After Liu Qingchan retreated to a safe distance, Qin Guiya took a deep breath, and a wisp of Pill Fire flickered from his fingertips.
The crimson flame fell into the bottom of the Pill Furnace, and the Spirit Gathering Array immediately lit up, adjusting the flame to its optimal state.
“First step, warming the furnace...”
Following the key techniques he comprehended during his Enlightenment state, he unhurriedly raised the furnace temperature to the perfect degree.
Next, he added the first auxiliary medicine—Cloud Rain Flower, removing the stamens and keeping the petals.
His Divine Sense enveloped the medicinal material, ensuring every petal was evenly heated.
“Second step, extracting the essence...”
The medicinal liquid churned within the furnace, and Qin Guiya focused intently on controlling the heat.
Starting with a high flame and then reducing it to a small flame—this was a crucial understanding he gained during his Enlightenment.
The essence of the Cloud Rain Flower was perfectly extracted, without a hint of scorching.
“Third step, integrating the main medicine...”
The moment the blue heart grass entered the furnace, Qin Guiya formed hand seals, and the furnace fire abruptly turned blue.
This was a technique from the "Divine Sense Fire Control Formula", which allowed the fire's properties to better align with the medicine's properties.
The grass leaves quickly softened in the high temperature, yet without losing any of their moonlight Qi.
An hour later, the first batch of Medicinal Pills entered the final Pill Condensation stage.
Sweat beaded on Qin Guiya's forehead, but his gaze remained focused.
As the last incantation was cast, a crisp hum emanated from within the furnace.
“Open!”
The furnace lid rose, and six azure Medicinal Pills flew out, caught by Qin Guiya with a jade bottle he had prepared earlier.
“Premium quality...”
Qin Guiya poured out one and carefully inspected it, nodding with satisfaction.
Six premium quality Medicinal Pills in the first batch far exceeded his level during the Foundation Establishment Stage.
According to the Alchemist standards of Danxia Hall, this was already considered the level of a proficient first-tier Alchemist.
Liu Qingchan cautiously approached: “Did husband succeed?”
“Yes, but it's not enough.”
A fighting spirit ignited in Qin Guiya's eyes, “The minimum I aim for is a Perfect Pill.”
After a short rest, the second batch began.
This time, he adjusted the timing of the Cloud Rain Flower's addition and incorporated a small technique he comprehended during his Enlightenment into the main medicine integration stage.
When the blue heart grass was on the verge of liquefying but not yet fully, he gently vibrated it three times with his Divine Sense to help release its medicinal properties.
The furnace hummed again, and this time, eight Medicinal Pills flew out.
Five of them had cloud-like patterns on their surface—Perfect quality!
The remaining three were also premium quality; not a single one was of ordinary quality.
“Perfect Pills!”
Liu Qingchan exclaimed in surprise, “When I was in the Liu Family, only Great Master-level Alchemists had a chance to refine Perfect Pills!”
Qin Guiya, however, frowned slightly.
Although Perfect Pills were good, there was still a gap compared to Flawless.
He carefully recalled the Alchemy process, searching for areas for improvement.
For the third batch, he tried adding a trace of water Spiritual Qi to harmonize during the Pill Condensation stage.
This was an obscure technique recorded in the "Record of One Hundred Herbs Essence", suitable for water-attribute Medicinal Pills.
As a result, nine Medicinal Pills were produced, seven Perfect and two Premium.
“Getting closer...”
For the fourth batch, Qin Guiya decided to take a risk.
At the moment of final Pill Condensation, he simultaneously activated the "Divine Sense Fire Control Formula" and water Spiritual Qi harmonization, injecting a wisp of pure fire-attribute spiritual power into the Pill embryo.
“Boom!”
The Pill Furnace vibrated violently, and the lid nearly flew off.
Qin Guiya quickly cast a stabilizing incantation, veins bulging on his forehead.
“Buzz!”
Just as he thought the Pill Furnace was about to explode, a clear, resonant sound suddenly came from within.
The furnace lid automatically opened, and ten Medicinal Pills flew out like streaks of light.
Six of them were Perfect, three were Premium, and the one in the very center... “Pill Markings!” Liu Qingchan exclaimed.
Inside that Medicinal Pill, blue liquid seemed to flow, and a silver Pill Mark clearly appeared on its surface!
Perfect quality had cloud patterns, while Flawless quality possessed true Pill Markings, which were Dao Markings, signifying that the Alchemy had reached a state of mastery.
Qin Guiya's fingers trembled slightly as he held it up, feeling the incredibly pure medicinal power within.
“Flawless quality, one-mark Blue Sprout Pill...”
Medicinal Pills in the Immortal Realm were divided into four grades by quality: Ordinary, Premium, Perfect, and Flawless.
The difference among the first three was mainly in the purity of their medicinal effects, while Flawless Pills were entirely different.
They contained no Pill toxins or Impurities whatsoever; Cultivators who consumed them did not need to spend time detoxifying and could take them continuously!
And Pill Markings only appeared on Flawless Pills.
One mark was already rare; legend had it that there could be up to nine marks, with each additional mark increasing the medicinal effect by at least twenty percent.
Qin Guiya's one-mark Blue Sprout Pill already had twice the medicinal effect of an ordinary Blue Sprout Pill, not to mention its characteristic of having no Pill toxins.
“Husband is too amazing!”
Liu Qingchan's eyes were filled with adoration, “If this Medicinal Pill were taken to Danxia Hall...”
Qin Guiya, however, suddenly covered her mouth, looking around warily:
“This matter must not be spread.”
Even within the Qin Family, the Alchemists capable of refining Flawless Pills were few and far between, mostly Grandmaster Alchemists.
A one-mark Flawless Pill was too astonishing for a first-tier Alchemist; if word got out, it would undoubtedly attract unnecessary attention.
Liu Qingchan blinked, nodding obediently.
Qin Guiya released his hand, looking at her slightly flushed cheeks from being covered, and suddenly felt a pang of tenderness:
“I don't distrust you, it's just...”
“I understand.”
Liu Qingchan said softly, “Husband is worried about the danger of possessing a treasure.”
Qin Guiya's heart warmed.
This seemingly delicate woman was actually astute and thoughtful.
He carefully put away the one-mark Medicinal Pill separately, and the other Medicinal Pills were also sorted and stored by quality.
“Next, I will try to mass-produce Blue Sprout Pills of Perfect quality or higher.”
Qin Guiya calculated, “Danxia Hall's task requires at least Perfect quality...”
At his current level, producing one or two Flawless Pills out of ten batches was already rare, but Perfect quality, with a little more practice, should be consistently achievable.
But with the assistance of the Enlightenment Leaf, coupled with the high-quality Spirit Medicine cultivated in the Ancient Tree Space, Flawless Medicinal Pills might even appear in every batch in the future.
Thinking of this, Qin Guiya looked at Liu Qingchan:
“Qingchan, plant blue heart grass and Cloud Rain Flower in the backyard of the Immortal Cave, and take good care of them.”
Liu Qingchan's eyes lit up: “I will certainly do my best!”
She suddenly took a step forward, gently kissed Qin Guiya on the cheek, then retreated with a flushed face:
“I... I will go prepare dinner...”
Qin Guiya stood rooted to the spot, his fingertips unconsciously touching the spot where he had been kissed.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the Ancient Tree's tender sprout seemed to have grown a bit more, gently swaying in the breeze of his Divine Sense.
After dinner, Qin Guiya once again entered the Ancient Tree Space.
The spiritual field was rich in Spiritual Qi, with mist rising, and the ten types of Spirit Medicine were growing exceptionally well, requiring no personal care from him.
Clearly, the quality of these space-cultivated Spirit Medicine was significantly higher than those outside, especially the Ice Heart Grass, which Liu Qingchan had once deemed to have “insufficient vitality,” now emitted a crystalline blue light.
“Indeed...” Qin Guiya mused thoughtfully.
The space could not only accelerate the growth of spiritual plants but also ensure that the Spirit Medicine grew automatically with high quality.
If these medicinal materials were used for Alchemy, the success rate and quality of the finished Medicinal Pills would undoubtedly be higher.
When he exited the space, he found Liu Qingchan diligently studying the "Basic Alchemy Formulae" under the lamp, occasionally gesturing with her fingers in the air to practice fire control techniques.
Qin Guiya stood in the shadows, watching silently for a long time, a corner of his heart quietly softening.
This woman was trying in her own way to enter his world.
In the dead of night, Qin Guiya once again embraced Liu Qingchan.
This time, it was not just for the growth of the Ancient Tree's tender sprout, but also out of an indescribable longing.
A longing to be close to this woman who silently supported him.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the golden markings of the tender sprout shimmered slightly in the night, witnessing two hearts gradually drawing closer.
