Su Mo simply shook his head at their pettiness, not bothering to engage with them.
He focused on his Alchemy.
Once all the ingredients were refined, Su Mo began to fuse them into a pill.
His method was as simple and crude as before.
He fused all the ingredients together at once.
Watching this maneuver, both Master Mo and Master Jia shook their heads repeatedly.
’Just as we thought,’ they mused. ’Su Mo is still too young. He doesn’t understand any real Alchemy Technique. There’s no way he can create a Top-Grade Elixir.’
HISS! HISS! HISS!
Under Su Mo’s simple and crude control, all the ingredients merged. He then extinguished the Earth Fire.
Just then, the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley approached Su Mo.
Master Jia and Master Mo followed suit.
Master Mo asked, "What grade do you suppose this Elixir Pill of his will be?"
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley didn’t speak.
Master Jia, however, said coolly, "Why even guess? It’ll definitely be subpar. It might not even qualify as a Third-Grade Elixir."
Master Mo nodded in agreement.
Even if an Alchemist possessed incredibly strong Soul Power, a poor Alchemy Technique would often lead to them producing only subpar pills.
Subpar Elixir Pills were effectively downgraded, losing their original potency.
Su Mo couldn’t resist retorting, "When are you two going to stop being so condescending?"
Master Jia immediately retorted, "We’re just being honest! If you’re not convinced, open the furnace. Let the facts speak for themselves."
"Yes, open the furnace! Let the facts speak for themselves and we’ll see who ends up with egg on their face," Master Mo urged.
"Fine," Su Mo agreed. "I’ll open the furnace and give you two a real eye-opener."
He had long ago mastered the Nine Dragon Supreme Medicine Manual, and its techniques along with it.
Although his refinement process was simple and crude, it had been flawless. Thus, he was confident he could produce a Top-Grade Nine Dragon Venerable Pill.
"Elder Su, please allow me to open the furnace," the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley said eagerly.
He was intensely curious about what grade of Elixir Pill Su Mo could produce, and he wanted to open the furnace with his own hands to be the first to witness the result.
Su Mo said nonchalantly, "Fine. I’ll leave it to you."
"Yes!"
The Valley Master walked to the Pill Furnace, took a deep breath, and then opened the lid. Eighteen plump, round Elixir Pills immediately appeared before them.
WHOOSH!
An intoxicating fragrance instantly wafted out.
Master Mo exclaimed in shock, "This fragrance... it’s the scent of a Top-Grade Elixir! Can it be that he actually succeeded?"
"Impossible! But he clearly..." Master Jia’s face was a mask of utter disbelief.
The Valley Master carefully removed ten of the Elixir Pills. Seeing that they were flawlessly round, crystal-clear, and free of any impurities, he stammered, "This... This isn’t a Fourth-Grade Elixir."
"What? Not a Fourth-Grade Elixir?" Su Mo looked completely stunned.
’Could it be... that I failed?’
’But I followed the methods in the Nine Dragon Supreme Medicine Manual exactly. I didn’t deviate one bit. How could I have failed?’
’It doesn’t make any sense.’
Master Mo roared with laughter. "Hahaha! I told you this kid was wasting ingredients! I knew he couldn’t produce a Fourth-Grade Elixir!"
"Hmph!" Master Jia said with cold arrogance, "Without my help, or that of Master Mo and Master Lu, no one in the entire Eighteen Kingdoms is capable of creating a Fourth-Grade Elixir. It doesn’t matter how strong their Soul Power is."
As they spoke, the two didn’t forget to shoot sidelong glances at Su Mo, their faces filled with scorn.
’So much for your arrogance, kid.’ ’In the end, you’ll still have to come crawling and begging to us.’
Su Mo hadn’t expected to fail at Alchemy either. Shaking his head, he sighed, "Ah, it seems I was too reckless. Since they aren’t Fourth-Grade Elixirs, just throw them away."
"You can’t throw them away!" the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley quickly stopped him. "While it’s true this is not a Fourth-Grade Elixir, it’s because it has surpassed the Fourth Grade. This is a Fifth-Grade Elixir!"
"What? A Fifth-Grade Elixir?"
Master Jia was dumbfounded. "Master Lu, are your old eyes deceiving you? You must have made a mistake, right?"
Master Mo asked dubiously, "He was clearly attempting to create a Fourth-Grade Elixir, how could it have turned into a Fifth-Grade one? Master Lu, take another look."
"If you don’t believe me, there’s no point in me saying more. You’d better see for yourselves."
The Valley Master handed the Elixir Pills to the two men.
In the next instant, both of them were utterly astonished.
Master Mo cried out, "It truly is a Fifth-Grade Elixir! And it’s even a Top Grade among Fifth-Grade Elixirs! Heavens, I just witnessed the creation of a Fifth-Grade Elixir with my own eyes."
"Yes, yes, yes, a Top Grade among Fifth-Grade Elixirs! There’s no mistake, absolutely no mistake," Master Jia chimed in excitedly.
"Fifth-Grade?"
Su Mo was completely bewildered.
’I was clearly trying to create a Fourth-Grade Elixir. How did it inexplicably turn into a Fifth-Grade one?’
Su Mo asked, "Are you sure you’re looking at it correctly?"
"We are positive." The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley said with certainty, "Elder Su, although I have never succeeded in creating a Fifth-Grade Elixir, I can recognize one when I see it. Furthermore, Master Mo and Master Jia have both acknowledged it. The pills you’ve created are, without a doubt, Fifth-Grade Elixirs."
"That’s good!"
Su Mo let out a huge sigh of relief.
He had genuinely been afraid that his Alchemy had failed.
After all, these were all scarce ingredients that he had barely managed to gather by searching throughout the entire Eighteen Kingdoms.
What’s more, these Nine Dragon Venerable Pills were tied to his ability to achieve a Breakthrough to the next Realm, making them incredibly important to him.
’Thankfully, I succeeded.’ ’As for them turning from Fourth-Grade into Fifth-Grade, I can only chalk that up to good luck.’
Su Mo held out his hand. "How much longer are you two going to stare at them?"
"Ah..." Master Mo reluctantly handed the Nine Dragon Venerable Pills to Su Mo.
For him, Fifth-Grade Elixirs were incredibly rare. He certainly didn’t want to pass up the chance to hold one in his own hands and study it carefully.
THUD!
Master Jia suddenly fell to his knees. "Elder Su, I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness. I have offended you, Elder Su. Please, I beg for your forgiveness."
"Get up. There’s nothing for me to forgive," Su Mo said, shaking his head.
The two had only been condescending; they hadn’t disturbed his Alchemy. Their transgression wasn’t that serious.
Besides, he had already taught them their lesson.
However, Master Jia didn’t get up. He remained kneeling and pleaded, "Elder Su, please take me as your disciple!"
What!
’Take you as my disciple?’
Su Mo stared at Master Jia in astonishment. ’What in the world has gotten into this old geezer?’
’A moment ago he was looking down on me, and now he’s on his knees.’ ’Has he gone senile?’
THUD!
Before Su Mo could refuse, Master Mo knelt down as well.
"Have you gone senile too?" Su Mo asked, baffled.
"Replying to Elder Su, my mind is perfectly sound." Master Mo said earnestly, "Like Master Jia, I also wish to ask Elder Su to take me as his disciple. I am willing to serve you loyally. My only request is that the next time Elder Su performs Alchemy, I be allowed to remain by your side and observe your masterful Alchemy Technique."
"I don’t think that’s a good idea."
Su Mo looked conflicted.
’These two are both famous Alchemists throughout the Eighteen Kingdoms. What would it look like for them to become my disciples?’
’It’s too ridiculous.’
’Besides, I’m still young—only eighteen years old.’
’Having two old men in their eighties follow me around as disciples, calling me ’Master’ all the time... how awkward would that be?’
’Anyone who didn’t know the situation would think I was some old immortal. Why else would I have two disciples that old?’