Chapter 126: Refinement Successful

Spiritual pressure spread far into the distance like ripples on water. Suddenly, the waves that had dispersed into the distance began to flow back into Lu Zhe’s body like the receding tide.

“Hmph.”

Xu Miao let out a low grunt. A deep growl seemed to rise faintly from his throat. His brows drew tightly together, and an expression of desperate effort appeared on his face. Veins once again bulged across his forehead and shoulders. It seemed that this time Xu Miao intended to exert all his strength to tame the tyrannical medicinal power of the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower within his body.

Whoosh.

All at once, a faint breeze sounded from somewhere inside the entire ice chamber. Elder Oil Six and the Medical Elder both felt a trace of surprise. They turned their heads and looked around, listening carefully. A moment later, both men were utterly astonished.

Several powerful streams of spiritual energy were converging from all directions above Lu Zhe’s head. Thanks to their extraordinary senses, Elder Oil Six and the Medical Elder could both feel the enormous vortex of spiritual energy above him. Lu Zhe was directly beneath that vortex, and vast amounts of spiritual energy poured down from it without end, finally flooding into the crown of his head.

“What astonishing power of attraction. Just who exactly is this Xu Miao?” the Medical Elder exclaimed in shock as he felt the spiritual energy cascading down like a waterfall.

“I don’t know. Although this is the second time I’ve seen him, I know absolutely nothing about him,” Elder Oil Six replied, equally astonished.

Endless spiritual energy, vast as rivers, entered Lu Zhe’s body and first coursed freely through it. The instant it sensed the medicinal power rampaging within him, it surged toward that violent and overbearing force without the slightest hesitation, preparing to subdue it.

When the medicinal power transformed from the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower saw the immense spiritual energy, nearly equal to itself, it was somewhat startled. It seemed unable to understand how such vast and magnificent spiritual energy had suddenly appeared inside Lu Zhe’s body. Yet it did not hesitate for long. Since that energy was rushing toward it, it was clearly intending to subdue it. In that case, there was nothing more to say. It immediately charged toward the enormous spiritual energy, which was no weaker than itself.

Boom!

Two immense energies collided within Lu Zhe’s body with a thunderous crash. They then began battling one another like dragons and tigers. Both sides fought with everything they had. If either held back now, it would surely be suppressed and forced into submission by the other. Neither side wanted to suffer such a fate.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two vast, ocean-like energies remained locked together, occasionally producing thunderous clashes. They resembled armies of thousands slaughtering one another: whenever one fell, another took its place, and neither side yielded even an inch. The scene was spectacular.

The enormous vortex of spiritual energy above Lu Zhe’s head continued to pour energy into his body, supplying the spiritual force battling the medicinal power of the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower like an endless river, lake, and sea.

Yet the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower had been formed from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth. It had absorbed the essence of the sun and moon and taken a thousand years to mature. How could the energy it contained be ordinary? Although the nine seeds in its blossom had been removed by the Medical Elder, the spiritual energy remaining in its stem was still enough to contend with a powerful human Spirit Lord.

When two tigers fought, one would inevitably be wounded. The only question was which side would ultimately be the injured and defeated beast.

Boom!

The collisions grew increasingly fierce, nearly reaching their climax. Ripples from the clashing spiritual energies continuously radiated from Lu Zhe’s pores, causing the ice chamber to tremble faintly.

Boom!

Another massive collision took place. Because the force was too great, both sides were knocked several steps backward. They then held their positions, watching each other like wary tigers.

Before long, Xu Miao’s mind directed the vast spiritual energy within Lu Zhe’s body to surge toward the medicinal power of the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower like a landslide and a collapsing sea. Judging by its momentum, he intended to destroy this stubborn force in a single stroke.

The Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower refused to yield. The moment it saw the spiritual energy charging toward it, it gathered all its medicinal power and struck back. With a thunderous boom, the two powerful energies became tightly entangled once more.

The collision of the two energies sent another powerful ripple of spiritual force through Lu Zhe’s body, spreading outward in every direction like waves across a lake.

“Nearly two hours have passed. Why hasn’t the refinement succeeded yet?” Elder Oil Six said impatiently as he watched Lu Zhe continue to struggle bitterly against the medicinal power.

The Medical Elder shook his head, indicating that he did not understand the situation either. After warning Elder Oil Six not to act rashly, he knitted his brows even more deeply.

“This won’t do. If this continues, Lu Zhe’s body will eventually be burst apart by those immense energies.” Seeing the two powerful forces collide again and again, Xu Miao sensed that something was wrong. He immediately increased his absorption of the spiritual energy in the outside world, intending to refine the tyrannical medicinal power as quickly as possible.

The Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower seemed furious when it sensed Xu Miao increasing his spiritual energy. It then exerted all its strength and collided head-on with the energy Xu Miao had produced. It seemed that the two had reached the same conclusion.

Watching the medicinal power surge toward him like a mad beast, Xu Miao suddenly gave a soft laugh, as though he had anticipated this long ago. He muttered inwardly, You fell for it after all.

He then abruptly reduced the spiritual energy engaged in the direct clash with the medicinal force. In the instant the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower froze in confusion, Xu Miao directed powerful spiritual energy from all sides toward it. Like an iron barrel, the energy sealed the tyrannical medicinal force tightly within its center.

As if it had realized Xu Miao’s scheme, the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower suddenly erupted with tremendous force. Then, like a maddened beast, it began crashing in every direction.

But by then, Xu Miao had already surrounded it completely with his powerful spiritual energy. No matter how violently it struck, it merely created wave after wave of ripples and achieved nothing else.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower still refused to give up. It continued smashing fiercely against the enclosing wall of spiritual energy. Xu Miao ignored it and began absorbing even more spiritual energy from the outside world. He then directed the energy he absorbed into the surrounding barrier while simultaneously controlling the barrier and steadily compressing it inward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower battered the barrier hysterically. Yet it had already expended a great deal of its medicinal power during its prolonged struggle with Xu Miao.

No matter how potent a thousand years of medicinal essence might be, it was still finite. It was like an immense ocean: vast and boundless, yet ultimately with shores and limits. Xu Miao, however, could absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth without end. Even a thousand years of accumulated power would amount to little before the inexhaustible spiritual energy of the world.

As the enclosing barrier continued to shrink, the medicinal power formed from the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower grew increasingly agitated. It seemed to feel uneasy and afraid.

Suddenly, Xu Miao saw the medicinal force, which had been striking the barrier without pause, fall completely silent, as though it had resigned itself to its fate. But Xu Miao did not relax because of this. As the saying went, a journey of a hundred miles is halfway complete at ninety. The closer one came to the final moment, the less one could afford even the slightest carelessness. If the force suddenly attacked while he was off guard, would all his efforts not be wasted?

Xu Miao focused all his attention and cautiously controlled the spiritual energy as it contracted inward. Before long, the seemingly docile and resigned medicinal force indeed launched a surprise attack, crashing into the spiritual barrier under his control.

Fortunately, Xu Miao had prepared in advance. The impact was astonishingly powerful, but it still failed to break free.

The Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower seemed not to have expected Xu Miao to be so cautious. After freezing for a moment, it began hurling itself against the spiritual barrier with all its remaining strength, as though making one final struggle.

It’s over, Xu Miao thought silently.

Then he suddenly exerted his strength. After the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower’s medicinal power smashed into the barrier one last time, Xu Miao’s spiritual energy completely suppressed it.

Looking at the glittering sphere of spiritual energy that had subdued the precious medicine, Xu Miao let out a long breath. The tension in his face finally eased.

Seeing Lu Zhe’s expression gradually relax, Elder Oil Six and the Medical Elder also released long-held breaths. The stone that had been suspended in their hearts finally fell.

Xu Miao withdrew his attention from the shining sphere of spiritual energy and surveyed the inside of Lu Zhe’s body. He discovered that, apart from a few of the most vital areas, nearly all of Lu Zhe’s meridians and internal organs had been destroyed by the medicinal power of the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower. The sight was ghastly.

After seeing the terrible condition, Xu Miao sighed helplessly.

“It seems he’ll need quite a long time to recover completely.”

After examining the state of Lu Zhe’s body, Xu Miao’s consciousness returned to the glittering sphere of spiritual energy. Looking at the beautiful and radiant sphere, he smiled faintly, his heart filled with relief.

“Still, after paying such a great price, we’ve gained something substantial.”

With that, Xu Miao controlled the shining sphere of spiritual energy and guided it along the few meridians that remained intact, moving toward Lu Zhe’s spirit core. Before long, it arrived beside Lu Zhe’s core.

Xu Miao’s consciousness looked at the sphere, then at Lu Zhe’s spirit core. He then guided the sphere closer. At last, the two crystal-clear and beautiful spheres slowly merged together.

When the two spheres had completely fused, a dazzling crimson light burst from Lu Zhe’s spirit core. It illuminated every corner of his body, dyeing everything blood-red.

Boom!

Outside, just as Elder Oil Six and the Medical Elder were beginning to relax, Lu Zhe’s body suddenly caught fire.

The sight terrified Elder Oil Six.

“What’s happening? Didn’t it succeed? Why has he suddenly started burning?” he cried out in alarm.

“Heh, don’t worry. This is a sign of success. When I successfully absorbed the Three-Second Green Spirit Flower, my master told me that my entire body had also been surrounded by green flames. The fire around him won’t hurt him. It’s merely part of the fusion,” the Medical Elder explained with a smile as he watched Elder Oil Six’s alarmed expression.

“Oh, is that all? You nearly scared me to death.”

Only then did Elder Oil Six breathe a sigh of relief. He had clearly been badly frightened.

The flames surrounding Lu Zhe disappeared before long. Not long after they vanished, Lu Zhe slowly rose from the medicinal pool.

Elder Oil Six and the Medical Elder stared at the standing Lu Zhe in bewilderment. Just as they were preparing to approach him, a figure flashed past.

Lu Zhe, completely naked, appeared before Elder Oil Six.

Elder Oil Six was startled. Before he could react, Lu Zhe’s hand blurred, and his right hand clamped around Elder Oil Six’s throat.

“Zhe’er, what’s wrong?” the Medical Elder asked in astonishment.

With Lu Zhe’s hand around his throat, Elder Oil Six showed no panic whatsoever. He merely said calmly, “You’re Xu Miao, aren’t you?”

“Lu Zhe” raised his head and looked at Elder Oil Six. His dark, unfathomable eyes fixed themselves tightly on him. After a moment, he said coldly,

“You really aren’t just a simple fat man, are you?”