Divine Pill Pavilion, Medicinal Garden.
Li Chen looked at the quiet, orchid-like woman in front of him, and smiled politely, "Fairy Yun, I have permission from Alchemist Chen to open a Pill Furnace, and I've come to collect ten Golden Bone Grass."
Yun Zhi had a slender figure, dressed in an ethereal white cloud Dharma Robe, with beautiful long hair reaching her waist.
Her expression was serene, her gaze peaceful, and she spoke softly, "Fellow Daoist This humble Li, Yun Zhi cannot be called a Fairy. You can just call me Fellow Daoist Yun."
Li Chen nodded, cupped his fists towards Yun Zhi, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yun."
In the Cultivation World, when encountering a female Cultivator, calling her a Fairy is always correct.
Even that female Cultivator in the shantytown liked to be called Fairy. Yun Zhi in front of him was an exception.
Yun Zhi gave Li Chen a very peaceful feeling. She was like a secluded orchid in an empty valley, carrying a faint scent of Spiritual Plants.
And the fragrance on her was very special; it must have been from long-term contact with Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicine.
Approaching her, Li Chen felt his mind become much calmer for no reason.
"Fellow Daoist This humble Li, please wait a moment."
Yun Zhi returned Li Chen's bow, lightly moved her lotus steps away, and soon returned to hand Li Chen a jade box.
Heaven And Earth Treasure must be sealed with special methods to prevent the loss of their medicinal properties.
Golden Bone Grass could barely be considered a Heaven And Earth Treasure.
Li Chen took the jade box from Yun Zhi's hand, his gaze sweeping over her serene and peaceful Face, thanked her, and then turned to leave.
Yun Zhi watched Li Chen leave, without much expression on her Face.
"How long has this kid been at Divine Pill Pavilion, and he can already open a Pill Furnace by himself?"
Yun Feng walked out from the side, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Yun Zhi smiled faintly, and spoke calmly, "Perhaps his Alchemy talent is astonishing?"
"Perhaps."
"The Cultivation World is too vast; it's not strange for any kind of Genius to appear."
Yun Feng was noncommittal, his gaze shifting to Yun Zhi, and he spoke in a deep voice, "But Zhi'er, Grandpa still needs to remind you, don't develop curiosity about these Cultivators with no future, and don't get too close to them."
"It's not that Grandpa is nagging, but these apprentices at Divine Pill Pavilion, each of them doesn't even look in a mirror; they're all like toads wanting to eat swan meat."
"Especially that Zhou Jian, repeatedly pestering Zhi'er, does he really think he's someone important? If not for the Pavilion Master's Face, this old man would have broken his leg long ago!"
"My Zhi'er has a natural Herb Spirit Body, and there's almost no Bottleneck for her to Cultivate to Foundation Establishment. She is destined to become a great Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the future."
"Even if she wants to find a Dao Companion, she should at least find a direct descendant of a major clan, or a True Disciple of an Immortal Sect, shouldn't she?"
Yun Zhi did not retort. Her smile was always so serene, and she obediently replied to Yun Feng, "Grandpa, I understand."
Li Chen took the Golden Bone Grass and went directly to the common Pill Refining Room for apprentices, chose a Pill Furnace, and skillfully started a fire.
"Junior Brother This humble Li, are you going to open a Pill Furnace?"
In the Pill Refining Room, several apprentices saw Li Chen's actions and all gathered around, each with a look of suspicion.
Facing Ink White's inquiry, Li Chen smiled kindly and replied humbly, "This humble Li has a small talent in Alchemy, and Alchemist Chen has already allowed This humble Li to open a Pill Furnace independently."
"How long have you been an apprentice?"
"Allowing you to open a Pill Furnace independently, isn't that old fellow afraid you'll blow up the furnace?"
Before anyone could speak, a tall, thin man with a pale Face, dressed in a luxurious Dharma Robe, strode over, his disdain unmistakable.
Li Chen narrowed his eyes, and spoke unhappily, "No need for Senior Brother Zhou to worry."
Zhou Jian's eyes were scornful, and he tilted his head slightly, speaking to Li Chen with his chin, "I'm not your Senior Brother."
With that, Zhou Jian turned and left, walking towards another Pill Furnace.
In the Pill Refining Room, a group of apprentices gathered around Zhou Jian, with only Ink White remaining by Li Chen's side.
Ink White looked at Li Chen and comforted him softly, "Junior Brother This humble Li, don't mind him. Senior Brother Zhou just has that kind of personality."
Li Chen gently shook his head, "Senior Brother Ink White, I'm fine."
During this time, Li Chen had also gained some understanding of the apprentices in the Divine Pill Pavilion.
Zhou Jian was one of the most talented among the many apprentices in the Divine Pill Pavilion. He could already refine Intermediate First-rank Medicinal Pills such as Harmonizing Qi Pill and Gathering Spirit Pill, and was currently attempting to refine Yellow Sprout Pill.
Logically speaking, he should have already been promoted to Pill Refiner.
However, because of his arrogant personality, he had a conflict with Alchemist Chen.
In earlier years, Alchemist Chen had intended to take Zhou Jian as his Personal Disciple, but later, discovering Zhou Jian's arrogant nature, he abandoned this idea.
Alchemist Chen even told Steward Fu and Linglong Fairy that Zhou Jian was not yet capable of standing on his own, which is why Zhou Jian had been unable to be promoted to Pill Refiner.
This also made Zhou Jian resent Alchemist Chen.
The treatment of apprentices and Pill Refiners in the Divine Pill Pavilion was completely different.
All the apprentices in the Divine Pill Pavilion wanted to be promoted to Pill Refiner and have their own exclusive Pill Refining Room.
Li Chen didn't pay attention to this small interlude. Zhou Jian's mockery wouldn't affect his mindset.
The raging flames licked the Pill Furnace, quickly turning it red hot.
Li Chen was not nervous during his first Alchemy attempt, because he had received the memories of several Second-rank Alchemy Great Masters.
He threw the Golden Bone Grass into the furnace, closed the lid, and controlled the heat to remove the coldness from the Golden Bone Grass, melting it into pure medicinal liquid.
Every step, Li Chen knew by heart.
When the furnace lid began to vibrate, Li Chen used his magical power to condense a large hand, lifted the lid, and quickly poured ten catties of Bai Ling Rice into the Pill Furnace.
A single Golden Bone Grass combined with ten catties of Bai Ling Rice could refine ten Pigu Pills.
Of course, there was also the issue of the pill formation rate.
For his first time opening a Pill Furnace for Alchemy, Li Chen didn't dare to show off too much, only controlling the pill formation rate to about seventy percent.
The average pill formation rate for Pigu Pills among these apprentices at the Divine Pill Pavilion was thirty percent.
That is to say, a batch of Pigu Pills, under normal circumstances, should yield ten pills, but the apprentices could only form three pills.
Zhou Jian was more formidable; his pill formation rate for Pigu Pills was one hundred percent.
As for Alchemist Chen and Pill Refiner Ge, their Pill Furnaces were more Advanced, their Cultivation was deeper, and their Alchemy experience was richer. In one go, they could refine dozens or even hundreds of Pigu Pills.
Bang!
With a loud bang, the Pill Furnace vibrated continuously.
Li Chen formed hand seals with both hands, injecting his magical power into the Pill Furnace, and began to condense the pills.
The loud noise attracted everyone's attention.
Everyone unconsciously shifted their gaze to Li Chen.
"Is he condensing pills?"
"Condensing pills is the most crucial step. If the condensation is successful, it basically means the Medicinal Pill has been refined."
"This is Junior Brother This humble Li's first time opening a Pill Furnace for Alchemy, isn't it?"
"Most of us blew up our furnaces during our first attempt, but Junior Brother This humble Li succeeded on his first try."
"I remember Junior Brother This humble Li has been at Divine Pill Pavilion for less than a year. I didn't expect him to not only gain the qualification to open a Pill Furnace, but also succeed in his first Alchemy attempt!"
Amidst the discussions of the crowd, the Pill Furnace stopped vibrating. Li Chen, with a solemn expression, withdrew his hand seals and raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
Alchemy also consumed magical power, especially during the pill condensation phase.
Li Chen's Qi Refining second-layer Cultivation was still a bit strained for opening a Pill Furnace for Alchemy.
Ink White, who was nearby, ran over and helped Li Chen lift the furnace lid to retrieve the pills.
As the Pill Furnace opened, white steam rose, and the aroma of medicine permeated the air. Ink White's eyes widened, and he stammered, unable to speak coherently, "Seven... seven pills, seven pills formed."
"Junior Brother This humble Li's first time opening a Pill Furnace for Alchemy, seven pills formed!"
Hiss!
In the Pill Refining Room, the apprentices gasped, looking at Li Chen as if he were a Prodigy.
In the corner, Zhou Jian looked at Li Chen with gloomy eyes.
When he first opened a Pill Furnace, he also refined Pigu Pills, but only three pills were formed.
This Li Chen's Alchemy talent seemed even better than his!
Meeting everyone's gaze, Li Chen secretly lamented that he had shown too much. A seventy percent pill formation rate was still a bit too much of a Prodigy in the eyes of these apprentices.
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