Chapter 152: First Attempt Succeeds – Joint Alchemy Begins

Jiang Xiaolong was already seated cross-legged before his own alchemy furnace, smiling as he said, “Junior Brother Yu, shall we begin?”

Yu Xian shook his head slightly. “No rush, Senior Brother. Let me study the pill recipe a bit more. That way, my success rate will be higher. Otherwise, rushing into the refinement may just waste your spirit herbs.”

Jiang Xiaolong’s eyes lit up with appreciation, laughing. “Good, good. Take your time. You’re just like Senior Brother Xiao—he used to spend at least three days before each alchemy session, studying the pill recipe and contemplating herb interactions to maximize success. Truly, a disciple from the same lineage.”

Yu Xian nodded lightly and said no more, his attention focused entirely on the pill recipe, his mind working rapidly.

When Yu Xian refined pills, he strived to succeed in one try. That was the alchemy path he pursued.

No deceit, no excuse just because the materials were free or belonged to someone else. He never used failure as a shield to steal herbs or experiment without care.

When he refined a pill, it was with full sincerity and unwavering determination.

Unless he had no intention of helping in the first place.

And so, he studied for a full two hours.

Jiang Xiaolong didn’t show any impatience; instead, he passed the time quietly meditating.

Suddenly, Yu Xian closed his eyes.

Moments later, he opened them again, setting down the pill recipe and calmly said, “Thank you for waiting, Senior Brother. I’m ready now.”

“Oh?” Jiang Xiaolong opened his eyes, pleasantly surprised. “Then go ahead. Try refining a few to get used to it, then we’ll work together.”

“Very well.”

Yu Xian didn’t make bold claims. He simply nodded, raised his hand, and dropped several chunks of Dragonrock Charcoal into the furnace to preheat it.

Jiang Xiaolong watched from a distance with a smile.

This was the disciple of Xiao Wusheng, known for his exceptional alchemy talent.

He recalled that according to Luo Yingmei, Yu Xian had refined a Tier-3 high-grade pill at just sixteen years old. But before he could learn more, the Zhenyun Sect was destroyed in the Blood River catastrophe, and the matter was lost to time.

To think they would meet here.

And now… Yu Xian had already formed his Foundation!

He couldn’t be more than twenty, yet he was already at the Foundation Establishment realm—clearly a rare genius.

But then again, his own disciple wasn’t bad either.

Luo Yingmei was only fourteen and had reached Qi Condensation Perfection. In a year or two, she’d form her Foundation, and without using a pill—she’d be a perfect Foundation cultivator!

Among cultivators, a few years’ difference meant little. The further one advanced, the longer life stretched. Even a hundred or a thousand years between them would be nothing in the grand scheme of cultivation.

The heat in the room gradually intensified. While Jiang Xiaolong was immersed in thought, Yu Xian had already finished preheating the furnace.

He flicked his hand, and dozens of spirit herbs floated out from his storage pouch—one full set of ingredients.

Then, with a tap of his finger, the pill refinement began.

Jiang Xiaolong watched calmly at first, but as Yu Xian progressed—activating herb effects, placing them into the furnace with practiced precision—his expression shifted into one of shock.

He had seen Xiao Wusheng refine pills before, and this youth… he was no worse than Xiao Wusheng back then.

So calm.

So steady.

This was supposed to be his first time refining this Tier-4 mid-grade pill—the Huangchen Pill.

Yet, Yu Xian showed no nervousness, no hesitation. It felt like he had refined it hundreds of times!

BOOM—

A muffled thud echoed. Yu Xian had finished the refining steps and was now sealing the furnace, entering the final stage.

Jiang Xiaolong’s pupils contracted.

He knew the recipe well, and from what he could tell, Yu Xian had made no mistakes. Or if he had, they were too subtle for Jiang to notice.

This kid’s alchemy skills were already on par with Xiao Wusheng!

“Open!”

With a low shout, Yu Xian activated the final step.

BOOM.

The lid burst open.

A yellow pill, about the size of an egg, shot out and landed in Yu Xian’s palm.

The Huangchen Pill.

“…He succeeded.”

Jiang Xiaolong stood up, stunned, barely able to believe it.

First time. First attempt. First success.

What kind of monstrous control over alchemy was this?

Yu Xian looked at the pill in his hand, frowning. It was a defective product, oversized and full of impurities. Not even low-grade—it was substandard.

He sighed. “Senior Brother, this one’s no good. The impurities weren’t fully extracted. Though it’s technically complete, its value is low.”

“Uh… haha…”

Jiang Xiaolong awkwardly chuckled.

He had just witnessed a first-time success, and Yu Xian wasn’t satisfied?

What a terrifyingly high standard.

Raising his hand, Jiang said, “Junior Brother, you are a true genius in the Dao of Alchemy. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d think you already mastered this pill long ago. As for this substandard pill—don’t worry, we still have nineteen sets left. I believe you’ll craft a superior one in two more tries.”

Yu Xian nodded and handed the pill to Jiang. “Then I’ll keep practicing. You may keep this pill—though flawed, it’s still effective and worth some spirit stones.”

Jiang Xiaolong shook his head with a smile. “You refined it; it’s yours.”

Yu Xian thought for a moment, then nodded. “Then I’ll respectfully accept.”

He stored the pill, then sat down again and cleaned the furnace, preparing for another round.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaolong also sat down and said, “Junior Brother, I’m starting as well. You’ll finish your pill before me. When the time comes, deliver it to my furnace within the window—your pill will fuse with mine to become a Tier-5 low-grade Huanglong Xuechen Pill!”

Yu Xian nodded. “Understood.”

Joint alchemy was common—one lead, one assist. When solo control was impossible, two alchemists could work together to raise success rates.

Yu Xian would be assisting, and Jiang Xiaolong would be the lead alchemist, forming a single Tier-5 spirit beast pill.

With over thirty sets of ingredients in hand, they were well prepared.

The furnace room heated rapidly, but it was perfectly insulated. Cold mist rose from the floor and the walls, offsetting the heat and keeping the room comfortably cool for alchemists.

Both began refining again.

Hands moved in rapid sequence, spirit power weaving dozens of threads of energy, manipulating herbs with extreme precision.

Neither disturbed the other.

Soon, Yu Xian’s furnace was once again sealed.

Jiang Xiaolong was still adding herbs into his furnace—including a large barrel of bright red demonic beast blood.

That blood came from a Tier-3 Earth Flood Dragon, a beast with a faint trace of ancient dragon lineage.

Though diluted, it was enough—he’d spent months collecting it and now had enough for five full alchemy attempts.

Now, Yu Xian was finished.

He had fixed his earlier mistakes.

Naturally, new ones might arise, but Yu Xian knew: it would take at least ten rounds to fully master the Huangchen Pill and produce a perfect-grade pill.

But as an assistant in this process, even a mid-grade was enough.

“Junior Brother!”

Jiang Xiaolong’s voice rang out. “The pill must be delivered soon! In eighteen breaths, my furnace will open for one breath. Time it perfectly!”

Yu Xian thought for a second and calmly replied, “My pill will be done in seventeen breaths.”

“Perfect!”

Both resumed focus.

Seventeen breaths passed slowly.

“Open!”

Yu Xian shouted first, opening the furnace.

A yellow pill, lychee-sized and glowing faintly, shot out—a mid-grade Huangchen Pill!

It flew toward Jiang Xiaolong’s furnace without hesitation!

But the lid hadn’t opened yet!

Was he early!?

Yu Xian’s eyes flashed, then filled with certainty.

He wasn’t early—his calculation was exact.

If there was an error, it was in Jiang Xiaolong’s countdown!

“Just in time!”

With a loud shout, Jiang Xiaolong pointed at the furnace.

BOOM!

The lid popped open for a split second.

The Huangchen Pill shot inside precisely, and the lid shut immediately.

Zero heat or essence escaped.

Perfect cooperation!