After resting for about an hour, Ye Chen opened his eyes and came to the Medicine Cauldron again.
Next, he only needed to melt that fire-attribute demonic core, and then he could begin the Pill Fusion…
The first half of this step was not difficult for Ye Chen, as his Star Fire had grown considerably, and its temperature posed no difficulty in fusing a first-tier demonic core.
As for Pill Fusion…
Pill Fusion is the final and most crucial step in Alchemist.
Different Materials have varying resistances to temperature. Therefore, an Alchemist must learn to control the flame temperature at any point within the cauldron at will…
In places requiring low temperatures, the flame must be suppressed; in places requiring high temperatures, the suppression must be released to increase the flame temperature.
This process must be precise and fast; otherwise, even a second's delay could lead to the spoilage of already refined Materials.
This is also the ultimate test of an Alchemist's flame control and the sensitivity of his Soul Power perception.
Ye Chen took a deep breath, looking at the demonic core that had melted into a liquid mass in the Medicine Cauldron, his expression grim, and then looked at the medicinal Materials beside him.
The order of adding Materials is recorded in the Pill Formula, and now he only needed to strictly follow the requirements and add them one by one.
He picked up a box of black granular Materials and directly put them into the Medicine Cauldron.
This was refined from a medicinal herb called Orchid Heart Grass, primarily to neutralize the violent factors within the fire-attribute demonic core, to prevent conflicts when it later fuses with other fire-attribute medicinal herbs like Flame Grass.
Licking his dry lips, Ye Chen separated a wisp of Soul Power perception, diligently controlling the flame beneath the black granules to slowly raise the temperature…
This step was not only nerve-wracking for Ye Chen but also for Ye Zhong, who was watching nearby, feeling as if he had returned to his teenage years when his father first taught him Alchemist.
Inside the Medicine Cauldron, the tiny black granules slowly drifted into the crimson liquid as the temperature steadily increased, dyeing the latter's color even deeper…
First step, successful!
This was a very good start…
Next, Ye Chen carefully and continuously added Materials to the Medicine Cauldron, then condensed and fused them at different temperatures, actually succeeding in completely integrating all seven Materials into the liquid droplet in one go!
This scene brought a sigh of relief to the three people present…
Of course, Ye Chen would not relax because of this, as the Alchemist was not truly complete yet.
After the Pill Fusion was successful, Ye Chen still needed to slowly control the flame temperature to refine the liquid droplet into a solid Medicinal Pill; only when the Pill truly formed would this Alchemist finally be considered complete.
To abandon a task when it is ninety percent complete.
Ye Chen did not want such a thing to happen to him.
So, after a slight sigh of relief, he immediately re-invested his full Heart-Nature into controlling the flame within the Medicine Cauldron.
Half an hour later, a perfectly round, fiery red Medicinal Pill finally appeared in Ye Chen's hand.
Huoyuan Pill, successfully refined!
Even with an adult's Heart-Nature, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel excited. He quickly walked up to Old Ancestor Ye Xun, holding the Medicinal Pill high in his hand, like a mischievous child seeking praise, and eagerly asked, "Old Ancestor, quickly see what quality the Huoyuan Pill I refined is?"
The same Medicinal Pill, when refined by different people, will have subtle differences.
Generally speaking, an Alchemist with higher proficiency will refine Medicinal Pills of higher quality and stronger Medicinal effects.
Holding this crimson Medicinal Pill, which resembled a Dragon's eye, Ye Xun could tell at a glance that although this Huoyuan Pill was not yet of the highest quality, its quality had already reached a high level, which even seasoned Alchemists who had been in the first-grade Alchemist for many years might not be able to refine…
Looking at the eager young Ye Chen in front of him, Ye Xun's face was filled with hope and relief.
"Good, good, good!"
Three 'good' words in a row made Ye Chen's face beam with a smile.
However, his joy had not yet fully blossomed when the withered hand, which had been holding the Medicinal Pill in front of him, suddenly dropped powerlessly…
The crimson Huoyuan Pill rolled onto the ground, going quite far.
But at this moment, no one cared about it anymore…
Little Ye Chen was already stunned by this sudden scene, his small face filled with disbelief as he watched the old man in front of him lie powerlessly on the chair.
At this moment, his mind was blank, and everything around him disappeared…
Ye Zhong's eyes were also red, but his expression remained calm.
This moment, it was already expected, wasn't it?
Upon seeing Ye Chen finally become an official Alchemist, and a first-grade Alchemist under the age of eight, the first person in the entire Ye Family for hundreds of years, the Old Ancestor could finally rest in peace.
Looking at his dazed grandson, Ye Zhong also felt a sense of pity…
A child under the age of eight, this should be his first encounter with separation and death, right? At this moment, his heart should be filled with confusion and helplessness.
He transmitted a message to the servants outside the courtyard, and in just a moment, Ye Lan and his wife, Song Chun'er, hurriedly arrived at this small courtyard.
Looking at the withered figure sitting at the head, the two first paused, and then their expressions suddenly changed drastically.
Ye Zhong waved his hand, stopping Ye Lan from asking questions, and instead first said to his daughter-in-law, Song Chun'er, "You take Ye Chen down first…"
Song Chun'er quickly walked closer, looking at her son, who was silently bowing his head, and immediately felt heartache. She directly embraced her son and whispered, "Son, come with Mother…"
Ye Chen looked up at Song Chun'er, nodded silently, and followed his mother away.
In fact, he was not as greatly impacted as Ye Zhong and Song Chun'er had thought…
But he had experienced such scenes of separation and death in his previous life: his grandfather, grandmother, and other relatives…
After all, people grow old.
To be honest, the sudden passing of the Ye Family Old Ancestor indeed caught him off guard.
Since he was sent to the Ye Family Old Ancestor to learn Alchemist at the age of five, this Old Ancestor had held nothing back from him. No matter how many mistakes he made, he never got angry, always gently and patiently guiding him. Even if he occasionally made mistakes, he would protect him in every way possible…
This was also why Ye Chen himself had strong self-control; otherwise, with such doting, he would have surely raised a good-for-nothing who looked down on everyone!
Thinking of this Old Ancestor, who had dedicated all his energy to him, passing away like this, Ye Chen's heart was filled with gratitude mixed with deep sorrow…
Smilingly persuading the worried Song Chun'er to leave, Ye Chen sat alone in the room, gazing at the gloomy sky outside the window, and silently thought, "Old Ancestor, please watch from above. The Ye Family will surely return to its Peak in my hands, and even become stronger! I, Ye Chen, guarantee it!"
Ye Chen's gaze was filled with determination; it was as if only at this moment did he truly feel the responsibility he should bear as the direct descendant of the Ye Family!
A meteor suddenly streaked across the daytime sky, disappearing with a fiery glow into the distant horizon, as if foretelling something…
The Ye Family, the times have changed!