Xue Qianwei felt a little embarrassed. A ninth-grade pill was comparable in value to any immortal artifact.
Holding the Glazed Pure Heart Pill in her hand, she said, "Little pill, do you want to take human form and let me see you?"
"No, no!"
This little pill seemed extremely resistant to the idea. It was afraid that after leaving Xue Qianwei, Ming Yi would attack it and erase its consciousness.
Xue Qianwei had no choice but to carry it with her.
At this moment, the elders from Residual Fragrance Valley arrived. After all, the commotion of refining a ninth-grade pill earlier was quite significant, and they had all come to take a look.
Many of them had never seen a ninth-grade pill before.
"Senior Ming, have you encountered any difficulties?"
Ming Yi waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, nothing. Everything is fine. I am discussing alchemical matters with your guest elder!"
"Then we..."
"You are forbidden to approach without my permission!"
"Yes!"
The elders of Residual Fragrance Valley left in disappointment. The status of a ninth-grade alchemist was comparable to that of an Immortal Emperor, so they naturally did not dare to act presumptuously.
Xue Qianwei had just achieved enlightenment, and she now had a strong urge to refine pills!
"Clang!"
She took out a huge alchemical furnace, then looked at the furnace, rolled up her sleeves, and excitedly said, "Senior, I'm going to start refining pills too!"
Ming Yi was taken aback and asked, "What pill are you going to refine?"
"An eighth-grade pill! Blood Lotus Pill!"
Upon hearing this, Ming Yi staggered.
"Young friend Xue, this is not something you should be attempting. Your realm is not yet sufficient to refine an eighth-grade pill..."
Xue Qianwei glared at him and said, "Senior, you're being ridiculous. We alchemists can't always be stuck in our ways! Just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it can't be done now. Cultivators can kill opponents of higher levels, so why can't alchemists refine pills of higher grades?"
"This... since ancient times..."
"Since ancient times, there has never been an Alchemical Emperor in this world. Then you shouldn't pursue that either!"
"Ah, this..."
If it were anyone else, Ming Yi would have been angry. But after hearing Xue Qianwei's words, he fell into contemplation instead.
Despite being a ninth-grade alchemist, all his alchemical methods followed the traditions passed down since ancient times.
For example, before refining, he would pre-heat the ingredients with fire. This simple principle was something all alchemists believed would damage the original medicinal properties.
However, the fact was that by doing so, he had indeed succeeded in refining.
"Then refine it. I will assist you!"
Xue Qianwei set up the alchemical furnace. She recalled the power that emanated from the Glazed Pure Heart Pill when its life was born, and then began her arduous refining journey.
To refine an eighth-grade pill with the cultivation of the Mahayana stage was a feat that broke conventional norms.
Success was not easy; spiritual power, the potency of the flames, and the refinement of high-grade medicinal ingredients all required support from a higher cultivation level.
Ming Yi watched Xue Qianwei quietly, just as Xue Qianwei had watched him refine pills earlier.
The first attempt, failure.
The second attempt, failure.
The third attempt, failure...
The forty-ninth attempt...
More than a month had passed, and she was still refining pills tirelessly. If she felt tired or sleepy, or if her spiritual power was insufficient, she would replenish her energy by taking pills.
Ming Yi remained silent, offering alchemical support when necessary.
Sometimes, the Azure Emperor would also come to observe. Upon seeing Xue Qianwei engrossed in refining, he would not disturb her.
This time, Ming Yi stood up straight.
He saw something different. The medicinal properties within the alchemical furnace in front of Xue Qianwei were undergoing some miraculous changes.
"Don't be agitated, don't be anxious. Treat the refinement of every pill as the process of creating life. Give it the best state and refine it with the most peaceful heart..."
Xue Qianwei adjusted the flame temperature while murmuring to herself. She had not taken any calming pills throughout the process, but after so many failures, her state of mind had not shown any cracks, nor had she experienced any signs of collapsing Dao heart.
Under her meticulous refinement, the aroma of medicinal herbs wafted from the alchemical furnace.
Dense red mist emerged from the furnace, forming a phenomenon resembling a red lotus.
Ming Yi's mouth hung open, staring at everything before him in disbelief.
"Damn, it looks like it's going to succeed!"
Could a seventh-grade alchemist, without becoming an immortal, actually refine an immortal pill?
Pills of eighth grade and above could be called immortal pills.
A wave of intense fatigue washed over Xue Qianwei, and her vision flickered. However, it was the final moment. If she collapsed now, all her efforts would be in vain!
"Withdraw the fire..."
"Damn it, why do I have no strength to withdraw the fire?"
Xue Qianwei's eyes widened in desperation. At this moment, the Glazed Pure Heart Pill hiding on her body emitted a potent medicinal force and flowed into Xue Qianwei's body.
This surge of power came at the perfect time, allowing Xue Qianwei to finally muster the strength to withdraw the fire.
The fierce flames within the furnace were swiftly withdrawn, and then a radiant light erupted.
Xue Qianwei clearly felt that it had succeeded. A small life was beating within the alchemical furnace.
"Clang!"
The furnace lid was instantly blown open, and a pill flew out. It attempted to escape, but Ming Yi easily caught it.
Xue Qianwei's eyes shone brightly, and she spread her arms, laughing heartily, "Hahaha! I did it! An eighth-grade pill, nothing more!"
"Rumble!!"
Thunderclouds immediately churned in the sky, and then a golden grand path appeared beneath Xue Qianwei's feet. At the end of the golden path was a massive gate.
"I'm going to become an immortal too! I haven't been back to Blue Star in a long time. Will I be faster than Zhang Xiaohu and the others? Haha! I truly am the ancestor of alchemists from Blue Star, haha!"
Xue Qianwei was extremely happy now. Carefreely, she stepped onto the path of ascension.
Ming Yi looked at everything before him and still found it somewhat unbelievable.
Perhaps Xue Qianwei herself didn't know that she had entered a magical state, no longer viewing herself as an ordinary alchemist but as a creator.
This was not just a change in mindset but also the establishment of her "Dao of Alchemy."
When an alchemist could refine an immortal pill, they had already qualified to become an immortal, so entering the ascension ceremony was only natural.
As an alchemist, the path to ascension would surely not be as winding as Wang Teng's.
Boss Xue had plenty of pills to consume, such as those for increasing defense, healing injuries, and expelling residual lightning tribulations from her body...
In any case, the ascension ceremony was quite uneventful. Boss Xue finally became an honored immortal.