Chapter 362: Who Are You?

"Teacher Liu, then what... pill should we refine?"

Knowing there was no way back, he set down the furnace, ignited the pill fire, and turned to look at Zhang Xuan behind him.

There were countless third-grade pills; to refine one, he had to make a choice.

From his tone, he seemed very familiar with some kind of pill, having reached an extremely high level, before daring to say such things.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have directly said that following his steps strictly could produce the medicine.

"Pill?" Zhang Xuan was startled. He really hadn't considered this beforehand. He hesitated and looked over: "By the way, what pill can be refined to advance to a three-star alchemist?"

Since the assessment for three-star alchemist required refining a third-grade pill, there must be a specified pill. Since it was an assessment, he would follow the rules.

"Any third-grade pill will do, but normally for the three-star alchemist assessment, it's the third-grade [White Yang Pill]. Back then, Alchemist Hong refined this one!"

Hearing that the other didn't even know what to refine for the three-star alchemist assessment, Alchemist Mu rolled his eyes, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart, but he finally nodded and said.

"Alright, let's refine this White Yang Pill... Oh, by the way, could you show me your pill formula?"

Zhang Xuan scratched his head, a look of apology on his face: "I've never seen the pill before. I don't know what ingredients are needed or how to refine it... I need to see it first before I can guide you..."

"..."

Mu Yangfeng staggered and almost cried.

Brother, I trusted you so much, I even took out the furnace and lit the fire...

And now you tell me... you've never seen the pill formula...

Don't mess with me like this...

"..."

Alchemist Hong Yun and Jiang Chen were also speechless.

They thought he really had some skill and would make a stunning impression, but it turned out he was a fool!

He hadn't even seen the pill formula, yet he dared to guide alchemy...

Would he die if he didn't show off?

The thought was intoxicating.

"Here's the pill formula..."

With a resentful look, Alchemist Mu handed over the pill formula.

As the basic pill for the three-star alchemist assessment, the White Yang Pill's formula was no secret; almost all two-star alchemists knew it, so showing it to him was fine.

"Good!" Nodding, Zhang Xuan touched it, and the relevant content instantly appeared in his mind.

At the same time, a book on the refining experience of the White Yang Pill appeared in his mind.

He had absorbed the entire library of the Alchemist Guild into his mind. The pill formula was precious and stored separately, so he couldn't see it, but there were many such experience-summary books.

"Correct!"

With a low exclamation, a brand-new book appeared before him.

"Alright, start refining!"

After reading the book, Zhang Xuan looked at him gravely: "Follow my steps strictly, without any mistakes!"

"Alright!"

Though a bit frustrated, since he had already boasted, Mu Yangfeng had no other choice and could only nod helplessly.

As a peak two-star alchemist, he often tried to refine the White Yang Pill.

Thus, he had several sets of ingredients in his storage ring, so he didn't need to bother buying more.

Igniting the fire, heating the furnace, selecting ingredients—all in one smooth motion.

Watching, Zhang Xuan was deeply impressed.

As expected of a peak two-star alchemist; his techniques were far superior to those he had seen before. Mo Yu, President Ouyang—they were all far behind.

He stepped up to the furnace, touched it, then stepped back a few paces and said nothing.

"The temperature is about right. Can I add the ingredients now?"

The pill fire blazed, and soon the furnace was hot enough, radiating a scorching sensation. Alchemist Mu couldn't help but look over.

"Not yet!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand: "Keep adding fire!"

"Alright!" Since he was following his instructions, he didn't hesitate. Alchemist Mu urged his true energy, and the fire under the furnace blazed wildly.

"The furnace is red hot..."

Alchemist Hong Yun and Jiang Chen exchanged glances, almost fainting from watching.

Does this guy even know how to refine pills?

Refining ingredients isn't like smelting weapons; higher temperatures aren't better. Ingredients are mostly wood-attributed; too high a temperature easily destroys their medicinal properties, rendering them useless.

Now the furnace was glowing red and about to explode. Forget refining pills—the ingredients would ignite and turn to ash the moment they entered...

What was he doing?

"Put in the White Wood Grass!"

Just as they were puzzled, the young man's voice finally rang out.

"The main ingredient of White Yang Pill... just throw it in?"

Alchemist Hong Yun staggered again.

White Wood Grass, the main ingredient of White Yang Pill, was most afraid of fire; it would burn on contact with fire.

Normally, it was added in the middle of the refining process, first to avoid the furnace being too hot and burning it to ash, and second to better fuse with other ingredients and bring out the main ingredient's effect.

Now the furnace was almost exploding, black smoke billowing... and he was putting this in with nothing else...

What a scam!

No need to think—the ingredient would burn as soon as it entered the furnace, turning into black ash... What medicinal properties? Nothing!

"Nonsense, utter nonsense! This guy knows nothing about alchemy. I wonder where Alchemist Mu found him!"

With a cold snort, Alchemist Hong Yun's face turned iron.

No need to think—this furnace of medicine was surely ruined!

Anyone with a little knowledge of alchemy knew this principle. This guy knew nothing, yet he brazenly claimed he could refine a third-grade pill...

Where did this weirdo come from?

Alchemist Mu trusted him... he must be blind.

After this, he would consider convening an elder meeting to teach him a good lesson. Otherwise, wasting ingredients was a small matter, but the guild's reputation would be ruined!

Ignoring Alchemist Hong Yun's increasingly dark expression, seeing Mu Yangfeng put in the White Wood Grass, Zhang Xuan continued: "Put in the Green Wood Grass. After twelve breaths, put in the Two-Eyed Beard..."

A series of instructions.

This order was completely different from the normal refining of White Yang Pill, even somewhat heretical. But since he had agreed, he would strictly follow the requirements. Mu Yangfeng gritted his teeth and kept adding ingredients to the furnace while controlling the pill fire's temperature, not daring to make a mistake.

"Hmm? Something's not right..."

As more and more ingredients were added to the furnace, his confusion grew.

He had refined White Yang Pill many times before. Usually, after adding just a few ingredients, the furnace would boil uncontrollably and threaten to explode. But this time, he had added so many without any reaction?

Could it be that all the medicinal properties were neutralizing each other?

If so, it meant the other's method was correct, and it was very likely to form a pill.

"No..."

He then shook his head.

The furnace not reacting could mean the ingredients were properly matched, but another possibility was that the ingredients had been burned to ash by the scorching furnace, losing their potency, and thus had no power to resist!

The former was too difficult; even some four-star alchemists couldn't achieve it. It seemed more like the latter...

"Forget it, I'll finish refining first..."

Though he had his suspicions and thought it impossible to succeed, Alchemist Mu still followed the instructions meticulously, adding ingredients.

Soon, the last ingredient was thrown in.

"Open the furnace!"

Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Open the furnace?"

Mu Yangfeng was stunned again.

Normally, after adding all the ingredients, you need to let them settle for a while to better fuse and form the pill.

Opening the furnace right after adding the ingredients... wasn't that too hasty?

"Quickly!"

Seeing him hesitate, Zhang Xuan instructed again.

According to the description in the library, opening the furnace immediately after adding the ingredients was the way to avoid flaws. His hesitation had already introduced several errors; even if a pill formed, its potency would drop several grades.

Unlike his urgency, Alchemist Hong Yun, watching from a distance, snorted coldly and shook his head.

"Can this pill be formed?" Jiang Chen couldn't help but ask. "You've successfully refined White Yang Pill and even reached the formed-pill level, so you're the most qualified to speak!"

Back then, when Alchemist Hong Yun took the three-star alchemist assessment, he refined White Yang Pill and reached the formed-pill level, causing a sensation in Tianwu Royal City.

"Formed?" Alchemist Hong Yun snorted disdainfully: "Although the furnace didn't explode, given the heat of the furnace just now, all the ingredients are probably burned to ash. Form a pill? Dream on!"

"Burned to ash?" Jiang Chen was puzzled.

"If you don't believe me, watch. If a pill forms, I'll cut off my head..."

Waving his hand grandly, Alchemist Hong Yun showed full confidence.

If someone who knew nothing could refine a pill by randomly following instructions, then his status as a three-star alchemist would be worthless!

Not only him, but Mu Yangfeng also had little hope. Hesitating, he gritted his teeth and opened the furnace.

Whoosh!

Just as he was filled with disappointment and expected to see a pile of furnace slag, a rich pill fragrance wafted out.

"This..."

Mu Yangfeng was stunned. He quickly stepped forward, reached in, and a pill appeared in his palm—plump, round, and fragrant.

"This is... a perfect-grade... White Yang Pill?"

His pupils contracted, his eyes wide, Mu Yangfeng stood frozen.

Pills are graded as: formed, full, perfect, pill pattern... and many other levels.

Originally, he thought the refining method would surely fail, and opening the furnace would only yield a pile of slag. He never dreamed it would be a formed pill... and even reach the perfect grade!

How... was this possible?

"What?"

"Perfect grade?"

While he was just shocked and dazed, Alchemist Hong Yun beside him staggered, nearly biting off his tongue.

He had just said that if a pill formed, he would cut off his head...

And now, not only did a pill form, but it was perfect...

Damn!

How did he do it?

He hadn't seen the White Yang Pill formula, yet after one look, he guided the refining...

He heated the furnace so hot before adding ingredients, yet instead of burning to ash, the pill reached perfect grade...

This scene completely overturned his understanding, leaving him frantic.

"This... this... what happened?"

Alchemist Mu trembled all over as he looked at Zhang Xuan, wanting to know what had happened.

How... had it succeeded just like that?

Since when was refining a third-grade pill so easy?

Seeing his puzzled look, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"White Wood Grass, though afraid of fire, is not completely unable to see fire. On the contrary, in a hot, sealed environment, its medicinal properties are better released! Putting it in first allows its potency to perfectly fuse layer by layer with other ingredients, producing a greater effect!"

"Of course, as other ingredients are added and the furnace is opened repeatedly, some potency is lost. At that point, adding Green Wood Grass absorbs all the released potency while fusing and solidifying..."

"As for Two-Eyed Beard, it grows in swampy areas. Though it has yang-attributed power, it also carries water-attributed aura. Only in a hot environment can the water attribute be fully forced out..."

Zhang Xuan spoke with his hands behind his back, pacing as he talked.

"This... this..."

At first, they were still skeptical, but after hearing about each ingredient, Alchemist Hong Yun and the others couldn't help but shudder. By the end, their faces were stiff, almost numb.

What he said contained no alchemical techniques, only starting from the medicinal properties of the ingredients—how to refine, how to neutralize, how to bring out the potency...

It didn't sound like much, but concentrated in a single pill formula, it was terrifying!

This required an extreme understanding of the medicine and even every single ingredient, to an astonishing level of knowledge and judgment accuracy!

"With your grasp of medicinal properties, you can ensure no problems during the refining process and perfectly fuse the ingredients... You, you're not an apprentice. Who... are you?"

Alchemist Hong Yun looked over in terror.

Relying solely on medicinal properties to flawlessly refine a third-grade pill—not even the guild president could do that!

Who was this person? How could he be so familiar with medicinal properties?

"He's the new president of the Physician Guild, who just perfectly solved nineteen difficult cases..."

Alchemist Mu spoke: "Liu Cheng."