The speaker was an old man in black robes, his hair and beard completely white and his face full of wrinkles. His Cultivation was around the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and he was walking out of the Alchemy Room, hunched over.
Seeing Lin Changheng lift the curtain and step into the backyard, he immediately chuckled.
Lin Changheng subconsciously had a retort spring to mind.
'When it comes to an Alchemist's business, can you really call it a furnace explosion? It should be called... a minor venting of the Pill Furnace…'
But the words died on his lips, replaced by a wry smile. "Ink Master, please don't tease me."
The Ink Master didn't respond. He beckoned Lin Changheng over, and just as Lin Changheng entered the Alchemy Room as instructed, he suddenly asked, "Were you refining the Red Flame Pill?"
"Yes."
"When did it explode?"
"During the Medicine Combination..."
"Hmm... Wait for me to finish refining this batch of Elixirs. The next batch will be the Red Flame Pill. You will stand aside and watch closely. Find your errors and fill the gaps in your knowledge."
"Yes! Thank you, Ink Master!"
Lin Changheng was delighted and immediately thanked him repeatedly.
The Ink Master was an old Honored Guest Elder of the Xu Family. He had been a Tier One Middle Grade Alchemist with formidable Alchemy Skills, but due to his advanced age and a latent internal injury, he could no longer handle the high-intensity refining of Middle Grade Elixirs. He had volunteered to come oversee the gradually declining, resource-based Purple River District Marketplace, where he regularly refined Lower Grade Elixirs to maintain their public sales.
Even so, for Lin Changheng, the chance to personally watch a Pill Master perform Alchemy was no small opportunity.
After all, what one learns from books is ultimately shallow; it was a rare privilege to have someone provide a proper demonstration.
"It's nothing."
"Keep a close watch on the furnace fire. I'm refining the Wood Element Pill in there."
The Ink Master gave the instruction and turned to leave.
"But... I don't know the first thing about refining the Wood Element Pill. Usually Senior Brother Xu watches the furnace."
Lin Changheng immediately reminded him.
"Xu Hanzhou was recalled to the family. He left first thing this morning with the clan detail that came on business."
After the casual explanation, the Ink Master added, "From now on, when two batches of Elixirs are being refined at once, I'll have to rely on you to watch the furnaces and tend the fires."
"Alright."
Lin Changheng was stunned for a moment, his expression changing slightly as he nodded.
In this Xu Family's Alchemy Shop, there were originally two Pill Masters, four Alchemy Apprentices, and eight Xu Clan Members doing odd jobs.
Later, as the Tier One Upper Grade Red Iron Stone vein near the Purple River District was depleted, the land was left scarred and unprofitable. The Cultivation Forces and individual Cultivators who had once flocked to the area departed just as quickly.
The Purple River District fell into decline, its population dwindled, and its former prosperity was no more.
The Xu Family also made corresponding adjustments.
Five years ago, they withdrew one Pill Master and two apprentices.
Now, all the Elixirs sold in the Alchemy Shop were refined by the Ink Master himself.
Generally, the Ink Master would stagger the refining of two batches of Lower Grade Elixirs a day, with ten pills per batch, after which he would rest for a full day.
For a Middle Grade Alchemist like him, simultaneously refining two batches of Lower Grade Pills was a breeze—it could even be considered a leisurely activity.
But for Lin Changheng, this would take up even more of his time.
Of course, it wasn't without its benefits. He would gain access to the Pill Formula and Alchemy Skill for a new elixir: the Wood Element Pill.
The Xu Family controlled this strictly and would not easily pass it on to outsiders.
Lin Changheng had been here for over ten years and had only managed to grasp the Pill Formula for the Red Flame Pill. Even then, his understanding of the technique was superficial and vague, forcing him to fumble through it on his own.
For the next hour, Lin Changheng watched the furnace fire, but his mind was busy contemplating the Refining Technique for the Red Flame Pill.
The Ink Master returned once during this time. Instead of shooing Lin Changheng away, he faced the Pill Furnace and executed over thirty alchemical seals. He also made sure to toss a yellowed Jade Scroll to Lin Changheng.
It contained information related to the alchemy of the Wood Element Pill.
Only after watching Lin Changheng make a Daoist Oath, ensuring he wouldn't leak its contents, did he leisurely depart.
...
「At Noon.」
The Ink Master returned. After performing a series of complex alchemical seals, he moved to another Pill Furnace several yards away, opened it, and lit the fire to begin refining the Red Flame Pill.
"Come and watch closely."
The old voice called to Lin Changheng.
"Yes." Lin Changheng's spirits lifted.
He had already accumulated many doubts and speculative solutions that needed to be verified through observation.
The Ink Master's actions were as smooth as flowing clouds and running water. In his hands, the complex process of Alchemy took on an aesthetic quality.
Lin Changheng watched with full concentration, not daring to miss the slightest detail.
"Watch the fire."
With that one instruction, the Ink Master left.
Lin Changheng, completely immersed, seemed not to have heard. Only when the Ink Master reached the doorway did he notice and hastily see him off respectfully.
Surprise flashed across the Ink Master's face, but he didn't make an issue of it. He waved a withered hand and left, presenting only his departing back.
...
「Around 7 p.m.」
The two batches of Elixirs were finally finished refining, one after the other.
The furnace fires gradually died down. The Elixirs were drawn out by an extraction technique, their fragrant aroma filling the air. They flew from the furnaces and settled one by one into a specially made wooden box.
Lin Changheng stood by with his hands clasped, watching the scene with secret delight. He had gained immensely from observing the Alchemy process. Not only was the furnace explosion issue from last time now easily solvable, but the connections between many steps and alchemical seals had become much clearer.
Suddenly, Lin Changheng heard the Ink Master make a soft sound of surprise. He watched as the master took out a red pill that had cloud-like patterns on its surface and placed it in his palm for inspection.
Then he shook his head and put it away separately, outside the wooden box.
Lin Changheng was curious. This was the first time he had been allowed to be present when the Ink Master was Extracting the Pill.
"This is an Inferior Pill."
The Ink Master began to explain, intending to guide him. "Whether it's due to variations in the ingredients, a deviation during refining, or some other accident, the appearance of a few Inferior Pills—or even Wasted Pills—is an unavoidable part of Alchemy. Wasted Pills are useless, just burnt and misshapen husks. You should be quite familiar with those..."
Lin Changheng gave an embarrassed smile. What he got from his furnace explosion yesterday was indeed a Wasted Pill.
"A Wasted Pill can be recognized at a glance. But an Inferior Pill is different. It's still formed, but it contains many impurities and residual Pill Poison. It must not be consumed by a Cultivator, or it will cause illness and ruin their cultivation path. They are also called 'Poison Pills'."
"When refining a batch of ten pills, a failure rate—that is, Wasted and Inferior Pills—of up to fifty percent is considered acceptable. For my own Alchemy, the rate of waste and inferiority is usually around ten to twenty percent."
Saying this, he stroked his long beard quite proudly.
"So that's how it is. Thank you for clearing my confusion, Ink Master. Your superior Alchemy Skill is recognized by all. Few in the Purple River District can match you."
Having learned something new, Lin Changheng naturally followed up with a couple of flattering remarks.
Seeing the Ink Master's pleasant expression, a thought stirred in his mind, and he took the opportunity to ask, "I wonder, how are Inferior Pills dealt with?"
"There was once a Pill Master from a certain clan, of low character, who mixed Inferior Pills in with genuine pills to sell, scamming Loose Cultivators. When the matter was exposed, the victimized Loose Cultivators gathered for revenge. The Pill Master's clan was also targeted in retribution, and their members who were away from home suffered heavy casualties. The clan fell into ruin and was wiped from the records!"
The Ink Master gave this example with a serious expression, pointing out the crucial point as a warning.
"Our Xu Family is different. Our family has integrity. We do long-term business, and our reputation is sterling."
"Wasted Pills are destroyed immediately. Inferior Pills are either destroyed or sold at a low price to Beast Taming clans to be used for raising Meat Beasts."
Lin Changheng became thoughtful. Sensing a loophole, he asked, "If the Beast Taming clans acquire them on the surface but then resell them to others, wouldn't that also damage the Xu Family's reputation?"
A look of approval appeared in the Ink Master's eyes as he looked at Lin Changheng, but he didn't answer, intending to test him.
Lin Changheng thought for a moment, and two words slipped out, "Cut Pill!"
A pill split in half naturally cannot be resold, but it's no problem for raising Meat Beasts.
"Correct. Cut Pill." The Ink Master's old eyes looked Lin Changheng over with appreciation. 'This child hasn't changed much in other ways, but his personality has become somewhat gloomy and impatient in recent years.'
'This new change probably comes from the pressure of his appointed time drawing near. He has broken through his limits under duress.'
The two of them chatted as they walked out of the Alchemy Room. Lin Changheng also took the opportunity to ask about three points of confusion. The Ink Master didn't refuse, offering a few words of guidance that were brief but insightful.
If it had been the old Lin Changheng, he probably would have had trouble understanding. But now, it was as if a veil had been lifted, and he absorbed it all completely.
...