Chapter 333
The courtyard walls were towering high, bare of any decoration, save for a large black iron gate that blocked the outside world’s gaze.
As I stepped into the yard, I saw Zheng Fa standing before a peculiar metallic structure, surrounded by a group of people.
This metal structure resembled a gourd, with three round, bulging sections connected vertically, and several square openings on top revealing a tangle of intricate patterns within.
It was enormous, standing at least ten zhang high and over five zhang wide.
The group of people appeared rather small in front of this behemoth.
“What is this…?” Madam Xuanhua speculated, though disbelief lingered in her voice.
“Dan Ding,” Zheng Fa replied, unfazed by her presence, and explained.
“This is a Dan Ding?”
Madam Xuanhua stared at the caterpillar-like contraption, utterly dumbfounded.
Zheng Fa chuckled softly, a thought suddenly surfacing in his mind:
Your next Dan Ding doesn’t have to be a Dan Ding…
He wasn’t trying to be unconventional; in a way, he had no choice.
The disciples of the “Golden Elixir Project Team” were still somewhat lacking in skill.
Creating a traditional Dan Ding… was still a bit too challenging.
So he simply shifted his approach, constructing this thing based on the principles he and Cheng Yun had summarized, drawing from their observations and experiences…
On one hand, the larger size reduced the craftsmanship requirements.
The so-called “big and clumsy.”
On the other hand, making it larger aided the process of refining external elixirs, making it easier to observe and cast spells.
It even allowed for a certain degree of assembly line work…
Since their abilities were insufficient, Zheng Fa decided to break down the process of refining external elixirs once more, assigning different disciples under Uncle Pang to handle various parts of the refinement.
This way, the skill requirements were further lowered.
In simple terms, as long as it adhered to the summarized principles, all other experiential rules were discarded by Zheng Fa.
One could say this contraption had no flaws aside from its lack of aesthetics.
Beauty was another matter, but what the Jiushan Sect sought now was something functional…
Zheng Fa nodded at the two of them and then looked around.
Sister Zhang, Uncle Pang, and the Master, along with the disciples of the “Golden Elixir Project Team,” all focused their attention on Zheng Fa.
Taking a deep breath, Zheng Fa declared, “Shenxiao External Elixir, first refinement, activate!”
Sister Zhang waved her hand, tossing the acquired Tian Gang and Di Sha energy into the Dan Ding.
The disciples behind her began to cast their spells.
Madam Xuanhua pressed her lips together, feeling an unfamiliar sensation wash over her.
Wait, I was only gone for a few days… why can’t I understand what you’re all doing?!
(End of this chapter)
---
**Chapter 306: Unfolding Heights, Qing Yan Presents the Diagram**
Inside the Dan Ding, the Tian Gang and Di Sha energy boiled, clashed, and exploded.
Outside the Dan Ding, the disciples of Jiushan Sect fumbled through their spellcasting, their movements awkward and chaotic, a sight that was hard to watch.
Yet, Madam Xuanhua didn’t even blink, her gaze fixed on the Dan Ding.
Her expression shifted with the flickering lights and shadows emanating from within.
The sensations in her heart mirrored the sounds coming from the Dan Ding:
Crackling, clanging, as if it were about to explode.
Could she not understand what Zheng Fa was doing?
Of course, she understood.
But therein lay the problem—she understood too well!
Refining external elixirs was no challenge for her; she had helped others practice it numerous times, and the process was second nature to her:
First, you needed a top-quality Dan Ding, with the right shape, patterns, and materials—only a skilled artifact master could achieve that.
Some might say that was an understatement; only a master at the Golden Elixir stage had the capability.
Next, you had to be proficient in various methods.
No, not just proficient; you had to develop an instinct.
Typically, reaching this level required at least Golden Elixir or Nascent Soul strength.
She also knew that some people, before refining such treasures, might need to bathe and fast to calm their minds, even seeking some kind of mystical blessing…
But what was Zheng Fa doing?
A hideous contraption that couldn’t even be called a Dan Ding.
A group of disciples who clearly hadn’t grasped the methods for external elixirs.
If they were her disciples, she wouldn’t let them touch this task!
It was like a common family trying to build a house; they’d need to lay a foundation, find wood for beams, transport soil and stones for walls, hire masons and carpenters…
But how did Zheng Fa go about it?
He pointed to the mud hut built by your three-year-old child yesterday and told you the house was ready.
The most astonishing part? It actually could be lived in!
Watching the familiar flames of the Dan Ding, Madam Xuanhua instinctively clutched her chest.
“What’s wrong?”
Xiao Yuying asked beside her.
Madam Xuanhua remained silent, continuing to watch Zheng Fa and the others, as if she were anticipating something, or perhaps fearing something.
She didn’t speak, but Xiao Yuying broke the silence:
“I understand too.”
“Hmm?”
Madam Xuanhua turned to look at Xiao Yuying.
“I’ve shattered one before.”
“…”
---
Zheng Fa, however, had no time to pay attention to the two spectators; his focus was on the Dan Ding.
This time, he had divided the alchemy team into three parts, corresponding to three phases.
Sister Zhang had an exceptional grasp of the control over the energies of heaven and earth, responsible for the first phase—controlling the Tian Gang and Di Sha energy.
The Master, with profound lightning techniques, handled the second phase, the most crucial part—controlling the fusion and fission processes.
Zheng Fa oversaw the final phase, mixing the new particles together.
They didn’t directly intervene; instead, they stood by, ready to support these disciples.
After all, it was a nuclear reaction…
To some extent, Zheng Fa also viewed this experiment as an opportunity to train these disciples.
Uncle Pang’s eyes sparkled with silver light as he closely monitored the reactions within the Dan Ding, continuously calling out:
“First group!”
“Second group!”
“…”
His keen eyesight and mastery of the timing made him the metronome of the entire experiment.
Madam Xuanhua felt they were like children playing in the mud.
But Zheng Fa knew how much the entire Jiushan Sect had prepared for this moment…
The spells in their hands were simple, yet their coordination was anything but.
From the three esteemed elders to every disciple in the project team, they had familiarized themselves with their tasks countless times.
As for bathing and fasting?
That was merely a sign of respect for refining external elixirs?
No.
The respect in the Jiushan realm came from repeated training, from collaboration, striving for precision until every second counted.
There was no mysticism, only accuracy.
---
Three days later, the faces of all the project disciples appeared pale, dry, and exhausted.
Yet the light in their eyes shone brighter than the Shenxiao External Elixir within the Dan Ding!
At the moment the external elixir took shape, the courtyard fell silent.
Even the sound of breathing was hushed, as if afraid to shatter the rumored indestructible external elixir.
Zheng Fa glanced around.
Everyone’s gaze seemed to rest upon him.
With a wave of his hand, the Shenxiao External Elixir landed in his palm, and even through the thick Dan Sha, he could sense its power.
“I declare, the first refinement of the Shenxiao External Elixir is a success!”
Only then did the crowd break into smiles.
Zheng Fa continued, “This indicates that the fundamental principles of our ‘Golden Elixir Project’ are correct!”
This was the reason he refined this Shenxiao External Elixir—more than the elixir itself, it was an experiment to validate his previous hypotheses about the Golden Elixir.
“This also shows that you all…” Zheng Fa looked at the weary disciples, raising his voice slightly, “are remarkable.”
The disciples froze in surprise, not expecting the sect leader to praise them first.
“Sister Zhang and I merely proposed some ideas, shared a few thoughts, and perhaps imparted some principles.”
“But…”
The Shenxiao Golden Elixir in Zheng Fa’s hand began to rise slowly, illuminating every disciple involved in the “Golden Elixir Project.”
“Jin Fan, you blew up your house while practicing the second method… if it weren’t for your luck, you might have been seriously injured.”
“Zhu Hui, you came from the Hundred Immortals Alliance, yet showed no bias; you willingly taught what others didn’t know, and I learned a lot about artifact crafting from you…”
“Mu Qingyan… you are a major contributor to this project, proposing many solutions to problems and contributing several secret techniques…”
“…”
Zheng Fa counted them off, seemingly aware of where each person came from, what contributions they made, and how much effort they put in behind the scenes.
It seemed he knew it all.
Sister Zhang looked at Zheng Fa and couldn’t help but smile gently.
Table of Contents
