CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: ACHIEVING THE ELIXIR_1

The process of pill nurturing was tedious, meticulous, and mentally draining.

Time flowed like water, seeping away unnoticed. Five days passed swiftly. Qin Wudao, seated beside the Pill Furnace, was on the verge of collapsing. His face was paler than ever, and he had grown significantly thinner.

My cultivation level is still too low!

Qin Wudao opened his eyes, exhaustion evident within them. Ordinarily, to become an Earth-level Alchemist, one’s cultivation level had to be at least in the Saint Realm.

Refining an Earth-level pill required an immense amount of Spiritual Energy and physical stamina.

Fortunately, his foundation was profound. He possessed the Chaos Divine Body and, coupled with the Nine Turns Nirvana, had managed to persist until this point; otherwise, he would have long been drained dry.

Just one final step to congeal the pill!

Taking a deep breath, Qin Wudao activated his Spiritual Energy, injecting it into the Heavenly Dragon Demon Flame. Instantly, the flame surged, engulfing the entire Pill Furnace and continuously raising the temperature within.

It is often said that true gold fears no fire, and the same principle applied to pills.

HUM!

A colossal vortex appeared above the Pill Furnace, erupting with intense suction that covered a radius of several miles, devouring all ambient Spiritual Energy.

This disturbance affected many Martial Artists in seclusion. Cursing under their breath, they exited their cultivation chambers, intending to find out which bastard dared to disrupt their practice. Those Martial Artists on the verge of a breakthrough were particularly furious, their hearts filled with murderous intent towards the culprit.

"It’s the Crown Prince..."

When they reached the open area and saw the cultivation chamber from which the Spiritual Energy vortex emanated, they wilted like frostbitten eggplants. All of them lowered their heads and departed.

In the Qin Empire, who would dare to cause trouble for the Crown Prince?

"Eh? What a fragrant aroma!" a Martial Artist with a keen sense of smell exclaimed in surprise, taking a deep breath and feeling instantly refreshed.

"I smell it too! It seems to be a medicinal fragrance!"

"Impossible, surely? Even a pill’s fragrance wouldn’t be this potent, right?"

"I heard His Majesty the Emperor was injured, and the Crown Prince has been refining pills. Could it be... he succeeded?"

All the surrounding Martial Artists had also detected this fragrance. They stopped to observe, their curious gazes fixed on the cultivation chamber enveloped in Spiritual Energy.

After a few breaths, a layer of pill mist appeared within the Spiritual Energy vortex, and the medicinal fragrance in the air grew even richer.

This phenomenon persisted for more than an hour before gradually dissipating.

The pill is finally complete!

Inside the cultivation chamber, Qin Wudao heaved a long sigh of relief. He dispersed the Heavenly Dragon Demon Flame in his hand and lifted the lid of the Pill Furnace. A longan-sized pill floated silently in the Void.

The pill was a deep, ink-green, exuding a lustrous, gem-like radiance. A single glance revealed it was no ordinary treasure.

Most striking were the eight patterns on the pill’s surface.

COUGH, COUGH.

From the City Lord’s Mansion of Yinshan Guan, bouts of incredibly feeble coughing were heard intermittently, like a candle flame flickering in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment.

Outside the City Lord’s Mansion, civilian and military officials stood, their faces etched with sorrow. Their hearts were in turmoil. Is that great man truly nearing his end? Is an era about to close?

"His Majesty the Emperor summons Prime Minister Li Si, Great General Bai Qi, and Great General Zhang Gan for an audience!" an eunuch announced solemnly, bowing as he emerged.

The officials’ expressions changed abruptly, their sorrow deepening. Summoning Li Si and the others at this juncture most likely meant His Majesty intended to issue his testamentary edict and appoint regent ministers.

Li Si, Bai Qi, and Zhang Gan exchanged glances before entering the City Lord’s Mansion and proceeding to the main hall.

Inside the hall, Emperor Qin lay in bed, his breathing shallow. His once thick, black hair had turned entirely gray. His eyes were sunken, and his face was covered in dark spots, giving him the appearance of a dying old man.

Qin’s Founding Ancestor stood nearby, sighing incessantly. The sorrow of a white-haired man seeing his black-haired son pass before him... it is truly unbearable!

"Your Majesty..." Li Si, Bai Qi, and Zhang Gan looked at Emperor Qin, momentarily speechless.

Is this still the Great Emperor renowned for his civil administration and military achievements? Is this still that wise and divinely martial, enlightened monarch?

Though their official relationship was that of sovereign and subjects, after years of working together, they were, in truth, kindred spirits. Seeing Emperor Qin so close to death filled them with indescribably complex emotions. They had witnessed much of life and death. Yet, when it truly befell someone so close, it remained difficult to accept.

"You have come," Emperor Qin said, struggling to sit up. His hands, braced on the bed, trembled violently. He tried several times but failed.

"Allow this subject to assist you, Your Majesty!" Li Si quickly stepped forward.

"There is no need." Emperor Qin waved his hand. "I have spent a lifetime on horseback; I am not yet so feeble as to need help merely to sit up!"

His heavy voice made Li Si pause, and he did not press further. He understood the depth of his old friend’s pride.

In the silent hall, Emperor Qin made several more attempts before finally succeeding in sitting up. The entire effort took him a full five minutes.

"I fear my life cannot be saved," Emperor Qin began to speak, his words causing everyone present to tremble. Li Si’s lips parted slightly as if to speak, but he hesitated.

He wanted to mention that Qin Wudao was refining a pill. But then what? Could he truly succeed? It wasn’t just Li Si’s own disbelief; even Emperor Qin would not believe it. Otherwise, His Majesty would not have summoned them now.

"After my passing, the Crown Prince will ascend the throne as the new Emperor. You three, along with the Founding Ancestor, will serve as regent ministers, assisting the Crown Prince in governing the nation!"

"The Crown Prince is exceptionally gifted and highly capable in matters of governance. However, he is still young and lacks experience. On crucial matters, you must guide him diligently. Strive to develop the Qin Empire into a Celestial Dynasty, fulfilling the aspirations of myself and our forefathers..." Emperor Qin spoke with great effort, his voice faint yet carrying an undeniable authority that commanded attention.

The Celestial Dynasty! It was the ultimate aspiration of all nations. Only a Celestial Dynasty could truly be considered a nation of Fortune, capable of bestowing Fortune upon its ruler and subjects, thereby enhancing their cultivation and linking their destinies with that of the state.

There were not many conditions to become a Celestial Dynasty, only two. Yet, these two conditions alone had thwarted countless empires.

First: the emergence of a Great Emperor Martial Artist!

Second: the establishment of a complete cultivation system within the nation, allowing all citizens to cultivate and thereby greatly strengthening the country’s overall power.

When Emperor Qin was young, he had made a vow in the Imperial Ancestral Temple to unify the East Ancient Domain and elevate the Qin Empire to the Qin Celestial Dynasty. It was dismissed as a child’s innocent boast; everyone had regarded that statement as a joke.

Only Emperor Qin had not. After ascending the throne, he launched sweeping reforms and explored the third-level mustard-seed world. He cultivated Bai Qi, Li Si, and Zhang Gan into Saint Realm experts, laying the foundation for the unification of the East Ancient Domain.

From beginning to end, he had cherished the dream of a Celestial Dynasty!

"Your Majesty, rest assured. We will undoubtedly assist His Highness the Crown Prince!" Li Si, Bai Qi, and Zhang Gan paid their respects, their eyes red, silently vowing to fulfill Emperor Qin’s dying wish.

"Very good." Emperor Qin nodded in satisfaction and said with a faint smile, "You may all leave now."

"Your Majesty," Li Si began, his voice heavy with hesitation, "actually, Wang Fu might be able to preserve your life!"

He still wished for Emperor Qin to live, even knowing the chances of him agreeing were slim.