"Disciple understands." Chen Tu cupped his fists together and replied. His response also helps confirm that he will be taking the assignment seriously.
"Xiao Tu will start paying more attention to his pill refinement after returning and wouldn't disappoint the teacher's expectation," he added.
After saying what he should, Chen Tu excused himself from the workshop by giving a reason he'll have to get back and prepare. And obviously, the eight Grain Pellets were left in the workshop without saying.
That's a must in case the elder changes his mind later. And regardless of how he decides, Chen Tu still has to leave a sample for Elder Wei Xuan to check on them, correct? This means a copy of everything from the ingredient, steps, and final product was left for the elder's inspection.
Chen Tu's activities consisted of eating, sleeping, cultivating, and refining pills for the following days. Thanks to all these tasks in his hand, he hardly reported to the Spiritual Garden to work or assisted Elder Wei Xuan in his pill refining. And to Chen Tu's surprise, his performance improved by leaps and bounds.
From knowing how to refine a pill, he had improved to the point he could succeed in ten out of ten tries on all four base-level medicinal recipes. Of course, he wasn't at the level of Titled Alchemist yet.
After all, Chen Tu's success came from productivity and not quality. He might successfully slash the chances of failure to zero, but that naturally comes with a great setback. For example, the result of his refinement was inconsistent.
At one time, he could refine at least a Two-Star Pill from every pot. But more often, it came with subpar results. There's definitely more to learn before he is qualified enough to be considered by Elder Wei Xuan.
Luckily, Chen Tu's hard work paid off by forming his third Sun and Moon Essence. Added with this droplet, Chen Tu now had the qualification to challenge the fourth level of the Body Tempering Layer.
This development helps prepare Chen Tu for the breakthrough by taking a day off. As soon as the evening was here, Chen Tu immediately melted the three droplets of Sun and Moon Essence through his Spiritual Energy.
The melted essence naturally blended into his body, seeping into all available crevices around his flesh and bones. And before he was mentally prepared, a burst of Spiritual Energy exploded from the inside.
This outburst of energy can naturally blow Chen Tu into a pile of mincemeat. But he lucked out as his physique was powerful enough to withstand the force. Of course, while death is escapable, his internal injury is a different story.
Chen Tu coughed out a mouthful of dark, contaminated blood that blocked several of his blood channels. This is naturally the stubborn impurities that could not be forced out when he breaks through to the third level.
As it was Chen Tu's first time challenging the fourth level, he naturally faced more obstacles this time. After all, the first three levels of Body Tempering focus on the flesh, while the second focuses on the bones.
To allow the Spiritual Qi to be capable of tempering his bone marrows, it is obvious that Chen Tu had to possess a qualified muscle and flesh first.
(Ku - Aargh!!!)
Chen Tu opened his mouth wide and screamed, but it was quiet. After all, he can't be caught wailing like a wild hyena in torture. And at the same time, his entire body was bombarded by Spiritual Energy, starting from his flesh.
Each bombardment is akin to getting whipped to the point that it is enough to tear his flesh apart. But weirdly enough, whenever his muscle and ligament were about to rupture, it would be reinvigorated by a soothing liquid-like substance.
Chen Tu is obviously in great pain but managed to keep his sanity together. At this moment, it was a battle between his tenacity and the Spiritual Energy's ferocity.
Obviously, the nourishment came from the Sun and Moon Essence. And after a few repetitions of the same process, Chen Tu's flesh finally cracked like a maltose candy. His skin's outer layer broke like glass, revealing a smoother layer coming up from the bottom.
Chen Tu appeared healthier, stronger, and had a better complexion after the cracked layer was completely replaced.
Even he could feel that his skin had been replaced and was no different from the resin of a rubber tree. It retains a part of elasticity yet is durable and smooth, like the skin of a newborn.
It was also obvious that Chen Tu was once again taller and fairer. The brownish color of his chestnut-colored hair also appears more mysterious and deeper, like there's a part of profoundness to be seen in him.
If Chen Tu appears childish back then, the current him more closely resembles a young and suave boy. Barely old enough but too good-looking.
But unfortunately, his breakthrough is yet to be over. So far, he had obtained the peak of the third level in Body Tempering and was just a small step away from the fourth. And without external help, it would be difficult for Chen Tu to make this breakthrough happen.
The problem is, from where could Chen Tu get external help?
(The Spiritual Replenishing Pills! I still have these pills in hand!)
Chen Tu immediately thought of them and quickly reached for his nearby drawer. Although it would be considered wasteful, he had no other choice now. And without thinking twice, he devoured the pills like a starving ghost.
By right, only one Spiritual Replenishing Pill shall be taken at a time and refined into the body within an hour. But Chen Tu obviously doesn't have the time and luxury to refine them slowly. As his body could only store four days' worth of Spiritual Energy, won't the ones remaining in his body be wasted if he delayed this any further?
It was a risky bet, whereas Chen Tu currently had no choice.
(Those who dare to die won't die. Those who dare to try would definitely escape dying!)
(Bring it on!)
Tu Chen gritted his teeth tightly and tried to refine the Medicinal Pills as efficiently as possible.
A day ago. "Hmm... I wonder what insight that brat had for him to rework the Grain Pellet's Recipe until this level..." Elder Wei Xuan said while holding a Two-Star Pill between his two fingers. Apparently, he was studying the pill for flaws before giving a verdict. He was feeling neither prejudiced nor unhappy. But more or less, there was something he was unable to let go of in his heart for making him so indecisive at this moment. As Chen Tu's Alchemy Teacher, the elder naturally wanted to endorse Chen Tu's reworked recipe and the Grain Pellet he refined. But at the same time, his worries and self-ego made him couldn't help but be indecisive in this matter. In fact, this same ego of his was why Tang Yun Long has yet to participate in the Titled Alchemist Examination. It wasn't overrated to say that with Tang Yun Long's performance to date, he could easily pass the test. "Old Wei... What is occupying your mind so much until you didn't notice me coming in?" Another elder's voice
(What an amazing feeling... Could this be something only those in the fourth level would realize?) Chen Tu remained seated, but for every breath he took, the Spiritual Energy of his surroundings was attracted over. His body was like a leaf sponging up all the dew as it absorbed all these blimps of Spiritual Energy to nourish his flesh. This mist-like Spiritual Energy is incomparable to what a Spiritual Replenishing Pill offers. Still, it was something nobody would complain about. After all, no matter how diluted and faint this Spiritual Energy was, they're still the Spiritual Energy everyone pursued. Nobody would cover their water well when it rains because they're afraid it would be overfilled by the rainwater. Apparently, Chen Tu's guess was correct. A feat like this was indeed someone above the Flesh Tempering Stage could enjoy. And thanks to his fully-tempered flesh, Chen Tu is now more than capable of applicating Spiritual Energy to strengthen his physique. Although the diff
(Hmm... I wonder what kind of medicinal pill is this Spring and Autumn Profound Pill and Lesser Vitality Pill. Could their effect be something extraordinary, like the Spiritual Replenishing or Spirit Desertification Pill?) Chen Tu spoke to his own while flipping through the pages. The contents were fairly easy for him to understand, and there was nothing to be suspicious about. But when Chen Tu came to the ingredient part, he had the urge to scratch and pull his hair. (Aargh... Now, this is where my first obstacle comes in...) Chen Tu took a few deep breaths after he set the book aside. He had mixed feelings due to what was going on inside his mind. The reason for these confusing thoughts was naturally understandable. After all, this was a lost recipe Qin Lei's father, Qin Tianbao, found from excavating the tomb of a certain expert. Interestingly, this relic site was also where Qin Tianbao had a mishap and lost one of his legs. And no wonder he would be allowed to keep these two
"junior brother Chen, this Three-Star Pill... Did you refine them by yourself?" Tang Yun Long asked. Even he hadn't had success in refining a pill of this quality. At most, he is only confident in refining Two-Star Pill. Furthermore, this result was before Chen Tu was officially accepted by the elder as his second official disciple. If he was, would he be capable of Four-Star, or even a Five-Star? Of course, that kind of level is nowhere to be heard of... After all, no alchemist would dedicate all their time to researching and refining a four or Five-Star Grain Pellet. Even if that alchemist is the most foolish one, he would likely have zero to little interest in an entry-level pill like this. Looking at the Three-Star Grain Pellet sitting on the table, the elder couldn't calm his heart down. And without further ado, he put his hand out toward Chen Tu and asked for something. "Xiao Tu... Bring the Alchemist Token out." Elder Wei Xuan asked. It appears that what he will be doing
"Good. Very good. Then, you'll be the second official disciple of this old man from this moment onward. I am looking forward on how far you can grow." Elder Wei Xuan appeared very satisfied with Chen Tu's instant reply. This could also show how much Chen Tu had longed for this chance. "Disciple understood!" Chen Tu kneeled and raised a teacup in both hands to the elder. Regardless of the custom, serving a cup of tea to your master is essential. This customary practice not only creates a proper master and disciple but also the connections in between. "En... Those unimportant things will be told to you by Xiao Long later. For now, take this as your gift to study under my tutelage. It was the Pill Formula I promised you last time." the elder said after placing the teacup aside and taking something from nothingness. Apparently, the elder had a piece of Spatial Jade too. And from the look of it, the quality is slightly better than what Tang Yun Long had. "Why don't you take a look at i
"Teacher, really? We're going to attend the examination for the Titled Alchemist this year?" Tang Yun Long couldn't help but feel excited. Naturally, he was very happy with what Elder Wei Xuan had said. After all, Tang Yun Long is turning eighteen this year. And even amongst all the disciples from both elders, his talent in Alchemy was the highest. But regardless of how he requested, Elder Wei Xuan would always reject him when it came to permission to attend the Titled-Alchemist Examination. No matter how much he begged, the elder would deem he was not ready for the test yet. Counting from the year he had been asking until now, it was almost four years past. But today, the sun seems to be rising from the west. Of course, Tang Yun Long realized that the change in Elder Wei Xuan's mind did not come from him but from Chen Tu. Without bathing in this junior brother's brilliance, he might have to wait another year or two before his chances arrive. Obviously, there was a reason for the
Next morning. Following Tang Yun Long's suggestion, Chen Tu made his way to the Registration Office after breakfast. And as usual, he waited with the others in the queue until it was his turn. "What can I do for you today, junior?" the worker asked with impatience in his tone. In his opinion, Chen Tu is likely another disciple coming to claim his monthly salary provided by the Blood Refining Grotto. But all his following words were stuck in his throat before he could continue after Chen Tu had his disciple token taken out. "Chen - Chen Tu? You're Chen Tu?" the worker's tone changed into a more polite and easy to the ear. His attitude also had 180 degrees of turnover. Chen Tu didn't reply to him but simply nodded with a smile. And to these workers who looked down on the weak disciples, such treatment was the best venom to reeducate them. The worker immediately changed how he addressed Chen Tu from "Junior" to "Fellow Disciple Chen." And needless to say, this instantaneous change
"Finally!" a creature roared. An expression of happiness could be seen on the creature's face for obtaining a legendary fruit, which rested in the heart of its palm.The fruit is also known as the Twin Physiques Creation Fruit.Based on what the legend about this fruit says, if this fruit was consumed by a human, it would grant them a second physique of a Divine Beast. On the contrary, if the Spiritual Creature is the one consuming this fruit, they would be given the ability to reform their body into a human.This explained how attractive the Twin Physiques Creation Fruit was.With one million years to sprout, one million years to develop its first leaf, and another million years for its consecutive leaves, this Twin Physiques Creation Fruit would only bear a single fruit in its eleven millionth year.The subsequent fruit would take ten million years to grow after the first fruit."Shall I eat this fruit right now, to avoid any mishap?" the creature continued. It was extremely careful