Chapter 1756: Refining Pills

Revered Mirror Great Venerable paused, her gaze fixed on Jiang Fan with a look of confusion. What had she just heard? Jiang Fan said he wanted to refine pills? Wasn't that a skill exclusive to soul masters? And a Rank 7 Grand Pill at that.

The Traceless Sage, who had been about to dismissively leave, also froze. He scrutinized Jiang Fan from head to toe. "You can refine pills too?" he asked.

Jiang Fan nodded. "A little," he replied.

The Traceless Sage's expression turned to one of astonishment. "You're one of us, a soul master?" He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, his surprise deepening. "Your soul truly bears marks of specialized cultivation." He opened his eyes. "What rank of soul master are you?"

Jiang Fan shook his head. "I haven't been tested," he said, "but I once refined a Rank 5 Spirit Pill."

"You're a Five-Star Soul Master?" the Traceless Sage exclaimed, surprised. "Who is your master?"

If Jiang Fan had hailed from the Medicine God Temple or the Longevity Palace of Danzhou, the Sage wouldn't have been surprised. These prominent alchemy powers possess formidable traditions, making it possible to cultivate a Five-Star Soul Master so young if trained from childhood. The issue was that Jiang Fan didn't originate from any orthodox alchemy lineage.

Jiang Fan merely shrugged. "Self-taught," he stated.

The Traceless Sage scoffed. "I'd sooner believe I'm an Ancient Saint!" he retorted. How could anyone become a Five-Star Soul Master through self-study? The path of a soul master involved too many profound insights; growth was incredibly difficult without the direct, hands-on guidance of experienced elders. This was precisely one of the reasons for the scarcity of soul masters.

Suspecting Jiang Fan was simply concealing his true lineage, the Sage didn't press further. "These materials are unique; don't waste them as a mere Five-Star Soul Master," he advised. "Save them for when you encounter a formidable Seven-Star Soul Master."

Jiang Fan, however, looked genuinely interested. "I'd like to try," he said.

Even as a Three-Aperture Nascent Soul, he had been capable of refining mid-grade Rank 5 spirit pills. Now, having not only reached the Soul Transformation stage but also the Second Decline of Heaven and Man, his soul power had undergone a monumental transformation. Refining Rank 6 spirit pills would be effortlessly simple. He even had a chance of successfully refining Rank 7 spirit pills. And with the Nine Dragon Demonic Cauldron's incredible ability to elevate a spirit pill by one rank, successfully refining a Rank 7 Dragon-Phoenix Divine Gallbladder would be well within his capabilities.

The Traceless Sage opened his mouth, intending to persuade him further, but then reconsidered. He waved his hand, sending the eighteen jade boxes, along with the pill formula for the Dragon-Phoenix Divine Gallbladder, over to Jiang Fan. "Fine, do as you please," he conceded. The items had already been given to Jiang Fan, so he might as well let him do what he wished with them. Young people nowadays simply wouldn't listen to advice, he thought. With that, he dissipated into nothingness.

Jiang Fan, beaming with delight, put away the eighteen jade boxes. Then, he gently touched Gong Caiyi's belly. "Wait for it," he whispered. "Your dad is going to refine a Grand Pill for you right now."

Gong Caiyi's face softened. "Husband, please don't push yourself," she said. "The child and I are already very happy just knowing your intention."

Revered Mirror Venerable also voiced her concern. "Xiaofan, perhaps we should wait," she suggested. "Godmother can inquire about a suitable soul master for you."

Jiang Fan smiled. "Don't worry, I'm confident," he reassured them. "Let's head back to the imperial residence first." Before he could begin refining the pill, he needed to fully integrate the final sections of Carefree Great Venerable's 'Taiyi Soul Art'. Only then would he be ready to start.

As they departed the imperial residence, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed. No one had anticipated that an operation originally designed to suppress Taicang Great State's prestige would escalate into the two Great Venerables of Tianzhou being violently beaten. Even more surprisingly, the Traceless Sage had appeared in the end, and instead of showing favoritism towards his own disciple, he had afforded Taicang Great State considerable respect.

On the pavilion floating in mid-air, numerous powerhouses also began to withdraw. "Just relying on some petty magical artifacts," Silver Moon Great Venerable scoffed. "Tianzhou is a place where status matters! You and Moon Venerable had best cease all contact, or if you refuse to save face, I'll ensure it's taken from you!" With that, he instantly teleported away.

The probing gazes from powers such as Young Emperor Mountain, Moon Palace, and the Buddhist Kingdom all receded.

Upon returning to the imperial residence, Jiang Fan saw that everyone was safe and sound, and he smiled faintly. "I'm relieved to see you all unharmed," he said.

Everyone present shared this sentiment. After enduring such a major battle, there was nothing more comforting than seeing familiar faces safe and sound.

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets replied, "We didn't face any danger, so there's no need to worry about us. You, on the other hand, have faced one grave peril after another."

Jiang Fan smiled, then retrieved the Spirit Rain collected by Sage Tiangong and the boundless resources gathered by Sage Tianluo, handing them all to the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets. "With the war concluded, our Heavenly Secrets Pavilion should now widely recruit disciples and expand our influence," he stated.

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets was deeply moved, a surge of ineffable pride swelling within him. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, founded by his ancestors, was finally destined to flourish and expand in his generation. What moved him even more profoundly was Jiang Fan's voice, which echoed directly in his mind:

"Pavilion Master, I have been to the eleventh layer of the underworld."

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets trembled violently. This was the long-cherished wish of every previous generation of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's ancestors. Had Jiang Fan finally accomplished it? "Is the Ancient Saint there?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Jiang Fan briefly recounted what he had witnessed. The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets initially wore a bitter expression; a millennium of pursuit had, in the end, been a journey down the wrong path. Yet, upon seeing Jiang Fan's vibrant, youthful face, his features softened into one of profound relief. The path the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had followed might have been mistaken, but it had nurtured virtuous individuals like Jiang Fan, who would leave an indelible, glorious mark on the history of the Central Lands' destiny. Therefore, the historical mission of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was complete, and its ancestors could finally rest in peace. Moving forward, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion would seek new purposes, continuing its legacy for generations to come.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries with everyone, Jiang Fan stepped into his cave dwelling. After a short period of meditation, he retrieved the 'Taiyi Soul Art', his eyes reflecting deep emotion.

"This masterpiece of alchemy, which has accompanied me since Lone Boat City and aided me immensely, is finally about to be mastered completely," he mused. "Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Eight-Star Soul Master Carefree Great Venerable."

He unrolled the scroll and began to read. The content that once caused his soul to feel swollen after only a brief perusal could now be effortlessly absorbed, presenting no impediment whatsoever.

Two hours later, he slowly closed the scripture, his eyes gleaming with profound enlightenment. At this moment, he had fully inherited all the alchemy techniques bequeathed by Carefree Great Venerable.

"My first time refining a Rank 7 Grand Pill," he murmured. "I hope there will be a pleasant surprise."

Jiang Fan retrieved the formula for the Dragon-Phoenix Divine Gallbladder and meticulously examined it. "This pill is indeed incredibly intricate," he noted, "with hundreds of steps. A single deviation at any stage would render the entire effort futile." He paused. "Even a Seven-Star Soul Master might not succeed in refining it. But I," he concluded, "will have no issue."

Purely in terms of alchemy technique, he was flawless. The only shortfall was his soul power, which might not be sufficient to precisely control the entire refining process to achieve a Rank 7 pill. However, this deficiency could be compensated for by the Nine Dragon Demonic Cauldron!

He took out the Nine Dragon Demonic Cauldron and the eighteen jade boxes. Taking a deep breath, he meticulously began the process by refining the materials. There was only one set of ingredients, leaving no room for even the slightest mistake.

Several hours later, subtle, unique fluctuations emanated from the secret chamber, silently diffusing into the void.

In the Medicine God Temple, within a massive black pill furnace, a flickering red light pulsed erratically. Moments later, the light abruptly died, and a plume of black smoke billowed from the cauldron's lid. The Traceless Sage stood before the furnace, sighing towards the heavens. "Still a failure," he lamented. "An Eight-Rank Heaven Pill is truly a realm beyond my grasp."