**Chapter 12: Learning Alchemy**
In front of the bookshelf, Ye Jingcheng hesitated between the two jade slips, while Ye Haiping did not rush him. On the contrary, he was curious about Ye Jingcheng's choice.
"Granduncle, how much does it cost to copy the recipes for the Body Refining Pill and the Qingling Pill?" After a long deliberation, Ye Jingcheng finally picked up the two jade slips and asked.
"The Qingling Pill is 80 contribution points, and the Body Refining Pill is 60 contribution points!" Ye Haiping replied with a smile.
"What about the other pills?" Ye Jingcheng continued to inquire.
"The Qingyuan Pill is 70, the Qi-Blood Pill is 50..." Ye Haiping answered them all one by one.
"Granduncle, I'll choose the recipe for the Qingling Pill, and I'll use my contribution points to get the Body Refining Pill's recipe as well!" Ye Jingcheng quickly made his decision.
With another 60 points deducted from his family token, Ye Jingcheng now held two jade slips in his hand.
"You must return both jade slips within a month!" Ye Jingcheng nodded. A month was enough time for him to master the recipes.
"Granduncle, I would also like to exchange for the materials to make 20 doses of the Beast Nourishing Pill, 10 doses of the Body Refining Pill, and 5 doses of the Qingling Pill!" Ye Jingcheng took out his family token again.
Seeing this, Ye Haiping nodded, pleased with Ye Jingcheng's choices. If it were other cultivators, they might have exchanged all their points for high-grade materials. But alchemy isn't that simple; a gradual approach is the safest.
After deducting another 70 contribution points, Ye Jingcheng reluctantly accepted his token back.
Once he had prepared the materials and recipes, he returned to his residence. After reviewing them for three days, he headed to the Alchemy Pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, all the alchemy rooms were closed. The ninth elder, Ye Haitian, sat in his seat, looking rather relaxed, with his treasured bell placed nearby.
Apparently, it wasn't time to switch rooms yet. Those who came to refine pills usually rented the room for three days, only coming out around noon.
Ye Jingcheng had arrived early. Each time he came early, he would help Elder Ye Haitian with some chores and take the opportunity to ask for advice on alchemy.
This approach always ensured that he gained more from each visit than others.
However, this time, Ye Haitian merely glanced at him before turning back to his own tasks.
This puzzled Ye Jingcheng.
After looking around, he suddenly realized why.
He noticed that one of the doors was slightly ajar.
A smile of delight instantly appeared on Ye Jingcheng's face because that alchemy room didn't belong to anyone else but Ye Haiyun of the Ye family.
Ye Haiyun was the most skilled alchemist in the Ye family, after the head of the family, Ye Haicheng, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Among the elders of the Hai generation, Ye Haiyi was recognized as the most powerful in combat, overseeing the Beast Hunting Hall. Meanwhile, Ye Haiyun was the most accomplished in alchemy.
This alchemy room was usually closed!
But every time it was slightly open, one could peek through the small gap to observe the alchemy process inside.
[Translator: sauron]
Ye Jingcheng's progress in alchemy was largely due to these clandestine observations.
Other Ye family members might think it improper to watch without permission, but Ye Jingcheng had a different mindset. If the door was left ajar, wasn't that an invitation to watch?
Of course, it was crucial not to enter, as interrupting a cultivator during alchemy was a serious taboo!
With that thought, Ye Jingcheng took out a jade slip and began taking notes.
He could see through the slightly open door that it was just the right moment to observe the pill collection process. Ye Haiyun was refining the Qingling Pill.
Ten golden pills, glowing with a rich luster, exuding an intense fragrance.
Ye Jingcheng paused in his steps, thinking that indeed, the early bird catches the worm!
Whether Ye Haiyun noticed him or not, there was no extra action, just a simple wave of his hand as he continued nurturing the cauldron.
Alchemy, much like cultivation, involved numerous intricate steps. The first step was to wipe away any remaining medicinal residues and use the right amount of heat to bring the cauldron to the perfect temperature—this was called nurturing the cauldron.
This also explained why Ye Haitian and Ye Haiyun favored Ye Jingcheng—he always cleaned the cauldron meticulously, nurtured it properly, and left the alchemy room spotless and orderly!
At that moment, Ye Haiyun continued nurturing the cauldron, but unlike Ye Jingcheng's cautious approach, Ye Haiyun's technique was swift and efficient. With a single spell, the flames rose to half a man's height, emitting intense heat, and the cauldron quickly turned red, its engravings glowing with spiritual light.
In just a few breaths, the cauldron was ready.
The next step was to refine the herbs. Ye Jingcheng noticed that Ye Haiyun slowed down considerably during this stage. If nurturing the cauldron was a swift process, then refining the herbs required careful and deliberate steps.
Every detail was handled with extreme caution.
Ye Jingcheng had just studied the recipe and still had many doubts. But now, he could clarify them all by observing.
In fact, to ensure accuracy, he even took out the Qingling Pill recipe and cross-referenced it, which made Elder Ye Haitian twitch his mouth slightly.
However, he said nothing.
Ye Jingcheng's jade slip was soon filled with notes. Although he couldn't alter the family's jade slip, his own was packed with detailed observations, including various possibilities.
Of course, his success was also partly due to Ye Haiyun's unusually slow pace that day.
Ye Haiyun refined three batches of Qingling Pills, each with ten perfect pills, full of pill patterns and rich spiritual energy.
Before noon, Ye Haiyun also started refining the Body Refining Pill!
Ye Jingcheng felt a deep sense of gratitude but was even more determined to learn.
During this time, several other cultivators emerged from their rooms.
They were puzzled because Elder Ye Haitian hadn't rung the bell to remind them of the time.
Feeling slightly unsettled, they noticed that someone was still inside refining pills, seemingly about to start a new batch, which made them regret not staying a bit longer.
Upon stepping out, they saw Ye Jingcheng observing Ye Haiyun's alchemy.
Curious, they joined him to watch, but after a while, they felt it wasn't much different from what Elder Ye Haitian had taught, especially since they didn't have the Body Refining Pill recipe. So, they returned to their rooms to continue their own alchemy practice.
Finally, at the hour of Shen, Ye Haiyun finished his work and closed the door.
Ye Haitian then started ringing the bell, reminding Ye Jingcheng of Ye Haiyun's words: in the family, there is no absolute fairness.
Now, it seemed that the family indeed favored those who worked hard and persisted!
As the cultivators exited one by one, Ye Jingcheng rented the room for three more days and borrowed a cauldron.
Then he released the Red Flame Fox from his spirit beast pouch.
The fox cried out, its fur gleaming even more vibrantly under the fiery light.
"Xiao Yan, watch closely. If you can produce flames like this ground fire, I'll give you an extra meal every midnight, increasing your daily meals from three to four!"
(End of Chapter)