Then came the last one—the Mind-Cleansing Pill.
This was the hardest of them all, known for testing not only a cultivator's flame but their inner balance. Many failed it because their thoughts wavered, their hearts unsteady.
Tian Lei closed his eyes.
The world around him faded—the noise, the crowd, even the light. Only the soft pulse of his own breath remained. His flame responded, shrinking to a calm, steady glow, pure as moonlight on still water.
Inside the cauldron, the ingredients melted together in silence. No bursts of light, no flare of qi—just slow, patient fusion. Then, with a faint chime, the pill formed, hovering in the center of the cauldron like a pearl born from calm.
Six Tier-Three pills. All complete. All perfect.
When Tian Lei opened his eyes again, six radiant pills floated before him, each releasing a soft, different glow. The runes beneath his feet shimmered, recognizing the energy of full purity.
