Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 564 Refining Grade-8 Pill

"Grade-8?"

Mu Linyue froze for a moment.

Then she let out a burst of laughter.

"Hahaha... Bai Zihan, I never thought you could be so humorous while maintaining a straight face. Hahaha-!"

Her laughter echoed clearly throughout the courtyard.

It wasn't solely amusement; a subtle mocking tone was present.

After all, a Grade-8 pill?

Even the most accomplished alchemists in the entire region would hesitate to make such a claim.

Yet, Bai Zihan stated it with such casual seriousness that one might be led to believe he was truly confident.

Bai Zihan's expression gradually turned grim as Mu Linyue's laughter persisted.

Her mirth continued for a considerable duration before she eventually noticed his darkening mood.

Only then did she slowly cease, though a faint smile still played on her lips. "Alright, alright... I shall go and inform my father."

This time, she refrained from further teasing.

After all, she was well aware of Bai Zihan's temperament.

Pushing him too far would undoubtedly lead to unfavorable consequences for her.

Without any further delay, she turned and departed.

Bai Zihan observed her departure for a short while before turning in the opposite direction.

Soon, he arrived at his designated alchemy chamber.

Although his return, if ever, remained uncertain, the Mu Clan had maintained this chamber as his personal space for alchemy.

With a mere wave of his hand, materials began to materialize one after another.

Spiritual herbs!

Demonic beast cores and blood!

Each item emanated a potent aura.

Furthermore, the demonic beast cores were sourced from the Immortal Ascension Realm, while the spiritual herbs were also of Grade-8, imbued with powerful Qi.

The alchemy chamber became thick with dense Qi.

Thud!

Another object then appeared.

A cauldron!

It landed with a substantial sound at the room's center.

This was no ordinary cauldron; it was a Heaven-Grade Cauldron.

It was among the treasures acquired from Immortal Emperor Feilian's storage ring.

Even she possessed only a single cauldron of that caliber, which underscored its extreme rarity.

For the purpose of refining Grade-8 pills, possessing such a cauldron proved immensely beneficial, particularly when confronting the dreaded pill tribulation.

Naturally, a cauldron alone could not shield a pill from the Pill Tribulation, but its presence would undoubtedly offer assistance.

Everything was meticulously prepared for the pill refinement process.

Just then, the chamber door swung open once more.

Mu Linyue entered without the slightest hesitation, as if she had every right to be there.

"I've informed father," she stated nonchalantly.

After delivering her message to Bai Zihan, she surprisingly did not leave.

Instead, she proceeded to observe from a distance.

She had performed this action numerous times previously, watching Bai Zihan refine pills when he was still affiliated with the Mu Clan.

However, the instant her gaze landed upon the meticulously arranged materials before him, her expression underwent a drastic transformation.

The earlier amusement vanished, replaced by profound shock.

(Those materials...)

Given her extensive knowledge, how could she possibly fail to recognize them?

The majority of them were undeniably Grade-8 spiritual herbs.

Her eyes gradually dilated in astonishment.

(Does he actually intend to refine a Grade-8 pill?)

The thought resurfaced with renewed intensity.

She did not doubt Bai Zihan's proficiency in alchemy, readily acknowledging that he surpassed her considerably in skill.

However, she still maintained the belief that he was incapable of refining pills of Grade-7 or higher.

She would not have believed he could even refine Grade-6 pills if not for witnessing it firsthand on multiple occasions.

But Grade-8 pills?

Strictly speaking, if an individual were to achieve such a feat, they would undoubtedly

be recognized as the preeminent alchemist in the Eastern Region.

Not merely in the present era, but throughout its entire recorded history.

Her gaze fixed upon Bai Zihan.

Then, another object drawing her attention emerged.

The cauldron.

(This...)

It was distinctly not the cauldron provided by the Mu Clan.

She was absolutely certain of this fact.

Beyond that, the aura it exuded far surpassed that of any cauldron she

had ever encountered.

Even when compared to the cauldron utilized by Huo Shenyu, this one felt significantly more potent.

A subtle flicker of covetousness emerged in her eyes.

For someone like her, dedicated to the path of alchemy, a cauldron was analogous to a sword for a sword cultivator.

Naturally, upon encountering a high-caliber cauldron, an innate desire to possess it would arise within her.

Although she could not ascertain its exact grade with certainty, she deduced it was of a higher rank than Huo Shenyu's, implying at least an Earth-Grade Cauldron.

A multitude of questions flooded her mind.

What specific pill was he intending to refine?

From where had he acquired this remarkable cauldron?

Yet, in the end, she uttered no words, choosing only to continue her silent observation.

She understood all too well the catastrophic implications of disrupting an alchemist during the critical phase of pill refinement.

Therefore, she resolutely suppressed her surging curiosity, intensifying her focus on the unfolding scene.

Bai Zihan stationed himself before the cauldron.

With a subtle movement of his hand, flames erupted into existence.

These were still flames conjured from Qi.

(Perhaps I should investigate acquiring Spiritual Flames or some potent Beast

Flames!)

Not only would such flames enhance pill refinement, but they would also prove advantageous in combat situations.

Naturally, obtaining individuals who could satisfy his desires wouldn't be simple. However, considering his current affluence and standing, achieving this goal was far from impossible, provided they existed within the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Nevertheless, this was not the opportune moment to dwell on such matters.

His control over the flames reached an astonishing level.

One by one, the various materials ascended.

The initial selection was introduced into the crucible.

Immediately, the process of refinement commenced.

Impurities were meticulously purged with formidable precision.

Not a single movement was without purpose.

Each adjustment, every shift in the flame's intensity, was perfectly orchestrated by him.

Even the most minute trace of impurity within the constituent elements was eradicated.

Following this, he transitioned to the subsequent phase with flawless execution.

Mu Linyue's gaze transformed from initial intrigue to profound admiration for the

demonstration of expertise.

(No matter the number of times I witness this, it remains an exquisitely beautiful spectacle.)

In her perception, this was far more than mere pill concoction.

It was an art form!

Bai Zihan's actions were fluid and effortless.

Resembling an artist applying brushstrokes to a canvas.

Or a dancer navigating a stage with grace.

Each gesture flowed seamlessly into the next.

Perfectly and elegantly, devoid of any perceivable flaw.

Hours elapsed.

For the vast majority of alchemists, maintaining such intense concentration for even a sliver of this duration would prove overwhelmingly taxing.

Yet, Bai Zihan remained entirely unfazed by the passage of time.

Even after numerous hours had passed, he maintained the same unwavering focus he possessed at the commencement of the pill's refinement.

Every motion was still executed with the same meticulous accuracy.

Every control exerted over the flames remained impeccable.

It was as if the very concept of time held no sway over him.

Then came the critical stage of ingredient condensation and subsequent pill formation.

The latent aura within the crucible underwent a sudden condensation.

All the refined essences began to converge.

Merging, compressing, and transforming. The Pill Formation was underway!

Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed slightly in concentration.

His hand moved, and the flames altered their disposition.

And within the confines of the crucible, a subtle luminescence started to materialize.

Concurrently, the heavens themselves appeared to react.

A low, resonant rumble emanated from above.

Mu Linyue's eyes widened instantaneously.

She instinctively looked upward.

Beyond the overhead structure, dark clouds were rapidly coalescing with violent intensity.

"This..."

Her heart experienced a tremor of apprehension.

A Pill Tribulation! She was intimately familiar with its significance.

It was an occurrence exclusively witnessed during the refinement of Grade-7 pills and higher.

However-

The phenomenon manifesting at this very moment differed markedly from her prior experiences.

The gathering clouds were substantially larger than any she had previously encountered.

The oppressive aura emanating from them felt significantly more potent.

The clouds swirled ominously, akin to a tempest poised to engulf all existence. Faint flickers of lightning intermittently illuminated their depths.

Even before its full descent, the sheer pressure alone induced a suffocating sensation.

Her gaze sharply returned to the crucible.

Then, she shifted her focus to Bai Zihan.

Shock suffused her features.

This observation unequivocally confirmed that the pill Bai Zihan was attempting to refine was, at the very least, of Grade-7 quality!

Furthermore, the tribulation she was now witnessing surpassed in intensity any she had observed previously. It was more potent than those accompanying Mu Tianxuan's pill refinements.

And stronger than any associated with other Grandmasters.

A singular thought began to crystallize in her mind.

Her voice emerged as little more than a hushed whisper.

"Could it truly be... a Grade-8 pill?"