The Primordial Flame burned invisibly.
The purple-black Foundation Establishment Pill was instantly melted into a liquid, suspended in midair, continuously sizzling and emitting white smoke.
Chen Yuyang knew this was the Primordial Flame, refining the impurities within the pill liquid.
As the impurities were purified, the volume of the liquid began to shrink further, and its original purple-black color gradually transformed into a shimmering purple-gold.
Chen Yuyang could feel that with the impurities removed, the medicinal potency of the liquid had increased by at least twenty percent at this moment.
However, the real difficulty of re-refining was never in purifying the impurities but in condensing the liquid into a pill.
It was said that during the Ancient Era, there was no such thing as pill refining—only medicine refining.
Later, a powerful being, inspired by the evolution of spiritual energy from the Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage, transformed medicine refining into pill refining.
Condensed pills were more potent, easier to absorb, had higher grade limits, sealed well, and their efficacy could last for a thousand or even several thousand years unchanged.
Under Chen Yuyang’s control, the Primordial Flame’s intensity began to weaken slightly.
As the temperature dropped, his spiritual energy compressed the liquid further, making it thicker and stickier.
At the center of the liquid, a pill core slowly formed, about the size of a sesame seed.
The liquid spun around the core as the Primordial Flame’s temperature stabilized once more.
Though this manipulation seemed simple in description, it required Chen Yuyang to have exceptionally precise control over the Primordial Flame.
If the temperature dropped too quickly, the pill body might crack; if condensed too fast, the medicinal energy could become uneven or even dissipate entirely.
Maintaining this balance required extensive practical experience.
Fortunately, Chen Yuyang did not lack experience.
Even though this was his first attempt to re-refine a pill with the Primordial Flame, after adapting to its temperature and characteristics, the rest of the process flowed smoothly.
Opening his palm, a purple-gold pill lay tightly in the young man’s hand.
Without hesitation, Chen Yuyang swallowed it whole, personally feeling the medicinal power within.
The result surprised him.
The overall efficacy of this Foundation Establishment Pill had increased by at least thirty percent, and absorption was effortless.
Careful sensing revealed that the pill also faintly contained a trace of the Primordial Flame’s residual rule aura.
If consumed by a cultivator with a fire attribute spiritual root, the effects might be even greater—perhaps enough to help them break through several minor realms in one go.
This outcome left Chen Yuyang quite satisfied.
Once he mastered it fully, his pill refining and artifact forging skills could surely reach a higher level.
In the past, he had already been able to forge ninth-grade pills and ninth-grade immortal artifacts.
What would the next step be?
He looked forward to finding out.
Of course, he also knew that with his current spiritual energy, he could not sustain the Primordial Flame for long.
To craft equipment and pills of that caliber, he would need to reach the Consolidation stage first.
After another round of controlling the Primordial Flame until his spiritual energy was completely exhausted, Chen Yuyang finally stopped.
Before he could rest long, Gu Qiushui came running over with a bright smile and said to the young man:
“Junior Brother Yuyang, quickly pack your things. Master wants to take you to the Sect Assembly this time.”
“Sect Assembly? Me?”
Pointing at himself, Chen Yuyang was a little stunned.
Gu Qiushui smiled brightly, unsurprised by his reaction.
After all, it was the Sect Assembly—he must be excited to hear such news.
But…What surprised Gu Qiushui was that upon hearing this, Junior Brother’s face showed no joy; instead, his delicate brows immediately furrowed.
Chen Yuyang had an aversion to the Sect Assembly.
Where there were many people, there were many disputes.
During the Sect Assembly, seventy or eighty sects from the Northern Domain cultivation world would gather.
One could guess how many incidents would break out.
“What’s wrong, Junior Brother Yuyang? You don’t seem enthusiastic… Oh, and the Ziyang Secret Realm will open soon. Master has said you will definitely go.”
“Ziyang Secret Realm?”
Chen Yuyang’s frown deepened.
Perhaps for ordinary cultivators, entering it was an extremely tempting opportunity.
But he didn’t care.
After countless lifetimes of forging himself, what kind of heavenly materials, divine weapons, or precious treasures had he not seen?
Besides, his Sumeru Consciousness Sea held accumulated resources from those lifetimes—taking some out was worth more than months spent training in that secret realm.
The only reason he didn’t do that was that he simply didn’t need it.
He was already the top physique and no longer needed external enhancements.
He had cultivation methods perfectly suited to himself and didn’t require any great master’s inheritance.
He didn’t need heavenly materials or treasures to boost his cultivation because he maintained a well-controlled training rhythm.
As for pills and equipment, he cared even less.
So in Chen Yuyang’s view, attending the Sect Assembly or entering the Ziyang Secret Realm offered no real benefit and might even bring trouble.
In his last lifetime, he only wanted to stay low-key and steadily grow before embarking on the Ascension Path that no one had traveled for over a hundred thousand years.
“Can I not go?”
Chen Yuyang looked up and asked straightforwardly.
“Huh? You don’t want to go?” Gu Qiushui was momentarily stunned.
That was the Sect Assembly and the chance to enter the Ziyang Secret Realm.
How could Junior Brother look so indifferent?
“Junior Brother, the Ziyang Secret Realm contains countless heavenly materials and opportunities. It’s said there are inheritances left behind by ancient great powers…” Gu Qiushui thought he didn’t understand and immediately explained.
Chen Yuyang silently shook his head.
“Sister, aren’t you the one who wants to go? You should go then.”
To be honest, the suggestion tempted Gu Qiushui greatly.
If Junior Brother didn’t go, then the spot could fall to her, and she wouldn’t have to anxiously hope Master could secure a third quota.
But…Shaking her head firmly, Gu Qiushui continued to persuade him.
“Junior Brother, aren’t you afraid of danger?”
“On the cultivation path, risks and opportunities coexist. You can’t let inner fear stop you…”
Chen Yuyang quickly interrupted her.
“Sister, it’s not that I’m afraid. I just feel my cultivation has reached a crucial stage recently… I need to enter seclusion and it’s not suitable to go to any secret realm now.”
Chen Yuyang quickly found an excuse.
But Gu Qiushui didn’t believe it for a second and said:
“Nonsense! What’s so special about the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment? With your talent, you could easily cultivate straight to Nascent Soul stage—why would you need seclusion?”
She then stepped forward and grabbed Chen Yuyang’s arm.
“Junior Brother, don’t avoid it! This is an opportunity many people would kill to have. You have to go, whether you want to or not!”
Chen Yuyang couldn’t argue and reluctantly agreed for the time being.
After pacifying Gu Qiushui, he went straight to the main hall to find Tai Lingxuan.
Since he couldn’t convince his senior sister, he might as well talk to Master.
“Master.”
“Yuyang.” Seeing the young man’s clear and handsome face, Tai Lingxuan felt the heart she had tempered for over a month begin to tremble slightly.
But this small wavering was just a flicker; as long as there were no rash actions or interactions, she should no longer lose control like before.
“Yuyang, tell me honestly, has your pill refining reached third-grade level?”
Before Chen Yuyang could explain, Tai Lingxuan asked with concern.
Chen Yuyang shook his head.
“No, Master. I am still only a second-grade pill refiner.”
“Then why are the quality and quantity of the Foundation Establishment Pills you make…”
“I suppose it’s because of my Solar Flame. It greatly enhances the pill refining process.”
Hearing this, Tai Lingxuan nodded in understanding and agreed.
Special flames like these were naturally far stronger in the pill refining path than ordinary fire.
It seemed she had overthought it.
Yet she was not disappointed.
From her perspective, for Chen Yuyang to achieve such results as a second-grade pill refiner meant his future accomplishments would only be more astonishing.
“Master, I have to—”
“Right, Yuyang. For the Sect Assembly, I intend to let you go to the Ziyang Secret Realm to train. You’re young and your strength is weak; I’m not asking you to risk anything or fight for opportunities. Think of it as broadening your horizons.”
Before Chen Yuyang could state his intention, Tai Lingxuan spoke first.
“Master, opportunities are rare. Perhaps Sister Qiushui should go instead since my strength isn’t enough to fight for anything…” Chen Yuyang quickly tried to persuade her.
Tai Lingxuan smiled and shook her head.
“You and Qiushui are the same—always thinking of others.”
“But this quota was originally Qiushui’s offer to you. You can’t let her goodwill go to waste.”
“What… Sister Qiushui gave it up?” Chen Yuyang was stunned.
Tai Lingxuan nodded and continued:
“Originally, I planned to send Lingxi and Qiushui, but Qiushui said she’d give this spot to you and take the opportunity to go to the Qianghuang Secret Realm herself.”
Chen Yuyang fell silent for a moment but felt waves stirring in his heart.
In hundreds of lifetimes of cultivation, he had witnessed countless betrayals.
Brothers torn apart over a single spiritual weapon or a few medicinal herbs were not rare.
Within major sects, rivalries were like raising venomous insects, with disciples tearing each other apart.
To fight tooth and nail over a single quota was no exaggeration.
But Sister Qiushui…Had willingly given the quota to him.
And it wasn’t for any gain from him.
When she came with the news, she only said Master wanted him to go, never mentioning that she had given up the spot.
That fool…Didn’t she know that one more chance could lead to a far greater path?
Thinking this, Chen Yuyang sighed deeply, then nodded firmly.
“Master, I understand.”
“I will go.”
His agreement was not because he coveted the quota.
It was because he accepted this kindness from her.