The first portion of medicinal ingredients entered the furnace.
Crimson tongues of flame leaped up, and the medicinal ingredients instantly turned into billowing smoke.
Wang Fan's fingers danced, each hand seal as precise as if carved, spiritual energy flowing between the furnace walls, subtly adjusting the strength of the flames thread by thread.
Jiang Xue stood far away, holding her breath, staring intently at the changes in Wang Fan's hand gestures, eagerly imprinting every movement into her mind.
"Sizzle—"
A strange sound came from within the Pill Furnace, and a wisp of burnt smell entered her nostrils.
Refinement failed.
Wang Fan remained expressionless, flicked his wrist, cleared out the waste residue in one smooth motion, then immediately grabbed the second portion of medicinal ingredients and put them into the furnace.
This time, he adjusted his strategy, his control of wood spiritual energy was more meticulous, gently bypassing the dominance of fire spiritual energy, easing the conflicts between the various medicinal ingredients.
The flames stabilized, and the medicinal aroma overflowed.
"Pill formed!"
Wang Fan changed his hand seals, and the furnace flames quickly retracted.
He lifted the furnace lid, and a dark red pill with a rough surface lay quietly at the bottom of the furnace.
Low Grade Blood Coagulation Pill.
Wang Fan didn't even look at it, casually tossed the pill aside, and immediately put in the third portion of medicinal ingredients, so focused that he didn't even blink.
Jiang Xue's breathing quickened, fear gradually faded, replaced by a kind of eagerness. She watched Wang Fan's every precise movement, thinking to herself: Can I learn this skill?
The third time, refinement failed.
The fourth time, it failed again.
Wang Fan's expression remained unchanged throughout, immediately starting the next attempt after each failure, his technique still precise and stable, showing no sign of fatigue.
The fifth portion of medicinal ingredients entered the furnace.
This time, Wang Fan's technique for controlling the heat was more skilled, and the timing for injecting spiritual energy was just right. His cultivation at the Qi Refining Stage - Second Level made his spiritual sense much sharper, and his spiritual energy control was more effortless.
The medicinal liquid inside the Pill Furnace boiled and fused, emitting a rich and mellow medicinal aroma.
"It's done."
Wang Fan opened the furnace lid, and a pill with a color clearly superior to the previous one appeared before him, its surface much smoother, and most of the Impurities gone.
Mid-grade Blood Coagulation Pill.
Wang Fan still didn't stop, casually tossed the pill aside, picked up the sixth portion of medicinal ingredients, and continued.
Refinement failed.
Only the last portion of medicinal ingredients remained.
Wang Fan took a deep breath, his eyes sharp.
He circulated the Flame Fire Art to its limit, crimson and emerald spiritual light flickered between his fingers, his spiritual sense highly concentrated on the changes within the furnace.
The furnace flames burned fiercely, and the essence of the medicinal ingredients perfectly fused under the guidance of his powerful spiritual energy.
Every step, every detail, was under control.
Finally, the Pill Furnace emitted a slight hum, and everything returned to calm.
The corner of Wang Fan's mouth curved slightly upward.
He slowly opened the furnace lid.
A rich and pure medicinal aroma hit his nostrils, mixed with a faint bloody scent, yet it was invigorating.
At the bottom of the furnace lay quietly a pill the size of a pigeon's egg, entirely blood-red, its surface smooth and round, with spiritual light flowing continuously on its surface.
High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill.
Seven portions of Materials, three pills formed.
One Low Grade, one mid-grade, one High Grade.
A Low Grade Blood Coagulation Pill is one spiritual stone, a mid-grade Blood Coagulation Pill is three spiritual stones, and a High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill is five spiritual stones.
A total of 9 spiritual stones, plus the one Low Grade Blood Coagulation Pill used yesterday, makes a total of 10!
This means that Wang Fan's first time refining pills not only didn't result in a loss but actually broke even!
Refining pills consumed a large amount of spiritual energy.
He put the three pills into his storage bag, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.
The Flame Fire Art circulated within his body, crimson and emerald spiritual light intertwined, filling the empty Meridians.
Jiang Xue stood rooted to the spot, holding her breath.
She watched Wang Fan's back as he recovered his spiritual energy, her mind filled with turbulent thoughts.
Pill refining...
She stared intently at the spot where Wang Fan had just refined pills and the waste pill residue on the ground, desperately trying to remember every detail.
Learn it, survive.
Not long after, Wang Fan opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashed within them, and spiritual energy filled his entire body.
He stood up, gave Jiang Xue a cold glance, and said nothing.
His gaze was piercingly cold, treating her as a lifeless tool.
He turned and walked towards the attic door.
Jiang Xue watched him leave, her tense body slightly relaxed, but the pressure still weighed heavily on her heart. Fear receded, but a sense of urgency surged.
Wang Fan walked down the mountain, his steps firm.
His goal was clear—the Outer Sect Exchange.
Spiritual stones and medicinal ingredients are the Foundation for a Cultivator's advancement.
The Exchange was noisy with people, Disciples hurried about, their expressions varied.
The air was mixed with the scents of medicinal ingredients, Talismans, and Ores.
Wang Fan walked directly towards yesterday's counter.
Behind the counter, Wu Ya was boredly fiddling with an abacus. Seeing Wang Fan approach, she forced out a professional smile.
"Senior Brother, you're here again? What do you need..."
Before she finished speaking, her gaze fell upon the three pills Wang Fan placed on the counter.
One Low Grade, dark and dull in color.
One mid-grade, slightly lustrous.
And one... the size of a pigeon's egg, blood-red and translucent, with spiritual light surging, it was clearly High Grade!
Wu Ya's smile froze on her face, her eyes filled with shock.
She involuntarily picked up the High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill, feeling the warm, moist touch and the fluctuations of pure medicinal power with her fingertips, then looked up at the expressionless Wang Fan.
"This... this is... Senior Brother refined this?" she stammered.
Wang Fan nodded, saying little.
Wu Ya took a sharp breath, her voice unconsciously rising: "High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill! And one mid-grade and one Low Grade! Senior Brother, you... you only bought ten portions of Materials yesterday, right?!"
This shout immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding Disciples.
"High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill? Who refined it?"
"Who is this person? A newcomer?"
"His aura... Qi Refining Stage - Second Level?! When he bought the Materials yesterday, he was clearly still at the first level!"
"Reached the second level just a few days after joining? And even refined a High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill?"
"Ten portions of Materials yielded three pills, including a High Grade one? This pill formation rate... this talent..."
The whispers quickly spread, and gazes focused on Wang Fan, filled with shock, envy, and jealousy.
A scantily clad female Cultivator twisted her body and leaned closer: "Senior Brother is truly capable, so impressive at such a young age, you will surely achieve great things in the future. Does Senior Brother have a Dao Companion? This Junior Sister is skilled in Dual Cultivation and is willing to discuss the Dao of Yin and Yang with Senior Brother to help your cultivation advance further..."
Wang Fan paid no attention, his gaze fixed on Wu Ya, waiting for her decision.
Wu Ya's thoughts raced.
Three days! From the first level to the second level! Ten portions of Materials yielding three pills, including a High Grade one!
This person's future is boundless! I must cling to this big leg!
She forced out a smile even more sincere and enthusiastic than before, pushing the female Cultivator aside.
"Senior Brother is truly a Genius!" Wu Ya flattered, "These three pills, the market price is one spiritual stone for Low Grade, three for mid-grade, and five for High Grade, totaling nine spiritual stones! By the rules, I should take a ten percent cut, but Senior Brother isn't an outsider to us, so the cut is waived! You get it all!"
She quickly counted out nine shining Low Grade spiritual stones and handed them to Wang Fan with both hands, her attitude much humbler.
Wang Fan ignored the preening female Cultivator.
"Exchange for nine portions of Blood Coagulation Pill Materials," he said curtly.
Wu Ya quickly agreed: "It'll be ready right away!"
She quickly took back the 9 spiritual stones, personally and rapidly prepared the nine portions of Materials, carefully checked them, and presented them with both hands.
Wang Fan took the Materials, ignored the complex gazes around him, turned and left, decisive and neat.
Behind him, whispers and exclamations were left, along with Wu Ya's eager gaze.
