Chapter 22: Three-Fire Refinement

The Blue Robe Steward left with a face full of smiles, spirit stones in hand, leaving Yu Changsheng standing there dumbfounded until a fellow disciple beside him tugged on his robe, at which point he reacted and sat back down.

He looked at that Gongsun Dan Shi on the futon, and in his heart he always felt unreliable.

And at this moment, a white-robed Outer Sect Disciple beside him — the very one who had just pulled him — leaned over, giving Yu Changsheng a start.

Only to hear him say softly: "Which Outer Peak's Outer Disciple are you?"

Yu Changsheng looked at him strangely and replied: "The No. 10 Outer Peak beside Beast Taming Peak."

"Oh, that one. I've been there before. I'm Tang Xing, from Yu Ding Peak. Let me tell you, listen to this senior brother: while you haven't heard more than a few words, hurry up and go refund the spirit stones!" Tang Xing cast a sly glance at that Gongsun Dan Shi and continued.

"This old alchemist's mind isn't clear; he lectures all day until evening, and what you hear is all nonsense — you fundamentally can't learn anything truly useful."

"And we listening below are truly tired, drowsing along with him. Look, those two disciples beside you have already closed their eyes and fallen asleep sitting there!"

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng turned his head to look, and sure enough the two disciples were already nodding off.

This scene made his mood plummet to the bottom, and in his heart he cursed that Blue Robe Steward as a son of a bitch, not human! Tang Xing saw his complexion turn ugly, clearly understood, and struck while the iron was hot: "Senior brothers back then were also tricked into entering. Fortunately it was only one month's payment. After enduring this month and gritting our teeth we'll be done. But for you, those three hundred-plus Low-grade Spirit Stones — how many days of scrimping and saving would it take to save that much?"

"So hurry up and go refund them. Perhaps that Blue Robe Steward will refund a bit more seeing your Outer Disciple status."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother."

Yu Changsheng nodded, thanked Tang Xing, and was just about to rise and leave when.

Gongsun Yang on the futon suddenly opened his eyes, as if he had heard the whispering below, and shouted sternly: "No clamor in the classroom!"

Yu Changsheng only felt a powerful momentum rush at his face, nearly suffocating him; the buttocks he had just lifted sat back down.

"Oh? You're the new disciple. What's your name again? Yu something Sheng?"

Gongsun Yang narrowed his eyes, and after a long while his brows relaxed into a smile: "Remembered now. Yu Changsheng. Truly a good name."

"It seems this old man hasn't given you the alchemy textbook yet."

Finished speaking, Gongsun Yang's storage ring flashed between his fingers, and an additional Yellow Book flew toward Yu Changsheng, landing steadily on his crossed knees.

This Yellow Book was named Three-Word Alchemy Technique; its binding was very crude — one look and you knew it was an ordinary textbook mass-produced.

But this textbook landing on Yu Changsheng's knees seemed to possess a special gravity, making it impossible for him to rise.

From then on, he understood: this Gongsun Dan Shi had already seen through his intention to leave and used this method to forcibly detain him. A Third-Rank Alchemist — do you have to be this shameless?

Casually refining a few Third Rank Pills — what are a mere three hundred spirit stones to you? Yu Changsheng took a deep breath, nearly pointing at the other party to question him.

Fortunately his qi-nurturing skill was sufficient, and he quickly calmed down without flaring up.

After all, that was a Third-Rank Alchemist. Even if the other party's cultivation was only Qi Refining Peak, in terms of status he could be mentioned in the same breath as Foundation Establishment Peak or even Golden Core.

First Rank Pills are effective for Qi Refining, Second Rank for Foundation Establishment, Third Rank for Golden Core.

And breakthrough-type pills are one layer higher. For example, the Foundation Establishment Pill is a top-tier existence even among Second Rank Pills, and few Third-Rank Alchemists in the sect can refine them.

Therefore a newly broken-through Third-Rank Alchemist like Gongsun Dan Shi, no matter how much water content, is a treasure of the sect. Let alone swindling some spirit stones — even if he slaughtered you single-handedly, nothing would happen to him.

Sect rules forever bind the weak.

"Forget it. The money's spent. I'll just listen patiently. I want to see what tricks this Gongsun Yang can lecture out!"

Yu Changsheng gritted his teeth, opened the Three-Fire Refinement on his knees, listening to the intermittent lecture voice while trying to understand this alchemy technique.

This book only expounds the basics of alchemy; ordinary alchemists fundamentally don't need it.

But for a disciple like Yu Changsheng who hasn't yet entered the door, it is helpful.

Beside him, Tang Xing detected that Yu Changsheng was actually studying seriously, and couldn't help being greatly surprised, then shook his head again.

"No matter how good the content, without someone to guide the way, how can you comprehend it with your talent?" "Pitiful, pitiful."

Finished speaking, he also imitated the other two disciples, dozing off in proper form, making the best of a bad situation.

Only Yu Changsheng immersed himself in the book and Gongsun Yang's voice, slowly closing his eyes.

"Oh? I lectured so slowly, so scattered, yet this little brat can actually listen in?"

Gongsun Yang secretly opened one eye, narrowed it, and interestingly sized up Yu Changsheng.

Then closed his eyes, stopped the lecture voice, and after half a double-hour slowly spoke again.

"In the jade furnace, gentle fire gleams; throughout the twelve hours, only guard the one."

"At this time the Yellow Path meets Hui Yin and Yang; the Three Natures' Origin Palace leaks nothing."

Yu Changsheng didn't know what his current state was called. He had a feeling of the four elements all being empty. The words before his eyes seemed alive, lining up row by row and entering his mind.

And he didn't need to painstakingly ponder the meaning inside; he naturally understood.

"Three-Fire Refinement: Slow Fire, Quiet Fire, Void Fire."

"To learn it, you must empty yourself, follow your heart and act, not deliberately control the spirit herbs' medicinal nature, yet be able to fuse them together in the raising of a hand or the movement of a foot."

"Fast has fast's benefits. Many alchemy techniques pursue a fast, urgent pace. However, the pills they refine have greater toxicity and worse effects, while Three-Fire is slowly decocted, fusing the spirit herbs' medicinal nature into the fire."

"So that's it. I've comprehended it."

Yu Changsheng opened his eyes, and a System Message displayed before his eyes.

【You have learned Three-Fire Refinement. Allocate points?】

"Allocate points."

As he silently recited with a calm heart, the Character Panel changed.

【Name: Yu Changsheng】

【Realm: Qi Refining Fourth Layer】

【Constitution: Spirit Beast Affinity】

【Cultivation Methods: Changchun Gong Familiarity (5/10000), Lian Shen Gong Familiarity (12/10000), Beast Taming Art Entry (15/1000), Three-Fire Refinement Entry (1/1000)】

【Spells: Fireball Technique Mastery (1/10000), Wind Travel Technique Mastery (5/10000), Wood Shield Technique Mastery (15/10000), Rainmaking Technique Entry (10/100)】

【Skills: First Rank Spirit Plant (5/1000), First Rank Alchemy (1/1000)】

【Spirit Pet: Chi She Wang】

【Remaining Essence: 570】

Information added: Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy Skill Entry and First Rank Alchemy.

This meant Yu Zhangsheng already possessed the skill to refine First Rank Pills!

At the same time, he had initially mastered the techniques of Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy in his mind; to further master other knowledge, he either needed to spend points to upgrade, or obtain subsequent methods from Gongsun Yang's mouth.

Yu Zhangsheng raised his eyes, and his gaze at Gongsun Yang turned fervent.

This old man truly had real skill.

And as Gongsun Yang dozed off, he inexplicably woke up, only feeling a chill behind him.

Chapter End