Chapter 306: Where Did Yun He Go

However, a refiner's technique is extremely important. How could Xu Xiaoshou possibly be flailing wildly?

Yun He immediately dismissed his thought. He continued to observe, subtly feeling himself becoming immersed.

What a profound difference!

It was completely unlike the methods of other refiners.

It was as if he were pioneering a new grand path...

Thinking this, Yun He was startled by his own conclusion.

From a mere tenth-grade assessment, he could actually discern a new grand path...

What a joke!

Even the Guild Master didn't possess such ability!

But...

He meticulously scrutinized Xu Xiaoshou's seemingly chaotic hand movements, trying to discern any trace of a grand path or elemental seals.

He failed!

"Am I not knowledgeable enough?" Yun He thought, dejected.

But he didn't lose heart. This distinctly different path... for now, he couldn't call it a "Dao," so he would simply call it a "road"!

This new grand road... well, if he studied it, he was sure to gain some inspiration and insight!

This was also why the old timers on the seventh floor dedicated themselves to serving young geniuses.

Often, these individuals, with their highly creative minds, could pull the old timers out of their fixed thought patterns and provide them with new directions!

Xu Xiaoshou concentrated intently. The refinement of the medicinal liquid was incredibly fast, many times quicker than that of an ordinary refiner.

Half an incense stick's time passed. Inside the alchemy cauldron, the liquid bubbled and hissed.

Xu Xiaoshou, with a backhand motion, created a spiritual energy lid to reduce the liquid, continuing to stir and manipulate it.

The reflux of spiritual energy truly seemed to open the sealed gates of Yun He's mind in an instant.

His old eyes widened, and he realized that this time, he might truly gain something significant!

Xu Xiaoshou's hands fluttered, moving with extreme speed.

The old man's eyes rolled, his eyelids unblinking, staring so intently that tears welled up.

"A new technique!"

"This is definitely a new alchemy technique!"

Even though he still couldn't discern anything specific, Yun He persevered, determined to seize this opportunity to uncover the secret behind the young man's incredibly fast liquid refinement!

"Gurgle!"

The medicinal liquid boiled even louder.

But despite this, it still didn't turn to ash.

Under such precise control of the heat, the pure spiritual liquid continued to be refined by Xu Xiaoshou without interruption.

Yun He was going crazy.

What kind of technique could achieve this?!

His eyes were wide, feeling as if his eye sockets would split.

Staring at the boiling cauldron, his nose catching the pungent herbaceous aroma, and perceiving Xu Xiaoshou's alchemy technique, which seemed to deeply understand the Heavenly Dao...

But Yun He's mind suddenly went astray.

Strangely, while watching a junior refine elixirs, he somehow saw traces of a chef?

"This?"

Yun He was dumbfounded.

Once this thought emerged, even if he tried to control it, it became completely uncontrollable.

Vaguely, if one were to imagine a spatula in the young man's hand, wouldn't his technique resemble a master chef stir-frying?

"What a joke!"

Yun He was on the verge of a breakdown.

He had observed for so long, only to discern this much?!

No wonder the Guild Master said his comprehension in alchemy was truly poor!

This really was... quite true!

At this moment, he was filled with remorse and deep shame for mentally desecrating the sacred profession of alchemy.

However...

He glanced again at Xu Xiaoshou, who was solemnly concentrated, occasionally wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

"It does seem like it..."

"He really does look like a chef, holding a spatula, simmering elixirs..."

Just thinking about it, Yun He already had that bizarre image in his mind. 'My comprehension must truly be skewed!'

He fell into deep thought.

No!

He couldn't think like this anymore. This line of thought was absolutely misguided!

How could such an incisive alchemy technique possibly remind him of stir-frying...

Truly, one cannot carve rotten wood!

Yun He rubbed his stomach and sighed inwardly.

It must be because he had been abstaining from food for too long!

Yes, it must be!

"Be careful."

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly said, "I'm about to reduce the liquid!"

Yun He: ???

Reduce the liquid?

He nearly knelt on the spot, his old face flushing with shame.

How did this young man know his thoughts? Did he have mind-reading abilities?

Xu Xiaoshou ignored him.

This old guy was too powerful; he was almost comparable to Mu Zixi.

Except for curses, all sorts of emotions had been contributed to him dozens of times over.

Such as "admiration," "doubt," "awe"...

He was simply a genius at accumulating passive points!

Refining the medicinal liquid was easy for him, allowing him to simultaneously monitor the information panel.

However, for the next step, Xu Xiaoshou himself needed to be extremely vigilant.

Congealing the elixir!

The young man's eyes narrowed, as if he were facing his most dangerous enemy.

Yet, this old man Yun He, upon hearing his "be careful," didn't retreat but advanced, seemingly intending to observe more closely.

This...

Commendable courage!

Xu Xiaoshou spoke again: "Step back a little; I'm about to congeal the elixir!"

The reduction of the liquid was complete. To avoid it ultimately solidifying into golden, honey-like drops, he didn't dare to prolong this step.

Yun He, however, smiled, saying, "My young friend, you're being too distant! The path of alchemy is inherently one where few tread alone. When good techniques emerge, everyone should communicate and progress together!"

As he spoke, he approached again, now completely in front of the 'small cauldron'.

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned pale.

What 'alchemy technique' are you talking about? I don't know any of that!

These are all just gestures associated with heat control from 'Culinary Mastery,' aren't they?

Although he always felt like something was missing from his hands, even with the 'empty grip' sensation, once the gestures were made, the flames indeed obeyed.

He wasn't entirely clear on the principle behind this.

After all, using 'Culinary Mastery' for alchemy inherently involved too many unexplainable phenomena.

Therefore, he couldn't teach any of this.

But at other times, if you want to discuss, old man, that's fine. Now is a critical moment for congealing the elixir. Why are you getting in the way? Do you have a death wish?

Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened. If he didn't congeal the elixir now, the liquid would completely reduce!

Then, it would turn into a jelly-like substance.

And the assessment would surely fail!

He gave one last warning: "Old man, quickly step back! I'm about to congeal the elixir!"

Yun He smiled, then casually sat down beside Xu Xiaoshou. "It's alright, I'm your assistant; I'll help you handle everything."

He took out a tray and whispered, "Little brother, what kind of technique is that? Teach me, and I'll guarantee you pass the assessment!"

Even using a back door?

Xu Xiaoshou's face went utterly pale. He couldn't hold it in any longer and was even more unable to speak.

Immediately, he pulled his hand back, and the compressed fire seed beneath the 'small cauldron' suddenly erupted, transforming into raging flames.

The Cinderlight Elixir Congealing Art emphasized a 'one-hit kill'— through instantly elevated temperatures, charring the surface, condensing the interior, and thus forming the elixir!

This phrase from the jade slip given by Elder Sang was deeply ingrained in his mind.

Xu Xiaoshou regarded it as a classic. He swiftly pulled away the spiritual energy cauldron, and the flames immediately scorched.

A faint white light pierced through the skylight, directly bringing sunlight into the room.

Xu Xiaoshou felt his mind waver, as if his soul was about to be scattered by the shock.

But he possessed 'resilience.' Even when blasted by the spiritual medicine, which left his face charred black, he remained perfectly still.

A medicinal fragrance wafted, and Xu Xiaoshou immediately grew excited.

This time, the feeling was excellent. Although an explosion was inevitable, he was confident that what emerged would definitely not be 'Crimson Gold Liquid,' but a Crimson Gold Elixir!

The quality... judging by the smell, it would surely be superior.

He excitedly stood up, wanting to open the channel to release the elixir, when he suddenly noticed that the elixir channel on the side of the cauldron, through which the elixir would exit, was somewhat empty.

Wait!

Hadn't Old Man Yun He just sat down beside him?

Where had he gone?