BLOODLINE TEMPERING: Transforming From Worm To Dragon

Chapter 50: Suggestion

As this was Chen Tu and Qin Lei's first, they had difficulty interpreting the reason behind their happiness. They ended up as the two odd ones in the group for a while.

Of course, that's something understandable.

After all, this was their first time helping out in the process of refining a Spiritual Replenishing Pill. Although the recipe's difficulty didn't differ too much from the Spirit Desertification Pill, this is still an actual Lower-Tier formula.

Furthermore, that was one of the most essential medicinal pills in the  Bronze-Grade Category.

Simply being knowledgeable wasn't enough for a group to succeed on their first try. Factors like preparation, skills, and luck also had to be accounted for. Also in question was their qualification, as there are no titled-alchemist amongst them.

Not even Tang Yun Long, who had been studying for years under Elder Wei Xuan, had the qualification to take the examination.

"Supposedly, this is your first time seeing everyone so excited after refining a batch of pills, correct?" Tang Yun Long asked while smiling. Out of everyone here, he was much more composed.

Furthermore, this wasn't his first time refining a batch of Spiritual Replenishing Pill. Hence, the excitement in him had subsided by a certain percentage.

Of course, Tang Yun Long was still happy with the result. Being capable of refining five pellets in their first cauldron means their luck was quite good for today. And what the rest shared with Chen Tu and Qin Lei also gave them an idea behind the excitement.

Based on their words, the usual result from a batch of Spiritual Replenishing Pills was between three to seven pellets. Having a start of five pills in their first cauldron would naturally make them delighted.

Still, Tang Yun Long's meticulous attention also had to be accounted for. Without him being precise with the ingredients, it could possibly be worst.

The group rested for a while before restarting the pill refinement process. And this time, Chen Tu naturally participated in the process more actively. Although his responsibility was simply controlling the flame, this position was still challenging to a newcomer like him.

Luckily, Chen Tu's improvement is as fast as his language studies. From being unable to catch the correct time, he gradually improved in controlling the temperature. The control might be minor, but managing to excel in it means Chen Tu was getting better, thus, reducing charcoal wastage.

The efficient control over fire also means Tang Yun Long could spend less Spiritual Energy to maintain the Alchemic Refinement Flame. Expending less energy also means he could concentrate longer while achieving similar results as before.

The second to the fifth batch of pills were less convincing, with an average of three pellets per batch. But their result was much better with four from the sixth to fourteenth batch.

Although plenty of shattering pills exist, this doesn't mean they lack medicinal efficacy. This defective product failed to coagulate well within the Burial Root during its last step.

It was an inescapable part of the process because applying any adjustment, such as adding half a Burial Root, would contribute for nothing.

While the group was recuperating for the day's fifteenth or last batch, Chen Tu suggested a change.

Although it was already amazing for them to not have a batch of failures in all their attempts, there's nothing to be proud of. After all, with six people working together, failure is almost unacceptable.

Furthermore, their experienced eldest senior brother is amongst them. With peak-level cultivation in the Body Tempering Layer, Tang Yun Long is strong enough to forcefully turn a failure into a small success.

"Eldest senior brother. This junior brother wanted to suggest something." Chen Tu immediately voiced out before they were ready for the fifteenth batch. His abrupt proposal caught everyone's attention.

With Tang Yun Long simple nod, Chen Tu continued.

"I hope that eldest senior brother is willing to change the way we refine the Spiritual Replenishing Pill this time," Chen confidently said. But it seemed that his suggestion failed to obtain the approval of the rest.

That includes Qin Lei, who joined the team simultaneously with Chen Tu. His request also gave a dilemma to Tang Yun Long as the decision to change or remain ultimately lies on him.

After all, this wasn't a decision he could simply make.

One also had to understand that a pill recipe and its refinement method were inherited. It had been going through multiple hands before coming to Elder Wei Xuan's hand. And in between, an unaccountable number of studies and research have been done until today.

Even the elder made a few adjustments to the recipe before it was handed down to Tang Yun Long.

But right now, Chen Tu was aiming to modify something in the recipe their teacher perfected over his year of research? Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

Who does Chen Tu think he was? Or perhaps, what qualification he had to attempt in tinkering with their teacher's recipe?

The other four greatly disagree with Chen Tu's suggestion. Needless to say, that includes Qin Lei. Although losing a set of ingredients is nothing much, it is better to refine them in the same way instead of wasting them.

After all, this batch of ingredients comes from the Supply Office and not from their own pocket. How could they simply use the material others provided to sate their curiosity?

From an ethical point of view, this was improper.

But at the same time, Tang Yun Long is somewhat interested in the method in Chen Tu's head. As fellow alchemists, shouldn't they take pride in their relentless research for truth and perfection over an existing recipe and expand their reach to the unexplored?

How could they even call themselves an alchemist if they don't take pride in the creation but simply follow in their predecessor's footsteps?

Where would their path lie if the future generation continued doing what they left? And in this case, what was the Heavenly Alchemist Association created for?

Was it merely to protect an alchemist's way of enriching their pocket? Or perhaps, protecting their interest in manipulating the pill market?

How ridiculous...

Of course not!