81: Chapter 81 Harsh Requirements

"Revered Master, I'm going in, alright?"

Outside the Pill Refining Room, Baili Yunche took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and said in a clear voice,

"Come in."

Peak Master Luo Yunshang's cold and detached voice came from inside, like a clear stream in a mountain ravine, carrying no trace of emotion.

Baili Yunche gently pushed the door open, and a wave of searing heat rushed toward him.

The Pill Refining Room was extremely spacious, about three zhang square, and the surrounding walls were densely carved with Formation patterns, with spiritual light faintly flowing across them.

These Formations included spirit gathering arrays, temperature control arrays, ventilation arrays, and even a shielding array specifically used to isolate Divine Sense probing.

In the exact center of the room, a Pill Furnace about half a person's height stood quietly.

The Pill Furnace was entirely bronze-colored, its surface covered with flame patterns and motifs of birds and beasts. It had three legs and two ears, presenting an archaic and simple shape.

Beneath the Pill Furnace, an orange-red earthly fire was burning fiercely.

The earthly fire was drawn up from the deep underground through the Formation channels in the floor. Its temperature was extremely high yet stable and controllable, making it an excellent fire source for Alchemy.

The flames licked the bottom of the furnace, baking the entire Pill Furnace until it turned slightly red.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang was sitting cross-legged on a cyan futon, her eyes slightly closed as she stared intently at the Pill Furnace before her.

Her hands continuously changed hand seals, and streams of incantations flew from her fingertips, sinking into the Pill Furnace to regulate the temperature inside and the Fusion speed of the medicinal liquid.

Today, Peak Master Luo Yunshang was wearing a slightly transparent cyan gauze long dress, the hem trailing on the ground and gently fluttering under the mountain breeze.

Beneath the gauze, a pink undergarment was faintly visible, clinging to the curves of her body and outlining a plump and well-proportioned figure.

The temperature inside the Pill Refining Room was already much higher than the outside world. Fine beads of sweat oozed from her forehead, sliding down her smooth brow and dripping onto the gauze, wetting a small patch of the fabric.

Drenched in fragrant sweat, the gauze closely adhered to her skin, revealing even clearer curves.

Baili Yunche only took one glance before feeling his heartbeat accelerate, and he quickly averted his gaze.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and asked calmly, "Revered Master, what kind of Medicinal Pill are you refining?"

Peak Master Luo Yunshang did not look at him, her gaze still locked on the Pill Furnace as she spoke indifferently, "Face-Preserving Pill."

"Face-Preserving Pill?" Baili Yunche was slightly stunned.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang explained, "The Face-Preserving Pill is a Tier 4 Medicinal Pill, using century-old snow lotus, jade marrow Ganoderma, and purple rhyme flower as main ingredients, supplemented by thirty-seven auxiliary ingredients, refined through forty-nine steps."

"Consuming a single one can make youth eternal and appearance unchanging. Although a Cultivator can delay aging through Cultivate, if one cannot Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul, one will ultimately fail to escape the erosion of time."

"With the Face-Preserving Pill, one can forever maintain the appearance from when the pill was consumed. This Medicinal Pill is extremely sought after among female Cultivators, with a single piece valued at tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, and it is often priceless and unavailable on the market."

Baili Yunche's heart stirred.

Eternal youth and an unchanging appearance—this was something almost every woman dreamed of.

No wonder Peak Master Luo Yunshang looked to be only around thirty years old; it turned out to be the efficacy of the Face-Preserving Pill.

"Go sit aside for a moment, and Revered Master will teach you the art of Alchemy later."

Peak Master Luo Yunshang instructed.

"Yes, Revered Master."

Baili Yunche nodded, walked over to a chair on the side of the room and sat down, but his gaze involuntarily fell back onto Peak Master Luo Yunshang.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang was completely immersed in Alchemy at this moment.

Her hands were like butterflies flitting through flowers, tracing graceful arcs in the air.

Every incantation cast precisely sank into the Pill Furnace, and the temperature inside the furnace changed subtly accordingly.

Her Divine Sense penetrated through the furnace walls into the interior of the Pill Furnace, constantly perceiving the Fusion condition of the medicinal liquid.

Such precise control over heat and medicinal properties could simply not be achieved without decades of foundation.

Before long, the Alchemy entered the most critical stage—condensing and harvesting the pill.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang's eyes suddenly became sharp, and the speed at which her hands formed seals abruptly accelerated.

Streams of incantations poured down like a torrential rain, and the Pill Furnace began to vibrate slightly, emitting a low buzzing sound.

From the vent on the furnace lid, wisps of pure white medicinal fragrance drifted out. The fragrance was refined and distant, refreshing anyone who smelled it.

"Open!"

Peak Master Luo Yunshang gave a light cry, waving her fair hand, and the furnace lid flew up in response.

Three streaks of pure white light soared into the sky from the Pill Furnace, like three shooting stars, tracing graceful arcs in the air.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang reached out with her right hand, and a mutton-fat jade bottle that had been prepared long ago appeared in her palm.

Her wrist turned slightly, and the jade bottle traced an arc in the air. The three white lights seemed to be guided, accurately falling into the bottle opening.

Three crisp sounds echoed, like jade beads falling onto a jade plate.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang put away the jade bottle, a satisfied smile blooming on her face.

The movement was flowing like clouds and water, with every action carrying an elegant and composed beauty.

Seeing this, Baili Yunche quickly stood up, his face full of smiles as he flattered,

"Congratulations to Revered Master for a successful Alchemy! Revered Master's technique is exquisite and pure, taking yet another step closer to a Tier 5 Alchemist!"

Peak Master Luo Yunshang glanced at him, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly in a half-smile, "You're the only one with a glib tongue."

With a flick of her fair hand, a jade-white Medicinal Pill flew out from the jade bottle, steadily suspending in front of Baili Yunche.

"This Face-Preserving Pill is rewarded to you."

Baili Yunche's eyes lit up, and he quickly received it with both hands, carefully putting it into his Storage Pouch while repeatedly expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Revered Master!"

Although this Face-Preserving Pill could not increase cultivation, its value was extremely high.

Even if he didn't use it himself and took it to the market to sell, he could exchange it for a large sum of Spirit Stones.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang waved her hand, put away the Pill Furnace and the remaining Medicinal Pill, and said with a solemn expression, "You previously said you wanted to join my Zixia Peak and learn Alchemy under me. Revered Master asks you, have you ever been exposed to Alchemy before?"

Baili Yunche answered respectfully, "Reporting to Revered Master, this Disciple is a Tier 1 Alchemist and can refine various Tier 1 Medicinal Pills such as the spirit gathering pill and the peiyuan pill."

"Oh?" A trace of surprise flashed through Peak Master Luo Yunshang's beautiful eyes, and her delicate eyebrows raised slightly.

"I didn't expect you to have been exposed to Alchemy before. That makes things easier. Revered Master will not teach you the basics, but will directly teach you to refine Tier 2 Medicinal Pills."

Her right hand brushed across her storage ring, and a cyan Jade Slip appeared in her palm.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang handed the Jade Slip to Baili Yunche with a solemn expression,

"This is the Tier 4 Alchemy Legacy I compiled. It records the Pill Formulas for Tier 1 to Tier 4 Medicinal Pills, totaling thirty-three types, covering multiple categories such as healing, recovery, Breakthrough, and Body Refining."

"Each Pill Formula comes with detailed refining techniques and precautions, gathered from Revered Master's painstaking efforts over many years."

Baili Yunche received the Jade Slip with both hands and solemnly tucked it into his bosom.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang's tone turned serious, "Starting from today, you will stay in the Pill Refining Room and study this Alchemy classic carefully. Revered Master gives you seven days. Seven days later, Revered Master will come to test your Alchemy."

"Seven days should be enough for you to thoroughly understand one Tier 2 Pill Formula. By then, you must refine any kind of Tier 2 Medicinal Pill for Revered Master. If you fail the task—"

The corners of her mouth curved into a meaningful smile, "You will go to the Cliff of Reflection to reflect for half a year."

"Ah?"

Baili Yunche widened his eyes with an incredulous expression.

"Revered Master, isn't seven days too short? A Tier 2 Pill Formula has over a dozen medicinal herbs alone, and every step has strict requirements for heat, medicinal dosage, and timing. How could it possibly be done in seven days—"

"Ah, what!"

Peak Master Luo Yunshang interrupted him, her tone unquestionable.

"I, Peak Master Luo Yunshang, do not take in trash. If you cannot refine a Tier 2 Medicinal Pill within seven days, don't say you are my Disciple when you go out—I can't afford to lose that face!"

Baili Yunche opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but meeting Peak Master Luo Yunshang's unnegotiable eyes, he had to swallow the words hanging on his lips.

"Yes, Revered Master." He lowered his head and replied listlessly.

Peak Master Luo Yunshang nodded in satisfaction, stood up, straightened her clothes and skirt, and walked towards the door, leaving only a wisp of faint fragrance floating in the air.