Although Du Feng still harbored some doubts about Lin Tian's alchemical competence, he nonetheless followed Lin Tian's instructions to the letter, placing the medicinal ingredients into the furnace one by one. Even the refinement techniques he employed were exactly as Lin Tian had directed, without the slightest deviation.
After sealing the furnace and waiting quietly for the pill to emerge, Du Feng could not help glancing at Lin Tian. "Boss… do you really think we can succeed this time?"
"What kind of talk is that? If you don't even trust yourself, could it be that you don't trust me either?" Lin Tian replied with clear displeasure. Yet the moment his words fell, a scorched odor began to waft out from the furnace.
The instant he caught the smell, Lin Tian froze in place.
"Boss, is this what you meant by trusting you?" Du Feng asked awkwardly. The appearance of that burnt stench clearly signified a failed refinement. Though he trusted Lin Tian from the bottom of his heart, the truth was that Lin Tian had no experience in alchemy. Blind guidance could only result in wasted herbs.
"Let me see." Frowning, Lin Tian retrieved the two charred pills from the furnace and brought them to his nose, examining them with confusion. By all logic, he had followed the standard procedure—this should not have happened.
"Boss, I really think we should stop," Du Feng advised softly as he watched Lin Tian's serious expression.
"I understand now." After biting off a small piece of the pill, Lin Tian's eyes lit up at once. He immediately produced another set of medicinal ingredients and handed them to Du Feng.
"This time, if you do exactly as I say, success is guaranteed," Lin Tian said excitedly.
"Boss, do you really think I can trust you?" Du Feng asked solemnly as he accepted the herbs.
"Are you saying your boss would lie to you?" Lin Tian snapped, clearly unhappy.
In response, Du Feng nodded just as solemnly. If it were anything else, he would have trusted Lin Tian without question—but in matters of alchemy, his doubts ran deep.
"Trust me. This time, it will definitely work." Seeing Du Feng's expression, Lin Tian could only sigh inwardly and continue persuading him.
"Alright then. I'll try one last time," Du Feng said helplessly. "But let's make this clear—if it fails again, I'm done."
"Deal." Lin Tian agreed without the slightest hesitation.
As the alchemical flame burned, Du Feng expressionlessly tossed the herbs into the furnace. At this moment, he was nothing more than a cold, emotionless refining machine.
Yet as the medicinal essences were gradually refined within the furnace, he soon sensed something amiss. This time felt subtly different from before. Turning toward Lin Tian, a hint of confusion surfaced in his eyes.
"Add the Nourishing Spirit Root," Lin Tian ordered calmly, his gaze fixed firmly on the furnace.
"Increase the fire." The moment he sensed a change within, Lin Tian spoke again. Du Feng immediately poured in more spiritual energy, raising the flame's intensity. As the temperature rose, the vague outline of a pill slowly took shape inside the furnace.
"Increase the fire again." Lin Tian spoke once more.
Du Feng's eyes flickered with doubt. According to everything he had learned at Alchemy Peak, this was absolutely not the time to raise the heat further.
"Increase the fire." Lin Tian's voice was resolute, leaving no room for debate. Though hesitation lingered in his heart, Du Feng finally gritted his teeth and raised the flame another notch.
At that very moment, a rich medicinal fragrance burst forth. Spiritual energy surged from Lin Tian's palm as he struck the furnace with a heavy slap. The furnace, formed purely of spiritual energy and lacking true solidity, shattered instantly under the blow.
A strand of spiritual energy plunged into the alchemical flame, retrieving the round pill within. Du Feng hurriedly extinguished the fire and stared at Lin Tian's palm. There, resting quietly, was a pill exuding an intense medicinal aroma.
The pill was plump and smooth, radiating a faint azure glow.
"Is that… pill radiance?" Du Feng exclaimed in shock. As a disciple of Alchemy Peak, he knew well that beyond rank, a pill's quality was of paramount importance.
A pill that emitted pill radiance possessed at least fifty percent greater efficacy than an ordinary one. What astonished him even more was that this pill—one bearing pill radiance—had been refined by his own hands.
Even among inner disciples of Alchemy Peak, those capable of producing pills with pill radiance were exceedingly rare. Yet he, a mere outer disciple, had achieved it. Such an accomplishment was worthy of being recorded in the annals of the outer sect.
Still, he understood clearly that this success was entirely due to Lin Tian's guidance. Without it, he would never have succeeded so easily.
"Boss, thank you," Du Feng said sincerely as he looked at Lin Tian.
"Why are you thanking me? I should be the one thanking you for refining such a high-quality healing pill for me," Lin Tian replied with a smile. He then swallowed the pill in one gulp. The moment it entered his body, pure medicinal energy spread rapidly through his meridians.
The injuries within him began to heal at once, and even the spiritual energy in his body stirred restlessly. Yet before the medicinal power could be fully digested, Lin Tian's eyes snapped open. In the next instant, streams of spiritual seals flew out, forming a formation around him.
Du Feng's eyes likewise filled with caution as he turned to look into the distance. At that moment, a deep, low roar echoed from afar.