Chapter 1294: 牵引源气

When Cang Yuan's majestic voice faded, countless ancient runes on the surface of the seven-colored pill cauldron within the alchemy hall began to glow brilliantly. These runes seemed to come alive, slowly undulating like swimming fish.

An indescribably vast ripple emanated from within the cauldron.

Under that ripple, even the thirteen Law Domain experts seated nearby felt their bodies subtly sink, as if being suppressed.

A hint of awe appeared in their eyes; this was the power of a Dual-Lotus Saint Artifact.

Across the heavens, Saint Artifacts were the most formidable items. Not to mention Law Domain experts, even true Saints eagerly sought them.

If a Single-Lotus Saint possessed a Dual-Lotus Saint Artifact, they could even put up some resistance against a Dual-Lotus Saint—provided, of course, that the latter did not also possess a Saint Artifact.

However, most Saint Artifacts with lotus imprints were already in the hands of Saints. Any that managed to fall into the possession of Law Domain experts would typically be those without a solidified lotus imprint.

A "lotus imprint" was a mark born when a Saint Artifact was continuously nurtured within a Saint's body by their immense power. Saint Artifacts with such imprints unleashed far greater power than those without.

*Click-clack!*

As the seven-colored pill cauldron opened, its lid slowly parted, revealing a mysterious interior filled with swirling mists and glowing vapors.

Outside the hall, all eyes turned in curiosity. They knew that with the cauldron's opening, the alchemy process was about to officially begin.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Yaoyao sat elegantly. From her sleeve, she produced a somewhat crude clay bottle. Though simple and ancient-looking, as if casually molded, its appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.

This bottle was called the Pure Mud Bottle, a Dual-Lotus Saint Artifact.

It originated from the Divine Dwelling of Gui Xu and possessed the ability to purify all things. It had conveniently fallen into Yaoyao's hands to suppress and cleanse impurities from the Ancestral Dragon remnant soul. These impurities didn't come from the Ancestral Dragon itself but were due to its prolonged existence in the world, having been eroded and adhered to by various forces. The Pure Mud Bottle's power could revert these impurities to their original state.

The Divine Dwelling of Gui Xu had provided two Dual-Lotus Saint Artifacts for the refinement of the Ancestral Dragon Pill, demonstrating the immense importance they placed on this endeavor.

Yaoyao raised her delicate hand, and the Pure Mud Bottle tilted. The next moment, an ancient, primal, low dragon's roar seemed to faintly echo through the heavens and earth, causing even the chaotic void to subtly tremble.

From the bottle's mouth flowed mysterious, Xuanhuang-like currents of air, which then seeped like wisps of smoke into the seven-colored cauldron.

"Ignite the flames," Yaoyao's voice, as clear and cool as a mountain spring, resounded.

The thirteen Law Domain experts seated around the cauldron became solemn. They glanced at Zhou Yuan, then retracted their gazes, focusing their minds. The next moment, vast torrents of Origin Qi surged forth.

The Origin Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts was incredibly immense and powerful. As it swept out, the surrounding space continuously fractured. This Origin Qi poured into the seven-colored cauldron through its flame vents, causing the cauldron to hum and vibrate.

"Control the flames." Yaoyao's gaze swept over Zhou Yuan, and her cool voice gained a hint of warmth, causing the thirteen Law Domain experts to feel a touch of envy. *When would the Divine Maiden speak to them with such sweetness?*

While they harbored such thoughts, Zhou Yuan's expression grew extremely serious. He knew that the first major challenge of this alchemy session had finally arrived for him. Although he had become familiar with the procedure under Yaoyao's tutelage over the past half-month, training was one thing; performing in a real situation inevitably brought some tension.

However, Zhou Yuan was battle-hardened. He quickly calmed his mind, and his emotions became undisturbed.

He closed his eyes slightly, and a brilliant light of Divine Soul suddenly erupted from his glabella. The next moment, his Divine Soul power burst forth like a storm, directly surging into the seven-colored cauldron.

Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul power entered precisely where the thirteen Law Domain experts' Origin Qi converged. As his Divine Soul power surged in, it immediately made contact, and almost instantly, Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul power was nearly scattered by the thirteen distinct yet incredibly vast and powerful streams of Origin Qi.

After all, this was the combined might of thirteen Law Domain experts!

Zhou Yuan's dissipating Divine Soul power was instantly noticed by many experts on the alchemy plaza, causing an uproar. *Was this guy truly just a pretty face with no substance? All show and no go?*

"Brother Xu, it seems this important task still belongs to you," a familiar Law Domain expert beside Xu Beiyan couldn't help but remark. When Xu Beiyan had first assisted in alchemy, although he had made numerous mistakes, he hadn't been overwhelmed so embarrassingly right from the start like Zhou Yuan.

Others nodded as well, their gazes at Zhou Yuan tinged with disdain. *This guy made such a big fuss, wasted a batch of Ancestral Dragon remnant souls, and made so many people play a game with him. He truly doesn't know his place. Does he really think his past achievements will let him coast forever?*

However, Xu Beiyan didn't reply. Instead, he frowned slightly as he watched, because even though Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul power seemed to scatter on initial contact, in his perception, it hadn't truly disintegrated.

Zhou Yuan paid no heed to the uproar outside. His face remained grave, the light of his Divine Soul at his glabella as intense as a blazing sun, as his Divine Soul power continuously surged forth.

Yet, without exception, each wave of his Divine Soul power was dispersed.

Consequently, the commotion on the plaza grew louder.

Realistically, such initial failures were not uncommon here; even Xu Beiyan had only managed to adapt after several attempts. However, the situation was different now. Zhou Yuan had suddenly appeared, displacing Xu Beiyan. Everyone's expectation was that someone who could parachute in like this should at least possess considerable skill.

This had significantly raised people's expectations for Zhou Yuan, and his apparent immediate collapse was naturally difficult for many to accept, given the stark contrast.

After all, this alchemy process was essentially wasting the precious materials they had risked their lives to acquire.

However, as the crowd below grew boisterous, they failed to notice that the Saints observing from above were all silently gazing into the cauldron.

The three Saints—Green Willow, Hooked Wolf, and Poison Fire—all frowned slightly. While others lacked the vision to discern the specific changes within the cauldron, their Saint abilities allowed them to clearly perceive numerous anomalies.

Through their Saint Eyes, they saw clearly that Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul power wasn't truly being dispelled wave after wave. Instead, with each successive contact with the thirteen streams of Origin Qi, his Divine Soul power was constantly being diffused and integrated into them.

This demonstrated remarkable confidence in his own Divine Soul power.

Origin Qi inherently eroded intrusive foreign objects. Zhou Yuan's actions indicated that he believed his Divine Soul power was sufficiently refined to withstand the Origin Qi's natural corrosive effect.

As time passed and waves of Divine Soul power continuously infiltrated, Zhou Yuan would, once he suddenly unleashed his full power, be able to suppress all thirteen streams of Origin Qi with lightning speed.

Green Willow and the other two exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat grim. They had truly underestimated Zhou Yuan.

The trio was displeased, but Cang Yuan, on the other hand, displayed a slight smile. Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul power was even more refined and resilient than he had imagined; it was completely unlike someone who had just entered the Roaming Spirit stage. It seemed Zhou Yuan's gains during his two years of seclusion were greater than expected.

Regardless, the first hurdle in refining the Ancestral Dragon Pill seemed to have been cleared.

As these thoughts flitted through the Saints' minds, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his slightly closed eyes. He gazed into the cauldron and abruptly clasped his palms together.

His Divine Soul at his glabella violently erupted.

All his Divine Soul power was activated at this moment.

Within the cauldron, the thirteen streams of Origin Qi, surging like enraged dragons, suddenly vibrated intensely. Thirteen streaks of Divine Soul light shot out from within, coiling around the dragon-like streams like chains, binding their "dragon heads."

Divine Soul power condensed above the thirteen Origin Qi streams, forming a Divine Soul avatar in Zhou Yuan's likeness.

Holding the thirteen Divine Soul light threads, he gave a gentle shake, and the thirteen enraged-dragon Origin Qi streams gradually calmed down.

A relieved smile appeared on the Divine Soul avatar's face.

On the plaza, the earlier clamor suddenly quieted. Had Zhou Yuan successfully taken control of the thirteen Origin Qi streams?

Deep astonishment appeared on many faces.

The area around Xu Beiyan also fell silent. Those who had previously shown disdain were momentarily speechless, their expressions shifting.

Xu Beiyan himself maintained a calm smile, but a gloomy intent flashed deep within his eyes. *This lad's Divine Soul power is completely unlike someone who has just entered the Roaming Spirit stage...*

High above, the three Saints—Green Willow, Hooked Wolf, and Poison Fire—exchanged subtle glances.

Unbeknownst to most, Poison Fire Saint casually flicked his finger within his sleeve.

At that very instant, Zhou Yuan, whose face had been relaxed, suddenly changed expression. He felt that one of the thirteen Origin Qi streams, which had been steadily calming, suddenly erupted with immense resistance. This resistance rapidly escalated, destabilizing the entire situation within a mere breath.

Consequently, the thirteen Divine Soul light threads he had painstakingly constructed now showed signs of shattering!

And if they shattered, all his previous efforts would be completely wasted!

Zhou Yuan's eyes turned cold. This sudden turn of events was too bizarre... Someone must be pulling strings!