Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

The main reason for his previous enthusiasm toward Ye Xuan was Chairman Hua Luoxuan’s high regard for him—even more so than Ye Xuan solving his problem in the help forum. But he never expected that after meeting Ye Xuan, the chairman would behave so foolishly.

Then again, he knew this was just how Chairman Hua Luoxuan was. Whenever he met an Alchemist who possessed some skill in Alchemy that surpassed his own, he would become just like this—utterly fanatical.

"By the way, Master Ye Xuan, after your pointers last time, I carefully reviewed the book *Characteristics of Common Continental Herbs*. I was deeply inspired! I never thought such a basic book could contain such profound mysteries. But I also ran into a few questions. For instance, in the process of refining a Returning Profound Pill, either Celestial Peace Grass or Red Plum Blossom can be added as the final supplemental ingredient. According to the book, however, those two Spirit Medicines have completely opposite properties. What’s the logic behind that...?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Hua Luoxuan asked with a fawning smile, showing no trace of the awkwardness one would expect from a first meeting. It was as if they were two old friends, as familiar as could be.

"That just means your understanding of the Returning Profound Pill isn’t thorough enough. The properties of Celestial Peace Grass and Red Plum Blossom are indeed polar opposites. But first, we must understand the role these two Spirit Medicines play in the pill’s refinement..."

Ye Xuan felt a sense of camaraderie with a learning fanatic like Hua Luoxuan. ’In my past life, I was just like him. Whenever I came across a problem I couldn’t solve, I had to get to the bottom of it, no matter what. I was never too proud to ask questions, and that’s what ultimately led to my achievements.’

Thus, faced with Hua Luoxuan’s questions, Ye Xuan didn’t hold anything back and began to explain in detail.

Instantly, Lin Xiong and Zhou Huarong were completely ignored in the VIP room. All one could see was Ye Xuan and Hua Luoxuan, discussing with an intensity that made them seem like old friends reunited after a long separation, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Before Ye Xuan, Hua Luoxuan completely forgot that he was speaking to a mere teenager. He didn’t see a boy, but a master alchemist qualified to conduct research alongside him—or even a teacher who could guide him in certain areas.

Zhou Huarong, standing to the side, listened for just a short while before his own expertise in Alchemy proved insufficient. He was already completely unable to keep up with their conversation.

Watching Chairman Hua Luoxuan discuss so earnestly and listen so humbly, Zhou Huarong was left speechless. ’Is this really Chairman Hua Luoxuan? He’s no different from an elementary school student listening to his teacher.’

As for Lin Xiong on the other side, he was shocked beyond belief.

Although he couldn’t understand the specifics of their conversation, he could tell from their expressions and gestures that Ye Xuan was completely leading the discussion, while Hua Luoxuan was mostly playing the role of a listener.

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

’Who was Hua Luoxuan? He was the Chairman of the Blue Moon City Alchemist Association, an Alchemist of the royal court. He was a figure on par with Chairman Jiang Xun of the Soul Master Tower and one of the most powerful Third Layer Earth Martial Artists in the city. He was the kind of man who could make all of Blue Moon City tremble with a single stomp of his foot. Despite his eccentric and seemingly undignified manner, no one dared to ignore him, no matter where he went.’

’Yet in front of Ye Xuan, he acted like a child. He was even overjoyed when Ye Xuan occasionally scolded him with a "fool" or "idiot."’

What the shocked Zhou Huarong and Lin Xiong didn’t know was that decades ago, Hua Luoxuan had not been among the most brilliant Alchemists in Blue Moon City. In fact, his innate talent was considered merely average. The reason he had managed to become a Late-Third Grade Alchemist and the Chairman of the Blue Moon City’s Alchemist Association was largely due to his personality. He was never afraid to humbly seek knowledge about things he didn’t understand, regardless of the other person’s status.

This personality destined him to be an extraordinary Alchemist, and his progress in Alchemy would certainly not stop here.

In the midst of their conversation, the medicinal ingredients Ye Xuan had requested were promptly delivered by the Alchemist Association.

"Chairman Hua, I need to administer a simple treatment to Lin Xiong," Ye Xuan said, interrupting his conversation with Hua Luoxuan.

A look of astonishment appeared on Hua Luoxuan’s face. "I have heard about Vice Commander Lin’s plight. Is it possible that Master Ye Xuan can actually treat his injuries?"

Lin Xiong was something of a celebrity in Blue Moon City, and news of his misfortune had long since spread among the city’s powerful experts. He had suffered the most terrifying kind of injury: one to his Martial Soul. Even Hua Luoxuan had to admit that he had no way of treating such a wound. So, hearing that Ye Xuan could, he was naturally astounded.

"Heh, it’s just a minor injury. Nothing worth mentioning."

Hua Luoxuan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ’A collapsing Martial Soul is a *minor* injury? Then what in the world counts as a major one?’

For a moment, they were all overcome with curiosity, wondering how Ye Xuan would treat Lin Xiong’s Martial Soul.

Under the watchful eyes of the group, Ye Xuan swiftly began to process the ingredients. His movements were like lightning, dazzling Hua Luoxuan and the others. At first, they tried desperately to memorize his steps and techniques, but they were soon left dizzy and confused, with no idea what he was doing. Only Hua Luoxuan could vaguely grasp the essence of the process, but as for the specific steps, he was completely lost in a fog.

After a series of reactions and manipulations, Ye Xuan finally stopped the refinement process. A large, black, paste-like substance now lay before them.

The black substance was incredibly ugly, like a lump of mud. Yet, bizarrely, it exuded a refreshing, soul-soothing fragrance. Just by taking a single whiff, Zhou Huarong felt his own Martial Soul stir restlessly within him, as if on the verge of being released.

It was a Second Grade Spirit Ointment.

"It’s done..." Ye Xuan let out a soft breath. ’Refining such a difficult Spirit Ointment at my current Five Veins cultivation is quite a challenge. If I hadn’t used some special techniques from my past life, the gap in cultivation level alone would have caused me to fail at the last second.’

Seeing this, Hua Luoxuan and the others were completely dumbfounded.

’Heavens! A Vein Condensation Stage Martial Artist just created a Second Grade Spirit Ointment! Good Lord, am I seeing things? Did a Vein Condensation Stage Martial Artist really just make this?’

They all rubbed their eyes vigorously, trying to determine if what they were seeing was real or just an illusion.

"Alright, Lin Xiong. Release your Martial Soul and take off your upper clothing," Ye Xuan ordered, not bothering to waste time on their shock.

"Yes, sir."

Lin Xiong excitedly removed his armor and unfastened his tunic. With a low grunt, a flash of light emanated from the acupoint over his heart. HUMMM. A black war saber, over a foot long, instantly materialized above his head.

A terrifying aura radiated from the shimmering light around the war saber, but the blade itself was blurry and indistinct. Its surface was covered in a network of fine cracks, looking as if it might shatter at any moment.

Ye Xuan frowned. "The collapse of a Martial Soul happens in three stages: Damaged, Disintegration, and Collapse. Your saber Martial Soul has already entered the second stage, Disintegration. Once it reaches the third stage, the process will be irreversible."

Lin Xiong asked anxiously, "Young Master Xuan, is there still hope?"

Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, this isn’t too serious. With me here, your saber Martial Soul couldn’t collapse even if it wanted to. Remember, don’t stop channeling your Martial Soul. I’m starting now."

"Young Master Xuan, I can only hold it for a minute," Lin Xiong said through gritted teeth, his face a mask of pain as sweat beaded on his forehead.

Ever since his Martial Soul was injured, activating it sent unbearable pain radiating from his heart acupoint, as if his heart was about to explode. A minute was the absolute most he could endure.

Ye Xuan said calmly, "One minute is more than enough."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Xuan scooped up a portion of the Spirit Ointment with his right hand. With a flick, the blob of black ointment shot out like a round plaster, landing squarely on Lin Xiong’s chest over his heart acupoint.

Then, Ye Xuan’s hands blurred into a hazy afterimage, striking the ointment patch with lightning speed.

PAPAPAPA!

The sound of his palm strikes was as rapid as a torrential downpour, blending into a continuous roar. Ye Xuan’s hands formed various Seal Skills, each strike different from the last, imbued with a certain spiritual charm and changing form rapidly. With every blow, the black Spirit Ointment over Lin Xiong’s heart acupoint began to visibly dissipate.

"Driving the medicine into the body with strikes to release its power?!" Hua Luoxuan and Zhou Huarong were stunned. "What kind of technique is this? The absorption speed is just astounding!"

Ye Xuan offered no explanation, his hands continuously changing Seal Skills as he struck out again and again in a dazzling display.

Hua Luoxuan and Zhou Huarong stared with wide eyes, not daring to blink. They had never seen any of Ye Xuan’s hand seals before. Each strike released a unique spiritual charm, as if it contained some profound principle of the Great Dao. It was hazy and indistinct, like trying to see flowers through a fog; they could sense something profound but couldn’t grasp it, leaving them so anxious they started scratching their heads.

After a mere thirty seconds, the black Spirit Ointment on Lin Xiong’s chest had completely vanished. One hundred percent of its medicinal power had been absorbed into his heart acupoint without the slightest bit of waste.

"Done!"

Ye Xuan suddenly retracted his palms and stood straight, exhaling a breath of foul air.

Across from him, Lin Xiong’s chest was bright red. Steam rose from the top of his head. The saber Martial Soul, which had been blurry and indistinct, was now much clearer. Even the numerous cracks on its surface seemed finer, as if they were slowly beginning to mend.

He stammered with excitement, "Young Master Xuan, my Martial Soul... it feels so much better! The pain in my heart acupoint has weakened a lot, too. Is my Martial Soul recovering?"

Ye Xuan laughed. "Lin Xiong, don’t get too excited. Your Martial Soul isn’t recovering yet. I’ve only slowed its rate of collapse and stabilized your heart acupoint. To truly heal it, we’ll need other methods."

’When I first decided to recruit Lin Xiong, I was just testing the waters. After all, I’ve offended quite a few people at the academy lately. Not that I care about them, but both the Wang family and the Zhou family are powerful in Blue Moon City. If they were to use some underhanded tricks, my own strength is still relatively weak. Having a guard would make things more convenient.’

’But unexpectedly, during the confrontation with Mu Ren, Lin Xiong’s attitude and actions were quite satisfactory.’

’Since that’s the case, I don’t mind investing in him a little.’

That was why he had personally intervened to help him absorb the medicine’s power.

It was the classic "carrot and stick" approach.