Ending Alchemy

Kong She then said, "However, this method came about because I discovered that when pills are refined too powerfully, they attract anomalies and heavenly tribulations."

"So, the original purpose of this set of techniques was to evade anomalies and heavenly tribulations."

"I believe that if I could create a false pill aroma, just like the Grandmaster who created the [Heaven Defying Soul Splitting Technique], to deceive the heavenly tribulations and anomalies, I could make them unable to distinguish which furnace contained the real pills."

"This way, my true pills would be preserved."

Hearing this, Ning Ri asked, "Were you successful?"

Kong She shook his head. "If I had succeeded, this method wouldn't be just a way to attract customers."

Ning Ri: "...That's a shame then."

As he spoke, Ning Ri thought to himself—

Initially, I thought Elder Kong didn't even want to use auxiliary pill furnaces, so he must be an ancient cultivator. Now it seems...

Elder Kong is also a bit heaven-defying.

Kong She said, "Therefore, my current plan is to continue cultivating my false pill aroma. If I can deceive everyone who enters the Wonderful Pill Workshop, then perhaps I can try to deceive the anomalies."

Ning Ri blessed him, "Then this disciple wishes you immediate success and smooth sailing!"

He could tell that this method was related to Kong She's Heaven-Defying Path.

He had originally planned to ask Kong She for the method of creating this [False Pill Aroma]. His Panel might be able to optimize it, and perhaps help Kong She deceive more customers... no, deceive the Heavenly Dao.

But, since this method was related to Kong She's Heaven-Defying Path, he decided not to help.

Kong She smiled slightly, then gestured for Ning Ri to sit down and asked, "Patriarch Ning, since you wish to observe others refining pills to verify your insights, how about I refine a pill for you to watch?"

Ning Ri's eyes lit up at this. "Then I'll trouble you, Elder Kong!"

Kong She said, "Since what you've just learned are the pill refining techniques practiced by Qi Refining Alchemists, I will only use Qi Refining stage techniques so you can understand clearly."

With that, Kong She took out a bronze cauldron.

The bronze cauldron was simple and unadorned. Ning Ri could clearly see that there were no light-emitting runes or mechanisms on it.

Verdict: Traditional pill cauldron!

After taking out the bronze cauldron, Kong She slowly began to light the fire. His hand speed was very slow, as slow as a Third Stage Qi Refining cultivator with insufficient spiritual energy refining a pill.

Ning Ri curiously asked, "Why aren't you preheating the medicinal ingredients while you're at it?"

When igniting the fire, one can simultaneously use their spiritual energy to heat the medicinal ingredients. The benefit of doing so is that the pill furnace's temperature doesn't need to be too high, and the ingredients can be melted quickly without damaging their properties.

Upon hearing this, Kong She smiled slightly, his eyes revealing satisfaction—

This was the look of someone who had finally found a good student, filled with happiness, relief, and deeply hidden joy.

He explained, "Because when my other disciples watch me refine pills, they always ask me to slow down, so I've gotten used to it."

"I momentarily forgot the difference between them and you."

Hearing this, Ning Ri knew he had unintentionally belittled himself and quickly said, "Elder Kong, it's not that I can keep up with your refining techniques. I just thought it might be possible to do it that way, but in reality, I probably can't keep up with your speed..."

Kong She said solemnly, "It's alright, I understand."

Ning Ri: "..."

How do you understand?

Immediately after, Kong She began to light the fire rapidly, take out the medicinal ingredients for preheating, and at the same time, his divine sense slowly permeated the pill cauldron, forming a divine sense net before closing the lid. This was clearly for inscribing runes...

All these techniques were performed fluidly and skillfully, leaving Ning Ri in awe.

He couldn't help but exclaim—

So skilled, so amazing, so smooth.

I have to say...

Ancient crafting techniques are incredibly magnificent!

Is this how others feel when watching me practice my blade?

Precisely because of this, Ning Ri naturally became immersed and began to seriously observe Kong She's techniques.

It had to be said that with Ning Ri's enhanced pill refining level, he could completely keep up with Kong She's speed. Sometimes, Ning Ri's gaze would even subconsciously anticipate Kong She's next move, pre-positioning his eyes to fully observe Kong She's complete operation...

Ning Ri even knew when he could intervene and disrupt Kong She's pill refining, causing a master alchemist like Kong She to fail at refining a Qi Refining stage pill.

However, Ning Ri had to praise Kong She; he was too powerful.

There wasn't a single flaw in his entire process!

At the same time.

Kong She was also marveling at Ning Ri's strength.

Kong She, refining a pill that a Qi Refining Alchemist could handle, naturally didn't need to concentrate fully. Therefore, he had been paying attention to Ning Ri the entire time.

And when he noticed the changes in Ning Ri's gaze, he couldn't help but exclaim—

Patriarch Ning's talent is truly extraordinary!

No wonder the Spiritual Root is flawed and the acupoints are blocked...

After watching Kong She refine pills for a while, Ning Ri suddenly discovered with surprise—

The Free Skill Points from [Creation·Flawed] had increased!

The original Free Skill Points were already: 0.

But at this moment.

The Free Skill Points had risen to 35 points!

This made Ning Ri ecstatic...

However, he noticed that he had been watching for a while, but the skill points had only just risen to 35.

It was clear that the speed at which the skill points increased was far less than the last time in the Refining Room.

This made Ning Ri certain—

The increase in skill points was related to the number of people!

The more people refining pills or artifacts around him, the faster the skill points would increase!

Immediately after.

Another guess surged in Ning Ri's mind. To verify his idea, when the Free Skill Points reached 50, he politely interrupted Kong She.

The timing he chose to interrupt was also a perfect moment during pill refinement.

Just like the perfect timing when he paused in front of Chen Xingfeng last time.

Because of this, it once again stirred waves of praise in Elder Kong's heart.

After pausing Kong She, Ning Ri respectfully asked Kong She to switch his Qi Refining technique to a Foundation Establishment technique!

The reason he gave was that he felt it could verify his idea about pill refinement.

Kong She naturally didn't care, only asking if Ning Ri could understand it.

Ning Ri didn't dare to promise, he could only respond vaguely to get by...

Then.

Kong She refined using the Foundation Establishment technique for a while.

And after this round, Ning Ri was a bit bewildered; he understood some parts and didn't understand others...

But none of that mattered.

What mattered was—

The skill points weren't increasing!

Kong She had been refining with the Foundation Establishment technique for a long time, but not a single skill point appeared!

At this point, Ning Ri's mind became clear—

The second key factor for the increase in skill points brought by [Heavenly Craftsman·Flawed] and [Creation·Flawed] was that someone had to be performing artifact refining or pill refinement at the same level as himself nearby.

If it exceeded that level, skill points could not increase!

The number of people and the skill level were both key factors for the increase!

Next, Ning Ri smiled bitterly and self-critiqued in front of Kong She, requesting Kong She to lower his technique back to Qi Refining...

Kong She readily agreed and then continued refining pills.

After a while.

Ning Ri opened his skill Panel.

The Panel hadn't changed much from before. (42)

The only change was:

Because he had been practicing his blade techniques in the corridor just now, the skill points for Mortal Blade Technique had increased, becoming 9.

At the same time, a new skill had appeared—

[Creation·Flawed]: 100

Finally, the Free Skill Points had reached 100 points.

Ning Ri's heart leaped with joy...

Happy!

He got a new skill, and all his skill points were back!

It was equivalent to getting pill refinement and artifact refining for free!

However, Ning Ri felt he absolutely could not give up practicing his blade, and he had to honestly practice his blade when he returned to complete the primitive accumulation of capital!

At this moment.

Kong She's pill refinement was finished.

Kong She opened the cauldron and collected the pills. At this moment, his hand speed was so fast it was completely beyond the Qi Refining level. With a swish, he put the 24 pills into bottles, and Ning Ri didn't even get a clear look.

Next, he placed the jade bottle in front of Ning Ri and said in a deep voice, "[Qi Replenishing Pill], use it during battles. Take it."

Ning Ri didn't refuse. "Thank you, Elder Kong!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but marvel—

The highest quality for dividing a Qi Replenishing Pill was 14 pills, yet Elder Kong had managed 24.

My god, he was too powerful!

"Do you want to try it yourself?" Kong She asked.

Ning Ri smiled. "Sure! I'll have to trouble you for some guidance, Elder Kong!"

He knew in his heart that Elder Kong clearly wanted to see his skill level as well!

Kong She nodded slightly. "No problem!"

After taking a portion of the medicinal ingredients, Ning Ri quickly began refining pills. Like Kong She, he insisted on not using an auxiliary refining furnace. At the same time, his technique was even steadier and more practiced than Kong She's, causing Kong She to show a look of amazement...

This Grandmaster Ning...

Had he really never learned alchemy before?

During the final pill division stage, Ning Ri deliberately divided the pills into 23, one less than Kong She. This way, he wouldn't overshadow Kong She while still showcasing his talent.

Then, Ning Ri opened the cauldron and said with a smile, "Elder Kong, disciple has finished!"

The moment the cauldron was opened, the scent of the pills filled the air.

Kong She looked into the bronze cauldron with anticipation. When he saw the 23 pills inside, the anticipation and smile on Kong She's face froze, and he fell into a long silence...

After the silence ended, he couldn't help but lean back, looking at Ning Ri with confusion and bewilderment, his eyes flickering with doubt about the world. He said:

"You..."

"How did you divide them like that?"

This question made Ning Ri feel a bit uneasy. He could only say innocently and guilelessly, "I... I learned from you!"

"Learned what from me?"

Kong She suddenly became agitated, slapping the chair. "I had 24 pills because I quickly and secretly added ten Qi Replenishing Pills while opening the cauldron and collecting the pills. I was going to give them to you. Don't you see that these ten pills are different in quality and completion time from the other fourteen?"

"I only divided 14 pills myself!!!"

Ning Ri: "???"

It's over, I've messed up big time!

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