All eyes locked onto Xu Yang.

The courtyard was utterly silent, save for the sizzling sound of spirit fire burning and refining the Spirit Elixir.

As time passed.

The shock on the faces of the crowd grew more and more intense.

"There really were no surprises. He actually did it." Stone Jade’s lips parted slightly, her brows full of unconcealable astonishment.

Xu Yang skillfully controlled the spirit fire, gradually shrinking it, while within the cauldron the embryonic shape of a pill had already formed.

"So fast."

"This is a Tier Seven pill, and not just any—he’s refining a super-grade one. That’s essentially merging several Spirit Elixirs at once, yet to keep it all so seamless, it’s beyond words."

An elder swallowed hard.

The most skilled Tier Eight alchemist of the War King Clan managed about same speed when crafting a Tier Seven pill.

But Xu Yang had only just reached the True Monarch level!

That Tier Eight was a Grand Monarch of Divine Firmament!

Such a vast difference in strength only made Xu Yang’s methods seem all the more unfathomable!

Several breaths later.

A surge of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi descended in torrents.

Xu Yang unleashed the Six Heavenly Skills.

"Condense!"

Boom!

The pill cauldron shuddered faintly, and a majestic surge billowed out like a flood tide, carrying a rich aroma of alchemy.

Whoosh!

A luminous, crystalline pill, shrouded in dazzling clouds, burst forth as if evoking the spectacle of the setting sun and magnificent evening glow.

It was as though a thousand rays of rainbow light intertwined, engulfing the pill, breathtakingly beautiful, utterly enchanting!

Watching this scene, Shi Haoting couldn’t help but swallow hard.

The pill soared skyward, almost trying to escape.

Xu Yang simply gazed up, unmoving.

Shi Feng suddenly curved his palm in a grasping motion.

The Spirit Pill instantly froze, falling into his hand.

Without the slightest resistance.

Shi Feng stared at the pill in his palm, drew a deep breath, and muttered, "Tier Seven, Super-Grade Thousand-Rainbow Elixir!"

"Patriarch, let me see!" An elder hurried up impatiently.

Shi Feng handed over the pill.

Several powerful experts examined it, gazing intently, then trembled with excitement.

"It’s truly super-grade!"

"Such vibrant spirit, clouds interwoven in brilliance!"

"Our War King Clan has found a treasure."

"Patriarch..."

The Grand Elder’s cheeks flushed with exhilaration, his burning gaze fixed on Shi Feng.

Shi Feng waved his hand, "Silence!"

Only then did the crowd restrain their excitement and continued watching.

The alchemy was not yet over.

The second to finish was Gu Jun.

When it came to Xu Yang, Gu Jun had already become numb!

To him now, refining a Tier Seven pill, whether with or without a corporeal body, made little difference.

Yet even so, in terms of speed, he could never match Xu Yang.

He was refining a Tier Seven Spirit Monarch Elixir, known among the True Monarchs as one of the most esteemed cultivation pills.

One such pill rivals a year of arduous cultivation!

In terms of value, it surpassed the Thousand Cloud Elixir.

Boom!

The Ancient Saint Cloud Tripod trembled.

A Spirit Pill emerged, its scent suffusing the air, carrying a domineering might.

"Supreme Spirit Monarch Elixir!"

All eyes turned to Gu Jun, expressions once again profoundly moved!

Last was Liou Yunfeng.

Compared to Gu Jun and Xu Yang, Liou Yunfeng’s refining process seemed much more by-the-book.

But seasoned as he was, and with Gu Jun’s guidance, even though he had just reached True Monarch, nothing went amiss.

He produced a standard Thousand Cloud Elixir in the end!

"Good, good."

Shi Feng clenched his fist, a gleam of thrill on his face as he couldn’t help but exclaim in awe again and again.

"Today, my eyes have truly been opened!"

"If word of this scene were to get out, it would surely set off storms of upheaval!"

Xu Yang and the others exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

The value had now been displayed. Next, it was up to the War King Clan to show their sincerity.

Shi Feng’s expression grew solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Mr. Xu, I sincerely invite you to join the War King Clan!"

"My War King Clan can provide you with all the resources you need for both cultivation and alchemy; short of our utmost treasures, whatever you want, you will have."

"Furthermore, should you ever wish to leave in future, the War King Clan will never hinder you; even after leaving, should you call for aid, one word from you and the War King Clan, from top to bottom, will not hesitate!"

As these words fell, Xu Yang was shaken to his core!

The War King Clan’s sincerity was indeed overwhelming.

Whatever he wanted, they would provide? 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

That alone made it hard to refuse!

As for their topmost treasures, at his current level of strength, even if given, he wouldn’t be able to use them.

And the latter promise displayed the clan’s authenticity even more!

To Shi Feng, this was the trade of a lifetime.

He had thought he’d found a peerless prodigy rivaling the top seven on the Celestial Pride List, but unexpectedly, he was Pill and Martial Arts Dual Excellence!

With such potential, even Xiao Ming, ranked number one, would feel threatened!

If the two factions were forced to compete for Xu Yang or Xiao Ming, eighty percent would choose Xu Yang.

Even if in the end Xu Yang’s strength fell a bit short of Xiao Ming’s, the difference could be made up many times over on the path of alchemy.

No matter how fearsome Xiao Ming became, could he afford to disregard a Tier Eight alchemist in the future?

"Furthermore, Haoting should have already mentioned to Mr. Xu about the quota matter."

Xu Yang nodded faintly.

Shi Feng smiled, "I will not hide it from Mr. Xu."

"It’s a long story!"

"Back when the Daqian Emperor failed, the remaining ones were cast into the Abandoned Land—now known as Daqian; after that upheaval, the Spirit River’s collapse only accelerated, and the Spirit Realm began struggling to survive."

"Some even hoped to secretly replicate the Daqian Emperor’s craft, but the Spirit River was lacking, and his method was unique; apart from him, no one could accomplish it perfectly."

"Thus, in the ceaseless search, a discovery came!"

"The Ancient Immortal Ruins—at the very end of the Spirit River, a drifting piece of continent, seemingly a fragment of an ancient battlefield."

"There, we found traces of a battle between immortal path powerhouses from eons past."

"Immortal path?"

Xu Yang cried out in shock.

Shi Feng said, "According to ancient texts of the Spirit Realm, above the spirit path lies the immortal path—unsurpassed throughout eternity, transcending all, with boundless longevity!"

"Yet all that remains are records in tomes; the Spirit Realm itself has revealed not a single trace of the immortal path!"

"The immortal path cut off, with no way to break through beyond Heaven and Man!"

"But the discovery of the Ancient Immortal Ruins was, without doubt, something to stir the soul."

"However, that attempt ended in disaster."

A glint of cold light flashed in Shi Feng’s eyes: "There were more than ten Heaven and Man level experts, and nearly half fell in that expedition."

"Of the rest, those gravely wounded did not last after returning. Now only four Great Heaven and Men remain!"

Xu Yang caught the shift in Shi Feng’s expression and wondered, "Could there be hidden intrigue?"

"Indeed!"

"It is most likely the work of Five Elements Celestial Realm!"

"Though there’s no proof, besides that old man, no one else could have done it; back then, it was he who sought to retread the path of the Daqian Emperor."

"So, though nothing is said openly, all are vigilant against Five Elements Celestial Realm!"

"After all, the Five Elements Celestial Realm is strongest, and that old man is both the oldest and most powerful among the four Great Heaven and Men."

"Every time the Ancient Immortal Ruins are opened, part of the Spirit River’s power must be expended. To date, it has been opened only twice; in a year, it will open a third time."

"Quotas for entering the Ancient Immortal Ruins are determined through the Celestial Pride competition!"

"So now, Mr. Xu, you must understand just how precious each quota is?"