The peach blossoms in the courtyard bloomed and withered, then bloomed again.
In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
A gentle breeze swept through.
It carried the scent of medicine from the pharmacy, mixed with the smoky fragrance of the Pill Furnace in the backyard, creating something quite unique.
In the Alchemy Room.
Chen Sheng stood before the Pill Furnace, his expression focused, his fingers forming hand seals faster than ever before.
"Divide!"
The hand seals in his hands transformed.
Five thousand strands of fire threads split out like silver lines, weaving into a net at the mouth of the furnace, wrapping the herbs within.
They merged into a medicinal liquid, slowly rotating, condensing into a pill.
Chen Sheng frowned slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the indigo liquid mass churning in the furnace.
The most critical aspect of this pill was the control of the flames; too much and the pill is ruined, too little and the medicine disperses.
A light buzzing sound ensued.
His expression changed, flicking his fingers repeatedly, continuously casting spells with his hand seals.
In an instant.
Dozens of spell techniques were cast into the Pill Furnace like shooting stars.
"Pill Collection!"
As soon as the words were spoken.
The lid of the furnace was gently lifted by a soft flow of mana.
An indigo pill spun and flew out, drawing three arcs in the air before landing steadily in Chen Sheng's palm.
It was precisely a Tier One High Grade Elixir — Beneficial Technique Pill!
The pill fragrance quickly spread, crisp with a warm hint of herbs and wood.
Chen Sheng evaluated it briefly, then smiled and said:
"Sixty percent of the medicinal properties remain; it's considered passable."
"Congratulations, Master, on refining a High Grade Elixir and achieving the status of a High Grade Alchemist."
Qin Yuan's voice sounded from behind.
He had been standing by, observing his master's alchemy process, occasionally showing a look of admiration.
Now, the young man had grown half a head taller, with a hint of maturity on his brow, and a particularly focused look in his eyes as he gazed at the Pill Furnace.
Chen Sheng laughed heartily, put the elixir into a Jade Bottle, and tossed it to his disciple:
"Take it to show your grandmaster, let him enjoy it too."
"Yes!"
Chen Sheng was in a great mood; he brushed the fire residue off his clothes, his eyes filled with joy.
Every cloud has a silver lining!
Although he failed to breakthrough to the Upper Realm.
These two years of accumulation had greatly improved his alchemy skills.
Though he still couldn't match his father-in-law, he could now refine the Beneficial Technique Pill, achieving High Grade Alchemist status.
On the other side.
As Qin Yuan carried the Jade Bottle towards the inner courtyard, he bumped into Huang Yueyang sitting under the grape trellis, flipping through the Medicine Scripture.
The old man wore a moon-white robe, playing with a Mutton Fat Jade Ring in his hand.
Qin Yuan quickly handed over the Jade Bottle:
"Grandmaster, this is the Beneficial Technique Pill refined by my master."
Huang Yueyang's eyes twinkled, taking the Jade Bottle.
Upon seeing the quality of the pill, he stroked his beard and nodded slightly:
"Indigo as the clear sky, pill patterns like flowing clouds, not bad, not bad!"
Before long.
Chen Sheng also came over.
The two, as father-in-law and son-in-law, began discussing this elixir, from the control of flames to the combination of herbs.
Qin Yuan stood with his hands by his sides, ears perked up to listen.
Some of the knowledge he couldn't completely understand yet, but it didn't stop him from forcefully memorizing it.
After some time had passed.
Suddenly, Huang Yueyang lifted his eyes, focusing a piercing gaze on him:
"How has Xiao Yuan been learning these years?"
"I heard from your master that you've been learning Fire Control for over two years now."
Qin Yuan's heart skipped a beat, he hurriedly replied:
"Replying to Grandmaster, I've managed to condense golden glimmers, though it still lacks stability."
Chen Sheng looked encouragingly at him, gently patted his disciple's shoulder:
"Come, let's go to the Fire Room and show your grandmaster a few techniques."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan nodded earnestly:
"Yes!"
Before long, the three of them moved to the Fire Room.
Qin Yuan walked up to the Pill Furnace, took a deep breath, and guided the furnace flame with his fingers.
His movements were extremely skillful, continuously performing hand seals.
The azure blue flame danced in his palm.
First, it divided into lotus shapes, then layer upon layer, building up three times, finally transforming into a ring of fire...
Huang Yueyang watched as he effortlessly divided, stacked, and spun the flames into a wheel.
His eyes immediately showed a look of satisfaction.
"Converge!"
The last spell was cast.
The fire wheel suddenly contracted, condensing into a cluster of golden glimmers, but unfortunately, it didn't remain stable for long.
In just a few breaths, it dispersed.
"Hmm, not bad. However, the Flame Convergence Technique is still a bit forced, still lacking a touch."
"However, being able to barely perform the Flame Convergence Technique in just over two years, and advancing to the Profound Sun Fifth Layer, is better than your master was at your age!"
Back in the day, Chen Sheng reached the Fifth Layer, which took him nearly six years.
Qin Yuan's talent clearly surpasses his.
With humility, Qin Yuan cupped his fists:
"You overpraise me, Master. I'm still far from it."
Chen Sheng simply laughed heartily:
"As they say, 'the student surpasses the master;' Yuan'Er's talent is indeed stronger than mine."
"Perhaps one day, our family's legacy may be further glorified in Yuan'Er's hands."
Being praised back-to-back by the two, Qin Yuan's cheeks immediately blushed slightly.
Huang Yueyang nodded, feeling very pleased as he observed the junior disciple ahead of him.
Seeing future generations able to inherit the legacy and advance it, how could he not be pleased?
After that day.
The refining work of the Beneficial Technique Pill at the Pill Workshop gradually transferred to Chen Sheng's hands.
The elder then focused his attention on the improvements of other Pill Formulas.
He hoped to leave more invisible wealth for future generations in the last days of his life.
...
A month later.
Chen Sheng once again stepped into the Seclusion Room.
Two days later, he exited seclusion.
The aura around him had distinctly elevated.
Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer!
Chen Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, the spiritual power around his body circulating like spring water. His aura became more restrained, appearing very composed.
He had just taken a step forward.
When Tang Xichen jumped out from behind the corridor pillar, her figure flitting like a butterfly.
Feeling the spiritual pressure emanating from Chen Sheng, the young girl immediately cupped her fists in delight:
"Congratulations, Father! You've successfully reached the Upper Realm!"
Chen Sheng laughed heartily and instinctively expressed a couple of self-effacing remarks.
Perhaps due to the groundwork laid previously, this breakthrough seemed quite smooth.
A single Cloud-Pushing Pill into his abdomen, the mana that had been stagnant for two years immediately became restless.
In just a few hours, the bottleneck was broken, achieving the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
For the next day and more, it was all about stabilizing the cultivation realm.
At this moment.
Chen Sheng turned his head to inquire:
"Why are you here?"
Tang Xichen explained, "Mother instructed me and my junior brother to take turns guarding the door."
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng knew it was his wife's concern.
Immediately, his heart warmed.
"Let's go, report the news to your mother, so she won't worry."
The father and daughter duo walked towards the backyard.
Tang Xichen was right beside him.
Chen Sheng instinctively inquired about her cultivation progress: "How has your cultivation been recently?"
Tang Xichen nodded:
"The mid-stage Qi Cultivation took longer than the early stage."
"It took me nearly four years to complete Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and I still need an opportunity to successfully advance."
Chen Sheng nodded lightly; his daughter's speed was much faster than his.
To complete one layer took him at least six years, his daughter was one-third faster than him.
Chen Sheng chuckled softly:
"That's already fast enough. At your pace, you'll catch up with your father in another five years."
Tang Xichen shook her head:
"I wouldn't catch up."
"Five years from now, with Father taking the Enhancing Technique Elixir, you might've even reached Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer."
Chen Sheng laughed heartily:
"You, this girl, are quite clever."
Father and daughter chatted and laughed their way to the backyard.
From a distance.
Tang Xichen shouted loudly:
"Mother! Father's succeeded!"
The clear voice startled the swallows nesting under the eaves to fly away.
Huang Wangyou was sitting under the grape arbor doing accounts.
Upon hearing this, she pushed the ledger onto the stone table and slowly stood up.
As she rose, the hem of her dress swept over the stone bench, creating a joyful breeze.
Huang Wangyou saw Chen Sheng and smiled:
"This time was really quick!"
Chen Sheng stepped forward and said softly:
"Wasn't this to ease your worries?"
With a sidelong glance, Huang Wangyou pinched his arm:
"You're just trying to sweet-talk me!"
As she spoke.
Her fingertips quietly touched his pulse gate, ensuring the stability of his spiritual power.
Only then did Huang Wangyou turn to Tang Xichen and say:
"Your father's made a breakthrough. Tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes for a celebration."
Chen Sheng felt warmth in his heart.
He reached out to embrace his wife's waist, his nose filled with the familiar medicinal fragrance from her hair.