Main Text, Volume Two, Chapter Ninety-One: Alchemy

Although the process continued for some time, the gathering itself was completed in an instant, so it was hardly strange that Ye Yu had not noticed.

Ye Yu took the fresh grass and looked it over carefully. Mixed among it were several stalks of Ox Immortal Herb. Delighted, Ye Yu said, "Wonderful. While they are still fresh, I can refine them all into pills, and at the same time see what this pill cauldron can do."

With that, he set up a barrier by the lakeshore and began refining pills.

Yu Mu sat nearby with great curiosity; this was his first time seeing anyone refine elixirs.

Ye Yu first summoned the small cauldron and infused it with spiritual energy. At once, the cauldron swiftly expanded until it became a pill furnace over half a person tall and a full meter across.

As the furnace enlarged, four ancient characters emerged upon it.

Ye Yu first tossed in some odd pieces of wood, kindled them, and then sat cross-legged to warm the furnace.

Yu Mu watched for a long time before realizing that Ye Yu could in fact wield fire arts, though only for refining pills and not for combat.

This was not strange at all. As a disciple of the Fire-Poison Path, one would be the strange one for not knowing fire arts.

Once the temperature within the cauldron reached a certain point, Ye Yu began adding medicinal materials.

Yu Mu had seen almost none of these herbs before and had no idea what they were for. Yet Ye Yu added them with great precision, each at a different time and at a different temperature.

When the Ox Spirit Grass was finally added to the pill furnace, Ye Yu closed the lid and then devoted herself wholly to controlling the heat inside.

Soon, a fragrant aroma of pills seeped out from the furnace. Fortunately, the barrier had already been set, so the medicinal scent did not drift out and draw attention.

At last, a smile appeared at the corner of Ye Yu's mouth.

The fire went out, and the pills were complete.

When the furnace had cooled, Ye Yu gently opened the lid. Yu Mu hurried over as well, and in the ashes inside the cauldron lay five pills quietly at rest.

Ye Yu's eyes curved into crescent moons again as she smiled. "No wonder it's called the Perfect-Effect Furnace. It actually refined five Foundation-Building Pills."

Yu Mu asked curiously, "How many sets of Foundation-Building Pill ingredients did you use?"

"Ten."

"Ah! Five out of ten? Isn't that a lot?"

Ye Yu glanced at him in disdain and curled her lip. "What do you know? My best record before was only three pills in one furnace. For ordinary people, getting one out of ten is already a great blessing. And that was with fresh grass; if it were dried herbs, the success rate would be much lower."

"Ah!" Yu Mu was shocked. No wonder Foundation-Building Pills were so precious. So that was why.

Ye Yu picked up one Foundation-Building Pill and sniffed it, saying, "The effect of this pill is at least fifty percent stronger. It already carries a faint aura of a spiritual elixir. Next I am going to begin refining a true spiritual pill, hee hee."

With a playful smile, Ye Yu put away the Foundation-Building Pills and began preparing the ingredients for the Advancement Pill.

Yu Mu was deeply puzzled, unable to understand how she carried so many medicinal materials on her. Looking at the strange and varied ingredients strewn across the ground made him dizzy.

The method of pill refinement was much the same; the differences lay in the materials, the heat, and the timing of each addition. But refining a spiritual elixir clearly consumed far more effort and spiritual power. By the time the Advancement Pill was finished, Ye Yu had sweat on her brow.

When the pill was completed and the lid opened, a rich surge of spiritual energy instantly filled the lakeshore.

The two of them peered inside. Within the cauldron, the spiritual pill even seemed to flicker with a green radiance, and the Perfect-Effect Furnace itself appeared to be brimming with vibrant life.

Joyfully, Ye Yu said, "Wow, refining the Advancement Pill can improve the quality of the pill furnace too!"

This time only three pills were formed. It seemed spiritual elixirs were indeed more difficult to refine.

Though somewhat tired, Ye Yu was all smiles as she divided three Foundation-Building Pills and two Advancement Pills to give to Yu Mu.

Yu Mu immediately waved his hands. "Why are you giving me most of them? Besides, what use would I have for Foundation-Building Pills? I still have two stalks of Ox Immortal Herb, so I don't need these Advancement Pills either. You should keep them yourself."

Ye Yu glared and forced the pills into Yu Mu's hands. "I told you to take them, so take them! With these herbs and this furnace, do you think I would lack pills to use? Besides, the Advancement Pills refined this time will definitely be better than using Ox Spirit Grass directly."

For Ye Yu, Foundation-Building Pills and Advancement Pills were nothing much; what she truly needed was the furnace's effect.

Yu Mu had no choice but to accept them. "I have something for you too."

"Oh? What is it?"

He took out two scrolls from his robes. "This is an occult spirit-attribute technique, perfectly suited for your cultivation. Though your poison arts are profound, your ability to protect yourself is lacking. If you meet an enemy that counters you, it will be very dangerous. This technique is a true saint-tier art. Take it and cultivate it."

Ye Yu, unlike Yu Mu, did not stand on ceremony. She accepted it at once and opened it curiously. "Ghost King Body? Mm, it really is a saint-tier technique. Such a precious gift, and you are willing to give it to me? You are not going to cultivate it yourself?"

Yu Mu smiled faintly. "I have already memorized its contents. Take it and use it as you wish."

"All right, then I won't be polite. I haven't practiced such a high-level technique before. Thank you, Yu Mu."

Yu Mu quietly watched the delighted Ye Yu, his heart filled with puzzlement. Ye Yu's father was a Great Saint—why would he not teach his own daughter more advanced techniques?

As dawn approached, the two parted reluctantly by the lakeshore. Ye Yu gently lifted away her veil, leaving Yu Mu with a smile he would never forget.

In Eagletown, within the Teleportation Array Hall:

"So you came out ahead of time, Brother Stump? Hahaha, it's been nearly a year since we last met. I missed you to death!" The warm and exuberant Gu Yuan grabbed Yu Mu and lifted him up.

The blockhead—how apt.

Ye Yu and the others nearly laughed aloud.

After the three of them parted from Fang Lu, Yu Mu brought them directly here. In Eagletown, this was the only person he knew: Brother Gu Yuan.

"Brother Gu, I missed you too. Have you been well? Did you see Brother Meng Fang?" Meeting an old friend, Yu Mu was also overcome with emotion.

Gu Yuan laughed heartily. "I did! Brother, who are these two?"

"They are friends I met on the road." Since Ye Yu and the other were in a sensitive situation, Yu Mu casually invented identities for them.

"Good, good, good! Today is a rare reunion with my brother, so we must drink our fill. Come, brother!" With that, he pulled Yu Mu outside.

Yu Mu remembered Gu Yuan's drunken disgrace from before and could not help but smile.

Following Gu Yuan, they arrived at the Old Bee Tavern. After drinking a large mouthful of honey wine, Yu Mu felt immensely refreshed. It had been a long time since he had tasted such fine liquor.

Setting down the wine jar in his hand, Yu Mu asked, "Brother Gu, when did you meet Brother Meng Fang?"

Gu Yuan took another large drink before answering, "He was sent here directly by Lord Sky-Pillar after leaving the tomb. It seemed his clan had some urgent matter and called him back, so I didn't get a chance to ask in detail. But when he left, he told me that if you came out and had nothing else to do, you should go find him."

"Oh." Hearing that Meng Fang had already returned home, Yu Mu felt reassured. Then he asked, "I wonder if the Great Saint is in Eagletown Ridge. I want to tell him I came out early."

Gu Yuan shook his head. "No need to go. The Great Saint isn't in Eagletown Ridge."

"Ah! Where did he go?"

"I don't know. They say he went to find reinforcements. I figure he was probably preparing to rescue you. If you have nothing else to do, just wait here. The Great Saint may return soon."

Yu Mu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I have no other business with the old gentleman, and I still have other things to attend to, so I won't wait for him. Please trouble Brother to inform the Great Saint that I have come out."

Gu Yuan nodded. "That can be done. But you must stay with your brother for a few more days."

Yu Mu gave a wry smile. "Thank you for your kindness, Brother, but I truly cannot linger here."

Seeing Gu Yuan's disappointed expression, he quickly changed the subject. "How are the brothers who explored the tomb with me doing?"

"They're all well. Aside from losing a few brothers, most made it out safely."

"What about Brother Lu and Brother Old Qu? And what of the group led by Lonely Wind?"

"Lonely Wind and the others had the most successful tomb expedition this time. They suffered no losses at all, and he has already formed his infant soul and entered the Nascent Soul stage."

"Oh, then congratulations to him. But he had already reached the late Golden Core stage before entering the tomb, so it is no surprise he could advance. What about Brother Lu and Brother Old Qu?"

"Alas..." Gu Yuan sighed. "Brother Lu failed to advance this time, but Brother Gu Yuan did succeed."

"Ah!" This outcome was beyond Yu Mu's expectations. Among them, the one most likely to advance had been Lu Zihao, yet he had unexpectedly failed to break through.