Chapter 52: Four-Tier Soul Nourishing Elixir

Nearly three months had passed, and Wei Yang had now reached the peak of a Nine-Star Dou Ling, beginning to faintly touch upon the bottleneck of the Dou Wang level.

It wouldn't be long before he might attempt to break through this bottleneck and step into a new realm.

Yesterday, he had also successfully refined a Qi Gathering Powder.

Qi Gathering Powder was a fourth-tier elixir.

After consumption, it could help those at the ninth stage of Dou Qi to condense a Qi cyclone within their bodies, allowing them to smoothly advance to the Dou Zhe realm without any side effects.

Successfully refining the Qi Gathering Powder marked Wei Yang's formal entry into the level of a fourth-tier alchemist.

Of course, there was still some distance to the peak of the fourth tier.

This rapid progress was due to Wei Yang's strong soul power and ample supply of herbs, allowing him to reach this level in just under three months.

However, advancing beyond the fourth tier wouldn't be so easy.

First, fourth-tier herbs were rare and couldn't be gathered in large quantities as before.

Second, refining fourth-tier elixirs had become increasingly complex, sometimes taking an entire day to complete a single pill.

At this moment, Xian'er had also reached the Three-Star Dou Ling level.

Recently, she had successfully refined a third-tier Returning Qi Pill, smoothly advancing to a third-tier alchemist.

However, she had now entered a bottleneck phase after her period of rapid progress.

…

Sitting on a rock, Wei Yang smiled as he watched the busy figure preparing breakfast for them. «Xian'er, I need to return to Wutan City in a few days. Do you want to come with me?»

«Hmm?» Xian'er turned around, brushing her hair aside with her delicate hand, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at Wei Yang. «Brother Yang, why are you suddenly thinking of going back to Wutan City? Is there something important?»

«It's nothing serious. I just promised the Xiao family that I would visit them three months later,» Wei Yang waved his hand and smiled.

«Oh.» Xian'er turned back to her tasks, showing no interest in visiting the Xiao family. «You can go by yourself. I'll wait for you here.»

«Alright, I'll leave in the morning and be back by the afternoon.»

Wei Yang nodded and added, «By the way, could you give me those three Soul Nourishing Lotuses later? I've been studying various manuals and books lately and I'm confident I can refine them into a fourth-tier Soul Nourishing Elixir to enhance their soul-healing effects.»

«A fourth-tier Soul Nourishing Elixir? For healing soul damage… What about the supplementary herbs?» Xian'er added some firewood to the stove, curious.

«The supplementary herbs include Clear Spirit Grass, Bright Flower, and Focus Grass… These third and fourth-tier herbs can be found in the valley. Plus, I have a third-tier water attribute magic core that I obtained while hunting,» Wei Yang replied.

«There are only a dozen or so common fourth-tier herbs in the valley, and you're going to use several at once,» Xian'er frowned and glared at Wei Yang with some displeasure.

The little girl felt a bit distressed.

The herbs in the valley were her treasures, carefully tended to every day.

Moreover, Wei Yang was asking for three rare and precious fourth-tier Soul Nourishing Lotuses.

The forty-eight valuable herbs they had brought from the ancient treasure trove hadn't been used yet, and now three were going to be taken at once.

Seeing the girl protect her treasures like this, Wei Yang smiled. «The refined Soul Nourishing Elixir, though strictly speaking just a fourth-tier elixir, not only heals soul damage but also strengthens one's soul power upon the first consumption.»

«I'll refine three portions. I'll give you one. With your soul power, which is already stronger than an average Three-Star Dou Ling due to frequent alchemy, one dose might make your soul power comparable to that of a Dou Wang. You'll be close to refining third-tier peak elixirs,» Wei Yang tempted her.

Xian'er's eyes lit up at his words.

She tossed some mushrooms into the bubbling pot and pouted. «I'll give them to you after breakfast.»

Wei Yang was secretly delighted.

Why did he suddenly feel like he was coaxing his wife to give him pocket money?

…

«Alright, try it. How does it taste?» Xian'er stirred the boiling soup with a spoon, scooping some into a small bowl. She smiled as she handed it to Wei Yang. «Here, be careful, it's hot.»

Wei Yang took the bowl, inhaling the fragrant aroma, and couldn't help but salivate.

He gulped and gave Xian'er a thumbs up. «Smells great!»

Blowing on it a few times, he didn't care if it was still hot and took a big sip.

«Drink slowly, it's hot,» Xian'er scolded gently.

«Mmm,» Wei Yang mumbled, continuing to drink.

Xian'er rolled her eyes at him and served herself a bowl, blowing on it gently.

Watching Wei Yang gulp down the soup, a smile appeared on her face, and her beautiful eyes shone with happiness.

When Wei Yang finished his bowl, he handed it to her to cool it down a bit more.

…

In the secret chamber, the temperature was high.

A one-meter-tall three-legged cauldron, entirely crimson, stood with ancient and exquisite carvings of birds, beasts, fish, and insects.

Inside the cauldron, dark red flames burned fiercely.

Wei Yang sat cross-legged before the cauldron, his hands forming strange seals, constantly changing, his expression serious as he controlled the temperature of the flames inside the cauldron.

A palm-sized blob of emerald green liquid floated in the flames, slowly wriggling.

A peculiar medicinal fragrance filled the air, invigorating the soul and bringing a refreshing feeling as if all fatigue was swept away.

Wei Yang's eyes were fixed on the cauldron, not daring to be careless. His soul power spread out, carefully sensing the subtle changes in the liquid, while meticulously adjusting the flame's temperature in real time.

The room was quiet, with only the faint crackling of the fire.

Xian'er sat cross-legged nearby, attentively watching Wei Yang's alchemy, her perception keenly absorbing the process.

Though she had just entered the third-tier level, observing a fourth-tier alchemist at work was highly beneficial.

Time passed slowly.

As the liquid in the cauldron became more vibrant and translucent, the peculiar fragrance grew stronger.

At this point, Wei Yang maintained a steady temperature within the cauldron, no longer altering it.

He exhaled lightly and smiled. «It's done. Now it just needs to be nurtured a bit longer before it's ready.»

Xian'er nodded with a smile.

At this stage, the elixir was basically complete. With a bit more time, it would be fully formed unless something unexpected happened.

She took a greedy sniff of the fragrant air and said, «This aroma is so pleasant. Just smelling it makes me feel my soul power slightly increasing.»

«Didn't I tell you? When you take a dose later, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Your soul power will definitely increase, enough to rival mid to high-level Dou Wang experts.»

Wei Yang laughed proudly. «Though this Soul Nourishing Elixir isn't a top-tier formula, it's my own carefully researched creation.»

«Yes, yes, Brother Yang is the best,» Xian'er teased with a playful glare.

After a while.

The fragrance had become so thick that it formed a faint white mist above the cauldron.

«It's ready!» Wei Yang's eyes focused, and his hand seals changed.

With a thought, the liquid inside the cauldron emitted a suction force, absorbing all the mist above.

Then, Wei Yang took out three pre-prepared jade bottles, suspending them in the air with their lids open.

With a wave of his hand, the slightly smaller than palm-sized blob of green liquid split into three parts, one slightly larger, taking about 40%, while the other two each took 30%.

The three portions of liquid fell into the jade bottles, which were then sealed with a touch of soul power.

Wei Yang stored away two bottles and handed the one with 40% of the liquid to Xian'er.

«Thank you, Brother Yang,» Xian'er said sweetly, happily accepting the bottle.

«Hmph, verbal thanks don't count,» Wei Yang said, tilting his face toward her.

Xian'er chuckled and obediently leaned in, giving him a light peck on the cheek.

(End of Chapter)