47: First-class intermediate alchemist

Lin Zhishou's words truly shocked Zhou Luo.

He hadn't expected that the Third Miss would actually become his Junior Sister after entering his Master's tutelage.

But wasn't she part of the Main Family?

Although Lin Zhishou was currently the Zhou Family's strongest Alchemist, she shouldn't have formally become his disciple; at most, she should just be following him to learn.

After all, given her status, joining the Azure Origin Sect would have been the normal course of action.

Unless, there was a hidden reason behind this.

Zhou Luo involuntarily thought of what Lin De had told him earlier.

Immediately after, he realized something.

It seemed the Main Family didn't want him to inherit Lin Zhishou's mantle, so they had placed the Third Miss, Lin Xin, here to prevent him from losing influence.

Having figured this out, Zhou Luo felt more at ease.

He actually didn't care much about inheriting Lin Zhishou's mantle.

After all, his own skill level was higher than Lin Zhishou's, so inheriting it or not made no difference.

As for the power behind it, that was even less something he wished to pursue.

In the eyes of Zhou Luo, who possessed a long lifespan, compared to power, he preferred to simply be someone valued by the Zhou Family.

After all, behind power also lay various schemes and dangers.

He disliked that.

It was best to be like this now, not lacking the Zhou Family's regard, yet not being treated as an imaginary enemy.

Seeing Zhou Luo lost in thought, Lin Zhishou coughed a few times.

Only then did Zhou Luo snap back to attention. He stood up and cupped his hands: "Congratulations, Master, on taking in another excellent disciple."

Lin Zhishou nodded with satisfaction, motioned for him to sit down, and continued: "From now on, you Senior Brother and Junior Sister must work hard together."

"Yes."

Both of them answered in unison.

"Alright, now that you've met, come with me." Lin Zhishou stood up and walked towards the Pill Refining Room.

Lin Xin also stood up and glanced at Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo made a gesture for her to go first.

But she said indifferently: "Senior Brother, please go first."

"Junior Sister, please go first," Zhou Luo demurred.

Hearing this, Lin Xin gave him a deep look and said nothing further, walking ahead.

Inside the Pill Refining Room.

Lin Zhishou stood in front of the Pill Furnace, first glancing at Zhou Luo: "Disciple, what is your current skill level?"

"Reporting, Master, I believe I can attempt to refine First-Order Pills of the middle grade," Zhou Luo said.

"Oh?" Lin Zhishou exclaimed in surprise.

A hint of shock also flickered in Lin Xin's eyes beside him.

She remembered this guy had just started two years ago, right? How could he have improved so quickly?

Or was he lying?

Unlike Lin Xin's confusion, Lin Zhishou looked very happy. He pointed at the Pill Furnace and said: "Come, let Master see your ability."

Zhou Luo nodded, walked to the storage cabinet on the side, and began selecting medicinal ingredients.

Soon, he came to the Pill Furnace with the ingredients.

This time, he was attempting to refine the Spirit Nurturing Pill, a very basic First-Order Pill of the middle grade that could provide some spiritual energy to the user.

Being able to refine a Spirit Nurturing Pill often meant becoming a First-Order Alchemist of the middle grade.

Lin Zhishou watched him with anticipation.

Lin Xin, however, looked into the Pill Furnace with a scrutinizing gaze.

To be honest, she didn't believe he had really reached the middle grade of the First-Order.

One must know, she had studied Pill Refining for three Nian and had only just barely touched the threshold of the First-Order middle grade.

In her opinion, Zhou Luo would most likely fail.

Zhou Luo placed the medicinal ingredients and began the refining process.

In front of the Pill Furnace, his technique looked very clumsy, and he was already sweating profusely even though he had just started.

This scene further solidified Lin Xin's view.

She sneered inwardly.

Truly overestimating himself. Does he think he can refine a Spirit Nurturing Pill just because he knows the method?

Seeing this, the anticipation on Lin Zhishou's face also lessened considerably.

Such a large consumption of mental energy.

It seems even the first step will be difficult.

However, what neither of them expected was...

Although Zhou Luo refined with great effort, he still managed to complete the first step of melting the medicinal ingredients.

Just a spent force.

Looking at the pale-faced Zhou Luo, Lin Xin thought to herself.

But as Time passed, Zhou Luo actually continued to persist, and the medicinal liquid in the Pill Furnace gradually gathered together under his pill incantations.

Lin Xin slightly frowned.

Why hasn't he collapsed yet? Is he that determined?

Although somewhat confused, she still firmly believed Zhou Luo would fail.

Because mere determination was useless; the final step of forming the pill would consume a large amount of mental energy.

In his current state, it was impossible for him to last until the pill was formed.

Lin Zhishou thought so too.

So even though Zhou Luo was still continuing, he wasn't very optimistic.

Time passed bit by bit. The medicinal liquid in the Pill Furnace, under Zhou Luo's conscious control, had already gathered into a spherical shape.

Next was the pill formation.

Seeing that he had actually persevered to the final step, a hint of admiration couldn't help but rise in Lin Xin's heart.

This guy's determination is quite good.

It's just a pity, it's meaningless.

In front of the Pill Furnace, Zhou Luo's face grew paler and paler, and he even bit his lips until they bled.

Even so, he still continued, releasing his mental energy to fuse the substances in the medicinal liquid together.

Boom—

As the fierce flames dissipated, a faint aroma suddenly wafted out.

That was the signal that the Pills had been successfully refined.

Lin Zhishou's eyes widened, and he quickly stepped forward, appearing in front of the Pill Furnace.

Inside, a dark green pill lay quietly.

He immediately took it out, examining the Spirit Nurturing Pill intently, revealing a look of surprise.

"It succeeded."

At the same time, Lin Xin on the other side was stunned, her beautiful face filled with disbelief.

How is this possible?

How could he have succeeded?

She looked at Zhou Luo, who was sprawled on the ground from exhaustion, watching this guy who had surpassed her from behind, and for a moment, her heart trembled, unable to control herself.

"Good disciple, your performance makes Master so happy." Lin Zhishou held the Spirit Nurturing Pill, which had slight imperfections, greatly excited.

"It's all thanks to Master's guidance," Zhou Luo showed a pale smile.

But in his heart, he was muttering.

Damn it, all my Nian of acting skills were used up on this performance.

"Very good, very good." Lin Zhishou took out a pill to replenish mental energy and handed it to him, praising him incessantly.

With Zhou Luo's Pill Refining finished, it was naturally Lin Xin's turn.

However, perhaps influenced by Zhou Luo, she was so flustered that she even failed to refine a First-Order Low Grade pill.

After Lin Zhishou gave them a few words of encouragement, he began to explain and teach them.

Of course, he was teaching Zhou Luo more.

After all, he was now a true First-Order Alchemist of the middle grade.

Even within the Zhou Family, he was a pillar of strength.

This made Lin Xin feel the pressure increase dramatically.

She had come here originally to replace Zhou Luo, but now he had already left her far behind.

This greatly increased her competitiveness and solidified her determination to surpass him.

A day of teaching passed in a flash.

Lin Zhishou required Zhou Luo to come here to study every day starting tomorrow.

Zhou Luo could only accept.

As he and Lin Xin walked out of the Shouchun Garden gate together, she suddenly said: "Zhou Luo, I will surpass you."

Zhou Luo was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly: "Third Miss is exceptionally talented; you will definitely go further than me."