Deep in the mountains, where human footprints are rare, the evergreen hues stretch endlessly, forming the only dominant theme. Occasionally, the roars of great beasts echo through the forest, startling countless birds resting in the trees. At a spot midway along a sheer cliff face, a massive boulder juts out from the mountain wall. Constantly buffeted by wind and rain, its surface is exceptionally smooth, even gleaming with a subtle luster. Yet upon this boulder stands a young man dressed in black robes, his feet firmly rooted like ancient tree roots, tightly anchoring him to the stone. His body remains perfectly still, motionless. The young man in black robes was naturally Xiao Yan, who had just departed from Feng City. This time, awakening the Elder Medic would surely be a significant event, so he naturally could not carry out the ritual in the bustling, noisy environment of Feng City. After exchanging greetings with Xiao Li, he and Medusa once again entered the deep mountains, where even the loudest disturbances would be absorbed and vanish amidst the towering, layered peaks. For Medusa's attitude, Xiao Yan had long since grown accustomed, so he showed no surprise at all. He knew that though she rarely spoke to him, once she committed to something, she generally fulfilled it to an impeccable standard. With her by his side offering protection, Xiao Yan could almost feel completely at ease. Sitting cross-legged on the smooth giant stone, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes. After a while, when his breathing and heartbeat had settled into a steady rhythm, he gently extended his finger and snapped it—causing the crimson medicine cauldron to crash down once more, landing heavily upon the stone and making it tremble slightly. Gazing at the crimson cauldron before him, Xiao Yan's expression grew increasingly serious. The glow of Youhai Naji on his fingers flickered softly, and then one after another, herbs emerged from it, floating effortlessly into the space around him as though drawn by an unseen force. These herbs all appeared rather unusual, yet the distinct, peculiar aroma they emitted subtly conveyed a sense of serene comfort, as though one's soul were being bathed in a hot spring. Inhaling the strange medicinal scents, Xiao Yan's smile grew even more radiant—these herbs indeed exerted a significant effect on the soul. With a gentle flick of his finger, a strand of Lüli Lotus-heart flame shot forth, then danced gracefully like a fire spirit, weaving fluidly around the tips of Xiao Yan's fingers. "Go," he murmured. Instantly, the flame surged forward and entered the medicinal cauldron through its flame channel. As it reached the cauldron's interior, it suddenly expanded, blazing into a vibrant, roaring flame that rose and swirled within. As the flame danced and surged within the cauldron, after a while, Xiao Yan suddenly lightly tapped a suspended herb before him with his long, slender finger. With a precise, deft motion, he propelled it directly into the cauldron. As soon as the herb entered the medicinal cauldron, it was completely enveloped by the emerald flames. Yet the intense heat did not immediately cause it to burn to ash—on the contrary, during the flame's roasting process, the herb emitted a subtle, luminous sheen resembling that of white jade, actively attempting to insulate itself from the heat. Thus, it was no surprise to Xiao Yan that the Lu Li Lotus heart fire could withstand the intense heat—there should be no haste in refining this herb; rather, a steady, gradual process was the true path to mastery. Gazing at the roaring flames within the cauldron, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes. He knew that even with the strength of the Lu Li Lotus heart fire, it would likely take several days to fully refine this "Snow Jade Bone Root." Though he had anticipated the root's fire resistance, he was still astonished when, on the third day, he observed the root beginning to melt—these healing herbs truly differed from ordinary ones. Could such a hard substance still be considered a medicinal herb? As Xiao Yan calmly and patiently refined it, by the fifth day, the once-impenetrable Snow Jade Bone Root had completely melted into a smooth, snow-white, viscous liquid. Place the pale, viscous liquids at a slightly cooler spot within the medicinal cauldron and gently roast them with low heat. Then, without pause, Xiao Yan immediately introduced another herb equally difficult to refine, once again beginning the tedious process of refinement. Deep in the mountains, with no sense of time passing, as one after another of the herbs suspended before Xiao Yan gradually transformed into various colored liquid medicinals within the cauldron, time itself flowed silently through his fingers. After nearly a month spent deep in the mountains, Xiao Yan finally completed the complete refinement of all the herbs, and then spent an additional seven days to blend these liquid medicinals into a unified essence. On the steep cliff, Xiao Yan gazed upon the thick, translucent liquid within the cauldron, radiating a soft, varied luster. He finally exhaled a deep, relieved breath—though this was not the preparation of a pill, it was undoubtedly the longest time he had ever spent before the cauldron. For over a month, seated motionless before the medicinal cauldron, steadily drawing and replenishing the qi to sustain the flame within, the cauldron's flame burned continuously. This sustained high demand on his qi—had it not been for Xiao Yan's current attainment of the Battle King rank, and for the "Burned Technique" cultivation method having evolved to the lower tier of the Earth-level—would have inevitably depleted his qi reserves. Even with his unwavering resolve, he likely would have collapsed from the stone platform and tumbled down to the cliff's base. "Finally, it's complete..." Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan smiled, revealing a bright, white set of teeth. This month of relentless dedication—akin to that of a furnace worker—had yielded significant results. Beyond the successful fusion of the medicinal liquids, after a month of continuous refinement, Xiao Yan had noticed a marked improvement in his control over the Lirui Lotus Fire, a unique flame formed by the fusion of two distinct heterofires. While the process of alchemical refinement was monotonous and mentally taxing, it offered exceptional benefits in refining his mastery of flame manipulation. After pausing for about ten minutes to rest, Xiao Yan regained his composure and shifted his gaze from the cauldron to the ancient, dark ring on his finger. With a slight hesitation, he gently removed it. Placing the ring gently in the palm of his hand, Xiang Yan held it firmly. After a moment, he suddenly bit down hard on his teeth, then threw his hand forward—guiding the dark ring with a smooth, precise motion, and sending it into the roaring pot of medicinal liquid! Seeing the vibrant medicinal liquid successfully encasing the dark ring, Xiao Yan smiled slightly. Then, he altered his hand seal, and the previously weak and sluggish emerald flames within the cauldron suddenly surged with energy, erupting in a powerful burst that immediately engulfed the colorful medicinal liquid. The intense heat, even with the red cauldron providing some insulation, gradually distorted the surrounding space. Under Xiao Yan's control, the vibrant liquid offered little resistance to the emerald flames. Its viscous surface began to form tiny bubbles under the scorching heat, which occasionally burst, releasing invisible wisps of vapor that, compressed by the temperature, threaded through the liquid and seamlessly merged into the dark ring without a trace of sound.