Chapter 40 Guidance on Alchemy_1

Lin Shilu looked around cautiously and said,"Ye, my grandson and I have traveled thousands of miles to Qianchuan Market to seek your help in concocting elixirs. Rest assured, the reward will definitely satisfy you."

"However, the elixirs to be concocted this time, though not high-grade, are no small matter. This issue must not be publicized or leaked out. I hope Ye can keep it confidential."

Seeing Lin Shilu take the matter so seriously, Ye Haiping became curious and asked, "What kind of pills are so important to the Lin Family that you value them so highly?"

Lin Shilu took out a pill formula written on a piece of beast skin and handed it to Ye Pinghai. It detailed the "Minor Foundation Building Pill" that Lin Tianming had obtained from the ancient cultivator's cave dwellings.

Ye Pinghai took the pill formula and began to carefully examine it, evaluating its authenticity for a full quarter of an hour.

Shocked yet incredulous, Ye realized that the Minor Foundation Building Pill in Qingzhou was indeed a precious item. While easier to conjure and with good effects, the concoction of the Minor Foundation Building Pill and its spiritual medicine materials were relatively simple.

Ye judged that the pill formula was indeed an ancient one, unheard of before, and possibly even one that had emerged from the human heartlands of Xuanzhou or Yunzhou. Its authenticity seemed high, and in a remote place like Qingzhou, it was indeed invaluable. No wonder Lin Shilu was so cautious.

"Brother Lin, rest assured. Brother Shi Gong owes me a life-saving debt. I swear by my Heart Demon that I will keep this matter completely confidential and will not reveal the slightest bit. Should there be a leak, may I suffer and die in the Heart Demon Tribulation."

Lin Shilu was also surprised. He dared not ask for such a serious oath, and yet Ye volunteered it, which spoke volumes of Ye Haiping's trustworthiness.

Had the family's foundation not been so weak, devoid of a Second Order Alchemist, and the training of one taken decades and immense resources, they could not afford to wait.

Otherwise, they would not entrust such an important matter to an outsider, and it was fortunate Ye Haiping knew to repay kindness. Otherwise, they really would have to take enormous risks.

Lin Shilu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed. He took out a storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai. Sёarch* The ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Brother Ye, I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness. Our Lin Family has extended aid to you many times. Before coming here, the Clan Elders' Assembly promised that should you ever need the Lin Family's assistance within our means, you need only command us. There are fifteen portions of Minor Foundation Building Pill spiritual medicine materials in this storage bag. No matter the number of pills concocted, the Lin Family will show its gratitude after they are made, as per industry practice."

In the Cultivation World, there are established norms for asking fellow cultivators to concoct elixirs or craft tools. For instance, in alchemy, one brings one's own materials, and the alchemist, upon completion, may keep thirty percent of the finished pills as compensation. If there is an uneven number, compensation can be made with equivalent spirit stones.

If the alchemy fails, the alchemist only needs to pay fifty percent of the spiritual medicine's value in spirit stones as compensation. Should there be another division method, it can be agreed upon beforehand, provided both parties approve. The same general rules apply to tool crafting.

Ye Pinghai took the storage bag, checked the spiritual medicine materials to ensure nothing was missing, and then said,

"Though the Minor Foundation Building Pill is not too difficult to concoct, it's not easy either. I need to prepare and adjust my condition to try to produce as many pills as possible. The entire process will likely take at least half a year."

"You can wait for a while in the market. Also, please have Tian Ming come over to assist me, and I'll take the opportunity to offer him some guidance too. How much he learns will be up to him."

Ye Pinghai's offer was a significant help to Lin Tianming and intended to reassure Lin Shilu. After all, being personally guided by a Second Order Alchemist in potion crafting would accelerate the improvement of one's skills far more than solitary practice.

At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited. It had been a long time since he had concocted any elixirs. His trip to Qianchuan Market was aimed at concocting the Xisui Pill, Pozhang Pill, and the critical Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill for his practice. These pills were all First Order Superior Grade, and with Ye Pinghai's personal guidance, the chances of successful concoction would greatly increase.

"Thank you Senior Ye, I will definitely work hard and not let you down," Lin Tianming earnestly said.

As night fell, having discussed and agreed on all arrangements, Lin Shilu, and two others left the guesthouse, bid each other farewell, and after agreeing to have Lin Tianming go to Ye Pinghai's dwelling to study at dawn the next day, they each returned to their own dwellings.

On the way back, Lin Shilu was very happy. He was charged with the heavy responsibility of the family's development, carrying the family's expectations, and thankfully, everything went very smoothly. As long as he brought the Minor Foundation Building Pills back to the family, he would have completed his mission perfectly.

When they returned to the small courtyard, each retired to their rooms, Lin Tianming went to sleep peacefully, to rest up for tomorrow when he would begin making elixirs.

Early in the morning, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance of a small courtyard, sent a message inside, and after a few moments, he walked in.

The entire small courtyard was slightly larger than the one rented by Lin Shilu, modestly decorated, and Ye Pinghai was already waiting inside.

"I pay my respects to Senior Ye!"

Ye Pinghai nodded slightly with a smile and asked, "Which elixirs can you make now? What is the success rate of your pills?"

"To answer Senior, I am currently making First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills, Huiyuan Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills, with a success rate of forty percent and about four pills per batch."

Ye Pinghai was also shocked after hearing this; a seventeen-year-old who could become a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, with a success rate and pill count that were not low. Such alchemy talent, he estimated, was like a phoenix feather or unicorn horn in the entire Wei Kingdom, probably only outdone by geniuses in the distant Cloud and Mystery States.

"Follow me to the Alchemy Room. I will guide you in alchemy for a few days. Afterwards, I need to devote myself to making the Minor Foundation Building Pills. You can leave after watching a few batches, pay close attention, and it will be easier for you to make Second Order Pills in the future."

Lin Tianming agreed respectfully and followed Ye Pinghai into the Alchemy Room.

"First, make a batch of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills for me to see. Adjust your state well, I will give you pointers from the side, and when it's about right, try making First Order High Quality elixirs."

Lin Tianming took out his Four Symbols Furnace and Spiritual Medicine Materials, habitually circulated his cultivation technique to regulate his breath, drew forth the Earth Fire, and in half an incense stick's time, controlled the temperature of the Pill Furnace and Earth Fire.

When it was about right, he began melting down the Spiritual Medicine Materials one by one, refining and purifying them. After an hour, a pleasant fragrance permeated the entire Alchemy Room.

Opening the furnace lid, five Lingshen Pills were suspended in the furnace, each one bright and glossy, all being high-quality products.

Lin Tianming was thrilled, as he mostly got four pills in his batches of elixirs, and it was rare to have five. Unexpectedly, his first batch today yielded five pills, and the time it took was also reduced significantly.

Upon reflection, he attributed it to his increased cultivation, stronger Divine Sense, and the fact that his Four Symbols Furnace had been restored from First Order Superior Grade to Second Order Lower Grade, which made his alchemy even more smooth and effective.

Ye Pinghai picked up an elixir between two fingers, scrutinizing it carefully, nodding occasionally, shaking his head at times, and it was unclear whether he was satisfied or not.

"Young man, you've already done very well, but the details aren't quite perfect. The vintages of the Spiritual Medicine Materials aren't uniform, the refinement times vary, and the moment of opening the furnace isn't fixed. You should adjust based on the actual situation, which can greatly improve the pill success rate and pill count. Try again later," suggested Ye Pinghai.

Lin Tianming listened patiently, thought for a brief period, and then started making elixirs once again.