Chapter 22: Blazing Inferno Pill?

  In the northern high peak of Huichun Valley, outside a cave mansion, Dan Fusheng and seven fellow disciples wearing light purple Taoist robes sat cross-legged, blocking the entrance to the cave according to the Bagua position. As the mountain wind blew by, withered branches and leaves floated down from the mountaintop, but were pushed away by an invisible force about a hundred feet away from the cave entrance, shattering into powder.

  Tan Fengsheng and the other eight Taoists, each assumed a five-heart-towards-the-sky posture, with a red, white, blue or yellow fist-thick air column shooting up from their heads to over three zhang high. The air columns dispersed in the air, transforming into a several-meter-wide halo of misty vapor, within which seemed to be some lotus-flower-shaped phantasms flickering. However, those phantasms were too dim and scattered, looking as if they lacked the underlying energy, almost every moment having a group of phantasms trying hard to coalesce into shape, yet often at the last minute failing to do so, dispersing again into tiny rays of light floating away.

  After a while, Dan Fusheng's Chapter 022 of the alchemy formula he had comprehended was indeed effective. Hehe! The modified Huiling Dan formula that Yaoyi had randomly created, I made some changes to it, and it turned out to be incredibly effective!"

  Huā Fēng's face twitched, she stared at Danxia in shock and asked in a low voice: "Shī Niáng, the prescription you gave to Little Shī Dì, are you sure about it yourself?"

  Danxia looked at Huafeng in surprise, saying matter-of-factly: "Of course not! After all, that's a modified version of the Liuyan Dan recipe! That's a top-grade spiritual elixir!"

  Huā Fēng'er stared blankly at Danxia and asked in a low voice: "Then, if Little Shidi fails this time and doesn't get first place?"

  Danxia snorted, her beautiful face turned stern, and she said viciously: "Such an incompetent disciple, of course, must go to face the wall for three years to reflect! Baibao Hongniu clothes ah! Such a beautiful robe... Eh, Feng'er, you dare to speak to your master like this, are you dissatisfied with your master?"

  Hua Feng'er lowered her head, her eyes rolling around in a flurry of movement, and said obediently: "How dare the wind?"

  "Exactly!" Danxia said with a low chuckle, "Isn't this prescription effective now? At least the first three main medicines have been added without any mishaps." Danxia patted his chest proudly and boasted, "I, Shifu, would never make mistakes! Even a clumsy person like you can improve the Huiling Dan, how could I, Shifu, be worse than you?"

  Huafeng's eyes twitched as he stared at Danxia, and for a long time, he didn't make a sound.

  The simplified version of the Blazing Core Pill was extremely quick to refine, and Lin Xiao spent only three hours condensing the medicinal liquid in the pill cauldron into a fist-sized lump of thick ointment. At this point, he should have used the spiritual seal to shape the medicine, and finally use the literary and martial fire to transform forty-nine times, causing the core energy of the medicine to be internalized, forming a qualified Spiritual Core Pill.

  However, because too many auxiliary medicines were used in the refining process to melt those difficult-to-refine main medicines into one, the medicinal properties of these auxiliary medicines are mixed and will seriously affect the final effect of the elixir. It is even possible that due to these mixed medicinal powers, the elixir cannot be formed at all. Therefore, Lin Xiao threw in the last batch of auxiliary medicine 'Thousand Knots Grass', which has a warm and pure nature, and can absorb various medicinal powers. By melting it into the medicinal paste, although it may reduce the efficacy of the fierce flame elixir slightly, it can effectively offset the impact of those mixed medicinal powers on the elixir.

  Tan Xia's prescription is well thought out, and the addition of Qian Jie Cao at the end is also feasible in terms of pharmacology.

  But Lin Xiao felt that there was something slightly off about it.

  But, he couldn't think much about it. He continued to stir the elixir with a few swift movements, and the medicinal properties of the furnace rapidly transformed into a fist-sized pellet. After a burst of condensation, it finally turned into thirteen thumb-sized black-red pellets that rotated rapidly in the crucible. The speed at which the pellets rotated was so fast that it even stirred up the air inside the crucible, producing a humming noise.

  Just by looking at the different forms of these thirteen pills when they were formed, one can tell that their quality is quite good.

  Danxia finally put her mind at ease, unable to conceal the joy on her face, and chuckled softly: "Indeed, it's a top-grade elixir, its quality is at least higher than that Ning Shen Dan from earlier." After laughing for a while, Danxia furrowed her brow with some doubt: "But why is the pill black and red in color?"

  Hua Feng'er stared blankly at Dan Xia, unsure what was wrong. As everyone knew, 'Liang Yan Dan' was entirely crimson red, with a thread of flame-like dan qi wrapped around its exterior - this was the authentic Liang Yan Dan. Yet Dan Xia claimed that Lin Xiao's refined Liang Yan Dan was black and red in color? Black and red Liang Yan Dan? Red represented fire energy, what did black represent?

  "Haha, Danxia, are you satisfied now?"

  Danxia turned her head back with a bad temper and glared at Danling.

  Dan Jing Dao Ren chuckled and stroked his beard, sighing: "Unexpectedly, my junior sister knew the news of the grand competition and was able to refine an improved version of the Blazing Inferno Pill within just three days. The medicinal herbs wasted in three years could have been used to improve the Gathering Spirit Pill, which would already be a remarkable talent. My junior sister improved the Blazing Inferno Pill in just three days, this is incredible!"

  Danxia's face involuntarily flushed slightly, knowing that Danfeng Daoren was mocking her for using the idea of improving Huiling Dan to improve Lieyan Dan. However, she still glared at Danfeng Daoren with a fierce gaze and said in a cold voice: "Medicine is my apprentice!"

  Dan Jing Dao Ren smiled slightly and hastily said: "It's Dan Fu Shixiong's disciple."

  "Is there a difference?" Dan Xia glared at Dan Jing with one eye, his right hand already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

  Dan Jing said solemnly, "No distinction, of course no distinction... Ah, Dan Yu, quickly bring this batch of 200 disciples to come forward, we will carefully evaluate their elixirs." Lin Xiao's improved version of the Blazing Elixir took the longest time to refine. By the time he finished refining it, his fellow disciples had already completed theirs. Dan Yu brought Lin Xiao and the other disciples who were refining elixirs to stand before Dan Jing and the other elders.

  The other 199 alchemists' elixirs didn't have any good reviews, the highest was only a three-star 'Washing Marrow Elixir'.

  Lin Xiao presented thirteen variant Blazing Inferno Pills, and all the purple-robed elders furrowed their brows at the same time, softly expressing their surprise.

  What the Inferno Pill should look like, all the elders were clear about it. The black and red Inferno Pill, however, was something they had never seen before. But if you say this isn't an Inferno Pill, all the elders had used their spiritual sense to observe Lin Xian's pill-refining process, which clearly followed the steps for refining an Inferno Pill, only with many more auxiliary medicinal herbs added in. The use of these auxiliary herbs was also to be expected; no one thought that Lin Xian could possibly have the cultivation level required to refine a true Inferno Pill.

  Dan Xia said with some restraint: "Master Shixiong, look at this Dan medicine?"

  Dan Jing Dao Ren picked up a black and red medicinal pill, his face hesitant for a moment. This medicinal pill looked really strange, he sniffed it, but there was no smell, and he couldn't grasp what kind of medicinal pill this was. However, with his spiritual awareness probing, the medicinal energy within the pill was condensed and solidified, indeed a high-quality spiritual pill.

  But what about the specific efficacy?

  Dan Jing Dao Ren habitually picked up the dan medicine to test it on himself, but when he saw Dan Xia and Hua Feng Er's slightly tense faces, he changed his mind. With a flick of his eyes, Dan Jing Dao Ren smiled and said: "Dan Yu Shi Di, go catch a mountain monkey, let it freeze for an hour in the cold pool at the back of the mountain, then bring it back for me to treat."

  Danyu Dao Ren nodded and set up a white light barrier before leaving.

  Huā Fēng's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly leaned in close to Dān Xià's ear and asked: "Shī Niáng, the auxiliary herb used to blend with 'Yán Lóng Guǒ' is it not 'Dú Lóng Cǎo'?"

  Tan Xia looked at Hua Feng'er and nodded: "It's 'Dulon Grass', what's wrong?"

  Huā Fēng'er's eyes wandered for a moment, and she asked Dān Xiá again: "Shī Niáng, when you told your disciple to prepare various auxiliary medicines, you didn't write a prescription, but instead orally instructed the medicinal materials. Was it 'Dú Lóng Cǎo'?"

  Danxia nodded slightly impatiently and said in a low voice, "It's indeed 'Dulóng Grass', what's with all the fuss? Didn't your Master Dan Yu go to catch monkeys? We'll know how this medicine works later."

  Hua Feng'er opened his mouth, but didn't make a sound.

  Lin Xiao, who was standing aside, caught some clues and looked at Danxia and Huafeng with a drumming heart, his eyes wide open.

  Tan Xia noticed Lin Xiao staring at her and couldn't help but turn around to look at him. When she saw Lin Xiao's wide eyes, Tan Xia seemed to think of something too, and she opened her mouth, looking towards Hua Feng'er. Hua Feng'er awkwardly smiled at Tan Xia and quickly retreated a few steps. Tan Xia's face turned pale and uncertain, and she slapped her forehead hard, suddenly muttering in a low voice: "My master's 'Baibao Hongniu Yi'! You two incompetent disciples!"

  Lin Xiao's neck shrunk back, and he quietly slipped behind Dan Jing Daoist. He thought innocently: "What is this? What does it have to do with me? Didn't I just diligently refine the elixir? Even if something went wrong, it has nothing to do with me!"

  As for Dan Yun, who was about to swallow the elixir to test its properties, he had also clearly heard the whispers between Dan Xia and Hua Feng'er. Dan Yun's face turned black with rage, and he carelessly tossed the elixir back onto a jade plate held by a young Daoist, shooting a helpless glance at Dan Xia and Hua Feng'er.

  After a moment, Dan Yudao rushed back with a mountain ape's sword covered in thin ice shards. He shouted loudly: "Brother, quickly, the Blazing Fire Pill! This monkey's five organs and six entrails have all frozen into ice shards, hurry up and take the medicine, otherwise this monkey's life will be on your head, it has nothing to do with me, brother!"

  Dan Jing Daoren's face turned black again, and he casually grabbed a 'Lianyan Dan' and shot it out with his hand, which happened to shoot into the mouth of that mountain monkey.

  All that was heard was the mountain gibbon letting out a sharp, mournful screech. Its body, covered in icicles, shook violently as it suddenly jumped up to a height of over ten zhang. After a few shrill cries, its body transformed into a blazing fireball. In just an instant, the mountain gibbon that Dan Yu Dao Ren had caught, which was almost as tall as a person, was reduced to nothing but a pile of ashes.

  "Hmph~~~~" All the Taoists present gasped in unison, while casting mysterious glances at Lin Xiao.

  Lin Xiao helplessly covered his head with both hands and crouched on the ground under the gaze of thousands of strange eyes.

  Dān Jǐng Dào Rén glanced at the twelve black and red "Inferno Pellets" in the jade plate on the Dao Tong's hand with a hint of fear, and gently patted his own forehead. He said in a deep voice: "Lín Xiāo Shī Zhí, bring out the alchemy formula for this pellet!"

  Lin Xiao quickly pulled out the yellow silk handkerchief that Dan Xia had stuffed into his sleeve and threw it to Dan Jing Dao Ren.

  A group of elders from the Dan Dao sect gathered together, gesturing to each other with a yellow silk cloth for a while, and the sound of Dan Xia's cries kept coming.

  After a while, the group of elders dispersed, and Dan Jing Dao's face turned stern as he swept his gaze over the disciples present. In a deep voice, he said: "After confirmation by all the elders, the elixir refined by Lin Xiao is not the 'Blazing Elixir' of the Zhōu character level, but rather an unnamed 'Elixir Poison' with medicinal properties that have reached the Yǔ character level. With the True Fire Technique's 8th layer of cultivation to refine a Yǔ character level elixir... Hmm, in this grand competition, the first place winner is Lin Xiao!"

  The large square was quiet, with everyone staring blankly at Lin Xiao, their eyes occasionally glancing over to the embarrassed-looking Dan Xia and Hua Feng'er.

  Indeed, there is a trick to it.

  Low-grade gatekeeper is far inferior, able to refine the universe-level spiritual elixir, Lin Xiang is absolutely the first person since the opening of the Da Luo Dan Dao.

  But the low-level gatekeeper is much worse, not refining the life-saving spiritual elixir, but instead refining the poisonous elixir that harms people. Lin Xiao is even more of a pioneer in breaking through the sky, and no one has achieved such great merits as him.

  Lin Xiao was at a loss for words when he received the first prize rewards from Dan Jing Dao Ren's hands.

  I am now famous in the Grand Dao, everyone in the Grand Dao should know me by now?