Chapter 748: Refine Pills
There were numerous peaks in the Beast King Sect, and more than one of them were suitable for the refinement of pills. Even so, Gu Jiacheng, who was the greatest alchemy sect elder of this era in the sect, lived on his own in a valley where Earth Fire could be found.
For generations, the Beast King Sect had plenty of powerhouses, who actually opened up the passage to Earth Fire, allowing the fire to be channeled into a special area.
Staying here was unquestionably a great choice for alchemists and blacksmiths with flame abilities.
Needless to say, this was also extremely rare even in the Beast King Sect.
When Ou Yangming arrived at the valley under the company of the 2 Venerable Ones, Gu Jiacheng had been waiting outside for a long time. Moreover, the young fellow also noticed a familiar figure inside. The old macaque was smiling with its eyes squinted at them, and the wrinkles on its face were clear to see even from a distance away.
Lingfeng the Venerable One paused for a split second. He quickly went back to normal, but he could not hide it from Ou Yangming.
It was evident that the Venerable One was also afraid of the old macaque.
The old macaque was valiant, but Ou Yangming could sense that it was old and weak. Regardless of how its strength used to be, it could not be mentioned on equal terms with a Venerable One at his prime anymore.
Nonetheless, for some reason, whether it was Lingfeng the Venerable One or the insect Venerable One that previously fought the old macaque, they regarded it with special respect.
Gu Jiacheng’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Ou Yangming. He bowed at the Venerable Ones in a hurry then asked the young fellow, “Master Ou, did you… Succeed?”
He seemed to be half-hearted toward the Venerable Ones, but Yuqi the Venerable One and the others turned a blind eye to it as though they were not bothered.
Gu Jiacheng did not have a high cultivation base, but he specialized in something. Therefore, no matter how eccentric he acted, he would easily be forgiven.
Ou Yangming grinned. “Luckily, I didn’t let you down.”
“Great—awesome!” Gu Jiacheng laughed out loud. “I knew you wouldn’t return empty-handed, Master Ou.”
Ou Yangming could not help but laugh. ‘I can’t believe that this old man learned how to flatter me too.’
Gu Jiacheng asked impatiently, “Master Ou, can I take a look at it?”
The young fellow turned his wrist to retrieve the Phoenix Fire Bamboo again, then he handed it over to the man.
When Yuqi the Venerable One and the others looked at the bamboo, Ou Yangming was holding it and did not hand it to them. On the other hand, he simply let Gu Jiacheng hold it.
After all, Gu Jiacheng was the main person that would refine the Eternal Pills. It was true that Ou Yangming possessed a Heavenly Phoenix Fire, but he would only play a supporting role.
Gu Jiacheng’s eyes gleamed as he held the red segment of the bamboo. He had unknowingly straightened his body, and he was full of confidence. At this point, the aura that the alchemist released caused even Lingfeng the Venerable One to regard him with special respect.
It was a momentum that could only be slowly accumulated by a powerhouse that continuously succeeded, and it would positively impact one’s confidence, allowing one to unleash one’s greatest power during a refinement process.
After a brief moment, Gu Jiacheng exhaled deeply and remarked, “Yes, this is the legendary Phoenix Fire Bamboo, which nurtures a surging life force. Ah, the Heavenly Phoenix Fire’s ability to cause rebirth through the fire has a well-deserved reputation indeed.”
Fire was a power that represented destruction. Nevertheless, when a certain power reached an extremity, there would be a stark contrast.
The opposite of destruction was life, and a phoenix’s rebirth through the fire was a power of regeneration that was found from destruction.
Despite that, since ancient times, this was only possible when the Phoenixes resurrected.
Gu Jiacheng lamented for some time before he looked up and asked, “Master Ou, I’m prepared. How about you?”
Yuqi the Venerable One and the 2 other formidable Venerable Ones immediately stared at Ou Yangming. They were slightly worried.
They could tell that Gu Jiacheng had adjusted his condition for today. He was similar to a soldier with high morale at the moment, where he could likely achieve his goal in one go if he were to go out to battle at the moment.
Having said that, if his momentum was blocked, nobody would be able to guess the outcome.
Ou Yangming was slightly stunned, but he soon responded with a smile, “Elder Gu, I’m also prepared.” He was not as sharp-eyed as the 3 experienced Venerable Ones, but he could also sense the forceful momentum from Gu Jiacheng. It was a momentum that could be encouraged but not stopped.
“Okay, Master Ou, please come with me.”
Gu Jiacheng was glowing with health, by which he was no longer old and hoary. Instead, he was as full of life as a young man.
Yuqi the Venerable One furrowed his eyebrows as he was concerned.
It did not seem like a good thing that Gu Jiacheng was acting like this; it was almost a sign of a momentary recovery before one’s death.
If the refinement process turned out to be unsuccessful, the consequence would probably be unbearable.
Yuqi the Venerable One and the old macaque exchanged glances. They were alert, but there was nothing they could do.
Gu Jiacheng led Ou Yangming and the others into his exclusive alchemy room. Given his level, he had his own territory like top-notch blacksmiths.
Ou Yangming looked around and noticed a furnace first. It was not large, and it was placed right at the center of the room. Complicated and mysterious veined patterns were carved on the furnace, but even the young fellow could not figure out anything from them in one glance.
Smithing art had such a wide scope that nobody could be omnipotent. It was worth noting that furnaces were one of the most unpopular pieces of equipment; other than blacksmiths that specially studied them, most blacksmiths did not really understand them.
Gu Jiacheng reached out and touched the furnace gently. An indescribable luster could be seen flickering in his eyes.
It was as if he was not touching a cold furnace, but a living being with flesh and left. It was an exceptionally wonderful feeling as though there was a deep connection between them.
Ou Yangming was dumbfounded. When he saw how focused Gu Jiacheng was, his heart throbbed.
The young fellow seemed to have experienced the feeling before, which was when he interacted with the poisonous pill’s spirit. However, the poisonous pill’s spirit was a spirit, after all, and it had formed a world. As for the furnace… It was made of steel.
Eventually, Ou Yangming was in admiration.
Gu Jiacheng was so sincere toward the furnace that he was almost treating it as his life.
This meant that he had fully invested his energy and even his life in alchemy art. Given how hardworking and focused the alchemist was, it was no wonder that he could still stand out and become the greatest person on the path of alchemy in the Beast King Sect, where there were countless talents.
Sure enough, nobody’s success was by luck.
Gu Jiacheng looked up after some time. He became more confident than before, and his confidence’s influence was unordinary as even the 3 Venerable Ones were affected. They felt as if they could already see the Eternal Pills being refined successfully.
“Master Ou, I’ve prepared the materials already,” Gu Jiacheng ordered the young fellow seriously, “Later, I’ll be preliminarily refining them first. Once the Phoenix Fire Bamboo is needed, I hope that you’ll release your Heavenly Phoenix Fire according to my request.”
Ou Yangming expressed in a deep voice, “Elder Gu, I’ve never officially learned alchemy art before this, so I’m only afraid that I might not be able to cooperate with you well.”
Gu Jiacheng responded proudly, “Hehe, Master Ou, you only need to focus on releasing your Heavenly Phoenix Fire. As long as you can control it well, you can leave everything else to me.”
Yuqi the Venerable One and the others looked at each other. They were somehow worried.
Ou Yangming did not know much about alchemy art, but he was a smithing master, hence he had a strong ego.
Gu Jiacheng was incredibly straightforward, where he only asked Ou Yangming to play a role similar to Red Boy[1]. The Venerable Ones did not know if the youthful fellow would be willing to take up the role. If he was displeased, he would probably leave on bad terms.
Who knew, Ou Yangming agreed to it without any hesitation. Judging from his attitude, he was not unhappy at all.
The 3 Venerable Ones exchanged glances and praised the young fellow internally for being aware of the general interest.
Gu Jiacheng suddenly grunted after he opened the furnace. A red spiritual fire emerged from his hand, and it spread as soon as it got close to the furnace, causing him and the furnace to be enveloped.
This was different from when Ou Yangming smithed pieces of equipment, but they shared the same theory.
Gu Jiacheng placed one hand on the furnace while he kept waving his other hand in front of the inlet.
Each time he waved his hand, a type of medicinal herb was tossed inside. As said by him, other than the Phoenix Fire Bamboo, he had prepared the other materials well.
As various medicine was thrown into the furnace, a marvelous fragrance was soon released. It spread far and wide, causing one to have a good appetite.
In actuality, alchemists would normally conceal their refinement processes from other people. That said, Gu Jiacheng needed Ou Yangming’s Heavenly Phoenix Fire this time, and Yuqi the Venerable One and the other Venerable Ones had unique identities. As insensible as the alchemist was, he would not shoo them away.
This was why there was an audience in the alchemy room at the moment.
Seeing as the medicine slowly became mature, and the fragrance was becoming richer bit by bit, Ou Yangming and the Venerable Ones looked grave.
On the contrary, Gu Jiacheng looked even more relaxed than before. A proud smile could even be vaguely seen on his face as though everything was under his control.
It was the same feeling as when Yuqi the Venerable One and the others fought their enemies, as well as when Ou Yangming smithed pieces of equipment. At this time, Gu Jiacheng was a deity—and almighty deity that could create everything—in front of the furnace.
[1] This is a small character in Journey to the West. He can shoot fire inextinguishable by water and smoke from his eyes, nostrils, and mouth as he developed True Samadhi Fire