Chapter 1369: Alchemical Refinement and Cultivation

After the Battle of the Stone Dragon concluded, to prevent a furious counterattack from the Sacred Race and to provide Yaoyao with a stable and safe environment for pill refining, the All-Heavens City no longer remained in the chaotic void. Instead, moved by the Saints, it entered the All-Heavens Domain, protected by the Primordial Saint-Slaying Array.

With this temporary stability, the All-Heavens City became much quieter. However, only the Pill Refining Hall in the center of the city perpetually surged with vast and immense Genesis Qi fluctuations.

That massive alchemical furnace operated day and night. After all, refining such a vast quantity of ancestral dragon remnants entirely into Ancestral Dragon Pills was indeed a monumental undertaking. This process could only be advanced under Yaoyao's control; otherwise, any other Saint would likely find it impossible to achieve.

Inside the Pill Refining Hall, a roaring fire surged within the alchemical furnace. Yaoyao sat calmly at the main refining position, with Zhou Yuan seated to her lower left.

However, the Law Domain stage experts who had previously assisted in the refining process were gone, replaced by three Saints from the God Palace of Gui Xu! All three Saints were at the One-Lotus stage. Despite their esteemed status, these Saints were now in the awkward position of assisting and providing Genesis Qi as fuel for the refining. Yet, they had no objections. After witnessing Yaoyao's arrow wound the Heaven-Severing Ancient Saint of the Sacred Race, the Saints of the All-Heavens now treated Yaoyao with exceptional respect and courtesy.

With the assistance of three Saints, the efficiency of refining Ancestral Dragon Pills this time was naturally far greater than before. Even so, after a full month of refining, only one-fifth of the ancestral dragon remnants contained within the Stone Dragon had been consumed. Clearly, it would likely take nearly half a year to exhaust them completely.

The enormous alchemical furnace suddenly hummed. The next moment, waves of medicinal fragrance and mist swept out, filling the entire hall. From within the mist, nearly a hundred streaks of light suddenly shot forth, scattering like a meteor shower, attempting to escape. However, before they could leave the furnace's range, a powerful force descended from the void. With a gentle grasp, the streaks of light reappeared in Yaoyao's palm. There, perfectly round pills, emanating spiritual light, spun gracefully, imbued with ancientness and spirituality. With Yaoyao's full effort and the assistance of the three Saints, the efficiency of refining Ancestral Dragon Pills and the quality of the finished pills were far superior to before.

Yaoyao flicked her finger, sending the Ancestral Dragon Pills flying towards the three Saints for safekeeping. After dispensing the pills, Yaoyao paid them no further attention. Her clear, ethereal eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan, who sat cross-legged with closed eyes beside the alchemical furnace.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan's entire body exuded restrained Genesis Qi, showing not the slightest fluctuation. He resembled a bottomless abyss, inspiring awe.

The period of refining Ancestral Dragon Pills had also brought considerable benefits to Zhou Yuan. Firstly, the alchemical fire filling the furnace was formed from the power of the three Saints. As Zhou Yuan guided this energy, his own Genesis Qi was tempered, becoming even tougher. In a sense, this was an extremely rare opportunity, as Saints would not normally transform their immense power into alchemical fire to temper the Genesis Qi of a Law Domain stage practitioner. Moreover, not every Law Domain stage practitioner could endure such tempering. Even Zhou Yuan, during the initial period, was pushed to his limits by the alchemical fire forged from the three Saints' might. Had it not been for his profound foundation and the quality of his Ninth-Grade Saint Dragon Qi, his Genesis Qi foundation would likely have been completely incinerated upon first contact.

However, after enduring the most difficult initial phase, Zhou Yuan began to reap the rewards. His breakthrough from the Genesis Infant stage had brought an unprecedented increase in strength. He had almost no lingering in any of the three Law Domain stages, directly ascending to the peak of the Law Domain. This significant increase in power naturally came with some side effects: his physical body's adaptability to this sudden immense power seemed somewhat sluggish. The Saints' mighty power used in this pill refining acted like a quenching process, helping Zhou Yuan to sort out his Genesis Qi, gradually allowing him to regain meticulous control over his own strength.

Therefore, this month of pill refining proved to be a rare opportunity for Zhou Yuan.

The three Saints collected the Ancestral Dragon Pills and then glanced at Zhou Yuan, who was cultivating with closed eyes. They exchanged a look, a hint of helplessness in their gaze. They were well aware that their power had been continuously utilized by Zhou Yuan over the past month. However, providing power for the refining was their assigned task, and Zhou Yuan had made no excessive demands; his cultivation was simply a side activity during the refining process.

Nevertheless, it was clear that the three Saints were still somewhat surprised that Zhou Yuan could withstand the alchemical fire forged from their immense power. No wonder even Taixuan had fallen by his hand; the title of the All-Heavens' foremost Law Domain practitioner was indeed well-deserved.

Zhou Yuan's cultivation did not last much longer before he opened his eyes. His pupils were as deep as the starry sky. At this moment, the penetrating sharpness he had displayed when fighting Taixuan seemed to have diminished considerably. However, this was not a sign of weakness; rather, he had begun to fully contain his own power. This power, once unleashed again, would shine throughout the All-Heavens, like a great sun traversing the sky.

At Zhou Yuan's glabella, the light of his Divine Soul flickered, revealing a Divine Soul calmly seated, as warm and lustrous as jade, as if carved from it. During this period of pill refining, Zhou Yuan benefited not only his Genesis Qi but also his Divine Soul. Of course, the advancement of his Divine Soul had little to do with the three Saints; it was primarily because Yaoyao, while refining Ancestral Dragon Pills, had intentionally refined some surplus ancestral dragon remnants and fed them to him. Although the amount each time was small, the frequency was high, so over this month, Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul also steadily progressed at a slow and consistent pace. The Jade Soul was a manifestation that the Divine Soul was approaching the mid-stage Roaming Spirit realm.

The divine light between Zhou Yuan's brows gradually receded. He looked up at the three Saints, cupped his fists, and said, "My thanks for your efforts, esteemed Sages." Although these three Saints were passively assisting his cultivation, Zhou Yuan appreciated their contribution and consistently showed them respect.

The three Saints responded with reserved smiles, then nodded to Yaoyao above, before their figures vanished from their positions.

Yaoyao gently stretched, then picked up the dozing Tuntun from beside her. She stepped down from the high platform and came to Zhou Yuan's side. Zhou Yuan smiled at her, then accompanied her out of the Pill Refining Hall, strolling along a gravel path shaded by lush greenery.

A gentle breeze swept by, rustling the leaves. Scattered sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, falling upon the two of them. The atmosphere at this moment was indescribably peaceful and warm. Neither spoke, but it was clear they both deeply enjoyed the ambiance.

It was a long while later that Zhou Yuan finally roused himself from his languid state, sighing, "The path to Sainthood is truly as difficult as ascending to heaven." He was now considered at the peak of the Law Domain, and thus he had been attempting to find the so-called path to Sainthood. However, despite his recent advancements in strength, he still felt an unbridgeable distance from that realm. It was the chasm between the mortal and the Saint.

Throughout history, countless prodigies of astonishing talent had halted at this point, left with lifelong regrets.

"If others heard that you've only been in the Law Domain for a few months and are already trying to covet the path of the Saints, they'd probably be tempted to give you a beating," Yaoyao said, her red lips curving into a slight smile.

Zhou Yuan chuckled and replied, "I heard from Master recently that the Sacred Race hasn't made any retaliatory moves; instead, they've become extremely quiet, even retracting many of their activities. Many say they might have been intimidated by your arrow." However, despite his smile, Zhou Yuan's gaze grew exceptionally solemn. He didn't believe that to be the case. The Sacred Race's foundation far surpassed that of the All-Heavens, and even if Yaoyao's arrow was terrifying, it was unlikely to truly frighten the Sacred Race. Therefore, Zhou Yuan felt that this strange quietness from the Sacred Race was, on the contrary, unsettling. He worried that now that the Sacred Race knew of Yaoyao's power, they might shift their target to her. Zhou Yuan did not voice these thoughts, partly due to uncertainty and partly because he didn't want to affect Yaoyao's mood.

This was also the main reason he began seeking the path to Sainthood. He understood that only by truly entering the Saint stage could he qualify to become a player on the chessboard of war between the All-Heavens and the Sacred Race. Only then would he have the right to change things.

But unfortunately, the path to Sainthood was truly too difficult.

His thoughts churning, Zhou Yuan suddenly paused. He looked at Yaoyao with a curious gaze and asked, "I remember when you gave me the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, you seemed to say... that above Ninth-Grade Genesis Qi, there's an even higher form of Genesis Qi?"