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**
The empty square was filled only with the lingering fragrance of herbs.
"Brother Wei, you just said you had something to take care of?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Mm, I found something that can help strengthen the soul." Wei Yang looked toward Xian'er and smiled, "This thing is perfect for you. If luck is on our side, it might even help you break through to the Spirit Realm."
"Ah?" Xiao Yan and Xian'er were both stunned. When they came back to their senses, Xian'er grew excited, almost unable to believe it, and quickly asked, "Brother Yang, really? What is it?"
"It's Core Soul Marrow," Wei Yang said with a smile.
"Core Soul Marrow?" As alchemists, of course they had heard of such a treasure. So, hearing this, Xiao Yan and Xian'er immediately understood.
Xiao Yan even laughed, "Sister-in-law, looks like I should congratulate you early. You have a real chance to step into the Spirit Realm."
Xian'er smiled, "Brother Yang only said if we're lucky. We don't know if it will work yet."
At that, Xiao Yan nodded.
Indeed, no one could guarantee such a thing. Wei Yang turned his gaze to Xiong Zhan, "Arrange a secluded chamber for me."
"Yes, Master, please follow me." Xiong Zhan hurried over, leading the way as he guided Wei Yang past the square and into the depths of the stone hall, finally finding a tightly sealed stone room.
"Until I come out, don't let anyone disturb me." Wei Yang stepped into the chamber as he spoke.
"Master, rest assured, I will guard outside." Ah Da followed behind and quickly added.
"Mm." With a wave of Wei Yang's hand, the stone door slowly closed with a rumbling sound.
Inside the stone chamber.
The space wasn't particularly large, but more than enough.
Several moonstones were set into the ceiling, their soft light pouring down, driving away all darkness.
Wei Yang walked to the center of the room, pulled out a futon and set it down, then turned and sat cross-legged upon it.
He did not immediately start working. Instead, he closed his eyes, quietly adjusting his own state. His mood was slightly heavy. This was his first time refining this thing, and Core Soul Marrow was extremely hard to obtain.
If he failed to blend it properly this time, who knew when he would ever find such a heavenly treasure again. So, even though he was already a Tier 8 alchemist, he dared not be the least bit careless.
Time passed slowly. Before long, nearly half an hour had gone by.
Only then did Wei Yang finally open his eyes. His dark red pupils were as calm as an ancient well, like a deep blood-colored lake, unfathomable, with faint blood flames and thunder lurking within.
He slowly exhaled a turbid breath and waved his hand. At once, a half-zhang-high piece of snow-white jade floated in the air before him.
Core Mother Jade.
The surface of the jade carried a faint dampness. Looking closely, one could see thin white viscous liquid clinging to it.
Wei Yang raised his right hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together like a sword. With a thought, green flames swiftly surged and condensed, forming a slender, thin sword blade.
His eyes sharpened, and the green flame blade slashed like lightning across the surface of the Core Mother Jade.
Chi!
With a streak of green light, a clean cut was made across the jade. Immediately, a slab of jade about two fingers thick fell away, revealing a walnut-sized hollow inside.
From the hollow, wisps of faint white mist seeped out. Wei Yang leaned closer and gently inhaled.
At once, he felt a wonderful sensation rising from the depths of his soul, a refreshing comfort that made his entire spirit jolt awake.
"No wonder it's called Core Soul Marrow. Just a single breath of its mist affects even my late Spirit Realm soul. Its effect on a Mortal Realm soul is easy to imagine!"
Wei Yang smiled, sighing in admiration, then the green flame blade began to dance swiftly once more.
Shua! Shua! Shua!
With each swing of the flame blade, a layer of jade about two fingers thick peeled away from the Core Mother Jade. The jade slices floated down slowly, stacking neatly to the side.
Each slab was two fingers thick and about a meter across, the perfect size to serve as a jade futon.
When the massive Core Mother Jade had been shaved down by nearly half its height, a jade pit about the size of a human head finally came into view.
And at that moment Wei Yang's gaze locked onto the bottom of the pit, where less than half a finger's depth of milky-white liquid rested.
This was the Core Soul Marrow.
It was the condensed essence of the earth's power, formed over countless years to produce only this tiny amount.
Wei Yang stared at the viscous, milky liquid. Then, using the green-flame blade, he carefully carved out the jade pit and sealed it with several layers of restrictions, setting it aside.
When he finished, he glanced at the remaining Core Mother Jade, waved his hand, and collected it together with all the sliced jade pieces.
With another flick of his wrist, two more items appeared. A jade box and a palm-sized emerald-green stone. At a thought, the jade box opened and a strange fragrance immediately spread out.
This was Pill Spirit Paste.
This substance could be blended directly with the Core Soul Marrow, as long as the quantities and proportions were perfectly controlled.
As for the Tianma Jade-Stone Essence, its inner stone essence had to be refined out before it could be mixed in. Refining stone essence was hardly difficult work, especially for Wei Yang now.
With a casual grasp of his hand, the emerald-green stone floated over, hovering in his palm. Wei Yang gave the stone a brief glance, then willed his energy.
Whoosh~
A surge of black flame roared to life, engulfing the stone.
Under Wei Yang's control, the black flame's temperature spiked to an extreme level, and in less than half a minute the surface of the Tianma Jade-Stone Essence began to crack with fine lines, releasing a faint scent.
Seeing this, Wei Yang nodded slightly. He flicked a finger, sending a thin thread of force tapping against the stone.
Ka~
Bits of rock chips kept falling away with a soft hiss until the hidden pale-white sap inside was revealed.
As the white sap emerged, Wei Yang gradually reduced the temperature of the black flame. At last only a small wisp of flame remained, gently burning beneath the stone. It looked like a tiny stone bowl being lightly roasted by fire.
Inside that little stone bowl, the white sap bubbled with tiny pops. Each burst released a faint fishy odor that drifted into the air.
That odor was the impurity within the stone essence. Only after refining out these impurities could the remaining pure essence be used to blend with the Core Soul Marrow.
This refining process was much like purifying medicinal ingredients, so for Wei Yang it required little effort. He simply closed his eyes to rest while it worked.
After more than ten minutes, the fishy smell in the white sap was completely gone, leaving behind pure essence.
Having successfully refined the stone essence, Wei Yang opened his eyes and waved his hand. Several delicate jade bottles and vessels floated before him.
Next, the jade pit holding the Core Soul Marrow and the jade box of Dan Spirit Paste also rose into the air.
With a thought, thin streams of liquid from each container were drawn out and guided by his soul power into a single transparent jade bowl. Finally, the three liquids merged.
Chi~
The moment the three liquids touched, a faint mist erupted. Then, as if water and fire could not coexist, they began to corrode each other, bubbling as though with poisonous acid.
Wei Yang's expression did not change. He stared intently at the clash and transformation of the three liquids.
After a short while, the Pill Spirit Paste and the Tianma Jade-Stone Essence completely dissipated, leaving only the slightly mottled, turbid Core Soul Marrow.
"There's too much Core Soul Marrow," Wei Yang murmured thoughtfully.
A moment later.
"Again."
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