Chapter 636: Revolving Alchemy Method

The Luo Snake's inner core is the most potent essence of a peak seventh-stage Transcendent Spirit Beast, containing the lifetime cultivation of a Unity Realm expert. Such a volatile substance is difficult for even the President to suppress. Could Alchemist Luo, who is only at the sixth stage of Transcension, truly succeed in handling it?

Thump, thump, thump!

As everyone watched with doubt, a thunderous sound echoed from inside the pill furnace, like a colossal drum being beaten or muffled thunder within dark clouds. The lid of the furnace rose and fell, and violent energy seemed ready to erupt at any moment. It looked as though if it wasn't suppressed soon, it would explode.

"Oh no, it's going to explode..."

Everyone clenched their fists.

As alchemists, they could easily discern the situation. Normally, to prevent an explosion, one would use true qi to suppress the volatile power within. But at this moment, the one refining the pill was Alchemist Luo, and her strength was utterly insufficient to handle such fierce energy within the cauldron.

"President..."

A five-star alchemist couldn't help but look over, his face filled with urgency.

"This alchemist hasn't asked for our help, so it's best not to interfere..."

Knowing this was a test for Alchemist Luo, the President waved his hand.

Although his strength could suppress the cauldron's explosion, rushing in without being asked would be a great sign of disrespect.

"Don't worry, the situation looks critical, but if she withdraws the fire, it shouldn't explode..."

Clenching his fists, the President deliberated inwardly.

Although the current scene appeared very dangerous, lowering the flame's temperature immediately should still alleviate the situation.

Others might find flame control difficult, but for an alchemist, it was a fundamental skill. Alchemist Luo should find it quite simple.

Just as he was wondering what method she would use to lower the temperature, he heard the young man nearby continue, "Increase the flame, infuse more true qi!"

"Increase the flame?"

The President froze, his face turning pale, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "That will make it explode!"

Boom!

Before he finished speaking, the cauldron seemed to boil completely, releasing a violent aura that cracked the ground. A wave of heat swept through, making Alchemist Luo's hair and clothes flutter.

"Run, it's about to explode!"

"This is a Luo Snake's inner core at the seventh stage of Transcension. If it explodes, the entire hall won't survive!"

"Madman, he's a complete madman! How can anyone refine pills like this..."

All the alchemists in the hall were terrified, their legs trembling, and many turned to flee.

A peak seventh-stage inner core, if it exploded, would have power comparable to an attack from a peak seventh-stage Transcension expert. Though the hall was grand, it likely couldn't withstand such violent force and would instantly turn to ash.

Stronger alchemists might be able to resist such a catastrophe for a moment or two, but one-star, two-star, three-star, and four-star alchemists who remained would die without even knowing how. It would be foolish not to run.

Creak! Creak!

Amidst the chaotic sounds, the pill furnace reached its limit, poised to explode at any moment.

Cold sweat appeared on Alchemist Luo's forehead.

Although she knew the other party's alchemy skills were formidable and that he should be able to control it, the personal experience still sent shivers down her spine.

"Don't worry!"

Just as she felt a surge of panic, a calm voice sounded from behind her.

She turned her head to see the young man not far away, his face serene and unconcerned, as if he didn't care if the pill furnace exploded at all!

Seeing his composure and hearing his magnetic voice, Alchemist Luo immediately felt a sense of calm, and her slightly trembling body steadied.

"Using the 'falling flower' technique, add the Qi Ying Grass!"

Immediately afterward, she heard his words in her ear.

Raising an eyebrow, Alchemist Luo didn't hesitate, quickly tossing the Qi Ying Grass from her side into the pill furnace.

Boom!

As soon as the medicinal herb entered, it was as if a fuse had been lit, and the cauldron began to thump even more violently.

"Add the Mu Mianhua and Ci Ye Qing..."

The voice continued.

Knowing there was no turning back, Alchemist Luo continued to throw in medicinal herbs one by one.

As more herbs were added, the pill furnace thumped even more intensely, but what surprised her was that no matter how much it thumped, it simply wouldn't explode.

It clearly seemed unable to withstand any more, yet for some reason, it hovered around that critical, unbearable point, unable to break through.

Everyone else also noticed this strange phenomenon, exchanging puzzled glances, unsure of what was happening.

Suddenly, the President seemed to remember something, his face flushed, and his body trembled with excitement.

"I know... H-how is this possible?"

"What is it, President? What have you remembered?"

A five-star alchemist couldn't help but look over, and many other alchemists also collectively focused their gaze, eager to hear his explanation.

"If I'm not mistaken... it's the long-lost... Cyclical Alchemy Method!"

Clenching his fists, the President's voice was hoarse with excitement.

"Cyclical Alchemy Method?"

Everyone was completely bewildered.

They had never even heard of this name, let alone understood it.

"This alchemy method is said to have been created by a super alchemist fanatic. Because it was so dangerous during refinement, countless people were killed by explosions, and eventually no one dared to experiment with it again, causing it to disappear into the river of history... I only occasionally came across a record of it in an ancient text, believing it to be just a legend. I never imagined... it was actually real!"

The President's teeth chattered.

"This..."

The more extraordinary he described it, the more curious everyone became.

Seeing their expressions, the President understood their thoughts and didn't hold back: "As you've seen, this cauldron looks like it could explode at any moment, but... it hasn't exploded at all!"

"Indeed!" everyone nodded.

If they were refining the pill, it probably would have exploded by now, yet for some reason, the cauldron continued to wildly thump without exploding!

It was incomprehensible.

"Whether it's a cauldron or anything else, for an explosion to occur, there's always a critical point. I don't need to tell you this; everyone knows, right?"

The President stated.

"Correct!"

Everyone responded.

Whether it's an explosion or anything else, quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes; only when an unbearable limit is reached will it truly break.

Just like water, it only freezes at zero degrees and boils at one hundred degrees. If it doesn't reach those points, no matter how cold or hot it gets, it's futile.

The same applies to the cauldron; without reaching that critical point, no matter how violently it thumps, it cannot explode.

"Are you implying... that this alchemist knows the critical point for the cauldron's explosion and deliberately keeps it below that point, so even if it wants to explode, it cannot succeed?"

An alchemist remembered something, his pupils contracting, filled with disbelief.

The others simultaneously gasped in astonishment.

"The critical point for each pill furnace is different, and it also varies with the type of medicine being refined. How can he determine when the critical point is? And dare to do this?"

Theoretically, keeping it below the critical point prevents an explosion, but... how does one find this critical point?

The pill furnace, environment, furnace fire, medicinal herbs, true qi level, control technique... any difference in these factors would alter the critical point. How could this person be so sure it wouldn't explode at this precise point?

It was like walking on the edge of a cliff, where one slight misstep could send you plummeting, and no one would have confidence in such a situation... Yet, looking at the other person's tone and demeanor, it was clear he was extraordinarily confident. Where did this confidence come from?

"I don't know how he knows the critical point, but he certainly does it. Whenever the pill furnace is about to explode, he adds a medicinal herb. These herbs contain spiritual energy, which has the ability to reduce volatility... In other words, when it's about to explode, he adds herbs to suppress it, delaying the explosion slightly. As the medicinal power is consumed and it can no longer withstand the pressure, he continues to add more herbs... This back-and-forth, cyclical method of refinement is how it got its name!"

The President said slowly.

"Cyclical Refinement Method... I see. But what are the benefits of this refining method?" an alchemist couldn't help but ask.

If such a method existed, it must have unparalleled advantages over other methods; otherwise, no one would be willing to undertake such a great risk.

"Benefits? Of course there are benefits!"

The President swallowed: "Everyone knows that inner cores are the most difficult things to refine. To melt them, it takes several hours of intense burning, and the most crucial part is that during these hours, you must constantly guard it and not leave, or the furnace could easily explode!"

"Indeed!" everyone nodded.

Inner cores are the most precious and most volatile parts of spirit beasts.

Like steel, refining them isn't easy, and each attempt deters many alchemists, causing them immense headaches.

"And a furnace on the verge of exploding means the inner core is also close to exploding, emitting its power most intensely!" the President continued.

This was easy to understand; if the emission wasn't extremely fierce, it wouldn't be able to push such a large pill furnace to its breaking point, on the verge of cracking open.

"With such intense power emission, it melts the fastest. By maintaining this state, an inner core that would originally take several hours to melt could be completely dissolved in perhaps less than ten minutes!"

The President said.

"This..."

Everyone was stunned.

Such a dangerous alchemy method was merely to melt the inner core in the shortest possible time?

Wasn't that being far too reckless?

Cultivators generally have long lifespans; sometimes, a single secluded cultivation session could last one or two months. Time was not a significant concern for them. To devise such a dangerous refining method just to save a few hours... what was he thinking?

"It's not just about shortening the time!"

Seeing the expressions on their faces, the President shook his head: "When the inner core is in its most volatile state, it fuses more easily with other medicinal herbs, and the resulting effects are even better... If used for alchemy, not only is the time reduced, but the quality of the pills will definitely be superior!"

Only then did everyone understand.

"Look quickly, all the medicinal herbs have been added, and the refinement is about to succeed..."

As they were discussing, the President's expression suddenly tightened, and everyone turned to look.

They saw Alchemist Luo flick her wrist, tossing in the last medicinal herb. The pill furnace shook violently, its lid suddenly flashed and burst open, and then a stream of pale golden liquid shot out like a fountain.

Instantly, a rich aroma wafted through the air, and spiritual energy descended from above, making it hard for anyone to control themselves.

"Rich aroma attracting spiritual energy... This is... a Rank-6 medicine?"

The President's pupils contracted.