59: Refining a Grade 3 Elixir—Mysterious Spirit Pill

Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the alchemy room, his hands resting on his knees, eyes closed in concentration, as the Dou Qi within him slowly circulated.

“afk, fully deduce the mysterious spirit pill!”

“Tsk, a third-grade pill is indeed much slower than a second-grade one.”

He pouted, but soon a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

“But it doesn’t matter, I have all the time in the world anyway.”

He stretched, adjusted his sitting posture to make himself more comfortable.

Anyway, his master had given him ten days, and the system only needed less than three days to complete the deduction. For the remaining time, he could continue to afk, cultivate his Dou Qi, or… take another nap?

“Hehe, when the time comes, I’ll just throw out a complete Pill Formula and watch the expression of that Old Fox, my master!”

The thought of Elder Mo Xuan’s eyes widening and his beard bristling made Jiang Donghua burst out laughing.

He closed his eyes, activated Burning Heaven, and the Dou Qi within him flowed slowly. The Dou Zhi Qi vortex in his dantian rotated slightly, continuously absorbing energy from the heavens and earth.

“Although it’s a bit slow, it’s stable.”

He wasn't in a hurry to break through right now anyway, as his Four-Star Dou Shi strength was already considered above average in the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy.

Even if he didn't have this afk in the future.

The several perfectly mastered Pill Formulas he possessed would allow him to thrive even after leaving the academy, simply by finding a faction to serve as a revered Alchemist.

“qi burst pill, bone-mending pill, plus this mysterious spirit pill, tsk tsk, just selling medicinal pills alone will make me rich in the future!”

He thought happily, even beginning to fantasize about becoming a magnate in the future, surrounded by beauties, and casually throwing out millions of gold coins.

Outside the alchemy room, several students from the Alchemy Department were still discussing in low voices.

“Senior Brother Jiang has been in seclusion for so long this time, could he be trying to break through to Third-Grade Alchemist?”

“Impossible, right? How old is he? Even if he’s Elder Mo Xuan’s direct disciple, it can’t be that fast!”

“Hey, don’t forget, he’s the monster who jumped from one pill pattern to two pill patterns in just half a month!”

The few of them looked at each other, their eyes filled with envy and awe.

And the “monster” they spoke of was currently lying in the alchemy room, legs crossed, a piece of dry grass in his mouth, humming a little tune leisurely.

“afk cultivation, truly a great enjoyment in life!”

Early in the morning, many students had already gathered in the white jade hall of the Alchemy Department of Jia Nan Academy.

People gathered in small groups, their gazes occasionally drifting towards the alchemy room that had been tightly shut for ten full days.

“Do you think Senior Brother Jiang can really complete that third-grade pill recipe?”

A young student in a grey robe asked in a hushed voice.

“What a joke!”

The tall student next to him scoffed.

“That’s an ancient formula that even Elder Mo Xuan only managed to complete seventy percent of. I heard that last year, a Third-Grade Alchemist in the Inner Academy tried to complete it, but ended up blowing up three alchemy furnaces without success.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In the path of alchemy, the gap between each grade was like a chasm. Being able to refine second-grade medicinal pills did not mean one could deduce a third-grade pill recipe; this was an ironclad rule that all Alchemists knew well.

Suddenly, the door of the alchemy room opened with a “creak.”

Seeing him finally emerge from seclusion, the surrounding Alchemy Department students cast curious glances.

“Senior Brother Jiang is out!”

“How is it? He couldn’t have really completed the third-grade pill recipe, could he?”

“Impossible, right? That’s an incomplete Pill Formula that even Elder Mo Xuan only managed to complete seventy percent of!”

“But he looks so relaxed, maybe?”

Jiang Donghua listened to the whispers around him and chuckled inwardly.

“Hehe, I’ll give you a show later!”

On the other side, Elder Mo Xuan was sitting in the Alchemy Pavilion, his fingers gently tapping the table, his brows slightly furrowed.

“This Stinky Kid, he couldn’t have really failed, could he?”

Although he had said he would make Jiang Donghua shovel dung and guard the medicinal fields, he had already made his calculations in his heart.

If Jiang Donghua really failed to complete the Pill Formula, he would find an excuse, saying that it was a test he had deliberately set, and it didn't count.

“After all, a genius who can jump from one pill pattern to two pill patterns in half a month can’t really be made to shovel dung!”

Just as he was thinking, footsteps came from outside the door.

“Master! This disciple has not failed your trust, the Pill Formula is complete!”

Mo Xuan suddenly looked up, only to see Jiang Donghua striding in, holding a brand new piece of parchment in his hand, a confident smile on his face.

On the top floor of the Alchemy Pavilion, Elder Mo Xuan was poring over ancient texts.

Suddenly, the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a “clatter,” and the scalding tea splashed onto his robes, but he didn’t even notice.

“This… how is this possible…”

The old man’s trembling fingers traced the dense annotations on the parchment.

The handwriting was so neat it was almost rigid. The dosage of each medicinal ingredient, the control of each stage of heating, and even the special techniques for forming the pill were all recorded clearly. What was even more astonishing was that a few of the modifications were even more exquisite than the parts he had originally deduced.

“Master?”

Jiang Donghua tilted his head, looking innocent.

“You’re not trying to renege on our bet, are you?”

Mo Xuan suddenly looked up, a sharp glint bursting from his cloudy old eyes.

He grabbed his beloved disciple’s shoulder, his voice trembling slightly.

“Stinky Kid, tell your master honestly, what exactly have you been doing in the alchemy room these past few days?”

Jiang Donghua blinked, revealing a harmless smile.

“Reading, meditating, occasionally refining pills… Oh, and I slept a few times.”

“Nonsense!”

Mo Xuan’s beard bristled with anger.

“Do you think this old man is a three-year-old child? Such a complete Pill Formula would take even a Fourth-Grade Alchemist several weeks to deduce!”

“Stinky Kid, you wouldn’t be making this up, would you?”

Mo Xuan narrowed his eyes, staring suspiciously at Jiang Donghua.

Jiang Donghua spread his hands, looking innocent.

“Master, if you don’t believe me, this disciple can refine a batch right now, so you can see with your own eyes!”

Mo Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Good! Good! This old man wants to see if you really have this ability!”

Elder Mo Xuan narrowed his eyes, his aged fingers gently stroking his beard, his gaze like a torch as he stared at Jiang Donghua.

“Stinky Kid, have you thought this through?”

He said in a deep voice.

“Completing a Pill Formula is one thing, but refining a third-grade pill is another. If you merely deduced it by luck, but cannot truly refine it, then…”

Jiang Donghua grinned, waving his hand carelessly.

“Master, just watch me!”

He strode towards the alchemy furnace in the center of the Alchemy Hall, and the previously noisy discussions instantly fell silent.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on him, as if even their breathing had stopped.

third-grade pill!

That was something that even many Alchemists in the Inner Academy might not be able to successfully refine!

Jiang Donghua, an Outer Academy disciple, was actually going to refine it on the spot?

“Crazy… absolutely crazy…”

A student muttered to himself, his eyes glazed over.

“But what if he really succeeds?”

The person next to him swallowed, his voice trembling.

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

Someone shook their head decisively.

“How old is he? No matter how high his talent, it’s impossible for him to master the refinement of a third-grade pill in such a short amount of time!”

However, Jiang Donghua was already standing in front of the alchemy furnace. With a flip of his palm, a wisp of crimson flame ignited with a “hiss,” instantly illuminating the entire hall in a fiery red.

“Hiss—!”

“How is his Fire Control Technique even stronger than ten days ago?!”

Jiang Donghua’s lips curved slightly. With a light tap of his fingertip, the flame coiled around the alchemy furnace like a spiritual snake, and the temperature inside the furnace surged.

With a casual wave of his hand, ten medicinal ingredients flew out of his storage ring, suspended in mid-air, and then fell into the furnace one by one according to the Pill Formula’s sequence.

“Three parts heat, seven parts medicinal properties. When forming the pill, the medicinal power must be suppressed with Dou Qi, otherwise the furnace will surely explode!”

He muttered to himself, his movements flowing smoothly, without the slightest hesitation.

“This… this technique!”

“How could he be so skilled?!”

“Could he really succeed in refining it?!”

The surrounding students widened their eyes, even forgetting to breathe.

Elder Mo Xuan’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter, his mind in turmoil.

Something’s not right!

This Stinky Kid definitely has a secret. No matter how high his talent, it’s impossible for him to master the refining process of a third-grade pill with such precision without any guidance!

However, just as he was pondering, a violent energy fluctuation suddenly erupted from within the alchemy furnace!

“Boom—!”

The furnace lid shook violently, and a wild surge of energy gushed out!

“Oh no! It’s going to explode!” someone exclaimed.

“It’s over! He can’t withstand the energy backlash of a third-grade pill!”

However, Jiang Donghua merely sneered, clasped his hands together, and let out a low shout.

“Condense for me!”

“Buzz—!”

The wild energy within the furnace was actually forcibly suppressed by him. Subsequently, a rich medicinal fragrance instantly permeated the entire hall!

“It… it succeeded?!”

“He actually succeeded in refining it?!”

The entire hall was silent.

Elder Mo Xuan’s beard trembled slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

How many secrets was this Stinky Kid still hiding?!

Jiang Donghua slowly withdrew the flame, reached out, and a crystal-clear medicinal pill flew out of the furnace, landing steadily in his palm.

He turned, smiling at Elder Mo Xuan, his tone relaxed.

“Master, you see, this disciple didn’t lie to you, did he?”

The entire hall erupted in an uproar!

“He really refined a third-grade pill?!”

“There has to be a limit to being heaven-defying, right?!”

“Is he even letting others live?!”

Elder Mo Xuan took a deep breath, and finally spoke slowly.

“Stinky Kid…”

“Confess honestly!”

“Who exactly are you?!”