Refining Complete

Inside the Alchemist Association's herb garden.

Nie Li surveyed the flourishing medicinal plants.

"This one."

"I need this one too."

"This one's grown nicely."

Crystal Water Lotus, Heavenly Spirit Flower, Dragon Dream Fruit...

Director Yang Xin followed behind him, her heart jolting every time Nie Li pulled up another plant.

Little Brother Nie Li was truly terrifying when he got to work. He picked only the best-grown plants-and the most expensive ones, at that.

No matter how deep the Alchemist Association's reserves ran, they could not withstand Nie Li stripping them bare like this!

Fortunately, their pill formulas had been selling exceptionally well lately, earning them a fortune and giving them the money to buy rare medicinal herbs in bulk.

Otherwise, if Nie Li had pulled up herbs like this before they obtained those formulas, they would have cried their eyes out.

"That's all the herbs we need for the Nine Profound Pills. They've been cultivated pretty well, though the herbs themselves are rather low-grade."

Nie Li shook his head as he spoke. In his previous life, he had never come into contact with Glory City's highest circles. Now that he had been reborn and returned, the pill formulas they originally possessed were simply too miserable to look at.

Thankfully, the Alchemist Association now had enough money to cultivate these passable medicinal herbs.

Behind him, Yang Xin gave a couple of rueful chuckles. Even within the Alchemist Association, these herbs were treasures that a fortune could scarcely buy, yet Nie Li still was not satisfied.

"All right, Big Sister Yang Xin, let's go look at the Alchemy Furnaces."

Yang Xin smiled and shook her head.

The Alchemist Association's Alchemy Furnaces were divided into grades as well.

And the ones Yang Xin had shown him first were already their finest.

"This one will do. It's barely adequate."

Nie Li pointed at a large Alchemy Furnace that was crimson all over.

Yang Xin: ...

She could only marvel once again at Nie Li's truly frightening eye. He had picked the very best with a single glance.

That afternoon.

Inside the alchemy chamber.

The large crimson Alchemy Furnace stood in the center of the room.

Six elders, including President Gu Yan and Elder Hu Shuo, sat at the six points around it.

Two Senior Alchemists and four Intermediate Alchemy Masters had personally taken part.

Ye Xiu stood guard himself. Who would dare intrude at such a critical moment in the refining process? Ye Xiu would strike any intruder dead on the spot.

Junior Alchemists also stood guard outside.

"Everyone, fire up the furnace!"

At Nie Li's command, flames began burning beneath the Alchemy Furnace.

Under the control of Nie Li's soul force, the medicinal herbs prepared in advance were fed into the Alchemy Furnace one by one, slowly and rhythmically.

The six alchemy masters worked together, controlling the heat and the degree to which the herbs were refined.

Meanwhile, Nie Li constantly watched for mistakes in each step and for any steps that could be simplified.

"Elder Hu Shuo, the Crystal Water Lotus is refining too quickly! Slow it down."

"Elder Li Yuan, the heat isn't enough to refine the remaining herbs. Increase the fire."

"President Gu Yan, prepare to refine the sacred nether grass next. Stay focused!"

Nie Li's repeated instructions and reminders left these alchemists, whom everyone in Glory City treated with respect, unable to help feeling ashamed of their own inadequacy.

Compared with him, they were practically no different from alchemy apprentices!

The refining went on for nearly a full day and night.

Refining such powerful pills had left the Intermediate Alchemy Masters exhausted in both mind and spirit, yet they still forced themselves to stay alert and sustain the process.

"Everyone, this is the final step!"

Nie Li took out the small porcelain bottle he had prepared beforehand.

The closer they came to the end, the steadier they had to be.

"Condense the pills!"

With President Gu Yan's excited cry, the Alchemy Furnace, which had been trembling all this time, slowly stopped shaking.

Nine pills flew out one after another and dropped into the small porcelain bottle Nie Li had prepared at the start.

"Quick! Let's see how the pills turned out!"

The others hurried over, their frenzy giving even Nie Li quite a fright.

He pulled out the little wooden stopper and took out a pill.

It was purple tinged with white, and its fragrance wafted in every direction.

Nie Li said, "The refining was a complete success. They're full-bodied, with a smooth, lustrous color-the finest of the finest. There's no time to lose, Lord Ye Xiu. Take these nine Nine Profound Pills to the City Lord's Mansion at once. Make absolutely sure the City Lord breaks through first."

"Leave it to me. Nie Li, does that mean you aren't coming back with me?"

"Yes. I still have a few things to discuss with the Alchemist Association."

Ye Xiu nodded and asked no further questions.

The Alchemist Association also had several Black Gold Rank and Gold Rank experts.

They would have no trouble protecting Nie Li.

Nie Li said, "Everyone, I'm sure you all know what caused Glory City's destruction in my previous life."

A beast tide.

Without a doubt, it was a beast tide.

"It was an unprecedented Hundred-Million Beast Tide. Even Lord Ye Mo, a Legendary Demon Spirit Master, died fighting in it. Although we now have enough Nine Profound Pills to let two Black Gold Rank experts break through to the Legendary realm, I never put all my eggs in one basket."

They had clearly refined nine Nine Profound Pills, enough to help three Black Gold Rank experts reach the Legendary realm. Why had Nie Li said two?

Because there were only three Black Gold Five-Star Demon Spirit Masters in all of Glory City.

Ye Zong, Shen Hong, and Chen Zhenglong.

There was absolutely no chance of giving Shen Hong any pills.

And none of the remaining Black Gold Demon Spirit Masters had reached Black Gold Five-Star yet.

Three Nine Profound Pills could only help a Black Gold Five-Star Demon Spirit Master break through.

Thus, the answer was obvious.

"Young Brother Nie Li, just tell us what you need the Alchemist Association to do."

President Gu Yan thumped his chest. With Glory City's very survival at stake, this was certainly no time for the six elders to fight over power and profit.

"I have eighteen pill formulas here that can serve many purposes. The herbs they require are just as cheap as those for the Soul-Nourishing Pills and Soul-Congealing Pills. Please have the Alchemist Association refine them in large quantities. This is also an excellent opportunity to strengthen Glory City."

As the eighteen pill formulas were brought out just like that, the elderly elders stared, transfixed.

From enhancement to healing, practically every formula held the elders' eyes captive. And the one trait all eighteen shared was that their ingredients were incredibly cheap-the cost of refining these pills was practically nothing.

"Th-this, this..."

President Gu Yan's hands trembled as he held the formulas.

"Please refine as many of these as you possibly can. The more, the better."

They also understood how greatly these formulas would strengthen Glory City, so naturally, they pledged to spare no effort.

"I also have instructions for making a few things here, all prepared to counter the beast tide. Please make plenty of these as well. The more, the better."

Bright Bamboo filled with Berserk Potion, liquids that could be detonated once mixed in the right proportions...

No matter how they looked at it, it was positively devilish.

Nie Li stayed at the Alchemist Association for two days. During that time, after answering every question on the sheets of paper the alchemists used to exchange ideas and raise questions in the assembly hall, he also translated a Pharmacopoeia that none of them could understand at all.

That nearly made several alchemy masters drop to their knees and kowtow to him on the spot.