Xiao Hao opened the furnace lid and placed all fifty types of Spirit Medicines he had purchased from the Celestial Pill Pavilion into the Purple Phoenix Furnace.
Then, he began to circulate the True Qi in his body, condensing a ball of Pill Fire to incinerate the Spirit Medicines within the Purple Phoenix Furnace.
This process lasted for nearly an hour.
Just as the True Qi in Xiao Hao’s body was about to be depleted, he finally succeeded in refining the Foundation Establishment Pill.
’That was close. My True Qi was almost completely exhausted. Once the Pill Fire went out, all my efforts would have been wasted!’
Xiao Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead, his heart still pounding with lingering fear.
Although he had inherited Ouyang Yan’s Alchemy techniques, refining elixirs required not only technique but also a Pill Fire.
And a Pill Fire required True Qi to sustain it. If his True Qi ran out midway, all his work would be for nothing.
Fortunately, Xiao Hao’s Cultivation had already stepped into the Profound Realm, and the True Qi in his body was much more abundant than before.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.
As for elixirs of a higher grade than the Foundation Establishment Pill, it was even more out of the question.
They required even more True Qi to refine.
’With my current Cultivation, I can only refine Profound Level Elixirs at most. To refine an Earth Level Elixir, I’ll probably need to reach the Earth Realm!’
Xiao Hao thought to himself as he opened the furnace lid.
The next moment, a refreshing medicinal aroma wafted out of the Purple Phoenix Furnace.
Ten golden elixirs came into view, each bearing five Pill Patterns.
’These ten Foundation Establishment Pills are all flawless. They should be able to raise my Cultivation by several Small Realms.’
Xiao Hao’s gaze was incredibly fervent.
Without delay, he eagerly consumed a Foundation Establishment Pill and began its Refinement.
The efficacy of the Foundation Establishment Pill was undeniably potent, completely incomparable to the Purple Spirit Pill.
In an instant, a surging medicinal power flooded into Xiao Hao’s Qi Sea, merging with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi devoured by his Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul and continuously converting into True Qi.
One day later, a second Qi Vortex formed in Xiao Hao’s Qi Sea, signifying his breakthrough to the Profound Realm Second Layer.
"A single Foundation Establishment Pill let me break through to the Profound Realm Second Layer. With nine more, I wonder what realm I can reach?"
Xiao Hao said excitedly.
Even he hadn’t expected the Foundation Establishment Pill to be so effective.
However, the more one consumed the same type of elixir, the weaker its effects would gradually become.
From now on, it would likely take two, or even more, Foundation Establishment Pills to advance a single Small Realm.
Even so, ten Foundation Establishment Pills should be enough to raise his level by three or four Small Realms without a problem.
’The day after tomorrow, we have to move out of the Xiao Family. I’ll use these next two days to continue the Refinement of the Foundation Establishment Pills.’
After resting for a moment, Xiao Hao consumed another Foundation Establishment Pill.
Time flew, and two days passed in the blink of an eye.
After refining two more Foundation Establishment Pills, Xiao Hao’s Cultivation broke through once again, and he stepped into the Profound Realm Third Layer.
’When I was at the Profound Realm First Layer, I could kill Ma Hong, who was at a higher level. Now, even if I encounter an expert at the Profound Realm Seventh Layer, I can definitely put up a fight. Protecting my adoptive father shouldn’t be a problem,’
Xiao Hao said with a confident expression.
Among the dozens of cities in Huangyang County, Celestial Water City was considered at the bottom in terms of power. Forget experts at the Profound Realm Seventh Layer; even those at the Profound Realm Fifth Layer were exceedingly rare.
Therefore, there were very few people left who could threaten Xiao Hao.
"Hao’er, I’ve already found a new house. After you pack your things, you can leave the Xiao Family with me."
Just then, Xiao Chen’s voice suddenly came from outside the room.
"Alright, Adoptive Father. We can leave right now."
Xiao Hao immediately shouldered a bundle and walked out of the room.
He had long grown attached to this courtyard where he had lived for over a decade.
But no matter how reluctant he was, he had to leave.
"Haha! Miss Xiao Yu is back!"
"I heard she brought a big shot from the Imperial City with her!"
"Let’s go! Let’s hurry and welcome them!"
Inside the Xiao Mansion, the Xiao Clan Members were all chattering with immense excitement.
"Why is Xiao Yu back in Celestial Water City so soon? Hao’er, we should leave quickly!"
Xiao Chen said with a frown.
In the month since Xiao Yu joined the Profound Sword Academy, her strength must have improved significantly.
’If she came back to challenge Xiao Hao, this is going to be trouble!’
...
"We welcome Lord Tang Feng."
At that moment, at the main gate of the Xiao Mansion, Xiao Long, Xiao Yang, and their entourage were respectfully greeting Tang Feng.
"Grandfather! Father! Let me introduce you. This is my Third Senior Brother!"
Xiao Yu said with a smile.
Beside her stood a handsome man in a Golden Robe, his expression filled with arrogance.
"Greetings, Crown Prince!"
"For the Crown Prince to grace the Xiao Family with your presence truly brings splendor to our humble home."
Xiao Long and Xiao Yang hurriedly bowed to the man in the Golden Robe.
He was not only Xiao Yu’s Third Senior Brother but also the Young Master of the Wang Family, one of the Four Great Families of the Imperial City, with an incredibly distinguished background.
Even the Celestial Water City Lord would have to be completely respectful upon meeting him, let alone them.
"There’s no need for such formalities. I’m here with my Junior Sister to bid on those seven Purple Spirit Pills in Celestial Water City!"
Wang Kun said with a faint smile.
"Haha! That’s wonderful!"
"With the Crown Prince’s help, Yu’er will surely be able to obtain those seven Purple Spirit Pills with ease."
Xiao Long and Xiao Yang were overjoyed.
"By the way! Where is that good-for-nothing Xiao Hao! Tell him to get his ass out here and see me! This time, I will crush him under my heel."
Just then, a cold sneer flashed across the corners of Xiao Yu’s mouth.
Last time, during the family competition, she had been defeated by Xiao Hao, who had used a Secret Treasure, and she had held a grudge ever since.
So this time, she was determined to crush him underfoot and vent the hatred in her heart.
"Yu’er, that good-for-nothing has already been expelled from the Xiao Family. But he’s only moving out today. I’ll go get him right now!"
Xiao Yang said.
"No need!"
Xiao Hao’s voice suddenly rang in everyone’s ears.
Immediately after, he and Xiao Chen walked out from within the Xiao Mansion.
’Oh no! Xiao Yu really did come back to challenge Hao’er! Hao’er, you must not agree to her!’
Xiao Chen was extremely anxious.
"Hmph! Xiao Hao, last time you used despicable means to defeat me. Do you dare to fight me again?"
Xiao Yu said provocatively, her head held high.
"Why wouldn’t I dare? No matter how many times you challenge me, the outcome will be the same! Once I’ve defeated someone, they can forget about ever catching up to me in this lifetime."
Xiao Hao sneered, his tone domineering and aggressive to the extreme.
"Hmph! Such shameless boasting!"
"Miss Xiao Yu has been in Cultivation at the Profound Sword Academy for a month. Her strength is on a completely different level now. Crushing this good-for-nothing will be like child’s play for her!"
The Xiao Clan Members sneered one after another.
"Yu’er, show this overconfident good-for-nothing just how vast the gap between you two really is!"
Xiao Yang said in a mocking tone.