The preparation of a seventh-rank pill is an exceedingly intricate process, and the so-called Huo Pu Pill—being a high-grade seventh-rank variety—is even more challenging to refine. On the stone platform, silver flames burn vigorously within the medicinal cauldron, emitting a steady, resonant dragon's roar that continuously radiates out. The intense heat causes the space around the platform to subtly warp. Various herbs spiral through the air above the platform, occasionally being transferred into the cauldron at the mere gesture of Tang Zhen, only to be devoured by the nine dragon flames within. Yet, it must be acknowledged that this Nine-Drake Thunder-Flame is exceptionally convenient for refining medicinal herbs. The nine fire dragons resemble nine compact cauldrons, perfectly refining the herbs. Of course, Xiao Yan was well aware that ultimately, these nine dragons remained under Tang Zhen's control. Tang Zhen's mastery of flame control and his precise command of heat levels had reached an exceptionally high level—though his mind was divided into nine, he managed without a single mistake. One could imagine that if Tang Zhen possessed the qualifications of a true alchemist, his expertise in potion-making would undoubtedly be outstanding. As for Tang Zhen himself, Xiao Yan had always found him somewhat enigmatic. Tang Zhen's formidable nature was subtly perceptible through his keen intuition, yet in terms of his aura, Xiao Yan could detect no distinct signs. To describe him as profoundly deep and incalculable seems entirely fitting. Moreover, although Tang Zhen is a towering figure in his region and possesses an exceptionally formidable strength, he remains remarkably courteous in his dealings with people and matters—showing no trace of the arrogance typically expected of a Battle Sovereign. Whether this stems from his inherently kind and gentle nature or from his deliberate restraint remains unclear. Nevertheless, Xiao Yan holds him in considerable respect, and it's no ordinary individual who has risen to lead a prestigious faction such as Burned Flame Valley. For the first time, Xiao Yan has attempted this division of labor in the preparation of pills, yet he has not made any significant errors. His experience in alchemy is no weaker than that of any person present. His task—merely to blend refined medicinal energies—is not particularly challenging, given his current soul strength. As for the roaring Nine-Drake Thunder罡fire within the furnace, protected by the clear-glass lotus heart flame, he feels no real threat. On the stone platform, quiet prevailed, save for the sound of the roaring flames. Xiao Yan and the Master of Illusions both kept their eyes closed, focusing their minds to regulate the soul energy within the medicinal cauldron. Inside the cauldron, amid the sweeping silver flames, a faint green glow shimmered subtly. Within this green glow lay the abode of Xiao Yan's soul energy. Under his precise control, various herbs that had been successfully extracted were slowly merging together, one after another. "Simply the initial fusion of the ingredients took nearly three hours—indeed, refining a fifth-rank pill is far more intricate than I had anticipated..." After successfully blending all the various herbs into this single, vibrant, viscous liquid, Xiao Yan exhaled in relief, only to immediately regain his focus. He knew that this was merely the beginning—refining a fifth-rank pill was far more challenging than he had originally imagined. As he now realized the complexity involved in crafting this fifth-rank pill, Xiao Yan felt a sense of gratitude. When he had once prepared pills for Cai Lin in the inner courtyard, had it not been for his fortunate entry into that peculiar, extraordinary state, he would have absolutely been unable to successfully refine the pills at that time. Looking back now, it was clear that luck had played a significant role throughout the process. "However, with my current capabilities, if I were to refine it again, the success rate would surely increase significantly, and I would no longer need to rely on that fragile, uncertain state..." As he thought this, a sense of satisfaction stirred within Xiao Yan—progress itself was the best outcome. "Young Master Yanxiao truly impresses me; you've managed to achieve initial fusion so swiftly." Tang Zhen's voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's ears, clearly indicating his astonishment at Xiao Yan's remarkable efficiency. After all, even the guest senior elder of the Dan Tower, Huan Master, had not yet fully completed the fusion. Xiao Yan smiled at Tang Zhen's amazement and then transmitted, "Master Tang, has the second batch of medicinal materials been extracted and refined?" "Ah, I've been waiting for this moment all along." "Tan Zhen smiled, and with a sudden spark of awareness, the nine dragon flames within the cauldron instantly opened their mouths, spewing out the numerous herbs that had been refined. A portion of these herbs split and swept into the emerald glow surrounding Xiao Yan's spiritual essence. "The preparation of Huo Pu Dan consists of eight stages; we are currently at the second stage. With the assistance of two others, the success rate this time should be quite high." "Eight stages?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but silently marvel—indeed, a seventh-rank premium elixir. After a brief moment of admiration, he quickly focused his mind once again and began to integrate the refined medicinal energy of the second stage. Not long after Xiao Yan started integrating the second stage, the master of illusion slowly opened his closed eyes, glanced at Xiao Yan's position, and was deeply moved—Xiao Yan's performance had far exceeded his expectations. "This young man, named Yan Chiao, might also be a seventh-rank alchemist. Ah, such extraordinary talent in potion-making—truly breathtaking... " With a soft sigh, the Master of Illusions channeled his spiritual energy through the cauldron, absorbing the second batch of extracted herbs and then seamlessly integrating them once more. For ten consecutive days without rest, the alchemical refinement has demanded an extraordinary level of energy expenditure—especially when channeling soul energy to blend the herbs, requiring constant concentration to withstand the scorching intensity of the Nine-Drake Thunder罡fire. While Xiao Yan has fared slightly better, the Huanyan Master began to show signs of strain during the fifth round of herb integration, though fortunately, he had prepared a sufficient supply of restorative pills, otherwise he would have found it difficult to continue. On the platform nearby, a group of master alchemists watched Xiao Yan, who had persisted for nearly seven days, growing increasingly serious on his face. No one dared to mock him anymore—because, as they all knew, if it were them, they simply wouldn't have lasted that long. At the edge of the plaza, Tang Huo stood gracefully, her slender figure especially captivating. Her gaze remained fixed on the stone platform. Her jade hands were slightly clenched. Now, the alchemy process had entered its mid-stage, and absolutely nothing could go wrong... "Both of you, the extraction of the herbs has been completed by me. Now, it's up to you to carry out the fusion." Tang Zhen turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan and the Master of Illusions, bowed formally, and spoke with serious demeanor. From this point on, nothing further remained for him—the success or failure of this alchemical process would now entirely depend on Xiao Yan and the Master of Illusions. Upon hearing this, both Xiao Yan and the Master of Illusions nodded firmly, then quickly focused their minds. Within the cauldron, a vibrant green aura contained eight small luminous spheres floating steadily, releasing a rich and continuous fragrance—this was the resulting elixir formed from nearly a hundred herbs. Xiao Yan's current task was to completely fuse these eight spheres together, a process that had taken nearly nine days. Should he fail in this fusion, the entire alchemical endeavor would inevitably end in failure, and then, the Heavenly Fire Triple Transformation would likely be out of reach. With this thought, Xiao Yan clenched his hands tightly. This time, success was not an option—it had to be achieved.