Shan Hu left the quiet room. As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw Ye Chengye rushing toward him with a hurried expression.
"Senior!" Ye Chengye immediately stopped and bowed.
"The intelligence network has been activated, but it will take some time to gather the three categories of confidential information you requested," Ye Chengye reported respectfully.
Shan Hu nodded, acknowledging the update. He then cut straight to the point: "I have set up a simple alchemy chamber in the backyard herb garden. I now require the medicinal accumulation of your Ye family over the past few centuries."
Ye Chengye was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood Shan Hu's intention, his heart surging with excitement. Alchemy! This was a true immortal method!
"Senior, please follow me!"
As a family with a centuries-old heritage, the Ye family's medicinal storage was incomparable to any secular pharmacy. It was located in the most secluded underground chamber behind the ancient estate, cast in solid granite and protected by ancient Feng Shui arrays to ensure the herbs would not succumb to moisture or decay.
When the chamber opened, a fresh scent of herbs, heavy with the weight of time, wafted out.
Hundreds of different types of medicinal materials were categorized and placed in jade boxes. Although most were merely secular treasures, there were quite a few spiritual herbs containing faint spiritual energy. These spiritual herbs had been nourished by the former spiritual vein beneath the Ye family estate, making their quality far superior to those found elsewhere.
"These will suffice," Shan Hu confirmed the necessary ingredients with a single sweep of his Divine Sense.
He pointed to a pile of spiritual grass called "Clear Wind Grass," and then to "Earth Yellow Essence" and "Purple Cloud Flower": "Transport all of these to the rockery chamber in the herb garden."
Ye Chengye dared not delay for a second and immediately ordered his trusted servants to carefully move the specified herbs.
Once all the ingredients were moved into the alchemy chamber inside the rockery, Ye Chengye offered to stand guard nearby. Shan Hu, knowing he wished to observe the alchemy process, tacitly agreed.
"This is for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. Many in the Ye family have mediocre aptitude. This pill can help them establish their foundation and step into the threshold of cultivation," Shan Hu explained casually, then remained silent.
He walked to the repaired Dragon Breath Fire Cauldron.
There were no tedious preparations or complex rituals. Shan Hu simply raised his hand, spread his five fingers, and a ball of pale green True Fire condensed in his palm.
This fire was not a mortal flame of the Earth, but the "Azure Nether Fire," catalyzed by the Azure Emperor True Essence, containing extreme purity and temperature, sufficient to refine all things.
He flicked his finger, and the Azure Nether Fire instantly drilled into the Earth Fire vent beneath the Dragon Breath Fire Cauldron.
Weng—!
The Dragon Breath Fire Cauldron let out a low dragon's roar. The damaged runes all lit up. The cauldron, originally meant to draw on the Earth's Fire, was now fueled by the Azure Nether Fire, and its temperature instantly soared, causing the air to warp.
Ye Chengye felt a wave of heat wash over him. He was shocked to realize this temperature was far more terrifying than any Earth Fire he had ever witnessed, and it was merely a casual effort by Shan Hu!
Shan Hu's expression remained calm, as if performing a trivial task. With a sweep of his hand, hundreds of stalks of Clear Wind Grass were enveloped by invisible force and thrown into the cauldron.
"Herbs enter the cauldron; discard the dross, retain the essence."
His fingers continuously flicked, the speed of his hand movements lightning fast. The Azure Nether Fire precisely controlled the melting speed of every single medicinal material inside the cauldron. In Ye Chengye's eyes, the spiritual herbs were not being burned, but rather breaking down and evaporating at a visible speed, leaving behind only drops of liquid containing pure spiritual energy.
As the liquid essence gathered, Shan Hu threw in the main ingredients, such as the Earth Yellow Essence and Purple Cloud Flower.
He adjusted the heat again. The Azure Nether Fire was sometimes like a fine thread, and sometimes like a bolt of thunder, gradually refining the impurities from the liquid, eventually leaving behind a mass of refined essence glowing with subtle multi-colored light.
The entire alchemy process was smooth and extremely fast, taking only a quarter of an hour.
"Condense the pill."
A sharp light flashed in Shan Hu's eyes. He formed complex seals with his hands and forcefully slapped the top of the cauldron.
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted from within the cauldron. Immediately after, an extremely rich medicinal fragrance pierced through the isolation array, instantly filling the entire herb garden.
Upon inhaling the fragrance, Ye Chengye felt his long-dormant magical power stirring. Every pore on his body seemed to groan in pleasure. He couldn't help but take a deep breath, feeling his body and mind being cleansed.
"This... what kind of immortal pill is this?" Ye Chengye was utterly speechless. He had never imagined that the mere scent of a pill could possess such efficacy.
Shan Hu withdrew the True Fire and opened the lid of the cauldron.
Inside the Dragon Breath Fire Cauldron lay twelve perfectly round, plump pills, emanating a faint azure glow. Each pill had a subtle, barely visible pill pattern, signifying their superior quality.
"Twelve Foundation Establishment Pills, barely enough," Shan Hu took a jade bottle and stored them.
He turned to the fervent Ye Chengye and said calmly, "These pills are sufficient to help those with faint spiritual roots successfully establish their foundation."
"Ye Chengye, you may go and prepare now. In three days, all members of the Ye family who are over eighteen and possess faint spiritual energy within them shall receive Foundation Establishment right here."