Chapter 379: Who Are You?

"Teacher Liu, what kind of pill should we refine?"

Knowing there was no turning back, Mu Yangfeng put down the cauldron, ignited the alchemical fire, and turned to look at Zhang Xuan behind him. There are thousands of Grade-3 pills; one always needs to choose which one to refine. From his tone, it seemed he was extremely familiar with a particular pill, having reached a very high level, which was why he dared to speak this way. Otherwise, he couldn't have just asserted that a pill could be refined strictly by following his steps.

"Pill?" Zhang Xuan was startled. He hadn't considered this beforehand. After a moment of hesitation, he looked over and asked, "Oh right, what should we refine to get promoted to a 3-star Alchemist?" Since the assessment for a 3-star Alchemist involves refining a Grade-3 pill, there must be specific regulations for this particular one. Since it's an assessment anyway, we should just follow the rules.

"Any Grade-3 pill will do," Alchemist Mu stated, rolling his eyes as a bad premonition arose in his heart upon hearing that the other party didn't even know what to refine or how to be assessed as a 3-star Alchemist. "However, the standard assessment for a 3-star Alchemist uses the Grade-3 White Yang Pill. Alchemist Hong refined that one back then!"

"Alright then, let's refine this White Yang Pill... Oh, by the way, could I take a look at your pill formula?" Zhang Xuan scratched his head, an apologetic look on his face. "I've never actually seen a pill before, so I'm not quite sure what ingredients are needed or how to refine it... I'll need to read it first before I can guide you..."

Mu Yangfeng stumbled and almost burst into tears. "Brother, I trusted you so much, took out the cauldron, and even started the fire... But you're telling me... you've never seen a pill formula? This is just too misleading!"

Alchemist Hongyun and Jiang Chen were also utterly speechless. They had thought he truly possessed some skill and would make an astonishing debut, but it turned out he was utterly clueless! He hadn't even seen the pill formula, yet he claimed he would guide the pill refining... Would he die if he didn't show off? The thought alone was astounding.

"Here's the pill formula..." With a resentful expression, Alchemist Mu handed it over. As the basic medicine for assessing 3-star Alchemists, the White Yang Pill formula was no secret; almost all 2-star Alchemists knew it, so showing it to him was fine.

"Good!" Zhang Xuan nodded. As his palm touched it, the relevant information instantly appeared in his mind. At the same time, experiential books on refining the White Yang Pill also appeared. He had absorbed the entire Alchemist Guild's library into his mind. While valuable pill formulas were stored separately and couldn't be shown to him, there were many books summarizing such experiences. "Correct!" With a low exclamation, a brand new book appeared before his eyes.

"Alright, let's begin refining!" After glancing through the book, Zhang Xuan looked over with a serious expression. "Follow my steps precisely. There must be no mistakes whatsoever!"

"Alright!" Although a bit dejected, Mu Yangfeng had already made such a bold claim, so he had no other choice but to nod helplessly.

As a peak 2-star Alchemist, he frequently attempted to refine the White Yang Pill. Therefore, he had several sets of ingredients prepared in his storage ring, so there was no need to go through the trouble of purchasing more.

Igniting the fire, heating the cauldron, and selecting the ingredients—he did it all in one fluid motion. Zhang Xuan watched, filled with immense admiration. As expected of a peak 2-star Alchemist, his technique was infinitely superior to anything he had seen before; Mo Yu and President Ouyang were far, far behind. He took a few steps to the cauldron, touched it with his palm, then immediately stepped back a few paces and said nothing more.

"The temperature seems right. Can I add the ingredients now?" The alchemical fire blazed, and soon the cauldron was hot enough, emitting a scorching sensation. Alchemist Mu couldn't help but look over.

"Don't rush!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand. "Keep adding more heat!"

"Alright!" Since he was following Zhang Xuan's instructions, Alchemist Mu didn't argue. His true qi surged, and the flames beneath the cauldron blazed furiously.

"The cauldron is glowing red..." Alchemist Hongyun and Jiang Chen, standing to the side, exchanged glances, feeling dizzy from watching. Did this guy even know how to refine pills? Refining medicinal ingredients wasn't like smelting weapons, where higher temperatures were always better. Medicinal ingredients were wood-attributed; too high a temperature could easily destroy their medicinal properties, making them useless. Now, the cauldron was glowing red and almost on the verge of exploding. Forget refining pills; the ingredients would likely burn to ashes the moment they were put in... What was he doing?

"Put in the White Wood Grass!" Just as they were filled with confusion, the young man's voice finally sounded.

"The main ingredient of the White Yang Pill... just throw it in directly?" Alchemist Hongyun swayed again. White Wood Grass was the primary ingredient of the White Yang Pill and was extremely sensitive to fire; it would burn upon contact. Normally, it was added in the middle of the refining process. Firstly, to prevent the cauldron from being too hot and burning it to ashes; secondly, to allow it to better integrate with other ingredients and play its role as the main ingredient. Now the cauldron was practically exploding, with black smoke billowing out... And he was adding this ingredient before anything else... This was outrageous! There was no doubt; as soon as this ingredient entered the cauldron, it would burn and turn into black ash... Forget about it exerting its medicinal properties!

"Nonsense, this is utter nonsense! This fellow knows nothing about alchemy. I truly don't know where Alchemist Mu found him!" With a cold snort, Alchemist Hongyun's face turned ashen. It was clear without thinking that this batch of medicine was definitely ruined! Anyone with even a little knowledge of alchemy knew this principle, yet this fellow, utterly clueless, brazenly claimed he would refine a Grade-3 pill... Where did this eccentric person come from? Alchemist Mu trusting him... his eyes must truly be blind. After this incident, he needed to consider calling an elder's meeting to properly discipline him. Otherwise, wasting ingredients was a minor matter; the guild's reputation would eventually be completely ruined!

Ignoring the increasingly grim-faced Alchemist Hongyun, Zhang Xuan continued after Mu Yangfeng finished adding the White Wood Grass, "Add the Green Wood Grass. After twelve breaths, add the Two-Eyed Tendril..." A series of instructions followed. This sequence was completely different from the normal refining process for the White Yang Pill, even somewhat unconventional. However, since he had agreed, Mu Yangfeng gritted his teeth and continuously added ingredients to the cauldron, while also controlling the alchemical fire's temperature, not daring to make the slightest mistake.

"Hmm? Something's not right..." As more and more ingredients were added to the cauldron, his doubts grew stronger. He had refined the White Yang Pill many times before. Usually, after adding just a few herbs, the cauldron would boil uncontrollably and threaten to explode at any moment. This time, however, he had added so many consecutively, yet there was no reaction? Could it be that all the medicinal properties were neutralizing each other? If so, it would mean the other party's method was correct, and there was a high possibility of forming a pill.

"No, that's not it..." He immediately shook his head. The cauldron being still and all medicinal properties being properly balanced was only one possibility. Another was... that the ingredients had all been burned to ashes by the scorching hot cauldron, losing their efficacy, and naturally, their power to react! The former was too difficult; even some 4-star Alchemists couldn't achieve it. It looked much more like the latter... "Never mind, let's just finish refining it first, no matter what..." Despite his suspicions that it wouldn't succeed, Alchemist Mu meticulously followed the instructions and added the ingredients. Soon, the last ingredient was also thrown in.

"Open the cauldron!" Zhang Xuan commanded.

"Open the cauldron?" Mu Yangfeng was startled again. Normally, after all ingredients were added to a pill, they needed time to settle and properly fuse before forming a pill. Opening the cauldron right after throwing in the ingredients... wasn't that a bit too hasty?

"Hurry!" Unexpectedly, the other party hesitated, so Zhang Xuan commanded again. According to the descriptions in the library, opening the cauldron immediately after adding all ingredients was crucial to avoid flaws. His hesitation had already introduced several errors, and even if a pill formed, its medicinal efficacy would likely be reduced by several grades.

Unlike Zhang Xuan's urgency, Alchemist Hongyun, who was not far away, snorted coldly and shook his head upon seeing this scene.

"Can this pill really be refined successfully?" Jiang Chen, standing to the side, couldn't help but look over. "You successfully refined the White Yang Pill before, and it reached the 'pill formed' level, so you have the most authority to speak!" When Alchemist Hongyun was assessed for 3-star Alchemist, he refined the White Yang Pill, and it reached the 'pill formed' level, causing a sensation in Tianwu Royal City.

"Refined successfully?" Alchemist Hongyun scoffed, a look of disdain on his face. "Even if the cauldron didn't explode, given how hot it was earlier, all the ingredients must have been burned to ashes. Forming a pill... that's dreaming!"

"Burned to ashes?" Jiang Chen was puzzled.

"If you don't believe me, watch. If a pill forms, I'll chop off my own head..." With a grand wave of his hand, Alchemist Hongyun displayed complete confidence. Knowing nothing and refining randomly, yet expecting a pill to form... Wouldn't that make his own 3-star Alchemist title worthless?

Not only him, but Mu Yangfeng also didn't hold much hope. After a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and opened the cauldron. Just as he was filled with disappointment, expecting to see nothing but slag, a rich aroma of medicine immediately wafted out.

"This..." Mu Yangfeng was stunned. He rushed forward, reached in, and a pill appeared in his palm. It was plump, round, and exuded a fragrant aroma. "This is... a per-perfect-grade... White Yang Pill?" His pupils contracted, and his eyes widened. Mu Yangfeng stood frozen in place. Pills were categorized into many grades: formed, plump, perfect, and pill-patterned, among others. Originally, he had expected failure based on the previous refining method, anticipating only a pile of slag when opening the cauldron. He never dreamed that a pill would form... and at the perfect grade! How... how was this possible?

"What?" "Perfect grade?" While Mu Yangfeng was simply stunned, Alchemist Hongyun, standing to the side, swayed and nearly bit off his tongue. He had just declared that he would chop off his own head if a pill formed... But not only did a pill form, it was perfect... Good heavens! How did he do it? He hadn't seen the White Yang Pill formula, yet he guided its refining after just a glance... He heated the cauldron so intensely before adding the ingredients, and instead of burning them to ashes, it resulted in a perfect-grade pill... The scene before him completely overturned his understanding, driving him to near madness.

"This... this... what is going on?" Alchemist Mu looked at Zhang Xuan, trembling all over, wanting to know what exactly had happened. How... how was it successful just like that? Since when did refining Grade-3 pills become so simple? Seeing his puzzled gaze, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"Although White Wood Grass is sensitive to fire, it doesn't mean it can't be exposed to it. On the contrary, a hot, sealed environment allows its medicinal properties to be better utilized! Placing this ingredient first allows its potency to perfectly fuse layer by layer with other ingredients, yielding greater effects! Of course, as other ingredients are added and the cauldron is repeatedly opened, much of the medicinal efficacy would be wasted. At this point, adding Green Wood Grass can absorb all the diffused efficacy, simultaneously merging and solidifying it... As for the Two-Eyed Tendril, it grows in swamps and, despite possessing Yang-attributed power, also contains Water-attributed qi. Only in a scorching environment can its Water-attribute be fully extracted..." Zhang Xuan spoke as he walked, his hands clasped behind his back.

"This... this..." At first, they were somewhat disbelieving, but after hearing about each ingredient, Alchemist Hongyun and the others couldn't help but tremble. By the end, their faces were stiff, almost numb. What the young man explained contained no alchemical techniques whatsoever; it was all based on the medicinal properties of the ingredients—how to refine them, how to neutralize them, and how to maximize their potency... It might not sound like much individually, but when applied to a single pill formula, it was terrifying! This required an extreme understanding of medicines and even every single herb to achieve. The sheer volume of knowledge and accuracy of judgment were astounding!

"To be able to perfectly refine a pill without a single issue, relying solely on mastery of medicinal properties, allowing ingredients to perfectly fuse... You, you're not an apprentice. You... who exactly are you?" Alchemist Hongyun looked over, his face filled with dread. Successfully refining a Grade-3 pill without any errors, solely based on the medicinal properties of the ingredients—not to mention him, even the Guild Master couldn't achieve that! Who exactly was this person? How could he be so intimately familiar with medicinal ingredients?

"He is the new Guild Master of the Physician Guild who just perfectly resolved nineteen difficult illnesses..." Alchemist Mu said, "Liu Cheng!"