Su Yan's expression shifted: "Elder Song is ready?"
"Seventy to eighty percent ready, but it's enough." Song Qi had already taken leave from the Great Manager. He originally planned to wait until he was nearly fully prepared, but circumstances had changed.
"Is it because of the stolen herbs?"
Song Qi looked surprised that Su Yan knew but nodded: "Pang Tianfeng stole a batch of herbs. The managers are preparing to send people out to hunt him down. Things are bound to change."
"Elder Song, what is Pang Tianfeng's cultivation level? Why such a large reaction?" Su Yan wondered how Pang Tianfeng, no matter how capable, could cause such a massive stir.
"Pang Tianfeng was originally a discarded disciple of the Nine Peaks Faction, who found some opportunity and fled. He escaped all the way from Lingnan Prefecture to our southern White Egret Prefecture." Song Qi explained in detail: "The rumor is that he was only at the Blood Circulation stage initially, but after several escapes, his recent actions confirm he has reached the Vitality Nurturing stage. Such a rapid ascent suggests he possesses something valuable."
Su Yan's eyes narrowed: "Innocence is a crime when one possesses a treasure."
"Your summation is concise." Song Qi's deep gaze brightened: "Any rumor will tempt others. Unfortunately, Pang Tianfeng has some skill in using poison, so people will surely die in the forests." The Desolate Mountain was already extremely dangerous. The struggle between factions for resources was chaotic enough. With the Desolate Mountain hunt imminent, the turmoil would only worsen, and Pang Tianfeng's interference would only amplify the chaos. Turmoil is the ladder to ascension, and ambitious people would surely emerge. Song Qi's decision to heal his injuries before the chaos erupted was wise. And who was to say Song Qi didn't have his own plans for the situation?
Setting aside the matter of Pang Tianfeng, the immediate priority was refining the Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pill.
The next morning, Xu Zhongdao instructed his servants to tightly seal the gates. Song Qi stood guard in the inner courtyard. Xu Zhongdao then led Su Yan into the Pill Chamber, where dozens of herbs were neatly categorized and packaged. Su Yan looked surprised; there were thirty to forty types of herbs, from Desolate Beast bones to the Blood Vein Flower, most of which had been partially processed in different ways.
'Elder Xu must have spent all his time preparing these materials.' The Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pill was a Second-Order Low-Grade elixir, requiring rare and difficult-to-handle Second-Order materials. The fact that they were so meticulously prepared showed Xu Zhongdao's dedication—his friendship with Song Qi was clearly deep.
"Young man, your skill is insufficient. Once we begin refining a Second-Order Low-Grade elixir, especially since I haven't practiced this specific pill before, we cannot stop." Xu Zhongdao spoke seriously, already seated before the large medicinal cauldron. "When I ask for an herb, you must provide it immediately, precisely to the milligram. Some materials need on-the-spot processing, and you must complete it on time. One mistake, and the efficacy will be drastically different. Our materials cannot withstand many failures."
"I will do my best." Su Yan replied earnestly.
Xu Zhongdao's tone softened: "Don't be too nervous. I have tested your Herbology skills and found your knowledge and handling of medicine to be better than that of the Hundred Herb Hall's apprentices. You are fully capable of this task. As for what you learn from the refining process, that depends on your own ability." Alchemy was the exclusive skill of the Hundred Herb Hall—Xu Zhongdao could not directly teach Su Yan the formula; that was the rule. However, through their interactions, his subtle hints, and observing Su Yan's use of the Poison Skin Powder and Three-Yuan Tonic Soup, he understood Su Yan's abilities. The young man was uniquely talented in martial arts and could quickly grasp new knowledge.
"Start the fire!"
The flame was ignited, and the cauldron began to heat up. Xu Zhongdao concentrated, placing the main ingredients—Desolate Beast bone and Blood Vein Flower—into the cauldron. His body's aura surged, and faint threads of white mist, like incense smoke, flowed into the cauldron.
'This must be the True Essence cultivated by the Vitality Nurturing stage.' Refining with True Essence, combined with controlling the fire to modulate the medicine's properties, was a process impossible without the required cultivation.
"Two liang of Tendon-Regenerating Grass!" Xu Zhongdao called out. Su Yan moved instantly, quickly taking the prepared herb and adding it to the fire.
"One liang of Blood Ginseng, three qian of Black Tiger Root juice..." Xu Zhongdao continually directed Su Yan to add herbs to the cauldron. Sweat broke out on the elder's wrinkled face. The fire was hot, and refining with True Essence was immensely taxing.
'Stimulating the properties of the herbs while constantly maintaining balance is necessary to layer and preserve the medicinal effects in the pill, ensuring they fully convert to energy upon consumption.' Su Yan assisted the refining while observing Xu Zhongdao's technique and philosophy. Xu Zhongdao intended to teach him, and he held nothing back regarding the principles and methods.
Time passed. Su Yan's inventory of herbs dwindled; almost every kind had been used once. Xu Zhongdao's face was pale, his True Essence heavily depleted. If he hadn't prepared elixirs to replenish his essence, he would have collapsed by now.
"Add all the Blood Vein Flower and Desolate Beast bone! Quickly!" Xu Zhongdao shouted. Su Yan immediately added the main materials for the second time.
The fire slowly died down, and the cauldron rumbled, moved aside. The residual heat continued to refine the pills inside. Xu Zhongdao stopped exerting his True Essence but continued to subtly shake the cauldron with delicate force. After about seventeen or eighteen minutes, the cauldron's temperature dropped. Xu Zhongdao grabbed the lid. A strong medicinal aroma instantly filled the air.
He looked ecstatic, immediately peering into the cauldron. Three dark red pills sat inside, emitting a fragrant aroma.
"Success! Hahahaha!" Xu Zhongdao sighed in relief: "Young man, go fetch Old Song quickly! His hope has been realized. Don't just stand there!"
He saw Su Yan was immobile but failed to notice the sheer delight in Su Yan's eyes.
[Herbology: 19/400 (Great Accomplishment) ] [Basic Alchemy: 1/100 (Initiate)]
After long observation and Xu Zhongdao's veiled instructions, the process of compounding medicine had clicked for Su Yan at the moment the pill was successfully formed.
Su Yan strode out of the chamber and immediately saw Song Qi pacing anxiously in the courtyard.
"Elder, the Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pill is complete." Su Yan had barely finished speaking when a figure shot past him like the wind.
'What speed!' His pupils contracted. Before he could fully register it, Song Qi was already inside the Pill Chamber.
'With the Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pill complete, Elder Song is my most reliable patron. Although the Small Mountain Association is a threat, I don't have to worry about unprovoked assassination.'
Su Yan walked out of the courtyard, looked up at the moonlight, and smiled: 'I've mastered the basics of alchemy. Now it's time for my Contracted Bugs to break through. The poisons in the Outer and Inner Mountains are abundant—perfect for the poisonous elixirs I can now refine.'
As Su Yan was about to leave, Song Qi called out to him.
A dark red pill was tossed and landed in front of Su Yan.
Su Yan instinctively caught it, then looked down closely, realizing it was one of the Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pills.
"This is your share."