BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Word Count: 2,750 Words

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The sudden tremor of the medicinal cauldron caused everyone present to pause momentarily. Subsequently, all eyes within the Misty Cloud Sect converged toward the plaza, where an exceptionally dense energy fluctuation was rapidly taking shape.

Even at Miteer Manor, Little Fairy Doctor could sense this fluctuation while reading. A gleam of delight flashed through her beautiful eyes.

"It seems the alchemy is about to succeed."

Although she wasn't an alchemist, her experiences over the years had broadened her knowledge considerably. Moreover, she had once been a physician and could even refine poison pills, so she naturally knew that high-tier pills caused quite a commotion when taking shape.

"Hmph, it's not like he's refining a Body Transformation Pill." Zi Yan sat bored nearby, pouting. Little Fairy Doctor spent every day reading books, and Xiao Yan had been busy refining the Zong Breaking Pill these past few days, so naturally, no one had time to play with her.

Just as the two finished speaking, the energy fluctuations soared to a frightening height. Following a resounding boom, a pillar of energy nearly half a foot wide shot out from within Misty Cloud Mountain and streaked directly into the sky.

"What an uproar... and this is only a peak tier 6 pill." Little Fairy Doctor stared at the shining energy pillar and murmured in wonder.

Because the Poison Pill Method shared certain similarities with conventional alchemy, she personally estimated that creating a Poison Pill might be more difficult than refining something like a high-grade tier 7 Body Transformation Pill.

Her Woeful Poison Body would fully erupt when she reached the peak of the Dou Ancestor stage. When the poison gas within her body reached the Dou Venerate level, her Woeful Poison Body would no longer be able to contain it.

At that time, if she couldn't hold on, she would die.

Whether it was medicinal pills, cultivators, or even magical beasts, tier 8 was a watershed moment. It represented a transcendence from the mortal realm, which was why one underwent a tribulation.

Now, since Xiao Yan could already refine the Zong Breaking Pill, it meant becoming a 7th-tier alchemist was no longer far away.

…

Back on the mountaintop plaza of the Misty Cloud Sect, the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron began rocking so violently that it looked as though it might not be able to suppress what was inside.

A pill roughly the size of a dragon's eye had formed!

(TL/N: I have seen this question many times before. Here, 'dragon's eye' refers to the longan fruit (Dimocarpus longan), a tropical fruit known for its sweet-sour juicy pulp. You can check an image [here].)

The sky above the Misty Cloud Sect suddenly darkened at the very moment this pill took shape. Layers upon layers of dark clouds swiftly gathered, and within the clouds, silver lightning snakes slithered around.

The sudden scene left everyone within the Misty Cloud Sect, and even all disciples and passersby on Misty Cloud Mountain, utterly stunned as they stared blankly at the overlapping dark clouds above.

"Is this... Pill Lightning?!!!" Fa Ma and Gu He cried out simultaneously, their voices filled with unmistakable shock.

"No, it hasn't reached tier 7, but it's just a hair's breadth away." Fa Ma gazed solemnly at the white-robed young man in the field. At just twenty-one years of age, he could already refine such a pill. Beyond the Jia Ma Empire and perhaps throughout the entire North-Western Region, one couldn't find an alchemy genius who could surpass him.

"Perhaps... only in the Central Plains' Pill Tower could one find an alchemy genius comparable to him," Fa Ma murmured in a deep voice.

Gu He let out a quiet sigh. This time, he had lost completely and utterly.

Just as Yun Yun had told Nalan Yanran, his departure from the Misty Cloud Sect hadn't been because Yun Shan had died. Rather, feeling like the extra person in a relationship, he had chosen to leave.

His two years of dedicated alchemy practice were driven by stubborn pride, aiming to prove his alchemy talent was not inferior to Xiao Yan's. But today, Xiao Yan had slapped him in the face with a single Zong Breaking Pill.

"The Zong Breaking Pill is about to emerge... Grandmaster Xiao Yan actually succeeded?!" Queen Yao Ye's beautiful eyes filled with shock, amazement repeatedly flashing in her gaze.

A man refining pills was truly too captivating!

As for Jia Xing Tian, needless to say, a trembling excitement quietly arose in his heart.

Everything proceeded smoothly from that point on. Much like when Xiao Yan refined the Emperor Heaven Pill before, the Pill Lightning manifested overhead but did not strike down. Despite this Zong Breaking Pill being of flawless quality, it was, in the end, a tier 6 pill—it had not broken into tier 7.

After putting away the pill, Xiao Yan turned to walk toward the crowd. However, instead of handing the Zong Breaking Pill to Jia Xing Tian or Yao Ye, he held it out to Gu He.

Everyone instantly held their breath. In their eyes, this was undoubtedly a form of provocation!

The new and old Pill Kings of the Jia Ma Empire!

"Two years ago, Grandmaster Xiao Yan's fame indeed matched Pill King Gu He's, but that was more because he was so young. In terms of actual alchemy skills, he was still inferior to Pill King Gu He."

"Mm. But now, after two years, Grandmaster Xiao Yan's alchemy skills have advanced by leaps and bounds. Perhaps he intends to use this Zong Breaking Pill to challenge Grandmaster Gu He's prestige."

"Do you think Grandmaster Gu He can refine a Zong Breaking Pill now?"

Whispers broke out among the younger alchemists of the Misty Cloud Sect as gossip spread quickly through the crowd.

"Sigh, you win." Gu He looked at the near-perfect pill inside the jade bottle, fully aware of how formidable Xiao Yan's alchemy had become.

Fa Ma couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "Xiao Yan—no, Grandmaster Xiao Yan—this Zong Breaking Pill is the highest quality I've ever seen. I'm afraid it can increase the success rate by thirty percent!"

Fa Ma's alchemy skills might not match Gu He's, but in terms of insight and experience, he surpassed him. He could tell at a glance that this Zong Breaking Pill was of perfect quality. Perhaps even a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist might not necessarily achieve such perfection.

Only 8th-tier alchemists capable of refining 'Spirit Pills' could accomplish this.

Gu He took out a brocade box and handed it to Xiao Yan. Without hesitation, Xiao Yan handed over the Qi Method and pill to Gu He and said, "Grandmaster Gu He, the world is vast. Alchemy skills can't be honed by burying oneself in a room alone. Broadening one's horizons is necessary as well."

A strange light flashed in Gu He's eyes. He nodded and said, "I've learned from you, Grandmaster Xiao Yan. Perhaps it's time for me to travel and see more of the world."

With that, Gu He left the Misty Cloud Sect, and before long, he would depart from the Jia Ma Empire altogether.

Xiao Yan slowly opened the brocade box. Inside lay a pill as vibrant as fresh blood. A waft of medicinal fragrance drifted into his nostrils as he sniffed lightly.

"This is the Body Transformation Pill?! So this was your goal all along?" Chairman Fa Ma exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that Xiao Yan had aimed for this.

"He's not a magical beast. Keeping this is a waste. The longer it sits, the more its medicinal properties dissipate," Xiao Yan replied with a smile.

He then turned to look at the nervous Jia Xing Tian and handed him the Zong Breaking Pill. "Elder Jia, I put extra care into refining this; I promise there was no halfhearted work."

"Of course, of course! Everyone saw it with their own eyes!" Jia Xing Tian hurriedly and carefully accepted the pill. This was the Zong Breaking Pill he had dreamed of!

"With this Zong Breaking Pill, I believe Elder Jia has an eighty percent chance of breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm," Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Rest assured, I, Jia Xing Tian, swear that this time I will definitely enter the Dou Ancestor realm!"

Fa Ma watched this scene with a strange expression. Clearly, Xiao Yan was the junior here, yet Jia Xing Tian seemed to be acting like the junior instead.

"Queen Yao Ye, I'll need you to oversee the affairs of the Yan Alliance while I'm away. I'll be leaving in a few days but will return before the Great Meeting of Factions." The Yan Alliance was a crucial safeguard for Xiao Yan's family.

Xiao Yan planned to visit the Chu Yun Empire to find the Heavenly Flame that Little Fairy Doctor had mentioned. He intended to use his old method from when he tempered his body with the Essence Heart Flame in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower: using a Dou King Pill to reach 9-star Dou King, then using the Emperor Heaven Pill to directly break through to Dou Emperor, and finally refining the new Heavenly Flame to consolidate his Dou Qi using its power.

Using pills to break through was fast, but the issue of unstable Dou Qi could only be addressed by using the power obtained when refining a Heavenly Flame to solidify it.

…

Xiao Yan returned to the Miteer Manor after having dinner with his two elder brothers and father. Now that he had the Body Transformation Pill in hand, today he would finally see what kind of extraordinary being this girl Zi Yan truly was, given her incredibly powerful bloodline!

"So this is the Body Transformation Pill..."

Little Fairy Doctor held the pill from the brocade box and sniffed it lightly, a hint of longing appearing in her eyes.

"Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan!!!" Zi Yan's little feet stomped repeatedly on the ground as she heard Xiao Yan had brought back a Body Transformation Pill. The eagerness in her eyes threatened to burst forth.

"Ahem." Xiao Yan coughed lightly and approached the Amethyst Winged Lion King. He awkwardly rubbed his nose before saying, "Lion King, about that..."

The Amethyst Winged Lion King smiled and said, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, there's no need for formalities. Our agreement was that when you could refine a Body Transformation Pill, you would make one for me. Moreover, Zi Yan's bloodline talent is even higher; it's reasonable for her to use the Body Transformation Pill first. I believe that within two years, you will be able to refine another Body Transformation Pill. Waiting two more years is no big deal."

Xiao Yan secretly glanced at Zi Yan behind him, whose eyes were glowing with a purple light, and thought to himself, 'Lion King, if you're being threatened, just blink!'

But as the Amethyst Winged Lion King said, it was indeed best for Zi Yan to use the Body Transformation Pill first.

Zi Yan heard the Amethyst Winged Lion King's words and secretly nodded. This lion was quite sensible.

"Xiao Yan, hurry up!" she urged excitedly.

"What's your rush? This Body Transformation Pill has been with Gu He for two years. I'm afraid some of its medicinal properties have dissipated. Let me use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to replenish its potency first."

Xiao Yan took out the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron and tossed the Body Transformation Pill into it. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame slowly enveloped the pill.

The excuse of medicinal properties dissipating was just that—an excuse. Xiao Yan worried that Gu He or the original alchemist might have tampered with it. This wasn't a pill he had refined himself, so being cautious was reasonable.

After thirty minutes, the Body Transformation Pill slowly emitted a wisp of medicinal fragrance. This fragrance instantly caused Zi Yan's body to emit waves of purple light.

When Xiao Yan took the Body Transformation Pill from the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, it was actually trembling slightly, as if having gained a hint of spirituality after being refined by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.

"As expected of a high-grade tier 7 pill; it's already showing initial signs of spirituality."

"Zi Yan, just to ask, how large is your true form?" They were, after all, in the Miteer Manor. If Zi Yan's form was excessively large, even bigger than the Amethyst Winged Lion King, it could cause considerable destruction.

"Let me think... It shouldn't be very big, but I was quite weak back then. I'm not sure about now," Zi Yan shrugged. She just wanted to restore her true form.

"Using a Space Lock will suffice." Venerable Tian Huo's soul body floated out from the grayish-white storage ring at this moment. He had fully absorbed the medicinal properties of the Great Soul Black Purple Pill, and his soul body had finally returned to its previous strength.

"A Space Lock used by a Dou Venerate!"

Venerable Tian Huo saw Xiao Yan's astonished look and finally felt a bit proud. He nodded heavily and said, "That's right. Lend me the Fallen Heart Flame for a bit. I can perform a Space Lock by borrowing its power, creating an expansive space. You can learn this too; once you reach Dou Venerate, you'll be able to master it quickly."

Xiao Yan spread his palm, and the transparent little snake appeared, hissing as it darted before Venerable Tian Huo. In the next second, Venerable Tian Huo's hand seals moved as quickly as illusions.

Whoosh!!

Under his control, the Fallen Heart Flame burned through space. With a humming sound, the space around Xiao Yan and the others began to rapidly transform, as if they were in a time machine. The surrounding scenery seemed to stretch!

Finally, the illusion stopped, and everyone found themselves in an enormous space.

Even Little Fairy Doctor was shocked at this sight.

Xiao Yan scanned the area with his Spiritual Strength. This space was incredibly vast, even larger than the entire Miteer Manor!

'The power of a Dou Venerate is truly terrifying!'

"Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, is it ready yet?" Zi Yan didn't care about any of this. Once her strength grew, she could do the same.

Xiao Yan gave her an exasperated look and flicked the Body Transformation Pill toward her. With a gulp, she swallowed it whole.

The moment the Body Transformation Pill entered her mouth, it transformed into a warm current that merged into her bloodline. Instantly, her complexion became exceptionally rosy, and her body grew as hot as a furnace.

Xiao Yan frowned upon seeing Zi Yan's changes. Then, she suddenly fell into a deep slumber while her body floated in the air. A rich purple glow surged from within her, eventually forming a cocoon about ten feet wide that entirely enveloped her body.

"This girl, seriously!" Xiao Yan was speechless. This wasn't the effect of the Body Transformation Pill but rather this girl advancing to a Rank 6 magical beast!

Besides allowing magical beasts to transform, the Body Transformation Pill naturally contained immense energy. Magical beasts that consumed it typically saw an increase in cultivation. Zi Yan had already consumed many medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Yan had often given her residual medicinal substances from his alchemy. This led to her directly advancing in rank.

Little Fairy Doctor shook her head with a wry smile, also feeling helpless toward this girl. The poison barrier in the Profound Nether Valley would dissipate in just over half a month.

"Little Fairy Doctor, you and the Lion King should go out first, lest Sister Ya Fei thinks we've disappeared. I'll stay here and use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to accelerate this girl's advancement." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. She had to pull this stunt at such a time!

Without further ado, he sat down, began circulating the Flame Mantra, and released the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It flew out, treating Zi Yan's purple cocoon like a pill to refine.

It was fortunate that he had the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Otherwise, he would have had no way to help!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

The terrifying Ten Thousand Beast Flame burned the purple cocoon intensely, its unique properties aiding Zi Yan's refinement.

The flame slowly permeated the cocoon. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame inherently had the effect of enhancing magical beasts' bloodlines, strengthening their bodies, and rapidly increasing their cultivation.

And so, Xiao Yan continued this refinement process for seven days and seven nights.