Chapter 149: Book Collection Hall

Xiao Bai withdrew his soul power from the pill recipe, organizing the information in his mind, his eyes flashing with understanding.

Dragon Strength Pill—a 5th-Tier pill. It granted the user immense physical strength for a short period, unrelated to Dou Qi amplification. Pure, unadulterated bodily power.

"This Dragon Strength Pill is slightly more complex than your average 5th-Tier pill. Still determined to refine it?" Elder Huo asked coolly, watching him finish reading. He had chosen this recipe precisely to make Xiao Bai back down.

"It's manageable." Xiao Bai smiled faintly and nodded.

Elder Huo inwardly scoffed. *Fine, let him try. At worst, it's just wasted herbs.* He was quite wealthy could afford the loss. More importantly, he wanted to see how Xiao Bai planned refine this Dragon Strength Pill!

The surrounding elders, initially there for the spectacle, now felt a flicker of anticipation as they saw Xiao Bai's unshaken expression after reviewing the recipe.

Xiao Bai's gaze swept over the herbs on the table. He already had a clear mental blueprint for the refinement. During his three months with Elder Yao among the Snake People, he had gained profound insights into alchemy. Countless discussions and experiments had gone into making his unorthodox methods appear indistinguishable from conventional ones.

Approaching the cauldron, he inspected it briefly before nodding. Though he had never used a standard alchemy cauldron before, he understood its mechanics. With a flick of his finger, a streak of crimson flame arced into the cauldron. Instantly, roaring flames erupted, accompanied by faint crackles of thunder.

The Dragon Strength Pill required nearly forty different herbs, each with intricate interactions—a tangled web of medicinal properties. Memorizing them alone demanded extraordinary soul power, let alone the precision needed during refinement. This was why high-tier Alchemists needed formidable soul strength—it wasn't just about flame control.

After reviewing the process one last time, Xiao Bai waved his hand. Two withered branch-like herbs flew into the cauldron, swallowed by the flames. From then on, herbs danced through the air in an unbroken stream, each step executed seamlessly.

The watching elders' eyes gleamed with interest. Regardless of whether Xiao Bai succeeded, his fluid, uninterrupted technique was mesmerizing—proof that he wasn't just bluffing.

Elder Huo, however, didn't share their amusement. His expression grew increasingly grave, shifting from skepticism to confusion, then outright disbelief. The saying "an outsider watches the fun, while an insider sees the details" rang true here. At first, he thought Xiao Bai was deviating from the recipe—a surefire way to ruin the batch. *Was this kid even serious about alchemy?*

But as the refinement progressed without mishap, a faint medicinal aroma wafted from the cauldron. Elder Huo's eyes widened.

*How is he doing this?* He no longer dared to doubt Xiao Bai. This method was beyond his comprehension. He yearned to ask questions but held his tongue, not daring to disturb. His breath slowed, his gaze locked onto the black-robed youth, afraid to miss a single detail.

"Herb extraction complete. Next step—fusion." Xiao Bai chuckled softly, observing the churning crimson liquid in the cauldron. Glancing at the tense faces around him, he teased, "You all look more nervous than I am. It's just a 5th-Tier pill. Relax—I've got this."

The elders nearly choked. *Just a 5th-Tier pill?!* As if it were some common vegetable! Hadn't they seen how Elder Huo, the academy's sole 5th-Tier alchemist, strutted around like a peacock?

"Enough chatter! Hurry up—you're at the critical stage. Don't mess it up now!" Elder Huo barked, his eyes glued to the cauldron as if it held the secrets of the universe. He shot Xiao Bai an impatient glare.

Xiao Bai rolled his eyes internally. Under Elder Huo's murderous gaze, he drawled, "See? You're getting worked up again. Elder, let me tell you—alchemy isn't something you rush. What if I make a mistake?"

"Pfft—HAHAHA!" The other elders burst into laughter, delighted to see the usually domineering Elder Huo put in his place.

Amid the laughter, Xiao Bai split his soul power into two streams. One controlled the cauldron's temperature, while the other enveloped the medicinal liquid, compressing and fusing it with a sudden surge of energy.

The medicinal liquid inside the cauldron churned violently as Xiao Bai's soul power meticulously monitored every fluctuation. With each ripple, waves of medicinal energy surged outward, colliding with his soul force.

Boom!

The dark cauldron trembled slightly. When the undulating liquid found no escape, it abruptly collapsed inward, rapidly condensing. In the blink of an eye, a thumb-sized, pale-red pill materialized within the black cauldron.

As the pill took form, a violent crimson energy ripple erupted from the cauldron, spreading outward from the viewing platform. Along with it, a faint medicinal fragrance permeated the air, filling the entire space.

"It's done!" Even the elders who knew little about alchemy brightened at the sight. The energy fluctuations and pill fragrance were unmistakable signs of success. Countless eager eyes locked onto the cauldron, awaiting the pill's reveal.

"Quick—open the cauldron and take it out!" Elder Huo urged impatiently, his voice rising in excitement.

Without delay, Xiao Bai waved his hand. The lid lifted, revealing a pale-red pill hovering in the air, gleaming like a ruby.

"Elder Huo, care to evaluate?" Xiao Bai chuckled, watching the old man rub his hands together, his eyes glued to the pill as if itching to snatch it.

At this, Elder Huo's face lit up. He grabbed the floating pill and scrutinized it, sniffing deeply before closing his eyes to sense its energy. When he reopened them, they shimmered with awe.

"Observing its form—smooth and flawless. Sensing its nature—pure medicinal potency. The energy within is exceptionally rich, with a lingering vitality swirling around it... This is a top-grade pill! Absolutely top-grade!"

The surrounding elders nearly dropped their jaws. Despite Elder Huo's often-irritating demeanor, his alchemical prowess was undeniable. He had never bowed to anyone—yet now, his usual arrogance was nowhere to be seen.

"Xiao Bai, explain this to me!" Elder Huo blurted out, finally voicing the questions he had held back earlier.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Bai stroked his chin. "It's due to my soul power. Mine is... decent, so I merged some steps ahead of time rather than strictly following the recipe."

"Ah! Of course!" Elder Huo nodded in sudden understanding. That explained why Xiao Bai's method hadn't resulted in failure—he had simply compressed the process. He had done similar things before, but only with third or fourth-tier pills.

Then, realization struck him. If Xiao Bai dared to do this with a 5th-Tier pill... His expression turned odd as he studied the young man. "Are you really just a fifth-tier alchemist?"

"Old Huo, are you hearing yourself? The pill is right in your hand—what's there to doubt?" The gray-robed elder interjected irritably.

"You understand nothing!" Elder Huo shot him a glare before explaining to the others, "High-tier Alchemists refining lower-tier pills don't always follow recipes to the letter. Following the recipe step-by-step is something only alchemists of the corresponding tier do while learning. High-tier Alchemists refining lower-tier pills are in complete control and may simplify the process, completing several steps at once, saving a lot of time."

"So, is it wrong to suspect he might be beyond 5th-Tier?"

The crowd erupted in murmurs of realization before turning eager eyes back to Xiao Bai. *Could he really be above 5th-Tier?*

Xiao Bai nearly laughed. First, Elder Huo doubted an eighteen-year-old could be 5th-Tier—now he suspected he might be even higher. With a helpless sigh, he confirmed, "I really am 5th-Tier."

Nearby, Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian watched the scene with quiet pride, their gazes lingering on the figure at the center of attention.

Xun'er had witnessed Xiao Bai's meteoric rise since he broke through to the Dou Zhe realm. Aside from his... roaming affections, she was thoroughly proud of everything he had achieved.

Xiao Yi Xian, meanwhile, smirked inwardly. *So what if I couldn't become an alchemist? The man I chose isn't just one—he's a prodigy, reaching 5th-Tier at such a young age.*

The sky gradually darkened as the selection competition drew to a close. Xiao Bai finally managed to escape from the overly enthusiastic elders and walked back with Xun'er and Xian'er.

"Those old men are way too zealous!" Xiao Bai wiped the cold sweat from his brow, recalling how the elders had stared at him with such fervor that it sent shivers down his spine. He couldn't help but complain to the two girls beside him.

"Hehe... A 5th-Tier alchemist who can effortlessly refine fifth-tier pills enjoys treatment comparable to a Dou Wang or even a Dou Huang. Of course, they were enthusiastic!" Xun'er giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Exactly! Before you refined the pill, those elders still carried themselves with some restraint when speaking to us. But afterward, they became noticeably more polite!" Xiao Yi Xian added with a smile, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents.

"So? Isn't your husband amazing?" Xiao Bai puffed out his chest playfully, feigning pride.

"Ugh! Xian'er, let's go. Let's ignore this narcissistic guy!" Xun'er's cheeks flushed slightly as she shot him a glare, then tugged Xian'er forward.

Xian'er's face also turned rosy. As she was pulled away, she glanced back—only to see the rogue grinning and winking at her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned away, silently cursing his shamelessness.

Xiao Bai laughed heartily, watching the two graceful figures ahead of him, completely unfazed by the strange looks from passersby.

Time passed swiftly, and soon, seven days had gone by. Today was the day the top five contestants from the selection competition would enter the Book Collection Hall.

Inside a spacious, well-lit room, bookshelves stretched in crisscrossing rows, filled with ancient tomes that exuded an air of scholarly refinement. A young man and woman stood quietly before a desk where an elderly man with white hair and beard flipped through some documents. The room was steeped in silence.

A knock on the door shattered the stillness. The old man set down the papers in his hands and called out, "Come in." Three figures filed inside, eliciting varied reactions from those already present.

The young man's pupils contracted sharply, his face flickering with wariness and fear. The young woman also wore a trace of apprehension. The elderly man, however, smiled warmly. "The three of you have finally arrived."

His gaze swept over them, pausing briefly in surprise. In just a few days, the two girls' cultivation had advanced yet again. But when his eyes landed on Xiao Bai, he nearly sighed.

*If I didn't know about his cultivation and alchemy skills, this kid would seem utterly ordinary—nothing special except for his looks and aura.*

"Now that everyone is here, I won't waste time reiterating the purpose," Vice Duan Hu Gan said, rising to his feet. "As the top five, you have the privilege of testing your luck in the Book Collection Hall. Follow me."

With that, he walked to the wall behind him and casually tapped it a few times. A low rumbling sound echoed as a dark passageway materialized before them.

Hu Gan entered first. The other two contestants kept stealing glances at Xiao Bai, seemingly too intimidated to walk ahead. Xiao Bai had no choice but to take Xun'er and Xian'er's hands and stride in confidently. Only after he entered did the remaining two hastily follow.

Inside the passage, faint light spilled from the walls above, dim but sufficient to illuminate the way.

Before long, they emerged into a deep valley. At its center stood an enormous, awe-inspiring pavilion—so massive it was almost staggering.

As they approached, Xiao Bai swept his gaze over the structure. An ancient, solemn aura washed over him. Above the main entrance, a weathered plaque bore three faded yet discernible characters:

Book Collection Hall.

Leading the five of them, Hu Gan walked forward slowly but stopped abruptly about twenty paces from the pavilion. He bowed deeply and clasped his fists. "This year's selection competition has concluded, and the top five have been decided. I have brought them here. Honored Elders, please open the gates!"

The moment he finished speaking, Xiao Bai's keen soul power detected a faint ripple in space. Two gray-robed figures materialized in front of the pavilion, sitting cross-legged.

*So these are the Bai Lie and Qian Mu Elders.*

This was Xiao Bai's first time seeing someone manipulate spatial power to such an extent. Among those he had encountered, only Cai Lin and the little golden dragon had demonstrated similar abilities—but neither could compare to these two.

The elders remained motionless, as if they hadn't heard Hu Gan's words. Hu Gan maintained his respectful posture, which made Xiao Bai inwardly roll his eyes.

*Such theatrics. As if this is the only way to flaunt their strength.*

Suddenly, Xiao Bai sensed a faint, probing gaze. His expression remained calm as he lowered his eyelids, pretending not to notice.

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