Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 251 260 First in Alchemy, I'm completely convinced (My teeth still hurt, it's unbearable)
Steady!

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao felt reassured.

With the support of Dao Tong Zhenren, the sect leader, and the addition of Taiyi Zhenren, the position of Azure Dragon Pavilion Master was already in his grasp, and he was not afraid of any further setbacks.

"Thank you, Uncle Master!"

Yan Daotong smiled and said nothing more.

As his gaze shifted away, the pressure that felt so real on his shoulders vanished instantly.

'This is the realm of a terrestrial immortal, a grandmaster; a single glance can decide life and death.'

"My master said that a grandmaster martial artist achieves a perfect unity of the three elements—essence, energy, and spirit—within harmonious harmony. A great grandmaster, however, transcends this level, becoming, in fact, a master of their own realm."

Li Cunxiao felt a sense of longing, but upon sensing the changes within the alchemy furnace, he quickly regained his composure.

The process of sealing off the fire can be very simple or very difficult.

The simplicity lies in the fact that the steps of refining elixirs have already been completed during the initial extraction and refining processes, and the medicinal properties have already been determined.

Those who fail will not be able to reverse their fortunes in this level, and those who succeed will not fail in this level.

Literally, the key to stopping the fire and sealing the furnace lies in maintaining a gentle, nurturing environment. Generally speaking, nothing needs to be done; simply maintaining stability within the furnace is sufficient.

And that's where the difficulty lies.

If nothing is done, this calming pill will just be an ordinary calming pill.
However, if the medicinal properties can be further enhanced at this moment, the quality of the final pill will increase from ten parts to twelve, fifteen, or even double.

As a divine skill, the "Nine Revolutions Flowing Pearl Nine Elixir Scripture" naturally has corresponding parts.

Li Cunxiao realized that the medicinal properties of the elixir had basically stabilized. He immediately activated the Crimson Emperor's Flowing Mercury with his mind. The transparent flames, like agate, burned from the dragon's horns to its tail, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a crimson dragon.

The vital energy contained within the red dragon is more active than that within the green dragon.

Nine red dragons, one after another, carried white jade-like pills, playing and swimming among them in the elixir furnace.

During this process, the jade-like calming pill became increasingly lustrous, even developing a faint golden glow.

Inside the alchemy furnace, which was as tall as a person, a magnificent scene seemed to be unfolding, like nine dragons chasing the sun.

"Heaven and earth are the furnace, and creation is the craftsman; yin and yang are the charcoal, and all things are the copper."

"Within one furnace, all things are forged; no wonder Master is so engrossed in it. Holding creation in one's hands, as if one were the creator, who could resist such a feeling?"

Li Cunxiao surveyed the world within the furnace he had created. Although the world was still very rudimentary and had consumed a large number of the Vajra Pestle's barrier-breaking attempts, at this moment, he felt it was all worthwhile.

In the past, when he refined elixirs, he never sought to understand them thoroughly, because they were merely tools to help him become stronger. As long as he could use them and knew how to use them, that was enough; there was no need to expend too much energy on them.

But now that he has truly grasped the wonders of the world, his thoughts have subtly changed.

"If a single calming pill can garner such attention from the sect leader, what about those sixth-tier spirit pills and seventh-tier divine pills?"

"In the chaos of the future, with enough military strength to protect oneself, plus the skill of alchemy, it is not impossible to accomplish something great."

"I can even use the Vajra to simplify martial arts, train elite troops, and sweep across the world."

During the brief moment of waiting for the pills to be ready, and upon learning that he had been internally appointed as the leader of the Azure Dragon Pavilion, even the usually composed Li Cunxiao couldn't help but let his mind wander for a moment.

Ultimately, he was just an ordinary man. Wine, women, wealth, fame, and fortune were all temptations to him. He had all the material desires that others had.

It's just that she has lived two lives, and with her younger brother in tow, her sense of responsibility overwhelmed everything else, temporarily suppressing her feelings.

But now
"Be humble and prudent. It's just the position of the Azure Dragon Pavilion Master. The Louguan Sect is stuck between the imperial court and the pseudo-Qi, and the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Liang are eyeing it covetously. It's not time to dream yet."

Li Cunxiao did not let his thoughts wander. He quickly brought his attention back, waited for a quarter of an hour, and nodded to himself.

With a clap of his hands, the lid of the alchemy furnace flew off, and nine crimson dragons, guarding the small sun-like pill in the center, slowly rose.

Such a dazzling sight naturally attracted the attention of everyone around, especially since the flames in Ye Shuyi and Li Siqi's alchemy furnaces had not yet gone out, creating a stark contrast between the two.

"How is that possible? Li Cunxiao's pills are already finished, but Senior Sister Ye and Senior Brother Li haven't finished yet?"

"No way, could it be that Li Cunxiao didn't refine the Tranquilizing Pill? After all, the Taiyi Sect Master is so biased towards him."

"Keep your voice down! Are you trying to get us killed?! Talking about a Grandmaster? Don't you want to stay in Louguan Dao?!"

"No, although the Taiyi Sect Master has a bad temper, he wouldn't do that when it comes to alchemy. Besides, the judges for this competition aren't him, but the other sect masters."

"Doesn't that mean Li Cunxiao really refined the Tranquilizing Pill faster than those senior brothers and sisters? That's a fifth-grade pill! He's only been a disciple for a few months, and he's only been advancing in the Heavenly Ladder for a few months!!"

"Incredible! Incredible! Our Azure Dragon Peak is about to produce an unparalleled genius!"

"Don't talk nonsense, only Senior Brother Xue Tianyun can be considered a peerless genius."

Even though the flames in the furnace remained steady, Ye Shuyi and Li Siqi's expressions gradually became more complicated amidst the increasingly turbulent and noisy sounds.

Ye Shuyi was fine, after all, she was focused on making pills, and her purpose in participating in this competition was very simple, she really came for the purpose of exchanging skills and getting guidance from her elders.

But Li Siqi was different.

In the few months since Li Cunxiao arrived, he has once again felt the pressure that Li Qingtong had exerted when he was still alive, and it was even greater.

The latter is arrogant and domineering, with an eccentric temperament; while the former is more composed and steady, and while not flawless in his actions, he is also difficult to find any weaknesses in.

Such an opponent, who also has the favoritism of Taiyi Zhenren, is simply an elevated version of Li Qingtong, an undeniable formidable rival.

Before initiating this competition, Li Siqi had even prepared to give up the position of Azure Dragon Pavilion Master, and only hoped to consolidate his reputation and demonstrate his value through this competition.

In this way, even if he cannot take over the Azure Dragon lineage in the future, his status and treatment within the sect will not be limited to that of an ordinary elder.

"I never expected that you would not only have outstanding talent in martial arts, but also be so incomprehensibly strong in alchemy."

Li Siqi's eyes reflected the pale golden calming pill. He was also an experienced alchemist, and just by looking at it and then at the unformed pill in his furnace, he foresaw the outcome of failure.

Even at his best, it would have been impossible for him to refine a calming pill of this grade, especially since he had lost his composure for a moment because the other party had "refined it in an instant".
Even if the quality of this batch of pills is successfully produced, it will be compromised, so how can we win?
In his dejection, he struggled to suppress his despondency and endured the agony of completing the final step.

When the incense sticks were halfway burned, Ye Shuyi and Li Siqi produced the pills one after the other.

However, compared to Li Cunxiao's lustrous jade beads that shimmered with golden light, the two finished products, though complete, looked rather ordinary.

Now that things have come to this, even a layman watching with a keen eye could guess the outcome of this contest.

Some of the more ambitious ones had even sent their servants back to the carriage to fetch visiting cards and gifts, preparing to seize this opportunity to give Li Cunxiao a proper visit, as he rarely left his home.

After all, in the past, anyone who wanted to see this disciple of Taiyi was always dismissed with the excuse of seclusion.

Today we finally ran into a living person, so using that lame excuse would be rather inappropriate, wouldn't it?

"None of you three are planning to refine a second batch?"

Yan Daotong watched the three people carrying pills descend from the high platform, and asked a question he already knew the answer to.

Changsun Chi, Qin Li, and Yuchi Mu, who were standing nearby, fell silent for a moment, their gazes circling around before finally settling on the golden, lustrous pill in Li Cunxiao's hand.

"Is this Tranquilizing Pill still a fifth-grade pill? Judging by quality alone, it's probably already a sixth-grade pill, isn't it?" "Such exquisite technique, and such talent in improving the pill formula."

"If one of my clansmen could have this pill, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Complex and difficult-to-understand emotions flashed in their eyes, but in the end, the sect leaders all put on a kind and amiable smile and congratulated Taiyi Zhenren, whose mouth was almost twisted to the sky.
"Congratulations, junior brother! You have a worthy successor!"

"Our Louguan Dao has gained another master of alchemy!"

"Junior Nephew Li is a prodigy, a rough gem, but he needs a master to polish him; otherwise, his fine talent will be wasted."

The masters uttered words that made people blush as if they were free, but the old Taoist priest became reserved upon hearing them, coughed a few times, and composed himself.

“Cunxiao has indeed surpassed his predecessors, but the senior brothers should strive for fairness in their judgments and not hurt Ye Shuyi and Li Siqi’s feelings.”

Shame on you!
Several people cursed inwardly. At this point, was there any need to say who won or lost?
Li Cunxiao's superior quality of pills was immediately apparent, not to mention that the other party had seemingly improved the pill formula.

With such an extraordinary achievement in hand, the sect leader may have already secretly promised a reward. How could Ye Shuyi and Li Siqi possibly compete for it?

This is something that not only they know, but also those involved are aware of.

Li Siqi stared at the exquisite pill, speechless for a long time. Ye Shuyi, on the other hand, quickly transformed her frustration into a fiery fervor that even Li Cunxiao found hard to bear.

"No need, Master Uncle. Although I cannot refine pills of this quality, I still have the experience I have accumulated over the past ten years."

"The outcome is decided. This time, Junior Brother Li has won."

"However, I will definitely need to discuss this calming pill with my junior brother another day."

Ye Shuyi's words left something unsaid, but she did not specify it.

Yan Daotong was also satisfied with what he saw.

After all, there were more people watching the spectacle today than those competing and the old folks. No one realized what a remarkable thing Li Cunxiao had accomplished.

Some news is delayed or concealed if possible.

Taiyi, being the cunning one, knew about this all along, yet insisted on holding this competition. Did he look down on his magnanimity?
“My skills are far inferior to yours, junior brother. Even if I were to presume to call you brother, it would make my face burn.”

With a bitter smile, Li Siqi laboriously moved in front of Li Cunxiao, the bitterness in his expression impossible to fake.

He was suppressed by Li Qingtong back then, and now he is suppressed by Li Cunxiao. He has been pursuing the position of successor of the Azure Dragon Gate for so long, but he has never had a place of his own.

The more one gives, the more painful it becomes. Especially since Li Cunxiao has abandoned his usual low profile and begun to show his brilliance.

At this moment, he was even a little worried that if the other party said something indecent, he would immediately become the laughing stock of Louguandao, the laughing stock of Longxi Li family, and even the laughing stock of Jingji Province under the spotlight.

Every time Li Cunxiao achieves a new feat in the future, I will be relegated to the role of a foil, repeatedly nailed to the pillar of shame.
"Senior brother," a pair of strong hands grasped his arm.

Li Siqi looked up in surprise, only to see that the other person's face did not show the arrogance of a victor, but rather a smile and a joke:
"Being a master's apprentice must be very hard, right?"

Li Siqi was taken aback at first, then revealed a complicated smile.

For a fleeting moment, he almost nodded in agreement. However, the composure honed over many years prevented him from voicing his true feelings. He cupped his hands and said:
"My skills are inferior; I, your brother, am willing to accept defeat. We'll meet again on Azure Dragon Peak."

"Senior brother, wait a minute. I can't make this decision. Master, are you just going to stand by and watch?"

"Ahem," Master Taiyi coughed and walked over with several sect leaders.

With the outcome decided, Changsun Chi and the others were too lazy to pretend to be referees anymore. They watched as the old Taoist priest reached out and picked up the pills refined by Ye Shuyi and Li Siqi, and remained unmoved.

However, unexpectedly yet logically, after examining it carefully for a moment, Taiyi Zhenren actually began to comment:
"Shuyi, the Vermilion Bird True Technique you are practicing contains extremely violent Bing-Ding fire. Therefore, when you were refining it..."

"There's also the combined cultivation of martial and literary arts. As for martial arts fire, that's one thing, but there are a few key points to cultivating literary arts."

Ye Shuyi listened intently to just a few words, and immediately took out paper and pen, writing down her thoughts in tiny characters.

Taiyi was even more satisfied upon seeing this, and added at the end of his commentary, "If you have any questions in the future, you may come to me at any time."

"If I'm not available, I can still discuss and exchange ideas with Li Cunxiao."

"Master." Li Cunxiao saw Ye Shuyi's eyes light up and felt a chill run down his spine. He wanted to speak, but the old Taoist glared at him and stopped him.

"Siqi," Master Taiyi looked to the side again, at his eldest disciple who had been a disciple for fifteen years.

"Your biggest problem is that you are not focused when refining pills, which causes many details to go wrong."

As he spoke, the old Taoist priest, clad in a golden crown and purple robe, hunched over slightly, but he did not launch into a lengthy discourse as before.

"...But even so, you still managed to complete this calming pill in the end, instead of giving up because you felt you couldn't win. That's your 'sincerity' towards the Dao of Alchemy."

Taiyi Zhenren smiled, his face displaying a kind of amiable warmth that was both familiar and unfamiliar to Li Siqi.

"This time, you did a good job, better than any before."

"As a master alchemist, you have passed the test."

"Master."

Li Siqi's chest heaved violently, as if something surging and churning was inside him.

Finally, he exhaled a breath of pent-up frustration, forcefully and slowly. Within the churning air, countless images seemed to flash through his mind:
Children practiced martial arts while standing in stances under the scorching sun.
A young boy hid in the snow on a winter night and fought a bloody battle against demons;
A young man buried himself in his books on alchemy and fell asleep beside the furnace.

There was also the towering, unreachable figure of an old Taoist priest, always facing forward, never turning back. Five years, ten years passed, and when he finally grew weary and wanted to stop, that figure turned back and reached out to him.
Li Siqi smiled, a smile that was both relieved and helpless.

"Junior brother, how could such prodigies as you be born into this world?"

Li Cunxiao smiled upon hearing this.

"Senior brother, you'll get used to it eventually."

Li Siqi shook his head in disbelief. Only then did he finally relax and take the calming pill that Li Cunxiao had refined from Ye Shuyi's hand, whose eyes were filled with infatuation.

After examining it closely, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. In more than ten years, he had never seen a calming pill of such quality.

As they examined the pills, observing and smelling them, they couldn't help but awaken their instincts to try and figure out the changes in medicinal properties and heat during the pill refining process.

Then Li Siqi froze. After a moment, he rushed to the platform and looked at Li Cunxiao using the remaining materials. An unbelievable guess came to his mind.

Then, he suddenly rushed down again, belatedly noticing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, but it was too late to care.

He grasped Li Cunxiao's arm warmly and sincerely, and his words made Taiyi Zhenren's face twitch:
"Junior brother, do you have a family genealogy?"

"No, what do you mean, Senior Brother?"

Li Siqi's eyes instantly welled up with tears:

"Your 'Li' and the 'Li' of our Longxi Li clan might be the same person."

"We are half-brothers!"

(End of this chapter)