Chapter 19: Astonishing Alchemy

Zhong Lingdao saw Uncle Bai coming out from inside and greeted him, "Uncle Bai."

"Hmm. What does old Liu want you for?"

"It's like this—today, a new disciple arrived, claiming he knows the art of alchemy."

"So he sent you to bring him here?"

"Yes, that's right. He came from the Immortal Ascension Ceremony today," Uncle Bai pondered for a moment.

"Exactly. This is Lin Yang, the champion of this year's Immortal Ascension Ceremony, and he's also a first-tier high-grade alchemist," Zhong Lingdao introduced Lin Yang to Uncle Bai.

"This kid looks so young. Is he really a first-tier high-grade alchemist? Don't try to fool me," Uncle Bai scoffed, eyeing the youthful Lin Yang.

"You shouldn't be taken in," he warned.

Zhong Lingdao found himself a little uncertain—after all, Lin Yang really was so young. "Junior Brother Lin, what do you say?"

"Uncle Bai, may I show you my skills by refining a batch of pills on the spot?" Lin Yang replied with confidence, saying exactly what Zhong Lingdao had hoped for.

"Very well. What ingredients do you need?"

"I require fifty-year-old meatlingzhi, one-hundred-year-old spirit ginseng, as well as clearmind grass, coinflower... a total of eighteen ingredients."

"Wait, none of those are used in any pill I know," Uncle Bai remarked, feeling Lin Yang was just talking nonsense.

"Just watch, Uncle. This is a pill I've developed myself," Lin Yang replied confidently.

Inside the alchemy chamber, the other disciples fetched the requested materials. Lin Yang sat before the pill furnace, checked the spirit herbs, and, once satisfied, cleaned the furnace thoroughly.

"Let's see what you're up to," Uncle Bai said, his curiosity piqued by Lin Yang's actions.

Lin Yang warmed the inner wall of the furnace, then spread the spiritual fire evenly along it before tossing in the ingredients.

Uncle Bai watched closely, increasingly intrigued by Lin Yang’s speed in extracting the medicinal essence—far faster than his own. He also wondered who had taught Lin Yang, for his movements were astonishingly uniform—even the way he cast the ingredients was identical each time.

Lin Yang’s movements were smooth and continuous, never pausing to consider his next step, unlike other alchemists. His actions were almost mechanical—so precise that Uncle Bai could not help but marvel.

Moreover, Uncle Bai gleaned several new tricks from Lin Yang’s process, such as infusing spiritual fire along the furnace’s inner wall to heat ingredients evenly and speed up extraction, and simultaneously refining two herbs at once.

"You really do have genuine skill, boy. Did you acquire your alchemy manual from some ancient ruin? Your methods are unlike anything found in either the Yue Kingdom or Tian Nan," Uncle Bai remarked.

Lin Yang finished the pill in just a quarter of an hour. He retrieved five pills from the furnace.

The pills Lin Yang produced resembled smooth black coal balls—unattractive, yet their fragrance was invigorating, and the aroma was rich and potent. Unique patterns wound around each pill: the legendary pill patterns, emblematic of a supreme-grade elixir.

"Nephew Lin, what effects do these pills have? And how did you manage those techniques?" Uncle Bai grasped Lin Yang’s arm, eager for answers.

"Uncle Bai, I call this pill the Great Rejuvenation Pill. It can instantly raise one’s cultivation by ten years’ worth. However, the second dose only adds five years, and the third dose is nearly ineffective, though it remains a top-tier healing medicine," Lin Yang explained.

"Is this true, Junior Brother Lin?" Zhong Lingdao was clearly excited.

"Junior Brother Lin, could you sell me one to try?"

"Name your price. I’m already at level twelve of Qi Refining and have two Foundation Establishment Pills. With your pill, I could break through to Foundation Establishment at once," Zhong Lingdao declared.

"No need for payment, Senior Brother. Since you trust me so much, take this pill and let it serve as proof," Lin Yang said, handing him a pill.

Clutching the pill, Zhong Lingdao asked excitedly, "Any precautions I should take?"

"Not at all—the Great Rejuvenation Pill is gentle and requires no special care," Lin Yang replied.

Without hesitation, Zhong Lingdao swallowed the pill in one gulp and sat cross-legged to channel his energy.

A quarter hour later, his aura reached its peak, breaking straight through to the thirteenth level of Qi Refining, and continued to climb until it reached the pinnacle of the thirteenth level before stabilizing.

It took him a full hour to completely assimilate the medicinal power—an incredibly smooth process. Uncle Bai and the other disciples watched in stunned silence.

Uncle Bai quickly asked, "Can these pills also be used by those at Foundation Establishment or Core Formation stages?"

"They can be used at Foundation Establishment, though the effect is limited—typically, ten years of cultivation won’t break through a realm at that level. For Core Formation, it’s like using a cannon to swat a mosquito—far too small an effect."

"Even so, this is remarkable. From now on, Lin Yang is deputy head of the Alchemy Pavilion," Uncle Bai announced.

"All disciples and all spiritual herbs are at Lin Yang’s disposal."

"Did you hear that?" The surrounding Qi Refining cultivators gazed at Lin Yang with burning eyes.

One bold disciple stepped forward, "Master Lin, would you sell us a pill?"

"I would, but you know the rules for alchemists," Lin Yang replied.

"Of course, of course!" The crowd cheered and rushed off to gather spirit herbs. According to custom, when an alchemist is given a set of materials, he returns one pill to the donor, keeping the rest for himself.

Just as Lin Yang had been seeking ingredients, they were now being delivered to him.

Some who had not yet left asked, "Master Lin, what if we buy them with spirit stones?"

"One mid-grade spirit stone per pill," Lin Yang replied.

"Very well, I’ll pre-order one."

"Me too! Me too!"

"And me!"

"Silence! Can’t you see your Senior Brother Zhong is still meditating?" Uncle Bai scolded.

"Junior Brother Lin, could you spare me one? I’ve been stuck at mid-Foundation Establishment for thirty years," Uncle Bai asked.

"No need for such formality, Uncle Bai—please, just call me Nephew Lin," Lin Yang said, handing him a pill.

"Thank you, then. I’ll call you Xiao Yang from now on, and here’s your payment." Uncle Bai handed him a mid-grade spirit stone.

Lin Yang accepted it with a clear conscience.

Soon, Zhong Lingdao finished assimilating the pill. He stood up, his aura at the thirteenth level of Qi Refining, dense and powerful—as though he had cultivated it himself.

"Junior Brother Lin’s pill is truly effective! If you ever need anything, just ask me and I’ll do my best to help," Zhong Lingdao declared, thumping his chest.

"Well then, Senior Brother Zhong, may I trouble you to show me to my quarters?"

"Ha, Xiao Yang, you don’t yet have a place to stay, do you?"

"I wonder what that fellow Zhong was thinking. Come, I’ll find you the most suitable place," Uncle Bai said, leading Lin Yang through the Alchemy Pavilion and into its rear courtyard.

Behind the pavilion stood only two small buildings; the rest of the courtyard was filled with rare, high-grade spirit herbs.

"Here, Xiao Yang, you’ll live in this building. The one next to it is mine—come to me anytime you need anything," Uncle Bai said.

Then he called out, "Zhang Renhao, come here. From now on, whatever your Uncle Lin needs, you’re to see to it. If you can’t manage, you’ll be out of Yellow Maple Valley!"

"Senior Brother Zhang, that’s not necessary. I seldom need anything," Lin Yang protested, startled.

"Junior Brother Lin, these two buildings are reserved for the heads of the Alchemy Pavilion. Now that you’re deputy head, it’s only fitting you have one," Zhong Lingdao explained.

"Senior Brother Zhong, is my pill really that important?" Lin Yang asked, still a bit confused.

"Of course! Gaining ten years’ worth of cultivation is like jumping two levels of Qi Refining for most. That’s a decade saved, greatly increasing the chance of reaching Foundation Establishment."

"In fact, even our Nascent Soul Ancestor, Patriarch Linghu, would make sure to keep you in the sect."

And so, Lin Yang’s new life as deputy head of the Alchemy Pavilion began...