Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Suddenly, a crisp cracking sound rang out.

On the surface of the embryo, fine, spiderweb-like cracks appeared.

Immediately afterwards, an indescribable surge of immense energy, like a sleeping ancient beast awakening, erupted with a deafening roar!

Pure white, misty alchemical energy burst forth and instantly spread, filling the air with a rich medicinal fragrance. Just a wisp of it caused many alchemists to feel a loosening of the bottleneck that had stagnated for many years.

"Oh no!" Cao Ying's pupils shrank suddenly as a possibility flashed through her mind.

"Little White! The Mystic Core has developed sentience; it wants to use the core's energy to escape!"

The sharp shout startled everyone awake.

This elixir, which gathers the essence of heaven and earth and integrates the origins of two semi-finished Xuan Dan pills, has already given birth to complete intelligence!

Almost at the same instant she finished speaking, a mysterious spiritual light burst forth from the center of the elixir, so fast that most of the people present only saw a fleeting afterimage.

However, it was fast, but Cao Ying and Xiao Bai were even faster.

"Sleepy!"

Cao Yingyu formed a hand seal, and Xiaobai's mind was in sync with hers. The Myriad Fire Lotus suddenly contracted, and the three thousand lotus petals overlapped layer upon layer, transforming into a cage of flames.

The mysterious light crashed into the wall of fire, emitting a hissing sound, and was abruptly stopped.

Xuan Guang struggled left and right within the fire cage, but was unable to break through the confinement constructed from the source of the strange fire.

After several unsuccessful attempts, the light gradually subsided and condensed into a shape.

When the light faded and the figures within became clear, the entire square fell into a deathly silence.

It was a figure dressed in pure white, tall and slender, with a handsome and otherworldly face, and a pair of calm and deep eyes that seemed to reflect the Milky Way.

He stood with his hands behind his back amidst the flames, his white robes fluttering without wind, exuding an indescribable, ethereal Daoist aura.

"Master...Master?!"

Little Fairy Doctor exclaimed in surprise and stood up abruptly.

Cao Ying's breath hitched, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Soul Void Child, Yao Wanhuo, Shennong Elder, and even the Medicine Pill on the high platform—all the powerful figures who had seen "that person" in person or in portrait—were horrified at this moment.

The figure within the fiery cage was none other than the Lord of the White Dust Realm, the most mysterious and powerful figure on the continent in recent years—

Su Baichen.

"You...you audacious Xuan Dan! How dare you impersonate my master!" Little Fairy Doctor was the first to recover from her shock, her pretty face contorted with rage.

Cao Ying's eyes were filled with surprise and doubt, but her hands moved without the slightest hesitation.

She took a step forward, her figure vanishing like a ghost, and in the next instant she appeared in front of "Su Baichen," her slender finger pointing at his brow.

The moment my fingertips touched your forehead, there was no resistance as I had expected.

Su Baichen's figure rippled out like water, quickly becoming blurred and shrinking.

The white robes faded, the Daoist aura dissipated, and it finally transformed into a pill the size of a longan, perfectly round, with mysterious pill patterns wrapped around its body.

The elixir floated quietly, its rich fragrance spreading out, so pleasant that it soothed the soul.

Ninth-grade Mystic Pill!

Cao Ying took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, took out the specially made cold jade pill bottle that she had prepared in advance, changed her hand seal, and the mysterious pill that had given birth to intelligence slowly fell into the bottle.

The moment the stopper closed, she swiftly stored the elixir bottle in her storage ring, and the Myriad Fire Green Lotus transformed into a ray of light that entered her body.

The scene remained completely silent.

Countless gazes were focused on Cao Ying, a mixture of envy, jealousy, amazement, disbelief...

With her superb alchemy skills, unique fire spirit, myriad fire lotus, and profound pills, this woman's fortune and foundation are beyond description.

Hun Xuzi and the others had also stopped fighting, looking at Cao Ying with complicated expressions.

At their level, the outcome is already decided; further entanglement will only make them a laughing stock.

"Cao Ying, why does this Xuan Dan... transform into the appearance of your master?" Yao Chen was the first to break the silence, stroking his beard with curiosity and inquiry in his eyes.

This was also the question in the minds of everyone present.

How could a newly created pill know Su Baichen's appearance and temperament, or even simulate his unique charm?

Although Hun Xuzi didn't speak, his pricked-up ears betrayed his attention.

Just a moment ago, even he thought it was Su Baichen himself, and alarm bells rang in his mind. The clan's secret archives only had eight words to describe the Lord of Baichen Realm: unfathomable, possibly a nine-star being.

Cao Ying herself was also somewhat confused. She frowned and pondered for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Perhaps it has something to do with the two semi-finished products that I integrated into the dan embryo."

"Those two pills were both made by Master in his past practice..."

She didn't finish speaking, but everyone present suddenly understood, and a deeper shock surged in their hearts.

On the high platform, Yao Dan listened in silence for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

[I see... a practice piece is a level in itself. Just how far has Mr. Su progressed? Is he already a Golden Core alchemist?]

At this thought, the last bit of competitive spirit in the heart of this medicine clan leader vanished.

Not to mention compared to that mysterious Mr. Su, even the Cao Ying in front of him, with her alchemy skills, strange fire spirit, and that incredible "Ten Thousand Fire Green Lotus", has already subtly surpassed him.

"Hahaha!"

The old man Shennong laughed loudly, breaking the slightly oppressive atmosphere: "No wonder, no wonder Mr. Su did not come in person, but only sent his esteemed disciple. Only today do I realize that there are mountains beyond mountains, and heavens beyond heavens!"

Elder Wanhu shook his head with a wry smile: "Even our disciples can refine Xuan Dan. What face do we old guys have left to call ourselves Grandmasters? The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Yao Chen looked at his junior Cao Ying, his eyes filled with satisfaction and emotion. He smiled and gestured towards the high platform: "Alright, enough of the small talk. Cao Ying, why don't you go and claim the glory you deserve?"

Cao Ying composed herself and, under the watchful eyes of countless people, slowly walked towards the high platform.

Yao Dan looked at the woman in the purple dress who had approached. She was stunningly beautiful, had an extraordinary temperament, and possessed unparalleled alchemy skills.

The complex emotions in his heart eventually turned into relief—no matter what, in the end, it wasn't that disgusting Hun Xuzi who won, and that was enough.

The old and dignified voice of the medicine pill echoed throughout the square:

"Cao Ying, after this battle, you have surpassed all others and achieved the highest grade of pill refinement. I, in the name of the Medicine Clan Chief, hereby declare that from this day forward, you are the universally recognized—"

"The Number One Alchemist!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the square fell silent for a moment, then erupted into thunderous cheers and exclamations.

Whether or not they are convinced, Cao Ying's performance today has won over the vast majority of people.

Yao Dan raised his hand and pressed down lightly. After the sound subsided, he continued, "According to the agreement, in addition to receiving this honor, you can also make a request to my Yao Clan or obtain a favor from the Yao Clan."

"As long as it does not violate the greater good and does not damage the foundation of the Medicine Clan, our clan will do its best to satisfy you."

Cao Ying seemed to have been prepared. Almost without hesitation, her clear voice rang out: "Clan Chief Yaodan, this junior has no other request but to obtain a Nine Nether Wind Flame."

Upon hearing this, Yao Dan was slightly taken aback, but then realized that the other party didn't seem to lack anything.

"As you wish."

Without asking any more questions, Yao Dan reached out with his right hand and grabbed at the mountain behind him.

"boom!"

Space distorted, and a pitch-black crack appeared. Immediately afterwards, a chilling aura, as if from the depths of the netherworld, spread out.

A wisp of Netherworld Wind Flame slowly drifted out from the crack and landed in front of Cao Ying.

"Thank you for your kindness, Clan Chief!" Cao Ying's beautiful eyes lit up with joy as she carefully placed the Nine Nether Wind Flame into a specially made fire pot.

Her biggest goal on this trip, besides making a name for herself, was to obtain the strange fire.

However, just as she put away the fire pot and prepared to bow to the medicine pills and take her leave—

The sky darkened without warning.

No, it's not dark.

An endless black flame enveloped the entire sky of the Medicine Realm.

All the cheers and discussions in the square came to an abrupt halt.

A terrifying pressure that made even the soul tremble descended, accompanied by boundless black flames!

Chapter 388 The Void Devouring Flame Strikes!

The air in the alchemy plaza suddenly froze.

The once pervasive aroma of medicine and the bustling sounds of people seemed to have been severed by an invisible giant hand.

Space distorted slightly, and a figure slowly materialized from nothingness—not a body of flesh and blood, but a body constructed from countless writhing, leaping black flames.

The flames burned silently, yet devoured light and heat, bringing a chilling cold that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Clan Chief Yaodan, it's been a long time. Do you... still remember me?"

The voice was icy and chilling, as if it came from the depths of the underworld, each word carrying a malice that would burn the soul.

"Void Devouring Flames!"

Yao Dan's pupils constricted, and he squeezed out the name through clenched teeth. His powerful fighting spirit surged involuntarily, and his robes fluttered even without wind.

Shock was followed by a growing sense of bewilderment and chill: "How did you get in? Why didn't my Medicine Clan's protective formation give you even the slightest warning?!"

Upon hearing this, the other guests in the square were instantly in an uproar, their faces showing shock.

The Medicine Clan's Grand Array is renowned and has a long history. It was left behind by the Dou Di. How could it have been silently infiltrated by someone?

Just then, a figure flashed out from the crowd like a ghost, landing steadily beside Void Devouring Flame, a mocking sneer on his face.

It was none other than Hun Xuzi.

His appearance was like the coldest answer, crashing down on Yao Dan's heart.

"Damn it! Soul Void Master, your trip here... wasn't for alchemy at all!" Yao Dan instantly realized the truth, a surge of anger at being fooled rushed to his head, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He originally thought that Hun Xuzi had come for the reward of the Pharmacopoeia, but no matter how much he calculated, he never expected that this person was actually a deadly spy planted by the Hun Clan!

Despite facing Yao Dan's almost fiery gaze, Hun Xuzi remained completely calm and instead sneered, "Yao Dan, don't you even use your brain? The little thing your Yao Clan promised is not enough to make me personally come all this way to play this childish alchemy competition with you?"

He shook his head, his tone full of sarcasm: "Yao Dan, Yao Dan, it seems that you are really going downhill as the clan leader."