Lin Changheng performed every step meticulously and perfectly, neither rushed nor impatient. Like an artist painting a picture, his movements had a certain leisurely grace.
For the Medicine Combination step, he used his Magical Power to levitate a small Jade Bottle of Fire Crow Essence Blood into the cauldron.
Although the Primordial Cauldron in his sea of consciousness hummed in response, Lin Changheng remained unmoved.
Alchemy Skill was a hen that laid golden eggs. Using the Essence Blood from alchemy materials for his own absorption would be shortsighted—like killing the hen to get the eggs!
How could Lin Changheng possibly do such a thing?!
He continued to focus wholeheartedly on Alchemy.
With his already profound theoretical knowledge, bolstered by his Fire Control, putting theory into practice became even smoother.
As the sun began to set, Lin Changheng executed the final Pill Collection Technique. He stared at the single, round Fire Pattern Pill, the size of his little fingertip, resting on the tray. His mind felt serene and clear.
'Is this it? The thing I've been chasing for ten years, an obsession that haunted my memories like a nightmare before my awakening?'
'And now, I can refine it with ease!'
'It's nothing special after all!'
...
Lin Changheng had been refining since morning, only succeeding as dusk fell.
It was only a single Tier One Lower Grade Elixir.
And just one, at that.
If one wanted to refine multiple pills in a single batch, they would need to add multiple sets of materials, and the time required would increase accordingly. Ink Master, for example, had previously refined a batch of ten pills. But even with his masterful technique, it had taken him until late at night to finish.
Refining a Tier One Middle Grade Elixir would extend the time to two or three days.
For a Tier One Upper Grade Elixir, the refining time would be five days or more.
Lin Changheng had once heard Ink Master mention that the refining time for Tier Two Elixirs increased even more drastically. Starting a single batch could take anywhere from a week to half a month, and some even required a full month of continuous refining.
"Tsk, tsk... If most Tier Two Alchemists weren't Foundation Establishment Cultivators with greatly extended lifespans, and you had a Qi Cultivation Alchemist try it, it wouldn't be surprising if they just passed away from old age mid-refinement."
Muttering to himself, he picked up the tray and was about to push the door open.
Just then, a soft, slow knock sounded from outside the Alchemy Room.
"Shopkeeper?"
Lin Changheng paused, surprised to see Xu Qianyou with his hand raised, as if he had been about to knock but had stopped.
"Mo Keqing asked for you. He has some matters to discuss. But I was concerned you were in the middle of Alchemy and didn't want to break your rhythm..."
Xu Qianyou chuckled. "It just so happens you've finished and come out. Perfect timing."
"But it's alright if you didn't succeed, the important thing is your mental state... Hmm?"
He was about to offer his usual words of comfort when he noticed that Lin Changheng seemed to be in excellent spirits. His old eyes swept over the tray, and he saw a perfectly round Elixir resting upon it.
A pill fragrance also wafted from it.
Shopkeeper Xu's pupils contracted instantly, his beard trembling slightly. "Th-th-th... You succeeded? You really succeeded?"
"A moment of inspiration struck. I was lucky to succeed."
Lin Changheng smiled calmly.
Xu Qianyou quickly stepped past him into the Alchemy Room. Just as he'd suspected, there was no acrid smell of a failed refinement, only the faint, fragrant aroma of a successfully created pill.
"Excellent! Heaven rewards the persistent! You've finally become a Pill Master!"
He clapped Lin Changheng heavily on the shoulder, his voice thick with emotion. Beaming with joy, he immediately took out a wooden box from his robes and carefully placed the Elixir inside. "Once a Pill is out of the cauldron, you must store it away as soon as possible. It would be a shame to let its Medicinal Properties dissipate."
Then, he sealed it carefully and placed it back on Lin Changheng's tray, admonishing him like a teacher.
"I've failed so many times, I actually forgot about that. Thank you for the reminder, Shopkeeper. Changheng has learned his lesson."
"Not at all, not at all. You becoming a Pill Master is a joyous occasion for you, for the Xu Family's Alchemy Shop, and for our Xu Family! Come, let's go see Ink Master together and report this wonderful news!"
"Alright."
Lin Changheng readily agreed.
As they put the five unused sets of Medicinal Materials back into the storeroom, Xu Qianyou was astonished by Lin Changheng's success rate and couldn't help but feel emotional all over again.
When his exclamations reached the ears of the shop assistants, each and every one of them revealed looks of utter disbelief and shock. Their gazes toward Lin Changheng were filled with envy, admiration... and reverence.
When Lin Changheng was still an Alchemy Apprentice, they could still chat with him normally, calling him "Brother Lin."
But now that he had truly become an Entry Tier Alchemist, his status within the clan and the market would change drastically. When they saw him, they would have to bow respectfully and address him as "Alchemist Lin."
Words of congratulations and flattery filled his ears, but Lin Changheng just shook his head and said, "I haven't been confirmed by Ink Master yet. You can't call me a Pill Master."
"Besides, there's no need for all this. We've known and worked with each other for years. Just call me what you always have."
Lin Changheng didn't put on airs or become arrogant, and while the Xu Family assistants nodded in agreement, praising his magnanimity and approachability, the reverence in their expressions was still plain to see.
'He sighed inwardly, realizing he could only let them be.'
The two went upstairs, and Shopkeeper Xu immediately reported the matter to Ink Master.
A look of profound astonishment flashed across Ink Master's face. Lin Changheng had been his apprentice for eleven years—a full eleven years. He thought he knew the boy inside and out. Could he really have a sudden epiphany and become a Pill Master overnight?
He didn't voice any doubts, nor did he let any suspicion show. Ink Master simply considered for a moment before speaking:
"Tomorrow morning, you will attempt three more batches in front of me as confirmation. As long as you succeed with a single one, I will acknowledge your status as a Pill Master and report it to the clan to upgrade your benefits ahead of schedule. However, to relieve you of your 'reclamation' duties and grant you a new clan status and new assignments, you will have to succeed at Alchemy again for the clan's confirmation. Do you agree?"
"I will do as Ink Master commands."
Lin Changheng found the arrangement reasonable and agreed at once.
After speaking with a stern expression, Ink Master finally broke into a smile. "As for why I summoned you earlier... with this sudden development, there's no need to mention it. Go back early and rest, build up your energy for tomorrow's Alchemy. I'm looking forward to you being able to stand on your own two feet. It'll lighten my burden, you know. These old bones of mine are getting really tired... Haha!"
With that, he clapped Lin Changheng firmly on the shoulder in encouragement.
For Ink Master, cultivating a new Pill Master would also come with considerable rewards.
"I definitely won't disappoint you, Ink Master." Lin Changheng's eyes shone brightly as he nodded seriously.
...
「The next morning.」
The Alchemy Room in the Xu Family's Alchemy Shop was already bustling and fiery.
Ink Master had moved a stool to a corner, where he sat with his eyes closed, resting.
He did this to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on Lin Changheng with his gaze.
WHOOSH!
The flames in the cauldron suddenly flared up, followed by a thick, acrid, burnt smell.
"The Medicine Combination was too rushed, and the Pill Formula was executed out of sequence."
A comment, which also sounded like a reminder, suddenly came from the corner.
"Yes!"
Lin Changheng's expression remained steady as he cleaned the cauldron, collected the Wasted Pill, and prepared to start the next batch.
Ink Master said nothing more.
Inwardly, however, he approved of Lin Changheng's composure.
He began refining the second batch.
This time, Lin Changheng did not deliberately make a mistake and proceeded with flawless smoothness.
BUZZ—
The flames receded, the Pill Formula was cast, and a crimson, cloud-patterned Success Pill flew out of the cauldron, guided into a small wooden box that had been prepared beforehand.
At the same time, a pill fragrance slowly spread out, filling the entire Alchemy Room.
Ink Master's eyes snapped open at the fragrance. He rose with a chuckle, looking at Lin Changheng with appreciation.
"Ink Master, I was fortunate enough to not fail my mission!"
Clutching the wooden box, Lin Changheng stepped forward to present the Pill.