The Xiachi Pool is the most magical place within the Luoxia Mountain Range.
Here, fusing earth light and fiery clouds creates the pool. Every day, subterranean fire shoots up into the vault of heaven, forming the wondrous spectacle of fire pillars intertwining with glowing mists.
The terrifying force of the erupting subterranean fire has caused many cultivators to meet accidental, tragic deaths within it.
"So young, yet you dare come to the Xiachi Pool."
Three burly men strode over from deep within another patch of fiery clouds, clad in armor and with giant bows slung across their backs.
Giving Lin Fan a casual glance, the three of them gave the Xiachi Pool a wide berth.
Not long after Lin Fan entered, as the fiery clouds grew increasingly dense, the temperature of the air rose noticeably.
Along the way, he encountered a few other cultivators, all of whom Lin Fan avoided from afar.
Probing several miles deeper, the surface temperature became scorching, and the fiery clouds climbed upward in a bizarre fashion.
"With my 2nd Layer of Qi Refining, I can only go this far."
Lin Fan felt as though he were being roasted over a fire; wanting to press in any further required higher-tier cultivation.
He began mobilizing his strength, and wisps of vital energy surfaced across his body, gradually forming a swirling vortex.
He activated the Burial Book to see if he could push deeper using his full strength.
A few breaths later, the burning pain in his body diminished markedly, and even the ground no longer felt hot to his soles.
Cultivating the Burial Book truly allowed his physical strength to far surpass that of ordinary people.
Advancing about another mile, the earth and rocks on the ground took on a faint, dark red hue, and wisps of fiery vapor resembling tiny flames climbed upward from the surface.
Lin Fan could still press on, but it consumed too much profound Qi, so he decided to find a subterranean fire pool nearby to refine medicine.
During this time, he actually caught sight of a mysterious, dark green creature crossing through the fiery clouds to vanish deep within the Xiachi Pool.
The Xiachi Pool was indeed extraordinarily perilous.
Soon, amidst a pile of shattered rocks, he found a subterranean fire pool about the size of a well mouth.
How marvelous—what a heaven-sent medicinal cauldron.
The subterranean fire pool was crystal clear, accompanied by visible earth spiritual energy.
If Lin Fan's strength were even twice as great, he could cultivate here for long periods.
He immediately took out his bundle and checked the materials for refining the Qi-Nourishing Liquid one by one.
Before refining, he repeatedly ran through the entire refinement process of the Qi-Nourishing Liquid in his mind, based on the contents within the *Little Golden Man*.
The temperature of the subterranean fire was much higher than the cauldron fire of the Xuanji Pavilion, and every step of the refinement required extreme care; he had to control the temperature.
A single mistake with any of the ingredients would result in total failure.
Time passed extremely slowly, and the consumption of the strength within his body was astonishing. Lin Fan suddenly wanted to try absorbing the subterranean fire's spiritual energy.
Those in the Qi Refining Realm could only feed on ordinary natural aura.
Subterranean fire spiritual energy like that of the Xiachi Pool—fraught with high temperatures and complex properties—was something not even those in the Spirit Boat Realm dared to attempt.
Who would have thought that upon trying it, the high temperature of the subterranean fire would slowly have its impurities purged and melt into his body?
Of course, the moment it entered his body, it brought an unbearable burning pain, as if ten thousand sharp blades were tearing him apart.
By the time an hour had passed, the Qi-Nourishing Liquid was finally successfully refined.
At that moment, Lin Fan found that the high temperature was no longer as terrifying as before; it was clear that with his strength, he could now venture deeper into the Xiachi Pool.
He turned and left, finding a foothold deep in the outer perimeter, and drank a small mouthful of the Qi-Nourishing Liquid.
Circulating the Burial Book to guide the spiritual energy through his body, a spiritual energy vortex the size of a fathom gradually formed around him.
He looked as though he were wearing a layer of bloody garments, all of which were impurities expelled from his body.
Boom!
Accompanied by a burst of vital blood, Lin Fan's aura turned tyrannical, propelling him to break through from the 2nd Layer of Qi Refining to the 3rd Layer.
He continued by swallowing the remaining Qi-Nourishing Liquid, breaking through once more to the 4th Layer of Qi Refining.
Lin Fan spread open his right hand, gradually forming a silver vortex.
He stood up and struck a large boulder to one side; the boulder was actually blasted into a bucket-sized crater.
If this punch were to hit a person, they would undoubtedly explode into a shower of minced meat.
"Having reached the 4th Layer of Qi Refining, my innate vital blood has transformed into profound Qi, and the transformation in my strength is terrifying."
Lin Fan's confidence soared.
Packing his things, he walked out from the depths.
Thirty miles away, a giant mountain shaped like a one-legged mountain chicken abruptly appeared in the center of the sea of fog, looking like a fowl gazing at the heavens, wishing to shed its feathers and soar aloft.
This was Baoji Mountain.
"Netherworld Grass grows from earth absorbing the demonic aura left behind after the death of a fierce beast, so it should be deep within the mountain's belly."
Lin Fan gazed at Baoji Mountain. The depths were shrouded in dark, baleful aura, and he chose to enter the subterranean abyss.
The underground caverns were dense and the pits intertwined, making it extremely easy to get lost.
During the day, Lin Fan gained nothing and could only rest temporarily.
***
Xuanji Pavilion.
Front Avenue.
Li Ruoyun cast her gaze around, searching for something.
"Grandfather."
As a carriage rolled into view, Li Ruoyun hurried forward with quick, short steps.
An old man with white hair and a long beard stepped out first, possessing the otherworldly air of an immortal.
"That must be the Pavilion Master's grandfather, old Mr. Li Hong."
The guards muttered in low voices.
At that moment, Li Hong turned around and warmly invited an old man in a green robe to step down from the carriage.
Li Ruoyun was startled, and hastily bowed to the green-robed elder: "Master, why have you come?"
Li Hong stroked his long beard: "Even your grandfather couldn't recognize the clover, so I had no choice but to ask Brother Lu for help, and only then did I learn it was Netherworld Grass."
"I heard you invited a Great Master Pharmacist, and Lu wishes to come and witness it for himself. There are no lack of swindlers these days, and I was worried for you, my disciple."
Great Master Lu, the green-robed elder, said with a stern expression.
Li Ruoyun's face showed nervous apprehension, leaving her as at a loss as a child who had done something wrong.
VIP Room.
Great Master Lu was examining the top-grade Qi-Nourishing Liquid with a solemn expression.
Li Hong and Li Ruoyun watched from afar, waiting quietly for news.
"Your grandfather did this for your own good. If something really goes wrong, it will chill the hearts of those clan members who support you."
Li Hong murmured softly into Li Ruoyun's ear.
Li Ruoyun hurriedly shook her head: "I checked the Qi-Nourishing Liquid; there's no way it's fake."
"Don't be impatient."
Li Hong had weathered many great storms and offered a word of caution.
A long while later.
Great Master Lu raised his head and said, "The medicine is half true and half false. This master suspects that the so-called Great Master Pharmacist Ning is a fake."
Upon hearing this, Li Ruoyun's cheeks instantly turned as white as paper.
"This person intentionally diluted the medicinal liquid, blending it into an inferior Qi-Nourishing Liquid to reap profits from it."
Great Master Lu's tone was resolute.
Realizing the gravity of the matter, Li Hong looked at Li Ruoyun: "Did you witness that Great Master Pharmacist Ning refining the medicine with your own eyes?"
"No." Li Ruoyun slowly lost her conviction.
"Did he produce any token capable of proving his identity as a pharmacist?"
"N-no."
Li Ruoyun stammered, a layer of cold sweat breaking out across her brow.
"You fool."
Great Master Lu heaved a long, earnest sigh.
A cold light flashed in Li Hong's eyes: "Where is he?"
"He should have gone to the Luoxia Mountain Range."
Enveloped by the oppressive might of the two prominent figures, Li Ruoyun's heart was already pounding wildly.
Great Master Lu looked at Li Hong and said, "Let's go to his residence; we might find something."
Li Ruoyun said shamefacedly, "His whereabouts are mysterious; I—I don't know."
Great Master Lu frowned: "He didn't leave anything behind connected to him?"
"He took on an apprentice, who is also a friend of this junior."
Li Ruoyun blurted out.
"First, detain that person. We might be able to find out something from them." Li Hong said sternly.
"Something terrible is going to happen."
Li Ruoyun suddenly realized that her careless words had already placed Su Xiaoqing in grave danger.
Su Xiaoqing was currently in her room, studying medicinal herbs with the help of an illustrated guide.
"Brother Fan has been gone with the senior for three days now..."
Su Xiaoqing slowly looked out the window, a look of sorrow on her face.
"Lock her up."
A group of guards kicked open the door and, giving Su Xiaoqing no time to react, seized her.