Alchemy

Lin Feng understood some of the reasons behind Grandmaster Gu Ni's request. The man was advanced in years and had been stuck at the level of a Second-Rank Alchemist for a long time. Without some great stroke of fortune in this lifetime, he likely would not be able to advance any further.

Now that a Tier 3 Alchemist like Lin Feng was here, if Grandmaster Gu Ni could receive his guidance or gain some insight by watching him refine pills, there was a strong chance that he could break through his shackles and become the even more esteemed Tier 3 Alchemist.

Lin Feng was also aware of what the Mittel Auction House had been doing lately—growing very close to the Xiao Family. As for the reason, he understood it clearly. They simply valued his potential.

Still, they bore no ill intent. Moreover, within the Jia Ma Empire, the Mittel Auction House and the Mite'er Family behind it possessed considerable influence. To a certain extent, they could bring some benefits to Lin Feng and the Xiao Family as they were now.

Thus, Lin Feng did not refuse Grandmaster Gu Ni's request.

Seeing Lin Feng agree, Grandmaster Gu Ni's aged face filled with barely concealed excitement. He immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Young Master Lin."

As an alchemist, he understood better than anyone how rare and precious an opportunity it was to watch a high-ranking alchemist refine pills. The pill-refining process involved certain secrets, after all. Being permitted to observe was already an enormous favor.

Grandmaster Gu Ni immediately gave orders for the auction house's finest Pill Furnace to be brought over, along with several sets of the medicinal ingredients Lin Feng required.

Ya Fei led Lin Feng to a pill-refining room and placed the ingredients he wanted beside the Pill Furnace. In a soft, enticing voice, she said, "Little Brother Lin Feng, I've brought everything you asked for. Take a look and see if anything is missing."

Lin Feng glanced over them. Ya Fei was standing very close to him, and he could smell her fragrance. His thoughts inevitably began to wander, so he stepped away slightly and said, "Everything's here. Thank you, Sister Ya Fei."

Seeing Lin Feng's reaction, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes curved with a teasing smile. "Then we won't disturb you, Little Brother Lin Feng. If you need anything, just call for us."

She left with the Maid, leaving only Lin Feng and Grandmaster Gu Ni in the pill-refining room. Lin Feng sat cross-legged beside the Pill Furnace, while Grandmaster Gu Ni watched obediently from the side like a student, not daring to miss a single movement Lin Feng made.

After all, this might be his only chance to break through.

Lin Feng controlled the Dou Qi flames as they coiled around the Pill Furnace. The temperature gradually rose, and he began refining the medicine.

One medicinal ingredient after another was placed into the Pill Furnace. Under his control, the flames danced within it like sprites, as though the flames were a part of his body and moved entirely at his will.

Grandmaster Gu Ni was inwardly shocked. This was his first time watching Lin Feng refine pills, and he had not expected that, at such a young age, Lin Feng's control over flames would already have reached such a level. Even he felt inferior and could only sigh at the sheer monstrosity of his talent.

While controlling the flames, Lin Feng used his soul power to envelop every corner of the Pill Furnace, sensing the changes within so that he could adjust the flames' temperature and intensity at any moment. The Undying Scripture had indeed greatly enhanced his soul power. Refining a Third Grade Pill not only tested an alchemist's accumulated knowledge and experience, as well as their control over flames—it was also a test of their soul power.

Over the past few days, Lin Feng had also used the Xiao Family's medicinal ingredients to try refining some Second Grade Pills for practice. At first, he had been rather clumsy and found it strenuous. His control over soul power had not been so smooth either. But through continuous practice, his efforts had not gone to waste. Now, he found refining Third Grade Pills fairly easy, and the consumption of soul power was still within his tolerance. He felt that this was not yet his limit. The Spirit Recovery Pill he was refining this time was a Low Level, Third Grade healing pill. He thought he might be able to try even higher-grade Third Grade Pills—perhaps even those at the peak of the third grade—to see where his limits lay.

Grandmaster Gu Ni carefully watched every step of Lin Feng's pill refinement, afraid of missing anything.

The medicinal ingredients had been refined by the flames, and they had reached the most difficult step—forming the pill!

Lin Feng slowly controlled the flames while his soul power continuously enveloped the Pill Furnace. Grandmaster Gu Ni did the same, his cloudy old eyes fixed upon the furnace without daring to look away for even a moment. This was a crucial stage in pill refinement; if it failed, all their previous efforts would be wasted.

He seemed even more nervous than Lin Feng himself. His hands were clenched together, and he hardly dared breathe, afraid that he might affect Lin Feng's pill refinement.

Yet Lin Feng remained utterly calm. The pill formed and emerged from the furnace in one smooth motion. Before Grandmaster Gu Ni could even react, Lin Feng had already finished.

The entire room was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance. Grandmaster Gu Ni hurried forward and asked in an incredulous tone, "Young friend, this... this succeeded?"

Lin Feng nodded, smiling with ease as he spread open his palm. A round, crystalline pill lay within, wrapped in Dou Qi. "It succeeded."

Grandmaster Gu Ni's old eyes widened in shock. That speed, that composure, that effortless ease—why did refining a Third Grade Pill seem so simple for Lin Feng?

Grandmaster Gu Ni hurriedly sought Lin Feng's advice, and Lin Feng patiently instructed him. Grandmaster Gu Ni stood beside Lin Feng with his head lowered, looking like a humble student seeking guidance. Lin Feng's explanation made his thoughts suddenly clear, and the bottleneck that had obstructed him for so many years seemed to have loosened.

"This old man thanks you for your guidance, young friend!"

Grandmaster Gu Ni respectfully bowed. Lin Feng hurriedly helped him up. "Grandmaster Gu Ni, there's no need to be so polite. Alchemists should exchange knowledge with one another in order to improve."

Grandmaster Gu Ni nodded deeply. Such breadth of heart was beyond even him.

Lin Feng handed the pill he had just refined to Grandmaster Gu Ni and said, "Grandmaster, I heard there'll be an auction soon. Please auction this Spirit Recovery Pill on my behalf."

Lin Feng felt that this Low Level Third Grade Pill was of little use to him. He might as well auction it off and earn some money, which would make things much more convenient wherever he went in the future. He believed that a Third Grade Pill would still be highly sought after in Wu Tan City and would likely fetch a good price.

Grandmaster Gu Ni asked doubtfully, "Young friend, you're really willing to put this Third Grade Pill up for auction so easily?"

Lin Feng nodded. "Yes. This healing pill is useless in my hands anyway. It would be better to offer it to someone who needs it. It would be more useful to them than it is with me—making the best use of it, after all."

Lin Feng said this without so much as blushing, and Grandmaster Gu Ni admired him even more. At such a young age, Lin Feng not only possessed astonishing talent, but also such a broad mind. He truly was not someone ordinary people could compare with. No wonder he had achieved so much.

"Alright, I'll arrange it right away."

Grandmaster Gu Ni hurriedly took the pill out and found Ya Fei, asking her to make the arrangements personally.

When Ya Fei learned that Lin Feng had truly refined a Third Grade Pill, her pretty face was filled with surprise as well. "This little fellow is becoming more and more intriguing."

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A note on updates: I've been busy with club matters these past few days, so there's only one chapter for now. Once I'm done with these matters, I'll return to updating two chapters a day.

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