Xuan Qinghong smiled deeply, his face filled with comfort and pride. He wanted to witness with his own eyes what heights she would reach.
"Master, have you ever heard of the Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill?" Bai Ran's eyes flickered as she recalled Long Jinhan's cold affliction.
During their first meeting, Bai Ran had promised to reach the rank of Emperor-tier Alchemist within five years to refine a pill to remove his cold poison.
For the past three years, Bai Ran had been relentlessly searching for the formula of the Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill. As soon as she reached Emperor-tier, she would refine it to detoxify Long Jinhan.
However, no one, not in the lower, middle, or upper realms, knew of it.
"The Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill?" Xuan Qinghong's expression grew solemn upon hearing this. "Where did you learn of this pill?"
Bai Ran pursed her lips. "Your disciple happened upon it by chance."
The Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill, she had chanced upon it in ancient books in her previous life. Only Alchemists who reached the Emperor-tier could refine it.
Pure Spirit Pills were divided into one, two, and three patterns. The three-pattern was the most difficult to refine and one of the rarest pills on the market.
The book even described that if someone managed to cultivate the Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill, it would invite punishment from the Heavenly Dao, a rainbow thunder tribulation.
The rainbow thunder tribulation was instantly fatal and extremely powerful. For hundreds of years after the tribulation descended, not a single blade of grass would grow in that area.
Xuan Qinghong's brows furrowed, and he seemed hesitant to speak. "If the Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill were to appear, the old folks in the Medicine Valley wouldn't be able to sit still."
The Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill was not a forbidden medicine. The reason no one revealed it was because its formula was held by the Valley Master of the Medicine Valley, and no one knew what spiritual herbs were needed to refine it.
Medicine Valley... Bai Ran lowered her head, her mind racing. "Is the Medicine Valley a power in the Nine Heavens?"
Xuan Qinghong shook his head and sighed. "The Medicine Valley does not reside in any single plane. Its people are extremely mysterious, with disciples spread throughout the four realms."
They were as elusive as dragons, seen only at the head but never the tail. Without extreme fortune, an ordinary person would never meet anyone from the Medicine Valley in their lifetime, let alone its Valley Master who held the formula for the Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill.
"If the Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill were to be refined and appear, it would mean the formula has been leaked. This would invite the pursuit of the entire Medicine Valley."
"How can I meet someone from the Medicine Valley?"
Xuan Qinghong looked up, meeting Bai Ran's resolute gaze. "The people of the Medicine Valley are spread everywhere. If your achievements in alchemy cause a sensation, someone will naturally come to find you."
The little girl's current alchemy skills were enough to stir up waves across the four realms. Everything was in place, only waiting for the opportune moment.
Bai Ran nodded, a general plan forming in her mind. "Disciple understands."
As Xuan Qinghong left, he gave Bai Ran a dark reef stone. "This stone has no fate with this old man, so I bestow it upon you."
She weighed the stone in her hand; it was heavy, and this small piece seemed to contain an abundance of spiritual energy.
After Xuan Qinghong left, Xiao Zi from the spatial realm spoke up. "Hailing Stone? Little one, this is a great supplement for cultivation!"
Hailing Stones are born in the deep seas within the demon realm, absorbing the spiritual energy and vitality of the ocean over time.
After refining and incorporating it into a pill, it can help cultivators advance rapidly without compromising the stability of their realm or foundation.
"Hailing Stones are already scarce on the market. Your master is truly generous."
Incorporated into a pill? Bai Ran gazed at the dark stone in her hand, momentarily perplexed. "Since it is born in the deep sea, its spiritual energy must be rich in water elements."
"But refining pills and fusing them requires fire-attribute flames to heat them. Yet, how can water and fire blend?"
Xiao Zi was stunned. Yes, as the little one said, it seemed impossible for Hailing Stones to be integrated into pills.
But other cultivators who possessed Hailing Stones had successfully fused them into their pills. What was going on?
Xiao Zi cupped its chin in thought, its eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
"If that is the case, then let me personally verify it."
Bai Ran curved her lips into a smile and summoned the Fentian and Vermilion Bird divine fires. The flames leaped high, rushing towards the Hailing Stone like a fire dragon, engulfing it entirely.
As expected, Bai Ran narrowed her eyes, observing the scene before her. The Hailing Stone, submerged in the fierce flames, stubbornly refused to melt.
The water attribute of the Hailing Stone clashed with the fire attribute of the Vermilion Bird divine fire, causing the air to crackle and a considerable amount of mist to rise.
Could it be... Bai Ran had a flash of inspiration, her thoughts drifting to another aspect.
With a flip of her hand, the flames were immediately extinguished, replaced by wood-attribute vines that shot up from the ground, enveloping the entire Hailing Stone.
Time trickled by. The Hailing Stone was silently wrapped in green vines. Xiao Zi spoke with a hint of confusion, "Wood-attribute vines? What does this have to do with the wood attribute?"
Gradually, the green vines became thicker and sturdier. After half an hour, the vines loosened their grip on the Hailing Stone.
The Hailing Stone had now transformed into a block of powder, finely scattered over the vines.
Bai Ran looked on and a smile bloomed on her face. "The wood-attribute green vines can absorb the water from the Hailing Stone. Without the water element, the Hailing Stone becomes a true treasure that can be fused with pills."
"So that's how it is." Xiao Zi suddenly understood and watched as Bai Ran began refining pills.
An hour later, a seductive pill aroma wafted from the Fentian Cauldron. Bai Ran lifted the lid, and five plump pills lay peacefully within.
"Seventh-grade Guiyuan Pills. Others find it extremely difficult to refine even one, yet you have produced five in a single batch..."
Fine, Xiao Zi sighed resignedly. It should have grown accustomed to the little one's talent by now.
Bai Ran swallowed the pills and sat in meditation, circulating her spiritual energy.
With the enhancement of the Hailing Stone, the pills dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, cool and moist. But after a moment, a fire ignited in her abdomen.
The flames spread from her dantian, circulating through her meridians. The burning sensation caused Bai Ran to break out in a sweat, and she gritted her teeth to endure it.
Xiao Zi glanced at Bai Ran, who was meditating, then in the direction Xuan Qinghong had departed.
It looked on with curiosity, its interest piqued regarding Xuan Qinghong's identity.
It had heard of the Grand Alchemist Masters of the upper realm, a dark horse who rose to prominence overnight, reaching the top of various alchemist rankings within a year. His talent was exceptionally outstanding.
But suddenly, Xuan Qinghong disappeared from the upper realm and appeared in the middle realm.
No one knew the reason for his departure, and speculation about him was rife.
Now, she had returned to the upper realm, bringing the little one with her. Why?
Meanwhile, back in his courtyard, Xuan Qinghong gazed at the sky, his face etched with profound sorrow.
Medicine Valley... Three-Pattern Pure Spirit Pill... Everything felt so familiar...
"She can refine it, she definitely can..."
His voice was hollow and sorrowful, tinged with an infinite melancholy.