Learning Alchemy Under Old Man Yao's Guidance

"Alchemy?"

Lu Yu was slightly startled, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. After a moment, he clasped his fists solemnly and said, "It is this junior's honor to receive Old Man Yao's guidance. It's just..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the astonished Xiao Yan beside him. "Brother Yan is your direct disciple. If I rashly acknowledge you as my teacher, I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and chuckled. "No matter. I'm only giving you some basic guidance; it doesn't count as formally taking you as a disciple." He added meaningfully, "Besides, learning a few more skills will benefit you juniors."

"You should know that not every alchemist in this world is kindhearted. You can only feel at ease taking pills you refined yourself."

A flicker passed through Lu Yu's eyes, and he understood. This old fox clearly wants to place bets on both sides. However, alchemy was indeed something he needed. Owing Old Man Yao a favor for it was a worthwhile trade.

"In that case..."

Lu Yu clasped his fists again and said solemnly, "This junior is willing to follow Old Man Yao and learn the art of alchemy."

"Of course, of course. When I was young, I especially loved teaching others. Sit down first, and I'll give you a rough explanation of the path of alchemy."

Yao Chen stroked his beard in satisfaction. With a casual wave of his sleeve, a Medicine Cauldron floated up before the two of them.

"The path of alchemy places the greatest emphasis on controlling the flame." He lightly tapped his fingertip, and a cluster of pale-yellow flames appeared from thin air. "Before reaching the Fourth-grade Alchemist level, most alchemists still cannot condense a Real Flame. They must rely entirely on a Medicine Cauldron to catalyze the flames, so for low-grade alchemists, possessing a good Medicine Cauldron is especially important..."

"Of course, nothing is absolute. If, before reaching the fourth grade, one can refine a Beast Flame or a Heavenly Flame, alchemy will become twice as effective with half the effort..."

"Next is the formula. When refining the same pill, if the formulas differ, the medicinal effects can also vary enormously..."

The flame at Yao Chen's fingertip flickered between bright and dim, illuminating his solemn face. "When I traveled across the continent back then, I once saw two versions of the Power Accumulation Pill formula. One could increase strength by thirty percent, while the other could only increase it by fifteen percent."

He paused, then continued, "Then there is Soul Perception. This is the key to distinguishing mediocrity from genius." He gave Lu Yu a meaningful look. "With the strength of your soul, you're quite suited to pursuing the path of alchemy."

Immediately afterward, Old Man Yao explained the basic steps of alchemy in detail: refining the medicinal materials, fusing their medicinal properties, and controlling the flame during pill formation. Lu Yu listened with complete concentration, nodding from time to time.

"Tomorrow, I'll first teach you to refine the most basic Blood Coagulating Powder." Yao Chen put away the flames. "Once you're familiar with it, you can try refining pills that have reached a grade."

"Prepare one stalk of Blood Coagulating Grass, one Vitality Fruit, and two Poppy Flowers..."

"That is the formula for Blood Coagulating Powder. It's a healing medicine that hasn't reached a grade. Tomorrow, prepare ten sets of materials. Also prepare ten sets of materials for Ice Spirit Throat Protectant Liquid. I'll personally demonstrate it for you."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and smiled, a glint flashing through his eyes. "Although these two medicines haven't reached a grade, they're the best touchstones for testing an alchemist's basic skills."

"Then this junior will thank Old Man Yao in advance."

Lu Yu bowed, his face filled with respect.

Half a month later,

In a secluded cave in the Xiao Family's Back Mountain,

The Three-legged Bronze Medicine Cauldron stood firmly on the ground, its three openings breathing out pale-yellow flames.

Lu Yu sat cross-legged, his hands forming seals, his fingers fluttering like butterflies as stalk after stalk of medicinal material flowed into the cauldron. The ice-blue Ice Spirit Leaf and emerald-green three-leaf grass perfectly fused within the cauldron, gradually forming a crystalline, pale-blue liquid.

"Condense!"

Following a soft shout, the pale-blue liquid inside the cauldron rose into the air, tracing an elegant arc before landing precisely in a jade bottle.

Yao Chen's phantom nodded slightly from the side. "Not bad. The quality of this Ice Spirit Throat Protectant Liquid is already no worse than that refined by an ordinary First-grade Alchemist."

Lu Yu wiped away the sweat from his brow, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Over the past half month, he had trained diligently every day, going from ruining nine out of ten batches at the beginning to handling the process with ease now. Only he knew the hardships involved.

Beside him, Xiao Yan said enviously, "Teacher, when will I be able to learn alchemy too?"

"With your Fourth Stage Dou Qi?"

Yao Chen rolled his eyes at his disciple. After witnessing Lu Yu's talent, he increasingly felt that this disciple of his was hopeless. "You don't even have enough Dou Qi to refine the medicinal materials, yet you're already reaching for the heavens!"

After scolding him, he immediately asked, "Have you gathered all the materials for the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid?"

At those words, anticipation flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He hurriedly took out the prepared medicinal materials from his Storage Ring and respectfully placed them beside the Medicine Cauldron. "Teacher, all the materials are ready."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and glanced over the two young men. "Very well. Today, I'll broaden your horizons."

He then turned to Lu Yu and said, "Young Lu, your flame control was adequate just now, but your fusion of the medicinal properties was lacking. I'll demonstrate it for you next. Watch carefully."

Before his voice had even faded, Yao Chen casually waved his sleeve, and a mass of pale-white flames suddenly surged upward. One of the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, transformed into a crystalline mass of green liquid the instant it touched the flames, slowly circulating within them.

"Watch closely." While manipulating the flames, Yao Chen explained in detail, "When refining medicinal materials, you must master the 'three slows and one fast'..."

Xiao Yan and Lu Yu held their breaths and focused their minds, staring unblinkingly at Yao Chen's fluid operation.

The three main medicines fused one after another within the flames, while the violent energy within the Magic Crystal was deftly neutralized. The entire refining process flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, with every technique performed effortlessly. It was truly a pleasure to watch...

An hour later, a mass of jade-green spirit liquid floated above Yao Chen's palm, radiating astonishing energy fluctuations.

"This is the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid."

Yao Chen poured the spirit liquid into a jade bottle and handed it to Xiao Yan, instructing him, "It cannot be taken orally. When using it, fill a wooden basin with water and add three drops."

He then took out an ancient pill formula and handed it to Lu Yu. "Young Lu, this is the formula for the First-grade Qi Replenishing Pill. It can help you recover your Dou Qi, and it's also an excellent test of medicinal-property fusion. Go practice it. Come find me if you have any questions."

Lu Yu respectfully accepted the formula with both hands and said solemnly, "This junior will never fail to live up to Old Man Yao's guidance. If you ever need anything in the future, I will certainly do everything in my power to repay this favor."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and laughed, his eyes revealing a trace of gratification. What he liked most were young people who repaid kindness. This investment in a favor was worth it.

"Brother Lu, why are you being so polite with us?" Xiao Yan laughed heartily and patted Lu Yu on the shoulder. "Teacher is an Eighth-grade Alchemist Grandmaster. This little matter is nothing."

He blinked mischievously. "Weren't you anxious to cultivate that Roaring Lion's Chant? Now that you've refined the Ice Spirit Throat Protectant Liquid too, you can finally let loose and roar to your heart's content."

Lu Yu smiled knowingly and clasped his fists. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll come ask Old Man Yao for guidance another day." With that, he put away the Medicine Cauldron and turned to leave.

Watching Lu Yu's retreating back, Yao Chen suddenly said, "Yan'er, this friend of yours... isn't bad."

Xiao Yan grinned. "Of course. Teacher still isn't confident in my ability to judge people?"

The master and disciple exchanged a smile, and relaxed laughter echoed through the cave.