The dan furnace in Tang Xuan Temple’s possession was an antique, far superior in quality to the one Ye Tian usually used. After a brief familiarization with its operation, Ye Tian began the alchemy process.
The pill he intended to refine was called the Three Treasures Body Refining Pill, requiring three main medicinal ingredients with potent effects on body shaping. This pill, however, was too potent for ordinary people to withstand its medicinal power, making it unconsumable by them. Only cultivators with a certain level of cultivation could take it.
As Ye Tian added the first ingredient, Tang Xuan Temple couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, how is the order of adding the ingredients determined?”
Ye Tian replied, “After glancing at the pill recipe, the sequence of medicinal reactions immediately appeared in my mind. There are definite rules for which herb reacts with which. This order cannot be disrupted, or the medicinal efficacy will be greatly reduced. From ten parts of medicinal power, perhaps less than one part might remain.”
Tang Xuan Temple sighed, “I always added the ingredients two or three times in quick succession before, never understanding the concept of primary and secondary.”
Ye Tian observed the changes in the dan furnace. He patted the furnace with his right palm, channeling his internal energy into it. The flame within the furnace immediately transformed into a lotus shape.
Tang Xuan Temple used high-quality charcoal for alchemy, which was easy to control. When the furnace’s temperature reached a certain point, Ye Tian continuously tapped the furnace, activating various mechanisms inside.
The furnace’s construction was incredibly complex, featuring thousands of tiny pores. Each pore served as a channel for the medicinal power’s circulation, with different channels offering different effects. Some could divert the flow, some could cool, and some could concentrate the medicinal power. Only highly experienced alchemists could perfectly utilize these subtle variations.
Ye Tian, currently only in the initial stages of pill refinement, couldn't achieve perfection. He could only manage a rough approximation. Yet, even this left Tang Xuan Temple wide-eyed, constantly inquiring about the underlying principles.
Ye Tian wasn’t afraid of him learning. After all, learning was one thing, and mastery was another. The profound mysteries were not something to be easily shared with outsiders.
After more than thirty minutes, he sensed the pill was complete. He then pressed a mechanism, and the furnace lid opened with a “click.” Following this, he tapped the furnace, and three crystal-clear, jade-like pills flew out, landing in his palm.
Upon seeing the pills, Tang Xuan Temple exclaimed, “Excellent quality!”
Ye Tian observed them for a moment and then smiled, “Not bad. A third-grade pill. The result of this refinement session is quite acceptable.”
Tang Xuan Temple chuckled heartily, “This is the first time I’ve seen such fine pills. Mr. Ye, you have truly opened my eyes!”
Ye Tian replied, “I am merely dabbling in it. I hope to exchange knowledge with Sect Master Tang more in the future.”
Tang Xuan Temple said, “Mr. Ye, do you have any other engagements recently? If not, please stay at the Tang Sect for a few more days.”
Ye Tian smiled, “I would like to stay longer, but I have an important matter to attend to in a couple of days.”
Zhang Longsheng immediately chimed in cooperatively, “Mr. Ye, what is it? Do you need our assistance?”
Ye Tian stated calmly, “Some friends in the capital insist on electing me as some sort of leader. This matter is quite significant, so I plan to seek the advice of my elders.”
Tang Xuan Temple’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, “Who is Mr. Ye’s master?”
Ye Tian smiled, “The Divine Physician, Holy Hand. Sect Master Tang, have you heard of him?”
A long time ago, Ye Tian had posed as this person’s disciple, and now he mentioned his name again. In his opinion, the Divine Physician, Holy Hand, was renowned only within the medical community, and outsiders likely hadn’t heard much about him.
However, the moment he uttered Hua Jiuli’s honorific title, Tang Xuan Temple trembled and asked, “Is Mr. Ye’s master truly the esteemed elder Hua Jiuli, the Divine Physician, Holy Hand?”
Ye Tian had initially intended to mention the Sky Alliance, but Tang Xuan Temple’s concern was clearly not about the Sky Alliance, but about Hua Jiuli. He could only continue, “Indeed. Sect Master Tang knows of him?”
Tang Xuan Temple sighed deeply, “Heaven be my witness, our Tang Sect has finally encountered a descendant of our benefactor!”
He suddenly bowed, “I, Tang Xuan Temple, the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect, pay my respects to the benefactor’s descendant!”
Zhang Longsheng was stunned, and Ye Tian was also taken aback. He quickly helped the other man up and asked, “Sect Master Tang, why such a profound gesture?”
Tang Xuan Temple said gravely, “Many years ago, the Tang Sect faced an immense crisis. All the experts within the sect were poisoned. It was a treacherous act carried out by a spy sent by our greatest adversary. Although we repelled the enemy’s initial attack, the poison’s effects gradually weakened us.”
“Just as the Tang Sect was on the verge of annihilation, Elder Hua descended like an immortal and cured all of us with a gourd of medicinal water. Afterward, our Tang Sect fought back fiercely, severely crippling the enemy, who never dared to oppose us again. That battle, the Tang Sect, which should have been destroyed, not only survived but became even stronger than before. All of this was thanks to Elder Hua. From that moment on, our Tang Sect established a rule: any member of the Tang Sect who encounters Elder Hua, or his descendants, must treat them as a benefactor, show utmost respect, and fulfill any request!”
Ye Tian had never imagined that a name casually mentioned by someone else, which he had merely borrowed, would lead to such a story.
He said, “Sect Master Tang, I was unaware of this matter. But it was a long time ago; let us not dwell on it.”
Tang Xuan Temple stated with seriousness, “The life-saving grace is something the Tang Sect, generation after generation, dares not forget!”