First Time Refining Pills

After calming his excited emotions, Yao Feng took out some medicinal ingredients needed to refine a Spirit Nurturing Pill from his Spatial Ring.

As the son of the Yao Clan Chief, the previous owner of this body had truly been rather poor. Aside from some low-grade medicinal ingredients, there was only a Five-patterned Purple Gold Card in the Spatial Ring. Yao Feng racked his brains for a long while before recalling that this was a card used to store gold coins on the Dou Qi Continent. It was said that one needed at least the strength of a Dou Ling to qualify for this gold card, which represented one's status. Of course, for a transcendent power like the Yao Clan, it was not strange for Yao Feng to possess one. From the memories of his previous life, he learned that this Five-patterned Purple Gold Card had been a birthday gift from his former father, the Yao Clan Chief. It contained a little over two hundred thousand gold coins. However, Yao Feng had no real concept of money and only felt that it was rather little. Back in the original novel, even auctions in a small city like Wutan City involved tens of thousands of gold coins. Was the clan chief's son really living this shabbily?

After grumbling a few times, Lan Feng set the medicinal ingredients aside and placed the Pill Cauldron on a raised platform nearby. Intricate runes were carved upon it, and a faint flicker of fire shone from its center, revealing the scorching heat within.

Earth Fire, connected to the flames at the planet's core and sealed through a special array before being transformed into alchemical fire, was an essential item for young Yao Clan members learning alchemy. In the entire Dou Qi Continent, perhaps only the Yao Clan had the means to provide every disciple with Earth Fire.

Following the techniques in his memories, Yao Feng extended his palm. A thread of Dou Qi emerged from its center and struck the Array Pattern. The pattern suddenly lit up, and a crimson flame rose within the Pill Cauldron.

Yao Feng steadied himself. The instant his palm touched the medicinal ingredients, an unfamiliar yet familiar sensation surged into his heart. He casually tossed a herb into the Pill Cauldron, while one hand hovered above it. Soul Power poured into the cauldron as he observed the herb's changes. Everything flowed as naturally as clouds and water, without the slightest mistake.

So this is what the system produces? If it calls it Second Grade Alchemy, then refining second-grade pills means there won't be a single error. Yao Feng thought in pleasant surprise.

The medicinal herb gradually turned into a mass of liquid within the flames. The liquid slowly rolled through the fire, reflecting a faint, shadowy gleam.

Yao Feng focused completely as he controlled the liquid, keeping it suspended within the flames so it would not evaporate. At a moment like this, even a slightly higher temperature could reduce the ingredient to ashes. Even with the system's support, Yao Feng did not dare let his attention wander in the slightest. He knew that in the world of Dou Po, alchemy carried the risk of a Cauldron Explosion. He had only just arrived in this world; he could not carelessly get himself killed like this.

Time passed bit by bit. Several medicinal ingredients had all been refined by Yao Feng into droplets of liquid, quietly floating within the Pill Cauldron. Next came the crucial step: fusing them together.

Yao Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead. Alchemy truly was not something an ordinary person could do. Even with the system's support, refining a second-grade pill was this exhausting.

Several drops of liquid slowly gathered together. Immediately, strange sounds rang out, and faint white vapor billowed from the flames.

The white vapor gradually weakened, and the rough outline of a pill quietly took shape within the flames.

Sensing the situation inside the Pill Cauldron, Yao Feng nodded slightly and controlled the Earth Fire to slowly rise in temperature. The pitted, uneven pill embryo gradually became smooth and round, while faint patterns emerged across its surface, rendering it exquisitely beautiful.

Slowly extinguishing the Earth Fire, Yao Feng generated a pulling force from his hand and drew the Spirit Nurturing Pill into his palm. He then took out a jade bottle and placed it inside.

Smelling the unusual fragrance emitted by the Spirit Nurturing Pill, Yao Feng smiled happily. His very first attempt at pill refinement had actually produced a Pill Pattern. Though it was not perfect, it was still somewhat better than an ordinary Spirit Nurturing Pill. I never expected my talent for alchemy to be this strong! Yao Feng thought smugly.

After storing the Spirit Nurturing Pill in his Storage Ring, Yao Feng looked at the bright moon overhead and stretched before walking toward his small courtyard. Rows of lamps illuminated the courtyard brightly. As the son of the Yao Clan Chief, Yao Feng naturally did not lack maidservants to attend to his daily needs. However, the original owner of this body had been somewhat solitary by nature and had driven them all away. Yao Feng was happy to have the peace and quiet. Entering his little nest, he found the floor covered in precious tiger pelts. He took off his shoes and stepped onto them, feeling exceedingly comfortable. Yao Feng sighed. "As expected of a wealthy family. This room is furnished completely differently."

Lamps fueled by magic crystals, along with rare and precious Dragon Saliva Incense, displayed the extravagance of a great clan.

Yao Feng lazily lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and rolled around a few times. He was so excited that he could not fall asleep.

"The vast Tagore Desert...

"The Jia Nan Academy where prodigies gathered...

"The bloody, shadowy Black Corner...

"The mysterious white-bearded old man...

"..."

Time passed bit by bit amid his wild thoughts. At some point, Yao Feng fell into a deep sleep. Only when the morning sunlight shone in through the window and fell upon his body on the bed did warmth envelop him...

"Ahh~"

Yao Feng raised a hand to block the sunlight and reluctantly rolled over. Just as he was about to go back to sleep, a clear and pleasant voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Brother Feng, you're still not up? Today is the Ancestral Worship Ceremony. Don't be late!"

"What the hell is going on?"

The still-drowsy Yao Feng suddenly woke up. He had just been wondering who would be so bored as to knock on his door early in the morning, but after merging with the previous owner's memories, he suddenly remembered that today was the Yao Clan's Ancestral Worship Ceremony. It was also the time for the younger generation of the Yao Clan to test their bloodline grades and awaken their Clan Marks.

As one of the Eight Ancient Clans, the Yao Clan's ancestor had naturally been a Dou Di powerhouse, and the bloodline passed down by him was immensely powerful. Within the Yao Clan, the higher one's bloodline grade, the greater one's potential. The original owner of this body had tested as possessing a Ninth Grade Bloodline last year, surpassing everyone else. Only Yao Xingji had come close to him. The young girl knocking outside, Yao Ling, was an exception. Last year, she had been completely ordinary, but after encountering a fortunate opportunity, she had awakened a Dou Di Bloodline in one stroke. In terms of grade, she was likely no weaker than Yao Feng had been a few years ago. Speaking of which, Yao Ling's transformation had quite a lot to do with Yao Feng. If not for him, she might not have obtained that fortunate opportunity. But that was all in the past, and Yao Feng did not pay much attention to it. Yao Ling, however, had firmly remembered Yao Feng's kindness and remained quite close to him, though most of the time she had only been met with cold indifference.

Unable to continue sleeping, Yao Feng reluctantly climbed out of bed and walked out of the room. Looking at the delicate, beautiful girl standing in the courtyard, her pink adornments made her appear youthful and lively. A pair of tight pants wrapped around her slender, long legs, accentuating their smooth curves. Long legs, a perky figure—despite her young age, she already possessed the beauty to topple cities.

Yao Feng awkwardly did not know what to say. Could he say that he was no longer the Yao Feng from before? That would be ridiculous!

"Um, Ling'er, the Ancestral Worship Ceremony is about to begin. Let's head over first."

"Mm!" Yao Ling nodded vigorously, a smile blooming across her face that made one want to pinch her adorable cheeks.

Looking at Yao Ling's radiant smile, Yao Feng felt conflicted. The former Yao Feng had always been cold and dismissive toward her. If he suddenly became very warm toward her, would that not seem strange? But she really was adorable, and he did not even have anyone to talk to. It was so boring.

The journey ended amid Yao Feng's inner conflict. The two arrived at a spacious plaza, where a gigantic humanoid statue stood silently before them. It was the Yao Clan's ancestor, a Dou Di powerhouse. A group of people stood beneath the statue. From front to back, their faces grew younger and younger. At the very front stood mostly white-bearded elders, along with the clan's nine elders and the Yao Clan Chief, Yao Dan.

The conflict along the way made Yao Feng understand that the past was the past, and the present was the present. Why worry so much? Following his heart was what mattered most.

The Ancestral Worship Ceremony had already begun. Yao Feng led Yao Ling quietly to a spot and followed the crowd through the complicated ritual procedures. By the time the entire process ended, two hours had passed. Just as Yao Feng was about to collapse, the announcement that the ceremony was over finally rang out.

"It's finally over!"

Yao Feng let out a deep breath of relief. Fortunately, he now possessed the body of a Dou Zhe. If this had been his previous life, he would have collapsed long ago.

"Brother Feng, the test has only just begun!"

Hearing Yao Feng's quiet complaint, Yao Ling nearly laughed out loud. It was the first time she had seen Yao Feng be so unserious, and it truly opened her eyes.