After the fierce storm, the movements of the Sea King Gang and the Fierce Battle Gang in the north indeed ceased.
The Storm Alliance entered rapid rebuilding, following the previous battle, with Storm City sustaining damage to nearly half of the city.
As for Su Yuan, he dispatched Ashley and Antonios to take over Zhao Yue City alongside Teng Jinghua.
With Teng Jinghua came a group of elites originally under his command.
However, Teng Jinghua did not bring any Radiant Moon Level individuals, only ten Shining Star Level and over fifty Lower Three Levels.
With these manpower, barely managing Zhao Yue City’s normal operations was possible.
Additionally, Su Yuan sent Mo Fei with Li Su northward to recruit Upper Three-level cultivators.
Due to the downfall of Rock Dragon Gang and Shuiyun Alliance, many experts were scattered, and indeed, some joined Zhao Yue City.
Firstly because Qingming Realm provided many Star Stones;
Secondly... having Su Yuan slay Del Mao played a part, given that Rock Dragon Gang and Shuiyun Alliance were all enemies of Fierce Battle Gang.
There were also some unexpected gains; upon hearing that aside from being a Burning Sun Expert, Su Yuan was an Alchemist, many alchemists came over, including an Alchemy Master!
In a matter of days, Zhao Yue City added three Radiant Moon Level and over a dozen Shining Star Level individuals, excluding Teng Jinghua!
With Ashley and Antonios jointly managing, that was already enough.
As for Su Yuan himself, he had already returned to the Qingming Realm...
Qingming Realm, Alchemy Artifact Hall.
After a violent rumbling, accompanied by abundant firelight and smoke, a pungent burnt odor emanated strongly from within the Alchemy Artifact Hall...
Inside the grand hall, Divine Wind stirred around Su Yuan, naturally dispelling the firelight and smoke.
"The first attempt, unsuccessful after all..."
Su Yuan opened the Pill Furnace, looking at a Star Core that had fractured into pieces without completely melting, his eyes involuntarily showing a hint of heartache.
And more than that, even the bottom of the Azure Dragon Elixir Furnace had some cracks!
Indeed, Su Yuan was indeed refining the Sun Spirit Pill!
"The power of this explosion, if it happens two or three more times, this Pill Furnace might be ruined."
Su Yuan shook his head, endured the heartache, and quickly summed up the recent refining process.
"The energy density within the Burning Sun Star Core is extremely high, whether in smelting or incorporating auxiliary ingredients, control over the heat is crucial.
Even with mastery of the method for refining this pill, abundant experience is still needed to avoid errors, which explains why the success rate of refining this pill is generally only thirty to forty percent.
But... if one could perfectly manage the refining process?"
Suddenly, Su Yuan thought of something, his heart skipped a beat.
Not only could the Returning Ruins Divine Wind’s time acceleration be used to assist in refining array formations, it seemed he possessed another special ability...
As soon as he thought of it, Su Yuan immediately cleansed the Azure Dragon Elixir Furnace, placing another Star Core and auxiliary ingredients inside.
Subsequently, his eyes began to flow with substantial silver light...
"One Heart Dustless!"
Time silently passed by, and under the time acceleration of Returning Ruins Divine Wind, the elixir refining sped forward at an extremely fast pace.
It was uncertain how much time elapsed, as the Azure Dragon Elixir Furnace suddenly began to tremble fiercely, soon after, it exploded with a loud "boom"!
Dense smoke and firelight swept through the entire Alchemy Room again, with Su Yuan standing pale-faced, seemingly heavily consumed.
However, a faint excitement was seen in Su Yuan’s eyes!
"It’s indeed possible to use One Heart Dustless for refining elixirs!"
Su Yuan suppressed his excitement, quickly summarizing the process in his heart.
One Heart Dustless can truly refine elixirs flawlessly, as long as the changes within the Pill Furnace don’t exceed his understanding.
This time, there were no errors throughout the process, and the refining progress smoothly reached halfway.
The reason for the failure was that during the refining process, his understanding of one auxiliary ingredient’s fusion was flawed.
Furthermore, refining Epic elixirs takes a considerable amount of time, and One Heart Dustless cannot be sustained for long, thus it must be used at crucial moments.
Su Yuan sat cross-legged, resting for half a day while returning to analyzing the alchemy recipe against the previously failed fusion situation.
After a long time, Su Yuan corrected the errors and was seventy to eighty percent rested.
Without hurrying to refine more elixir, Su Yuan first burned incense and bathed, changed his clothes, and returned to the Alchemy Artifact Hall.
"Using One Heart Dustless only at key points of refining..."
Su Yuan’s eyes sparkled with vitality, having over ninety percent confidence as he commenced a new round of refining immediately!
Time flew by again, more than a day passed.
This was under Returning Ruins Divine Wind’s time acceleration; exchanging it for normal time would take five to six days!
Within the Alchemy Artifact Hall, Su Yuan remained focused on refining.
Although capable of multitasking, having just started refining the Sun Spirit Pill, Su Yuan dared not be careless or engage in other distractions.
Suddenly, a much fiercer crackling sound came from within the Pill Furnace!
Su Yuan’s heart made a move, knowing the refining reached a critical moment; he immediately launched One Heart Dustless.
His eyes turned completely white, and every change in the Pill Furnace became vividly clear in his mind!
As if time slowed by countless times, his senses magnified by countless times, Su Yuan manipulated the flames to promptly adjust according to changes inside the furnace.
Whether in temperature, burning point, etc., they were perfectly flawless without any error...
After some unknown period, the commotion in the Pill Furnace began to faintly weaken.
Ordinarily, Su Yuan might feel a bit of happiness at this point.
But now, owing to being in a One Heart Dustless state, Su Yuan merely received the information "about to complete," without a shred of other distractions.
The disturbance within the Pill Furnace gradually quieted down, until finally, the dragon head of the Azure Dragon Elixir Furnace spewed out a wisp of misty purple smoke!
The rich fragrance of the elixir dispersed into the air; just inhaling a breath brought joy and lifted fatigue!
With the purple smoke dissipated, Su Yuan then opened the Pill Furnace.
Inside laid a dragon-eye-sized red elixir, with its newly refined form displaying a imperial crown-like pattern flowing, as if slowly burning!
Su Yuan retrieved the elixir, placing it in a pre-prepared Alchemy Box, with the pure white light in his eyes fading, ending One Heart Dustless.
Though somewhat pale, Su Yuan’s eyes brimmed with intense joy!
"The Sun Spirit Pill, it’s finally completed!"
Despite failing twice, consuming two Burning Sun Star Cores, and nearly causing the Pill Furnace to malfunction, he finally succeeded in refining the Sun Spirit Pill!
At this moment, an overjoyed Su Yuan carefully appreciated this elixir.
This was his first Sun Spirit Pill, of significant meaning.
Next, as long as he possessed Burning Sun Star Cores, he could independently produce Sun Spirit Pills and swiftly elevate his cultivation!
"Returning Ruins Divine Wind combined with One Heart Dustless, its assistance is simply remarkable!" Su Yuan excitedly thought.
With Returning Ruins Divine Wind, he could greatly enhance refining speed;
With One Heart Dustless, succeeding once meant virtually no more mistakes, with even the potential to continuously optimize the refining process!
After relishing the elixir for a while longer, Su Yuan carefully put the Sun Spirit Pill away.
Turning back to the Azure Dragon Furnace, he noticed its internal fissures had worsened somewhat.
"Even without an explosion, it can only refine up to three more Sun Spirit Pills.
Though there’s a Master Quality Pill Furnace in the Treasure Hall, it’s a bit of a stretch for refining Epic elixirs.
This situation can’t continue; finding a suitable Alchemy Furnace is necessary."
Su Yuan mulled over for a while, preparing the Azure Dragon Elixir Furnace once more.
Currently in his possession was a Star Core obtained from the Chongyang Realm Stone Scorpion Lord within the Gray Realm Sand Swamp Domain.
Su Yuan planned to rest awhile, then continue refining that Star Core into another Sun Spirit Pill.
However, after only half a day’s rest, he sensed a sudden and vast, abyss-like strong fluctuation outside the hall!
Su Yuan’s expression changed slightly, a flash of silver light over him appearing at the hall’s square.
But viewing the square’s center, where Ruan Ruan had been cultivating was now empty.
Replacing it, above the square a giant water ball akin to an abyss continued to swirl!
The extremely strong fluctuation emanated from this water ball!
Su Yuan immediately showed a degree of joy: "Ruan Ruan is about to break through!"