Before long, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted from the Medicine Cauldron in front of Xiao Yan.
A moment later, Xiao Yan gently tapped the Medicine Cauldron, and a perfectly rounded pill flew out and landed in his hand.
It was none other than the second-grade pill, Qi Condensation Powder.
Seeing what had just happened, Yao Ling nodded slightly beside him. This was Xiao Yan's first attempt at refining a second-grade pill, after all. Succeeding on his very first try spoke volumes about his talent. She looked at him and said,
"Excellent. I never expected you to succeed so smoothly on your first attempt at refining a second-grade pill. It seems I was right about you."
Xiao Yan smiled at her praise. "It's all thanks to your teaching, Teacher."
Even so, Xiao Yan said nothing more. Instead, he focused his mind and, following the system's instructions, began attempting to refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill using the same recipe.
This was a third-tier pill capable of strengthening the soul, something of considerable importance to Yao Ling.
With that thought, he took a deep breath and placed his hand back on the Medicine Cauldron, following the system-improved recipe in his mind step by step.
At first, Xiao Yan's movements were still somewhat unpracticed. Although the Heavenly Spirit Pill used the same recipe as Qi Condensation Powder, their refinement methods differed considerably. Qi Condensation Powder demanded steadiness: the heat had to remain even, and the medicinal properties had to meld slowly. Nothing could be rushed.
The Heavenly Spirit Pill, however, was entirely different. Its essence lay in fierce refinement. The heat had to be intense, forcing the soul power out of the ingredients in the shortest possible time before swiftly sealing it within the pill. The slightest mistake would let that soul power dissipate, ruining the entire batch.
Yet as the refinement progressed, insights kept flooding Xiao Yan's mind, and the steps that had once felt unfamiliar became perfectly clear.
So that's how it works. The clearheart grass isn't used here to balance the medicinal properties, but to carry the soul power.
And this soul-concentrating flower-its medicinal properties aren't incorporated directly into the pill either. Intense heat forces out its soul power, which is then wrapped in medicinal energy.
No wonder the system said the same recipe could produce a Heavenly Spirit Pill. So this is the crucial trick.
As Xiao Yan refined the pill, he kept analyzing the mysteries of the recipe in his mind. The more he examined it, the more he felt that the recipe improved by the system was truly exquisite beyond compare.
Moreover, after the system's selection, the same recipe could produce not only second-grade Qi Condensation Powder, but even a third-tier Heavenly Spirit Pill. Calling such a feat a mere improvement no longer did it justice. It was nothing short of turning decay into a miracle.
Before long, a medicinal fragrance entirely different from the earlier one drifted from the Medicine Cauldron.
This fragrance was far richer than that of Qi Condensation Powder, and it even carried a faint ripple of soul energy.
The moment Yao Ling sensed it, her expression froze.
Was that a ripple of soul energy I just sensed?
Shock filled Yao Ling's mind. As a soul herself, she was extremely sensitive to anything involving souls. The pill Xiao Yan was refining actually carried fluctuations of soul energy, which meant it had something to do with the soul.
She fixed her gaze on the Medicine Cauldron before Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Soon, she saw Xiao Yan gently tap the Medicine Cauldron. A pill flew out and landed in his hand.
The pill was pale green throughout, with a faint, almost imperceptible halo flowing across its surface. At a glance, it looked completely different from an ordinary pill.
"Teacher, this is called a Heavenly Spirit Pill. It's a third-tier pill that can strengthen the soul."
The instant Xiao Yan said this, Yao Ling froze.
"Strengthen the soul?"
Yao Ling found his words almost unbelievable. She examined the pill in Xiao Yan's hand again and again. Judging by her experience, the power it contained would indeed be greatly beneficial to the soul.
Had she not witnessed it herself, she would never have believed that a pill beneficial to the soul was merely third-tier, let alone that someone with only Dou Zhe-level strength had refined it.
Xiao Yan can actually refine a pill like this?
Yao Ling was stunned. Even in the Central Plains, pills capable of strengthening the soul were exceedingly rare, yet Xiao Yan had refined one so casually?
She then looked at Xiao Yan and asked, "Xiao Yan, did you refine this pill for me?"
Xiao Yan nodded at her question. "Teacher, you're a soul now. The stronger your soul power, the more you can do. So I thought that if I could refine a Heavenly Spirit Pill for you, perhaps it would help you recover faster."
His words moved Yao Ling. She had originally taken Xiao Yan as her disciple so that he could help refine a body for her resurrection, yet she had never expected him to take the initiative to think of her needs.
Her tone softened considerably as she looked at him. "I'm very glad you're so thoughtful."
Yao Ling then accepted the Heavenly Spirit Pill and swallowed it at once.
As the pill entered her, Yao Ling immediately felt a gentle power slowly circulating through her soul form, merging little by little into her soul origin.
Her soul power had indeed increased considerably as well.
Feeling these changes, Yao Ling was thoroughly satisfied. This Heavenly Spirit Pill really does work well. If I could take a few more, my soul power should recover even faster.
At that thought, Yao Ling once again marveled at just how worthwhile it had been to take this disciple.
Back when I was in the Central Plains, I was considered a genius among the younger generation too. But compared to Xiao Yan, I truly fall far short.
After all, where else could I find a disciple who can refine third-tier pills at eleven years old and still thinks of his teacher?
She then looked at Xiao Yan and said,
"It's getting late. Why don't we end today's alchemy lesson here? Still, I must remind you that even with your talent, you cannot afford to slack off. You should consolidate what you've learned and practice refining more pills."
Xiao Yan immediately nodded. "All right. I'll keep practicing."
For the rest of the time, Xiao Yan began refining Qi Condensation Powder, one pill after another.
With the experience of his first pill behind him, each subsequent refinement went more smoothly. Every pill of Qi Condensation Powder remained steadily at second-grade quality, and one or two even showed faint signs of pushing toward the third tier.
Watching Xiao Yan refine pills from beside him, Yao Ling grew increasingly pleased.
I have to admit, Xiao Yan's talent for alchemy would be exceptionally rare even in the Yao Clan. He has no special bloodline and isn't one of our clan, yet his potential is already this terrifying.
And when the time comes, having him refine a body for me will be as natural as water flowing into a completed channel.
At that thought, the corners of Yao Ling's lips lifted slightly.
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