Watch out! Something's wrong with this guard.

After a long silence, Shangguan Yue could only say helplessly to herself.

“I disagree with your choice, but I said I would help you cultivate. So even if I disagree, I will still help you. But before I help you, you need to know that even if you want to reach the ultimate realm, you will need to use more cultivation resources. The pill that was originally meant to help you break through to the later stage is far from enough to help you break through to the ultimate realm.”

As if he had anticipated that the other party would say this, Lu Yunshi revealed a sly smile.

"If I remember correctly, the amount of Purple Cloud Root needed to refine that pill is only one-third of what I have. If I add the remaining two-thirds, could I refine two more pills?"

Shangguan Yue was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then felt even more helpless. "Do you think you can? Even if you use up all the Purple Cloud Roots you have, what about the other spiritual herbs? If I remember correctly, there's only one Hundred Spirit Spike in this mountain."

“I’ve read in books that highly skilled alchemists can perfectly bring out the medicinal properties and make multiple pills from a single batch. With Sister Shangguan’s skills, as long as the most crucial ingredient in pills, Purple Cloud Root, is sufficient, even if there is only one Hundred Spirit Spike, or even just half a stalk, multiple pills can still be made.”

Lu Yunshi looked confident, as if he himself was capable of doing it.

"Moreover, apart from the one Hundred Spirit Spike, I have prepared plenty of other necessary spiritual herbs."

Hearing this, Shangguan Yue found it amusing. "You're quite observant."

"Since Sister Shangguan is going to teach me alchemy, then I should at least get to see how good her skills are, right?" Lu Yunshi smiled slyly, looking just like a young boy.

Looking at Lu Yunshi's familiar smile, Shangguan Yue sighed. She was truly being manipulated.

"I really can't do anything with you, but do you know that if you keep those two-thirds of the Purple Cloud Root, it will become the key to your breakthrough in the later stages? Do you really want to use it now?"

"The decision has already been made, there's no need to overthink it. Overthinking is useless and a waste of time," Lu Yunshi said decisively.

Seeing this, Shangguan Yue knew that she couldn't persuade the other party no matter what she said. With a wave of her slender hand, a pill furnace as tall as a person fell to the ground. Shangguan Yue casually made a hand seal, and flames rose from the bottom of the pill furnace.

"Since you want to watch, then watch carefully. I will guide you well during the refining process. If you can't answer my questions afterward, you'll be in trouble." Shangguan Yue gave Lu Yunshi a reproachful look with her beautiful eyes, and then threw a spiritual herb into the alchemy furnace.

"Alright, alright, Sister Shangguan, just test me then. If I fail, feel free to hit me." Lu Yunshi nodded repeatedly, his eyes fixed on Shangguan Yue's refining process.

He wasn't that interested in alchemy, but Shangguan Yue's teaching undoubtedly piqued his interest. Plus, she had just helped him, so Lu Yunshi was watching very intently, keeping a close eye on how the spiritual herbs inside the furnace were gradually transformed into medicinal liquid powder.

At this moment, Shangguan Yue's teaching began. "Every kind of spiritual herb has several medicinal properties. However, when we refine the pills we need, we often only need one or two of these properties. Therefore, extracting the medicinal properties we need from the spiritual herb into a separate form is the basic skill of an alchemist, and it is also the most important one."

"Whether the extracted part is perfect and pure enough directly affects whether we can successfully refine the pill and its state after success."

"Of course, the difficulty of refining different spiritual herbs is also completely different."

"However, before refining, what alchemists need to master even more is the control of heat. Controlling heat is also an important basic skill for alchemists, just like... cooking."

"Oh, now I understand." Lu Yunshi nodded. He had figured it out when it came to cooking.

Controlling the heat is indeed very important. To cook the food in the pan to its perfect state, you need to control the heat. If it's too early, it won't be cooked through; if it's too late, it will be burnt. Both are edible, but neither will be the best.

As for that so-called middle point, it all depends on one's understanding.

Seeing that Lu Yunshi understood immediately, Shangguan Yue also laughed.

"Besides that, there's cognition. Cognition is also a fundamental skill for alchemists. Even if the medicinal properties are the same, there will be differences when extracted from different spiritual herbs. Mastering these differences is exactly what we need to do. As long as you do this well enough, even if you lack a key spiritual herb, you can often substitute it with a spiritual herb that has the same medicinal properties." At this point, Shangguan Yue stopped because Lu Yunshi spoke before her.

"However, because the same medicinal properties have different aspects, when using substitutes, we need to use our familiarity with these differences to change the refining and fusion methods. In other words, this requires us to have a lot of knowledge. So it's not enough to just know the effects of the medicinal herbs; we also need to know the differences between different medicinal herbs with the same effects."

Lu Yunshi grinned as he spoke before Shangguan Yue could.

"Am I right, Teacher Shangguan?"

“Absolutely right.” Teacher Shangguan nodded slightly, but at that moment Lu Yunshi suddenly raised his hand.

"However, Teacher Shangguan, I have another question."

Seeing Lu Yunshi's deliberately funny appearance, Shangguan Yue flicked his forehead with her slender fingers and said with a smile.

"Just ask."

After feigning pain while clutching his head for a moment, Lu Yunshi continued, "My question is, is basic skill all an alchemist needs?"

Shangguan Yue thought about it for a while after hearing this, and then nodded.

"That's right. In other people's eyes, the most important thing for an alchemist is the extraordinary soul and the natural affinity for fire. But these are just the tickets to get you through the door. An extraordinary soul and the affinity for fire can only turn you from a medicine apprentice into an alchemist. Furthermore, the stronger your soul and the more powerful your flames, the faster, purer, and easier it will be to master your alchemy. But that's not all."

"For a true alchemist, these fundamental skills are even more important. They determine an alchemist's upper limit. Experience... is the most important thing for us. As long as the fundamental skills are mastered, the advantages brought by the soul and flame can be made up for."

“But those with stronger souls and flames tend to gain experience faster, don’t they?” Lu Yunshi suddenly said.

“That’s right, but compared to the fundamentals, their importance is just so-so,” Shangguan Yue shrugged.

Lu Yunshi nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly looked at the flames in the alchemy furnace. "Sister Shangguan's fire seems to be different from ordinary spiritual fire; it has a faint purple hue."

Upon hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Shangguan Yue's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"You noticed? Indeed, no. This fire is one of the heavenly fires. You probably know what heavenly fire is. It is a powerful flame that is naturally generated in the world. For ordinary cultivators, it can greatly enhance their combat power. For alchemists, in addition to increasing their strength, it will naturally make our alchemy process easier."

"The heavenly fire I use is called Purple Spirit Flame. Its power is not the strongest among the heavenly fires known in the world today, but its nature is gentle and easy to control. It is very suitable for alchemy. Having this fire will also improve your ability to control your own spiritual power."

After a pause, Shangguan Yue suddenly added, "If one day you go far enough on the path of alchemy, perhaps I will share a wisp of this fire with you."

"Really?" Lu Yunshi held his breath. Was Shangguan Xianren about to drop equipment again?