As the three Returning Void Pills took shape, Li Mu's expression was more focused than ever. He formed an Alchemy hand seal, manipulating the Pill Fire within the star radiance treasure furnace from martial fire to gentle fire. The previously violent Star Fire in the furnace suddenly decreased in intensity.
The Star Fire within the star radiance treasure furnace became gentle and delicate, like a group of nimble sprites, gathering and leaping around the three nascent Medicinal Pills, gently caressing them, nurturing their Medicinal Spirit.
Li Mu's mind was completely immersed in this process. He felt the temperature of the Star Fire and adjusted the intensity of the heat. This was the fourth step in refining Dao Pills—nurturing the Medicinal Spirit. Through slow roasting with gentle fire, the medicinal properties within the Spirit Medicine were fully stimulated, nurturing a true Medicinal Spirit.
Time at this moment became slow and drawn out. The Star Fire in the furnace continued to burn, emitting a faint glow. As the Star Fire roasted, the nascent Medicinal Pills gradually emitted a richer aroma, an aroma that contained endless vitality and power.
Li Mu's expression grew increasingly solemn. This step was nearing its end. He concentrated fully on controlling the star radiance treasure furnace, ensuring the stability and persistence of the heat. Finally, under the continuous roasting of the gentle fire, the medicinal properties within the Medicinal Pills were fully stimulated, and the three Returning Void Pills in the furnace solidified, revealing a faint Medicinal Spirit.
The next step was to condense the Pill Markings. When the spiritual essence within the Medicinal Pills reached a certain level, Li Mu began to condense the Pill Markings, using the power of Divine Thought to catalyze the Pill Markings through the Medicinal Spirit. The more Pill Markings, the higher the quality of the Medicinal Pill.
Li Mu took a deep breath, formed a hand seal, and his Divine Thought, like fine threads, slowly permeated into the Starry Radiance Alchemy Furnace. The flames within the furnace seemed to come alive at this moment, dancing with Li Mu's control, enveloping the Returning Void Pills within the furnace in a soft yet firm light.
Li Mu's eyes were tightly closed, and he silently recited the Pill Condensation Incantation. The power of Divine Thought, like a trickling stream, continuously poured into the three Medicinal Pills, helping the spiritual essence within the Medicinal Pills to slowly condense under the guidance of Divine Thought, gradually forming delicate patterns on the surface of the Medicinal Pills.
The Pill Markings were initially faint, but as time passed, they gradually became clear. Each Pill Marking emitted a faint spiritual light, intertwining to form profound patterns. These patterns contained the mysteries of Heaven and Earth, making one's Heart-Nature tremble with a single glance.
The process of condensing Pill Markings not only tested an Alchemist's skill but also tested an Alchemist's Heart-Nature. One must maintain mental stability, without the slightest distraction or fluctuation, otherwise, a slight carelessness would lead to all previous efforts being wasted.
Time passed bit by bit, and beads of sweat had already seeped onto Li Mu's forehead. Condensing the Pill Markings of three Returning Void Pills at once consumed an immense amount of Divine Thought.
However, just at the critical moment when the Pill Markings were about to fully form, Li Mu suddenly felt a strong sense of exhaustion wash over him. His Divine Thought seemed to be completely drained, making it difficult to maintain the precise operation of condensing the Pill Markings.
Li Mu was startled, realizing that his current Divine Thought was still not strong enough to continue condensing three Returning Void Pills. He would not be able to sustain it. There were still two crucial steps to follow, and he could not simultaneously maintain the refining of three Returning Void Pills.
Li Mu gritted his teeth and decisively made a decision—to abandon the condensation of one Returning Void Pill and pour all his remaining Divine Thought into the other two Medicinal Pills. Only then could he ensure that at least two high-quality Returning Void Pills would be successfully refined.
Li Mu quickly adjusted the distribution of his Divine Thought, concentrating all his power on the remaining two Medicinal Pills.
Following Li Mu's decision, within the Starry Radiance Alchemy Furnace, one of the three Returning Void Pills began to gradually dim, its formerly active spiritual essence also started to fade, eventually falling to the bottom of the Pill Furnace, to be incinerated along with the dregs by the Starry Radiance Alchemy Furnace, preventing its medicinal properties from affecting the other Spirit Pills in the furnace.
As for the other two Returning Void Pills, under Li Mu's full Divine Thought activation, their Pill Markings became increasingly clear, and their medicinal aroma grew stronger.
Li Mu's Divine Thought constantly monitored the changes in the two Spirit Pills. He formed a hand seal, and his Divine Thought, like fine threads, continuously poured into the two Medicinal Pills. He could clearly feel that as the Pill Markings gradually formed, the spiritual essence within the Medicinal Pills also continuously strengthened, as if two small stars were slowly rising within the Pill Furnace.
Time seemed to stretch and shrink at this moment. Li Mu's mind was completely immersed in the world of Alchemy, forgetting fatigue, forgetting everything around him, with only the Pill Fire in the Pill Furnace and the two Returning Void Pills.
Finally, when the last Pill Marking was completed, the two Returning Void Pills were fully formed. They floated in the Pill Furnace, emitting a faint glow and an overflowing medicinal aroma that refreshed the Heart-Nature.
Each Pill Marking, like a nimble Dragon or snake, moved and coiled on the surface of the Medicinal Pill, emitting a brilliant light.
Third-grade Pill Markings, fourth-grade Pill Markings.
The Pill Markings displayed by the two Returning Void Pills were clearly formed, but they had not yet reached their final Realm. If they were to be taken out of the furnace now, they would only remain at the fifth-order level, unable to display their true value. Next, there were two crucial steps to complete—catalyzing the Medicinal Pill's maturity and nurturing the Dao Principle. These two steps would determine whether they could ascend from the fifth-order to the sixth-order, or even achieve the Seven-Rank Dao Pill.
At this moment, the Returning Void Pills were like two unripe fruits hanging on a Spirit Fruit tree. To allow them to continue maturing, they needed more nourishment.
Li Mu used the power of Divine Thought as a guide, continuously drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into the Pill Furnace, where it fused with the medicinal properties of the Medicinal Pills. This process required him to precisely control the flow rate and direction of the Spiritual Qi; even a slight mistake could lead to an imbalance in the Medicinal Pill's properties, rendering all efforts futile.
For a time, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within the Painting World Treasure Mansion gathered towards Li Mu, as if pulled by an invisible giant hand, forming a subtle vortex that slowly rotated around the Pill Furnace. Every wisp of Spiritual Qi seemed to be endowed with life, eagerly rushing into the Pill Furnace to fuse with the Medicinal Pill's properties.
Li Mu's eyes were tightly closed, his Divine Thought extending like fine threads, closely connected to every wisp of Spiritual Qi and every bit of medicinal property within the Pill Furnace, his mind immersed in the profound mysteries of Alchemy.
At this moment, Lin Maoshan, who was cultivating in seclusion on Five Elements Spirit Mountain, was immediately alarmed by the unusual movement of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Lin Maoshan was startled and immediately opened his eyes, looking towards the mountain peak.
He saw a powerful Spiritual Qi fluctuation continuously spreading above the Five Elements Spirit Mountain, forming a massive Spiritual Qi vortex. He could clearly feel that this Spiritual Qi fluctuation was frantically devouring the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, as if it wanted to drain all the Spiritual Qi from the entire Heaven and Earth.
"Is Master Artifact Refining?!"
Lin Maoshan speculated in his Heart-Nature, but then he shook his head, denying his own conjecture.
Lin Maoshan already knew that he was cultivating within Li Mu's released Cave Heaven Magic Treasure, and he had witnessed countless times Li Mu refining Spirit Treasures and Dao Weapons on the Spirit Mountain. However, the unusual movement of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was completely different from what he had seen before.
This powerful Spiritual Qi fluctuation was more like a Heaven and Earth phenomenon triggered during the refining of some high-grade Medicinal Pill.
At this moment, Li Mu's Alchemy had reached a critical juncture. However, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within the Treasure Mansion was already limited. If he continued to consume it like this, it might not be enough to support the complete formation of the Returning Void Pill.
With a thought, Li Mu directly took the star radiance treasure furnace and disappeared from the Treasure Mansion Space, reappearing in the Artifact Refining Room of the four directions house in Yin Yang Valley. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rapidly surged into the star radiance treasure furnace, forming a massive Spiritual Qi vortex that enveloped the entire Artifact Refining Room. The two Returning Void Pills were already finished products.
At this moment, Li Mu's True Essence and Divine Thought were severely depleted. He swallowed several Spirit Pills to replenish his True Essence and Divine Thought, but he still could not sustain the two Returning Void Pills for the next step—nurturing the Dao Principle.
He could only choose the best. He stored one of the Returning Void Pills with three-grade Pill Markings inside the Treasure Furnace, and Li Mu devoted all his attention to the other Returning Void Pill with four-grade Pill Markings, continuing to advance to the next step.
Days passed, and in a blink of an eye, seven days went by. The star radiance treasure furnace gathered starlight, emitting a subtle hum, resonating with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. The Spiritual Qi vortex became even more turbulent, transforming into countless spiritual snakes that surged into the Pill Furnace, providing a continuous stream of energy for the Returning Void Pill's Opportunity to nurture the Dao Principle.
However, just at the critical moment when the Returning Void Pill was about to nurture the Dao Principle and be released from the furnace, the sky suddenly changed color. Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. A powerful pressure descended from the sky, enveloping the entire Yin Yang Valley.
"This is... Lightning Tribulation?"
Li Mu was slightly surprised, yet it was also within his expectations.
Seven-Order Dao Weapons have Artifact Tribulations, and Seven-Rank Dao Pills also have Dan Tribulations. However, Dao Weapons that form Artifact Tribulations generally have the potential to continue advancing to eighth-order Dao Artifacts. Ordinary Dao Weapons generally do not have the Opportunity to encounter this tribulation.
The strange thing was, this was his first time refining a Seven-Rank Dao Pill, so how could a Dan Tribulation have appeared?
Li Mu gazed at the surging dark clouds in the sky, his brows tightly furrowed, pondering the reason.
He roughly had a clue: it was likely because several of the main Spirit Medicines used to refine this batch of Returning Void Pills were over ten thousand years old, resulting in their powerful medicinal efficacy.
At this moment, Li Mu's Heart-Nature was both nervous and excited. This was the most crucial moment since he began refining the Returning Void Pill. Once the Returning Void Pill could successfully Undergo Tribulation, its medicinal efficacy would be greatly enhanced, and it might even become a legendary eighth-order Divine Pill.
However, the terror of the Dan Tribulation was also well-known. If the Medicinal Pill could not withstand the baptism of the Lightning Tribulation, it would turn to ashes, and all efforts would be in vain.
Li Mu took a deep breath, and swiftly left Yin Yang Valley with the star radiance treasure furnace, to prevent the Lightning Tribulation from affecting the Spirit Valley. At the same time, he maintained the Pill Furnace in the final critical moment of Pill formation and release.
As Li Mu flew, the thunderclouds forming the Lightning Tribulation followed closely behind him, like a giant demonic shadow, locking onto Li Mu and the star radiance treasure furnace.
Li Mu sped along, quickly flying out of Yin Yang Valley, through the dense forest, over the mountain streams, and arriving at a vast wilderness. The terrain here was flat, making it an ideal place for Undergoing Tribulation.
The thunderclouds in the sky gathered denser and denser. Li Mu glanced at the star radiance treasure furnace, took a deep breath, condensed his Divine Thought, and opened the Pill Furnace. The Returning Void Pill then slowly rose from the furnace, suspended in the air.
The thunderclouds gathered denser and denser, and the sound of lightning flashing and thunder roaring was deafening. Thick bolts of lightning shuttled through the thunderclouds, like silver giant Dragons, dancing wildly in the air. Li Mu dared not be careless in the slightest. He formed a hand seal and activated the star radiance treasure furnace, preparing to help the Returning Void Pill resist the Lightning Tribulation.
"Zzzzt!"
A faint sound of lightning crackled, and the thunderclouds in the sky finally ceased to suppress. The first bolt of lightning, like a silver Lightning Dragon, tore through the sky and struck directly at the Returning Void Pill suspended in the air.
Li Mu's Heart-Nature tightened. He manipulated the star radiance treasure furnace, pushing its internal energy to the extreme. A faint starlight shield instantly enveloped the Returning Void Pill.
"Boom!"
The lightning struck heavily on the starlight shield, erupting in a dazzling flash of light. The entire wilderness seemed to be illuminated, and the starlight shield of the star radiance treasure furnace was shattered by the silver lightning.
Immediately after, another bolt of lightning followed closely, striking the Returning Void Pill squarely. At this moment, the Returning Void Pill suddenly emitted a dazzling light. The Pill Markings condensed into a tangible light that intertwined with the lightning, forming a magnificent sight.
However, the power of the Dan Tribulation was far from simple. The subsequent bolts of lightning were each more violent than the last. Each strike caused the Pill Markings of the Returning Void Pill to dim. However, after enduring several bolts of tribulation lightning, the Returning Void Pill seemed to have found a way to deal with the tribulation lightning.
The Returning Void Pill converged its Pill Qi, and its overall state became indistinct, as if the striking tribulation lightning had lost its target. Bolts of lightning snakes were like headless flies.
Seeing this, Li Mu's Heart-Nature rejoiced, knowing that the Returning Void Pill was resisting the Dan Tribulation by its own power.
The Returning Void Pill displayed a miraculous posture amidst the tribulation lightning. It seemed to be able to integrate into the Void Realm, becoming elusive. Every bolt of tribulation lightning that struck sought its trace, yet always missed, only leaving behind flashes of electric light in the air. When the fierce tribulation lightning weakened, it would reveal its form again, using the Heavenly Dao Lightning power to condense the Dao Principle and temper its Pill body.
Li Mu stared intently at this scene, his Heart-Nature both nervous and excited, knowing that the Returning Void Pill was currently undergoing a transformation through the Dan Tribulation, and it was a critical moment for it to potentially Undergo Tribulation and achieve the Seven-Rank Dao Pill.
As the tribulation lightning continuously struck, the Pill Markings of the Returning Void Pill gradually became clearer, as if a mysterious power was surging within the Pill. Li Mu could feel that this power was growing stronger and stronger, as if it could break out of the Pill at any moment.
Just then, the thunderclouds in the sky suddenly churned, and an even more terrifying aura emanated from them. Li Mu knew that this was the final, and most violent, strike of the Dan Tribulation.
"Boom!"
A tremendous roar shook Heaven and Earth, and the final bolt of tribulation lightning from the Dan Tribulation finally struck down. It was thicker and more violent than any previous bolt. However, when it struck the Returning Void Pill, it seemed to be swallowed by a mysterious power, disappearing without a trace.
At the same time, the Returning Void Pill suddenly erupted in a dazzling light, shooting straight into the clouds. The entire wilderness was enveloped by this light. Li Mu immediately felt a powerful energy fluctuation emanating from the Returning Void Pill. This was a sign that the Returning Void Pill had successfully Undergone Tribulation.
The light gradually dissipated, revealing the Returning Void Pill suspended in the air. At this moment, the Returning Void Pill was no longer its previous appearance; it had become more rounded and more crystal clear. Its Pill Markings were clearly visible, emitting a faint, refreshing aroma.
Li Mu's eyes lit up, and he immediately released the Painting World Treasure Mansion, successfully collecting the Returning Void Pill that was preparing to escape into the Void Realm. (End of Chapter)
