"Junior Brother Xiao, are you alright?" Kong Qing was the first to recognize Xiao Man and quickly stepped past Zhai Ge, offering Xiao Man a handkerchief. "Were you refining pills?"
Xiao Man took the handkerchief and thanked him. While wiping her face, she said, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I'm much better now, mostly recovered. This is all thanks to Senior Uncle Zhai; my injuries healed so quickly. I was so eager to ask Master to teach me alchemy, but I suppose I was too impatient and accidentally blew up the furnace."
"Alchemy requires patience and gradual progress. Don't be so hasty. What pill were you trying to refine, Junior Brother?"
"Foundation Establishment Pill."
"The Foundation Establishment Pill is not easy to refine. Currently, within our sect, only three people can refine it. You've only just started learning alchemy, so the Foundation Establishment Pill might be a bit difficult for you. You could try basic pills like the Hemorrhage Stopping Pill or the Yuan Replenishing Pill," Kong Qing said earnestly to Xiao Man. "However, regarding the Qi Harmonizing Pill, the method you suggested was truly useful. The success rate of pill formation has indeed increased significantly. Thank you."
Xiao Man nodded slowly. "I was just speaking casually. I'm glad I could help Senior Brother Kong Qing."
Jing Mo looked at Xiao Man curiously. There were many rumors about Xiao Man, and their Master had even given up his stored Purple Spirit Pills for her, which he regretted for a long time. Now that they finally saw her in person, they found her features exquisite, though her face was smeared with soot, obscuring her appearance. They imagined she must be quite beautiful.
"Boss, what happened to you?" Poisonous Woman entered last and saw Xiao Man's disheveled state. She quickly went to his side, helping him wipe his face and tidy his messy hair. Zhai Ge's disciples watched with envy, gnawing on their sleeves.
"I wish Senior Sister would treat me like that."
"Senior Sister can speak so gently!"
"That Xiao Qin fellow is truly enviable!" Fu Shen gritted his teeth. Having a master as beautiful as a celestial being was one thing, but their junior sister's ambiguous relationship with him was another. Envy, jealousy!
"Are you all very idle?" Zhai Ge gritted out. He was already depressed about losing the Purple Spirit Pill, and then Xiao Man kept appearing before him. Just seeing Xiao Man made him feel a pang of regret.
"Not at all, not at all." The group quickly fled the scene. Seeing Kong Qing still talking with Xiao Man, they immediately dragged him away. Poisonous Woman really wanted to talk to Xiao Man, but under Zhai Ge's gaze, she also fled the scene.
After they left, Zhai Ge was about to return to the alchemy room when Xiao Man called him back.
"Senior Uncle Zhai, when I was refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, for some reason, the furnace always exploded. Could you give me some pointers?" Xiao Man asked sincerely.
Zhai Ge glanced at Xiao Man. "Don't be too ambitious. You've only just started learning alchemy. You should begin with the most basic pills. The Foundation Establishment Pill is a fifth-grade pill. With your current skill, you can't refine it yet."
Xiao Man scratched her head and extended her hand. A pill lay in her palm. Zhai Ge glanced at it dismissively, intending to leave. After taking two steps, he stopped, then rushed back to Xiao Man. He picked up the pill in Xiao Man's palm. It was a Foundation Establishment Pill, and an excellent one at that!
"You refined this?"
"Yes. I should have gotten a batch, but for some reason, at the last moment, it exploded. I only managed to save this one," Xiao Man said regretfully. "Senior Uncle Zhai, is this pill a failure?"
Zhai Ge stammered, unable to speak for a long time. Although he was still upset about Xiao Man consuming his Purple Spirit Pill, his love for alchemy quickly made him forget his displeasure.
"Refine it for me again, from start to finish."
"Yes, Senior Uncle Zhai." Xiao Man walked towards her alchemy room. Zhai Ge grabbed her collar. "Your master's alchemy room is unusable. Come to mine. I have the medicinal ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills there too."
"Alright."
While the Hundred Herbs Hall could refine Foundation Establishment Pills, their quality was at best medium-to-high. Yet Xiao Man had managed to produce an excellent Foundation Establishment Pill. The quality was superb. Even though the furnace exploded, obtaining one excellent Foundation Establishment Pill from a batch was still a profitable endeavor. Zhai Ge wanted to see how Xiao Man had managed to produce this excellent Foundation Establishment Pill.
Xiao Man demonstrated her technique for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill to Zhai Ge. Zhai Ge watched her orderly placement of medicinal ingredients into the pill furnace with admiration. No wonder Junior Sister Jun insisted on her refining the Foundation Establishment Pill right from the start, and succeeding at it. Truly a prodigy.
"Wait, why are you adding the Heavenly Bamboo Seed at this point?"
"The Fiery Sun Grass is potent, while the Heavenly Bamboo Seed is cold. If the Heavenly Bamboo Seed and Fiery Sun Grass are added together, it will cause the pill's essence to become unstable, resulting in a failed pill. Even if it's successfully refined, the quality will be poor. By adding the Heavenly Bamboo Seed first, and then the Fiery Sun Grass after the Heavenly Bamboo Seed has fused, the medicinal properties of both ingredients can be maximized."
Zhai Ge nodded in understanding. "Continue."
Xiao Man's technique was not particularly skilled, but she had a profound understanding of medicinal properties. When properties conflicted, she would employ alternative methods to ensure efficacy. Furthermore, to better preserve the medicinal properties, she would adjust the refining process. In time, this young man would surely become an excellent alchemist. Su Dan Novel Network
Until the very end, Zhai Ge watched Xiao Man's every move intently, afraid of any misstep that might cause the furnace to explode. However, Xiao Man's procedures and steps were flawless. The pill furnace remained calm, the heat was perfectly controlled, and when a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, Zhai Ge knew the pill was formed! It only needed to absorb the remaining medicinal energy to be complete.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Xiao Man stepped forward and slapped the pill furnace. The previously calm furnace's internal energy instantly became chaotic. Zhai Ge had no time to stop her. This youngster was too impatient. The absorption of medicinal energy in the final stage was crucial. This youngster interrupted the absorption, causing the unabsorbed medicinal energy to erupt, resulting in an explosion!
Boom! With another deafening roar, Xiao Man and Zhai Ge were both blown away by the blast, landing outside the door.
"Why did it explode again?" Xiao Man's clothes were tattered, revealing the protective armor underneath. Zhai Ge shook his head, his ears ringing.
"You youngster… you youngster…"
"Senior Uncle Zhai, I managed to get three this time." Xiao Man proudly showed Zhai Ge the three pills in her hand. Zhai Ge looked at the three excellent Foundation Establishment Pills, and a mouthful of blood got stuck in his throat. He couldn't swallow it or spit it out. He wanted to curse her, but this youngster, who opened the furnace before the medicinal energy had fully absorbed, had still managed to produce excellent Foundation Establishment Pills. What kind of pills would she produce if she waited for the medicinal energy to fully absorb?