C9 Disdain.

Loong Jiaoyang had already stepped into the compact pill refining chamber, a space barely five square meters. Despite its size, it was fully equipped with a Pill Refining Furnace, scales for weighing herbs, knives for chopping, and all the necessary tools for the craft.

Refining the Power Pill was a straightforward process, requiring just six types of medicinal herbs. Yet, it was a true test of an alchemist's finesse.

With his concentration honed, Loong Jiaoyang devoted himself to the task of crafting the Power Pill. He was currently in the midst of preparations, slicing herbs and grinding those that needed to be powdered.

Once the ingredients were ready, he grasped the earthenware Pill Refining Furnace and whispered, "Earthenware furnace, you may be the most basic of your kind, and I am but a novice in the art of pill refining. Together, let's strive to create the finest Power Pills."

Inhaling deeply, Loong Jiaoyang lifted the furnace with a single hand. The shadowy eight trigrams on his body became tangible, and the flames, as if sentient, danced along his arm and into the base of the furnace. This was the Pill Refining Furnace's crucial component, housing a formation that harnessed an alchemist's spirit power, known among practitioners as the Pill Fire Formation.

The base of the furnace buzzed faintly with the introduction of the Li Fire. Loong Jiaoyang observed the Li Fire circulating around the Pill Fire Formation, though the emitted flames flickered unevenly, waxing and waning unpredictably.

"Such an inferior earthenware furnace, with even its Pill Fire Formation flawed," Loong Jiaoyang mused. He had never crafted a Medicine Pill himself, but armed with the Pill Devil's memories, he recognized the instability of the formation, which could compromise the pill's quality.

Nevertheless, for a first-grade Power Pill, this Pill Fire Formation would suffice.

Drawing another deep breath, Loong Jiaoyang channeled the Great Devil Spirit Power towards the Li Fire on the floating eight trigrams. The Li Fire's inferno surged, sending a fiery wave crashing into the furnace in his grasp. Simultaneously, Loong Jiaoyang began to deftly add the herbs. An alchemist's hand speed was crucial; even a second's difference in timing could determine the success or failure of the pill refinement.

Additionally, an alchemist requires a keen sense of smell to discern the precise degree to which the medicinal ingredients have been heated by the pill fire array.

A novice with zero alchemy experience, despite being crammed with theoretical knowledge, is bound to fail in concocting pills. The necessary olfactory acuity, mastery of flame control, and impeccable timing can only be honed through relentless practice, often numbering in the thousands.

Loong Jiaoyang possesses the Pill Devil's memories and expertise in pill refining, enabling him to accurately detect the scent of the roasting medicine. However, his body is not that of the Pill Devil, and his hands can't keep up; they fail to respond in the fleeting moment when the scent shifts, delaying the addition of other medicinal powders to the Pill Refining Furnace.

Loong Jiaoyang's initial attempt at pill refining ended in a disaster, much like many others' first attempts, with the ingredients charred beyond recognition.

Following the botched pill refinement, Loong Jiaoyang's sluggish response caused the scorched ingredients to burst into flames, singeing a lock of hair on his forehead.

Outside the pill refining chamber, Xiaohong caught a whiff of the burning scent and anxiously inquired, "Why is there a smell of burning?"

"Isn't it obvious? The fire within the pill furnace wasn't controlled properly, leading to the burning of the medicinal ingredients," Yue Bai retorted with a sneer. "He can't even produce a basic Strength Pill, yet he aspires to refine a Spirit Gathering Pill? He truly doesn't grasp the vastness of heaven and earth."

Feeling the sting of humiliation by association with Loong Jiaoyang, Xiaohong left the pill refining chamber in a sullen mood. She would have departed immediately had Zi Shan not instructed her to wait until Loong Jiaoyang completed his pill refining, sparing herself further embarrassment.

Undeterred by his initial failure, Loong Jiaoyang reflected on his experience and prepared a second batch of ingredients. With increased hand speed and a focus on timing, he successfully added all the ingredients and completed the refinement process.

Loong Jiaoyang triumphantly produced three Medicine Pills from a single furnace run: one as large as a fist, another as thick as three fingers, and the smallest the size of a fly.

"Pill refining is much more challenging than I anticipated," Loong Jiaoyang lamented.

Despite possessing the Pill Devil's knowledge of pill crafting, his first attempt was a failure, and the second resulted in unevenly divided pills. To truly master the Pill Devil's techniques, he realized he needed to persevere and enhance his practical skills in pill refining.

Following Loong Jiaoyang's initial failure, a crowd of apprentice alchemists had gathered outside his refining room. When Zi Shan stormed off, the three left guarding the spirit field's entrance wasted no time in spreading the word about Jiaoyang's mishaps. Yue Bai, upon encountering the crowd, recounted the events, and everyone eagerly anticipated witnessing Jiaoyang's embarrassment.

Xiaohong discreetly pulled out a handkerchief, covering half her face. The thought of losing face was unbearable. If not for her obligation to obey Zi Shan's commands, she would have left long ago.

"Standing around here is mind-numbingly dull. Why don't we place a wager?" suggested the slight and wiry Guo Liangren, his face breaking into a sly grin.

"Guo Shorty, what's the bet?" a burly man inquired, peering down at Guo Liangren.

"Loong Jiaoyang is bound to botch the pill refining again, so betting on his success is out of the question. Let's bet on how long it'll take him to ruin the remaining two bags of herbs. We'll start with the time it takes an incense stick to burn. All Senior Brothers and Sisters are welcome to join in. I'll act as the bookie, offering a tenfold return!" Guo Liangren proposed, eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Guo Liangren, you're not trying to swindle us again, are you? It doesn't take a full incense stick to spoil two bags of herbs. I'm in for a hundred gold coins, betting that Jiaoyang will botch the herbs in half that time," the muscular man declared, pulling out a hundred gold coins from his waist pouch and passing them to Guo Liangren.

"Senior Brother Zhu Mao makes a good point. A pill refining setback can leave one frazzled. It's likely that the remaining two bags of herbs will be wasted in just half the time it takes an incense stick to burn. I'll put down fifty gold coins on Jiaoyang spoiling the herbs within that span," commented a refined young man, gently waving his folding fan.

A crowd gathered around Guo Liangren, eager to place their bids, but Yue Bai's offer left everyone in awe.

"Five thousand gold coins," he declared confidently. "I wager that within the span of two and a half incense sticks, Loong Jiaoyang will successfully refine the remaining medicinal ingredients."

Guo Liangren's face tensed. "Senior Brother Yue Bai, isn't that a rather hefty bet?" he questioned.

"Are you hesitant to take it, Junior Brother Guo Liangren?" Yue Bai asked, his smile teasing.

"Listen up, Guo Shortie, you can't back out of this one. Who else will we have as our bookie if not you?" Zhu Mao chided, slapping Guo Liangren on the back so hard he nearly toppled over.

"Exactly, Guo Shortie, if you don't take the bet, we'll all quit gambling," the onlookers chimed in, egging him on.

With a grimace of determination, Guo Shortie acquiesced. "Fine, I'm in," he agreed through clenched teeth.

Yue Bai chuckled. "Junior Brother Guo, always the good sport. I'm a bit short on cash at the moment, but I'll settle up with you once I'm back at the dormitory," he said, his grin betraying his confidence in the outcome.

Guo Liangren managed a weak smile in return. Yue Bai had been around long enough to know exactly when Loong Jiaoyang would exhaust the first batch of ingredients. By stepping in now, Guo Liangren knew he was bound to take a loss.

After Yue Bai's bold bet, others were keen to raise the stakes at the same time point, but Guo Liangren dismissed them, claiming the clock was ticking down too quickly.

Inwardly, Xiaohong seethed at Yue Bai's brazenness. She adjusted her veil more securely, desperate to remain incognito among the crowd.