Chapter 30: Giant Fire Alchemy Furnace?

Three days later.

Longshe Shan welcomed a new guest; father Chen Yuan climbed the mountain again.

He first experienced the terror of a third‑grade Formation, the Flowing Water Mist Formation, and was lost for the first time, trapped for several hours. If Chen Chuyang hadn't stepped in to rescue him, he might have remained stuck in the formation forever.

After leaving the formation, Chen Yuan saw that Chen Chuyang's gaze had changed, no longer the indifferent look of before…

"Father, could you stop looking at me like that? I'm scared."

"Oh, oh."

Chen Yuan withdrew his gaze, his mind filled with questions. He asked, "Did you set up the formation on Longshe Shan yourself?"

"Yeah, what's the problem?" Chen Chuyang read his thoughts and smiled, "Father, how does it feel? Any parts that need improvement? I always feel the formation on Longshe Shan isn't strong enough; it's missing a Killing Formation. The Flowing Water Mist Formation can only confuse people, and that doesn't seem sufficient."

"Next time when I'm free, I'll definitely set up another Killing Formation, so any intruder will never return."

"Alright, it's settled then."

As Chen Chuyang spoke, his father's complexion kept twitching, again and again—quite amusing.

The Killing Formation, no return—those words echoed in Chen Yuan's mind. Before testing the formation, Chen Yuan sneered at Chen Chuyang's words, thinking it was just child's play, not worth his attention.

After the test, he stared at his son like a monster; the Flowing Water Mist Formation was already so overwhelming—another formation, wouldn't that be even more so?

By then, even he, as a father climbing the mountain to find his son, would have to be cautious; if trapped in the formation, wouldn't that mean certain death?

Thinking of that, Chen Yuan choked up, feeling a lingering fear.

"Ahem, no need for that. I think the current formation is fine; your immediate focus should be on Pill Refining."

"Have you made any progress in Pill Refining lately?"

Chen Chuyang's eyes lit up at the words.

"Progress, of course, there is. Father, please place it into the pot."

"…"

In the end, after Chen Yuan's relentless persuasion, it turned out he didn't have to go into the pot.

He had developed a psychological shadow and couldn't… enter again.

The odor had only just dissipated, and he could finally see people again—how could he…

Although the Item's effect was strong and his strength improved somewhat, he remained uneasy. First, the smell was unbearably foul; second, the Item's effects were truly problematic—besides nausea it caused diarrhea, itchy skin, and other strange symptoms. The toxins it released caused a ruckus, leaving the Chen Clan far from peaceful.

He and his eldest son were despised, almost driven out of the Chen Clan—almost a record for the Chen Clan.

"Father, my Pill Refining ability has improved markedly lately; it will surely keep you enthralled,"

The effect is superb, making you feel like soaring to heaven or dying.

"Ahem, no need. I don't need it for now. If you insist on having someone test it, your younger sister has just returned home; I can have her help you. I'm sure she'd be happy to,"

"Younger sister?"

In Chen Chuyang's mind, an image of a gentle, sunny girl appeared—wearing a long dress, with a cute face, making anyone who saw her can't help but cherish her.

"She'll just be my younger sister."

Chen Yuan broke into a cold sweat; the eldest son wouldn't come to Longshe Shan, at least not for a while. The previous Item had left him such a huge psychological scar that he couldn't step out for some time.

The younger daughter's offer could be used once; such a good thing shouldn't be enjoyed alone.

A family, of course, should be whole and together.

If possible, his wife also wants to bring her in once, so he won't always complain about his own body odor.

"Chuyang, this is the Alchemy Furnace you wanted; take a look?"

Chen Yuan produced an Alchemy Furnace—an ugly one—and placed it before Chen Chuyang.

The Alchemy Furnace was simple yet peculiar, with three legs and two handles; its body was carved with flowers, grasses, birds, and fish, and a crack could be seen on it.

The crack was small, visible at a glance; Chen Chuyang brushed his hand over it.

"The Giant Fire Alchemy Furnace—Father barely managed to get it. This damaged Alchemy Furnace cost several hundred spirit stones, and it's still priceless."

"A pristine Alchemy Furnace, Father couldn't buy one for you; none are available outside either, they're too scarce."

"These things are only sold by a few major sects. With the Chen Clan's strength, we can't afford them; even if we got one, whether we could retrieve it is another matter."

Chen Chuyang knew well that the Chen Clan's strength was not great.

Even within Longshe Cheng they were considered a dominant clan, but outside Longshe Cheng, in the whole Great Qi Dynasty, they were nothing.

And before those sects, they were even less significant.

An Alchemy Furnace, even the lowest‑grade magical artifact, is beyond their reach.

The Giant Fire Alchemy Furnace is a Spiritual Artifact; shattered, it lost its original spiritual resonance and fell to the level of an ordinary magical artifact—indeed, even worse than a typical one. If it weren't an Alchemy Furnace, perhaps no one would buy it.

"See if you can use it,"

After Chen Chuyang brushed it, he infused a strand of true Qi; the Alchemy Furnace responded.

It differed greatly from what he expected, but he was satisfied.

At least this is a usable Alchemy Furnace, far better than his big iron pot; after further repairs it can still be used.

If it can be fully restored, it might become a fine Spiritual Artifact.

It could also be the first Spiritual Artifact Chen Chuyang possesses.

"It works."

Chen Yuan smiled, "As long as it works."

Chen Yuan feared buying something useless; when he saw his son store away the Alchemy Furnace, he genuinely smiled.

Not for any other reason, the furnace's purpose might go beyond this; his son could continue refining pills instead of dealing with those chaotic Items, which were truly terrifying.

"Since it works, Father will leave now; you can study it at your own pace,"

"Father, wait a moment,"

If he didn't shout, it would be fine; the more he shouted, the faster Chen Yuan fled.

That speed—whoosh a few times, and he was down the mountain.

Chen Chuyang watched his father's back; after a few breaths he had run far off, unable to stop shouting that kind of (thing).

"Eh?"

He also specially prepared a pot of new Item for his father, just right to test the Item's effect.

The newly revised formula, guaranteed to be super effective.

However, this father didn't give him a chance.

"Ah."

"Why run so fast? I'm not going to eat you."

Chen Chuyang shook his head, feeling somewhat regretful.

Chen Yuan, who had gone down the mountain, took a deep breath, glanced back, didn't see his son coming down, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew, you scared me to death; good thing I ran fast, otherwise if he'd caught me I'd be in trouble."

"Chuyang's Item isn't for people to soak in—it's deadly!"