"There seems to be a powerful curse or other aura in these ancient ruins," Xuan Kongzi said, ignoring the murmurs around him. "People who enter the Yang side become overwhelmed with a desire to reproduce. Those with weak cultivation may even become beasts that only know how to perform primitive actions, eventually dying of exhaustion.
"However, most of the cultivators who have reached Dou King can survive, though the price is high. As for those below Dou King, only one person has survived so far. This person is a fifth-grade alchemist who, due to poor cultivation aptitude, has always remained in the Dou Spirit realm."
Xuan Kongzi's words made several elders look thoughtful.
"Does the Head mean that the strange power in these ancient ruins has less impact on alchemists?" one asked.
"Yes, to be precise, it has less impact on people with strong souls." Xuan Kongzi smiled and nodded.
"What about the Yin side?" someone else inquired.
"The Yin side... So far, few have walked out there intact," Xuan Kongzi replied whilst frowning slightly. "The curse power on the Yin side is extremely terrifying. Once a Dou King comes into contact with it, he will be covered with red hair and become a ferocious beast that only knows how to kill. Even if a Dou King cultivator successfully escapes from there, he cannot rid himself of the curse's influence, leading to the same end."
"This situation is almost irreversible," he continued. "The Heavenly Flame is located at the core of the Yang side. Several sixth-grade alchemists have reached the end by virtue of their powerful souls. However, there is a seal there. These alchemists have not succeeded in breaking it and eventually left without any gains."
Xuan Kongzi said lightly, "The reason everyone has been summoned here is to ask if you have any suitable disciples or other candidates to go to the ruins. It is best if they are a sixth-grade alchemist and are Dou King's. Those meeting this criteria are the most suitable for exploring the ancient ruins."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of Yao Lao and the Great Elder lit up at the same time. A Dou King cultivation and a sixth-grade alchemist realm soul... This describes their disciples perfectly.
Xuan Yi, however, frowned slightly. Cao Ying was too young, and neither her soul nor her cultivation level met the requirements. She did not want her beloved disciple to enter such a perilous place.
"Today, I called everyone here just to convey the message. If there is nothing else, then we can adjourn," Xuan Kongzi announced with a laugh before disappearing.
Some elders left immediately, while others fell into contemplation. They all had a few disciples who were sixth-grade alchemists. Elder Li also had a disciple who was a sixth-grade alchemist, but unfortunately, his cultivation level had broken through to Dou Ancestor. He shook his head regretfully and disappeared from the meeting room.
Back on the alchemy square, Elder Li reappeared. He looked around and his pupils suddenly shrank when he saw Xiao Yan's medicine cauldron.
"Could he actually succeed?" A ball of golden liquid was slowly taking shape in Xiao Yan's medicine cauldron, its powerful medicinal properties far exceeded those of ordinary Mighty Huang pills.
"Although he might not succeed this time, after many attempts, he may indeed refine this new version of the Mighty Huang Pill," Elder Li thought, his eyes showing a trace of heat.
"Geniuses are truly frightening," he mused as he turned his gaze to Dan Chen's medicine cauldron, where a purple pill was slowly rotating.
He wanted to remind her of something but, seeing her serious face, decided not to disturb her.
Many students had already refined their pills by this time.
"Your modification of this Snow Spirit Pill is acceptable, but the ratio of ingredients is uneven. The dosage of the main ingredient, Snow Spirit Grass, must not be changed. Do you understand?" Elder Li instructed a young man who was a third-grade alchemist.
"Yes, teacher," the young man replied.
Elder Li nodded with satisfaction, took out a delicate spoon from his ring, scraped a little powder off the Snow Spirit Pill, and put it into his mouth. Alchemists often need to taste the medicine when refining it, especially during experiments, to personally experience the advantages and disadvantages of the new pill.
"Wait, did you add Sky Poison Grass to this pill?" Elder Li asked, frowning.
"Yes, I wanted to fight poison with poison," the young man began, but Elder Li interrupted him.
"Nonsense! Sky Poison Grass is deadly poisonous to anyone below Dou King. Just a drop of its liquid can poison a Dou Grandmaster. If you add an entire plant, who below Dou King could survive?"
"Yes, elder," the young man's face turned pale.
"But the idea is good. Next time, use the five-color leaf instead. It is not very toxic, and one leaf should suffice," Elder Li said, regaining his amiable demeanor and patting the young man on the shoulder.
"Thank you for your guidance, teacher," the student replied gratefully.
"Haha, this is what teachers should do," Elder Li replied, smiling, he was truly a role model for these teens.
He circulated his dou qi to force out the little medicinal properties in his body, spit out a mouthful of phlegm on the ground, and then continued to move forward.
"Shi Hao, is this the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill you refined?" Elder Li asked, looking at the plump Shi Hao with a smile.
"Yes, teacher!" Shi Hao proudly puffed up his belly and looked at Elder Li with expectation.
"Haha." Elder Li smiled at the sight of the cute, chubby boy and took the golden pill in his hand.
The golden pill was glittering and looked like a high-level pill.
Elder Li put the golden pill to the tip of his nose and smelled it, frowning slightly.
"Why is there a fishy smell in your pill?"
"Teacher, didn't you say we need to retain the original power of the large intestine?" Shi Hao asked innocently.
"I did say that," Elder Li nodded. "Yes, the essence of the Nine Revolutions Vasodilation Pill is in the large intestine, and the substance in the large intestine is the most important part of this pill."
"Did you keep it on purpose?"
"I deliberately extracted it during the refining process," Shi Hao stated confidently.
Elder Li nodded and said no more. Instead, he took out a small spoon, scraped some golden powder from the pill, and a foul smell reached his nose.
Elder Li frowned slightly and looked at Shi Hao, who was watching expectantly. Finally, he put the golden powder into his mouth and tasted it carefully.
As he chewed, Elder Li's frown deepened. He glared at Shi Hao, quickly circulated his dou qi, and spat out a mouthful of golden liquid.
"You... you..." Elder Li gritted his teeth, staring at the startled Shi Hao.
Taking a deep breath, Elder Li said, "Shi Hao, if you want to become a professional alchemist, tell me for your parents' sake, what exactly is the large intestine essence you extracted?"