He rarely left the courtyard now. Meals, rest, and even sleep had faded into afterthoughts. His world had narrowed to a single, disciplined rhythm—fire, breath, and silence.

Every morning began with the first light of dawn. Every night ended when the moon stood high. The Heaven-Purifying Fire never truly went out anymore; it lingered as a faint silver ember in his palms, as if it shared his relentless will to continue.

Days blurred into weeks. Weeks turned to months. And before he realized it, years had slipped by.But Tian Lei did not waver.

Tier Six—that was his wall, his mountain, his horizon.And he had sworn to cross it.

The ingredients demanded perfection. A single breath too slow, a single pulse of qi too strong, and everything would collapse. Each failure shattered cauldrons, burned herbs, and left him covered in ash—but he never once looked away from the flame.

He learned from every mistake. Every explosion, every misfire, every collapse of essence.He charted the temperament of each herb, memorized the way spiritual roots screamed when overheated, the way dew-based essences resisted merging under pressure. To others, it was torment. To Tian Lei, it was clarity.

By the fifth year, his control was absolute. The Heaven-Purifying Fire no longer needed to be summoned—it responded to his intent alone. His qi flowed so seamlessly that the flame obeyed even his heartbeat. Its pressure had changed too, no longer oppressive but still—immovable, like an ancient mountain at rest.

Still, success did not come.Tier Six was not just a test of control—it was a test of persistence.

Seven years passed. Then eight. Then nine.

He remained in that courtyard, hair silvering under endless moonlight, his hands scarred but steady. His every movement became slow and precise, not out of fatigue, but out of mastery born from repetition beyond count.

On the tenth year, something shifted.

The Heaven-Purifying Fire deepened—its hue turning from silver-gold to an ethereal blue, pure and soundless. The air trembled as though recognizing its master's intent. Inside the cauldron, the ingredients didn't resist this time; they flowed. The mixture pulsed softly, like a living heart aligning with his breath.

The courtyard filled with light—gentle, steady, sacred.

And when it faded, there it was.

A single pill floated within the cauldron—clear as crystal, radiating a quiet pulse of spiritual power. It wasn't just refined; it was complete. The perfect Tier Six pill.

Tian Lei didn't rush to take it. He simply sat, watching it glow faintly in the dark, his reflection mirrored on its smooth surface.

After a long silence, he finally whispered,"…Ten years."

His voice was calm, but his eyes held a quiet satisfaction that no victory cry could match.

He reached out, lifted the pill, and closed his hand around it."Tier Six," he said softly. "No more, no less. Just as I intended."

The Heaven-Purifying Fire flickered beside him one last time, its silver light steady and serene.It, too, seemed to rest at peace.

Tian Lei leaned back, gazing at the night sky, the stars scattered like sparks above. Ten years of solitude, patience, and persistence—culminating in this single, silent triumph.

The next morning, the first rays of dawn fell over the courtyard like a benediction. Tian Lei stood, brushing off the faint ash that clung to his robe. His expression was tranquil, but within his eyes burned the quiet flame of completion.

He took the pill—his decade-long testament—and placed it in a small jade case before turning toward the towering Inner Court. The path wound through fields of mist and ancient pines, their leaves whispering like the murmurs of time itself.

When he arrived at the Hall of Elders, the guards straightened instinctively. Even without an official rank, Tian Lei's presence carried an unspoken gravity—born of patience, not power.

"Inner disciple Tian Lei, the Chief Elder will see you now," one of the attendants said respectfully, stepping aside with a bow.

Tian Lei inclined his head, the faint scent of herbs still clinging to his robes as he entered the grand hall. The air was heavy with spiritual pressure—measured, composed, and ancient. Incense smoke coiled upward in slow spirals, each thread weaving patterns of calm authority.

At the center sat the Chief Elder of the Alchemy Hall—a venerable figure in deep emerald robes, eyes half-lidded as though nothing in the world could surprise him anymore.

When Tian Lei approached, the old man's gaze opened—sharp, assessing, and just a little curious.

"So," he said, voice like still water over stone. "You claim to have reached Tier Six."

Tian Lei bowed deeply. "Yes, Chief Elder. After ten years of refinement and failure, I've succeeded."

He stepped forward and placed a small jade case before the dais. When the elder opened it, the hall seemed to grow quieter. Inside lay a single pill—clear, crystalline, radiating an even spiritual pulse. It was flawless. Balanced. Alive.

For a heartbeat, even the elder's composed expression softened.

"…A perfect Tier Six pill," he murmured. "From an Inner Court disciple."

The Chief Elder smiled faintly. "Impressive. You've worked hard, Tian Lei. Now—show me how you made it. Right here."

Tian Lei nodded once. "Yes, Elder."

He walked to the center of the hall, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Slowly, he breathed in and out, steady and calm.

Then he raised his hands.

A small flame appeared—silver at first, then deepened into a calm blue glow. The Heaven-Purifying Fire burned softly, its light steady and pure.

The Chief Elder leaned forward slightly. "Blue fire… the sacred evolution. I never thought I'd see it again."

Tian Lei said nothing. He gestured, and several prepared herbs floated into the air from the side table. Each one glowed faintly, reacting to the presence of the flame.

Then, without a word, he began.

The cauldron rose before him, the blue fire swirling gently around it. The herbs melted and merged, their essences blending together in perfect rhythm. There was no sound but the quiet hum of spiritual energy.

Minutes turned into an hour. The flame never wavered.

Finally, the light in the cauldron began to change. A faint pulse shone from within—calm, alive. When the fire faded, a single pill hovered inside, clear as glass and glowing softly.

Tian Lei opened his eyes. "It's done, Elder."

He lifted the pill and offered it forward.

The Chief Elder took it, studied it for a long moment, then nodded with a rare smile. "Perfect balance. You've truly done it."

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