C2 Shocking

A Rank 4 Replenishing Pill?

Faang Yao's expression was one of utter astonishment. She struggled to refine even Rank 3 pills.

If she could produce a Rank 4 pill, she'd be a silver-level alchemist, commanding respect even from the City Lord.

"If you're still not satisfied, I could attempt the Divine Soul Pill or the Soul Refining Pill. But beyond that, I'm afraid there's not much else I can do, given the limited herbs available in Medicine City."

The Divine Soul Pill was a formidable Rank 5 concoction, and even the seasoned gray-robed elder of the academy wouldn't bet on his chances of successfully refining it.

The Soul Refining Pill, on the other hand, was an advanced version of the Divine Soul Pill—a bona fide Rank 6 elixir!

Listening to Ye Han speak so casually about these pills, as if their creation was trivial, Faang Yao couldn't help but feel contempt. Not many alchemists in the Sloryn Dynasty could manage such feats. Yet, Ye Han made it sound as though, with enough herbs, they were easily within reach.

"Fine." Faang Yao inwardly scoffed, though she maintained a facade of confidence. She couldn't actually refine them, but she could certainly pretend.

She was utterly convinced that Ye Han was all show and that his true abilities would be exposed during the pill refinement.

"Now that we've agreed on the terms of the contest, let's begin. However, I insist that both participants strictly adhere to the Replenishing Pill's recipe. If you can't even manage the first two steps, spare yourself the embarrassment," declared the gray-robed elder from Scarlet Sun Academy, his words clearly aimed at Ye Han.

"Yes, Elder," Faang Yao replied with a respectful nod.

She was well-versed in the eight-step process of the Replenishing Pill. As a bronze-level alchemist, she could confidently navigate up to the third step. The fourth step would be a matter of luck, the fifth a matter of fate, and beyond that was simply beyond her grasp.

"Very well, since this is a challenge, I shall go first. You may observe from the sidelines," Ye Han agreed, accepting the terms.

The elder himself couldn't help but think this young upstart was quite the actor. If Ye Han failed to complete even two steps, he would take great pleasure in teaching him a lesson on behalf of his elders.

"First step, gather the herbs."

As soon as Ye Han finished speaking, he sprang into action. Every alchemist is equipped with a specialized storage bag. Despite being an orphan taken in by the Jiang family, Ye Han was no exception and had been gifted one as well. Such bags typically contained a selection of commonly used medicinal herbs.

"Return Fire Grass, native to the southern region of the Sloryn Dynasty, requires a measure of three coins and eight parts."

"Little Heavenly Mountain Herb, used to counteract the toxicity of Return Fire Grass, needed in half the amount of the Return Fire Grass."

"Origin Spirit Liquid, an extract from Origin Spirit Grass, used in a quantity tenfold that of Return Fire Grass."

"..."

Ye Han articulated each step of the first process while simultaneously executing them with precision. Elder Sun watched, inwardly astounded by the display.

"Such rapid and accurate herb gathering!"

Herb gathering is a fundamental skill for an alchemist, one that must be mastered. It involves estimating the weight of herbs by hand without the use of scales. Since pill refining isn't a static process—effects, dosages, and potencies can all influence the pill's success rate during refinement—an alchemist must be able to discern if an herb's quantity is lacking and know precisely how much to add to compensate.

Thus, the ability to gather herbs accurately is a key indicator of an alchemist's prowess. Elder Sun admitted to himself that even if he attempted the task, he couldn't match Ye Han's expertise.

"It's nothing but a minor skill!" Faang Yao's expression soured slightly.

"Surely he didn't just randomly pick herbs, did he? To make us think he's so skilled? How vain!"

"Exactly!" The elite newcomers from Scarlet Sun Academy silently agreed. If it were just a matter of haphazardly grabbing herbs without considering the amounts, they could do it too!

Do they understand pill refining?

A single incorrect measurement could ruin the entire batch in the pill furnace. It's a prestigious profession that only those with exceptional talent can pursue!

It's simply wrong to toss and gather herbs haphazardly, pretending to be skilled!

"First step, satisfactory!"

Elder Sun's announcement came as a stark contradiction to the murmurs of doubt, his stern expression delivering the verdict without the need for further verification.

There was no need for a deliberate check. Ye Han's selection of herbs, whether in terms of the type or the quantity, was so precise it was astonishing.

"Second step, extraction."

"Third step, purification."

"Fourth step, smelting."

"Fifth step, identification of components."

"Sixth step, extraction of the medicinal liquid."

Ye Han organized the complex and seemingly impossible alchemy procedures with crystal-clear logic. Faang Yao scrutinized each one and couldn't spot a single imperfection. And he had actually completed the sixth step!

"This is unbelievable!"

"Elder, I can't watch this anymore. This kid is just playing around!"

"Exactly!"

They could barely manage the third step, let alone the rest, which seemed utterly baffling. However, looking at Elder Sun, they saw him utterly captivated, as if in a trance.

"Silence, all of you! What about the seventh step? Why has it stopped?" Elder Sun asked with anticipation.

The seventh step was the actual pill refining, the most crucial phase, and the eighth was the formation of the pill itself!

"Without the seventh step, don't you realize how foolish your question is?" Ye Han looked at Elder Sun as if he were looking at a fool. Where did this half-baked alchemist come from, asking such a ridiculous question? To refine a fourth-tier medicinal pill, one must at least be in the Soul Refining Realm.

Did he look like he was at that level? At his age, finding someone in the Body Refining Realm in the entire Medicine City was like finding a needle in a haystack!

"Alright, I've finished my guidance. Now, if you can refine the Returning Origin Pill following my instructions, I'll concede defeat. Then, I'll have the shopkeeper challenge you." Elder Sun was visibly uncomfortable.

If any other youngster had spoken to him like that, they would have been plastered against the wall by now. But Ye Han was an exception; his alchemy skills were so polished, each step seemed like it was taken from a textbook, a sight to behold.

Even in the face of such an extraordinary alchemy prodigy, he felt powerless.

"I..." Faang Yao bit her lip in frustration.

She was confident in her ability to perform the first four steps, but not with such finesse. Was this truly a contest of alchemy prowess?

She was confident in the first four steps, but achieving that seamless flow? Was this even pill refining or a performance?

"What's the matter? Think my technique is subpar? No worries, our shopkeeper is here already. She's right over there. Shall I call her over for a little competition?"

From a distance, Jiang Xiaoxiao approached with her alchemy tools in tow.

As she made her entrance, those haughty young men who fancied themselves geniuses quickly stepped aside, clearing a path for Jiang Xiaoxiao.

What a laughable thought! If even the shopkeeper's assistant was this formidable, how could the shopkeeper herself be anything less?

"Come on, let's not waste any time. Let's get this competition started. You're the one who wanted to use me for practice, right? You think I, Jiang Xiaoxiao, am easy to push around? If I don't show you what I'm made of, you'll all think you're something special just because you've dabbled in a bit of pill refining."

Jiang Xiaoxiao spoke as she set up her alchemy equipment. Though the tools were considered low-grade and would normally be scoffed at, on this day, they only served to highlight her remarkable skill. With such rudimentary equipment, she could still perform alchemy.

"No need for a competition; I concede," Faang Yao finally said, bowing her head in defeat.

A master who could effortlessly bring a fourth-tier pill to the seventh step was merely her disciple. It was clear then just how profound this young woman's alchemy skills were, especially considering she was of a similar age to Faang Yao. Challenging her would be nothing short of self-humiliation.

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