Chapter 661: Grandmaster Alchemist

"..."

In the slightly dim room, Ye Lan stared silently at the dishes on the table; the expression on her face just now had completely faded, leaving only an lingering indifference.

Earlier, at the Eight Peaks council, she had mentioned several matters.

Not even a full day had passed before someone once again stepped into this small courtyard.

As Ye Lan's gaze grew cold, the candle shadows in the room suddenly stopped swaying, freezing on the walls; the entire courtyard became insubstantial, as if severed from heaven and earth.

The rustling of the lush branches on the great tree in the courtyard ceased abruptly.

The leaf shadows falling on the ground gradually took the shape of swords.

With a single breath, the two elders following Liu Ruifeng were drenched in cold sweat, feeling as if pins were stuck in their backs, their loose facial skin trembling uncontrollably.

By comparison,

Liu Ruifeng, whose age and cultivation were both inferior to theirs, remained perfectly calm before such a chilling transformation, a trace of excitement so intense it was almost palpable hidden in his eyes.

He now desired Ye Lan to act more than anyone else.

Father is watching this place; I am in no danger of losing my life, at most I will suffer severe injuries.

Those senior uncles and aunts might still feel guilt in their hearts, so they all refused to speak, unwilling to join hands to strip this low woman of her peak master position.

If this woman attacks a junior brother from another peak without cause, and that junior brother happens to be the only one capable of refining Calamity Pills... Tsk, fighting among brothers, letting personal grudges affect Grandfather's Dao; the entire Master Master Shenxu Mountain would not tolerate her!

Upon thinking of this, Liu Ruifeng's breathing gradually grew a bit heavy.

Trading half a life for a peak master position is simply too profitable!

Just then, the candle flame on the table suddenly returned to normal; the sword shadows covering the courtyard ground rapidly contracted, turning back into the appearance of branches and leaves.

Liu Ruifeng's expression changed slightly.

He saw that the black-robed youth, at some unknown moment, had placed his palm on the back of Ye Lan's hand, gently pressing down, thereby stopping this invisible storm laden with boundless killing intent.

"Very well."

Shen Yi withdrew his hand, turned his head to look outside the room with a normal expression, then took out a jade slip and ran two fingers across it.

In the next instant, all the confusion he encountered during his deduction was recorded within it.

Tossing the jade slip over, Shen Yi nodded slightly at his chin: "Trouble you."

"..."

Liu Ruifeng took the jade slip, his expression strange, silent for a long time before he could utter a word.

What is this thing! Can't tell good words from bad?

Bringing people back to snatch our own Alchemy Peak, and you actually expect me to help solve your doubts? What do you think my Sixth Peak is, a fool to be taken advantage of?!

"What, having second thoughts?" Ye Lan glanced at the back of her hand and slightly curled her five fingers.

In the past, she would not have let Liu Ruifeng walk out of the Fifth Peak intact today, because she simply did not care about such things; otherwise, she would not have left the Master Master Shenxu Mountain directly.

But the situation is different now, so actions naturally cannot be so whimsical anymore.

Hearing this, the two elders lightly bumped Liu Ruifeng with their shoulders: "..."

The words have already been spoken; if we change our tone now, wouldn't that confirm the provocation?

"Th-then, that's impossible."

Liu Ruifeng forced a smile, immersed his spirit into the jade slip; after he finished reading its contents, the smile on his face became a bit more genuine.

One must admit, this newcomer is indeed an alchemist with a solid foundation.

All kinds of basic skills can be considered extremely solid.

No wonder Ye Lan brought him all the way back to the Master Master Shenxu Mountain, even generating some unrealistic thoughts.

But, judging solely from these questions, this person probably comes from a small sect or family, far from having touched the level of Calamity Pills; there is an unknown distance between him and me.

By the time the other party achieves mastery in the Dao of Alchemy, the daylilies will already be cold.

Having thought this, Liu Ruifeng closed his eyes; although his answers were somewhat perfunctory, he did not deliberately leave any wrong answers.

This person is, after all, a proper alchemist; leading him onto a crooked path is not something one can do by simply slapping one's forehead; if this young man spots the anomaly, using this matter later would instead affect my reputation.

To sit in the peak master position of the Alchemy Peak, compared to Ye Lan, Liu Ruifeng needs a "pretext" more, namely that everything is for the sake of Grandfather.

Since victory is already in hand, why create more trouble?

"The Void Origin Treasure Pill is too profound for you; this Green Dragon Blood Jade Pill is an entry-level Calamity Pill; it only requires infusing one layer of calamity power to be perfect, making it more suitable for your practice."

Of course, even though he knew Shen Yi's alchemical cultivation was shallow, Liu Ruifeng was still unwilling to hand over the formula for the Void Origin Treasure Pill; he simply gave a random entry-level formula to send the other party off to ponder slowly.

"Thank you." Shen Yi reached out and took back the jade slip.

"Why be so polite? We are all disciples of the Alchemy Peak; in the future, if junior brother needs anything, just speak directly."

Liu Ruifeng nodded with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

His main purpose for coming to this small courtyard today was to provoke Ye Lan; secondly, to investigate the true strength of this new disciple.

Although he didn't see this woman act, now that he has investigated, the alchemical strength of the person she brought is nothing special; he probably only serves to fool a layman like her.

Trying to seize the Alchemy Peak with such a person is undoubtedly the dream of a fool.

"Senior sister, it is late; Ruifeng will not disturb you further." He cupped his hands, then turned and walked down the mountain with the two elders.

Only when they reached the foot of the mountain.

Did the two elders forcefully exhale a breath, still feeling apprehensive: "It is simply unimaginable; this woman left the Master Master Shenxu Mountain, lost the supply of resources, walked alone in the world, yet her cultivation still advanced by leaps and bounds; if she had stayed at the Alchemy Peak back then, she would probably have already reached the Fourth Rank!"

Fourth Rank is the term for Immortal Officials; among cultivators, Fifth Rank can pluck the Dao Fruit, and one step further up is pushing the Dao Fruit to a higher level, deriving changes belonging to oneself.

And this realm, even among the eight peak masters, still has two who have not touched it.

Could it be that the lack of her alchemical aptitude was all compensated in her cultivation talent?

"What's the use?"

Liu Ruifeng sneered, saying disdainfully: "However powerful the means, can they be stronger than Grandfather?"

To put it bluntly, with a Great Luo Immortal Venerable stationed here, his vast lifespan, for ordinary cultivators, is no different from being immortal and indestructible.

As long as he hadn't perished in the tribulation, what difference did it make whether his disciples were sixth-rank or fourth-rank?

"So how's the situation? Is the problem serious?" The two old men slowly came to a halt.

"What problem could there possibly be? Once that person refines a Tribulation Pill, Martial Ancestor will have long since emerged from seclusion in fury."

Liu Ruifeng raised an eyebrow and looked up toward the mountaintop.

Won't let me set up Dad's patriarch statue, huh? Then I'll set up my own Patriarch Ruifeng instead.

……

Cheng Xiaoyuan, inside the house.

"Is there a problem?" Ye Lan gave a light cough, her gaze drifting, not quite daring to look the young man beside her in the eye.

As the peak master, encountering such a minor matter and still needing the other party to step in and remind her — that was embarrassment taken to the extreme.

"No problem."

Shen Yi held the jade slip, quietly digesting its contents.

With the foundation he had built by spending a full six tribulations' worth of effort reading through every alchemy text in the Scripture Pavilion, he could tell truth from falsehood at a glance.

"So should we stay here at Master Master Shenxu Mountain for now, or head back first and return once your alchemy has borne fruit?" Ye Lan said softly.

Hearing this, Ye Jing lowered her gaze slightly — the shocks she had received tonight were already more than enough.

Ever since coming to Alchemy Peak, her elder sister seemed to have become Shen-dage's… little follower.

Was this still the famed General General Yan Lan who had shaken all of Dananzhou?

"Let's give it a try first."

Shen Yi didn't dare speak too definitively either — mainly because the demon-beast lifespan was nearly spent.

No coin in his pocket — he really couldn't afford to act tough.

Lady Qinghua's side had been doing its best to sweep and clear, but after waiting all this time, they'd barely scraped together two tribulations' worth of lifespan — better than nothing, barely.

Demon-beasts daring to show their heads in front of immortal soldiers were truly few and far between.

He stretched, set down the jade slip, and headed toward the alchemy workshop on the mountainside.

"Give it a try?"

The two sisters raised their heads in unison to look at the young man's back, a touch of bewilderment rising on their faces.

What was he about to do now?

"……"

Under the curious gazes of quite a few disciples, Shen Yi walked unhurriedly into an alchemy room.

He didn't begin refining right away, but sat cross-legged before the furnace, propping his chin as he sank into thought.

According to the jade slip, the greatest difference between a Tribulation Pill and ordinary pills lay in how one retained the tribulation force contained within the medicinal ingredients.

A master of the craft could preserve eight or nine parts out of ten.

But a crude practitioner… would be doing well if even a wisp of tribulation force remained in the finished pill.

And this so-called craft, beyond talent and comprehension, also required a vast quantity of heavenly materials and earthly treasures to practice with.

【Sixth Rank · Azure Dragon Blood Jade Alchemy Scripture: Not Yet Initiated】

【Remaining Demon-Beast Lifespan: Two Tribulations】

"Tch."

Shen Yi shook his head — such precious ingredients imbued with tribulation force were beyond his means.

Fortunately, this was Alchemy Peak.

He softly called in a disciple on duty and listed the ingredients he needed: "Please fetch me a few portions."

"A f-few portions?"

The duty disciple stared at the list, stunned in place, and after a long while said sheepishly, "Martial Uncle, the stock of these things on the mountain isn't much…"

How could they possibly hand them over to an outsider like you to waste on practice?

On this Alchemy Peak, apart from Martial Uncle Ruifeng, who had ever enjoyed such treatment?

"I'll go ask and try to bring you one portion."

But remembering that this man had been brought back by Ancestor Ye Lan, the duty disciple gritted his teeth and didn't dare slight the other's face.

"……"

Shen Yi watched the disciple walk off, feeling rather speechless inside.

The other party surely had ulterior motives, but judging by this reaction, the scarcity of ingredients was likely also true.

Could he only stake his hopes on his own talent?

Should be fine, probably.

Shen Yi recalled what had happened back in the Nanyang treasure ground — if his alchemy attainments hadn't been decent enough, how could he have overcome that old dog in the end?

Soon the duty disciple returned with a jade-green ring: "Martial Uncle, the ingredients are all here… please use them sparingly."

There was only one portion in total — what was there to use sparingly?

What he really wanted to say was: maybe we just shouldn't refine it…

Ever since this Martial Uncle arrived at Alchemy Peak — whether it was picking and choosing in the Scripture Pavilion, or having read alchemy texts for merely two days before attempting to refine a Tribulation Pill — none of this seemed like something a normal person would do.

"You may go."

Shen Yi stood up, let out a light breath, and took out all the ingredients from the thumb-ring, arranging them on the rack in order.

His gaze was calm, his expression growing ever more placid.

Immediately after, the demon-beast lifespan poured swiftly into the formula.

The instant he stoked the furnace fire, Shen Yi seemed to transform entirely — his movements deft as he took the medicines, and while refining the ingredients, he began attempting to preserve the tribulation force within them.

Several rare treasures sank into the furnace one after another — the entire process flowed like water, completed in one breath.

The furnace fire flared up, sending out curling wisps of rich medicinal fragrance.

Day and night cycled past, the entire process lasting a full three days!

Shen Yi stood with his hands at his sides, quietly watching the alchemy furnace; those eyes seemed capable of seeing through the furnace wall, examining the pill gradually taking shape within.

His composed, unhurried bearing faintly carried the air of a grand master.

After a moment, he let out a soft breath.

Sure enough, it still wouldn't do.

The Azure Dragon Blood Jade Pill had been refined, but the tribulation force remaining within it…

Let me put it this way: one tribulation is one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years.

Shen Yi had roughly preserved six hundred years for this pill.

For someone of profound skill, retaining eight or nine out of ten would be the norm—so what level would two out of a hundred even count as?

He wasn't entirely sure.

But if he walked out carrying this thing, let alone helping Ye Lan reclaim the Peak Master's seat, Shen Yi seriously doubted whether he could even obtain his next batch of medicinal ingredients.

He really was just an ordinary person, without any dazzling, brilliant talent.

To refine a top-grade tribulation pill, he still needed vast quantities of medicinal ingredients to practice with—where could there be any shortcut?

But he likely didn't have that much time to idle away on Master Master Shenxu Mountain.

Shen Yi wasn't surprised by this result; what he had been contemplating all along was another question.

Since the inherent property of these medicinal ingredients was their ability to bear tribulation force,

then the pill refined from them should possess that same property.

If so, why couldn't a pill refine itself?

Shen Yi gazed at the pill about to take shape, and once more channeled the vast, surging demonic sovereign lifespan into the Azure Dragon Blood Jade Pill.

【First Tribulation, you have long since known this place by heart; now that you've opened the furnace to refine a pill and the pill has taken its embryonic form, you did not rush to fully coalesce it, but simply let it remain within the furnace】

A single embryonic pill remained within the alchemy furnace for a full one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years!

The medicinal ingredients condensed into a pellet began, over that long stretch of time, to reabsorb the tribulation force of heaven and earth!

……

"Three days already—why hasn't the furnace exploded yet?"

A few disciples on duty stood on the mountainside outside the Alchemy Workshop, whispering among themselves.

"No need to look down on him so much—the pill will definitely form."

Surrounded by disciples, Liu Ruifeng casually toyed with his thumb ring, a teasing smile playing at his lips: "But as for the tribulation force, naturally not much of it will remain."

He was genuinely looking forward to it now—once that boy walked out with a laughably inferior pill, would he still have the nerve to ask for a next attempt?

The medicinal ingredients for the Azure Dragon Blood Jade Pill were certainly precious, but they didn't touch on serious matters.

He just wanted to see whether the Peak Masters would dare hand over the ingredients for the Void Origin Treasure Pill, letting the other fellow play around with them as he pleased.

Before his words had faded, the disciples behind him suddenly fell silent, then bowed in unison: "Greetings, Peak Master!"

On the mountain path, two women came strolling, one ahead of the other.

"Heh."

Liu Ruifeng smiled soundlessly, released his thumb ring, and cupped his fist toward the mountainside: "Greetings, Jiang Shijie Ye. You've come to find that junior brother? Don't worry, he's right inside the Alchemy Workshop—counting the days, he should be coming out about now."

It was meant as a kind remark, but under his sarcastic tone, even a good-tempered miss like Ye Jing couldn't help but glance at him.

Ye Lan acted as if she hadn't heard, simply staring silently at the Alchemy Workshop.

Only after Shen Yi had stepped into the Alchemy Workshop did she realize what he had meant by "give it a try."

The matter of a newly admitted third-generation disciple walking off with a set of tribulation-pill ingredients had, with the Sixth Peak's eager nudging, become known to everyone.

Ye Lan didn't expect any good outcome.

She only hoped Shen Yi wouldn't be struck too hard a blow by the difficulty of refining a tribulation pill, on top of the whispers and rumors around him, and end up losing confidence.

So long as that pill wasn't too outrageous,

even if it meant throwing away all shame, she would absolutely guarantee his supply of medicinal ingredients going forward.

Just then, a wisp of golden light fell across Ye Lan's Bai Xi face, causing her to drift slightly into a daze.

In an instant, that golden light seemed like a long rainbow spreading out from a great river, swiftly blanketing the entire Fifth Peak.

"……"

Many disciples squinted slightly, momentarily unable to grasp what was happening.

Liu Ruifeng's hands froze in midair, his entire pupils reflected gold.

The smile at his lips faded at a speed visible to the naked eye; his lips trembled rapidly, as if wanting to say something, but unable to utter a word.

A tribulation pill had emerged into the world; the pill was complete and perfect.

Medicinal ingredients imbued with one tribulation's worth of force had entered the furnace and become a pill imbued with one tribulation's worth of force.

Not a sliver less, not the slightest bit lost.

(End of chapter)