Shi Lang stood before the pill cauldron outside the pill tower and many people had gathered to see him there. Master Barre said, "I have erected the barrier, there will be no disturbance, you can start."


    The Terran nodded and waved his hands as five stalks of different herbs were suspended in the void above the cauldron. He channeled the mes inside his body, to create a ring around the herbs. Then he manipted his spiritual energy to cover the herbs and began to rotate the herbs inside the ring of fire.


    The speed was slow, and not many people understood what he was doing but they were curious if this guy would be able to make the pill.


    Tsuu Ching and Master Barre were watching the process and the former asked, "Why does he not refine them inside the cauldron?"


    Master Barre replied, "I am not too sure what is he thinking, but it could be that the pressure and heat inside the cauldron would not be as easy to manipte as it is outside."


    Tsuu Ching nodded, and cast a gaze at Hou Bing. The little bird was watching things with great interest. He asked, "Do you know what he is doing?"


    The bird did not reply, and only turned her head to re at him. She did not wish to talk to this man, all she cared about was Shi Lang. She had never seen this guy cooking any pills, however, what she was looking forward to the most was what kind of anomaly Shi Lang would create in the process.


    She could sense that something was about to happen and she wanted to see. Sure enough, Master Barre gulped beside them. With everyone watching silently, a gulp like that was audible to everyone. While some people looked at the old man in shock, some people looked at him in askance.


    It was a rule to maintain absolute silence when observing a pill refinement, however, the most capable alchemist broke that rule, there must be a reason, right?


    Tsuu Ching used his spirit conscious and asked, "What is it, Master Barre?"


    The old man took a deep breath and replied, ''Sire, look at the herbs."


    Tsuu Ching rolled his eyes and said, "I am looking at them, they seem the same to me."


    Master Barre shook his head and replied, "Sire, all those herbs are equally heated, and Young Master Shi is using the mes from the volcano garden. He is purifying them, the reason he is rotated them is to protect the herb essence from leaking and getting equal exposure to the me.The mes are eliminating the impurities from the herbs slowly but efficiently."


    Suddenly, Master Barre said, "The Azure Sunflower has been refined."


    Everyone saw a big petal of azure slowly changing shape into that of an azure blob before slowly entering the cauldron. Tsuu Ching asked, "They have to be refined sometime?"


    Master Barre shook his head and said, "The herbs all need to be mixed in a certain amount of time from each other, if he misses even by a blink it will not work."


    Shi Lang made a few seals with his hands and the ring of fire turned into balls that moved around the herbs faster. The speed of all the fire balls was different. Master Barre sighed and said, "What a genius! You see, Your Excellency, the speed of the fire balls is different from one another, the difference in speed is proportionate to the heat they generate."


    Tsuu Ching nodded and said, "I know this much about mes, Elder, but thank you for your guidance."


    ...


    Shi Lang did not stop, he did not care about anyone in the world. The herbs were refined and they were added to the cauldron at the precise time. Then Shi Lang waved his hand to close the lid as the herb essence began to mingle. Shi Lang learned from his body.


    To purify the herbs to the maximum, he created a small vortex of mes inside the cauldron and passed the herb essences through it at a high speed.


    He was not longer afraid of losing control because while he may not have mastered the use of the mes but he was short on time. He needed to take the risk to meet the requirement of the trial. His speed helped him a lot and when the herb essence was refined quickly and the quality of it was very pure.


    The entire square was filled with the aroma of the pill. Shi Lang ignored it all and just concentrated on preserving as much herbal aroma as he could. Soon, the herbs all blended with each other and became one single liquid.


    The Terran made a seal with his hands and grunted, "Condense."


    The cauldron trembled as the pressure and temperature dropped all of a sudden. Shi Lang raised his head and saw a budding gray cloud. He said loudly, "Everyone, please do not spiritual energy. If you see anything odd do not worry, I will handle it."


    The people were surprised, but then Shi Lang removed the list and the people saw a purple light shooting out of the cauldron and heading to the clouds. Hou Bing opened her eyes and beak wide. She eximed, "This kid tried a new recipe and made a tribtion level pill in his second attempt. Are you fucking with me?"


    Tsuu Ching was more shocked than her. In his eyes Shi Lang was a ferocious warrior, and an even greater leader. However, he was an alchemist? That too who refined a tribtion pill.


    The clouds thundered and next moment a steak of lightning shot at the pill. The people were scared but the pill hovered in the void and tackled the lightning steak. Even cultivators might not be able to get away from the burn of the heavenly lightning and suffer damage. However, this small peck of a pill managed to stand its ground.


    When a pill went through tribtion it was tested in terms of purity and the intentions that were embedded inside it by the alchemist. Shi Lang always created pills with the intention to serve and protect people. Thus his pills withstood the destruction. They were a man-made counter for the destructiveness of the heavenly lightning.


    Tsuu Ching let out a whistle and said, "I have a feeling that Boss might be a person who only refines tribtion pills."


    Hou Bing nodded slowly and said, "Kid, do not steal my lines. I am now even more curious about his future."


    The sky was filled with lightning streaks falling at the pill, and after five minutes when the pill passed the test, it came back to Shi Lang''s hand. The Terran turned around and asked, "Master Barre, do I pass the test?"


    Master Barre was shivering and looking at Shi Lang he had so many emotions that he was going crazy. He wanted to kneel and take him as his master, and even revere him. However, he was also asking himself if he was worthy enough to be a disciple to Shi Lang after being stuck at the grandmaster level and never refining a tribtion pill in his life.


    The tip that Shi Lang gave him to revise the basic methods did make a difference but it was still a long way for him to rediscover his entire path. He bowed and cupped his hands as he said, "Young Master Shi, please do not embarrass this old man. You are a far superior alchemist than I am. You pass the trial."


    Shi Lang was flustered and quickly approached the old man as he helped him stand up straight and said, "Elder, you are praising me a bit too much. I might be arrogant and spell my own doom."


    Master Barre nodded, and Tsuu Ching asked, "Boss, how many tribtion pills have you refine?"


    Shi Lang thought about it and said, "Quite a lot, sometimes actually more than one in a batch of low level pill."


    The people were gazing at him as if they were gazing at a monster. Hou Bing came and sat on his shoulder as she snuggled in his neck. Shi Lang was surprised and Hou Bing said, "When ever you refine extra pills, can I have some?"


    Shi Lang realized that the proud phoenix was buttering him up, and he smiled as he said, "Fine, you may."


    The bird chirped in happiness and Shi Lang asked, "Tsuu Ching, do you think you can tell me thest trial I have to face?"


    Tsuu Ching nodded and said, "Thest trial is a bit tricky but I am sure you will be able to handle it. You see, the chances of a stronger enemy coulde to you and chase you for your treasures are quite high. So, in order to protect them, you need to defend yourself.


    So in the final trial, you will be facing me and if you managed to take an attack from me, then you will win. How about it?"


    Shi Lang was surprised but then he said "If you wish to be humiliated then fine, but I bet you would not be able to eveny a finger on me,"