In order to make Qing Jun more motivated, Chen Ye nodded: "You could say that... Besides, some pills taste even better than candy!"
"Then Qing Jun wants to learn! To refine delicious pills!"
The little girl raised both hands to show her approval.
Zhiwei naturally nodded quietly.
Chen Ye felt gratified to see his two enthusiastic disciples.
Immediately, he began to study the Hundred Herbs Pill Scripture with his two disciples.
...
A long while later.
Chen Ye chose the most basic pill from the scripture — the Vein-Protecting Pill, and began learning with his disciples.
"The way of alchemy prioritizes fire control, followed by pharmacology..."
He recited very meticulously, but when he talked about the fire control method, he glanced at Zhiwei, who was listening quietly, and let out a slight sigh.
"Zhiwei," he softened his tone, "Alchemy requires Fire Wood Spiritual Qi to activate, and you have a pure Water Spiritual Root. Forcing fire control may harm you. Today, you should observe from the side and carefully remember every step. This is also a form of cultivation."
The older girl nodded obediently: "When Zhiwei’s Fire Wood Spiritual Root awakens, I will be able to refine pills for Master and earn Spirit Stones..."
What she said was not wrong.
But Chen Ye always felt like he was hiring child laborers, exploiting the little girls’ labor.
Chen Ye turned his gaze to the eager Qing Jun.
"Qing Jun, you try first."
"Alright!"
The little girl excitedly ran to the pill furnace. Her small hands formed a seal, urging the Qi Cultivation Third-Layer spiritual power within her.
At first, her control over the spiritual power seemed a bit clumsy, and the flame at the bottom of the furnace flickered.
But as soon as the first Spiritual Medicine was thrown into the pill furnace, the little girl’s technique became more and more skilled.
Purifying, merging, condensing the pill... Every step was executed perfectly, even better than Chen Ye had expected.
A two-hour later, as a strong aroma of pills wafted from the furnace, Qing Jun nervously opened the lid.
Only to see three smooth pills quietly lying at the bottom of the furnace.
One of them had a full color and rich aroma, unexpectedly a Middle Grade!
The other two were slightly inferior, but still had the appearance of good Lower Grade!
Although the Vein-Protecting Pill is the lowest, most basic pill, often given to mortals to consume, and is simple to refine.
But this was Qing Jun’s first time refining pills!
"Ah... it’s only Middle Grade."
The little girl was disappointed; the Hundred Herbs Pill Scripture had said that pills are divided into Lower, Middle, Upper, and also a Top Grade.
And the Top-grade Elixir is said to be divided into Nine Patterns.
The more Qing Jun thought about it, the more she felt that Middle Grade couldn’t be any lower.
Chen Ye was silent: "Actually... it’s very good."
The little girl was not convinced: "Then Master, hurry up and refine, Master can definitely make the legendary Nine Patterns Elixir, right?"
His little disciple, she really had high hopes for him...
When it was Chen Ye’s turn to refine pills, he couldn’t help but feel some pressure.
If he didn’t do as well as his disciple, that would be too embarrassing.
He took a deep breath and began to operate step by step according to the pill scripture, striving for precision in every action.
However... Alchemy places the most importance on the cultivator’s spirituality. If you only follow the instructions, it’s rarely effective.
When he opened the furnace, there was only a solitary, slightly dull-colored Lower Grade Vein-Protecting Pill lying inside, with a small pile of blackened dregs beside it.
[Vein-Protecting Pill Mastery: 5/10]
"Eh?"
Qing Jun curiously brought her little head over, looking at the mess inside Chen Ye’s furnace, tilting her head in confusion,
"Master, why did you only make one, and it’s not as good as Qing Jun’s!"
Chen Ye listened to his disciple’s innocent little boast with a blush on his old face.
Thinking of himself as a dignified transmigrator, holding a proficiency panel, yet today, he was outdone in alchemy by his own few-year-old disciple.
Fortunately, there was still Zhiwei to help him save face.
She knocked on Qing Jun’s head:
"Fool, didn’t you see Master’s intention?"
"Wha?"
The little girl paused, not understanding.
But she was the clever Qing Jun!
She furrowed her soft brows, racking her brains, and suddenly understood: "Qing Jun knows! Master... Master is worried Qing Jun would be discouraged, so he refined it this way..."
For a moment, the little girl was too moved to know what to say.
Master was so kind to her, yet she was just showing off...
Chen Ye quickly gave Zhiwei an approving look:
"Ahem, that’s exactly it."
If Qing Jun knew her talent far exceeded Master’s, she’d definitely become cocky in the future!
Besides... it was somewhat embarrassing.
Chen Ye cared a lot about his face, especially in front of the two little girls.
"Master?"
The senior disciple’s dark eyes had a hint of confusion, not knowing why Master gave an approving look, and said clearly,
"Master, no need to hold back your skill, so Qing Jun doesn’t get arrogant. Please open another furnace, and let Zhiwei and Junior Sister watch closely..."
Alright then.
Turns out, the senior disciple really thought he was holding back.
Now, he was truly stuck in a tough spot...