Chapter Thirty-Three: Hand-in-Hand Alchemy Lessons for a Beautiful Woman

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Zhou Qi kept reminding himself inwardly that everyone around him was a fool, except for Jiang Yiyi. Pushing aside the noise of the crowd, Zhou Qi focused his mind and calmed himself.

Carefully, he used his spiritual sense to control the Zhou Qi Flame, slowly wrapping it around the Spirit-Returning Herb and releasing heat bit by bit. This stage could not be rushed; it was essential to refine the herb slowly. Too much flame would burn it, while too little would fail to turn the herb into liquid.

Zhou Qi concentrated all his spiritual sense on the herbs within the cauldron. At this moment, it felt as if he were alone in the hall, watching as the herbs gradually withered and transformed into a ball of medicinal liquid suspended in the cauldron.

He then threw in the Spirit-Gathering Grass, beginning to slowly refine it as well. Eventually, the Spirit-Gathering Grass also turned into a ball of medicinal liquid. Now, Dew of Dawn needed to be added, so that the three fused together, taking the shape of a pill, and then slowly baked into a pellet with the flame.

Many cultivators faltered at this step. The timing of blending the medicinal liquids and adding the Dew of Dawn would ultimately affect the formation of the pill. Zhou Qi gradually gathered the three liquids together, but they exploded—this attempt was a failure.

He wasn’t discouraged, realizing he had added the Dew of Dawn a moment too late.

Picking up another batch of herbs, he repeated the previous steps. The herbs quickly transformed into liquid. As he condensed the pill, his spiritual sense split into three parts, each wrapping a ball of medicinal liquid. He also had to use his spiritual sense to control the flame, demanding great mastery.

Zhou Qi failed three times in succession, but finally, the pill began to take shape. A pellet, about the size of a fingertip, slowly rotated within the cauldron, its fresh medicinal aroma wafting out.

Everyone was startled; none expected Zhou Qi’s talent to be so high. He succeeded in refining a Spirit-Returning Pill on his fourth try. Having failed too many times themselves, the others became increasingly anxious as they progressed, afraid to attempt another refinement with only enough herbs for one or two more tries. If they failed, there would be no second chance. Thus, they stopped and kept criticizing others, hoping to drag everyone down to their own level.

Having successfully refined a pill, Zhou Qi finally turned his attention to the crowd and saw their mouths agape, especially Jiang Yiyi, whose approving gaze made him feel a surge of pride.

“Thank you for letting me win, fellow cultivators!” Zhou Qi clasped his hands to those around him.

“Humph.” The crowd was unimpressed. Seeing that a newcomer had refined a pill while they hesitated, their fighting spirit was instantly rekindled. Grabbing their herbs, they began to refine once more.

Jiang Yiyi watched him curiously, refraining from the jeers others made. She had refined her pill early but was dissatisfied with its quality. Seeing Zhou Qi so relaxed, she couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”

A beautiful woman asking prompted Zhou Qi to take the matter seriously. He quickly moved to Jiang Yiyi’s side, a delicate fragrance enveloping him and sending a shiver through his body.

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“Fellow cultivator, you should hold the herbs like this.” Zhou Qi gently took Jiang Yiyi’s soft, slender hand and guided it to the Spirit-Returning Herb, his expression solemn and earnest. “And then, like this…” He guided her hand to toss the herb into the cauldron.

“What’s the reason for this?” Jiang Yiyi, puzzled, watched Zhou Qi as he held her hand and tossed a Spirit-Returning Herb into the cauldron.

“Pills possess a spirit; holding them this way shows respect, and the pill will naturally cooperate more during condensation.” Zhou Qi replied in all seriousness.

“Scoundrel! Taking advantage of the fairy under the guise of instruction. How shameless.” One male cultivator, understanding Zhou Qi’s intentions, couldn’t help but comment—men always see through men.

Master Tianxuan sighed in Zhou Qi’s soul sea, “Truly, the morals of the world have decayed.”

Exposed, Zhou Qi flushed with anger and shouted at the cultivator, “What do you know? This is hands-on teaching! Why did I succeed on my fourth attempt while you haven’t succeeded even once?”

The cultivator sneered.

Jiang Yiyi recovered her composure, discreetly withdrawing her hand. “Fellow cultivator, if you have no other advice, please return to your station.” She felt somewhat annoyed; Zhou Qi was indeed bold.

“When condensing the pill, empty your mind. Don’t think about success or failure—just relax.” Zhou Qi whispered to Jiang Yiyi, casting a resentful glance at the cultivator who had exposed him. His hand-holding plan foiled, he could only return to his own pill-refining table.

Following Zhou Qi’s advice, Jiang Yiyi mimicked his actions, emptying her mind during condensation. Sure enough, a pill formed, much higher in quality than before. She thought to herself, he truly didn’t deceive me. To share his experience so freely with a competitor was rare in the Tianxuan Continent.

With six batches of herbs left, Zhou Qi decided not to waste them. Using his previous experience, he began refining again. With his confidence boosted by a successful attempt, soon six pills flew from the cauldron into his hand, round and gleaming with a silvery light, clearly of excellent quality.

Jiang Yiyi also completed her refinement, using up ten batches of herbs to produce five Spirit-Returning Pills.

A message came from the token: Fourth trial complete. Successfully refined seven second-grade Spirit-Returning Pills, total score: seven points, overall score: thirty-five points.

If this was out of one hundred, then there must be six more trials. What an excessive test by the Medicine Immortal, Zhou Qi complained inwardly. A beam of light enveloped him, teleporting him out of the area.

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Elsewhere, Jiang Yiyi was also teleported out.

Where is this? Zhou Qi looked around in confusion; there was no one in sight, only endless whiteness.

“This is the Realm of Illusion. Here, you will witness the life of the Medicine Immortal. Afterward, whether you choose to stay or leave is entirely up to you.” An aged voice echoed.

“Who are you?” Zhou Qi asked.

“I am a fragment of the Medicine Immortal’s soul, soon to dissipate,” the old voice replied.

A fragment of the Medicine Immortal’s soul? So the Medicine Immortal has died? Aren’t immortals supposed to live forever? Could he have met a fate similar to Master Tianxuan, poisoned by others, leaving behind a legacy in search of a successor to seek vengeance?

Zhou Qi speculated as the white mist parted, revealing an unfolding scene before him.

A cry rang out—a plump, fair infant was born, his arrival heralded by unusual phenomena: golden clouds filled the sky, and a medicine cauldron floated among them. A handsome, dashing male cultivator looked at his wife lying on the bed, smiling with happiness.

Suddenly, a massive hand covered the sky, descending upon the male cultivator. He struggled desperately, but was no match for the hand, which crushed him to pieces. The female cultivator giving birth was stunned by the sight; she hid the infant behind her, begging tearfully for mercy. With a flick of a finger, the hand shattered her soul, then seized the baby and disappeared into the sea of clouds.

The infant was not killed, but grew up in a powerful sect of immortal cultivation. His master named him Yao Cheng, telling him he was an orphan found by chance. The master was the sect leader, and Yao Cheng had a junior sister, the sect leader’s own daughter. The two grew up together from childhood.