Yi Fa Pill

Second Year.

Huang Wangyou gave birth to a baby boy.

Delicate as carved jade, with a loud, hearty cry.

Chen Sheng held his wife's hand.

After pondering for a moment, he named him:

"Let's call him Yi Jing. May his life go smoothly, as carefree as drifting clouds and tranquil scenery."

Huang Wangyou nodded with a warm smile.

Tang Xichen, meanwhile, carried her younger brother around to play.

Time slowly passed.

Three more years went by. On this day,

the regular customers of Huang Clan Pill Workshop gradually noticed

that Old Master Huang appeared less and less often.

Many times, the Pill Workshop's affairs were handled by Old Master Huang's son-in-law, Shopkeeper Tang.

According to Old Master Huang, his son-in-law's skill in the Way of Alchemy was outstanding, and he had already advanced to become a Mid-grade Alchemist.

He had mastered all three major signatures of the Pill Workshop.

For quite some time now,

the three signature pills had all been refined by his son-in-law.

When the news first spread, there was no shortage of discussion in Market Town, and some worried that the quality of the pills would decline.

But as batch after batch of pills entered the market,

the regulars discovered that their quality had not fallen in the slightest.

This new Shopkeeper Tang was also modest, courteous, and thorough in his dealings with others, beyond reproach.

As time passed, no one discussed the matter anymore.

Instead, they all praised Old Master Huang for his discerning eye in finding such a reliable son-in-law.

That afternoon, the Alchemy Room was pleasantly warm.

"Ignite!"

Huang Yueyang stood before the Alchemy Furnace.

The hand seals at his fingertips shifted.

Seven thousand strands of Fire Threads shot out like silver wires, weaving a dense net within the furnace.

One processed medicinal ingredient after another was thrown into the furnace. The Fire Threads immediately coiled around them like spirit serpents, melting the ingredients in the flames into medicinal liquids of various colors.

Then, guided by the hand seals,

the medicinal liquids gradually gathered into a mass, condensing into round, lustrous Pill Beads as they spun at high speed.

Not far away,

Chen Sheng watched his father-in-law refine pills with bated breath.

He found it a feast for the eyes.

At that moment, anticipation filled his eyes as he silently murmured to himself,

"I hope it succeeds this time!"

Over the past two years,

as Chen Sheng's Alchemy Skill became increasingly refined,

Huang Yueyang gradually let go, handing the Pill Workshop's affairs over to his son-in-law.

His attention was focused on something else.

—Perfecting an Incomplete Formula!

Huang Yueyang's inheritance was exquisite in every respect, and he believed himself to be no weaker than a High-grade Alchemist.

Unfortunately, he had never obtained a High-grade Pill Formula to verify the achievements of his lifetime.

Although Market Town had no shortage of High-grade Alchemists,

who would share the skills that put food on their table?

Everyone kept their own Pill Formulas hidden away tightly.

Unable to obtain one elsewhere, Huang Yueyang could only set his sights on creating or improving a Pill Formula himself.

Twenty years ago,

Qingmu Merchant Association held a small auction.

A Pill Formula entered Huang Yueyang's sight.

Shangyuan Pill!

This was a second-tier Pill Formula that had come from a Secret Realm, but unfortunately, it was only an Incomplete Formula.

Huang Yueyang was immediately tempted. He spent a great sum to purchase it, then devoted himself to researching and perfecting the formula.

More than ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

After Chen Sheng became accomplished in the study of medicinal ingredients, he too joined this task.

With the combined efforts of the two men, after dozens of failures,

they finalized another formula not long ago.

Neither of them felt there was anything left to change.

They were quite confident.

Now, it was time to test it!

At the center of the Alchemy Room,

the Alchemy Furnace shook continuously.

Huang Yueyang repeatedly formed the hand seals of Solidify Pill and Spirit Locking. His hands flew through the seals, and a fine sheen of sweat appeared between his brows.

Clearly, refining this pill was far from easy.

"Collect!"

The final several hand seals for Collect Pill entered the Alchemy Furnace.

The furnace opened in response.

Pill Fragrance immediately filled the air.

A single indigo pill slowly flew out and landed in the already prepared White Jade Bottle.

Huang Yueyang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. He glanced at Chen Sheng, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"Barely managed to form a pill. It seems the Pill Formula my son-in-law and I derived is reasonably sound."

If it had not been sound, they could not have refined a pill.

Chen Sheng cupped his fists in congratulations.

"Congratulations, Father-in-law, on refining a High-grade Pill."

Huang Yueyang's lips curled upward. He was immensely pleased, already certain that the formula belonged among the high-grade ranks.

Yet he merely waved a hand, wearing an unconcerned expression.

"It has not yet been appraised, and its effects have yet to be determined. Saying so now would only invite laughter."

This Pill Formula had been derived from a second-tier Incomplete Formula through Pushing the Old and Perfecting, with many changes made.

Though a pill had formed, what effect would it have?

It still needed to be appraised.

"Where are the utensils?"

Very soon,

Chen Sheng smiled and took out the items.

One White Jade Tray and two Glazed Cups.

"Rest assured, Father-in-law. I soaked them in Spirit Spring Water for three hours in advance to remove the impure qi from the vessels."

Huang Yueyang stroked his beard and said with satisfaction,

"Not bad."

Very soon,

Huang Yueyang washed his hands, burned incense, and circulated his mana to cleanse the turbid qi from his mouth and nose.

He began to appraise the pill.

In the world of alchemy,

a great number of pills were created every year.

Naturally, there was a complete Pill Appraisal Method.

There were five steps in total: Prepare Utensils, Observe Form, Smell Qi, Distinguish Taste, and Test Efficacy.

It was Chen Sheng's first time witnessing this, so he could not help but look forward to it, staring fixedly at his father-in-law's demonstration.

Huang Yueyang, however, was an old hand at this.

Unhurriedly, he placed the pill from the jade bottle at the center of the White Jade Tray, then used mana to slowly rotate the tray.

He formed hand seals with both hands and cast the Observe Pill Method.

In an instant, Eyes Generate Spiritual Light.

The pill before him immediately enlarged a hundredfold in his vision, becoming as large as a calf.

Huang Yueyang observed it intently.

He examined every part of it, down to the finest detail, not overlooking even the tiniest patterns on the pill's surface.

A full half hour passed.

He rubbed his eyes, his face full of smiles.

"The pill body is plump, its color even. Most importantly, its Spirit Veins are continuous. It is undoubtedly a High-grade Pill."

Chen Sheng hurriedly said, "Congratulations, Father-in-law."

In high spirits, Huang Yueyang called his son-in-law over and taught him the Observation Technique.

"You try it!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng immediately cast the hand seal. Golden Light Flashes in his eyes, and the pill instantly enlarged in his field of vision...

By the time the son-in-law and father-in-law had both examined it once,

an hour had already passed.

Then,

the two began to Smell Qi and Distinguish Taste.

Both steps required their own supporting techniques.

As Huang Yueyang appraised the pill, he explained the details to Chen Sheng and had him try them as well.

Chen Sheng felt that he had gained a great deal.

After the first three steps,

Huang Yueyang gradually had a clear understanding.

He said,

"This pill originated from the Shangyuan Pill. It was improved through Pushing the Old and Perfecting without changing its foundation, so it belongs to the Mana-Increasing Sequence."

Chen Sheng was immediately delighted.

What kind of pills were valuable?

The first kind helped cultivators break through realms and bottlenecks, such as the Foundation Establishment Pill and Purple Cloud Pill.

The second kind directly increased a cultivator's mana.

Only the third kind assisted with daily Qi Refinement cultivation, such as the Qi Gathering Pill.

The Yellow Bud Pill, one of Huang Clan's Three Major Signatures, also belonged to the third kind. It aided the daily cultivation of Qi Condensation Early-stage cultivators and earned them a fortune.

Huang Yueyang was also quite pleased and said,

"Begin the Test Efficacy."

Chen Sheng heard this.

He hurriedly opened a Wooden Box.

Inside was, surprisingly, a—Red-tailed Rat.

This Red-tailed Rat was rather intelligent. At that moment, it pressed its paws together and bowed to the two men.

Huang Yueyang chuckled softly.

"Don't worry. This pill should be harmless."

With that,

he placed half a pill into a Glazed Cup, dissolved it in Spirit Spring Water, and fed two drops to the rat.

Then,

he placed his hand on the rat's abdomen and cast the Internal Vision Method.

He sensed the changes in the rat's Dantian.

Not long afterward,

surging spiritual power gradually arose within the rat's Dantian, swelling it like a balloon.

Before long,

all the rat's fur stood on end, and its entire body became round and bulging, turning into a Red Fur Ball.

Huang Yueyang's eyes lit up.

"What powerful medicinal effect. Good thing it was only two drops."

He hurriedly circulated his mana into the rat's body, guiding the spiritual power in its Dantian through the meridians throughout its body so that its belly would not burst.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick,

the Red-tailed Rat's body returned to normal. Its fur became even glossier, its eyes shone with spiritual light, and it looked even more lively.

It had clearly benefited.

Little Mouse panted heavily, squeaking as it clasped its paws toward the two men in a bow, as though thanking them.

Huang Yueyang chuckled.

"It understands human nature. Observe it for a few more days."

Chen Sheng nodded.

"Yes."

Two months passed like this.

The son-in-law and father-in-law made many attempts.

Only then did they finally set their minds at ease.

Huang Yueyang swallowed a Yi Fa Pill, closed his eyes, and meditated for two hours. After carefully sensing its effects, he finally determined the pill's efficacy.

"Refining this pill can increase a Qi Condensation Late-stage cultivator's mana by twenty percent, saving two years of time."

"Its effects are on par with the Mana-Increasing Pills on the market."

Chen Sheng was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"It seems our Pill Workshop can add another major signature product."

Huang Yueyang smiled and nodded.

"Late-stage cultivators race against time. They do not care about a little Pill Toxin or impurities."

"They only seek to reach Qi Condensation Perfection before the age of sixty and make one final desperate attempt."

"However, every Mana-Increasing Pill has a limit. Taking more is useless, which only shows how precious they are."

Chen Sheng nodded and said,

"Father-in-law, please give it a name."

Huang Yueyang pondered for a moment before saying,

"Then it shall be called the Yi Fa Pill!"