Chapter 120: Alchemy

Yin Tianfang took the leaf of the Yin Spirit Flower and watched as the young girl’s figure became translucent. After a moment of contemplation, he retrieved several spiritually potent items from his storage bag and arranged them around the flower, placing a top-grade spirit stone at the very center.

He formed a series of hand seals and pointed abruptly. A sudden gust of wind rose, gradually giving way to a white mist that grew increasingly dense until it enveloped the entire area.

Yin Tianfang retreated gracefully to a distance of a hundred paces, watching the Yin Spirit Flower as it was swallowed by the white fog. The white-clad girl looked around, her eyes filled with gratitude, and she bowed deeply to Yin Tianfang.

Once the area was completely shrouded in mist, Yin Tianfang turned and walked toward the Winged Heavenly Tiger.

Ordinarily, a Yin Spirit Flower only gains sentience once it grows nine leaves. However, this particular specimen was clearly extraordinary; it had attained human-like intelligence with only eight.

Yet, the loss of one leaf had severely damaged its cultivation. If others were to discover it, it would have no means of self-defense. This was why Yin Tianfang had set up the formation: first, to gather the power of heaven and earth to nourish the flower, and second, to conceal it from prying eyes.

"Let’s go," Yin Tianfang said as he reached the Winged Heavenly Tiger, then began to walk forward. The tiger followed, casting a glance at its master’s back and then back toward the site of the Yin Spirit Flower, its sense of awe toward Yin Tianfang deepening.

The fact that the flower could manifest a human-like phantom proved it was no ordinary plant. The illusions it could conjure were likely enough to trap even a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul stage. Yet, Yin Tianfang had remained completely unaffected.

Yin Spirit Flowers were rare enough, and one that had reached this stage of growth was rarer still. Its value was heaven-defying; even the most peerless experts would struggle to resist such temptation. And yet, after obtaining a single leaf, Yin Tianfang had shown no further desire.

What a terrifyingly disciplined mind!

Several days later, Yin Tianfang emerged from a mountain valley with the Winged Heavenly Tiger. Both man and beast looked rather disheveled, and the scent of fresh blood hung heavy in the air.

Yin Tianfang’s face was pale, but his eyes were bright with vigor. Three months had passed since he obtained the leaf. During this time, he had scoured the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, and he had now gathered most of the medicinal herbs he required.

After all, apart from a few rare ingredients like the Yin Spirit Flower, the other herbs needed for the "Tri-Soul Technique" were not as difficult to find.

"Roar!" With a tiger’s howl, the beasts and minor demonic creatures gathered nearby scattered in terror, fleeing in all directions.

"Let’s move," Yin Tianfang said to the Winged Heavenly Tiger. Just as he was about to depart, several figures flashed past in the distance. When they spotted Yin Tianfang and the tiger, they halted.

The six individuals appeared quite young, though one could not judge a cultivator’s age by their appearance, as they could maintain a youthful state once they reached a certain level of power.

The group of six stood not far away, appraising Yin Tianfang and the tiger, their gazes lingering on the Winged Heavenly Tiger for a moment longer than necessary.

Yin Tianfang stood calmly, neither speaking nor moving. The atmosphere became somewhat strange. After a long silence, the leader of the group gave Yin Tianfang a deep, searching look, then motioned for the others to follow as they sped away.

Watching them leave, a thoughtful look crossed Yin Tianfang’s eyes. After a moment, he continued on his way with the tiger.

Days later, Yin Tianfang passed by another valley. Seeing the terrain, he felt a flicker of interest and headed inside.

It had been nearly half a year since he entered the Divine Medicine Mountain Range. For the first few months, he had not encountered a single person, but over the last few days, he had crossed paths with several groups.

Each of these cultivators possessed significant strength, and they did not linger when they saw him, appearing to be in a hurry to reach a specific destination.

This piqued Yin Tianfang’s curiosity. To encounter so many people in just a few days could only mean that something had happened since he arrived in the mountain range, prompting waves of cultivators to flock here.

Yet, what could have happened that he had remained unaware of?

"Now that the herbs are gathered, it is time to refine the Soul-Splitting Pill and cultivate the Tri-Soul Technique." Yin Tianfang stepped into the valley. He had spent nearly half a year searching for the ingredients.

The mountain range lived up to its name; what he had expected to take years to gather, he had found in half a year, thanks to both good fortune and the abundance of the land.

"I need to go into secluded meditation. Guard me." Upon entering the valley, Yin Tianfang spoke to the Winged Heavenly Tiger. With a thought, a flash of purple light emerged, carving a cave into the surrounding rock wall. Yin Tianfang stepped inside and sealed the entrance.

He tapped his storage bag, and countless herbs flew out, hovering in the air and radiating a faint spiritual aura. He closed his eyes, the steps for refining the Soul-Splitting Pill flowing through his mind. After a full day of preparation, he finally opened his eyes.

With the refining method committed to memory, he meditated to bring himself to his peak state.

Three days later, feeling ready, he opened his eyes and emptied his storage bag, piling all his spirit stones around him to create a small spirit-gathering formation to channel the energy of heaven and earth.

He formed hand seals, his Golden Core spinning within him. With a flick of his mind, the herbs rose into the air, and a sea of fire erupted, engulfing them.

Yin Tianfang closed his eyes, his divine sense flowing into the flames to begin the refinement. Time passed slowly; a month slipped by in the blink of an eye.

The process of refining the Soul-Splitting Pill was not complex, but given his current cultivation level, he had to rely on patience and time to finish the task.

With the formation in place, the spiritual energy of the world surged into the valley. The Winged Heavenly Tiger watched as the energy grew increasingly dense, a look of gravity in its large eyes.

Inside the cave, Yin Tianfang sat with eyes closed, the spiritual energy flowing into his body, being refined into his Golden Core, and then manifesting as pill fire outside his body to feed the inferno.

In this cycle, more time vanished. Three more months passed, and the spiritual energy in the valley had become so thick it condensed into white mist. Yet, Yin Tianfang showed no signs of emerging.