Chapter Thirty-Six: Significant Progress in the Art of Alchemy

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Winter returned once more to the vast wilderness of Yunze. Gray mist veiled the mountains as the cold wind howled. Snowflakes drifted down upon Qingyang Market, yet the fervor of the scattered cultivators remained undimmed. The streets teemed with crowds, bustling with lively energy.

A few months prior, the Spirit Feather Sect and Golden Cloud Valley had begun issuing a series of missions. As long as one completed the tasks according to the sects' requirements, they would receive the promised generous rewards. Some missions called for reinforcing the frontlines, risking life and limb against barbarian cultivators. Others required journeying to Five Peaks Mountain to help construct the Immortal City of Yunze. There were also tasks to hunt and exterminate various demon beasts, or to gather all sorts of spiritual herbs and materials. Even a series of lucrative bounties had been posted specifically targeting "Calamity Cultivators." In short, the rewards were exceedingly rich.

Among all these missions, the most tempting was the highest bounty of all—the legendary Foundation Establishment Pill. But its difficulty was, as one might expect, formidable. For an ordinary cultivator to attempt such a mission was little different from courting death. Yet the scattered cultivators still surged forward to accept these assignments, like moths to a flame.

Amid this wave of recruitment, various groups of cultivators emerged around Qingyang Market, forming teams to venture forth together.

Qin Ming, however, had no interest in these missions. He remained as steady as ever, cultivating alone in his room.

He gazed quietly at the entry labeled "Faint Soul Power x10" within his sea of consciousness. Today, he decided, he would strengthen his soul.

With a single thought, one of the white entry leaves vanished.

Instantly, a searing pain erupted in his mind, as if something within his consciousness was being violently torn apart.

Buzz—

When he came to his senses, his forehead was already slick with sweat.

"I didn't expect the process of enhancing the soul to be so painful," Qin Ming muttered through gritted teeth, his face pale.

But he could clearly sense that his soul had indeed been strengthened considerably.

"Nine left!"

Steeling himself, Qin Ming continued to use the "Faint Soul Power" entries.

...

Three days later.

Once all ten "Faint Soul Power" entries had been consumed, Qin Ming's soul force had more than doubled. By now, his soul was likely two to three times stronger than that of his peers.

"I'll try refining pills again with Su Yuqing."

Feeling the newly fortified strength within, Qin Ming found his confidence rekindled.

In the shantytown, within Su Yuqing's house.

"Brother Qin, let me give you some advice: you really should give up. Your talent simply isn’t suited for alchemy," Su Yuqing said kindly, seeing Qin Ming's stubborn determination.

Qin Ming offered a faint smile. "I want to try one last time."

"Very well, suit yourself," Su Yuqing sighed, giving up his attempts at persuasion. He sat down and brewed a pot of spirit tea, savoring it quietly.

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Qin Ming entered the alchemy chamber. He laid out all the prepared spiritual herbs and materials on the table, then began to extract the medicinal base. This time, he aimed to refine a first-grade, low-tier pill—the Qi Restoration Pill.

Qin Ming found that with his strengthened soul, the process of alchemy was uncommonly smooth. From refining the medicinal base to blending the ingredients, everything felt markedly different from before—almost effortless.

He opened the fire valve.

Boom!

Fierce earthfire surged up from below. Following the methods for fire control in the "Treatise on Fire Timing," Qin Ming ensured the pill furnace received even heat. When the moment was right, he raised his hand and, guided by his will, the prepared medicinal base drifted into the furnace.

Focusing his mind, Qin Ming controlled the flames while fusing the medicinal base.

Time slipped by.

...

Outside, Su Yuqing sipped his tea, occasionally glancing at the alchemy chamber. He wasn’t concerned about whether Qin Ming could refine a low-tier pill, but rather worried that the process might go awry and blow up his house.

"Ah, such a hardheaded youth. Why won’t he listen? Why so obstinate? I told him—it’s impossible..." Su Yuqing shook his head and sighed, raising his cup for another sip.

Just then, a clear crack sounded from within the alchemy chamber.

"Pfft!" The tea sprayed from Su Yuqing’s mouth as his face froze in disbelief. "No way—he succeeded on his first try?"

He rushed inside to see for himself.

A wave of pill fragrance wafted from the room. Inside the furnace, five azure pills had already formed. With a gesture, Qin Ming had the five Qi Restoration Pills fall into his hand.

"You... you actually succeeded?" Su Yuqing was incredulous.

Given his own aptitude, it had taken him just about as long as Qin Ming to master refining low-tier pills.

"Heh, just lucky, I suppose." Qin Ming’s face shone with delight—he was thrilled. At last, he had succeeded! This meant he was officially a first-grade, low-tier alchemist.

Hearing this, Su Yuqing finally wore a look of realization. "True, you haven't studied long, so perhaps it was just luck."

Qin Ming put the five pills into a jade bottle.

"Brother Su, I’d like to try refining a batch of Qi Condensation Pills next," he said.

Su Yuqing frowned, thinking Qin Ming was reaching too far.

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"Brother Qin, think carefully. The Qi Condensation Pill is used to advance mid-stage Qi Refinement—it’s much more difficult than a Qi Restoration Pill. Don't rush into it," Su Yuqing cautioned.

But Qin Ming persisted. "I still want to try."

"As you wish—it's not my spirit stones you're wasting," Su Yuqing replied, returning to his tea.

Qin Ming cleaned out the furnace and prepared to refine the Qi Condensation Pill. The recipe and process were already imprinted in his mind.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

...

Su Yuqing cradled his teacup, his attention fixed on the alchemy chamber.

A muffled pop sounded, followed by the smell of scorching.

"Ah, I knew it—luck never holds forever. Qin Ming just won’t believe it. One batch of low-tier Qi Restoration Pills and he’s full of confidence," Su Yuqing muttered, shaking his head.

Inside the chamber, Qin Ming rested his chin in his hand, eyes on the furnace, not overly discouraged. He meticulously reviewed every step of the process in his mind.

His gaze narrowed, a spark of understanding flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he began again.

An hour later—

Another muffled sound came from the chamber.

Su Yuqing, popping a snack into his mouth, could only shake his head.

"Another failure..." Qin Ming frowned, lifting several failed pills from the furnace to study them.

Suddenly, a faint smirk played on his lips.

Upon closer inspection, he saw that the pills in his hand were nearly fully formed.

"Just a little more," he murmured.

...

Qin Ming began his third attempt at refining the Qi Condensation Pill. He could feel it—strengthening his soul had greatly improved his precision in measuring and mixing ingredients, as well as controlling the fire.

Now, he could refine the medicinal base and blend the ingredients almost perfectly, without the slightest error.

Time passed slowly.

Su Yuqing, bored enough to consider making a meal, stood up.

A crisp, ringing sound suddenly echoed from the alchemy chamber.

Su Yuqing felt as if struck by lightning, frozen mid-step, unable to move.

...