27: Chapter 27 Laboratory

Morning sunlight filtered through the window, shining on the newly issued Outer Sect Deacon token in Zhang Mingxuan's hand.

Forty years old, successful Foundation Establishment, Outer Sect Deacon.

If he were an ordinary person, this progress within the Qingyun Sect could be called smooth sailing.

But he was not satisfied.

"Outer Sect Deacon... it sounds nice, but the monthly allowance is only one hundred Spirit Stones and two bottles of Qi-Gathering Pills. If I want to go to the Inner Sect Scripture Pavilion to browse high-level Pill Formula, I have to save up contribution points for half a year."

Zhang Mingxuan tapped his fingers gently on the token, while DeepEye in his Sea of Consciousness was operating at high speed, analyzing the Sect's resource allocation mechanism.

The resources of the Qingyun Sect had always been skewed.

Inner Sect Disciple, especially those seed candidates with special skills like Alchemy and Artifact Refining, received more than ten times the resources of an Outer Sect Deacon every month. Moreover, the Inner Sect possessed independent Immortal Cave and high-level Earth Fire Veins.

"If I want to do real scientific research, this little bit of family fortune in the Outer Sect is no longer enough."

"DeepEye, adjust the Spiritual Root spectrum camouflage plan."

"Target: Earth-grade Wood-Fire dual-attribute Spiritual Root."

In the Cultivation world, although a pure Fire Spiritual Root has strong explosive power, when it comes to Alchemy, Wood generates Fire; a Wood-Fire dual Spiritual Root is recognized as the golden configuration.

Wood governs vitality and can nourish medicinal properties; Fire governs destruction and can purify and remove Impurities.

"A Heavenly Spiritual Root is too flashy and easily attracts excessive attention from the top brass. An Earth-grade dual-attribute Spiritual Root can be regarded as a Genius to be cultivated, without being so shocking as to cause panic."

After making up his mind, Zhang Mingxuan went straight to the Alchemy Hall and asked for a two-month long vacation, claiming that he had sensed an Opportunity and needed to go out to find a chance for a Breakthrough.

Two months later.

A travel-worn Zhang Mingxuan returned to the Qingyun Sect.

He did not return to his small Immortal Cave, but instead went directly to ring the bronze bell of the Alchemy Hall's main administrative hall.

"What did you say? You encountered a Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Fruit left over from ancient times?"

The Chief Deacon of the Alchemy Hall, Perfected Chihuo, an old man with a long beard and the cultivation of a Golden Core late stage, was looking at Zhang Mingxuan standing in the hall with an expression of disbelief.

"Exactly." Zhang Mingxuan's expression was calm, but his tone carried a trace of well-timed excitement, "Disciple accidentally ate a crimson fruit in a cliff cave deep within Black Wind Ridge. After waking up from a three-day slumber, I realized that the impure Qi in my body had vanished, and the circulation of my Spiritual Qi had never been so smooth."

"This... this is a tremendous Opportunity!" Perfected Chihuo was so excited that his beard was trembling. He walked down a few steps, grabbed Zhang Mingxuan's wrist, and directly injected a trace of Spiritual Qi to investigate.

DeepEye responded instantly.

[Camouflage program initiated. Spectrum adjustment: Wood attribute 30%, Fire attribute 70%, Impurities 0%.]

[Simulation feedback: Earth-grade Wood-Fire dual-attribute Spiritual Root characteristics.]

The Elder's hand trembled violently, and a terrifying light erupted in his eyes.

"Wood and Fire born together, complementing each other!"

He looked at Zhang Mingxuan as if he were looking at a peerless piece of unpolished jade.

For the Alchemy Hall, combat ability was not important, but a Foundation Establishment Stage seedling with a Wood-Fire dual Spiritual Root was a future reserve Alchemy Great Master!

"Quick! Follow me to the Inner Sect, to the Spirit-Testing Stele!"

Half an hour later, Inner Sect Testing Hall.

When a dazzling cyan-red light shone on the black Spirit-Testing Stele that was as tall as two people, the several Inner Sect Elder present fell silent.

The light was pure and stable, almost illuminating the entire hall.

"It really is an Earth-grade Spiritual Root."

Perfected Chihuo took a deep breath. The look in his eyes when he looked at Zhang Mingxuan had completely changed; it was the look of someone watching a Personal Disciple, "Zhang Mingxuan, from today on, you are the core Personal Disciple of my Alchemy Hall!"

"Many thanks for your kindness, Immortal Master." Zhang Mingxuan bowed and saluted, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "However, Disciple has a presumptuous request."

"Speak freely!"

"Disciple has been obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy since childhood, but my method of Alchemy is different from others." Zhang Mingxuan looked up, "Disciple believes that Alchemy should not rely solely on feeling, but should pursue precision and quantification. Therefore, Disciple does not need a luxurious Immortal Cave, nor does he need maids or servants. Disciple only needs an Alchemy laboratory."

He took out a list he had prepared long ago from his robes.

Perfected Chihuo took it and looked at it, his brows knitting into a frown.

The items on it were varied. In addition to the standard Top-Grade Purple Copper Furnace and Fire-Gathering Formation Plate, there were many strange things that he had never heard of:

Ultra-pure flawless crystal sheets, needed to be polished into a specific convex surface; in Zhang Mingxuan's eyes, this was a microscope lens.

High-speed rotating magnetic levitation Formation Plate; this was the core component of a centrifuge.

A complete set of extremely cold ice-jade tables; this was a biological dissection table.

A large number of specially made glass utensils; these were test tubes and beakers.

"What... are these?" Perfected Chihuo pointed to one of the items, "A secret room equipped with independent ventilation and dust-free Formation."

"That is to ensure the absolute purity of the Alchemy environment." Zhang Mingxuan bluffed without changing his expression, "High-level Medicinal Pill are extremely sensitive to dust. This is the reason for Alchemy furnace explosions; the environment is too dirty."

Seeing Perfected Chihuo looking hesitant.

Zhang Mingxuan stepped forward to the Pill Furnace.

"DeepEye, take over Divine Sense. Activate Alchemy demonstration mode."

He waved one hand, and the furnace fire suddenly rose.

In the shocked eyes of everyone, he simultaneously controlled thirty-six different Spiritual Plant to fly into the Pill Furnace.

Those Spiritual Plant did not instantly liquefy in the flames as usual, but were accurately peeled apart as if by countless invisible little hands. Every trace of Impurities was removed, every drop of essence was preserved, and then they were fused together at the perfect moment.

The whole process was smooth and flowing, dazzlingly fast, yet as precise as a precision machine.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The furnace lid opened. Twelve round, flawless Top-Grade Foundation Establishment Medicinal Pill emitting a faint pill halo flew out and hovered in the air.

"This is a little bit of Disciple's insight." Zhang Mingxuan retracted his Spiritual Qi and looked calmly at the dumbfounded Elder, "As long as I have that laboratory, Disciple can guarantee that I can mass-produce Top-Grade Medicinal Pill like this."

The hall was deathly silent.

A moment later, Perfected Chihuo waved his hand, his voice trembling: "Granted! Whatever Materials you want, however many Spirit Stones you need, the Sect will provide them all! Grade-A Cave Dwelling No. 3 on Danxia Peak is your private Immortal Cave from today on!"

Three days later.

Grade-A Cave Dwelling No. 3 on Danxia Peak.

This place was originally a blessed land for Cultivate with abundant Spiritual Qi, but now it has been completely transformed into a comprehensive laboratory.

In the center is a huge automated Pill Furnace connected to countless glass pipes.

On the left is the biological experimental area, housing observation equipment moved from the apothecary—now upgraded to a "High-Precision Spiritual Qi Microscope"—as well as that humming magnetic levitation Spiritual Qi centrifuge.

On the right is the physical testing area, with various Spiritual Qi spectrum analysis charts and Meridian models hanging on the wall.

Zhang Mingxuan stood in the center of the laboratory, listening to the low hum of the surrounding instruments, and took a deep breath of air filled with the scent of science.

This was his territory.

In the heart of this Cultivation world full of superstition and empiricism, he had planted a flag of rationality.

And those Sect high-level officials who knew nothing about it were still smug about having found an Alchemy Genius.

"DeepEye, new home environment check complete."

"Project restarted. Advance at full speed."