Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 563 Preparation for Grade-8 Pill Refinement

The conflict between the two factions escalated fiercely.

On one side stood an empire that had dominated the pill market for an immeasurable duration.

And on the other side... a lone clan.

Yet, neither party showed any inclination to yield.

With each passing day, the Vermillion Pill Empire began to experience mounting pressure more acutely.

A sense of bewilderment permeated their ranks.

The Mu Clan should have been utterly incapable of rivaling them.

Especially since they believed the clan possessed only a single Grandmaster... or so they surmised.

Contrasting this, the Vermillion Pill Empire boasted the presence of several such figures.

By all reasonable expectations, this situation should have resulted in a swift and decisive suppression.

However, reality painted a starkly different picture.

The Mu Clan held their ground resolutely.

Even when the Vermillion Pill Empire attempted to overwhelm them through sheer numbers, the Mu Clan continued to unleash pill after pill in response.

How could Mu Tianxuan possibly manage this? Was his talent truly that exceptional?

No matter the quantity of pills the Vermillion Pill Empire put forth...

The Mu Clan persistently countered their efforts.

It was as if their reservoir of Grade-7 pills was inexhaustible.

This fact alone was sufficient to convince the Vermillion Pill Empire that this was not a fleeting skirmish.

During this critical juncture, the pursuit of alchemical materials reached an unprecedented frenzy.

Across the Desolate Heaven Empire and beyond its borders, the value of scarce ingredients skyrocketed.

Herbs ranging from Grade-6 to Grade-8 were procured at record-breaking prices.

The Vermillion Pill Empire poured immense wealth into their procurement, relying on their substantial reserves.

Evidently, when it came to acquiring materials and directly competing with the Vermillion Pill Empire's purchasing power, the Mu Clan found themselves at a disadvantage.

They would acquire items if they were essential, but they refrained from bidding more than double the prior valuation.

This stood in stark contrast to the Vermillion Pill Empire, which spared no expense.

However, for the ingredients that Bai Zihan specifically sought, there was no hesitation whatsoever; even if the Vermillion Pill Empire proposed an exorbitant sum, he would match or exceed it.

Furthermore, he offered not merely currency, but also invaluable artifacts or potent martial art techniques as exchange.

Consequently, for those particular ingredients targeted by Bai Zihan, even the affluent Vermillion Pill Empire proved incapable of securing them.

They might possess ample funds, but did they have the rare artifacts or the advanced martial art techniques?

And a significant portion of individuals possessing high-grade ingredients were cultivators themselves, thus they inherently understood the profound value of artifacts and martial art techniques, which far surpassed mere monetary worth.

Through this strategic approach, he effortlessly amassed the necessary components for refining Grade-8 pills.

Nevertheless, this was only for two specific pills, which he deemed absolutely vital for the prosperity of his clan.

One was a Grade-8 pill renowned for its ability to aid an Earth Immortal in ascending to the Golden Immortal Realm—

The Golden Immortal Ascension Pill!

The other was a significantly advanced iteration of the Heavenly Ascension Tempering Pill—the Heavenly Golden Tribulation Tempering Pill!

This was also a Grade-8 pill.

In comparison to the Heavenly Tribulation encountered when ascending from the Great Ascension Realm to the Immortal Realm, the one faced during the transition from Earth Immortal to Golden Immortal was immensely more formidable.

This explained the conspicuous absence of any Golden Immortal Realm cultivators within the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Regardless of the preparations undertaken, they proved futile, and those residing in the Earth Immortal Realm were already considered the pinnacle of power, rendering the pursuit of ascension, with its high probability of demise, an unnecessary risk.

However, with the aid of this particular pill, the likelihood of successfully reaching the Golden Immortal Realm would be substantially elevated.

Now that the essential materials for these potent pills had been gathered, the crucial stage of refining them commenced, and he alone possessed the capability to undertake such a task.

Without any reservation, he relinquished all administrative duties—tasks that held no interest for him—to Kong Zhanhong.

As was customary, Kong Zhanhong accepted this delegation without voicing any complaint.

Following this arrangement, Bai Zihan departed from the Bai Clan and journeyed once more towards the Mu Clan's domain.

The ambiance within the Mu Clan had undergone a complete transformation.

If it had once been merely lively, it was now a scene of fervent activity, particularly amongst the Grade-6 alchemists.

An intense excitement blazed within their eyes.

A powerful surge of motivation coursed through their hearts.

This was because, from this moment forward, the path to achieving Grade-7 was no longer an elusive aspiration.

Mu Tianxuan's previous breakthrough had already deeply impacted them.

But now, with two additional members attaining that esteemed realm... the possibility became undeniable.

What had once been considered an insurmountable impossibility had now become demonstrably attainable.

This profound realization was more than enough to ignite an entirely novel wave of unwavering resolve.

Beyond this, the considerable profits generated from the sales of Grade-7 pills undeniably brought immense delight to the Mu Clan.

Without hesitation, Mu Qingyuan channeled these newfound resources to support his clansmen, propelling them towards achieving greater cultivation heights.

The instant Bai Zihan set foot within the Mu Clan's territory once more, he did not proceed directly to his dedicated alchemy chamber.

His intention was to seek out either his mother or his uncle.

The reason for this detour was that, prior to commencing his intricate refinement process, a matter of significant importance required preparation.

Specifically, the establishment of potent formations, with an emphasis on concealment.

The refinement of a Grade-8 pill was not an undertaking that could be accomplished discreetly.

The commotion stirred by the Grade-7 pill tribulation had already been quite significant. Though such events had become a recurring spectacle within the Mu Clan lately, one triggered by a Grade-8 pill would undoubtedly escalate the scale of disturbance.

He acknowledged that few within the Desolate Heaven Empire might truly discern a Grade-8 pill tribulation. Nevertheless, prudence dictated preparedness.

Naturally, he harbored no illusions that the current defensive formations could completely mask the event of a Grade-8 pill tribulation. His intent was merely to attempt deception.

Even if perfect concealment proved unattainable-

The deception could still serve to misdirect.

It could create the illusion of a high-tier Grade-7 pill tribulation.

And that misdirection would suffice.

After all, individuals lacking alchemical expertise, or those who had never personally witnessed an authentic Grade-8 pill tribulation, would be incapable of distinguishing the difference.

With this strategic consideration in mind, his steps quickened involuntarily.

However, as he rounded a corner into a courtyard, his progression abruptly ceased.

A figure he knew well materialized within his visual field.

Mu Linyue!

The instant Bai Zihan’s gaze fell upon her, his brow twitched with a subtle crease. A fleeting shadow of irritation began to surface within his eyes.

(This girl...)

The memory of her prior act of treachery remained vivid.

"Hey... traitor, what business do you have here?"

Mu Linyue's eyelids fluttered once in response. Then, a smile bloomed on her lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Oh? What makes you label me a traitor?"

Bai Zihan exhaled a short, sharp breath.

"I gave you instruction... and how did you show your gratitude? By attempting to blackmail me?" His tone carried a discernible note of grievance.

Mu Linyue issued a soft click of her tongue. "Tsk! You effortlessly subdued that Feng Xuanye without breaking a sweat."

She tilted her head slightly, regarding him with a distinctly playful demeanor. "Can't your cousin leverage your strength a little?"

Her words were delivered without a shred of shame. If anything, she sounded entirely reasonable. From her vantage point, Bai Zihan had expended no significant effort. She had initiated a confrontation he hadn't desired, yet for him, it had been a mere casual exertion. Consequently, she felt no compunction about pushing him into it.

She might have felt guilt had Bai Zihan struggled, or worse, been defeated.

Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed infinitesimally. Yet, ultimately, he chose not to press the matter further. More critical objectives loomed.

"Go relay a message to your father. Instruct him to reinforce the formations safeguarding the Mu Clan. Pay particular attention to the concealment arrays."

Mu Linyue's eyebrows arched upward. "Hmm?"

This time, a subtle shift occurred in her expression. The lighthearted levity that had previously defined her demeanor began to recede. In its place emerged a distinct sense of curiosity. "Are you refining a pill?"

Bai Zihan offered no denial. "Yes."

Mu Linyue's eyes ignited with immediate fervor. The languid air she’d carried moments before completely evaporated. "What pill is it?" Her voice now resonated with unmistakable excitement. "A Grade-8 pill!"