with both hands and said, “Heaven and Earth revolve, Spiritual Pill emerge!”

The lid of the Alchemy Furnace suddenly flew open. One dark, silver-shimmering Seven Refinements Pill, following Jiang Xincheng’s command, abruptly flew out, spinning as it landed in a porcelain dish nearby. It continued to spin in the dish, radiating a dazzling light.

Jiang Xincheng smiled slightly and once again pointed at the Alchemy Furnace, saying, “Heaven and Earth revolve, Spiritual Pill emerge!”

Another silver-shimmering Seven Refinements Pill landed in the porcelain dish, emitting an intoxicating medicinal power.

Jiang Xincheng finally let out a sigh of relief. Producing two Seven Refinements Pills in one batch was already quite good. After all, his current Spiritual Sense realm was only at the early Soldier Realm, and refining this first-grade high-grade Seven Refinements Pill was already beyond his level, making it most prone to issues.

“Heaven and Earth revolve, Spiritual Pill emerge!”

Jiang Xincheng pointed at the Alchemy Furnace for the third time. A silver-shimmering Spiritual Pill suddenly leaped out but did not land in the white porcelain dish. Under Jiang Xincheng’s astonished gaze, the silver patterns on this Seven Refinements Pill suddenly twisted, then abruptly shrank, and immediately after, exploded with a boom.

Along with the explosion, black powder mixed with silver scattered everywhere, rushing out in all directions. Jiang Xincheng, who was right next to it, was hit directly.