Godslayer: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Cultivation System-Chapter 88: On the Verge of Exploding

While Wen Ran focused intently on grinding the next material—a silvery-blue lotus flower with a pearl-like core in the center—his master’s eyes were watching him from a distance. The old man was hidden in the shadows, his presence veiled by his mastery over spiritual energy.

"Amazing," the old voice murmured, his words filled with a sense of quiet admiration. "When he really wants to, he can learn on his own... but it’s taking him far too long."

The master, hidden from sight, was using his own spiritual energy to observe Wen Ran from afar, testing his comprehension and gauging his progress. This was an advanced technique, one that not many at the master’s level could pull off without being detected. The ability to extend one’s spiritual energy so far in secret spoke volumes about the old man’s skill in controlling his spiritual power. It was, after all, the very foundation of being a great alchemist—mastery over both the ingredients and the spiritual energy that connected everything in the process.

"Starting with the dragonroot was the correct order," the old man muttered to himself, watching with a keen eye. "And so far, he’s moving on to the next ingredient correctly. I wonder if this is because he secretly knows about spiritual herbs and roots, or if it’s just incredible luck on his part." His voice faltered, a flicker of frustration slipping through. "Either way, I hope he can complete this pill. I’ve already wasted too many materials on this... child who doesn’t understand how to grow up."

You could easily hear a hint of bitterness in his tone, his frustration at the slow progress seeping through the cracks. The old man’s feelings of disappointment were clear—he cared more about the materials he was losing than about his disciple’s growth. It was a painful admission for him, one that echoed in his voice, yet he couldn’t quite bring himself to fully acknowledge the bond between them. He had spent so much time and effort investing in Wen Ran’s alchemy skills, but all he could see was the failure before him.

The old man observed his disciple carefully. "Very good, crush the Celestial Lotus and release that calming energy. It will help to calm the domineering dragon aura in the pill and bring a slight balance. But you must be careful when trying to merge them." He whispered under his breath, watching from a distance.

Of course, he could have stood next to Wen Ran and lectured him directly, but the old man’s teaching method was far from ordinary. He preferred a disciple who could figure things out on their own, someone who could learn through experience rather than having the path laid out for them. In the old man’s opinion, this was how true talent emerged among alchemists.

His eyes narrowed as Wen Ran carefully began to fuse the two ingredients together. Then, Wen Ran reached for the next herb: a lavender flower with soft, glowing petals and a deep violet center.

"Mystic Soulflower, good..." The old man’s voice softened with approval, but there was caution in his tone. "But he must be careful. This flower is delicate and doesn’t respond well to the domineering power of the dragonroot. He must not let them clash..."

The old man’s frustration mounted, his body practically urging him to jump in and explain the correct process. But his pride stopped him. This is the way of things, he thought, he must do this himself. A strange, stubborn part of him refused to intervene.

The entire process was going smoothly, much to the old man’s relief. Wen Ran was following the correct path, carefully navigating each step. For a moment, the old man allowed himself to relax, watching his disciple craft the pill with precision. But then, something unexpected happened.

Wen Ran picked up a material that shouldn’t have been part of the recipe. The old man’s heart sank as he saw it. Another fail... His thoughts darkened. What a pity, he was so close...

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

Wen Ran had just picked up a long, twisting vine with golden-green shimmering leaves and small white blossoms. The old man recognized it immediately.

"The Heavenly Vine is a perfect ingredient when used instead of the Celestial Lotus," the old man muttered bitterly. "But it has a much lesser effect in this pill. If he adds it, the pill’s efficacy will be too low—or he may not even be able to form one. Worse, it might make the entire mixture burn!"

He watched helplessly from afar, his disappointment clear. The master had already given up on his disciple and Wen Ran’s mistake seemed unavoidable, a clear failure, in his eyes, that would ruin everything.

But just as the old man sighed in resignation, something unexpected happened. Wen Ran, undeterred, continued to push forward. He grabbed the last material. It was a rare flower with white petals that faintly glowed, with a pearl-like center, and without even grinding it, he threw it directly into the furnace.

"Noooo!" the old man screamed, horror filling his face. "What a waste of the Flowing Pearl Blossom!" His heart almost stopped at the sight of it. This flower, so precious, was being carelessly thrown away.

The furnace started to shake uncontrollably in response, the energy within it wildly spiraling as if on the verge of explosion. The old man rushed out from his hiding spot, panic flooding his chest. He had to stop Wen Ran before everything was destroyed.

But before he reached the furnace, what happened next stopped him in his tracks. Wen Ran didn’t panic in this situation, he didn’t even hesitate, and instead, he slapped the furnace with his palm filled with spiritual energy, using it to calm the chaotic surge within. The shaking stopped, and with a soft, almost imperceptible hiss, the lid of the furnace slowly lifted.

And there, in his hand, Wen Ran held the pill. It was small, but its colors shimmered with a deep violet hue, swirling with undertones of silver and gold. When the light hit the pill at just the right angle, it seemed as if the very fabric of the universe danced within it, swirling like galaxies in the vast expanse of space.

The old man stood frozen, sweat dripping from his brow. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. What had just happened? His mind could not comprehend. This pill was beyond anything he had expected. It was something far more than just a failure. It was a treasure.