If You Can Refine It, I'll Swallow the Pill Furnace

Qingyun Dao Sect.

The golden sun shone brightly.

The sunlight was gentle.

The smile on Xu Luochen's face was even gentler.

Xu Luochen was in a very good mood.

Firstly, he had finally memorized all the basic pill recipes.

Secondly, he had indeed managed to delay Ye Ping's cultivation progress.

Especially when he thought of the Senior Disciple's expression, the smile on Xu Luochen's face grew even wider.

Thinking of this, Xu Luochen couldn't help but reprimand Su Changyu in his heart.

As the Senior Disciple, he would throw tantrums just because his junior disciple had poor aptitude, and even stand alone on the back cliff.

Wasn't that embarrassing?

Didn't he have any of the responsibility of a Senior Disciple?

However, Xu Luochen wasn't here today to check on Ye Ping's alchemy progress.

He was mainly here to teach Ye Ping true alchemy techniques.

After all, it had been almost a month, and it was time to teach something real, right?

He couldn't keep tricking Ye Ping with "Poison-Free Alchemy," could he? Xu Luochen wasn't a simple-minded person; he just wanted Ye Ping to 'know when to quit.'

Look, first teach Ye Ping an alchemy technique that was fundamentally impossible to succeed, and then teach the basics. If Ye Ping truly had alchemy talent, he wouldn't become arrogant and complacent, as this was just basic alchemy.

If Ye Ping couldn't even do regular alchemy, that would be even better; he could stay in the sect and train properly.

In any case, it was a win-win situation.

As for Ye Ping successfully refining pills?

Heh.

It wasn't Xu Luochen bragging, but if Ye Ping could really refine poison-free pills, he, Xu Luochen, would eat the only alchemy furnace in the Qingyun Dao Sect.

He wouldn't chew; he'd swallow it whole.

He would swallow the alchemy furnace alive in front of all the senior and junior disciples of the Qingyun Dao Sect.

Poison-Free Alchemy?

When Xu Luochen boasted about this back then, even he felt a bit embarrassed.

Thinking of this, Xu Luochen slightly restrained the smile on his face, appearing gentle rather than so unrestrained.

Soon, Xu Luochen arrived at the back cliff.

Coincidentally, Ye Ping was sitting on the ground, seemingly studying something.

"Junior Disciple Ye."

The next moment, Xu Luochen's voice rang out.

Within the back cliff.

Ye Ping, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality.

He was fully focused on the poison-free pill in his hand, so he hadn't noticed Xu Luochen's arrival.

Seeing Xu Luochen, Ye Ping immediately got up and respectfully cupped his fists, saying, "Greetings, Senior Disciple Luochen."

"No need for formalities."

Xu Luochen chuckled softly, then looked at Ye Ping and said, "Junior Disciple Ye, how have you been lately?"

"I'm alright."

Ye Ping nodded, feeling a little embarrassed at the same time.

Although he had successfully refined something, it wasn't a complete pill, so he felt awkward and didn't know whether to mention it.

"Mm, I saw you looking troubled a few days ago. You seem to be doing well now, and you should have made some progress. How is your alchemy coming along?"

Xu Luochen asked casually.

"Reporting to Senior Disciple, I've achieved minor success."

Ye Ping didn't dare to say he had succeeded, so he could only describe it as minor success.

Minor success?

Xu Luochen was slightly taken aback.

What did that mean?

"What do you mean by 'minor success'?"

Xu Luochen asked, his eyes full of curiosity.

He didn't quite understand the meaning of that phrase.

"Reporting back, Brother, the pill has been refined, but it's not completely finished."

Ye Ping replied.

Xu Luochen fell silent for a moment.

He looked at Ye Ping, the gentle smile on his face gradually fading.

"Junior Brother Ye."

Xu Luochen spoke.

"This junior brother is here."

Xu Luochen said very seriously, "Although your aptitude is average, the Sect Master and Senior Brother have said that you have a good disposition, are simple and kind. Even if you can't refine a pill, you shouldn't lie, understand?"

Xu Luochen said with utmost seriousness.

Damn it, it's not that he doesn't believe Ye Ping has talent in alchemy, it's mainly that the alchemy techniques he gave him were completely made up!

Creation Alchemy Technique? Poison-Free Alchemy? If this got out, ten thousand alchemists would slap him silly.

Ye Ping said he could refine a pill?

How could he brag even more than Senior Brother?

"Junior brother isn't lying?"

Ye Ping responded earnestly.

Not lying?

Really?

I don't believe it.

Xu Luochen didn't believe him from the bottom of his heart, but he couldn't directly lecture Ye Ping, so he couldn't help but say.

"Then show Brother the pill you refined."

Xu Luochen said, full of disbelief.

"Please guide me, Brother."

Ye Ping didn't waste any more words and directly opened his palm.

In an instant, a pill as crystal clear as a diamond appeared in his hand.

The pill was small, about the size of a soybean, and it sparkled under the sun. It looked less like a pill and more like a gemstone.

"This is a pill?"

Xu Luochen was a bit stunned.

You call this thing a pill?

"Mm."

Ye Ping nodded.

Xu Luochen fell silent for a moment.

He didn't know what to say, but soon a faint pill fragrance wafted out, startling Xu Luochen.

"Let me see."

Xu Luochen still didn't believe it, but he couldn't help but want to examine the pill.

"Please guide me, Brother."

Ye Ping didn't say much and handed the pill directly to Xu Luochen.

The latter took the pill and ignored Ye Ping, scrutinizing it carefully.

Although Xu Luochen had failed the alchemist exam seven times, that didn't mean he couldn't identify pills.

Just by holding it, Xu Luochen felt it slightly, and his entire being was shocked.

"Spirit Gathering Pill."

Xu Luochen instantly recognized what kind of pill it was.

He felt astonished.

The Spirit Gathering Pill could be considered the most common pill in the cultivation world, as both Qi Refining cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even Golden Core True Lords needed this pill.

As the name suggests, the Spirit Gathering Pill gathered spiritual energy within the pill. Swallowing one Spirit Gathering Pill was equivalent to swallowing two Qi Cultivation Pills of the same quality.

It had the same side effects but double the effect of a Qi Cultivation Pill, and it only required a little time to refine.

Unlike the Qi Cultivation Pill, which required meditation and refinement after swallowing, the Spirit Gathering Pill was generally a pill enjoyed only by disciples of major sects. For a sect like the Qingyun Dao Sect, let alone Spirit Gathering Pills, just having Qi Cultivation Pills was a good thing.

How could there be Spirit Gathering Pills?

Moreover, what was more important was that this Spirit Gathering Pill seemed different from the Spirit Gathering Pills he had seen before.

Xu Luochen pondered for a moment.

The Spirit Gathering Pills he had seen were about this big, white like rice grains, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

But the Spirit Gathering Pill before him, aside from being the size of a soybean, was also crystal clear, like a gemstone.

More importantly, the spiritual energy contained within this Spirit Gathering Pill was incredibly dense. Xu Luochen could feel it.

A top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill?

In an instant, Xu Luochen thought of a possibility.

Only a top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill would be like this, right?

But how could his junior brother have a top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill?

Xu Luochen frowned.

"Junior Brother Ye, who gave you this pill?"

In the next moment, Xu Luochen couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought about it, so he couldn't help but ask Ye Ping who had given him the pill.

"Senior Brother, this was really refined by Junior Brother."

Ye Ping was also a little confused. He didn't understand why Senior Brother Luochen didn't believe that he had refined this pill himself.

Oh!

In the next moment, Ye Ping understood.

The pill he refined wasn't a complete pill. The pill Senior Brother Luochen refined was naturally a complete pill, so his half-finished product would seem a bit unfamiliar to Senior Brother Luochen.

Thinking of this, Ye Ping immediately spoke.

"Senior Brother Luochen, Junior Brother hasn't stepped into cultivation yet, so my internal spiritual energy is insufficient. Coupled with my slightly poor aptitude, I can't successfully refine a complete pill, so there might be some discrepancies."

Ye Ping explained.

However, these words sounded a bit jarring to Xu Luochen.

This was also called poor aptitude?

Putting aside everything else, the assessment requirement for a third-grade alchemist was to be able to refine a batch of finished Qi Cultivation Pills independently. What was considered finished? It was even worse than low-grade, but at least it was a Qi Cultivation Pill. Even refining one pill in a batch counted as passing.

And a Spirit Gathering Pill was the assessment requirement for a second-grade alchemist.

Even if this Spirit Gathering Pill in his hand wasn't a top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill, it was at least a high-grade Spirit Gathering Pill, right?

In other words, even a second-grade alchemist would find it difficult to refine a high-grade Spirit Gathering Pill.

How long have you been learning?

A month, maybe?

You can refine high-grade, or even top-grade Spirit Gathering Pills?

And this is called poor aptitude?

Then what about me, Xu Luochen?

Wouldn't I be considered trash?

Fine.

Little Junior Brother, oh little junior brother.

You're the one who started showing off.

Senior Brother is usually gentle, but I can't tolerate everything. Even your Senior Brother doesn't dare to show off in front of me like this.

Xu Luochen was full of complaints.

At this moment, he took a deep breath and looked at Ye Ping, saying calmly.

"Since that's the case, Junior Brother, can you demonstrate the refining process again? Senior Brother can then offer you some guidance."

Xu Luochen's expression was calm.

He wanted to see how Ye Ping would get out of this.

"Okay, but the refining process takes several hours. Are you not busy, Senior Brother?"

Ye Ping kindly reminded him.

His internal spiritual energy wasn't very sufficient, so refining a pill properly might take several hours.

However, these words were interpreted by Xu Luochen as an excuse to evade.

"It's fine, Senior Brother has plenty of time."

Xu Luochen couldn't help but smile gently again, looking at Ye Ping.

He was determined to expose Ye Ping today.

At the same time, Xu Luochen had already prepared what he would say to teach Ye Ping a lesson later.

Like, people who lie have to swallow a thousand needles.

Like, people should be upright and not lie.

Like, a gentleman is like jade, a modest young man, lying is immoral.

However, the next moment.

Ye Ping sat cross-legged.

Immediately after, spiritual energy surged, bringing Xu Luochen back to his senses.

Sizzle, sizzle!

A large amount of spiritual energy appeared in Ye Ping's hands, emitting faint sounds.

Xu Luochen grew a little curious.

But soon, after a beam of light appeared in Ye Ping's palm.

Xu Luochen became even more curious.

A full four hours passed.

Xu Luochen's eyes felt a little sore, and his legs were starting to go numb.

But he remained completely focused on watching Ye Ping.

Fzzt!

Just then, as an extremely brilliant and dazzling white light flashed.

Xu Luochen's vision went white, and when his sight returned, Ye Ping was already covered in sweat, as if he had just finished a great effort.

But when Xu Luochen saw the Spirit Gathering Pill in Ye Ping's palm, which resembled a gemstone.

He could no longer smile.