In the vast world of cultivation, the grades of medicinal pills mirror the realms of alchemy: the Ninth Grade marks the beginning, while the First Grade stands at the apex. Yet, within each grade lies a more rigorous distinction—Ten Grades of Purity.

While a pellet with a mere 10% medicinal potency can technically be called a "pill," no cultivator would dare consume such dross. Of the remaining 90%, at least half is comprised of lethal Erysipelas—pill toxins.

Though these toxins may not claim a life instantly, they act as a silent poison, seeping into the viscera and stagnating the flow of Qi. Long-term consumption of low-quality pills clogs the meridians and causes one’s innate aptitude to wither. To swallow such filth is to invite a bottleneck that can never be broken, forever severing one’s path to the higher Heavens.

Thus, any cultivator with the means seeks only high-quality pills. After all, one consumes elixirs to soar, not to sink.

Generally, only a pill with 30% potency is considered a "True Elixir." This purity is the yardstick by which alchemists are judged. Every 10% increase represents a chasm of talent; it requires a profound understanding of the Alchemy Dao, the manipulation of spirit herbs, and the tempering of the Divine Soul.

• 30% Potency: The mark of a Beginner. Commonplace.
• 50% Potency: The stage of Mastery. These alchemists are the backbone of any great sect.
• 70% Potency: The Consummate rank. Rare as phoenix feathers, these masters are treated as Honored Guests by the Great Powers.
• 80% Potency: The Divine rank. A legendary existence.

For every 10% increase in purity, the price doubles. Pills of 70% or higher almost never grace the open market; they are instantly snatched up by grandmasters hoping to gain a spark of enlightenment from their perfection.

Inside the refinement room, Ling Xian was a portrait of absolute focus. Guided by the Perfect Encyclopedia of Spirit Herbs, he cast each ingredient into the furnace, stripping away the dross to extract the luminous essence.

The Divine Flame of Burning Evil roared within the cauldron. Ling Xian’s Divine Soul surged, splitting his consciousness into seven streams. The silver flames danced, simultaneously tempering seven different herbs at seven different temperatures.

Such a feat required a terrifying grasp of heat control. Without his encyclopedic knowledge, a lesser alchemist would have wasted dozens of batches just to learn the temperament of these herbs. Yet, Ling Xian moved with effortless grace, reducing the herbs to clouds of pure medicinal powder.

Wiping a bead of sweat, he unleashed his Level 4 Qi Refining Soul. Under his command, the seven powders collided and fused, condensing into the prototypes of five longan-sized pills.

"Not bad," Lian Cangqiong—the ancient Pill Immortal—spoke with a satisfied hum. "Your foundations are rock-solid. To refine without hesitation on your first attempt... this old man is truly gratified."

"For six years, I have refined these movements ten thousand times in my mind," Ling Xian replied, his eyes burning with a fierce light. "I have waited long enough for this moment."

With a sharp intake of breath, he channeled the World’s Essence into the cauldron. The black furnace erupted in a dazzling halo—the Pill-Forming Array had been triggered. Though the cauldron was but a low-grade magic treasure, it lent its meager strength to the final sublimation.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Five purple streaks of light shot out from the furnace, hovering in mid-air. A rich, refreshing fragrance filled the room, so potent it felt as though a single breath could shatter a bottleneck.

Ling Xian caught them in his palm.

"Three pills at 60%... one at 70%... and the last one..." Lian Cangqiong’s voice trembled with suppressed shock as he read the Pill Veins. "80% purity!"

One must look at the veins to judge a pill—each stripe represents a tenth of the Dao’s power. The Pill Immortal had expected 50% at best; he never dreamed his disciple would produce a Divine Rank pill on his very first try.

Ling Xian’s lips curled into a confident smile. 80%! He had achieved in a day what most alchemists could not achieve in a lifetime.

"Master, are you satisfied?" Ling Xian chuckled.

"Hmph, it is merely acceptable," Lian Cangqiong feigned indifference, stroking his spectral beard. "Your heat control is still clumsy, and your soul manipulation lacks subtlety. Otherwise, the quality wouldn’t be so uneven. Remember: the Dao of Alchemy is as vast as the sea. Guard against arrogance."

"This disciple understands," Ling Xian said, hiding his own grin. He had seen the old man’s eyes nearly pop out of his head. He knew the warning was for his own good.

As the Pill Immortal’s figure faded back into the Nine Immortals Diagram, the old man finally let out a shaky breath. Tears of joy blurred his spectral eyes. "Heaven has not abandoned me... to grant me such a monstrous talent... my lineage shall shake the Heavens once more!"

Oblivious to his master's emotional breakdown, Ling Xian prepared for a second round. Having found his rhythm, his movements became even more fluid, bordering on the artistic.

However, in his excitement, he had forgotten to engage the Spirit-Isolating Array.

Outside the door, a woman in a pale green palace gown stood frozen. It was Lin Qingyi, the only Eighth-Grade Alchemist in the city. She watched through the crack in the door, her autumn-water eyes wide with disbelief.

She saw the black-veiled youth's "artistic" refinement. She smelled the fragrance. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

"That scent... it's an 80% Qi Condensation Pill!" She gasped, her composure shattering. Even she, an Eighth-Grade Master, could only hit 60% on a good day. To see three 80% pills produced by a mysterious youth... the shock was enough to shake her Dao Heart.

In her daze, she accidentally bumped the doorframe.

Thud.

To an alchemist at the critical moment of pill-fusion, even a heartbeat can be a distraction. Ling Xian’s soul shuddered. The Divine Flame flared out of control.

BOOM!

The black cauldron disintegrated, shards of metal flying like shrapnel. Ling Xian was blasted backward, his protective barrier shattering instantly as he slammed into the stone wall.

"Puff!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed out, staining his black veil crimson. Ling Xian looked up, his eyes cold as ice, staring at the panicked woman standing in the doorway.