Firefly Journey

After distributing the equipment and tools, the next step was to explain the basics of alchemy. Lin Yuanran listened along with everyone else, while He Suoqiu was unable to use this opportunity to scheme.

The theoretical knowledge is very simple; it just teaches you how to open a furnace and refine pills. You can basically understand it after just one listen. However, it's easier said than done. When it comes to actual practice, Lin Yuanran wasn't very confident.

Alchemy is like brewing medicine. The ingredients are placed in the furnace according to the proportions, and careful handling is required during the process. The quality of the final product is inseparable from the heat, time, and rarity of the raw materials.

The effects of elixirs vary, and the Alchemy Hall contains many formulas developed by predecessors. He Suoqiu told these novices that after understanding the basic alchemy process, they could begin their work.

Since they were all beginners, they wouldn't be scolded for wasting pills. He Suoqiu let Lin Yuanran and the other three choose their own pill formulas and then refine their first batch of pills.

Lin Yuanran chose a simple formula called "Crimson Beauty Pill," whose effect was to invigorate blood circulation and nourish the complexion. The reason was simply that the description of this pill was the simplest, and it was easy to refine.

The only drawback is that this pill needs to be roasted over a low flame without interruption, otherwise the entire process will be ruined. The total time required for refining is a full twenty-four hours.

Among these basic pill formulas, the Crimson Beauty Pill has the shortest refining time...

Lin Yuanran glanced to the side and saw that Han Yi had put himself on hell difficulty, and the first thing he did was use the "Mighty Pill" that would take a week to prepare. He guessed that he wouldn't be able to sleep for the next seven days.

Cruel person!

After everyone had chosen their pill formulas, He Suoqiu led them to the pill refining area, which consisted of rows of individual cubicles. Each room was small but adequate, with shelves for storing materials, small stools, and a reclining chair for resting.

Oh wow, it seems the sect also knows that alchemy is a tough job, the cubicles are designed very humanely.

It is worth mentioning that, in addition to studying alchemy and improving their own cultivation level, each disciple of the Zhulai Peak lineage is required to refine a certain number of pills for the sect every month, and the raw materials for these confiscated pills are provided by the sect.

To put it simply, if you enjoy the benefits of the sect, you also have to give something back. The grade and quantity of pills you hand over depend on the alchemy disciple's ability.

The raw materials for the Crimson Elixir were very simple. Lin Yuanran just took a quick stroll through the warehouse where spiritual plants were stored and gathered them all. In contrast, Han Yi, who was enhancing his own strength, presented a stark contrast.

The guy circled the warehouse several times, his forehead slightly sweating, but he still hadn't found all the materials. If it weren't for the signs on the shelves, given the size of the warehouse, he probably would have had to keep going until tomorrow morning.

Lin Yuanran returned to the small cubicle and began to light the stove.

The raw materials are mixed together, then thrown into the alchemy furnace, and finally reheated to finish.

Unlike his three disciples, including Han Yi, Lin Yuanran didn't need to watch the fire closely. As a "fire mage," he had complete control over fire and could easily set up a cluster of flames that flowed slowly.

With the auto-play settings complete, all that's left is to wait a day and a night. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lin Yuanran walked out of the alchemy room.

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, especially the senior disciples who had been there for a long time, wondering what he was up to.

Lin Yuanran ignored them.

Master Qingfeng took him as his personal disciple because of his exceptional talent. If I don't show off my skills, wouldn't I be letting down his kindness?

Furthermore, not only He Suoqiu, but also from the looks in their eyes and the tone of their conversations, he could clearly sense that these senior brothers and sisters harbored a faint hostility towards him.

He had to demonstrate exceptional abilities to prove that his appointment as a personal disciple was truly worthwhile, to intimidate them and prevent them from acting out of turn, just as they might be hoping for.

Although he didn't care, being bitten by mosquitoes every day was still quite annoying.

Lin Yuanran went and retrieved several ancient books that recorded prescriptions for elixirs.

He wanted to see if there were any rare elixirs made from the Illusionary Jade Grass.

……

After studying it all morning, I made very little progress. The Illusionary Jade Grass is extremely rare. Even going back millions of years, very few people would have had the opportunity to come into contact with it, let alone use it to refine pills.

The morning passed quickly, and by noon, the area in front of the alchemy hall was bustling with noise.

Lin Yuanran inquired and found out that it was Erlai Peak next door that was delivering food.

In the cultivation world, it is extremely rare for cultivators to reach the state of fasting; most still need to eat.

The alchemy hall actually has a kitchen, but it is almost always abandoned except when someone is hungry in the middle of the night.

Like secular schools and companies, each peak of the Star Moon Alliance has its own function, while Elai Peak is responsible for the entire sect's food and drink.

At mealtimes, disciples of Erlai Peak can be seen carrying specially made food boxes, flying around the sect, either riding mythical beasts or flying on swords, to provide food for the disciples of each peak.

Lin Yuanran was amused. He had thought that cultivation sects were mysterious, but it turned out that their operating rules were not much different from those of the secular world.

That's true. Most people in the sect are transformed from ordinary people, and there are very few second-generation immortals. What else can they do if they don't follow the secular model?

Lin Yuanran had a lot of spare food in his fantasy ledger, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and he also wanted to see what the food was like at the Star Moon Alliance.

As everyone went outside, he saw the disciples from Erlai Peak who had brought him the food and immediately beamed with joy.

"How did you come?"

"Today, our master had us follow our senior brothers and sisters to familiarize ourselves with the mountain, so that it will be easier for us to act alone in the future," Fengling said.

So that's how it is. Lin Yuanran and the other disciples from Zhulai Peak received their food from the senior brother who brought the wind chimes.

As expected of a major sect of cultivation, the dishes were extremely plentiful, with both vegetables and meat. This was the most luxurious staff meal Lin Yuanran had ever seen.

The food boxes used to deliver meals on Erlai Peak are specially made; in essence, they are spatial artifacts that can hold thousands of prepared meals.

Lin Yuanran asked in a low voice, "How's the situation on your end?"

Fengling replied, "The disappearance of a large number of women is most likely due to sexual assault. The owner of Erlai Peak is Qingque Daoren, who is a woman and therefore a low suspect. I am more inclined to believe that the other peaks are involved. Let's wait and see. We need to find an opportunity to infiltrate the other peaks."

Lin Yuanran wholeheartedly agreed: "It's similar on my end. Qingfeng Daoist let me stay next door to him, so there's no suspicion of me at the moment."

I remember the Star Moon Alliance has a rule similar to St. Louis Academy's: on Cloud Peak, where the Punishment Hall is located, there's a place to accept quests, and the quest givers are all members of the sect. I'll go check it out after I've gotten to know the place a few days better.”

Fengling nodded, then her beautiful eyes sparkled: "Let me tell you something fun."

"What?"

"The Chaofeng you beat up yesterday was actually a woman, the senior sister of the Erlai Peak lineage. She accepted a role-playing mission personally issued by the sect leader, which is why she went to that road to interfere with the newcomers."

"Oh...I hope she doesn't hold a grudge against me? I remember punching her."

Fengling laughed and said, "Probably not, but her back is still red."

Lin Yuanran touched his nose dejectedly.

Feng Ling smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've found out everything. She's only at the early stage of the Void Realm. Even if she wanted to cause you trouble, she wouldn't have any advantage."

Lin Yuanran raised an eyebrow: "I hope you'll keep me informed when the time comes."

"No problem, I will try my best to get along well with my fellow disciples and try to bring meals to Zhulai Peak more often."

Lin Yuanran's lips twitched, and he reached out to touch her hair.