When you repeatedly believed you had perfected refinement, but failed.
The reason for this failure was likely insufficient cultivation, affecting control over flames and the timing of ingredient placement.
Only with adequate cultivation could one perceive the minute differences.
Xue Qianwei truly only sensed that feeling of perfection after reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
A year of effort, three hundred and sixty-five days. They say cultivation transcends time, and so does alchemy.
After completing the refinement, she wept for a long time in the alchemy room. She was a proud young lady who had never suffered such indignity!
Despite the grievance, she felt an overwhelming joy upon successful refinement!
"Alchemy is so much fun, I absolutely love it, boohoo..."
The completion of refining the Peak Grade Restoration Pill marked the end of Xue Qianwei's seclusion, and the alchemy room finally reopened for business.
The previous batch of apprentices had all run away.
Many people had also sought Xue Qianwei to commission pill refinements, but she had been intensely battling the Peak Grade Restoration Pill during their visits, leaving no opportunity.
Now that Xue Qianwei had finally emerged, everyone flocked to her upon hearing the news.
They had initially intended to ask Xue Qianwei to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, which would have allowed them to easily break through from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment. Unfortunately, she was in seclusion, forcing everyone to rely on their own efforts to advance.
Fortunately, those who had entered the inner sect, after exhausting most resources, began selling passage tokens to cultivators who didn't have access to the inner sect.
These individuals truly were driven by profit.
However, the spiritual energy in the inner sect was much denser, and carrying a sliver of hope for finding more treasures within, they all purchased the tokens.
Even though they felt cheated, by cultivating in the dense spiritual energy for a full year, almost all of them successfully reached Foundation Establishment.
"Boss Xue! Boss Xue! I want to refine a second-grade pill, the Meridian Protection Pill!"
"Boss Xue, I was here first! I want to refine the Qi Restoration Pill! I'll provide the materials myself!"
"Me, me, me! I'm here to learn alchemy! Boss Xue, I'm your apprentice from last time, don't you remember?"
"..."
Xue Qianwei's head throbbed. She pulled out a loudspeaker and shouted, "Stop the noise! Line up properly and come one by one! There are still several months left! What's the rush? Are you in a hurry to die?"
"Don't bother asking me to refine first-grade pills anymore. I'm only taking orders for second-grade pills now!"
Before anyone could comment, Xue Qianwei continued, "For those learning alchemy, listen up: you're in charge of all first-tier pills! Your protests are invalid; I'm not charging you tuition, nor do I require your materials!"
"Refining for others not only improves our alchemy experience but also allows clients to call us 'dad'! What's there to complain about?"
"Alchemy is also a form of cultivation! Look at me; I've been refining pills for the entire year, and I've broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment! Isn't that more satisfying than meditating in silence?"
Although there was a hint of manipulation, for them, quietly secluding oneself might indeed be less fulfilling than diligently learning alchemy.
By mastering this craft, they could independently acquire any pill recipes and ingredients in the future, becoming self-sufficient.
...
On the fourth day after the 【Ascension Tower】's appearance, someone actually managed to clear the first level.
"Haha! Hahahaha! I defeated the Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor!"
A young man laughed wildly. His name was Liu Jiu, and he was merely a cultivator with average aptitude, one of the first batch to undergo aptitude testing.
He was currently in the late stage of Qi Refining, having forcibly broken through by acquiring spirit stones from various sources.
Furthermore, he had joined the cultivator army and, as a reward, received a Qi Refining Pill, which helped cultivators in the Qi Refining realm advance their cultivation.
After studying numerous guides online, he challenged it many times.
Finally, today, he achieved the first kill!
Simultaneously, the large screen next to the 【Ascension Tower】 updated its rankings.
"Tower Climbing Heroic Ranking," First Place: Liu Jiu.
Instantly, a crowd surged forward!
"What? The first kill has been claimed? Quickly tell us how you did it!"
"Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor? Is that the unusually ordinary Immortal Emperor in the early stages?"
"Didn't they say you gain one of his abilities after defeating him? Hurry and tell us what it is!"
"Share your experience with everyone!"
"..."
The first to clear the first level wasn't one of the exceptionally gifted geniuses, nor was it someone with top-tier aptitude.
This was explosive news!
Liu Jiu looked at the enthusiastic crowd, and a surge of heroic spirit welled up within him.
"Everyone, please calm down, and let me explain slowly... As quick as I say it, the moment he threw a punch, I slid in and took him down, then executed an over-the-shoulder throw... Like this, the Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor was directly subdued and victory was achieved!"
Although he employed some exaggerated rhetorical devices, Liu Jiu's explanation was largely accurate.
"As for what I gained?"
Liu Jiu clenched his fist, and strands of fire emanated from his knuckles.
"Heh heh, it's not anything particularly valuable, just a low-grade spiritual ranked fist technique, the Blazing Fist!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's enthusiasm waned.
"I thought it was something amazing! Turns out it's just this!"
"To be honest, the reward is a bit lacking; it's just a fist technique, not a cultivation method."
"Exactly, exactly! We strongly request Immortal Brother to enhance the rewards!"
"Actually, you've all misunderstood something. Didn't Immortal Brother say that the Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor is actually the weakest Immortal Emperor we'll encounter in the early stages? So if you want to get something good from him, you'll probably have to defeat him at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage!"
"Holy crap! This is too calculating! The easier ones give lower rewards, and the ones with higher rewards are unbeatable!"
"..."
Although the reward was mediocre, it was better than nothing.
Liu Jiu also knew that everyone encountered different opponents, and the Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor was considered one of the easier ones, at least in the early stages.
Later on, after the Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor acquired the "Sky Burning Record," he would advance rapidly, entering an invincible mode where he killed gods and buddhas alike.
Therefore, cherish the Nine Heavens Blazing Emperor you encounter in the first two levels.
As everyone was eagerly exploring the 【Ascension Tower】, suddenly, a golden path began to spread from the apartment where Chu Yang resided towards the horizon.
Immortal music and Daoistic rhymes bloomed in the sky.
The entire world witnessed this miraculous scene – a golden path? What kind of trick was this now?