After emerging from the molten world, Xiao Yan did not immediately rush to prepare the Tian Hún Róng Xuè Dan. A seventh-rank pill is no ordinary achievement; even at his peak strength, with the aid of the Strange Fire, he might only achieve a success rate of no more than fifty percent. Moreover, considering his current state of exhaustion following the creation of the Earth Demon Puppet, the odds were even less favorable. Furthermore, some of the required herbs for the Tian Hún Róng Xuè Dan had not yet been fully gathered. And this preparation would not succeed in a single attempt—thus, Xiao Yan needed to stockpile sufficient materials in advance to avoid the embarrassment of running short on ingredients during the process. While seeking herbs, Xiao Yan did not expend much effort. Once he informed Xiao Li of the names of the required herbs, he activated the resources of the Xiao Clan to swiftly locate them. This large-scale search proved far more efficient than Xiao Yan conducting the search alone. After entrusting the task of gathering medicinal herbs to Xiao Li, Xiao Yan seemed much more at ease. He would occasionally stroll through the inner courtyard, offering guidance to a few Pan Gate members, and then, in his spare time, quietly cultivate, hoping to reach his peak state as soon as possible. And thus, he waited—nearly ten days. During this period, despite significant manpower investment, the Xiao Clan finally gathered all the herbs he needed, a quantity sufficient to allow Xiao Yan to fully relax and fully commit to his preparations. On the very third day after these herbs were delivered to him, while meditating in his quiet chamber, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. As his eyes opened, a sudden gust of wind roared through the sealed room, carrying with it a deep, resonant thunder. An invisible force pushed against his robes, inflating them, while subtle flashes of brilliance shimmered within the deep black pools of his eyes. At this moment, Xiao Yan was in perhaps his most peak state since he had ascended to the six-star Emperor rank! "A suitable time has come..." a soft, murmured voice escaped from his lips. Then, slowly, he rose to his feet. Instantly, a deep, resonant thunder crackled through the stillness of the chamber, and Xiao Yan's form began to blur. His silhouette grew increasingly hazy, until, after a while, it mysteriously dissolved... ... At the heart of the inner courtyard stood a tall stone staircase, its summit a small platform—just large enough for two people to sit cross-legged, measuring roughly a zhang in area. This was the highest point in the inner courtyard, and ordinary students were generally prohibited from entering. Looking up from the inner courtyard, this slender stone staircase appears as if it single-handedly supports the small platform. Standing upon it, one can take in the entire inner courtyard at a glance—just as, from this very spot, the entire courtyard population will be the first to notice. This stone staircase and platform have stood for a considerable time. According to Su Qian, the senior abbot, this has long been the daily practice site for the esteemed headmaster. Usually, ordinary students are prohibited from ascending here. However, this time, upon hearing that Xiao Yan intends to craft seventh-rank pills, Su Qian has specially opened the space for him to use. Naturally, given that the headmaster himself has chosen this place as his regular site for cultivation, it far exceeds its seemingly ordinary appearance. Subtle spatial fluctuations are subtly permeating the surrounding area of the stone platform—unnoticeable at first glance—yet remarkably distinct, as if acting like a magnet, drawing and gathering all the surrounding celestial energies into this very spot. The cultivation here proves exceptionally effective, enhanced further by the subtle spatial ripples that form a protective aura around it, ensuring high safety. As a result, the number of qualified individuals who can cultivate within the inner courtyard is quite limited. Suddenly, a soft rumble of thunder echoed from the otherwise tranquil stone platform, and then a figure streaked across the distance like a flash of lightning, materializing on the platform and settling into a meditative posture. It was Xiao Yan, who had just stepped out of his quiet chamber. At this moment, he was in a particularly peak state—his powerful qi flowed abundantly throughout his body, so strong and expansive that it carried an impressive, majestic presence. Such a sensation, even among cultivators at the peak of the Duke of the Realm tier, is rare. With Xiao Yan's current state, he resembles a light in the darkness—highly conspicuous. Thus, as soon as he appeared, figures swiftly darted out from various parts of the inner courtyard, rushing toward the stone platform and eventually halting about a hundred meters away, gazing at Xiao Yan from afar. Following these elders came several more figures who flashed into view and settled in the sky above. Upon seeing this, the elders promptly bowed in respect. In the inner courtyard, only Su Qian could command such reverence from these elders. Now, with a slight gaze, Su Qian observed Xiao Yan from a distance, sensing the rippling aura surrounding him, and a look of astonishment briefly passed over his face. He turned to his young physician, smiling gently, "It seems this young man has put in considerable effort for today..." The young physician nodded slightly, her eyes scanning the dense crowd below. With a slightly furrowed brow, she remarked, "Will the presence of so many people interfere with his alchemy practice here?" "Hehe, don't worry. Around this stone platform, there's a spatial fluctuation set up by the Head Administrator, making it difficult for outsiders to interfere. I've also arranged for him to refine the elixir here, as I believe it's for his own good—when a seventh-rank elixir is born, celestial phenomena usually accompany it, and there's no telling whether a divine lightning surge might also appear. The spatial setup around the platform will surely prove helpful at that time," Su Qian waved his hand and smiled. "I've just heard from the latest updates from Panmen that Xiao Yan, our senior, seems to be preparing to create a high-tier pill—something of exceptional rank." "Really crafting pills? I've long known that Senior Xiao Yan is not only exceptionally strong in combat but also a sixth-rank alchemist. To see him personally crafting pills today is truly impressive—now, when I return, I'll have something to boast about to my family members as well." As murmurs and conversations spread like ripples throughout the inner courtyard, more and more students stepped out of their rooms, gathered in the open spaces, and raised their eyes toward the stone platform high above. When they saw the slightly slender black figure standing there, a mixture of reverence and admiration shone in their eyes. Following their intense battle against the Earth Demon Elder, Xiao Yan's standing among the students had grown so strong that even the senior elders found it difficult to match. At a tall pavilion not far from the base of Shitai, many figures stand in close formation, each wearing identical badges upon their chests—clearly members of the Pan Gate. At the forefront stood Wu Hao, Hu Jia, Xiao Yu, Xin Lan, and the others, all standing with eager anticipation. They were well-informed about Xiao Yan's recent plans to refine pills—specifically, the seventh-rank pills, a tier that stirred a sense of awe even within the Black Angular Domain. In fact, such a refinement was exceptionally rare, and a master pill-maker capable of producing seventh-rank pills had not been seen in the Domain in several years. Seventh-rank pills already stood at the pinnacle of the pill hierarchy. Even when placed among the elite in the Central Region, they would undoubtedly spark significant excitement. At this level, even some elders of the Dao Sect rank would be willing to step forward and compete. "This fellow has never been content before he departs. The scene today—perhaps the most grand in the Inner Courtyard's history..." Wu Hao glanced down at the courtyard below. Most of the space was now empty, filled instead by dense crowds of figures. All eyes converged upon the black-robed young man standing on the stone platform. "However, if he truly succeeds in crafting the seventh-rank pill, he might well become the strongest student since the founding of the Canaan Academy..." Xiao Yu smiled gently, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she fixed her gaze on the slender figure, finding it hard to believe that the young man once deemed a mere waste within his family had now taken his seat at the most honored place in the academy. "Since the academy's establishment, only two students have reached the Battle Emperor rank before graduation, one has reached the Battle Sovereign rank—this latter one being no ordinary human—and even with his exceptional innate talent, he has only achieved this level. But if Xiao Yan succeeds today in producing a seventh-rank pill, he would surpass all of them." Hu Jia chuckled, looking at Xiao Yan, saying, "This guy truly is outstanding. Even I, who've always been so composed, can't help but feel genuinely intrigued now. It's no wonder that even Xun'er, such a precious prodigy, has fallen deeply in love with him." Xinlan smiled gently beside him, her eyes shining with excitement as they gazed at the stone platform. She was filled with anticipation—should Xiao Yan succeed in crafting a seventh-rank pill, his potential would be truly remarkable. After all, a young alchemist capable of producing seventh-rank pills was a rare phenomenon, even among the central provinces. At this moment, however, Xiao Yan was entirely unaware of the stir his presence had caused within the inner courtyard. His mind was fully focused, and external distractions had now faded completely. "Ah…" A warm, vibrant breath escaped his nostrils. His eyes then darkened with intense concentration. With a simple hand motion, a massive crimson cauldron materialized and crashed down onto the platform with a resonant clang. Thus began the most challenging alchemical endeavor of Xiao Yan's career as an alchemist.