The sword master's blade and Shi Lang's sword intent collided, and the former stepped back. He opened up the distance between the two of them. However, Shi Lang had not even moved an inch away from the spot he was standing at.
The sword master replied, "You had this capability from the first blow, why did you not use it?"
Shi Lang opened his eyes slowly and said, "All my life I wielded the sword to defend myself, protect my beliefs and my people. I never looked at a sword or any other weapon as means of killing, or tools to show off my worth in the world.
All these tests mean nothing to me, however, while I was exchanging blows just now, I realized that if showing off my worth can end this trial then I would not hold back."
The sword master fell in a thought before he said, "You are good, both with words and with your blade. I hope that you step in the realm of a sword saint."
Shi Lang cupped his fist and said, "Thank you for guiding me."
The sword master said, "My name is Alan Makki. Thank you for the spar."
The person then nodded at Tsuu Ching and left the place. Shi Lang asked, "Tell me what is the next thing I need to do?"
He did not forget to store his wooden sword back in the space ring, it was a tool he used to teach Shi Tao, and Yu Xeidi with, he was not going to put this place here. Tsuu Ching said, "The next trial is for you to refine a pill."
Shi Lang raised his brow and asked, "So, you are asking for proof of my skill?"
Tsuu Ching nodded and said, "Master Barre will give you a pill formula. You will have to create a superior level pill to pass the trial."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Let's go, what are you waiting for?"
Tsuu Ching said, "Let's take a walk."
Shi Lang shrugged his shoulders as he did not mind going on for a walk. Hou Bing sat on his shoulder. The Terran enjoyed the scenery of the place. This secret realm seemed to be a complete world in itself. Tsuu Ching said, "When I had come here, this secret realm had nothing apart from the terrain variation and vastness. No spiritual energy."
The Terran nodded and Tsuu Ching told him how the survivors of the purge managed to salvage the situation. Shi Lang replied with a compliment, "You people are unique and strong. You have the wills that suit a cultivator and you were not afraid to explore the path of Dao with the ideas you believed were correct."
Tsuu Ching nodded and said, "That was the only reason we were called demons."
Tsuu Ching was confused and asked, "Boss, are you sure you want to do it? This pill is not a simple one."
Shi Lang shrugged and said, "I know that I will fail in the first attempt, but it is a formula that I have never come across, however, unless I try, I will not know what I am missing."
Tsuu Ching looked at Master Barre who nodded and said, "Very well, then you will have six hours, and two tries."
Shi Lang agreed and Master Barre brought him to a refining room. Shi Lang took out his cauldron and said, "Xiao Ching, my spiritual energy is still sealed."
Tsuu Ching nodded and poked his acupoints and Shi Lang sensed the familiar sensation of warmth moving around his body. Master Barre waved his hand to a disciple, who brought two sets of ingredients from the side.
Shi Lang did not get to the refining right away, he first inspected the ingredients. Familiarizing with their properties and textures. He was using his sensory ability on these herbs to get a perfect replication of their structure in his mind. After half an hour, the Terran began to extract and refine the herb essence from the herbs using a normal flame conjured by his spiritual fire.
He was not in a hurry to use the Heavenly Lotus Flames in his dantian. That thing was too unpredictable to be used in a pill refining.
While Shi Lang was busy extracting the essence, Tsuu Ching asked, "Master Barre, what pill did you give him?"
Master Barre shook his head and said, "You can only know after the trial, Your Excellency."
Tsuu Ching sighed and replied, "This is too strict of you."
The old man smiled as he watched Shi Lang work carefully. After fifteen minutes, when the herbal essence was extracted, Shi Lang made a grab gesture and removed them from the cauldron. Then he began to combine them, one drop at a time.There were seven herbs in the mix, he did not want to miss anything and cause a failure.
However, the next moment, Shi Lang was correct, the cauldron shivered and Shi Lang stopped refining, followed by which everyone heard a gentle bang inside the cauldron. Tsuu Ching sighed and wanted to say something when Shi Lang said, "Shut up I am focusing."
Tsuu Ching nodded and left the place, Shi Lang in the meantime, sat down on the ground and began to run simulations in his mind. Everything was taken into account, how these herbs reacted when put to refinement. The people were confused, they had never seen anything like this, but they understood that Shi Lang only had two trials and now only one was left for him.
Couple of hours passed, when Shi Lang opened his eyes and asked, "Master Barre? Can I refine this pill outside in the open?"
Barre was surprised but Shi Lang said, "You will know why I am asking this shortly. Please."
The old man nodded and they moved outside, in front of the pill tower.