After working in the pharmacy for a few days, Xu Zhou vaguely realized something.
Senior Brother Ke might not have been looking out for him.
The work in the pharmacy wasn't actually difficult; it mainly involved managing medicinal herbs, storing them according to their properties to prevent loss of efficacy, and keeping accounts and other miscellaneous tasks.
Most of the time was relatively free, allowing for flexible use.
However, being in such a crucial place, the responsibility was considerable.
Although this pharmacy only stored first-tier, inexpensive herbs, even if a mistake was made, it would at most result in a deduction of contribution points. But such a mistake at the Hundred Herbs Hall would have a huge impact. If he were labeled "careless," his future alchemy career would be fraught with setbacks.
Therefore
, although managing the pharmacy had many advantages, few people were willing to take the job; it was practically a semi-retirement position.
Ke Yanfeng had high hopes for Xu Zhou, and even so, he still spent two or three months sternly instructing him on many matters.
Xu Zhou also took it very seriously and thankfully didn't make any mistakes during this time.
In the end, although Ke Yanfeng wasn't completely at ease, he truly had no choice and finally entrusted the pharmacy to Xu Zhou.
He didn't leave quickly. After all, if something went wrong, he would also be held responsible.
Without Senior Brother Ke by his side, Xu Zhou's days were much quieter.
But he dared not slack off.
Aside from a small amount of time spent keeping accounts and managing medicinal herbs, he spent most of his time carefully reading a classic medicine book at the counter, only putting it down when someone came.
Most of the alchemists at Baicaotang kept large quantities of low-grade medicinal herbs and rarely came to his shop.
The time he spent on the book was almost the same as before.
That day, Xu Zhou was intently studying "The Fundamentals of Alchemy."
This book was no longer a medicine book, but a true study of alchemy; although its content was rudimentary, it was still quite obscure.
He should have started learning from the book while assisting in alchemy. But now, without any alchemists to take him in, he could only finish reading the book first to lay a foundation for the future.
Just as he was fully focused, he suddenly sensed something and awoke from his deep learning.
Through long-term practice, he could now sense changes around him even while deep learning, unlike before when he was oblivious to the passage of time and wouldn't notice when someone approached.
Looking up, Xu Zhou saw a round-faced man, who, judging from his attire, was likely an alchemist from within the sect.
Xu Zhou dared not be negligent and immediately closed his book: "Senior brother, is there anything you need?"
The alchemist looked around, quickly frowning: "Where is Old Ke?"
"Senior Brother Ke is in seclusion refining pills and cannot come out for the time being."
"When will he return?" The alchemist's frown deepened.
"Well, that depends on his progress. Two or three months at most, ten days at least, he should be back."
The round-faced alchemist hesitated for a moment, finally seeming to accept reality.
He took out a piece of paper from his robes and handed it over, saying, "Prepare a set of the herbs listed here for me."
Xu Zhou took the paper and skillfully ran towards the medicine cabinet to select the herbs.
Through long practice, his method of selecting herbs was quite proficient, showing no signs of inexperience. Soon, he brought the herbs the round-faced alchemist had requested.
The alchemist took the herbs but remained silent, immediately opening and inspecting them.
Clearly, he was uneasy.
Among the medicinal herbs he needed, several were relatively difficult to identify. A mistake could ruin the pills at best, and at worst contaminate the alchemy furnace, requiring extensive cleaning afterwards; careful examination was essential.
Especially one ingredient, "Pearl-Eating Scorpion Tail," whose medicinal properties varied greatly depending on the year, making it extremely difficult to distinguish. Even he had to treat it seriously.
However, after careful inspection, all the herbs were correct.
The round-faced alchemist couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
Not only were the herbs Xu Zhou had selected correct, but their age and weight perfectly matched the requirements on the paper he had written. It could be said that even he couldn't achieve such precision.
"I'm sorry,"
he said casually, repackaging the herbs, glancing at Xu Zhou's somewhat overly youthful face before leaving.
Xu Zhou didn't seem to mind; similar incidents had occurred many times in the past few days, and he was somewhat used to it.
Returning to the counter, he once again opened the book "Basic Alchemy" and entered a deep learning state to continue studying...
Although
Ke Yanfeng had entrusted the pharmacy to Xu Zhou, he remained uneasy.
Xu Zhou was still only an apprentice and couldn't directly take over the pharmacy. Nominally, he was still in charge of the pharmacy, and he would still have to take responsibility if anything went wrong.
He could have asked Ke Qiaoshu for help, but his younger sister had recently broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, further elevating her status. Given their sibling relationship, it wasn't appropriate to constantly bother her.
This alchemy task was given to him by Steward Yuan, and completing it would bring him considerable benefits. However, the pharmacy wasn't under Steward Yuan's jurisdiction, so he still needed to handle related matters.
Ke Yanfeng naturally didn't want managing the pharmacy to interfere with his alchemy, but if he had to hand over the position, he would also bear some responsibility if it was entrusted to the wrong person.
None of his familiar fellow disciples from Baicaotang were willing to come to the pharmacy, so after searching around, he finally approached the apprentice Xu Zhou.
To be fair, Ke Yanfeng had a fairly high opinion of Xu Zhou. Xu Zhou had given up cultivation to focus on studying medicinal classics, and his knowledge of identifying herbs was already close to his own, making him more than capable of managing the pharmacy.
However, this matter was still somewhat risky, and given his usual perfectionist nature, he couldn't shake the unease.
After completing the first stage of his alchemy task, he could take a short rest, but unable to contain his worry, he decided to go to the pharmacy to check on Xu Zhou's condition.
Not long after leaving the hall, he ran into an acquaintance.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the man suddenly said, "The new manager of the pharmacy is quite capable."
Ke Yanfeng's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What about him?"
"Don't mention it."
The man's words made Ke Yanfeng's heart leap. He heard the man say, "A few days ago, I went to pick up some medicine, and the new manager found it for me in just half an incense stick's time. That's incredibly fast."
"It is fast indeed," Ke Yanfeng's expression changed, and his brows furrowed slightly. "I'll tell him to be more meticulous."
"That's not necessary."
The man said with a smile, "I also felt something was amiss at the time, so I checked it on the spot. The result was unexpected; the selection of herbs, their age, and their quantities were all perfect. I wouldn't have been so meticulous even if I were picking them myself."
"Ah?"
"That's why I said your new manager of the pharmacy is quite capable."
Seeing the man's mischievous smile, Ke Yanfeng knew he was being teased.
However, his previously anxious heart relaxed a little.
After saying goodbye to the other person, he hadn't walked far when he encountered another colleague. After a few words, the colleague also mentioned Xu Zhou, praising him endlessly.
Seeing both of them doing the same, Ke Yanfeng's pace slowed considerably, and his worries almost vanished.
A moment later, he arrived at the pharmacy.
Ke Yanfeng entered and saw Xu Zhou intently studying a classic text. Xu Zhou looked up at him before putting the text down: "Senior Brother Ke is back? Is the alchemy finished?"
"No," Ke Yanfeng replied, as serious and aloof as ever, "I just came to check."
He glanced around the room, seeing that it was exactly the same as when he left. After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll write you a prescription. Choose the medicine for me according to the prescription, just like you practiced before."
Since he was already there, he might as well test him.
Xu Zhou felt helpless but didn't say much, and went to get the medicine according to Ke Yanfeng's prescription.
...
Ke Yanfeng wasn't completely at ease and continued to check on him several times afterward.
The first time he came, he checked everything meticulously. After a few less checks, he still repeatedly reviewed the ledgers, carefully comparing them.
However, Xu Zhou was indeed impeccable.
He had abandoned cultivation to study the medicinal classics, and in terms of understanding these herbs, even ordinary low-grade first-level alchemists might not be able to match him.
As time went on, Ke Yanfeng gradually trusted him, and the intervals between his checks became longer and longer.
Until, at some point, Xu Zhou hadn't seen him for over half a year.
The position in the pharmacy practically became his.
In the days that followed, Xu Zhou continued to study the medicinal classics. Although Ke Yanfeng claimed to have mastered seventy or eighty percent of the classics, Xu Zhou felt he was far from having fully grasped them.
As long as deep learning could still be triggered, it meant he hadn't truly mastered them.
However, there were only so many basic medicinal classics. And the longer he studied, the faster he learned, thanks to his ability to draw inferences from
one instance to another. He initially struggled to memorize the *Spirit Herb Classic* for five or six months. But the more he studied the classics, the more he could apply his knowledge to other situations. Previously, the knowledge of medicinal properties that required rote memorization was now readily understood without much effort.
The dozens of medicinal texts in the library, which he initially thought would take ten or twenty years to master, now seemed achievable in less than a decade.
With a fairly good grasp of the texts, Xu Zhou began to consider switching cultivation methods. The
[Nourishment of Qi Cultivation Technique] was too basic; its only advantage was the low risk of qi deviation. However, if Xu Zhou could truly master the technique, he wouldn't suffer qi deviation no matter what he practiced.
Therefore, it would be best to choose a technique that was time-consuming to learn but offered rich rewards.
Xu Zhou took another leave of absence and went to the Scripture Pavilion.
This time, he had time and contribution points, allowing him to freely choose any technique from the pavilion.
Xu Zhou found many amazing techniques, some with profound magical power, others with fierce and deadly attacks—each a masterpiece. Anyone else could choose any one and make it their life's path.
But after a few glances, he looked away.
Finally, he looked again at the [Longevity Technique] he had discovered while searching for the art of preserving youth.
He hadn't chosen to exchange for the cultivation method at the time because he urgently needed a way to preserve his youth and conceal his abnormality. Now that the problem of maintaining his appearance was solved, from the perspective of choosing a cultivation technique, the "Longevity Technique" was a good choice.
The "Longevity Technique" locks in one's essence and can prolong life. However, it is difficult to learn, and the magical power cultivated is not very powerful. Therefore, even though it can prolong life, not many people choose this technique.
But for Xu Zhou, it was a good choice.
Although he could extend his lifespan by learning, no matter how much he studied, his lifespan was not infinite. If he could extend his life by one or two decades, the actual effect of life extension would far exceed his expectations.
As for the weak magical power he cultivated, that was not something he needed to consider.
Compared to other flashy techniques, this longevity technique was the most attractive to him.
He exchanged for the "Longevity Technique" and planned to study this technique while researching the medicine classics.
This process was destined to take a long time, but he wasn't in a hurry.
Six years had passed since he entered the Hundred Herbs Hall.
His actual age was twenty-six, but his fellow disciples only thought he was twenty. However, thanks to his deep learning abilities, his current physical age is only sixteen.
Even if he spends another ten or twenty years comprehending, his bone age will probably only be in his early twenties, making it not too late to cultivate this [Longevity Technique].
Time may pass, but he can afford to wait.
However, his peaceful life is not unchanging.
Several months after exchanging for the cultivation technique, Xu Zhou suddenly heard rumors.
A deacon spoke at a recent meeting, saying that Ke Yanfeng had not been involved in the pharmacy for a long time, and that the position should be handed over to a more suitable person.
Xu Zhou was, after all, just an apprentice.
Ke Yanfeng was different; he was an alchemist and a formal disciple of Baicaotang, managing the pharmacy was merely a side job. It was perfectly
legitimate for the pharmacy to be in Ke Yanfeng's hands, and no one would criticize him. But in Xu Zhou's hands, it was easy to attract criticism.
Although managing the pharmacy was a significant responsibility, and mistakes could have far-reaching consequences, that was only true for disciples aspiring to become alchemists. For those with no future prospects, the pharmacy handled numerous medicinal herbs, making it a lucrative and profitable position.
Before, when Ke Yanfeng was in charge, naturally no one said much. Now that it was Xu Zhou, even if he managed it equally well, some people were still envious.
A few days ago, things suddenly changed.
Xu Zhou noticed that someone was always staring at him outside the pharmacy. If his senses weren't sharp enough, he would have barely noticed.
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Although it was a small matter, he still vaguely felt something was wrong.
After some inquiries, the truth finally came out.
It turned out that Ke Yanfeng had made a mistake during a pill-refining mission. Although he was rescued in time, a significant amount of medicinal herbs had been lost, and half a month's preparations were wasted, requiring him to start all over again.
Such errors weren't uncommon for alchemists; every alchemist would encounter them a few times in their lifetime.
However, at least for several months after such an error, Ke Yanfeng's prestige would suffer a considerable blow.
Thus, the once impeccable pharmacy under his management developed a flaw.
Ultimately, news spread that Steward Zhuang had suggested replacing the person in charge of the pharmacy.
Xu Zhou's face darkened upon hearing this news.
He knew his senior brother Ke quite well; others might make mistakes, but it was extremely rare for him to err, suggesting there was likely another reason.
However, he didn't know the specific details and had no time to concern himself with them at the moment.
If nothing unexpected happened, his peaceful days in the pharmacy were likely coming to an end.
The day after the news spread, several disciples of the Hundred Herbs Hall strode into the pharmacy, their faces grim.
The slightly shorter young cultivator at the head of the group looked at Xu Zhou, and seeing that he was still flipping through books behind the counter, he couldn't help but sneer: "You dare to sit still when someone comes. You're living a very leisurely life, aren't you?" *
slap*
Xu Zhou closed the book and slowly cupped his hands in a respectful bow. "Senior brother, please don't be offended. Haste is forbidden in the pharmacy. You came in too quickly, catching everyone off guard."
The short cultivator narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but snort coldly.
"Alright, I'm here to tell you that this pharmacy isn't a place for an apprentice like you."
He pointed to the book on the counter. "Pack your things, finish the handover, and go wherever you need to go."
His tone was rather aggressive, not treating Xu Zhou as an equal.
But Xu Zhou, on the contrary, felt reassured.
He cupped his hands in greeting again and asked, "May I ask your name, senior brother, and by what status do you speak of me?"
The short cultivator's brow furrowed. "I am Zhuang Siyan, a legitimate first-tier alchemist of the Hundred Herbs Hall. My father, Zhuang Yuan, is a steward of the hall. Doesn't he have the authority to decide your fate?"
Xu Zhou remained unfazed, simply replying slowly, "Senior brother, please don't be offended. If Steward Zhuang had come in person, I naturally wouldn't have dared to refuse."
"But since he hasn't come, this pharmacy is a vital place for the Hundred Herbs Hall. I have my duties to fulfill, and I cannot leave here."
Zhuang Siyan didn't immediately reply.
However, his aura suddenly intensified. His
third-level Qi Chain cultivation aura expanded, causing the surrounding air to tremble. Xu Zhou swayed slightly; his first-level Qi Chain cultivation was insufficient to withstand the attack, and his breathing became slightly labored.
"Interesting."
"I've never seen many people in Baicaotang dare to speak to me like that."
"You're just a mere apprentice, yet you're so arrogant. If everyone acted like you, wouldn't Baicaotang be in chaos?"
Xu Zhou was intimidated by his imposing manner, but he showed no intention of backing down, remaining firm in his stance: "Senior brother, please don't be offended. These are the rules of Baicaotang. Senior Brother Ke entrusted me with the management of the pharmacy, and I have been diligent and conscientious, never daring to slack off in the slightest, and I have always acted in accordance with the rules."
After a pause, he added, "If Steward Zhuang speaks personally, I can hand over the pharmacy to you. But I wonder if Steward Zhuang's order has been given?"
Zhuang Siyan was speechless for a moment.
Steward Zhuang, considering his status, could casually mention wanting the pharmacy, but he couldn't easily issue an order to replace him. Otherwise, making things too obvious would easily attract criticism.
Originally, he planned to proceed gradually, but Zhuang Siyan was afraid that others might covet the pharmacy position like him. Seeing that Xu Zhou was just an apprentice with no background, he decided to personally exert pressure.
Unexpectedly, Xu Zhou, despite his lowly status, refused to back down. It was hard to say whether he was clever or simply stubborn.
This put Zhuang Siyan in an awkward position.
However, his followers seized the opportunity to rebuke him.
"Insolence!"
"An outer sect apprentice dares to be so disrespectful to his senior brother?"
"This matter will be reported to the steward later!"
Amidst the shouts, Zhuang Siyan gradually regained his composure, inwardly scoffing, intending to give Xu Zhou another warning.
Just then, his mind stirred, and he looked towards the pharmacy.
A young cultivator had appeared at the door.
"It's quite lively here."
Everyone paused, turning to look at him.
The newcomer remained composed, seemingly unaware of the unusual atmosphere. He strolled casually to the counter, handing over a slip of paper: "Find the medicine. Prepare the herbs listed on this paper for me; I need them immediately."
"Yes." Xu Zhou silently accepted the slip and began working behind the medicine cabinet.
Seeing the young cultivator intervene, Zhuang Siyan's expression changed several times.
He naturally recognized Xiao Bing; the other was still just an apprentice, but his uncle was a renowned figure in the inner sect, someone even Deacon Zhuang dared not easily offend.
Finally, Zhuang Siyan forced a smile: "Junior Brother Xiao Bing, long time no see. What brings you here all of a sudden?"
Hearing the question, Xiao Bing's expression remained unchanged, still bearing a friendly smile: "It's just a coincidence. I was just thinking of practicing my alchemy skills, so I came to pick up some auxiliary medicinal herbs. I didn't expect to disturb you; please forgive me."
"I see."
Zhuang Siyan's eyes darted around, and he asked with a smile, "I wonder if Junior Brother Xiao is interested in guarding this pharmacy?"
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Bing waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, I only want to concentrate on studying alchemy; I have no interest in anything else. If Senior Brother is interested, feel free to compete; there's no need to consider my feelings."
Zhuang Siyan felt a slight sense of relief.
But before he could catch his breath, Xiao Bing changed the subject again.
"However," Xiao Bing smiled at him, "this pharmacy is also a crucial position, not so easy to manage. Since you are so dedicated to guarding the pharmacy, you must be careful in the future."
Zhuang Siyan's expression froze: "What do you mean?"
"I was just saying."
Xiao Bing shook his head and said, "Bai Cao Tang is very meticulous. Although the pharmacy is not the pill room, it is of paramount importance. If something goes wrong, a batch of good pills could be ruined."
"Senior Brother Zhuang is wealthy and generous, so he won't worry about compensation. But ruining the pills is a small matter. If it displeases any senior brother, it will not be good."
Zhuang Siyan's eyes narrowed slightly, his small eyes constantly moving, as if he was thinking.
Soon, he nodded: "Junior Brother is right. It seems that managing the pharmacy requires caution. I came in too much of a hurry today. I will go back and carefully reread the medicine classics, and then we will discuss it further later." He
casually thanked him and left with the rest of the group.
After they left, Xu Zhou slowly walked back to the counter.
"Thank you so much for your help, Senior Brother Xiao!"
He cupped his hands in thanks to Xiao Bing. "If it weren't for your generous assistance, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to keep my position at the pharmacy." Xiao
Bing smiled slightly. "Junior Brother, don't mention it. We entered the academy in the same year and already have a deep friendship. I heard you were having some trouble, so I came to check on you. It was just a small favor."
Xu Zhou returned the smile, but inwardly he became even more wary.
Several years had passed, and Xiao Bing was no longer the impetuous young man he once was. Although he was smiling now, it was precisely because of this that Xu Zhou couldn't discern what the other man was really thinking.
Xiao Bing said, "However, my visit this time is only to temporarily put that Zhuang fellow on his toes. He will come again after he has discussed things with Steward Zhuang."
"Steward Zhuang holds a very high position in Baicaotang. Although I have my uncle's backing, I dare not confront him directly. I hope
you won't take offense, Junior Brother." Xu Zhou said, "Senior Brother Xiao's willingness to help this time has already relieved me of a great predicament. I dare not blame you."
Xiao Bing nodded and asked him a few more questions about his daily life, as warmly as if he were concerned about an old friend.
Just as Xu Zhou began to wonder about his purpose, Xiao Bing casually asked, "By the way, Junior Brother, have you seen Senior Brother Ke recently? I heard he's been in seclusion for quite some time since he made a mistake in alchemy. I wonder how he's been doing."
Xu Zhou pondered for a moment before replying, "It has been a while since I've seen Senior Brother Ke. I wonder when he'll emerge from seclusion."
"I see."
Xiao Bing gave him a meaningful look. "If he does emerge, please give him my regards. Tell him that I've long admired Senior Brother Ke's character, and if there's an opportunity, I'd like to ask him a few questions in person."
Xu Zhou's mind raced, and he finally guessed Xiao Bing's purpose for coming.
It turned out that he wasn't after the pharmacy, but Ke Yanfeng.
Xiao Bing didn't linger on the topic, as if it were just a casual remark.
After a few more words, he rose to take his leave.
The pharmacy returned to silence.
Xu Zhou pondered for a while, then finally reopened the classic texts and continued studying the medicine classics.
The Zhuang family's schemes against the pharmacy, and Xiao Bing's covert actions, might affect many people in the Hundred Herbs Hall, even some inner disciples.
But for him, nothing was more important than the medicine classics before him.
He had run the pharmacy for years and had never embezzled funds for himself. Even if he lost his position now, it would only mean a slight decrease in pay. His
ambition lay elsewhere; he only hoped to continue studying the medicine classics.
As evening approached,
Xu Zhou sensed something again, looked up, and saw Ke Yanfeng entering the pharmacy.
"Senior Brother Ke?"
He closed the book and walked out with some surprise. "Senior Brother, what brings you here?"
Ke Yanfeng's tone was still cold and hard, but there was an unconcealed bluish tinge in his eyes. "It's a small matter, nothing serious."
He glanced at the pharmacy and, seeing that it was no different from usual, asked, "Did anyone come today?"
"Yes."
Xu Zhou recounted everything that had happened during the day without hiding anything.
He didn't exaggerate Zhuang Siyan's threat, and he also told him about Xiao Bing's subsequent conversation.
Ke Yanfeng didn't say a word throughout. When he heard about Xiao Bing's appearance and her intention to befriend him, he also didn't show much emotion.
After listening to all this, he hummed in agreement and fell silent for a moment.
After a long while, he sighed softly and said, "Junior Brother, don't worry about this pharmacy for now."
Xu Zhou nodded helplessly. He had known that the outcome would most likely be like this, but when he really let go, he couldn't help but feel a little unwilling.
He suppressed his emotions and asked, "This disciple has only lost a job in the pharmacy, but how much has it affected you, Senior Brother?"
Ke Yanfeng snorted coldly, "It's a trivial matter. Someone is just using it as an excuse; it won't hurt me."
Despite his words, he seemed to have been reminded of something unpleasant, pacing back and forth in the pharmacy, unable to calm down.
After a moment, he suddenly looked at Xu Zhou: "Junior Brother Xu, you entered the hall in the same year as Xiao Bing. Do you know anything about him?"
Xu Zhou pondered for a while before carefully replying, "I don't know much, only that his uncle holds a prominent position in the inner sect."
"What's Xiao Bing's personality like? Just tell me your opinion."
Xu Zhou thought for a moment and simply said that Xiao Bing was much more tactful than before, approachable, and likely good at making friends.
It sounded like a compliment.
But Ke Yanfeng, after hearing his account, couldn't help but sneer.
"You're young and naive, spending all your time in the pharmacy surrounded by books, never seeing the harsh realities of the outside world. You really think Xiao Bing is some kind of good person?"
Xu Zhou looked surprised: "What does Senior Brother think of him?"
Ke Yanfeng hesitated for a few moments before saying, "His uncle is quite successful in the immortal path, ranking among the top disciples in the inner sect. I heard he's interested in vying for the Foundation Establishment Pills refined by the sect and is currently building connections everywhere."
"Xiao Bing hasn't contacted you for years, but now he's suddenly coming to help you. He's not here for you, but for me."
Xu Zhou frowned: "What benefit does this bring him?"
"Benefits?"
Ke Yanfeng snorted and shook his head, saying, "You'd better not ask too much about this. In short, the Zhuang family has no good intentions, and the Xiao family has even more ulterior motives.
The Hundred Herbs Hall has been in turmoil these past few years, and these people are undoubtedly involved. It's more beneficial for you to focus on alchemy than to delve into these matters."
Xu Zhou hummed in agreement. He hadn't intended to investigate these trivial matters anyway, and hearing this made him feel even more at ease.
"However,"
Ke Yanfeng continued, "after you relinquished your position in the pharmacy, you'll have nowhere to go. If I send you to the library now, you might not fit in with the newly arrived young apprentices.
I ask you, are you interested in becoming an apprentice assisting me in alchemy?"
Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback.
He had joined the Hundred Herbs Hall and had thoroughly studied many medical texts, but he had never personally done any alchemy-related work. Although he didn't care about it, given the surrounding environment, he always harbored a slight expectation for alchemy.
He had thought he would have to wait a few more years until the stewards approved him before he could begin alchemy, but unexpectedly, things had changed at this juncture.
He was overjoyed and immediately replied, "This disciple is willing!"
"Good."
Ke Yanfeng didn't beat around the bush: "In that case, hand over your position in the pharmacy later and come help me in my alchemy room tomorrow."
"Let me be clear from the start, I'm extremely strict about the alchemy process, and my temper... isn't exactly good either. But those are things I can't change. When it comes to actually refining pills, I won't be lenient with you."
"Disciple understands," Xu Zhou replied without hesitation.
"That's good."
Ke Yanfeng didn't say anything more, only that he should complete the handover tomorrow and then come to his alchemy room.
...
The next morning, Xu Zhou handed over all the affairs of the pharmacy.
It wasn't that he was in a hurry to refine pills, but rather that Zhuang Siyan had arrived in a hurry.
This alchemist Zhuang had been so happy since last night when he learned that Ke Yanfeng was willing to resign from his position in the pharmacy that he hadn't slept well all night. He brought his men over at dawn, fearing that things might change if he was late.
Xu Zhou explained the account books and recent details of the pharmacy item by item.
The account books were clear, the medicinal materials were correct, and even Zhuang Siyan couldn't find any fault with them.
"Finished the inspection?"
Ke Yanfeng, who had been waiting impatiently, finally spoke his first words of the day: "If everything is in order, from now on, the pharmacy is in your hands.
Don't blame me for any problems that arise in the future."
"Don't worry, don't worry."
Zhuang Siyan knew that the other party was in a bad mood and didn't dare to anger his senior brother, so he immediately smiled and said, "The inspection is complete today, and there are no problems with the pharmacy. Senior brother handed the pharmacy over to me in front of everyone, so I guarantee that it won't implicate you in the future."
"Hmph."
Ke Yanfeng didn't say anything more to him, but just glanced at Xu Zhou and then quickly left.
After they left, the smile on Zhuang Siyan's face turned into a smug one: "They're quite sensible, saving me a lot of trouble."
He casually flipped through the account book and threw it aside: "It's just a pharmacy, how could I be inferior to an apprentice?"
...
When Xu Zhou arrived at Ke Yanfeng's alchemy room, it was already close to dusk.
Upon entering the alchemy room, he noticed a thick-legged alchemy furnace in the center of the room, about half a person's height, with the lower part of the furnace wall charred black. Several wooden tables stood nearby, upon which lay tools such as scales and mortars, each bearing different signs of wear.
The air was filled with the familiar scent of herbs, mingled with a lingering aroma of roasting fire.
The room was empty; no one else was present.
Xu Zhou was puzzled: the alchemy room of Baicaotang was usually used by one alchemist, assisted by several apprentices or low-level alchemists.
Ke Yanfeng seemed to sense his confusion and said coldly, "I'm quite strict with my people; I can't keep them for long."
Hearing his bluntness, Xu Zhou didn't know how to respond.
However, Ke Yanfeng didn't elaborate further. He continued, "That Zhuang fellow has wasted too much time. Before tonight, you need to familiarize yourself with all the tools here.
I hope you can grasp the essentials quickly. I'll take a break for the next two months to focus on teaching you, ensuring you can get up to speed quickly.
But let me make this clear: in two months, I'll be resuming alchemy. If you can't help then, don't stay here; go back to school for a few more years."
Xu Zhou's heart tightened, and he could only lower his head in agreement.
...
Xu Zhou knew how strict Senior Brother Ke was when he first entered the pharmacy years ago.
Even with his mastery of the medicine classics, it took him three months to barely manage the pharmacy, and he was frequently subjected to surprise inspections in the following two or three years, demonstrating Senior Brother Ke's high standards.
In the alchemy room, Senior Brother Ke was even more demanding.
The placement of tools and the processing of medicinal herbs required extreme precision and strictness. Once, Xu Zhou simply placed the mortar slightly off-center, and Senior Brother Ke demanded that he rearrange the entire medicine table.
There were many more detailed requirements, which even Xu Zhou couldn't remember.
But this was his only chance to learn alchemy in all these years. If he missed this opportunity, he didn't know how long he would have to wait to truly enter the alchemy room and become an alchemist.
Even if he could extend his lifespan through learning, it wouldn't be infinite. Now that the opportunity was his, he absolutely couldn't give it up.
Xu Zhou gritted his teeth and persevered.
The two-month period arrived in the blink of an eye.
That morning, Ke Yanfeng stood before the alchemy furnace and coldly said only two words to Xu Zhou:
"Open the furnace."
Ke Yanfeng hadn't refined pills for two months; this time, he was simply trying to regain his skills, choosing only ordinary Qi-replenishing pills, which weren't particularly difficult.
However, for Xu Zhou, this was his first time truly assisting in pill refining, and he was almost completely focused, handling the task with utmost care.
The earth fire rose, and Xu Zhou, following Ke Yanfeng's instructions, threw the prepared medicinal herbs into the furnace one by one.
Xu Zhou listened attentively to the commands, his mind tense, his movements neither too fast nor too slow, carefully processing each herb.
"Dry tree vine, one tael and three mace."
"Mind-clearing grass juice, one bowl's worth."
"Quickly, give it to me within half an incense stick's time."
Under Ke Yanfeng's commands, Xu Zhou's speed in processing the herbs increased rapidly, yet he showed no sign of panic.
His gaze was even absorbed in the herbs, as if he had entered a state of complete absorption, seeing nothing but the herbs and tools before him.
The herbs were handed to Ke Yanfeng one by one, who personally added them to the furnace at the opportune moment.
To refine a good pill, not a single mistake could be made; these steps had to be completed by him personally.
Thus, medicinal herbs were continuously added to the furnace, the rising earth fire heating it, causing the herbs to gradually decompose and condense into pills.
This process lasted a whole day.
By the time Xu Zhou came to his senses, the earth fire had died down, and the pills were initially formed.
Ke Yanfeng opened the furnace and took out the still slightly warm pills, a fragrant aroma wafting out, invigorating the senses.
He lowered his head and remained silent, while Xu Zhou was also somewhat uneasy, unsure of how well he had performed.
"Three pills formed, with a rich fragrance and a smooth appearance,"
Ke Yanfeng finally said. "Barely acceptable.
The surface luster of the pills is slightly lacking, and some herbs could be processed more meticulously. If you had been more careful when juicing the Mingxin Grass, these pills would have been near perfect."
He looked at Xu Zhou, a stiff smile on his face: "However, for an apprentice, it's already quite good."
Xu Zhou felt relieved, knowing he had passed this hurdle.
Ke Yanfeng was old-fashioned and rarely praised anyone. The fact that he said something extra clearly showed he was very satisfied with the results.
Ke Yanfeng then pointed out problems with several other steps, telling him to review them and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Seeing that it was getting late, he was told to go back and rest.
Leaving the alchemy room, Xu Zhou pondered the process of refining pills that day. Every step felt crystal clear, as if etched into his mind.
He couldn't help but let out a soft "strange."
Not only were the steps for handling the herbs clear, but even time seemed to pass faster than usual.
This sense of focus wasn't unfamiliar; he had experienced it when studying ancient texts. He just hadn't expected to feel the same familiar sensation in the alchemy room today.
"Could it be that I can now even enter this state when handling herbs?"
Xu Zhou was filled with doubt and uncertainty.
If that were true, then his lifespan wouldn't be prolonged when refining pills in the future, and he could go even further beyond his lifespan limit.
But this was just a guess. He hadn't been able to enter this state even after two months of practice, and now this unexpected event had occurred. Whether he could consistently trigger it was still unknown.
The next day, Xu Zhou returned to the alchemy room and tried again.
Contrary to his expectations, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't enter the same state of focus as yesterday.
This left Xu Zhou feeling secretly disappointed.
After all, his lifespan had been steadily declining during his time studying in the alchemy room. This was unbearable for someone accustomed to extending his lifespan through learning.
Trying to find the cause, after careful consideration, Xu Zhou suspected the reason might lie with Ke Yanfeng.
This Senior Brother Ke was a rigorous teacher, capable of helping students learn quickly, but his attitude was overly strict, almost to the point of nitpicking.
With such a person constantly watching over him, Xu Zhou found it difficult to concentrate on in-depth learning.
He felt quite helpless about this.
It was a double-edged sword; Xu Zhou could only wait for an opportunity later
… While
Xu Zhou was focused on his alchemy studies, the Hundred Herbs Hall was likely experiencing some turmoil.
He was naturally uninterested in this; as long as it didn't interfere with his studies, he ignored most of the news.
However, Senior Brother Ke was involved in these disturbances and occasionally mentioned related news.
Zhuang Siyan didn't last long after taking over the pharmacy. First, he was complained about by Steward Zhang for his insufficient skill in teaching apprentices to identify herbs, misleading them. Then, he made a mistake in dispensing medicine.
Later, it was discovered that he had secretly replaced rare medicinal herbs for personal gain.
Several alchemists joined forces to protest, and Zhuang Siyan was ultimately forced to leave the pharmacy in disgrace.
This matter even implicated Steward Zhuang, greatly damaging his prestige; it was unknown how Zhuang Siyan would be punished.
Senior Brother Ke wasn't one for idle chatter, but he frequently mentioned these things to Xu Zhou.
After hearing it many times, Xu Zhou noticed some inconspicuous details.
Senior Brother Ke almost never left the alchemy room, yet he seemed to know everything that happened in the hall, which was somewhat strange. Especially Zhuang Siyan's departure, the process of which he seemed to know almost everything, as if he had witnessed it firsthand.
How did he know so much?
Xu Zhou inexplicably thought of Xiao Bing.
Initially, Xiao Bing said he wanted to get to know Ke Yanfeng, who was slightly disdainful but didn't refuse. It was just unknown whether they had actually met or reached any cooperation agreement.
Xu Zhou only thought about it.
It didn't concern him; nothing was more important than studying diligently.
After the initial acquaintance, Ke Yanfeng successively started refining pills several more times. Besides Qi-replenishing pills, he also dabbled in other first-grade pills like the Heart-Clearing Pill and Blood-Replenishing Pill.
Refining these pills wasn't difficult for Senior Brother Ke; the main purpose was to give Xu Zhou a training opportunity. Despite
the numerous challenges, Xu Zhou enjoyed it immensely, even looking forward to refining pills.
Only at this time would Senior Brother Ke focus on refining pills without watching him. This allowed Xu Zhou to enter a state of concentration and slow down the loss of his lifespan.
As time passed, Xu Zhou gradually mastered the techniques and steps of pill refining by observing others.
"Twenty Miasma-Avoiding Pills have been produced this time, all of excellent quality."
After inspecting the new pills, Senior Brother Ke couldn't help but show a hint of pride. Even a year ago, he would have found it difficult to achieve such results.
This was mainly due to the help of his assistant.
With Xu Zhou handling the medicinal materials, he could concentrate on controlling the fire during pill refining, without being distracted, allowing him to perfectly utilize his alchemy skills, making such a result perfectly reasonable.
In high spirits, Ke Yanfeng separated three pills from the pile, bottled them, and handed them to Xu Zhou: "Your share."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Xu Zhou readily accepted the porcelain bottle.
This wasn't the first time
he'd shared pills. Since assisting with alchemy for the third time, Ke Yanfeng had seen how diligent and reliable Xu Zhou was, so he increased the amount of medicinal herbs used, gradually increasing the number of pills produced each time.
As a reward, a portion of the pills produced would be given to Xu Zhou. Whether he used them himself or gave them to the sect for rewards was up to him.
After Xu Zhou took his leave, Ke Yanfeng murmured, "Less than a year, and he's grown to this level... At this rate, I'm afraid I'll be able to refine mid-grade pills just as easily in less than five years."
He had thought that although Xu Zhou was persevering, his talent was only above average, and it would take him at least one or two years to reach his current level.
He had originally planned to spend one or two years teaching him, but unexpectedly, Xu Zhou had learned to this extent in just nine months. Such a speed of improvement was probably quite rare even in the entire Hundred Herbs Hall.
"It seems the problem isn't with my teaching."
"Those previous apprentices lacked perseverance. If they had persisted, their achievements today would certainly be no less than Xu Zhou's!"
Ke Yanfeng felt it necessary to speak with Steward Zhang and ask him to take on a few more apprentices to teach.
...
Without time to refine pills, Xu Zhou focused on studying, except for processing auxiliary medicinal materials.
He had almost finished reading the medicinal classics in the library, memorizing nearly 90% of the knowledge. For the remaining ones, he could deduce their general meaning from experience.
During this period, he mainly spent his time studying the "Longevity Technique." After all,
cultivation is paramount on the path of immortality.
He had been practicing for almost seven years, yet his cultivation hadn't improved at all, which was truly unusual.
Others thought he was focused on alchemy and had no time for anything else, but he knew very well that he was only temporarily accumulating foundation through study and would eventually have to return to the path of cultivation.
Besides, even alchemy requires cultivation support in the later stages. The sooner he learned this technique, the better.
As Xu Zhou studied the manual more thoroughly, he vaguely sensed that the [Longevity Technique] seemed to have something unique not mentioned on the cover.
Besides extending lifespan, this technique had another characteristic: even without regular practice, the internal energy would automatically circulate, subtly increasing the overall cultivation level.
Xu Zhou didn't know the exact extent of this increase yet, but it certainly wouldn't compare to closed-door cultivation. Only with the accumulation of time would this increase become gradually considerable.
Seeing this, Xu Zhou felt a sense of relief.
This technique was more suitable for him than he had imagined.
Realizing this, he studied it even more intently, hoping to master the technique soon and officially begin practicing.
Just then, someone came to inform him that someone was looking for him outside the Hundred Herbs Hall.
Hearing this, Xu Zhou's heart stirred slightly; he already guessed who it was.
Sure enough, upon stepping outside, he was greeted by the familiar face of Li Zelei.
Six or seven years had passed; Li Zelei had become increasingly rugged, his aura had gradually become extraordinary, and his cultivation fluctuations had risen to the third level of the Qi Chain, inspiring a sense of dread.
But upon seeing Xu Zhou, the other party greeted him warmly with a smile and walked over, saying, "Junior Brother Xu, thank you so much for last time."
Xu Zhou waved his hand with a smile, "It's good that Senior Brother has returned safely. Did you have any good gains this time?"
"Hehe, you guessed right."
Li Zelei patted the storage bag at his waist, and several pieces of crimson ore rolled out, quickly piling up into a small heap.
"This time, I ventured down to the Fire Cave, about twenty feet below the surface, and luckily found a small deposit of fire copper, harvesting over ten catties of fire copper ore.
As agreed, three catties of this harvest is yours."
Xu Zhou looked at the mountain of ore before him. "Didn't we agree I'd only take ten percent? Senior brother, don't break the rules just to accommodate me."
"Junior brother, this is rightfully yours,"
Li Zelei said with a smile. "The portion I originally allocated to you wasn't much. The other half was compensation from my fellow senior brother who shared his Fire Control Pills.
Half of the ore was obtained through your pills, so I naturally can't keep it and can only give it to you. Junior brother, you can't refuse this."
Xu Zhou smiled helplessly and put away the fire copper ore.
Since following Ke Yanfeng in alchemy, he had accumulated many low-grade pills. He had been thinking of exchanging them for the sect when he had the chance, but when he suddenly heard Li Zelei mention his adventure in seeking opportunities, he gave him these pills.
Of course, Li Zelei wouldn't take his things for nothing, explicitly stating that he would share some of the profits with him.
Even if he only received 10%, Li Zelei always went to dangerous places, and each trip yielded a considerable harvest. Xu Zhou's contribution points increased significantly, and the storage bag was earned during this process.
After giving him the ore, Li Zelei asked expectantly, "Junior Brother mentioned last time that he might be refining Miasma-Avoiding Pills in the next few days. Do you have them now?"
Xu Zhou frowned slightly.
"Senior Brother Li, are you really going to the Hidden Valley?"
Li Zelei nodded slowly, his tone firm: "The benefits I can find in the Li Huo Cave are no longer sufficient for my current cultivation level. If I want to break through to the fourth level of Qi Chain as soon as possible, I must go to the Yougu Valley."
Xu Zhou frowned but did not back down: "Senior Brother Li, one should not be too hasty in improving one's cultivation. Even if you don't go to the Yougu Valley, based on what you gained in the Li Huo Cave, breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Chain will only require two or three years of arduous cultivation at most. But if you go to the Yougu Valley now, it will be extremely dangerous."
He shook his head repeatedly, not optimistic about the trip to the Yougu Valley.
Li Zelei was afraid that he would not give him a miasma-avoiding pill, and couldn't help but feel a little anxious: "Junior Brother Xu, don't worry, I plan to go to the Yougu Valley, and I am naturally very confident."
He spoke repeatedly, but Xu Zhou's expression remained unchanged, clearly not believing him.
Seeing this, Li Zelei's expression suddenly turned serious. He took a few steps closer and said, "Junior brother, since we've come this far, I'll tell you frankly."
He turned to look around, making sure no one was nearby, before whispering, "During my recent descent into the Fire Cave, I found a Fire Marrow Extreme Crystal inside."
Xu Zhou's pupils dilated slightly, his heart filled with surprise.
"Is that true?"
Li Zelei carefully patted his storage bag, which emitted a trace of supreme yang fire energy that Xu Zhou could clearly feel. He then said, "With this treasure protecting you, Junior brother shouldn't try to dissuade me from going anymore, right?"
Xu Zhou was momentarily helpless.
With the Fire Marrow Extreme Crystal protecting him, the danger of going to the secluded valley was greatly reduced.
Even so, Li Zelei's current cultivation level still posed a considerable risk, but there was an 80-90% chance of returning safely. This level of danger was something Xu Zhou absolutely did not want, but for Li Zelei, it was worth the risk.
Thinking of this, he sighed inwardly, took out a porcelain bottle from his storage bag, and handed it over.
Li Zelei opened the bottle, smelled the fragrant aroma of the Miasma-Avoiding Pill, and immediately beamed with joy: "Junior Brother, don't worry, if we come out of the Hidden Valley this time, your share of the reward will be calculated at 15%, you definitely won't suffer a loss!"
He then sighed, "It's a pity, Junior Brother, your cultivation is too low, otherwise you would have come with me to the Hidden Valley and directly shared half or even more of the benefits, which would have been better for your cultivation."
Xu Zhou coughed twice: "Senior Brother, we agreed not to mention these things."
"Right, right, I forgot."
Li Zelei looked apologetic, knowing that the other party was completely devoted to the Dao of Alchemy and didn't care about improving his cultivation at all. Bringing these things up had touched a nerve.
He immediately changed the subject, chatting about the dangers and interesting events in the Fire Cave, and then detailing his understanding of the Valley after his investigation, mainly to reassure Xu Zhou.
When the conversation was nearly over, he took his leave.
Xu Zhou watched him go, offering only his blessings.
Although the two were close, their paths were different. He didn't want Li Zelei to urge him to be aggressive, and naturally wouldn't advise the other to settle down. He
only hoped that Li Zelei would have good fortune and be able to cultivate safely.
...
In the following months, Xu Zhou gradually felt something was strange.
Senior Brother Ke seemed to have suddenly become very busy, spending less and less time in the alchemy room during the day, and even reducing the number of times he refined pills. Asking him where he had been, he couldn't get a reason.
Although somewhat curious, Xu Zhou was happy that the other wasn't around. With
Senior Brother Ke not around, he could focus more on practicing his medicinal herb processing skills and enter a state of concentration more easily.
After several attempts, he gradually mastered this state of concentration, different from when he was studying.
In this state, the degree to which lifespan is slowed is not as good as when he was studying, only about 30% to 50%. But even so, it can greatly ensure that his lifespan does not decrease.
Since mastering this skill, Xu Zhou no longer cares where Senior Brother Ke goes, and even hopes that the other party will stay longer.
One day.
Xu Zhou was concentrating on processing medicinal herbs when the door of the alchemy room suddenly opened.
Ke Yanfeng walked in, followed by a small figure. Xu Zhou took a closer look and found that it was an unfamiliar girl, who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old.
"Let me introduce you."
Ke Yanfeng walked over, pointed to the girl behind him, and said to Xu Zhou, "This is my new apprentice, named Song Rou. She will be working with you in the alchemy room from now on."
The girl, Song Rou, was a little nervous and nodded to Xu Zhou.
Then, Ke Yanfeng instructed Song Rou, "This is Xu Zhou. You can familiarize yourself with the alchemy room with this senior brother. I have some business to attend to with Steward Zhang. We'll talk when I get back."
After saying that, he left without looking back.
With Ke Yanfeng absent, Song Rou's expression softened considerably.
She approached Xu Zhou and asked softly, "Xu Zhou...Senior Brother, were you also taught by Senior Brother Ke?"
Xu Zhou looked quite young, seemingly the same age as her, and didn't exude any powerful cultivation aura, which made Song Rou hesitate.
Xu Zhou smiled back, "Just call me Senior Brother Xu. I have indeed received a lot of guidance from Senior Brother Ke."
Hearing this, Song Rou couldn't help but smile brightly, as if she had found a companion.
"I see, Senior Brother Xu, you've worked hard."
"Senior Brother Ke is really strict in teaching. Everyone who was with me couldn't keep up and dropped out. I thought no one else could do it except me."
"Senior Brother, you must have been in the hall for a long time. To be able to stay by Senior Brother Ke's side for so long, your level in alchemy must be quite outstanding, right?"
After listening to her for a while, Xu Zhou finally understood what had happened.
It turned out that Senior Brother Ke had been frequently missing these past few months, going to teach a group of apprentices.
This group of apprentices included Song Rou, who had just entered the hall two years ago. Originally, she should have been assigned to various alchemists, but Ke Yanfeng intercepted her, saying he would personally teach her for a period of time.
After all, Senior Brother Ke was a young mid-grade alchemist, and the impact of his previous mistakes had gradually faded. Now that he suddenly made this request, Steward Zhang couldn't easily object.
Ultimately, Ke Yanfeng taught these apprentices for a few months.
Just as Song Rou said, apart from her, no one else persisted.
Xu Zhou knew Ke Yanfeng's personality quite well, and it was hard to imagine that this senior brother would actually volunteer to teach apprentices. Even more unexpected was that someone could actually persevere under his tutelage until now.
This made him more curious about Song Rou.
As their conversation progressed, he steered the topic to alchemy tools and pharmaceutical techniques, subtly probing Song Rou's skill level.
Unexpectedly, in most cases, Song Rou could keep up with his train of thought.
This surprised Xu Zhou.
He had been in the academy for nearly seven years, spending most of that time tirelessly studying medicinal classics and practicing identifying and preparing medicines. His understanding of the fundamentals of alchemy was extremely solid and profound. Even Ke Yanfeng was now somewhat inferior to him in these areas.
Song Rou had only been in the hall for a little over two years, yet she could chat with him on equal footing.
He immediately asked, "Junior Sister Song, you entered the hall two years ago. Did you study alchemy elsewhere before?"
Song Rou's face darkened upon hearing this, and she said in a low voice, "I... to be honest, Senior Brother, I come from the outer sect. Before coming up the mountain, I was just an ordinary person, and I hadn't studied it before."
Xu Zhou smiled and said, "Junior Sister, don't worry about it. Actually, I'm also an outer sect disciple. We all come from similar backgrounds.
I was just curious because you seem to have a good understanding of alchemy, and I assumed you had studied it before."
Song Rou's eyes immediately lit up: "So Senior Brother is also from the outer sect! That's really impressive! The entrance exam for the Hundred Herbs Hall is very difficult. I didn't expect Senior Brother to pass it."
Xu Zhou felt ashamed.
Although he had tried his best back then, he still hadn't passed the exam. It was only because Steward Zhang made an exception and brought him in as a fellow student and apprentice that he was allowed in. Otherwise, he didn't know where he would be living now.
In comparison, Song Rou had actually passed the exam, and might even have squeezed out an inner sect disciple's spot. This meant her talent was so high that the stewards in the hall couldn't ignore it.
It was just unknown just how good Song Rou's talent was.
Thinking of this, Xu Zhou picked up the tools on the medicine table and smiled, "Since Junior Sister is going to work in the alchemy room, she needs to familiarize herself with these tools. Try this first."
Seeing so many tools, Song Rou wasn't intimidated at all; instead, she was eager to try: "Senior Brother, how do I use these?"
"I'll teach you. Come, try this mortar and pestle."
...
In less than an hour, Xu Zhou had already shown Song Rou all the tools in the alchemy room.
During this process, he gained a deeper understanding of Song Rou's talent. She
was simply a born alchemy prodigy!
He didn't hold back when introducing the tools, explaining all the basic usage methods, related taboos, and the pitfalls he had encountered.
But Song Rou went even further, not only mastering them quickly but also almost passing the test on her first attempt. With just a few simple hints, she could meet the requirements.
Her understanding of the medicine classics still couldn't compare to Xu Zhou's, but it seemed not by much.
What was even more frightening was that she could even ask Xu Zhou questions in reverse, and point out some of his "redundant steps."
Xu Zhou was taken aback.
He hadn't thought much about these steps before; they were just things he did so subconsciously.
But Song Rou, a newcomer, immediately saw through them. Even if she hadn't been influenced beforehand, her insight was still remarkable.
Realizing this, Xu Zhou couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He knew his talent in alchemy was only above average. His apparent intelligence stemmed from spending a great deal of time abandoning cultivation and studying day and night to reach his current level.
But compared to someone like Ke Yanfeng, he had few advantages.
Compared to Song Rou, the difference was like heaven and earth.
He remained silent for a moment, his mortar and pestle stopping at some point.
Seven years of arduous study had yielded results almost identical to Song Rou's two years of learning; it seemed his talent in alchemy was truly mediocre.
After a moment of silence, Xu Zhou continued his work.
It didn't matter.
He had already predicted this situation, but he hadn't expected to encounter it so suddenly today.
He had never intended to dedicate his life to alchemy; learning alchemy was merely a means to an end, a path he chose to prolong his life.
It was normal that he couldn't compare to others, because his ultimate goal was not this.
Having understood this, his smile became much more natural, and he sincerely said to Song Rou,
"Junior Sister's talent is exceptional; in the future, few in the hall will be able to match her."