Refining Pills Like Stir-Frying Soybeans

Nangong Zheng lived up to expectations, successfully persuading the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect and Wu Yuanqing to participate in this gamble.

Ye Ziyang of the Grandmaster Mansion also immediately came to state his position, declaring that they would stand and fall with the royal family, sharing in their fortunes and misfortunes, and sent Cheng Nan to request a spot in the battle.

The Grandmaster Mansion could not afford to miss out on the Ancestral Hall, so they chose to align with the royal family, playing both sides to their advantage.

Regarding Ye Ziyang's request, it was already within Liu Chengfeng's plans, and the Empress of Qiuchi gave her approval.

"Ye Ziyang is not to be trusted; be careful of him."

This was how the Empress of Qiuchi warned Liu Chengfeng.

"Why didn't you kill him before?"

Liu Chengfeng asked, curious.

"In times when talent is needed, a grandmaster-level faction cannot defend its Spirit Vein without three experts at the Great Dao Divine Treasury realm."

The most basic requirement for a grandmaster-level faction is to possess a primary Spirit Vein, which requires three great figures at the Great Dao Divine Treasury realm to guard it.

"Everyone has a backer behind them, so what about the royal family's backer?"

"The royal family has not made contact with ours for a very long time."

Having said this, the Empress of Qiuchi glanced at Liu Chengfeng.

"It is easy to invite a god, but difficult to send one away."

Liu Chengfeng understood. Just like the Stone Lion outside the city gate, did the Qiuchi Kingdom even realize that such an existence was sitting right under their noses?

"The time has been set; you should start learning alchemy."

The Empress of Qiuchi took charge of Liu Chengfeng, urging him to learn alchemy quickly, as time waits for no one.

Alchemy was not the royal family's forte.

Most alchemists in the Qiuchi Kingdom came from the Cheng Clan, and Cheng Nan was the strongest alchemist in the kingdom, at the mid-grade of the First Refinement.

Despite this, the royal family still possessed a collection of alchemy manuals, which they delivered to Liu Chengfeng along with the medicinal herbs and a Spirit Stove required for his studies.

The art of alchemy is the mastery of techniques such as controlling heat, refining herbs, and condensing pills.

Every school of alchemy has its own unique methods for controlling fire and condensing pills, each distinct from the others.

Alchemy is an incredibly complex and precise process; the slightest difference in heat, the timing of the pill formation, the speed of the condensation... all of these are extremely particular.

In this incomparably complex process, one must achieve absolute precision; otherwise, the alchemy will fail, wasting the medicinal ingredients.

Because of this, every school of alchemy has its own secret techniques, with unique methods for heat control, pill formation, and condensation.

No matter how different each school's alchemy may be, they all lead to the same destination: the ability to refine pills and increase the success rate is what defines a good alchemy technique.

Knowing Liu Chengfeng's talent, the Empress of Qiuchi sent over all the alchemy manuals collected by the royal family.

Although the royal family was not skilled at alchemy, they had collected quite a few manuals, though they were uneven and incomplete.

Liu Chengfeng received the alchemy manuals, committed them to memory, and cast them into the Celestial Body.

He activated the Celestial Body, which radiated light as the Heavenly Mound rotated, blending all the alchemy techniques together, rearranging and reweaving them.

Finally, the Heavenly Mound slammed heavily onto the alchemy techniques with a "bang," fusing them all, discarding the dross and selecting the essence, innovating and filling in the gaps, simplifying the complex.

A brand-new alchemy technique appeared in his mind; having been refined and created by the Celestial Body, it was undoubtedly the best alchemy technique in the Green Meng Realm.

Even if Nangong Zheng were to see such an alchemy technique, he would be filled with endless admiration.

Whether for alchemy or forging weapons, the Spirit Stove is an indispensable treasure.

The Spirit Stove is a treasure born alongside Spirit Veins, requiring millions of years to grow within the underground veins.

The Spirit Stove is nurtured by spiritual energy and grows by absorbing earthly fire.

Every Spirit Stove contains a unique stove fire within it, allowing it to connect to Spirit Veins and draw upon earthly fire when refining pills or forging swords.

The stove fire born within the Spirit Stove determines its grade; different grades possess different stove fires.

Spirit Stove grades can be divided into First Refinement, Second Refinement, Third Refinement, Fourth Refinement, and even the legendary Fifth Refinement.

First Refinement stove fire is red, Second Refinement is orange, Third Refinement is purple, and Fourth Refinement is silver.

The legendary Fifth Refinement Spirit Stove has a golden-yellow stove fire.

To master a Spirit Stove and control its fire, one must nurture and refine it with blood energy.

The strength or weakness of one's blood energy is determined by their Blood Sea.

A Blood Sea of ten miles can only control a First Refinement Spirit Stove; a twenty-mile Blood Sea can control a Second Refinement Spirit Stove; a thirty-mile Blood Sea can control a Third Refinement Spirit Stove...

First Refinement stove fire can refine century-old herbs.

Second Refinement stove fire can refine millennium-old herbs.

Third Refinement stove fire can refine ten-thousand-year-old herbs.

Thus, the grade of Blood Medicine and Mountain Pill an alchemist can refine is often determined by their Blood Sea and Spirit Stove.

A Spirit Stove can be purchased, but the depth of one's Blood Sea can only be cultivated through one's own efforts.

The size of the Blood Sea is determined by the true blood of exotic beasts and the Blood Sea Divine Treasury heart method.

For alchemists and swordsmiths, the true blood of exotic beasts and the heart method of the Blood Sea Divine Treasury are of utmost importance.

Liu Chengfeng possessed a twenty-mile Blood Sea, and the Empress of Qiuchi had sent him a second-refinement Spirit Stove directly, intending for him to cultivate into a second-refinement alchemist.

After Liu Chengfeng integrated and created his alchemy technique, he did not stop for a moment, practicing the art day and night.

The best alchemy techniques are like adding wings to a tiger when practiced.

Within the imperial palace, there were fire veins beneath the ground, providing the earth fire for Liu Chengfeng's Spirit Stove to draw upon.

The Spirit Stove, shaped like a cauldron or furnace, connected to the earth and linked to the fire veins.

With a low shout from Liu Chengfeng, he circulated the Mad Kui Heart Method, causing his Blood Sea to churn and his blood energy to surge.

He channeled his blood energy and took control of the Spirit Stove.

As the blood energy entered the stove and the stove fire began to circulate, a "poof" sound erupted, and orange flames rose, beginning to heat the cauldron.

Liu Chengfeng tossed the prepared medicinal herbs into it.

Having just learned alchemy, Liu Chengfeng used herbs with a hundred years of age to practice.

The first batch Liu Chengfeng refined was Blood Medicine, which used Dragon Blood Vine as the primary ingredient, with other herbs as supplements.

Dragon Blood Vine was the cheapest of all primary ingredients, which is why when alchemists learn their craft, the first batch is usually Blood Medicine rather than Mountain Pill or Guidance Powder.

As the herbs were added one by one, Liu Chengfeng circulated his blood energy and controlled the stove fire, refining each type of herb.

The entire process required extreme caution; the mastery of heat, the fluctuations of the stove fire, and the refining and melting of the herbs... all were highly demanding.

The stove fire flickered, and each herb melted, being refined into medicinal liquid.

Subsequently, Liu Chengfeng increased the stove fire to condense the liquid.

The medicinal liquid took shape, transforming into medicinal powder.

"Collect—"

Liu Chengfeng let out a loud shout, pulling the pill to collect the medicine, controlling the stove fire to toss the medicinal powder upward.

However, due to a slight error in the stove fire, a "poof" sound occurred, and the excessive force scorched the newly formed medicinal powder.

A burnt medicinal scent permeated the entire palace.

"Damn, failed."

Liu Chengfeng gave a bitter smile, but he was not discouraged.

The extraction of the pill was also the key to success or failure.

The success rate is the core of an alchemist; the higher the success rate, the higher the rank of the alchemist.

The higher the rank of an alchemist, the higher their status.

After all, every failed batch of pills carries a very expensive cost.

A success rate of one or two out of ten is called a low-grade alchemist; three or four out of ten is called a mid-grade alchemist.

A success rate of five or six out of ten is called a high-grade alchemist.

A success rate of seven or eight out of ten is called a top-grade alchemist.

A one-hundred-percent success rate is called an innate alchemist.

Nangong Zheng was a third-refinement high-grade alchemist; when he refined ten-thousand-year Blood Medicine or ten-thousand-year Mountain Pill, his success rate was five or six out of ten.

If he refined thousand-year Blood Medicine or Mountain Pill, his success rate would be seven or eight out of ten.

For hundred-year Blood Medicine or Mountain Pill, Nangong Zheng had a one-hundred-percent success rate.

This meant that Nangong Zheng could mass-produce first-refinement Blood Medicine and Mountain Pill, and the time required was short.

This is also why the higher the level and rank of an alchemist, the more respected they are.

If one were a third-refinement innate alchemist, they would be a money-printing machine.

A third-refinement Blood Medicine with fifty thousand years of age could sell for a million spirit stones.

A third-refinement Mountain Pill with fifty thousand years of age could sell for three million spirit stones.

"Open—"

The first batch of Blood Medicine had failed, but Liu Chengfeng was not discouraged; he directly opened the Sky Eye in his mind and rotated the Heavenly Mound.

He took control of the Spirit Stove, managed the stove fire, and tossed the herbs in one by one.

The Sky Eye observed the changes, and the Heavenly Mound corrected his techniques.

Liu Chengfeng was essentially forcing the Celestial Body to teach him alchemy.

The Celestial Body was quite helpless; it was not an alchemist, let alone a teacher, yet it was being forced by Liu Chengfeng to refine medicine.

With the Sky Eye observing the changes and the Heavenly Mound correcting his techniques, Liu Chengfeng found the alchemy process becoming effortless.

Whether it was the control of the heat or the transformation of the medicinal extracts, everything was precise and flawless, without the slightest error.

"Rise—"

As the medicinal fragrance wafted out, indicating the medicine had formed into powder, Liu Chengfeng let out a loud shout, flipping the furnace and drawing out the pill.

The Blood Medicine drifted with fragrance, still carrying the warmth of the furnace; a batch of Blood Medicine had been successfully refined.

"That's it."

Liu Chengfeng was overjoyed. This method was viable, so he worked even harder, starting another furnace to continue refining.

With the assistance of the Celestial Body, Liu Chengfeng corrected his techniques time and again, refining his quenching process, mastering the stove and controlling the fire to quench the medicine into powder.

Batch after batch was refined, and as Liu Chengfeng's alchemy techniques grew more mature, his success rate climbed higher and higher.

In a short amount of time, the success rate for refining first-grade Blood Medicine reached one hundred percent.

After the first-grade, he moved on to the second-grade, beginning to refine the Second Refinement Mountain Pill.

Liu Chengfeng's alchemy skills were improving rapidly, and refining the Second Refinement Mountain Pill became second nature to him.

From a ten-percent success rate to one hundred percent, it took Liu Chengfeng only five furnace attempts.

If Nangong Zheng were to see Liu Chengfeng practicing alchemy like this with his own eyes, he would be shocked to the point of speechlessness; this was a monster of talent rarely seen in all of history.

Nangong Zheng would be begging to pass on his alchemy techniques to him!

"Alchemy is truly a wonderful thing."

Liu Chengfeng had become addicted to alchemy, praising it endlessly.

In the past, for him to obtain a Second Refinement Mountain Pill was no easy feat; he had to beg and plead with everyone he knew.

Now, as he refined the Second Refinement Mountain Pill, it was as easy as stir-frying soybeans—pop, pop, crackle—and a furnace of Second Refinement Mountain Pills was complete.

"If I keep refining like this, won't I become filthy rich?"

Liu Chengfeng couldn't help but start dreaming happily.

"There are no more medicinal herbs left for you to refine."

Empress of Qiuchi gave him a cold look.

She was becoming numb to Liu Chengfeng's talent.

In truth, watching Liu Chengfeng refine pills as if he were cooking dinner had left her too shocked to speak.

"How about it? Is your husband a treasure of a boy?"

Liu Chengfeng looked at the Empress of Qiuchi, feeling smug.

The Empress of Qiuchi's gaze was like a blade, but she remained silent; a man with such talent, if not a treasure, then what was he?

"If you find a way to strengthen your Blood Sea, you will surely reach the third refinement. If you reach the third refinement of the innate stage, even the Divine Dynasty will scramble to invite you."

An alchemist at the third refinement of the innate stage—that was no small matter; they were essentially a walking money-printing machine.

Even an Ancient Kingdom could barely afford to support such an alchemist.

"Once I get my hands on the Crow Nest mental cultivation method, I'll see if it works. But I also need to strengthen my true blood; I'll need the true blood of a beast that is ten or twenty thousand years old."

Liu Chengfeng felt this plan was feasible. Even if he didn't join the Divine Dynasty, if he were a third-refinement innate alchemist, he would make money until his hands went soft.

"It is feasible."

The Empress of Qiuchi supported him.

"The time for the wager is approaching. Prepare to fulfill your end of the deal."

"Alright. You still haven't purged that deadly poison?"

Liu Chengfeng looked at the Empress of Qiuchi.

The Empress of Qiuchi's face was like frost, and she did not speak.

"Or, should you let me try?"

Liu Chengfeng rubbed his chin.

"You?"

The Empress of Qiuchi was not entirely convinced.

"Don't forget, I am a remarkable alchemist now. You might not be able to control the Separation Fire, but for me, that's hard to say."

Liu Chengfeng's words made the Empress of Qiuchi's heart skip a beat.

"Let's talk about that after you defeat the Nangong Clan and the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect."

The Empress of Qiuchi also considered the feasibility of Liu Chengfeng's suggestion.

"You are stalling for time. Is it to purge the poison, or are you waiting for the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect, Ye Ziyang, and Wu Yuanqing?"

"Waiting for someone."

The Empress of Qiuchi provided the answer.

"The Sect Master of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect?"

"Correct, Dragon Ascending Holy Slash Feng Wanli."

The Empress of Qiuchi grew grave.

"Is he truly going to become a demigod?"

Liu Chengfeng felt a jolt in his heart.

"It requires time!"

The Empress of Qiuchi wore a solemn expression, and Liu Chengfeng was no different.

The birth of a demigod was like a sword hanging over their heads.