Taking a Master, Accepting a Disciple

When Director Fang Yuan reappeared before Su Bai, the admiration in his eyes was almost undisguised.

Although he was mentally prepared, when he saw with his own eyes that this young Alchemist named Lu Jiu had truly shown such amazing progress in competitive alchemy, almost catching up with Alchemist Lan, and even showing signs of surpassing him, his evaluation of Su Bai rose again.

"This boy is no ordinary person; the Pavilion Master's judgment is indeed sharp," Fang Yuan thought to himself, his attitude becoming even more amiable.

"Alchemist Lu Jiu, shall we deliver the pills this time, or continue refining them?" he asked as usual, but with a hint of anticipation in his tone.

Su Bai raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two remaining materials in front of him, then glancing at Alchemist Lan, who was sitting quietly with his eyes closed in the distance, seemingly calm but subtly revealing his attention. A slight smile appeared on his lips.

He answered clearly, "I feel that this Pill Formula still has considerable room for improvement. I would like to try again, naturally—to continue refining it."

Upon hearing this, many Alchemist who were still struggling to figure out the next steps in the refining process, or who had already given up trying, couldn't help but turn their attention to it.

A third refinement? Having already produced two batches, especially the second batch which had reached "excellent" quality, he still felt there was room for improvement?

This pursuit of excellence and confidence has left many people speechless.

Alchemist Lan, standing in the distance, furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly for a moment, then slowly relaxed it. However, beneath his closed eyelids, his eyeballs seemed to twitch slightly.

Although he didn't open his eyes, with his cultivation and perception, he could sense even the subtle changes in the Spiritual Qi on the field and the increasingly calm and refined medicinal fragrance emanating from Su Bai's side.

"The third time... given this child's Talent and the speed of progress he just demonstrated, the quality of this third batch will likely surpass mine."

Alchemist Lan silently calculated in his mind, a long-lost sense of urgency quietly growing, but more than that, he felt a sense of relief.

"This kid's Alchemy Talent is definitely no less than mine."

Alchemist Lan finally faced this fact squarely.

He wasn't a narrow-minded person. The art of alchemy is as vast as the sea, and it's perfectly normal for newcomers to surpass the old ones.

However, having held the position of "Number One Young Person in Alchemy Street" for so many years, he has inevitably become somewhat complacent with all the praise he has received.

Su Bai's sudden emergence was like a wake-up call, dispelling the faint layer of pride in his heart.

"Wait... this kid looks kind of familiar?"

Alchemist Lan finally opened his eyes and carefully examined Su Bai's face.

The Cultivator had an exceptional memory; after a moment's recollection, he remembered it.

"Yes, a few months ago, he came to my shop to sell three good-quality spirit medicine, and it seems he has also been coming regularly to buy Blue Origin Pill since then... I see."

Alchemist Lan suddenly realized, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, tinged with self-mockery.

"It seems they've been keeping an eye on me for a while, deliberately saving their strength for today's Alchemy Competition."

He wasn't displeased by this; on the contrary, he felt a subtle excitement, as if he had met his match.

In the art of alchemy, one can go fast alone, but go far together. Having a fellow practitioner or even a competitor with comparable Talent is not necessarily a bad thing.

Su Bai didn't care about the thoughts of others; he was completely focused on the third refining process.

The experiences from the previous two attempts, especially the massive amount of subtle information fed back during the [Candle Heart Reflecting Fire] Talent's crafting process, were like the most precise blueprints being optimized in his mind.

This time, he no longer followed the optimal path that had been validated in the previous two attempts, but began to incorporate more personalized understanding and fine-tuning.

He was bolder in processing some medicinal materials, and there were several seemingly risky leaps in the control of heat. During the fusion stage of the medicinal liquid, he even introduced a kind of wave-like fusion technique that he had learned from the refining of the Golden Marrow Pill, so that the medicinal liquids of different properties could reach equilibrium more quickly in the violent shaking.

All of this, though perilous, became stable under the powerful "high success rate boost" of the [Candle Heart Reflecting Fire] Talent.

Su Bai's technique became increasingly skillful and confident. He controlled the fire as if it were an extension of his arm, and added medicine as if it were a matter of course. The entire refining process even exuded a kind of beauty that was as smooth as flowing water and as skillful as a butcher carving up an ox.

The medicinal fragrance in the stove gradually condensed, no longer spreading outwards, but instead becoming more restrained. Only by getting close could one smell a strange fragrance that grew increasingly mellow and harmonious.

Another hour or so passed in intense concentration.

When Su Bai's alchemy furnace rang for the third time, the sound was deep and resonant, as if it carried the sound of metal and stone.

The moment the furnace lid was opened, all the medicinal fragrance was locked onto those one hundred spinning Spirit Pills!

The milky-white pill now faintly radiated a warm, jade-like glow, appearing even more delicate and pure than before.

The patterns on the surface of the pill, and the faint traces of medicinal power condensation, are more even and smooth.

Without needing to carefully examine it, any Alchemist with a discerning eye present could tell from their spiritual sense and visual observation that the quality of this third batch of Competitive Spirit Pill was at least 30% better than the second batch!

It has already surpassed excellence and touched the edge of perfection in the theory of this Pill Formula formula!

Call out!

Almost at the same time Su Bai started the furnace, Director Fang Yuan appeared in front of him, faster than the previous two times, with a wider smile on his face.

This time, before Fang Yuan could speak, Su Bai Fang Yuan handed over the jade Jade Bottle filled with a hundred Spirit Pills, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of relief after completing the challenge. "Director Fang, I feel that this optimization is nearing its current limit. I will hand over these Spirit Pills."

Fang Yuan took the Jade Bottle, feeling its slight warmth in his hand. He probed it briefly with his Divine Sense, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He nodded repeatedly, "Excellent! Excellent! Alchemist Lu Jiu is indeed exceptionally talented and has made Divine Speed progress!"

He already knew in his heart that with these three batches of Pill as proof, especially the third batch with its amazing quality, the first place in today's pill-refining competition was no longer in doubt.

Because Alchemist Lan submitted his pills early, he lost the opportunity to continue refining them, while Su Bai's third batch of Spirit Pills was of unparalleled quality among those present.

Su Bai stopped refining the remaining materials. Like Alchemist Lan, he put away his Pill Furnace, stood quietly, and awaited the final result. However, his expression was calm, without much excitement, as if his stunning performance just now was nothing out of the ordinary.

Han Yanzi, standing beside him, finally completed his fifth and final attempt.

In the midst of the burnt blackness and medicine residue, he carefully fiddled with a dozen or so competitive elixirs that were barely formed and had weak aura. He breathed a long sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Su Bai's back with complicated eyes, including envy, emotion, and even a weird sense of pride that was not only honorable.

"My neighbor is... quite something!"

As the last few Alchemist lifted the furnace lids, some successfully and some unsuccessfully, the various Alchemy Fire in the square gradually died down, and the lingering fragrance of medicine slowly dissipated.

This alchemy competition for the Foundation Establishment Realm Alchemist at the Star Luo Pill Pavilion has now officially concluded.

"Thank you all for your hard work in refining the pills." On the high platform, True Man He slowly rose, his voice gentle and calm, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears.

The members below the stage quickly composed themselves and bowed in unison, replying, "Thank you for your hard work, Pavilion Master!"

"We're not tired from waiting!"

True Man He nodded slightly and waved his sleeve. Instantly, hundreds and thousands of tiny streams of light flew out from his sleeve and landed precisely in the hands of each Alchemist.

Su Bai reached out and caught it; it was a cool-to-the-touch blue Jade Slip.

He immersed a wisp of his Spiritual Sense into the Jade Slip, which contained not words, but a series of dynamic images.

This is a photo taken just now, Image Recording the entire process of myself and other Alchemist refining the Competitive Spirit Pill!

Although limited by the precision of the Illusion Recording Array, the images are not as clear as what one sees in person, and are somewhat blurry and shaky, the key steps of alchemy, the changes in techniques, the fluctuations in heat, and even the subtle scenes when the Pill take shape are recorded in great detail.

"Nice one!"

Su Bai secretly praised it. This was not only a record of personal performance, but also a valuable repository of experience.

Observing how other Alchemist, especially those who have been famous for a long time, handle the same Alchemist Pill Formula, how they deal with the difficulties in the refining process, and how they demonstrate their unique skills and concepts, is of immeasurable value to Su Bai, whose foundation is still weak and who urgently needs to broaden his horizons.

He solemnly put the Jade Slip into his Storage Bag, deciding that he would study it repeatedly when he returned.

"The Imprint Jade Slip have been distributed. You may view and reflect upon them on your own, and verify them with each other."

True Man He continued, raising his voice slightly to attract everyone's attention, "Next, I will comment on the three fellow cultivators who performed the best in this alchemy competition."

The square fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

True Man He's gaze swept across the audience below, and he slowly began to speak, "First, it's Li Chen."

Upon hearing the sound, a middle-aged Alchemist with a kind face and focused eyes stepped forward, his expression excited.

"You were completely focused on alchemy this time, and you have gained considerable insight into the Yu Huo. Your skills have improved significantly compared to the past, which shows the depth of your daily practice. You can be considered as a candidate for the next director of the Pill Pavilion."

Li Chen was overjoyed and quickly bowed, his voice trembling slightly, "Thank you for your guidance, Pavilion Master Pavilion Master! I will certainly work even harder and live up to your high expectations!"

"Um."

True Man He nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to the other side, "Next is Shen Fei."

A young Alchemist with a capable demeanor and sharp eyes stepped forward in response.

"Your approach to the fusion of medicinal properties is original and you dare to experiment. Although there are some minor flaws, your enterprising spirit is commendable, and your alchemy skills have also improved significantly. Therefore, you are a candidate for the next board member."

Shen Fei suppressed his excitement, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said, "Thank you for your appreciation, Pavilion Master!"

Finally, True Man He's gaze fell upon Su Bai, and all eyes in the room followed.

True Man He's face revealed an undisguised smile of admiration, "This last person is naturally Lu Jiu, the new Alchemist who joined the Alchemy Street and my Star Luo Pill Pavilion this year."

His voice echoed clearly in the Secret Realm: "Lu Jiu has refined the Competitive Spirit Pill three times. He succeeded on his first attempt and improved with each subsequent attempt. In particular, the quality of the Pill he refined on his third attempt is the best we have seen so far. In terms of its appearance, it is the best in this competition."

"For someone who has just entered the Pill Pavilion and participated in such a grand event for the first time to achieve such a result, his Talent, comprehension, and temperament are undoubtedly of Higher Vehicle."

The Alchemist present had different thoughts about the fact that the last person was Lu Jiu, but none of them were surprised.

The quality of those three batches of Pill, especially the last batch, was evident to everyone.

Many people's eyes darted between Su Bai and Alchemist Lan, noticing that Alchemist Lan had already opened his eyes and was calmly looking at True Man He on the stage and Su Bai below. There was no anger on his face, but rather a look of calm approval, and he nodded slightly.

Among the hundred or so Alchemist, if there was only one whose emotions were churning violently and who felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, it was Alchemist Wei Chun.

His face was slightly pale, and his hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched unconsciously.

He never expected that Lu Jiu would not only gain a foothold in the competition for Pill Shop, but also join the Star Luo Pill Pavilion so quickly, and even stand out in the Alchemy Competition where experts gathered, overpowering all the others!

Now, this kid's status and importance within the Star Luo Pill Pavilion will probably surpass mine in the blink of an eye!

The thought of the grudge he had previously incurred with her sent chills down Wei Chun's spine.

What True Man He casually remarked next struck Wei Chun like a thunderbolt, leaving his mind reeling and almost causing him to lose his balance.

True Man He looked at Su Bai, his tone gentle yet unmistakably serious, and asked, "Lu Jiu, I see you are still so young, have you received any instruction in alchemy?"

Upon hearing this, Su Bai's mind raced, but he feigned a slight surprise on his face at just the right moment before respectfully replying, "Reporting to the Pavilion Master, my alchemy skills have no formal lineage. I have mostly learned through self-exploration using some basic texts that have been passed down through generations. Occasionally, I would gain some incomplete insights, and then I would try to refine the pills on my own, taking many detours. I have only gotten to where I am today by sheer luck."

His statement was half true and half false.

True Man He nodded in understanding. This perfectly matched his previous observation that Su Bai was slightly awkward in some basic aspects, but full of spirituality.

To have reached such a level of self-taught skill only highlights his astonishing Talent!

Therefore, True Man He stopped beating around the bush and, in front of over a hundred Alchemist, looked directly at Su Bai and said, "Since you have no master and your Talent is so outstanding, Lu Jiu, would you be willing... to become my disciple and my True Man He Personal Disciple?"

"Boom--!"

Upon hearing this, the entire square fell into a deathly silence for a moment, then erupted in a clamor more intense than ever before!

"What? The Pavilion Master wants to take on disciples?!"

"True Man He has never accepted Disciple!"

"Personal Disciple! This... this Lu Jiu has risen to the top in one step!"

"My goodness, a direct disciple of the Pavilion Master! He'll at least be the Vice Pavilion Master in the future!"

Exclamations and murmurs filled the air.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden and bombshell news.

Han Yanzi, standing beside Su Bai, was so excited that his beard was trembling. He kept giving Su Bai meaningful glances and secretly gesturing with his hands inside his sleeves. If the occasion weren't inappropriate, he would have rushed forward to agree on Su Bai's behalf.

This is like a huge windfall!

Once he successfully becomes an apprentice, Su Bai's status in the Star Luo Pill Pavilion and in the entire Heavenly Star City community of Tianxing City will undergo earth-shattering changes!

Su Bai himself was somewhat surprised.

He had anticipated that his display of Yellow-tier Alchemy Talent would attract the attention and efforts of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion's higher-ups, but he hadn't expected the level of attention to be so high that it would directly lead to Pavilion Master True Man He personally accepting him as a disciple!

It should be noted that True Man He is not only one of the founders of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion, but also one of the most respected figures in the alchemy world of Heavenly Star City, with a prestigious position and far-reaching influence.

Becoming his Personal Disciple means receiving the Top Grade of Dao of Alchemy inheritance, immeasurable connections, and a powerful protective umbrella that carries significant weight in the alchemy world and even within the Heavenly Star Alliance.

"It seems I underestimated the rarity of Yellow-tier Alchemy Talent, especially when displayed at such a young age and seemingly 'wild' state, making it more attractive to grandmasters like True Man He."

Su Bai's thoughts raced. "Besides that, perhaps... my decisiveness and drive in confronting Wei Chun, Tao Jian, and others to establish myself in the Alchemy Street was also noticed by True Man He. He believes that I am not someone who blindly buries myself in alchemy and lacks flexibility, and that I have potential for development."

He instantly grasped even more key points.

The opportunity is right in front of us, and the pros and cons are clear.

Becoming a disciple of True Man He is far more beneficial than harmful. It will not only greatly assist in his Dao of Alchemy cultivation, but also provide Lu Jiu with an extremely solid protective shield for his identity, and will also be of great benefit to his other plans in secret.

These thoughts flashed through Su Bai's mind in an instant, and he reacted quickly on his face.

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and solemnly bowed deeply to True Man He on the high platform, his voice clear and firm. "True Man He 'Dao of Alchemy cultivation is unparalleled in the Demon Star Sea, and his virtue and prestige are so high that I have long heard of him and admire him greatly."

"Today, the True Person Immortal has shown me great favor, wishing to accept me as his disciple. This is truly an honor beyond measure, how could I possibly refuse? I Lu Jiu, pay my respects to my Master!"

"Haha! Good! Good! Good!"

Upon hearing this, True Man He laughed heartily and uttered three "good"s in a row, appearing extremely pleased.

Without moving, a powerful aura of the Golden Core Stage naturally emanated from him, a natural expression of his surging emotions that made everyone below the stage solemn.

He stared intently at Su Bai, who remained bowed, and proclaimed in a loud voice, "From this day forward, Lu Jiu True Man He my first and only Personal Disciple under Master He! You may all spread this news!"

He paused, then continued, "Three days from now, I will host a banquet at the Pill Spirit Treasure Pavilion to formally hold the Disciple Recruitment Ceremony. I invite fellow Daoists from all directions to witness it! Fang Yuan!"

"Disciple is here!" Director Fang Yuan quickly replied.

"You are in charge of all preparations for the Disciple Recruitment Ceremony. Make sure it is a grand and thorough event!"

"Yes, sir!" Fang Yuan respectfully accepted the order, his gaze towards Su Bai now completely different.

After giving his instructions, True Man He turned his gaze back to Su Bai, his tone softening. "Lu Jiu, come with me."

"Next, you may share and discuss your alchemy techniques on your own!"

True Man He darted into the interior of the Pill Furnace statue, and Su Bai quickly followed in the Sky-Flying.

The departure of the master and disciple caused an uproar among the Cultivator present.

"True Man He Lu Jiu is truly lucky! To be chosen as Disciple by Master He!"

"Lu Jiu's own Alchemy Talent is also extremely terrifying!"

Han Yanzi: "Alchemist Lu Jiu's Pill Shop is right next to mine. I've long recognized Alchemist Lu Jiu's extraordinary talent... Yes, yes, Alchemist Lu Jiu and I are extremely good friends!"

"Wei Chun, I heard you had a significant conflict with Lu Jiu before? How do you plan to handle this?"