Pill Master Xue Gang pushed aside the apprentice and extended his hand to catch the elixir falling from the pill furnace.
"Great Rejuvenation Pill, it really is the Great Rejuvenation Pill, you’ve truly succeeded."
Pill Master Xue Gang was so excited that he couldn’t contain himself, and when he looked at Zhong Lin, it was as if he was seeing an immortal.
If someone only slightly surpasses you, you might be envious, but if that person leaves you far behind, and you can’t even see their shadow, jealousy turns to boundless admiration, for there’s no longer any qualification to be envious.
At this moment, Jing Yan also leaned over to look at the perfectly formed Great Rejuvenation Pill, filled with potent medicinal properties, and then looked up at Zhong Lin, feeling an inexplicable complexity arise in his heart.
It turns out the world indeed has a peerless genius of the First Grade, no, a peerless prodigy.
He always considered himself a genius, but today he realized that the real genius was right in front of him.
At this moment, he suddenly thought of the senior brother in the sect whom countless disciples looked up to, and remembered his uncle’s appraisal of that senior brother.
"Genius? Genius is merely the threshold to meet him."
Jing Yan felt life was dull, the things he pursued and took pride in all his life were easily attainable for others.
A broad hand was placed on Jing Yan’s shoulder. He turned to see it was Pill Master Xue Gang.
"Don’t overthink it. Let’s not compare ourselves to him; he’s a prodigy."
Jing Yan forced a smile, bowed his head, and said nothing more.
Pill Master Xue Gang stepped forward and gave Zhong Lin a deep and respectful bow, speaking sincerely, "I was short-sighted, almost misled you. I hope you can forgive me, Young Master."
Zhong Lin hurried forward to help him up, smiling, "Pill Master Xue, you’re too polite. The unknowing are blameless, and I must thank you for your guidance."
"No, no, I almost delayed you, Young Master. How could I dare claim credit? Young Master, I have an immodest request, I wonder if you could guide me."
After speaking, Pill Master Xue Gang looked at Zhong Lin with anticipation, for he realized Zhong Lin’s method of crafting the Great Rejuvenation Pill was more precise than his own, and the elixirs crafted were all top grade, incomparable to his own.
Zhong Lin smiled and said, "Of course."
Soon, Zhong Lin, who should have been the student, became the teacher, while Pill Master Xue Gang, who should have been the teacher, sat like an elementary student with pen and paper, afraid to miss any detail.
As Zhong Lin explained in a simple way, even Jing Yan shed his pride, moved a small stool next to Pill Master Xue Gang, and listened intently.
During this process, Deng Yunsheng secretly came in to observe. Upon seeing this peculiar scene, he was initially astonished but then left with a smile.
"The Young Master truly is exceptional, beyond the imagination of us mortals, incredible."
The Hundred Herbs Garden possessed six Third Grade Elixir Recipes, besides the Great Rejuvenation Pill, there were Protecting Veins Pill, Pure Essence Pill, Heart Enlightenment Pill, Soul Returning Pill, and Breakthrough Pill.
After explaining the Great Rejuvenation Pill’s crafting techniques, Zhong Lin began to study the crafting methods of the other five elixirs.
Unfortunately, another Third Grade Pill Master was in seclusion refining the Protecting Veins Pill, and only Master Yin Daoyan could refine the other four elixirs. Therefore, Zhong Lin could only practice these elixirs by studying the recipes himself.
Zhong Lin naturally was not polite about it. If no one teaches me, I’ll learn myself, even if it means failing a few more times and spending a little more Silver!
Being the Young Master of the Hundred Herbs Hall, I can afford to spend this bit of Silver.
For seven whole days, Zhong Lin spent his time in alchemy, with Pill Master Xue Gang and Jing Yan assisting on the side.
These seven days made Jing Yan give up the mind of competition against Zhong Lin completely, damn it, this guy isn’t human but a prodigy, comparing oneself to him is like a dumb pig.
Have you ever seen someone learn to craft six kinds of Third Grade Elixirs in seven days? And all produced are top grades during crafting?
Is this something a person can do?
If one can just barely see the other’s shadow, Jing Yan would never give up and would pursue with all his might, but now it’s not even about seeing Zhong Lin’s shadow; Zhong Lin is flying above on a sacred seven-colored cloud.
What’s the point in chasing?
As a mere mortal, how can I compare with an immortal?
Seven days transformed Jing Yan into a little fan of Zhong Lin.
After completing the last batch of elixirs, Zhong Lin also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The seven days of alchemy were quite exhausting, as alchemy is both a technical and a physical task.
Glancing at the system panel, Zhong Lin’s lips curled into a subtle smile.
Skill: Heavenly Treasure Pile (Full Level), Golden Muscle and Jade Bone Skill (Full Level)...
Skill: Thousand Mist Swordsmanship (Full Level)...
Misc: Alchemy: Third Grade Elixirs (Full Level)...
"Next is to learn Fourth Grade Elixirs. Unfortunately, only Martial Artists with inner breath from Upper Third Grades can qualify to craft Fourth Grade Elixirs, so the next step is to quickly enhance my strength," Zhong Lin pondered secretly.
There is a vast difference between each grade of elixirs, and this becomes more pronounced as one progresses. The conditions for crafting become increasingly stringent.
For instance, crafting Third Grade Elixirs requires extremely high temperatures, where regular charcoal can no longer suffice. Only intense flames like the Earth Core Fire can meet the refinement requirements.
According to Pill Master Xue Gang, Fourth Grade Elixirs require a Martial Artist with inner breath to integrate the True Qi; otherwise, it is impossible to craft them.
Zhong Lin stood at the place where water and fire merged, with lava flowing on the left and black water swirling on the right.
Water and fire merged, yin and yang interacted, a whirlwind rose around him.
Zhong Lin stood holding his sword silently, while images of various sword skills flashed in his mind like a zoetrope.
There was the basic sword skill taught by Mei Weixuan, the "Thousand Mist Swordsmanship" taught by his master, and the "Wind and Thunder Sword Skill" obtained from the Heavenly Eagle Castle.
Suddenly, a whirlwind attacked again, and Zhong Lin sharply raised his eyes. In an instant, his long sword was drawn; the sword’s blade glimmered with streaks of red light.
With a sharp sound of cutting through the air, the sword light flashed by, and Zhong Lin twisted and moved within the whirlwind.
The violent wind flow buffeted his body, disrupting his sword moves, yet he paid no attention, countering the gusts with surges of qi-blood.
The path of swordsmanship may seem minute but can be the difference between life and death in actual combat.
The system gave Zhong Lin unrivaled experience, yet to apply it perfectly required his body’s cooperation.
Zhong Lin wanted to emulate those martial arts masters from past-life movies who practiced their swordplay under waterfalls. Unfortunately, this place had no waterfall, but a wind tunnel caused by the merging of water and fire, generating a massive wind flow, allowing him to practice like Yang Guo’s heavy sword techniques.
Moreover, Zhong Lin discovered that when practicing swordsmanship, completely exhausting qi-blood, and then using "Heavenly Treasure Pile" to restore qi-blood, could hasten cultivation improvement.
Such a treasured spot, Zhong Lin naturally sought to make good use of it.
As Zhong Lin practiced his sword skills, Deng Yunsheng came running anxiously from afar.
"Young Master, the little young master is missing."