Hong Kui scrutinized Shen He standing before him.
Yesterday, he had been at Qi Refining Layer 2, and today he had reached Qi Refining Layer 6?
Although Demonic Cultivators advanced quickly in the early stages, this was simply too fast, wasn’t it?
“You’re saying you used my pill furnace and materials to refine Qi Gathering Pills? You produced two waste pills but succeeded with one, and after consuming it, your cultivation shot straight up to Layer 6?”
Hong Kui thought Shen He was spouting nonsense.
Leaving aside the fact that pill refining required talent, Shen He had only been a helper in the Pill Room for nearly a month. He had merely observed Hong Kui refining pills, attended some sect lectures, and read a few pill refining texts—yet he could succeed on his first try?
If it were that simple, the sect would be full of pill refiners, and no one would bother buying basic pills from the Pill Room.
Shen He said in a low voice, “Yes, Disciple has already compensated for the consumed materials with Demonic Stones.”
Hong Kui didn’t care about the materials for refining Qi Gathering Pills. He simply pointed at the pill furnace. “Refine a batch for me to see.”
Shen He took a deep breath. “Alright.”
Success or failure hinged on this moment!
After Xie Linlang finished refining yesterday, Pang Sanxian generously offered to cover the cost of the materials as tuition fees. Then, he dragged Shen He to each refine a batch of Qi Gathering Pills, with Xie Linlang providing some pointers.
Pang Sanxian produced two waste pills and one ordinary-quality success.
Shen He, having just advanced his cultivation, didn’t control his demonic power well and also produced two waste pills, but he obtained one high-quality success.
Of course, the Qi Gathering Pill refined by Xie Linlang was of supreme quality—something neither novice could compare to.
Neither dared sell such supreme pills, fearing others would trace their origins. So, they each took one to study the profound principles contained within.
At this moment, Shen He held his breath and focused his mind. While recalling Xie Linlang’s techniques from yesterday, he pulled over the ingredients table and carefully sorted and selected each required material.
The state of each ingredient varied subtly. To refine the most perfect pills with the strongest medicinal power, one had to grasp the details of every step.
Xie Linlang said nothing and quietly watched Shen He refine.
After a night of reflection and consolidation, Shen He’s movements were noticeably more composed than yesterday, and his control over demonic qi had strengthened.
About two hours later, Shen He successfully refined a batch of Qi Gathering Pills.
Though there was still one waste pill, of the other two, one was ordinary, and the other matched the furnace’s grade: Earth-Grade Sixth Rank.
Just this one Qi Gathering Pill could sell for the price of five sets of materials.
Hong Kui’s eyes widened like copper bells as he looked Shen He up and down with gleaming admiration.
“Excellent, excellent, excellent. I never expected you to have such talent.”
Hong Kui directly picked up that pill and said to Shen He, “Come with me to see Shizun.”
Shen He was overjoyed. Great! The first step toward acquiring the Supreme Magic Furnace—apprenticing under a powerful pill master—had finally been achieved!
Xie Linlang couldn’t help but smile as well. He praised Shen He, “Well done.”
Shen He felt a bit embarrassed, but as a young man, joy and pride shone from the corners of his eyes and brows.
Noticing Shen He’s expression, Hong Kui chuckled. “Tone it down. If Shizun is truly satisfied with your talent, your current cultivation level will be like waving a sign saying, ‘Come kill me quickly’ to everyone.”
Shen He’s smile froze on his face.
He composed himself and solemnly bowed in thanks. “Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother Hong.”
“There are never short of geniuses with exceptional talent among cultivators.”
Seeing that Shen He was still humble enough, Hong Kui added, “Junior Brother Shen, since you managed to lure Junior Brother Liu into throwing himself into the pill furnace, you should understand that the greatest spiritual treasures of heaven and earth are none other than cultivators themselves. The world serves as our furnace, and we are all the materials for this Qi Gathering Pill. Whether we can form our Demonic Core, step onto the immortal path, shatter this magic furnace, and forge our own world depends entirely on personal fortune.”
Shen He felt as if struck by lightning upon hearing this.
He dazedly looked at the pill furnace still emanating residual demonic qi, then at the Demonic Core in his hand. Cultivators absorbed heaven and earth’s demonic qi for their own use—just like a Demonic Core absorbing the essence of numerous materials.
In an instant, Shen He gained some enlightenment and entered a state of sudden realization.
Hong Kui looked at Shen He in surprise, pondered briefly, then rose and left the Pill Room.
Xie Linlang noticed this. While protecting Shen He in his meditation, he also kept watch on the activity outside.
Soon, Hong Kui returned.
But he wasn’t alone; beside him stood a youth in a black daoist robe.
