Published: August 25, 2025
Chapter 215: Pill Refining and Foundation Establishment
The eight dragon heads spewed out purple flames, which under Han Li’s control gradually thickened—from finger-thin to even thicker. Meanwhile, the Silver Thread Cauldron’s rotation slowed down and began to tremble slightly within the flames.
As time passed bit by bit, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted from the small cauldron, refreshing the spirit. But Han Li knew clearly that it was still far from forming a pill. At the very least, a more intense earth flame was needed to instantly condense the medicine powder, only then could a pill take shape.
With this in mind, the purple flames controlled by Han Li grew even brighter, thickening to the diameter of a bowl’s mouth, engulfing the entire Silver Thread Cauldron. From afar, the small cauldron looked like a giant fireball, and the fragrance of the medicine grew even stronger.
Without needing to guess, Han Li knew that the medicine powder was beginning to condense. He focused his heart even more.
But just then, a muffled explosive sound came from inside the cauldron. Although the noise was faint, it weighed heavily on Han Li’s heart, and his face darkened.
After hesitating for a moment, Han Li sighed and stopped the earth flame. He then motioned with his hand to open the lid of the still scorching cauldron and leaned in to take a look.
Inside the cauldron were several fragments of light blue solid matter—clearly failed pills that never properly formed!
Shaking his head, Han Li took out a jade box and placed it on the ground. Then, controlling the Silver Thread Cauldron, he flipped it and poured the waste pills into the box before carefully storing it away. Although they were failed pills, they were still made from various spirit medicine powders condensed together. Han Li wasn’t willing to just throw them away; they might have other uses in the future!
After finishing these tasks, Han Li returned to his meditation cushion and resumed sitting in meditation. He only began refining pills again after the Silver Thread Cauldron had completely cooled down.
Using the same steps, the same powdered ingredients, and the same fire control technique, unfortunately, this time he still failed at the pill condensation stage.
Han Li’s face remained expressionless this time. After adjusting his state, he silently began the next round...
…
A month passed. The ugly man was somewhat surprised that Han Li had yet to come out of the Earth Flame House, but more than that, he was excited because the longer Han Li stayed inside, the more fees he could collect.
Two months later, with no sign of the stone door labeled number eighteen opening, the ugly man felt both pleased and astonished.
Three months...
Six months passed, and Han Li still showed no sign of emerging. By this time, the ugly man’s earlier joy had vanished without a trace, replaced only by a face full of worry and unease.
Spending nearly half a year inside was not uncommon for pill refining or artifact forging. He had even seen some take longer!
But those who spent such a long time in the Earth Flame House were at least foundation establishment stage disciples! Seeing a qi refining stage disciple like Han Li spend so long refining pills inside was a first.
Moreover, the fasting to nourish the body of qi refining stage disciples could only last about a month. Could it be that this disciple of Grandmaster Li carried food and drink with him, allowing him to endure this long? The ugly man was full of doubts.
Inside the Earth Flame House, Han Li sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion, gazing thoughtfully at the more than twenty bright blue foundation establishment pills floating before him.
These pills were the result of Han Li’s countless efforts over the past half year. Obtaining them had been incredibly difficult!
At first, in more than twenty attempts at pill refining, Han Li couldn’t even get past the pill condensation stage. Watching pill after pill fail, he felt heartbroken and nearly gave up, planning to return and learn proper pill refining techniques from other pill refiners before trying again to make foundation establishment pills. Although this would certainly waste a lot of time, it was better than wasting spirit medicine!