Chapter 121 Return
"Just who is this senior? He's so mysterious!"
"He can casually refine top-grade Jade Marrow Pills and even guide a sixth-grade alchemist to break through to the seventh grade... This person must be at least an eighth-grade alchemy master, right?"
"Eighth grade? I think it's more than that! Maybe even a ninth-grade Pill King!"
"Ziyun Pavilion has really struck gold this time!"
"From now on, I'll only buy elixirs from Ziyun Pavilion!"
...
Purple Cloud Pavilion, fifth floor, alchemy room.
The place was decorated in an extremely luxurious manner, with the floor paved with warm white jade and the walls inlaid with luminous pearls.
In the center stands a bronze alchemy furnace with three legs and two handles. The furnace body is engraved with complex runes and emits a faint spiritual energy fluctuation.
This is a high-grade Xuan-level alchemy furnace, which is considered quite good in Qingzhou City.
But Zhou Tian glanced at it and shook his head.
"A poor alchemy furnace will affect the quality of the pills produced."
With a thought, he took out the Earth Core Flame Jade Cauldron from his storage ring.
As soon as the crimson jade cauldron appeared, the temperature in the entire alchemy room rose several degrees.
The naturally formed vein patterns of magma on the furnace wall glow faintly, as if there is subterranean fire flowing within them.
"This is... a Grade Earth-level alchemy furnace?!"
Su Wan'er gasped in shock, her eyes filled with astonishment.
A Grade Earth-level alchemy furnace!
You probably can't find another one like him in the entire Qingzhou City!
Ziyun was also horrified.
This senior can casually produce a Grade 1 pill furnace; his background is probably even more terrifying than she imagined!
Zhou Tian ignored the two women's shock.
He placed the Earth Core Flame Jade Cauldron in the center of the alchemy platform, and then took out dozens of medicinal herbs from his storage ring.
He had just gotten these medicinal herbs for free from Tianbao Pavilion.
Although its grade is not high, it has the advantage of having a wide variety of types.
"Today, I will first refine three kinds of pills."
Zhou Tian said calmly, "First-grade Rejuvenation Pill, second-grade Qi Gathering Pill, third-grade Barrier Breaking Pill. Watch carefully, I will only demonstrate once."
As he spoke, a wisp of pale golden fire rose from his fingertips.
The fire of the heart fell into the alchemy furnace, instantly turning the furnace chamber bright red.
Zhou Tian's movements were as fluid as flowing water as he placed the medicinal herbs into the furnace one by one.
His movements seemed casual, yet they contained a certain profound rhythm.
The timing of adding each medicinal herb, the control of the heat, and the infusion of spiritual energy were all precise to the extreme.
Su Wan'er's eyes widened, not daring to miss a single detail.
She discovered that Zhou Tian's alchemy techniques were completely different from what she had learned.
There were no complicated steps or hand seals; everything was so natural and smooth.
It's as if alchemy isn't a skill, but an art.
"The path of alchemy emphasizes 'following the natural way'."
Zhou Tian explained the process while refining the elixir.
"Medicinal herbs have a spirit, and the cooking time has its own feelings. What you need to do is not to forcefully control them, but to guide and adapt to them."
"The main ingredient of the Rejuvenating Pill, 'Qingling Grass,' is warm in nature and should not be heated over high heat. It should be simmered over a low flame until its medicinal properties are fully released before adding the auxiliary ingredient, 'Angelica dahurica'..."
With each word he spoke, his hand gestures changed accordingly.
The fire in the furnace fluctuated in size, and the medicinal herbs tumbled inside, gradually releasing a richer aroma.
In less than fifteen minutes, the stove lid popped open automatically.
Twelve perfectly round, emerald-green Rejuvenation Pills flew out and landed in a jade bottle that had been prepared beforehand.
Each pill has faint cloud patterns on its surface.
Top-grade Rejuvenation Pill!
Su Wan'er gasped.
Twelve top-grade Rejuvenation Pills were refined in a quarter of an hour!
This efficiency, this quality, is simply unbelievable!
Zhou Tian continued refining Qi Gathering Pills without pausing.
This time, he used a different method.
The heart fire split into dozens of fine threads, which, like serpents, burrowed into the medicinal materials and began to refine them from the inside.
Impurities on the surface of the medicinal materials are quickly removed, leaving only the purest medicinal properties.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the stove lid was opened again.
Nine Qi Gathering Pills, pure white and radiating rich spiritual energy, flew out.
Top-grade Qi Gathering Pill!
Su Wan'er was numb.
It takes her at least an hour to refine Qi Gathering Pills, and she can only produce a maximum of six pills, which are only of medium quality.
Compared to Zhou Tian, she was practically a beginner!
Finally, there's the Barrier-Breaking Pill.
This is a grade three elixir, and its refining difficulty is much higher than the previous two types.
Zhou Tian remained calm, but his technique became even more exquisite.
He formed a hand seal, and his inner fire transformed into a lotus flower, enveloping the medicinal herbs within.
The lotus flower slowly rotates, each petal radiating a different temperature.
The medicinal herbs tumble within the lotus heart, their medicinal properties being gradually refined and blended.
This time, it took a little longer.
About 15 minutes later, the stove lid popped open for the third time.
Six golden pills, each with flowing golden patterns on their surface, flew out.
Top-grade Breakthrough Pill!
Su Wan'er was completely stunned.
Can even a third-grade elixir be refined into a top-grade one?
Moreover, it only took half an hour?
This is no longer alchemy, this is simply a miracle!
Zhou Tian put away the pills and looked at Su Wan'er.
"Did you understand?"
Su Wan'er came to her senses and shook her head with a wry smile.
"Senior's technique is too profound; this disciple... only understood 30% of it."
"Thirty percent?"
Zhou Tian raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad, better than I expected."
He paused, then said calmly, "The path of alchemy emphasizes comprehension. What I'm demonstrating today isn't a specific technique, but rather the application of the 'Tao'."
"Go back and think about it carefully. I'll check on your progress in three days."
Su Wan'er nodded emphatically.
"Yes! This disciple will certainly strive to do my best!"
Zhou Tian said no more and handed the refined pills to Zi Yun.