Chen Ye has just started with Vein-Protecting Pills, even if he opens another furnace, at most he can only refine two lower grade Vein-Protecting Pills...
At this moment,
the two little ones raised their faces, looking at their master together.
The elder disciple’s gaze was filled with admiration, strangely, Zhiwei seemed to be increasingly admiring this master...
The younger disciple, on the other hand, had a slightly defiant look, seriously staring at Chen Ye, wanting to learn more about the Alchemy Dao to surpass the master.
Neither disciple doubted their master’s true abilities.
Chen Ye was in a quandary.
As the saying goes, disciples need not always be inferior to their masters, and masters need not always be wiser than their disciples.
This is undoubtedly true.
But Chen Ye just didn’t want to lose face in front of the two little ones...
He hoped to be the perfect master in front of his disciples!
That damn male chauvinism!
Chen Ye cursed himself inwardly, when suddenly a flash of inspiration crossed his mind:
"It’s already late today, and you two are tired. Cultivation is not something you can accomplish overnight. Alchemy especially taxes the mind, so let’s stop here for today. Both of you should rest. Tomorrow, I will demonstrate more thoroughly for you."
This reasoning was sound, and although the two little girls wanted to witness their master’s true prowess, upon seeing Chen Ye’s decision, they dared not defy him and obediently complied.
"Phew, that was close, nearly lost my dignity in front of my disciples."
Seeing the lone lower grade pill in the furnace and the charred residue, a fire of determination burned in his heart.
I refuse to believe it!
That night, after ensuring the two disciples were asleep, Chen Ye quietly returned to the bamboo hut for alchemy.
He discreetly shut the doors and windows, looking around to confirm the disciples’ lights were off before wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
"Chen Ye, if you can’t surpass an eight or nine-year-old girl even with a cheat, you might as well end it all..."
Chen Ye took out a new set of ingredients for the Vein-Protecting Pill, rubbed his hands, summoned the Hundred Herbs Furnace, and again lit the Pill Furnace with a Fire Stone.
Fortunately, he had stored enough Fire Stones, leaving himself plenty of fuel for alchemy now.
Of course, a cultivator could also use spiritual power to turn it into spiritual fire for alchemy, but this consumes too much spiritual power, so Fire Stones are more convenient.
It is said that there are also Anomalous Fires in the world, which cultivators can refine for alchemy with greater convenience and efficiency than using Fire Stones.
Chen Ye recalled the details of the Hundred Herbs Pill Scripture, and thought of the fluidity when Qing Jun was practicing alchemy, starting his arduous training.
The firelight reflected his resolute profile.
Purifying, merging, condensing pill... he repeated those dull steps endlessly, with spiritual power and mental energy depleting at an alarming rate.
[Vein-Protecting Pill Initial Stage: 9/10]
[Vein-Protecting Pill Minor Achievement: 15/100]
The Vein-Protecting Pill is only a basic pill and Chen Ye was learning alchemy for the first time; his techniques were initially crude, but once he mastered them, the progress in proficiency was rapid.
Moreover,
each time he failed, he immediately summarized his experiences, adjusted his techniques, and opened the furnace again. He was not just relying on the panel to study alchemy but also pouring in his sweat and thought.
"Heh, Qing Jun, you wouldn’t guess, while coaxing you to sleep, I am working hard in secret..."
Chen Ye proudly mused, how could a little girl’s mind be as deep as the master’s?
Of course, at Qing Jun’s age, getting enough sleep at night is crucial for growth. Chen Ye didn’t let the disciple rest just to surpass her...
"Hehehe... the master must be asleep..."
Suddenly, a child’s soft voice came from outside the door.
"?" Chen Ye was startled.
Soon, the door was pushed open a crack, and a fuzzy head popped through.
The little girl, upon seeing her master still practicing alchemy, was shocked: "Master, why haven’t you slept yet!"
Chen Ye was equally startled: "Qing Jun, why haven’t you slept yet?"
Both of them were caught in an awkwardly mutual stare, Chen Ye looking at the half-revealed head at the door, and the little girl staring at the secretive master inside, neither speaking a word.
The little girl neither advanced nor retreated, smiling awkwardly: "Master..."
Chen Ye’s eyelids twitched, uh oh, his secret hard training was discovered by Qing Jun!
The temperature inside the Alchemy Room was very high.
The little girl stared at her stiff master.
She saw his clothes drenched in sweat, with bloodshot eyes, likely from a whole night of refining pills.
And she, after a nap, had planned to sneak into the Alchemy Room to practice diligently and surpass the master—whether in cultivation or anything else, Qing Jun wanted to be stronger than the master!!
While she was sleeping, the master actually...
The little girl’s eyes sparkled, making Chen Ye feel guilty. He was about to explain, but saw her turn and run out of the Alchemy Room.
"This little girl?"
Chen Ye was puzzled and feeling guilty, began tidying up the Pill Furnace.
Just after finishing tidying the Pill Furnace, he heard the little girl’s huffing and puffing behind him.
She was carrying a basin of steaming water, her face red from the steam, laboriously moving her short legs.
"Master, you... you’ve worked hard on alchemy. Wipe your face first."
The little girl placed the wooden basin heavily on the ground and tiptoed to fetch a hot towel, clumsily wrung it out, and held it out to Chen Ye.
It turned out, her sparkling eyes weren’t from discovering the master’s secret, but because they held a hint of moisture...
"Ugh... it’s Qing Jun’s fault for not being able to help master, otherwise the master wouldn’t have to work so hard..."