The Taihe Pill Scroll

One must understand that for every additional premium-grade pill produced in a single furnace, the requirements for alchemy skills increase exponentially.

To achieve three premium-grade pills out of ten in a single batch was something even he, a superior-grade alchemist, could only just manage.

As for four pills, he estimated that it would likely require at least a second-tier alchemist to accomplish!

Moving higher, each additional premium-grade pill was incredibly difficult to produce, representing the ultimate control over flame, the ultimate utilization of medicinal herbs, and the ultimate understanding of the Dao of alchemy... the levels were simply different!

Therefore, Xu Qianyan offered a rare word of praise.

Hearing such an evaluation, Lv Bailian's eyes filled with pleasant surprise; this could be considered exceeding his own limits.

It was an extraordinary performance.

Under his normal state, he could refine one premium-grade pill and six to eight upper-middle-grade pills.

Under the immense pressure this time, the very last middle-middle-grade pill had instead transformed into an upper-middle-grade one.

"This time, I can consider myself in an invincible position."

Lv Bailian's pressure vanished entirely. His first furnace had been standard, yet he had still fallen behind by one upper-middle-grade pill.

Now that he had reached the peak of his ability, even if Lin Changheng refined eight upper-middle-grade pills in his third furnace, he would be unable to surpass him. Under identical pill conditions, the perfect result of his own third furnace would seal the victory.

In his view, Lin Changheng had entered the ranks three or four years later than him, and his foundation was already lagging behind. Even if he had a sudden burst of potential, he could not refine the "one premium, nine upper-middle" result that he himself had only achieved through a moment of divine inspiration!

It was settled!

Similar thoughts appeared in the minds of the vast majority of those present, especially those who understood the Dao of alchemy.

Lin Changheng was bound to lose this time; it was a pity that Alchemist Lv had experienced such a burst of potential in the third furnace...

Sounds of regret drifted through the air.

Lin Changheng naturally heard Xu Qianyan's announcement. Facing the furnace fire with his back to the crowd, a curve could not help but form on his calm face.

Correspondingly, the flames within the furnace became a bit more active...

It was just that no one noticed.

A quarter of an hour later.

The pills were removed from the furnace.

"Hm?"

Xu Qianyan, who had taken the pills to begin his judgment, immediately let out a sound of surprise, and the gazes of the crowd swished toward him.

A sense of foreboding rose in Lv Bailian's heart.

Xu Family Eldest Miss, meanwhile, took the opportunity to glance at Lin Changheng with great interest, only to see him remaining unruffled, his back as straight as a pine, waiting quietly.

There was no emotion in his eyes; one could not even see the most basic desire.

"Interesting."

Subsequently, Xu Qianyan spoke, "Heh, Alchemist Lin's furnace is also..."

Lv Bailian felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head; the sense of foreboding grew, and then he heard, "Refined one premium-grade pill, and the remaining nine are all upper-middle."

"Ah?"

A collective gasp of astonishment erupted from the scene.

They were tied again?

This was the second time!

"Both alchemists are quite excellent, but Alchemist Lin is slightly superior and deserves the middle-grade alchemy secret transmission."

Xu Qianyan's voice drifted out slowly, delivering the final verdict.

The crowd was in an uproar. This meant that the tiny difference of one pill in Alchemist Lv's first furnace had actually led to such a defeat?

It was truly a pity.

If his skills were inferior, so be it, but Alchemist Lv was truly lacking a bit of luck. If his first furnace had performed like his second or third, it would not have ended this way.

His strength, compared to Alchemist Lin's, was really not necessarily inferior...

"Many thanks for letting me win."

Lin Changheng ignored the various voices of discussion. He remained indifferent, cupped his hands toward Lv Bailian, nodded to Xu Family Eldest Miss, and then followed a middle-grade alchemist away.

Lv Bailian had not expected this result either, and he felt somewhat dejected. Seeing Lin Changheng cup his hands, he still gathered his spirits to return the gesture.

However, he did not feel too devastated in his heart; after all, a difference of a mere hair's breadth could easily be smoothed over.

He simply felt it was a pity to have brushed past the middle-grade alchemist inheritance...

Soon, people gathered around him, beginning to comfort and encourage him.

There were also those who felt sorry for him, sighing and wringing their hands.

"Many thanks to all the seniors and friends for your consolation and encouragement. Alchemist Lin's accumulation was deep and his potential burst forth; he obtained the secret transmission, and I am not his equal."

"Do not speak of luck anymore. It is not only disrespectful to Alchemist Lin, but also a contempt for me."

"A loss is a loss, and being inferior is being inferior. This Lv can afford to accept it!"

Lv Bailian suddenly beamed, then turned solemn and spoke words that left most people stunned, before resolutely turning to leave.

"What a broad mind! Truly magnanimous!"

Watching his straight back as he walked away, someone finally snapped out of their daze and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Lin Changheng was unaware of everything that happened afterward in the Trial Hall.

At this moment, he had already followed this mid-grade alchemist to the Scripture Repository outside the Returning Peak Dojo.

As promised, he received a simple, greenish jade slip.

"The restrictions on this slip will be lifted for three days. During this time, you are not permitted to leave, and the jade slip cannot be taken away. You must memorize and contemplate it on the spot."

"How much you memorize and whether you can grasp the essence depends entirely on your own ability and comprehension. Do you understand, Alchemist Lin?"

After the mid-grade alchemist finished leading the way and gave a few instructions, he turned and left directly. It was then that the tall, thin steward offered these detailed reminders.

He still had an impression of the "Alchemist Lin" before him, who had previously exchanged for an incomplete high-grade cultivation technique in the hall; he was somewhat stubborn and refused to listen to advice.

Therefore, this time, after stating the key points, he didn't say much more and drifted away.

"I understand. Many thanks for the information, Senior."

Lin Changheng gripped the jade slip, pressed it to his forehead, and began to examine it.

If it weren't for the Xu Family's front lines of land reclamation clashing with the Chen Family, followed by an attack on the rear that killed a mid-grade alchemist, and the lack of any successors within the clan to take over, they would never have been forced to open this to the clan's registered guest elders.

And they were stingy about it, too, allowing only one person.

This was the drawback of the clan model—cherishing one's own broom as if it were a treasure, passing things down only to kin.

The sect model was much more open, but the connections were not as tight as those bound by blood.

One could only say that each had its own advantages and disadvantages.

"Secret Notes of Taihe Alchemy!"

Six large characters appeared within Lin Changheng's perception; the name was quite grand.

He then settled his mind and began to study.

After a long while, Lin Changheng moved the jade slip away and rubbed his brow. Although this mid-grade alchemy was based on the low-grade, it was several times more profound.

But for his current level of comprehension, while there were difficulties, they were not insurmountable.

For the few difficult points, he could either spend a long time comprehending them thoroughly or go disturb Master Mo to ask for guidance.

Lin Changheng smiled, not worried; there were always more solutions than problems.

If all else failed, he could just wait for the second Spirit Snatch of the [Origin Treasure Seed].

Now that it had reached [Spirit Snatch: 70/100], at the latest, in a little over a year, it should nurture a second Origin Treasure Seed, at which point his comprehension would rise to an even higher level!

Three days later.

The restrictions on the jade slip automatically restored themselves, interrupting Lin Changheng's contemplation.

It didn't matter, though; he had memorized all the information contained within it at the very first opportunity, so he wasn't worried about any loss.

Having made the required Dao oath not to leak the contents, Lin Changheng stepped out of the Scripture Repository, only to be struck by the sunlight he hadn't seen for three days, forcing him to squint his eyes.

When he opened them again, he saw the clouds churning above and the vast, high firmament. A Green-Feathered Spirit Crane flew out from the adjacent dojo, its wings beating as it swept past the mountain peak, its clear, resonant cry piercing straight into the nine heavens.

Lin Changheng suddenly chuckled softly and stepped fully into that brilliant, radiant light.