Taking Pills

The peach blossoms in the courtyard bloomed, withered, then bloomed again.

In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

A gentle breeze drifted by.

It carried the fragrance of medicine from the Medicine Room, mingled with the smoky heat of the Alchemy Furnace in the rear courtyard. It was a rather distinctive scent.

Inside the Alchemy Room.

Chen Sheng stood before the Alchemy Furnace, his expression focused as his fingers formed hand seals even faster than before.

"Split!"

The hand seals in his hands changed.

Five thousand Fire Threads separated like silver strands, weaving into a net above the furnace mouth and wrapping the Medicinal Ingredients within.

They melted into Medicinal Liquid, slowly spinning before condensing into pills.

Chen Sheng furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze fixed on the churning indigo liquid mass within the furnace.

This pill demanded the utmost precision in controlling the flame. A little too much, and the pill would be ruined; a little too little, and the medicine would disperse.

With a soft hum.

His expression shifted as he flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending out one Hand Seal after another.

In an instant.

Dozens of Hand Seals shot into the Alchemy Furnace like meteors.

"Collect Pill!"

The moment his words fell.

The furnace lid was lifted by a gentle surge of mana.

An indigo pill spun out, tracing three arcs through the air before landing steadily in Chen Sheng's palm.

It was a first-tier High-grade Pill—the Yi Fa Pill!

Pill Fragrance instantly filled the room, crisp and clear, yet carrying the mellow warmth of plants and herbs.

After examining it, Chen Sheng smiled.

"Sixty percent efficacy. It passes."

"Congratulations, Master. You have refined a High-grade Pill and become a High-grade Alchemist."

Qin Yuan's voice sounded from behind him.

He had been standing to one side, watching his master refine pills, admiration appearing on his face from time to time.

By now, the youth had grown another half a head taller. The immaturity between his brows had faded somewhat, while his eyes became especially intent whenever they rested on the Alchemy Furnace.

Chen Sheng laughed heartily, placed the pill into a jade bottle, and tossed it to his disciple.

"Take it to your Master's Grandfather and let him have a look. Let him be happy too."

"Yes!"

Chen Sheng was in high spirits. He brushed the heat from his clothes, his eyes full of delight.

A setback could turn out to be a blessing!

Although he had failed to Break Through to a higher realm.

After two years of accumulation, his Alchemy Skill had risen to another level.

Though he was still no match for his Father-in-law, he could now refine Yi Fa Pills and had become a High-grade Alchemist.

Elsewhere.

As Qin Yuan carried the jade bottle toward the inner courtyard, he happened upon Huang Yueyang reading the Medicine Scripture beneath the Grape Trellis.

The old man wore a moon-white robe and toyed with a white jade thumb ring.

Qin Yuan hurriedly offered him the jade bottle.

"Master's Grandfather, this is the Yi Fa Pill Master refined."

Huang Yueyang's eyes stirred as he accepted the jade bottle.

Once he saw the pill's quality clearly, he immediately stroked his beard and nodded faintly.

"Indigo like a clear sky, Pill Patterns like drifting clouds. Not bad, not bad!"

Before long.

Chen Sheng also came over.

The son-in-law and Father-in-law began discussing the pill, from flame control to the combination of Medicinal Ingredients.

Qin Yuan stood with his hands lowered at his side, listening intently.

There was knowledge he could not yet fully understand, but that did not stop him from forcefully committing it to memory.

After a while.

Huang Yueyang suddenly looked up and turned his piercing gaze toward him.

"How has little Yuan been learning these past few years?"

"I heard from your master that you have been studying Fire Control for over two years."

Qin Yuan's heart tightened, and he hurriedly replied.

"Reporting to Master's Grandfather, I can already condense Golden Radiance, but it is still not stable enough."

Chen Sheng looked at him encouragingly and gently patted his disciple's shoulder.

"Come. Go to the Fire Room and demonstrate a few moves for your Master's Grandfather."

Hearing this, Qin Yuan nodded seriously.

"Yes!"

Before long, the three of them moved to the Fire Room.

Qin Yuan stepped before the Alchemy Furnace, took a deep breath, and drew out the furnace fire with his fingertips.

His movements were extremely practiced as he formed one hand seal after another.

Blue-green flames danced in his palm.

They first divided into lotus-shaped blossoms, then layered upon one another. He actually stacked the flames three times in succession, finally turning them into a ring of fire...

Huang Yueyang watched him effortlessly split flames, stack flames, and spin the fire into a wheel.

A pleased expression immediately appeared in his eyes.

"Gather!"

The final Hand Seal was released.

The fire wheel abruptly contracted, condensing into a cluster of Golden Radiance. Unfortunately, it did not remain stable for long.

After only a few breaths, it dispersed.

"Mm, not bad. It is just that the Flame Gathering Art is a little forced. It still lacks something."

"Still, to barely use the Flame Gathering Art and cultivate the Xuanyang Fifth Layer in just over two years—he is better than your master was back then!"

When Chen Sheng had cultivated to the Fifth Layer, it had taken him nearly six years.

Qin Yuan's talent was clearly superior.

Qin Yuan clasped his hands modestly.

"Master's Grandfather overpraises me. I still have far to go."

Chen Sheng, however, laughed heartily.

"As they say, the student surpasses the master. Yuan'er's talent truly exceeds mine."

"One day, perhaps our lineage will flourish even further in Yuan'er's hands."

After being praised in succession by the two of them, Qin Yuan's cheeks immediately reddened.

Huang Yueyang nodded. He was also delighted by the disciple's descendant before him.

How could he not be pleased to see a descendant inherit the legacy and carry it forward?

After that day.

The task of refining Yi Fa Pills at the Pill Workshop gradually shifted into Chen Sheng's hands.

The old man turned his attention toward improving the remaining Pill Formulas.

He hoped that during the last stretch of his life, he could leave behind more unseen wealth for his descendants.

A month later.

Chen Sheng entered the seclusion chamber once more.

He emerged two days later.

The aura around him had clearly risen by another level.

Qi Condensation Seventh Level!

Chen Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. Spiritual energy flowed around his body like spring water, while his aura grew increasingly restrained and steady.

He had only just taken a step.

When Tang Xichen sprang out from behind a corridor pillar, her figure fluttering like a butterfly.

The girl sensed the Spiritual Pressure emanating from Chen Sheng and immediately clasped her hands with delight.

"Congratulations, Father! You successfully advanced!"

Chen Sheng laughed heartily and instinctively offered a few modest words.

Perhaps because of the groundwork from last time, this attempt at breaking through had gone quite smoothly.

Once a Cloud-Dispelling Pill entered his stomach, the mana that had ceased growing for two years immediately stirred.

In just a few hours, he broke through the bottleneck and reached the Qi Condensation Seventh Level.

He then spent more than a day stabilizing his cultivation realm.

At that moment.

Chen Sheng turned and asked.

"Why are you here?"

Tang Xichen explained, "Mother told Junior Disciple Brother and me to take turns guarding the door."

Upon hearing that, Chen Sheng understood it was his wife's concern.

Warmth immediately filled his heart.

"Come on. Let us go tell your mother the news, so she will not worry."

Father and daughter headed toward the rear courtyard together.

Tang Xichen walked at his side.

Chen Sheng instinctively asked about her cultivation progress. "How has your cultivation been lately?"

Tang Xichen nodded.

"The Qi Condensation Mid-stage takes longer than the early stage."

"It took me nearly four years to complete the Qi Condensation Fifth Level. I still need an opportunity before I can successfully advance."

Chen Sheng nodded lightly. His daughter's speed was far greater than his own.

It took him at least six years to complete a single level. His daughter was a third faster than him.

Chen Sheng smiled softly.

"That is already fast enough. At your pace, you will catch up to Father in another five years."

Tang Xichen shook her head.

"I will not be able to catch up."

"Five years from now, if Father takes Mana-Increasing Pills, you might have already reached the Qi Condensation Ninth Level."

Chen Sheng laughed heartily.

"You girl, you are quite clever."

The father and daughter chatted and laughed as they arrived in the rear courtyard.

From far away.

Tang Xichen called out loudly.

"Mother! Father made it!"

Her voice was crisp, startling the swallows nesting beneath the eaves into flight.

Huang Wangyou was sitting beneath the Grape Trellis, going over the accounts.

Hearing this, she pushed the account book onto the Stone Table and slowly rose to her feet.

As she stood, her skirt brushed across the Stone Stool, stirring a cheerful breeze.

The moment Huang Wangyou saw Chen Sheng, she smiled.

"This time was quick enough!"

Chen Sheng stepped forward and said softly.

"Wasn't I worried you would be concerned?"

Huang Wangyou shot him a sidelong glance and pinched his arm.

"You only know how to sweet-talk me!"

As she spoke.

Her fingertips quietly reached for his pulse. Only after confirming that his spiritual energy was stable did Huang Wangyou turn to Tang Xichen.

"Your father has broken through. Tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes so we can celebrate."

Warmth rose in Chen Sheng's heart.

He wrapped an arm around his wife's waist, the familiar medicinal fragrance in her hair lingering around his nose.