91: First business

"If anyone else has this intention, wait outside first. This Seat only refines one furnace at a time, one by one; do not disrupt the order."

As his words fell, Lu Yang turned and prepared to enter.

At this moment, his peripheral vision keenly captured that the youngest female cultivator on the far left was unconsciously gripping her small hands holding the Medicinal Pill tighter. Her pink, tender lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she quickly bit her lower lip. Her eyes, which had just lit up because of the Medicinal Pill, were filled with a complex mix of intense longing and deep timidity.

Lu Yang led Ning Hong into the depths of the Immortal Cave. The heavy stone door closed with a rumble behind them, cutting off the view and sounds from the outside world.

The dense Spiritual Qi inside the Immortal Cave and the lingering, unique warmth from the Pill Furnace made the space appear exceptionally quiet.

Lu Yang turned around, his gaze like a physical presence as he carefully sized up Ning Hong from head to toe.

Ning Hong was tall with a slender, graceful figure. Her water-green skirt swayed gently with her steps, outlining beautiful curves.

Her upright posture exuded a confidence from within; even in front of this unfathomable Chief, she showed not the slightest hint of awkwardness.

On her clear and beautiful face, the corners of her mouth held a faint, barely perceptible smile throughout, one that made others feel as if they were bathed in a Spring Breeze. Her brows were relaxed, and her gaze was clear and forthright.

This poised and generous demeanor truly added a few points of favor in Lu Yang's heart.

Ning Hong keenly sensed that Lu Yang's gaze seemed to linger on her longer than a normal inspection, and her heart stirred slightly.

She did not dodge, but a flash of perfectly measured confusion crossed her bright eyes as she softly probed: "Chief... is there something... wrong with this Disciple's face?" Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of perfectly measured inquiry.

Lu Yang withdrew his gaze and said indifferently: "None at all."

Ning Hong blinked, carrying a hint of perfectly measured confusion: "Then... why was the Chief looking at this Disciple like that just now?" Her voice held a hint of inquiry, and also a trace of imperceptible anticipation.

The corners of Lu Yang's lips curled into a faint, barely perceptible arc, and he said bluntly: "Naturally, it is admiration."

Upon hearing this, the subtle smile at the corners of Ning Hong's lips instantly deepened, like ripples spreading on spring water, and a radiant light of joy appeared in her eyes.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying sincere pleasure: "To be favored by Senior is truly this Disciple's good fortune."

Lu Yang did not say more, his gaze turning to the Materials she had prepared, and he changed the subject: "Observing the spirit plant you prepared just now, are you looking to refine a Medium Grade lesser creation elixir this time?"

A look of surprise flashed in Ning Hong's eyes, immediately turning into deeper admiration: "Chief truly has a Wisdom Eye like a torch! To be able to discern what this Disciple seeks with just one glance, it is truly... miraculous!" She did not hold back her words of praise.

Lu Yang understood in his heart; this female Disciple was not only delicate in her thoughts but her words were also extremely comforting and pleasing.

He reached out to take the Storage Pouch that Ning Hong respectfully handed over, swept it with his Divine Sense, and confirmed that the Materials were complete and of superior quality; she was indeed well-prepared.

"The Materials are correct." Lu Yang nodded, then lifted his eyes, looking calmly at Ning Hong, "What is the payment?"

Ning Hong had been prepared for this and immediately took out two Spirit Medicine, which were glowing with spiritual light and full in form, from the Storage Pouch.

These were not needed for refining the lesser creation elixir, but they were two high-quality, Spiritual Qi-rich, third-grade Spirit Medicine. She offered them with both hands: "This is a small token of this Disciple's sincerity; please accept it, Senior."

Lu Yang's gaze swept over those two Spirit Medicine; the Spiritual Qi they contained was quite considerable. A hint of satisfaction flashed in the depths of his eyes, and he nodded slightly: "Very well."

Without further ado, Lu Yang turned and walked to the center of the stone room, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to focus his mind, and adjusted his internal Qi. The Spiritual Qi circulating around his body gradually stabilized.

Ning Hong immediately held her breath and concentrated, standing respectfully to the side, her gaze tightly following every movement of Lu Yang, not daring to be distracted in the slightest.

Only to see Lu Yang's thoughts stir slightly, and a golden Pill Furnace appeared out of thin air.

He flicked his finger, and a cluster of deep blue spirit fire ignited at the bottom of the furnace with a "hum," causing the temperature in the room to rise sharply.

Immediately, his ten fingers danced, his movements flowing like clouds and water, and one spirit plant after another was precisely cast into the furnace.

Ning Hong held her breath and concentrated, her gaze as if nailed to him, tightly following every subtle movement of Lu Yang. She even subconsciously held her breath, leaving only an extremely faint respiration, fearing that even a trace of airflow would break this exquisite and mesmerizing rhythm of Alchemy.

At this moment, an indescribable sense of shock and novelty filled her heart.

This was the first time since she began cultivation that she had watched the entire process of a high-level alchemist performing Alchemy from such a close distance and so clearly!

It was no longer the anxious waiting and wild guessing separated by a heavy stone door, no longer the nervousness while waiting for the final result to be pronounced, but truly witnessing those precious spirit plant, under the miraculous control of the Chief before her, undergoing breathtaking transformations.

The impact and realization brought by this precious "immersive" experience far exceeded any long wait outside the Alchemy room in the past.