East Mountain is a low mountain located directly east of Tianyang City. Strictly speaking, it is a volcano, barren and exuding a sulfurous smell all year round, never favored by Tianyang City’s residents until the arrival of the Hundred Herbs Hall.
After Yin Daoyan came here, he discovered the advantages of East Mountain and transformed it into the alchemy site of the Hundred Herbs Hall.
After Zhong Lin completed his cultivation, feeling the growth of qi-blood within him, he headed towards East Mountain under the guidance of Deng Yunsheng.
"Young Master, if you’re not used to it, you can wear a mask. The air here is filled with a sulfurous smell due to the volcano, and no grass grows, but without drawing Earth Fire for alchemy, no one would like to stay here," Deng Yunsheng explained.
Zhong Lin waved his hand and said, "It’s fine, I’m not that pampered, let’s go in!"
The entire East Mountain was built into a small city, gloomy in appearance, quite oppressive, and extremely high in temperature with tight security. After all, the third grade elixirs produced here are generally supplied to major forces, and if they leak outside, they could become prized auction items.
Walking along the path, the surroundings are dominated by rocks, mostly gray-brown in color, and except for some transplanted greenery, the rest is filled with desolation.
As they walked, the busy apprentices they passed all bowed and greeted them.
Soon, the two reached a vast cave interior, and as they entered, a wave of heat met them, followed by a cold wind, alternating into a breeze.
Zhong Lin curiously looked at the surroundings, marveling at the wonders of nature.
The underground of the cave surprisingly formed a yin-yang, Tai Chi rotation area.
On the left was boiling magma, like hellish lava, and on the right flowed a dark river, cool to the touch.
Such yin and yang, fire and water, converged here, forming a unique site for alchemy.
At the center of the land of fire and water stood a giant pill furnace.
Spiritual energy encircled it, and the air was filled with medicine qi.
Zhong Lin, not a novice in alchemy, was amazed at the sight: "Such a remarkable place is indeed a treasure for alchemy. Refining with fire and water purges impurities; even rough alchemy techniques can produce top grade elixirs."
A familiar voice rang out from the side, and Zhong Lin raised his eyebrows. It was indeed Jing Yan.
Zhong Lin ignored him, instead turning to Deng Yunsheng to ask, "Does East Mountain allow outsiders in?"
Jing Yan’s anger flared instantly. For some reason, every time he met Zhong Lin, he felt uncontrollably angry.
"Hmph! I am a Pill Master, and Elder Yin specifically permitted me to practice alchemy here. What are you doing here?" Jing Yan said coldly.
"Inspecting my property."
Jing Yan’s breathing quickened upon hearing this, his temples slightly throbbing.
"Greetings, Young Master, greetings, Manager Deng."
An elderly man, bare-chested, walked out from a nearby cavern. This elder had white hair and beard, but his complexion was extremely ruddy, and his exposed upper body was muscular.
Despite appearing to be in his fifties or sixties, his muscular build was unmatched even by young people, a stark contrast.
Deng Yunsheng hurriedly introduced, "Young Master, this is Xue Gang, our Third Grade Pill Master from the Hundred Herbs Hall."
This name is truly appropriate, living up to being "Gang" (strong).
Zhong Lin cupped his hands in greeting, "Zhong Lin, pleased to meet Pill Master Xue."
"Young Master is too kind, this old man has been waiting for some time."
"Sorry to trouble you, Pill Master Xue. When shall we begin?"
"No rush. Young Master, could you first refine a batch of Red Blood Pills for this old man to see? I wish to witness what kind of genius could become a Second Grade Pill Master from scratch in just two days?"
Xue Gang’s eyes locked onto Zhong Lin, his face openly displaying skepticism.
In his view, Pill Masters were sacred and had no shortcuts. Every Pill Master endured countless hardships, and no one could achieve such accomplishments in just two days, advancing a grade a day. How could that be possible?
Beside him, Deng Yunsheng’s expression changed, his demeanor turning cold, "Xue Gang, how dare you."
Zhong Lin raised a hand to stop him, showing no anger, and said with a smile, "It’s fine, if Pill Master Xue wishes to see, then by all means, I hope to receive your guidance, Pill Master Xue."
Apprentices had already brought the materials for refining Red Blood Pills.
Jing Yan also caught the tense atmosphere between the two, but he didn’t understand the backstory, though he grasped one point: Zhong Lin could refine Red Blood Pills and was a Second Grade Pill Master.
For a moment, Jing Yan was uncertain, but more so skeptical.
He always believed the reason he was not accepted as Elder Yin’s direct disciple was due to bad luck, merely because he met Elder Yin a little later than Zhong Lin. Otherwise, the direct disciple would have surely been himself.
In terms of Martial Arts Cultivation, he was at the Sixth Grade Qi Blood Realm, and if not for his obsession with alchemy, his cultivation would surely be higher.
In terms of talent, he was a Second Grade Pill Master at seventeen, a peerless genius anywhere.
Zhong Lin was merely lucky; how could he compare to himself?
"Impossible, before meeting Elder Yin, Zhong Lin was just a mountain hunter, unfamiliar with elixirs; how could he know alchemy? It must be fake, merely a crafted persona for others, surely that’s it."
"No wonder Pill Master Xue shows no regard for him; though I haven’t interacted much with this Pill Master Xue, I know he’s fiery tempered, views pills as his life, and has no tolerance for deceit. Zhong Lin’s fraudulent behavior surely displeases him."
As he pondered, Zhong Lin had already approached the pill furnace, the scorching heat from the magma carrying a strong sulfurous scent made breathing difficult for Zhong Lin. Yet, he could also feel that the flames within the magma were unmatched by charcoal fire, capable of greatly reducing the loss of medicinal effects.
The Earth Fire beneath the pill furnace had a switch control; a slight push of the lever controlled the flame’s intensity.
Ignite the fire, place the materials.
Zhong Lin’s movements were orderly, the entire process exuding a unique rhythm, giving an impression of effortless control, as if everything was within his grasp.
Jing Yan widened his eyes, filled with disbelief.
From the moment Zhong Lin placed the first batch of materials, Jing Yan felt a jolt, realizing no need to check if the materials were correct, or if the timing was right. Merely from the grandmaster-like demeanor, he knew this was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Pill Master.
"How can this be? Impossible! I don’t believe it! Wasn’t he a rural hunter? How is he adept in alchemy?"