An evolving Dou Technique! Take the medicine, learn to make it

[Azure Slashing Sword Aura]: Azure brings life to all things; the slash buries a thousand ages. This technique condenses Wood Attribute into sword aura, unleashing a strike like ten thousand bamboo stalks piercing the sky. Wherever the aura passes, it devours vitality.

The power of this Dou Technique depends on the practitioner's soul talent. In ordinary hands, it is equivalent to a low black-tier Dou Technique. A powerful soul can amplify its strength, up to the High Xuan Tier.

"Sister Ya Fei, I want this one." Chu Zhou made his choice without hesitation.

In an ordinary person's hands, this was a Low Xuan Tier Dou Technique, but in the hands of an Alchemist with soul talent, it was High Xuan Tier.

As it happened, Chu Zhou possessed more than enough soul talent, along with the Myriad Medicine Clarity Body and the Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art. As long as he refined medicine, he could keep strengthening his Soul Force.

Moreover, he could teach this Dou Technique to Meng Ziwei, helping her rise within the Flower Sect. When he eventually went to the Central Plains, she would be able to help him there, and she could devote herself more fully to assisting him on Blue Star as well.

"I knew this Dou Technique would catch your eye." Seeing Chu Zhou's choice, Ya Fei smiled. "Its creator was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. He created it because someone once said Alchemists were no good at killing and only knew how to call for help whenever trouble arose."

"An Alchemist's extensive connections are a skill in their own right, but this particular Alchemist took that remark rather seriously and created this Dou Technique."

As she spoke, Ya Fei folded one arm across her chest and rested her delicate chin on her other hand, seemingly recalling something. "I remember that Alchemist also left these words: 'One sword chills the frosted woods; its aura falls, and ghosts and gods tremble.' If someone exceptionally gifted could turn Wood Attribute Dou Qi into vitality, this would become a sword-aura Dou Technique that transformed vitality into the essence of death. It might even advance to the Earth Tier."

"If it really can advance, then I've found a treasure. Thank you, Sister Ya Fei." Chu Zhou smiled as he thanked her.

Even without Ya Fei telling him, he had felt that this Dou Technique's tier could improve.

Souls had different levels too, though very few people currently knew about that.

Since the power of the Azure Slashing Sword Aura was influenced by Soul Force, mastering its core would allow him to develop it to a higher level.

The Alchemist who had created this Dou Technique was undoubtedly a genius!

"Don't thank me just yet." Ya Fei raised her graceful hand, her lovely brows drawing together. "You've only just broken through to Dou Zhe. I brought you here to choose a cultivation method, not a Dou Technique."

"I don't need a cultivation method." Chu Zhou scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed. "Sister Ya Fei, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. The Alchemist who wanted to take me as his disciple once gave me a cultivation method. It's High Xuan Tier."

"Oh?" A flicker of surprise crossed Ya Fei's eyes before she broke into a smile. "That's a good thing. It means he truly valued you. Unfortunately, so much time has passed, and he still hasn't come looking for you. He probably met with some misfortune. What a pity."

Ya Fei completely understood why Chu Zhou had kept it secret.

This was a High Xuan Tier Cultivation Technique imparted by a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. There was no guarantee that outsiders wouldn't harbor malicious intentions if they learned about it.

She did not doubt the truth of Chu Zhou's words either. After all, he had cultivated from three-stage Dou Qi to Dou Zhe right under her nose.

The talent he had displayed in both cultivation and alchemy was certainly enough to attract a Fourth-Rank Alchemist's attention.

Since Chu Zhou had not known them well before, it was perfectly normal for him to keep some things to himself.

"That's what I thought too." Chu Zhou nodded in agreement, looking relieved as he smiled. "I figured that if I reached Dou Zhe and he still hadn't come looking for me, it would mean he'd probably met with disaster, or no longer wanted me as his disciple. Then I could tell you about it. Otherwise, I had to follow his arrangements."

"Mm, since you already have a cultivation method, take this Azure Slashing Sword Aura." Ya Fei generously gifted him the Dou Technique, then smiled. "Let's go find Uncle Gu Ni. Now that you've successfully broken through to Dou Zhe, it's time for you to formally begin refining medicine."

"All right." Chu Zhou readily agreed.

The two went together to find Gu Ni, who had just finished appraising treasures.

"You've broken through to Dou Zhe?" Upon hearing why they had come, Gu Ni reacted exactly as Ya Fei had.

Given Chu Zhou's rapid cultivation, he had long expected the young man to reach Dou Zhe soon. Yet when the moment actually arrived, he was still shocked.

Alongside his shock, however, came delight. After spending this time with Chu Zhou, he felt the young man was admirable in every respect.

The more outstanding Chu Zhou became, the more it proved their judgment sound. That was good news for both him and Ya Fei.

"Good. Starting today, I'll formally teach you to refine medicine. Once you reach the second rank, I'll record your accomplishments and report them to the clan leader, so he can invite a stronger Alchemist to teach you." Gu Ni took a sip of tea and stood up. "Come, let's go to the refining room."

This time, Ya Fei did not follow. She could neither help with alchemy nor understand its intricacies, so she left Chu Zhou and Gu Ni alone.

Once they entered the refining room, Gu Ni took an ordinary Medicine Cauldron from his Storage Ring and said solemnly, "I'm a Second-Rank Alchemist. I can also refine a few Grade Three Pills I'm familiar with, but their quality is mediocre and my success rate is low, so I've never managed to pass the rank certification exam."

"Most first- to third-rank medicines heal injuries, restore Dou Qi, or slightly enhance combat strength. These are generally the best-selling medicines in the markets."

"The first-rank medicines I'm best at refining are Spring Return Powder and Hemostasis Pill. I'll start by teaching you those two."

Chu Zhou had no objections and humbly asked Gu Ni for guidance.

Gu Ni knew very well that he was not qualified to be Chu Zhou's master, and Chu Zhou did not bring up becoming his disciple.

Gu Ni's role was simply to introduce Chu Zhou to alchemy and forge a friendly bond. Chu Zhou would certainly repay him in the future. Both understood this without saying it aloud.

The process of refining Spring Return Powder was not complicated, and Gu Ni was indeed highly proficient at it. He could slow down the process and explain what he was doing as he refined it.

Before long, a bottle of Spring Return Powder was ready. Gu Ni took out a bottle, collected the powder, and was about to put it into his Storage Ring out of habit.

"Uncle Gu Ni, could you give me that bottle of Spring Return Powder?" Chu Zhou asked.

"You're calling me uncle already, so of course." Gu Ni smiled and handed over the Spring Return Powder.

Not only that, he also took out an ordinary Medicine Cauldron he had prepared in advance and gave it to Chu Zhou.

"Thank you, Uncle Gu Ni. I'll go wash my hands, then you can watch me refine medicine." Chu Zhou found an excuse to leave.

Spring Return Powder restored a certain amount of Dou Qi, so there was no harm in taking it now.

After he took it, Chu Zhou's Myriad Medicine Clarity Body activated, and all the information about this bottle of Spring Return Powder appeared clearly in his mind.

The ingredients used, their proportions, the heat required, the timing of flame control, and the entire process Gu Ni had just performed—all from a first-person perspective.

He could do more than simply observe it. He seemed able to absorb its strengths and correct its shortcomings, fully integrating it into himself.

If I get a few more bottles of Spring Return Powder to take, I can absorb their strengths and make up for their shortcomings. Then probably no one will be better at refining it than me. Understanding flashed in Chu Zhou's eyes.

He washed his hands, then returned to the refining room, sat down in the center, and took out the Medicine Cauldron Gu Ni had given him.

First, this...

Then, this...

And after that, this...

Following the memories in his mind, Chu Zhou began working.

His movements were a little awkward at first, but gradually grew more practiced.

As time passed, Gu Ni's eyes slowly widened. He was utterly dumbfounded.

"What a Monster!"