Chapter 62: Departure!
"Xiao Yun, be careful!"
Glancing sideways at the figure behind her standing with hands clasped behind his back, Zi Yan did not forget to remind him.
Jiang Yun's gaze, however, was fixed on the pill within the cauldron. After thinking for a moment, he spoke. "Zi Yan, there may be a change soon. Be careful yourself. If things go wrong, pull back first. You know me — mere pill lightning cannot harm me."
Jiang Yun did not tell Zi Yan to leave. He knew that even if he said it, she would not leave at a time like this.
"Mm."
Looking at Jiang Yun with some confusion, but seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Zi Yan softly acknowledged. As for what she would actually do when the time came, only she would know.
Having received her answer, Jiang Yun looked at the lightning tribulation gathering in the sky above. His calm, unwavering gaze fell upon the pill in the cauldron, a faint ripple passing through his eyes.
Above seventh-grade pills were eighth-grade pills. The greatest difference between the two was the presence or absence of intelligence.
And it was precisely this intelligence that made eighth-grade pills so precious. The more intelligent the pill, the higher its quality — this was an established law of the alchemy world.
Some highly intelligent pills could even automatically absorb pure energy from heaven and earth to replenish themselves.
The prerequisite for refining such a pill was the Spirit Realm soul — only then would one be qualified to bestow intelligence upon a pill. Now that Jiang Yun had reached this level, could he bestow intelligence upon this Earth Essence Pill?
Even if, limited by the quality of the ingredients, it did not reach the eighth-grade level, it could still improve in quality.
For the pill he was refining for Su Qian, Jiang Yun wanted to achieve the best possible result. Of course, the prerequisite was that he had the capital to experiment.
Having made his decision, Jiang Yun suddenly raised his head. His terrifying soul power erupted at full force for the first time, causing everyone present to stiffen, their chests feeling pressed.
Even the pill lightning in the sky halted.
"What terrifying soul power." Hu Qian and the others looked at the figure on the platform with horrified eyes. For the first time, they realized that soul power could reach such a level.
With soul power like that, even they would not have a sure victory against Jiang Yun.
"Could this be the legendary Spirit Realm soul?" Unlike Hu Qian and the others, who did not know the divisions of soul power, Elder Huo, as an alchemist, knew more. At this moment, he recalled a rumor.
His gaze was fixed intently on Jiang Yun on the stone platform, the fervor in his eyes completely unbridled.
Looking at Jiang Yun again, he suddenly clenched his hand. Spirit seals flew out. A small array rapidly took shape.
Feeling the spiritual energy slowly gathering from heaven and earth, Jiang Yun suddenly shouted.
"Gather Spirits."
His vast soul power, without reservation, surged out at this moment. Countless invisible strands of spiritual energy were suddenly drawn by Jiang Yun and gathered around the pill.
The spiritual energy surged. In an extremely precise manner, Jiang Yun slowly compressed all of this spiritual energy into the pill.
The moment the surrounding spiritual energy entered the pill, the roaring thunderclouds in the sky above, as if pulled by some force, suddenly began to churn violently once more.
This scene, like a bomb, caused the entire Inner Academy to be plunged into a sea of shock.
"The thunderclouds in the sky are changing."
An incredulous exclamation rang out. Countless astonished gazes were fixed intently on the thunderclouds above Jiang Yun's head.
Sure enough, with that push, the pill lightning that had been about to take shape began to churn again.
"Look, is that color appearing?"
An uncertain voice came. Looking closely, the pill lightning in the sky churned and faint red appeared, but ultimately failed to manifest and faded into nothing.
"It failed, huh?"
Jiang Yun watched the red that flashed and disappeared in the sky and sighed with some emotion. But soon, he spoke again. "It is not really a failure. After all, it is only a seventh-grade pill. The quality of the ingredients was limited. Moreover, this method is only in its initial stages. It can be improved in the future."
"Who would have thought that a small Spirit-Gathering Array, with a slight modification, could achieve such an effect? If those fellows from the Yao Clan found out, would they go crazy?"
Jiang Yun thought unkindly. But ultimately, he returned to reality. There was still pill lightning to deal with.
At this moment, the clouds in the sky were growing thicker and thicker. From a distance, they looked as if they were about to press down onto the ground, giving off a very oppressive, pressing feeling.
Within the clouds, silver lightning slithered about. Occasionally, when they collided, they would erupt with huge thunderclaps. The might of heaven was quite unsettling.
Jiang Yun looked at the pill lightning in the sky, then at Zi Yan, whose body was tense before him. He spoke softly. "Confident?"
Hearing this, Zi Yan's beautiful eyes were fixed intently on the lightning slithering like silver snakes within the clouds. Feeling the vast power contained within, a deep seriousness appeared in her eyes.
But Zi Yan was not one to back down. "Hmph —, easy. How could this little bit of power be a problem for me?"
Seeing Zi Yan acting tough, Jiang Yun chuckled softly. He stepped forward, took her hand, and spoke softly. "Alright. Our task is complete. Time for someone else to take over."
As Zi Yan looked at him with some confusion, Jiang Yun spoke in a clear voice. "Elder Qian, Elder Bai, to safely receive this pill lightning, we will need you two to act."
Hearing Jiang Yun's call, Su Qian and the others, who had been preparing to act, paused. Then, beside Jiang Yun, two aged, grey figures slowly and eerily appeared.
But unlike before, this time, Jiang Yun could already feel the spatial fluctuations around them. He exchanged a glance with Zi Yan beside him. Seeing her eyes move slightly, Jiang Yun knew that she felt the same as he did.
The previously mysterious methods, with the increase in strength, were no longer so mysterious.
Seeing the two familiar figures, Su Qian and the others could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. With these two coming out, everything was fine.
Elder Qian and Elder Bai paid no attention to the pill lightning in the sky. Instead, they looked at Jiang Yun with interest. "How did you discover us?"
Before Jiang Yun could answer, Elder Qian realized. "Ah, of course. You have already reached the Spirit Realm soul. In this regard, even we two are no match for you. Our little concealment techniques are like showing off before an expert in your presence."
Hearing this, Jiang Yun smiled without answering, which was as good as admitting it.
With such a big commotion in the Inner Academy, even if they two were hermits, they could not possibly have remained unaware. The moment the lightning tribulation appeared, Jiang Yun had sensed their presence.
With two peak Dou Zongs backing them up, a little pill lightning was no big deal.
"You are the most outstanding student I have ever seen. You have already achieved the Spirit Realm soul. I hope you will soon become an eighth-grade alchemist." Elder Bai encouraged Jiang Yun, a hint of fervor in his heart.
An eighth-grade alchemist!
They had been trapped at the peak of Dou Zong for who knows how long. If they could establish a relationship with an eighth-grade alchemist, then Dou Zun would be right around the corner, would it not?
"This junior will strive for that."
Seeing Jiang Yun, neither arrogant nor impatient, Elder Qian and Elder Bai nodded satisfactorily. Only then did they turn to look at the lightning tribulation in the sky.
Boom!
Silver lightning within the clouds grew increasingly intense. About ten seconds later, the clouds suddenly split open. Then, a silver thunderbolt about half a foot wide, with a thunderous crash that resounded across the sky...
Like a huge silver python, it violently shot out from within the clouds. Its target was clearly the pill in the cauldron before Jiang Yun on the stone platform.
"Pill lightning... it has been a long time since I last saw it." Elder Bai watched the falling pill lightning and spoke with emotion.
"Hundred Fissure Finger."
He murmured softly. Then, with a light point of his finger, the pill lightning, which had been emanating terrifying power, shattered into pieces before the shocked gazes of countless onlookers.
As if angered by Elder Bai so easily dispersing the lightning, the black, oppressive clouds churned ever more fiercely. After a moment, a hissing sound rang out again. Silver lightning, a full twice as thick as the previous one, shot out from within the black clouds.
"Heh, not bad. Worthy of a peak seventh-grade pill that nearly brought forth colored pill lightning."
With a light laugh, a flicker of surprise passed through Elder Bai's calm, unwavering aged eyes. His two withered hands slowly emerged from his sleeves, slowly forming strange seals.
With his movements, intense spatial fluctuations suddenly spread out. As the space undulated, the space around the falling lightning became twisted and distorted, like countless wrinkles. It looked crooked, and even one's line of sight was directly distorted.
Bang —
A crisp sound rang out. The lightning was once again torn to shreds by spatial power, turning into countless tiny electric sparks, like tiny silver snakes, scattering across the entire stone platform.
With two lightning bolts failing to breach, the clouds seemed to grow even more enraged. Silver light flashed everywhere. Lightning bolts, like silver pythons, broke through the confines of the clouds, one after another crashing heavily onto the stone platform.
"Together."
With the call, Elder Qian and Elder Bai formed seals together. The surrounding spatial fluctuations grew increasingly intense.
Finally, the two lightly traced a line in the air with their withered fingers. Then, to everyone's horror, the sky where the lightning was falling was abruptly torn open by a giant invisible hand. A huge spatial fissure slowly appeared.
And the terrifying lightning bolts, one after another, fell into the dark, bottomless endless spatial fissure, not causing the slightest ripple.
After half an hour of such bombardment, the lightning power within the clouds above was finally exhausted.
The clouds gradually stopped churning, and their color slowly began to fade. Clearly, this pill lightning was over.
With the fading of the clouds, the oppressive feeling that had blanketed the entire Inner Academy finally completely dissipated. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Under that heavenly might, it had truly been too oppressive.
After the pill lightning dissipated, Elder Qian and Elder Bai encouraged Jiang Yun a few more times, then eerily disappeared once more.
After they left, Jiang Yun finally turned his gaze to the Earth Essence Pill inside the cauldron. Only now did a satisfied smile appear at the corners of his mouth. With a wave of his hand, he took a jade bottle from his ring and carefully stored the Earth Essence Pill inside.
"Xiao Yun, let me see it quickly." A surprised cry came. Accompanied by a gust of fragrant wind, Zi Yan's figure was already beside Jiang Yun. She leaned over to the jade bottle in Jiang Yun's hand, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the pill inside. The corners of her mouth uncontrollably showed a trace of drool.
"This is for the Grand Elder. You cannot just eat it, you know." Teasing Zi Yan with a laugh, Jiang Yun turned his hand and put away the jade bottle.
"I know. Do you think I am that kind of person who does not know the gravity of the situation?" Zi Yan shot Jiang Yun a dissatisfied glare. Did she only know how to eat? "Anyway, Xiao Yun will definitely refine one for me later, right?"
She looked at Jiang Yun with a face full of smiles, the crescent moons of her eyes revealing her mood.
Hearing this, Jiang Yun chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Jiang Yun!"
The sound of rushing wind came. Su Qian, leading several elders, also gathered around.
"Grand Elder, fortunately I succeeded on the first try and did not waste any ingredients. Moreover, in my estimation, this Earth Essence Pill should be able to raise the Grand Elder by two stars. As for three stars, that would probably depend on fate."
Amidst the group's burning gazes, Jiang Yun handed the jade bottle to the Grand Elder.
"Jiang Yun..." Hearing Jiang Yun's words, even someone as steady as Su Qian could not help but feel his heart shake. Three consecutive levels!
Looking at Jiang Yun before him, a thousand words ultimately turned into a simple statement.
"Thank you."
Jiang Yun smiled and shook his head. He urged, "Grand Elder, you should go and refine it quickly."
Nodding, Su Qian did not stand on ceremony. After arranging matters, he hurried off into seclusion to refine the pill.
After that, Jiang Yun was dragged by Elder Huo to discuss alchemy techniques for three days. Finally, Elder Huo, satisfied, released him back to his dormitory.
Back at the dormitory, Jiang Yun saw a purple figure sitting in the courtyard, one hand propping up her head, idly playing with the pendant in her hand.
It was the one Jiang Yun had refined from the remnants of the Bodhi Tree, capable of nourishing the soul.
At this moment, all was silent. The soft moonlight fell upon Zi Yan, giving her an air of holiness, forming a gentle, beautiful picture.
Seeing this side of Zi Yan that he had never seen before, a ripple passed through Jiang Yun's eyes. So Zi Yan could be still as well.
"What is wrong?" After watching for a long time, Jiang Yun walked over slowly. The sound of his footsteps drew Zi Yan's attention. Seeing the melancholy in Zi Yan's eyes, Jiang Yun could not help but ask.
"Nothing." Zi Yan shook her head, then smiled. "Shall we set out?"
Jiang Yun nodded. Zi Yan did not like the sorrow of parting, and neither did he. That was why they had decided to leave quietly under the cover of night.
"Do you think we look like a couple eloping?" Seeing Jiang Yun nod, Zi Yan suddenly became excited, asking with interest.
"No." Meeting Zi Yan's sparkling gaze, Jiang Yun answered like a straight man.
"Tch —, boring." Disappointed, Zi Yan curled her lip.
"Let us go."
Jiang Yun put down a letter and spoke to Zi Yan beside him.
Snorting coldly and shooting Jiang Yun a glare, Zi Yan tossed her long hair. Dou Qi wings condensed behind her back, and she shot into the sky like a purple streak of light.
Jiang Yun chuckled softly, then condensed a pair of white Dou Qi wings and closely followed Zi Yan's pace.
Just as they were about to leave the Jia Nan Academy's territory, a familiar, powerful aura suddenly erupted from within the Inner Academy.
"It is old man Su." Stopping, Zi Yan spoke with some surprise.
"Mm. It seems the Grand Elder has broken through. And he was very fortunate — Six-Star Dou Zong. He is seeing us off."
"Who asked him to see us off..."
As their voices faded into the distance, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan's figures disappeared from the distant sky.
In the courtyard, Su Qian put down the letter in his hand. His gaze followed the direction they had left with mixed emotions. He murmured softly.
"Fly. The Dou Qi Continent has a vast sky for you to soar in. If you ever grow tired one day, come home and visit..."