"Hisss—"
"Who is speaking such arrogant nonsense?"
The crowd was instantly startled, their eyes searching about in every direction.
Not only did everyone in the surrounding crowd hear these words, but Master Zhuge, whose spiritual power was formidable, heard them with absolute clarity!
"Junior, what did you just say?"
Master Zhuge cast his gaze toward Ye Han, his tone somewhat unkind.
Unflustered, Ye Han stepped leisurely into the circle, and instantly, countless gazes converged upon him.
"It's him?"
Meanwhile, upon seeing Ye Han's face, Liu Qintan bit her lower lip angrily in frustration.
Ye Han gave a slight bow of greeting to Master Zhuge and said bluntly,
"Although Master Zhuge has successfully refined the tier-3 Yanling Dan, your flame control falls short of the mark, your alchemy technique is somewhat crude, and your mastery of spiritual power is inadequate."
Hisss!
"Who is this kid?!"
"Ha! How dare he point fingers at Master Zhuge's alchemy!"
Instantly, an uproar broke out all around, and the other alchemists grew indignant.
Master Zhuge's alchemy was so superb, yet he was subjected to such an evaluation by this young man before them?
Alchemy technique: somewhat crude!
Control of spiritual power: inadequate!
Every single sentence was simply too harsh to the ear!
These words were like a stone creating a thousand ripples, arousing the anger of countless alchemists.
"Isn't that Ye Han? He was once the number one prodigy of Yancheng, what a pity that he was crippled!"
"So it's him..."
Hearing the surrounding murmurs, a look of utter disdain flashed in Master Zhuge's eyes—to think that the one pointing fingers at him was actually good-for-nothing trash!
"Where did this stray dog come from, daring to make casual remarks about my master!"
Liu Qintan glared fiercely with her phoenix eyes and rebuked him angrily.
Could just any tom, dick, or harry point fingers at a senior tier-3 alchemist now?
It seemed Ye Han had spoken deliberately. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes and he said in a deep voice,
"If you don't believe me, how about I spar with Master Zhuge? However, if I win, I require a certain item."
Swish—
"I... did I hear that right?!"
"He wants to challenge Master Zhuge?!"
Down below, the crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy...
"I... did I hear right?! He actually wants to challenge Master Zhuge?"
The entire massive plaza was like an exploding cauldron, and the surrounding exclamations and gasps were incessant.
"Young people today truly know neither the heights of heaven nor the depth of the earth. Master Zhuge is not only a man of noble character and high prestige, but also one of the top-tier alchemists in all of Yancheng. To presumptuously want to spar with him in alchemy—isn't this being far too arrogant?"
An elderly man with a beak-like mouth couldn't help sneering.
"He's just a clown seeking attention! Who doesn't know that Master Zhuge has exquisite alchemy skills? This brat probably hasn't even grown all his hair yet, yet he dares to challenge Master Zhuge."
A glamorous woman curled her lips and let out a cold snort.
All around, the rest of the people nodded and echoed the sentiment.
Who was Master Zhuge?
He was one of the foremost senior tier-3 alchemists in the entire Yancheng!
"You are worthy of sparring in alchemy with my master?"
Even Liu Qintan was taken aback, a look of disgust crossing her face.
For she had never expected Ye Han to be so bold as to try and match alchemy skills with her master!
This was no different than a firefly competing with the bright moon for brilliance—there was simply no comparison.
Moreover, she cast a contemptuous look up and down at Ye Han; this fellow was around the same age as her.
Because Liu Qintan was born with a natural Daoist spiritual pulse, she was exceptionally gifted in alchemy.
Yet even so, at seventeen years old, she was only a mid-tier-2 alchemist.
Even with her transcendent talent, Liu Qintan wouldn't dare claim she could step into the ranks of senior tier-3 alchemists within five years.
The youth before her definitely could not surpass her, nor could he possibly compete with her master in alchemy!
To the surrounding jeers and whispers, Ye Han remained completely indifferent. In his eyes, a mere tier-3 alchemist was simply not worth mentioning.
Even having restarted this lifetime, surpassing a tier-3 alchemist would be an effortless task for him!
"Young man, are you insulting this old man?"
Master Zhuge grew somewhat angry, his white eyebrows lifting.
To be challenged by a junior was, to him, an absolute insult of the highest order!
Ye Han shook his head inwardly; no wonder Liu Qintan was so arrogant—she was carved from the exact same mold as her master.
However, he felt no irritation at present. Instead, he pulled a scroll out of his Universe Bag, smiled faintly, and said,
"How about this: I happen to possess a tier-3 pill recipe here, and I will use it as the stake. If Master wins, this pill recipe is yours. But if by any chance I narrowly win, I would like a certain medicinal herb—Qingmu Guiteng. How does that sound?"
Having been the Pill Sage in his past life, his soul sea held a massive collection of pill recipes. A mere tier-3 pill recipe was naturally something he could casually pull out.
This tier-3 pill recipe was worthless to Ye Han, but to Master Zhuge, it was a rare and precious treasure!
Master Zhuge's spiritual sense plunged into the recipe. Initially skeptical, his turbid eyes instantly burst with a brilliant gleam as he said excitedly,
"Fine, then this old man shall indulge you in a spar. However, to give you a handicap, the pill for this trial will be chosen by you."
"Let us make it the Jiuyuan Dan."
Ye Han looked straight into Master Zhuge's eyes and said.
"Jiuyuan Dan?"
Master Zhuge frowned instantly, a wave of doubt rising in his heart.
This Jiuyuan Dan was not only a high-grade tier-3 pill, but also a recipe with an extremely high degree of refining difficulty.
Even for him, he only had a sixty percent chance of success. Master Zhuge could not understand why Ye Han would choose a pill of such difficulty.
Yet Master Zhuge still nodded in agreement, giving a slight nod as he said,
"Very well, then we shall compete on the Jiuyuan Dan!"
With that, Master Zhuge instructed Liu Qintan to fetch two portions of medicinal herbs and prepared to begin refining.
"Wait..."
At this moment, Ye Han turned around to look at the crowd, swept his gaze across them, and asked,
"Is there anyone who can lend me a tier-3 pill flame?"
Swish—
"What did he say?! Lend a pill flame?"
"Hahahaha! I'm dying of laughter, this brat doesn't even have a pill flame of his own, yet he's still putting on airs here to refine a tier-3 pill!"
"If being an alchemist were that easy, I'd have been an Alchemical Emperor ages ago. What an absolute embarrassment!"
The surrounding crowd was first stunned, then overwhelmed by a wave of cold mockery and ridicule.
Who ever heard of an alchemist without a pill flame!
Ye Han was indeed somewhat helpless, because the only flame he currently possessed in his hands was a tier-3 one? No, a tier-1 pill flame.
"Elder Canglan, lend him your tier-3 precious flame, the Blazing Lion Flame."
Master Zhuge said with a cold face, an even deeper inner sneer hidden within.
Yet inwardly he was also secretly delighted—had this kid lost his mind, coming here of his own accord to gift him a tier-3 pill recipe?!
Such a gift delivered right to his doorstep was something he naturally wouldn't decline!
"Young fellow, you'd better be careful. This old man's Blazing Lion Flame is extremely violent; don't go getting burned by this flame."
Elder Canglan's tone was somewhat sarcastic.
A true tier-3 alchemist could never possibly lack a tier-3 pill flame!
With that, a brown flame landed inside the cauldron.
Hoo hoo hoo—
After obtaining the flame, the two stood side by side in a row and began refining the Jiuyuan Dan.
Hum!
One had to admit that Master Zhuge's alchemy skills were indeed remarkable.
With a wave of his sleeve, the herbs were sent into the cauldron, and then the flames lifted the cauldron, burning it furiously while spiritual power poured in—truly displaying the demeanor of a great grandmaster of alchemy.
This quenching process was done without a single trace of hesitation or drag.
Soon, after extracting the first batch of herbs, Master Zhuge set to work extracting the second batch.
The surrounding onlookers gasped in constant admiration, not daring to blink their eyes for fear of missing something.
Clang!
Meanwhile, at the other spot, Ye Han casually tossed all the herbs into the cauldron in one go.
Hoo hoo hoo!
Unexpectedly, the violent flames actually enveloped the entire cauldron completely, burning it fiercely.
"Look at that, what is that kid doing?"
"Hahaha! Is this even refining pills? Looks more like he's stewing herbs, doesn't it?"
"If he manages to refine a Jiuyuan Dan, I'll eat a pound of shit right now!"
Fingers pointed from all around, accompanied by occasional bouts of laughter.
Because Ye Han had actually shoved all the herbs haphazardly into the cauldron in a brutal fashion, and then wildly burned them with the pill flame—it was utterly laughable!
"Simply reckless, ruining precious medicinal herbs!"
Elder Canglan couldn't help cursing angrily, his beard blowing and eyes wide.
Who refined pills like this? Refining the Jiuyuan Dan required extracting them in three separate batches, and demanded slow, meticulous quenching; the slightest carelessness would cause the cauldron to explode.
Yet Ye Han's alchemy methods were so crude, and such massive flames would surely burn away the medicinal properties of the herbs completely.
"Does he really think an alchemist is just stewing vegetables?"
Liu Qintan's eyes carried even greater mockery as she thought to herself that this fellow was indeed nothing more than a half-baked amateur with zero standards!
Despite the continuous jeers all around, Ye Han maintained the fierce fire burning the cauldron, refusing to be distracted by the surrounding sneers.
Because what he was using this time was the unique alchemy technique attached to the Firmament Pill Body!
This technique was called the Fire Dragon Spitting the Pearl!
The flame was like a dragon, and the cauldron wrapped within it was its pearl. This could only be accomplished when one's mastery of spiritual power was extremely exquisite.
Inside the scorching cauldron right now, his formidable divine soul was simultaneously extracting three batches of medicinal liquid!
...
Time ticked away, and four hours passed. Suddenly, Master Zhuge flicked his sleeve.
Clang!
The flames extinguished. The lid fell onto the stone platform.
He was drenched in sweat and panting heavily, because refining this single Jiuyuan Dan had consumed far too much energy!
"This old man has succeeded."
With that, Master Zhuge calmly lifted the cauldron lid.
Hum!
A surge of spiritual light erupted, a rich fragrance drifted out, and a round, brown medicinal pill floated into the air.
"Master Zhuge's alchemy is truly reaching the realm of perfection—masterful indeed!"
"Heh heh, that brat is still stewing his herbs over there!"
While marveling at Master Zhuge, everyone's gaze converged once more upon Ye Han, filled with continuous sneers. With a straight face, Master Zhuge remained silent; it was utterly impossible to refine a Jiuyuan Dan by such methods. Without a doubt, the herbs inside that kid's cauldron had long since been burned to a crisp!
Before long, Ye Han lifted his eyelids and also slowly said,
"My Jiuyuan Dan is also done."
Clang, clang!
Just as those words fell, the cauldron shook violently, as if a surge of energy was about to burst out from the inside.
Roar—
Following that, an ancient dragon roar echoed out, and they saw the flames condense into the shape of a fire dragon. Inside the fire dragon's mouth, a glowing red cauldron was suspended.
This scene was just like a fire dragon spitting a pearl!
Within the fire dragon's mouth, there seemed to be a powerful medicinal fluctuation!
"Impossible..."
Master Zhuge's expression changed drastically. Using such a method to refine pills, it was absolutely impossible for it to form!
Yet...
Clang!
Hum—
The cauldron lid opened, bursting forth with a dazzling light, and a medicinal pill was slowly spat out from the dragon's mouth!
"..."
The next instant, everyone's pupils shrank violently.
"Heavens, pill... pill patterns!"
Chapter 9 Guidance
"That is..."
"Pill patterns!"
"Heavens, I actually have the honor of witnessing a spiritual pill born with pill patterns!"
This cry caused the gazes of Master Zhuge and the others to instantly lock dead onto the Jiuyuan Dan floating before Ye Han.
Instantly, the plaza fell into a dead silence.
Everyone widened their eyes, not even daring to draw a full breath...
They saw that upon the round pill orb, a series of distinct, vermilion-colored lines had emerged, covered by a hazy, glowing radiance.
Pill patterns—it was truly pill patterns!
Not only had Ye Han successfully refined the Jiuyuan Dan, but he had even caused the pill body to condense rare pill patterns!
"Pill patterns... absolutely impossible!"
Master Zhuge's eyes lost focus, his fists clenched tightly.
As everyone knew, the value of a spiritual pill possessing pill patterns was a hundred times that of an ordinary spiritual pill!
Pills possessing pill patterns could be said to be rare treasures of the world; even if an alchemist refined ten thousand pills, they might not necessarily successfully forge a single one bearing pill patterns.
Though Master Zhuge had lived for over a hundred years, not once in his entire life had he successfully refined a spiritual pill born with pill patterns.
Yet this young man before him, so tender in years, had casually forged a spiritual pill bearing pill patterns!
Master Canglan and the various elders of the Alchemist Guild were likewise shaken pale, struck dumb and speechless.
As for Liu Qintan, her phoenix-like eyes were filled with an inexpressible shock!
A tier-3 pill—the Jiuyuan Dan!
And it possessed the legendary pill patterns!
She asked herself: even if she were given another twenty years, she would still be utterly incapable of refining such a thing.
"A seventeen-year-old tier-3 alchemist—forget about all of Yancheng, even within the Eight Desolations Ancient Region, this is a genius capable of causing a sensation!"
"Ha! Who was it that was mocking and jeering at him earlier? Getting their faces slapped now, aren't they!"
"A bunch of short-sighted fellows!"
The entire plaza erupted into heated discussions, a roaring wave of noise.
Tier-3 alchemists were not particularly rare, but a seventeen-year-old tier-3 alchemist was enough to cause a sensation throughout the entire Alchemist Guild!
"Grandmaster Ye, this old man admits defeat."
After a moment, Master Zhuge conceded with complete conviction; his previous arrogance and contempt had now vanished completely.
Replaced entirely by deep admiration.
At seventeen years old, his alchemy skills had already surpassed his own!
"Master Zhuge flatters me."
Ye Han did not press his advantage aggressively, instead smoothly offering the other man a way to step down.
This only made Master Zhuge hold him in even higher regard, filling his heart with immense gratitude.
"Elder Canglan, thank you for your flame. This pill flame turned out to be quite handy to use."
With that, Ye Han flicked his finger, and the violent Blazing Lion Flame shot out like a streak of spiritual light, plunging straight into Elder Canglan's glabella.
"Grandmaster Ye is too polite."
Elder Canglan bowed respectfully.
At this moment, his heart was shaken to the core!
Such a violent Blazing Lion Flame had been so light and docile in Ye Han's hands.
A grandmaster truly was a grandmaster!
And the surrounding onlookers, seeing Elder Canglan and Elder Zhuge actually addressing a junior as "Grandmaster," found it simply inconceivable.
One had to know that even the City Lord of Yancheng might not command such polite treatment from them!
"Master Zhuge, I gift this Jiuyuan Dan to you. However, regarding that Qingmu Guiteng, I hope you will honor your promise."
Ye Han waved his sleeve, and the Jiuyuan Dan landed in Master Zhuge's hands.
Master Zhuge held the pill with trembling hands, his gaze fixed on it as if admiring a rare treasure of the world.
What he had pursued his entire life was precisely the refinement of a spiritual pill capable of spawning pill patterns!
Yet, Ye Han had done it!
"Easily done, easily done, please this way."
Master Zhuge, usually known for his stern expression, immediately wore a full smile and stretched out his hand to gesture a path to the sides.
Led by several elders, Ye Han entered the tower building of the Alchemist Guild.
...
Alchemist Guild, Pill Tower.
Inside the towering structure, disciples were currently continuously rushing over in secret to catch a glimpse.
Some pressed their faces against the windows, while others climbed up pillars, seemingly eager to steal a peek into the building.
"Did you guys hear? A cultivation genius—no, an alchemy genius seems to have come to our guild! Word is his alchemy is even more exquisite than Master Zhuge's!"
A young girl whispered softly.
"They say that kid is only seventeen, the exact same age as Senior Sister Liu. But Senior Sister Liu's alchemy seems to be no match for him either!"
A chubby boy chimed in.
"Don't push, I can see him!"
"Heavens, so handsome!"
Some of the girls began to daydream, letting their imaginations run wild.
"Such a noisy racket! What kind of decency is this?!"
From behind them, an elderly shout suddenly rang out.
"Elder Yunlong!"
The hundred-odd disciples hurriedly straightened up, lowering their heads.
"Stop peeking, go on inside."
With those words from the white-haired elder, the crowd of young men and women swarmed forward, flooding into the main hall and standing in a neat row.
Inside the Pill Tower, sandalwood incense drifted through the air, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere.
Ye Han sat in the VIP seat, flanked on his left and right by the elders of the Alchemist Guild.
These elders were usually aloof and high-and-mighty, but at this moment before Ye Han, every single one of them wore smiling faces and was utterly respectful.
Some disciples were dumbfounded; this was the first time in their lives they had ever seen such dignified elders treat a junior with such profound respect.
Yet before someone whose alchemy skills had surpassed Master Zhuge's at the age of seventeen—
Forget about them, even the President of the Alchemist Guild would have to show utmost respect!
"Grandmaster Ye, please wait a moment longer. Elder Zhuge has already gone to fetch your medicinal herbs."
Elder Canglan stroked his beard with a smiling face.
Ye Han slowly sipped his tea and nodded.
"I wonder if Grandmaster Ye might offer this old man some pointers in alchemy? I've been stuck at the high-tier-2 alchemist rank for many years."
At this point, Elder Yunlong said with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
The rest of the elders instantly lit up; naturally, they too wished to hear the grandmaster's instruction!
"Easily done. Brew a batch of pills for me to see."
Ye Han set down his teacup and agreed.
Hoo hoo hoo—
Elder Yunlong nodded, then produced his pill furnace and began refining his most proficient Tianling Dan right before Ye Han.
Ye Han observed attentively until the pill furnace was set down, at which point he mused,
"Elder Yunlong possesses abundant spiritual power, but your flame control falls slightly short. Here, let me impart a flame control technique to you."
With that, Ye Han demonstrated.
The violent flames within the palm of his hand were actually rendered so smooth and fluid!
"Exquisite, simply too exquisite!"
"Truly grandmaster-level flame control!"
The group of elders gasped in endless admiration, looking at each other with eyes filled with shock.
No wonder Master Zhuge had lost!
Boom—
"Hahaha!"
"This old man has broken through to become a tier-3 alchemist!"
Half an hour later, a burst of wild laughter echoed out. As it turned out, following Ye Han's casual pointers, Elder Yunlong had actually broken through.
The bottleneck that had stumped him for ten years had been shattered by Ye Han in just a few sparse words, successfully stepping into the tier-3 alchemist rank!
"Grandmaster Ye, guide me as well! My mastery over my spiritual power is inadequate!"
"This old man also wishes to learn this flame control technique!"
"Grandmaster Tianque, cutting the line like that isn't right—clearly I was step ahead of you!"