Dai Chengfeng sat on a chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the small head of Qiu'er. As Qiu'er playfully bit at his fingers, he muttered to himself.
"Refining Soul-Shaping Pills and Great Rejuvenation Pills isn't like brewing ordinary herbal decoctions..."
Alchemy, after all, requires not only a good alchemical furnace but also high-quality flames.
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng lacked precisely two things needed to refine these pills: an excellent furnace capable of evenly withstanding high temperatures and a flame far superior to ordinary fire!
After all, conventional stoves and firewood wouldn't be able to extract the essence of high-grade medicinal herbs, let alone refine advanced pills. Too many impurities would significantly reduce their efficacy, or worse, cause the entire process to fail.
"The last time I refined Great Rejuvenation Pills, I borrowed the alchemy room in Dugu Bo's residence in Sunset Forest and used the Earth Core Fire he channeled, which made the process go smoothly."
"But now that I'm at the Spirit Hall, so far from Sunset Forest, going back isn't realistic…"
"I don't have an alchemy room here, nor access to any Earth Core Fire veins. Even the most skilled cook can't prepare a meal without ingredients. Who should I turn to for help?"
Dai Chengfeng pondered deeply, and suddenly, a figure came to mind...
Elder Chrysanthemum, Yue Guan!
"If there's anyone within the Spirit Hall who might possess such resources, it would undoubtedly be Yue Guan."
"After all, given Yue Guan's profound knowledge and obsession with immortal herbs... it's impossible for him to be completely ignorant of alchemy!"
The more Dai Chengfeng thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Yue Guan's understanding of immortal herbs far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters. Someone so knowledgeable about medicinal properties must have firsthand experience handling and refining herbs!
Even if he wasn't as specialized as Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan—renowned for their alchemy—he surely had his own insights and tools.
"He likely has his own alchemy room, perhaps even a fine furnace and methods to control high-quality flames! Visiting him seems like the best option right now."
Having made up his mind, Dai Chengfeng didn't hesitate further.
He left Qiu'er in the room, instructing her to rest, then asked around for directions to Elder Chrysanthemum Yue Guan's residence before setting off briskly.
---
Outside Yue Guan's quarters in the Spirit Hall.
Knock, knock, knock…
Dai Chengfeng raised his hand and knocked on the door, his knocks clear yet unhurried.
"Who is it? Disturbing me at this hour…"
A voice tinged with displeasure but laced with a hint of effeminacy soon came from inside.
"Elder Yue Guan, it's me, Dai Chengfeng," he called out confidently.
"Dai Chengfeng?"
The voice from inside carried a note of surprise.
With a soft creak, the door opened.
Behind it stood Chrysanthemum Elder Yue Guan, dressed in an elegant long robe. Seeing Dai Chengfeng standing at his door, his eyes widened slightly in astonishment.
"Rare guest indeed, rare guest!"
A faint smile appeared on Yue Guan's face.
Although Dai Chengfeng's soul power cultivation was still negligible in Yue Guan's eyes, he was well aware of Pope Bibi Dong's high regard for Dai Chengfeng. Moreover, Dai Chengfeng had always been pleasant company during their conversations.
Of course, "pleasant company" here referred to their intellectual exchanges, not anything inappropriate.
Thus, Yue Guan showed no sign of neglect toward Dai Chengfeng.
"Dai Chengfeng, what brings you here?"
Yue Guan stepped aside to let Dai Chengfeng in, his curiosity piqued.
Without wasting time on pleasantries, Dai Chengfeng got straight to the point. "Elder Yue Guan, I've come with a request."
"I need to refine some pills recently, but unfortunately, I lack both a suitable alchemy furnace and a flame of sufficient quality…"
"I've heard that you are highly knowledgeable about medicinal herbs. Surely, you must have an alchemy room specifically designed for handling high-grade herbs and refining pills. Could I trouble you to borrow your furnace and flames?"
"Alchemy?"
Yue Guan's narrow eyes widened slightly as he scrutinized Dai Chengfeng, disbelief flickering in his gaze.
Dai Chengfeng knew alchemy?
But soon, Yue Guan inwardly shook his head.
Alchemy was an incredibly intricate and profound art!
Not only did one need to master pharmacology and the principles of medicinal compatibility, but they also had to spend years mastering the delicate techniques of controlling flames, dealing with potential explosions, and managing the unpredictable nature of pill formation.
This was not something one could master quickly with just a few recipes!
And Dai Chengfeng, despite his extraordinary talent in soul power cultivation at such a young age, could he really afford to divert his attention to something as complex as alchemy?
Yue Guan assumed that Dai Chengfeng had probably come across some valuable recipes, become intrigued, and naively thought he could try his hand at alchemy himself, hence seeking him out.
But this was rather presumptuous.
Still, it was normal for young people to aim too high. Letting him try and fail might teach him a lesson, allowing him to focus solely on soul power cultivation in the future.
While Yue Guan contemplated this, a seemingly encouraging but somewhat dismissive smile appeared on his face.
"Hm hm," Yue Guan chuckled softly, flicking a delicate orchid finger. "Since you've asked, I'll take you to see."
Yue Guan prepared to personally lead Dai Chengfeng to his alchemy room.
He planned to step in if Dai Chengfeng failed, ensuring he gained a favor while also teaching him a lesson—to stop aiming too high and focus on cultivating his soul power.
Meanwhile, Dai Chengfeng remained unaware of Yue Guan's thoughts.
Upon hearing that Yue Guan indeed had an alchemy room, his eyes lit up. "Thank you, Elder, for your kindness!"
"Follow me."
Yue Guan wasted no more words and turned to lead the way.
They passed through his elegantly arranged quarters, where exotic flowers and plants were scattered everywhere, until they reached a heavy stone door hidden behind a rockery in the backyard.
Yue Guan raised his hand, and a faint golden shadow of a miniature Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum flickered briefly in his palm, imprinting itself into a concealed groove on the stone door.
Krrrrr...
The heavy stone door slowly slid open, revealing a descending stone staircase beyond.
A faint, unique scent—mingling various herbal aromas and traces of smoke—wafted out.
They descended the steps and soon entered a much larger underground stone chamber than it appeared from outside.
Dai Chengfeng's eyes brightened!
This alchemy room had clearly been meticulously designed and constructed.
The floor and walls were made of a special dark bluish-green fire-resistant stone, exuding a coolness that effectively resisted high temperatures.
The space was spacious, with cleverly designed ventilation that kept the air fresh despite the strong herbal and smoky atmosphere.
What caught Dai Chengfeng's attention most, however, was the massive bronze alchemy furnace at the center of the stone chamber.
About half the height of a person, the three-legged furnace stood firmly atop a complex fire-channeling array.
Its design was ancient and robust, not perfectly circular but instead resembling a giant, budding chrysanthemum!
The body of the furnace was engraved with intricate, ancient runes, faintly pulsating with energy.
The lid was similarly carved with layered, detailed chrysanthemum petals, with a small hole at the center for regulating airflow, adding materials, and observing the pill formation. The entire piece exuded an aura of antiquity and nobility, clearly no ordinary artifact.
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