Chapter 48: Intermediate Alchemist

Qin Ming was lost in thought.

"Of course, there are conditions for passing this true technique to you."

"But I won't tell you them just yet." Su Yuqing said nonchalantly.

Qin Ming couldn't let such a golden opportunity slip by. Once it was gone, it wouldn't come again.

He immediately nodded and replied, "Brother Su, rest assured. I will not pass it on to others. I can agree to anything within my ability."

Su Yuqing finally smiled.

He took out an array from his storage bag, enveloping both of them, and then proceeded to teach Qin Ming the entire mantra of the Yin-Yang Separation and Union Spirit Control True Technique.

Qin Ming concentrated fully, carefully reciting it repeatedly until he had memorized the technique without omission.

During the teaching process, Qin Ming grew increasingly astonished. He couldn't help but marvel at how Su Yuqing truly was a genius among geniuses.

His mastery of alchemy wasn't just empty boasting.

After the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn.

Qin Ming had already digested the true technique.

"That's all there is to it. In the future, if you have the ability, you can innovate and improve upon this insight yourself."

"Now, refine another batch of Qi Gathering Pills for me to see." Su Yuqing looked as if he were about to test Qin Ming.

Qin Ming nodded.

He took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and recalled the full text of the alchemy technique mantra.

In a flash!

Qin Ming opened his eyes and immediately employed the Yin-Yang Separation and Union Spirit Control True Technique. He could clearly feel that everything—from extracting medicinal essences to the final step of fusing spirit herbs—had become incredibly smooth and effortless.

Su Yuqing watched from the side, unable to suppress his amazement. "It's unbelievable! Could this kid's soul power really be this strong?"

The most critical moment arrived.

The spirit herbs inside the pill furnace began to fuse and take shape. However, judging by the current trend, they were once again heading toward becoming a failed pill.

Qin Ming focused intensely and quickly employed the fusion technique from the true mantra.

The already-fused medicinal liquid inside the pill furnace separated again. The spirit herbs moved as if controlled by someone, following Qin Ming's will, constantly separating and recombining until they perfectly fused together.

Chirp!

The pill furnace emitted a cheerful, crisp sound!

A fragrant aroma wafted through the air.

"It's done!" Qin Ming's face lit up with joy, excitement surging through him!

Su Yuqing also revealed a smile of approval.

Inside the pill furnace, six green spirit pills floated up and down.

Qin Ming waved his hand, and the six Qi Gathering Pills flew into his palm. His luck was excellent this time—two of them were high-quality, deep-green Qi Gathering Pills.

"Hehe, congratulations, Brother Qin. You've successfully broken through to become an intermediate alchemist."

"Now that you've successfully refined Qi Gathering Pills, I'm sure other intermediate-grade pills won't pose much of a challenge for you either." Su Yuqing's words conveyed his recognition of Qin Ming's abilities.

Qin Ming put away the pills and gave Su Yuqing a deep bow, sincerely thanking him. "Thank you, Brother Su, for teaching me this true technique."

Only after personally using this alchemy technique did Qin Ming realize its immense significance.

"Ai~ Save the formalities. You'll fulfill your promise eventually. Neither of us owes the other." Su Yuqing waved his hand dismissively.

"Besides, I only decided to teach you this technique because your soul power is exceptionally strong. If it weren't, even if I passed it on to you, it would still be useless."

"Enough talk. Since you've succeeded in refining pills, keep me company and have a drink."

Qin Ming laughed freely and replied, "Alright, tonight we'll drink until we drop."

"But let me finish using the last batch of materials first."

After the time it takes for two sticks of incense to burn.

Another wave of pill fragrance wafted out.

Qin Ming had become even more proficient. His success rate was higher than the previous attempt.

This batch produced ten Qi Gathering Pills, four of which were high-quality.

Qin Ming was in an excellent mood.

After cleaning the alchemy room.

The two sat in the courtyard and began drinking spirit wine.

Seeing that the time was right, Qin Ming bid farewell to Su Yuqing and left.

Back at the Cool Breeze Abode.

Qin Ming took out the Qi Gathering Pills he had refined today, his eyes gleaming with an indescribable excitement.

"My magical energy cultivation needs to catch up."

Qin Ming had been forced to abandon his original path due to his poor spiritual root aptitude. Instead, he turned to body cultivation to quickly gain strength and secure resources for his immortal path.

"Turns out it was the right choice. After only two years of body cultivation, I've achieved strength comparable to the peak of Qi Refining."

"If I were still miserably practicing the Evergreen Technique every day, even with the help of pills, the lack of quantity would still leave me stuck at the middle stage of Qi Refining."

"Eating high-quality Qi Gathering Pills every day would drain my spirit stones dry."

"Now that I can refine intermediate-grade spirit pills, I can produce them myself and achieve self-sufficiency."

"Moreover, I can grow all the spirit herbs needed for Qi Gathering Pills myself. I only need to purchase a few auxiliary materials from the Gathering Pavilion."

"The cost is extremely low, saving me a great deal of spirit stones."

"From now on, I can practically eat Qi Gathering Pills like meals without any issue."

"And after becoming an intermediate alchemist, my wealth accumulation speed will increase significantly."

Thinking about these things.

Qin Ming promptly sat down on the meditation cushion in his quiet room.

He first took out a high-quality Qi Gathering Pill and swallowed it.

The pure medicinal power flowed through his limbs and bones.

Qin Ming began circulating the Evergreen Technique, running it through his meridians to refine the medicinal power and transform it into his own Evergreen Energy.

Gradually, the magical energy in his dantian grew stronger.

After the medicinal power of this high-quality Qi Gathering Pill was fully absorbed.

Qin Ming took out another high-quality Qi Gathering Pill and swallowed it again.

Repeating the process.

One high-quality Qi Gathering Pill after another was continuously consumed.

Until all six high-quality pills were used up, Qin Ming then consecutively swallowed five ordinary-quality Qi Gathering Pills.

The current market price for high-quality Qi Gathering Pills was around 150 spirit stones each, while ordinary ones were about 65 spirit stones each.

In this single session of cultivation, Qin Ming had consumed pills worth nearly a thousand spirit stones.

Finally.

The magical energy in Qin Ming's dantian, accumulated over time and bolstered by the massive consumption of pills, surged forth like a breached dam.

He urgently extended his spiritual awareness, doing his utmost to guide this torrent of unruly energy, accelerating its circulation through the meridians according to his cultivation technique.

Time slowly passed.

Until the hour of Yin.

Boom!

The newly formed Evergreen Energy flowed like rivers into lakes and seas, continuously expanding and filling his dantian.

"Finally, I've broken through!"

"Qi Refining Stage, Layer Five."

Qin Ming opened his eyes and ended his cultivation.

He carefully sensed the magical energy within his body.

Qin Ming couldn't contain his excitement.

The magical energy in his dantian had grown more than twice as strong as before.

His current level of magical energy far surpassed that of cultivators at the same stage.

"As long as I can mass-produce high-quality Qi Gathering Pills."

"At this rate of cultivation."

"I believe reaching the later stages of Qi Refining is just around the corner."

Qin Ming pondered for a moment.

Perhaps he could deepen his cooperation with the Mirror Snow Pavilion. After all, their influence was not to be underestimated, spanning across the southern wilderness of the immortal world.

While gaining access to higher-level information channels, he could also seek some cultivation resources.

Of course, it had to be under circumstances completely within his control.

"Hmm, tomorrow I'll go to the Gathering Pavilion to sell the Qi Restoration Pills and exchange them for some auxiliary materials needed to refine Qi Gathering Pills."

(End of Chapter)