Chapter 17 Something Happened

Jun Wushuang was determined to avenge Ji Qingchen’s enmity. Once the Ji family was destroyed, he would head to the imperial capital to settle his old scores.

Soon after, the steward delivered all the spirit herbs Jun Wushuang needed.

“How many spirit stones?” Jun Wushuang had no intention of taking advantage.

“Master, you helped this old servant dispel poison. I am already deeply grateful—these spirit herbs are but a token of my respect!” Master Wu would never accept spirit stones from Jun Wushuang.

“You know my temper. If you won’t take the spirit stones, then I won’t take the herbs either.” Jun Wushuang shook his head. He disdained petty gains.

Left with no choice, Master Wu accepted one hundred thousand spirit stones.

“You have an alchemy chamber here, don’t you? Take me to refine pills!” With the herbs in hand, Jun Wushuang was ready to concoct the Sea-Cleaving Treasure Pill for his father.

No matter what schemes or plots you weave, I shall break them all with strength alone. As long as power lies in my hands, any conspiracy is but a paper tiger.

The backbone of the Jun family was now Jun Zhantian. Jun Wushuang was determined to help his father grow stronger. If his father could break through to the Divine Sea Realm, the Ji family’s suppression would no longer matter.

“You know alchemy as well, Master?” Master Wu was puzzled. Though Jun Wushuang had cured the Prince of Southern Suppression and himself of poison, alchemy and detoxification were entirely different arts. To become an alchemist required not only innate talent but also vast resources. After all, alchemy expertise could only be gained through countless attempts, and failures would consume precious spirit herbs. Thus, the path of an alchemist was extremely demanding.

Master Wu hailed from a family of alchemists, but even so, after a lifetime of practice he was merely a third-rank alchemist. As for Jun Wushuang—Master Wu had never heard of him refining pills, nor of him apprenticing with a famous master. Thus, he regarded Jun Wushuang’s claim with skepticism. Yet he dared not question him, and led him to the alchemy chamber.

This was Master Wu’s own chamber, outfitted with everything one could desire. There was not only a lower-grade treasure cauldron, but also an auxiliary treasure-grade formation for pill refinement. Even the flames were drawn from an underground fire vein, far superior to common hearths.

Though the Sea-Cleaving Treasure Pill was only a lower-grade treasure pill, it was not something ordinary people could concoct. Even Master Wu could barely manage one, and with a high chance of failure.

Though Jun Wushuang had mastered divine-level alchemy, the aid of these external tools would make the process even smoother. “Watch closely and learn well!” He did not send Master Wu away, but instead granted him a rare chance to observe.

With a flick, the treasure formation was activated and the earthfire summoned, preheating the cauldron instantly. Jun Wushuang took out the spirit herbs one by one, placing them into the cauldron and beginning the purification. The entire process was fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water, yet precise beyond compare.

Master Wu’s heart was shaken, and all doubts vanished. Such technique surpassed even the Azure Pill King of the imperial capital, he thought. What kind of fortuitous encounter had his master experienced, that not only his martial path soared but his alchemy as well?

Jun Wushuang paid him no mind. His Violet Demonic Eyes opened, taking in every change within the cauldron, committing every detail to memory.

Time trickled by. Master Wu watched with rapt attention, not feeling the slightest fatigue.

After a full day and night, the cauldron glowed red, like a piece of iron heated to incandescence. Wisps of vapor curled within, and an intoxicating aroma filled the room. Inside the cauldron, a ball of light spun rapidly, as if nurturing life itself—the Sea-Cleaving Treasure Pill. Only the final step remained: condensing the pill.

“Primordial Alchemy Technique!” Jun Wushuang intoned softly, unleashing a unique method. Instantly, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged from all directions above the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, forming a vortex ten meters wide. As more and more energy poured in, the vortex expanded—twenty meters, thirty, forty...

At last the vortex spanned a hundred meters, blotting out the sky like a hanging cloud, enveloping the entire pavilion.

“What’s happening? Another celestial phenomenon!”

“Yes, and this time it’s coming from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion! Could Master Wu be refining some extraordinary pill?”

“Let’s go see!”

The appearance of the vortex alarmed the city. In moments, countless citizens gathered around the pavilion.

Suddenly, a ball of light shot out from the alchemy chamber, soaring into the sky and merging with the vortex. It drank in the massive pool of spiritual energy as a whale swallows water.

When the vortex finally dissipated, a crystal-clear pill appeared before the crowd. It was the size of a dragon’s eye, gleaming with radiance, flawless as if sculpted from ten-thousand-year-old crystal, round and lustrous, a masterpiece of nature.

“A treasure pill! Master Wu has refined a matchless treasure pill!” The people were astonished by the sight.

News of Master Wu’s feat swept through the city. His fame reached its zenith, and he was venerated by all.

But only Master Wu knew—the pill was not his work, but Jun Wushuang’s. If this news became known, the sensation would be even greater.

The Sea-Cleaving Treasure Pill returned to the chamber and was sealed by Jun Wushuang in a superior-grade pill bottle.

“Unbelievable—this is nothing short of a miracle! In all my decades, today I have witnessed true alchemy.” Master Wu was so elated his hands trembled uncontrollably, unable to contain his excitement. The Primordial Alchemy Technique dwarfed his own skills a hundredfold.

“As long as you serve me well, perhaps one day I will pass this technique on to you.” Jun Wushuang put away the pill, dangling future promise before him.

“Thank you, Master! I will do my utmost, never failing your trust!” Master Wu’s reverence soared to new heights.

“Leave me for now. I have more pills to refine!” This time, Jun Wushuang had purchased many herbs and planned to make several other elixirs besides the Sea-Cleaving Treasure Pill.

“Yes, Master!” Master Wu withdrew respectfully, not daring to disturb him further.

Jun Wushuang restored his demonic energy, then resumed refining pills.

Three days later, he had completed ten Demon Spirit Pills to restore his energy, in addition to the Sea-Cleaving Treasure Pill. These were the fruits of his labor.

Just as he emerged from the alchemy chamber, basking in daylight once more, Master Wu rushed in, face filled with anxiety.

“Master! Something has happened to the Jun family!”