A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

"Old man, drink up! If you finish this, you'll be reborn into a wealthy family in your next life and drink real wine every day. Don't drink this watered-down stuff."

"If you feel it's not enough, I have a pot of boiled water here. How about you use it to fill your stomach?"

"Let me make this clear first, if you get burned and your skin gets scalded, don't blame me."

Luo Fan sat in front of the grave, pouring half a jar of peach blossom wine onto the mound of earth. There were words engraved on the wooden plaque in front of him.

—The Tomb of My Beloved Teacher, Li Chishui

Li Chishui was the only alchemist at Peach Blossom Temple.

His three greatest hobbies in life were smoking, drinking, and visiting brothels.

Luo Fan is a transmigrator. In his previous life, he became a little beggar in the world of cultivation the moment he opened his eyes.

When he was starving to death, he met this drunken old man who had just come out of a brothel.

The old man squinted at him for a long time, then suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Child, I see you have extraordinary talent; you're excellent material for alchemy. From now on, you'll follow me!"

He was so moved that he thought he was one in a million geniuses.

Gold will always shine!

Later I learned that the old man slapping his thigh wasn't because he was amazed by his talent.

It's because I had a muscle cramp!

He wasn't just exceptionally talented; his very bones seemed to be imperfect.

While other cultivators of the same generation have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he is still stuck at the first level of Qi Refining.

In the old man's words, his talent was like God was feeding him.

After catching up, they pried open his mouth, poured in a spoonful of cement, sealed it up, and then God ran away!

The old man refused to give up and poured his life's blood into him.

He'd sell everything he owned to get all sorts of folk remedies, ancient methods, and strange and unusual pills, as long as they were said to improve his aptitude.

The result was stable, but it was completely useless.

Until half a year ago, the old man heard about a secret realm containing a treasure that could defy fate.

He secretly slipped out without telling Luo Fan.

A month later, he crawled back covered in blood, barely clinging to life.

Before he died, he took something out of his pocket and stuffed it into Luo Fan's hand.

It was about the size of a palm, covered in rust, and looked like a furnace dug out of an ancient tomb.

The old man stammered out his last few words.

"Kid, your master is useless... Keep this thing, it might... come in handy..."

After saying that, he tilted his head and passed away peacefully.

Luo Fan was holding the stove, tears streaming down his face, with only one thought in his mind.

Master, isn't your dying wish a bit too perfunctory?

Where are the spirit stones? Where are the magic treasures?

If all else fails, I wouldn't mind giving him all my cultivation!

Since then, Danfeng has been left with only Luo Fan as its commander.

He was also an apprentice alchemist, a janitor, a tomb keeper, and...

People who are about to be laid off and become unemployed.

Danfeng has fixed alchemy tasks, and a fixed number of basic pills must be submitted each month.

To put it bluntly, it has to be useful.

Danbong can only exist if it is useful.

Useless?

Then go somewhere cool and stay there.

"Junior Brother Luo~"

A very pleasant voice drifted over, with a slightly soft, sweet tone at the end.

Luo Fan looked up, his eyes lighting up.

The person who came was not the usual cold-faced senior brother, but a slender woman.

She wore a moon-white dress, the hem of which was embroidered with several elegant magnolias in silver thread.

Her black hair was half-tied up, with a peach blossom jade hairpin inserted at an angle, adorned with a delicate silver chain.

A matching ribbon was tied around her waist, with a small, exquisite bell hanging from it.

Luo Fan recognized this young lady; she was a direct disciple of Gao Yi, an elder of the Inner Sect's Hall of Affairs.

—Bai Jie!

It's a name he likes!

This senior sister is beautiful, with a gentle temperament and a natural charm.

Luo Fan had also secretly fantasized about discussing philosophy under the moon with this kind-hearted senior sister and having in-depth exchanges on core knowledge.

"Senior Sister Bai, why did you come in person?"

Luo Fan got up and dusted himself off.

Compared to his radiant senior sister, his Danfeng Peak looked particularly dilapidated and heartbreaking.

"I've come to collect this month's ration of pills on my master's orders, and I thought I'd drop by to see you too~"

Bai Jie smiled gently and blinked. "What, aren't you welcoming Senior Sister?"

"Welcome! Of course you're welcome!"

Luo Fan chuckled and turned around, disappearing into the alchemy room. Watching his hurried departure, Bai Jie covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Soon, Luo Fan came out carrying a small wooden box containing the old man's stockpiled goods that he had refined before his death.

After Bai Jie finished taking inventory, she looked at the new grave and then at Luo Fan. "The sect leader asked me to give you two messages on this trip."

Talent is predetermined, and if something is beyond your control, there's no need to force it. If you're willing, the sect can arrange another place for you in a month.

That's a euphemistic way of putting it.

The meaning is straightforward: if you can't refine pills, don't force yourself. Go back to where you came from; Peach Blossom Temple doesn't support idlers.

Luo Fan was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I understand. What about the second sentence?"

"Elder Qian of Qifeng was forging a fire-breathing sword a few days ago, but he was forged by the fire-breathing sword instead, resulting in fire poison invading his body. He needs to be treated with a heart-clearing pill."

The sect leader specifically requested ten Heart-Clearing Pills from Dan Peak; someone will come to collect them in five days.

Luo Fan was immediately displeased.

Is this what you call a test?

This is a car wheel running over your face, leaving marks—a blatant deterrent!

Although the Qingxin Pill is a Yellow-rank pill, it is not easy to refine, and requires extremely high standards for fire control and purification.

With his meager cultivation level of only the first level of Qi Refining and his mediocre skills, he simply couldn't refine it.

In other words, if you can't pass this test in five days, then you won't need to take the assessment a month later.

"This is your only chance this month to prove yourself to the sect."

Bai Jie's tone was gentle, but her words were like knives: "If it succeeds, Danfeng may be preserved; if it fails..."

As fellow disciples, your senior sister can help you pack your bags and see you off even a thousand miles away.

She turned and went down the mountain. After a few steps, she suddenly turned back and winked playfully at Luo Fan.

"The key to cultivation is perseverance, so don't give up easily! Senior sister doesn't know anything about alchemy, but if you need help, just come find me in the Hall of Affairs!"

Bai Jie waved her hand, and the sound of the bell faded into the distance.

Luo Fan stood in the courtyard, looking at the broken furnace in his hand and then at the empty alchemy room.

The medicine cabinet was left with only the lowest grade auxiliary medicines and a few pieces of black, unrefined dregs.

Not to mention the main ingredient of Qingxin Dan, Bingxincao, there isn't even a decent substitute.

He walked back to the grave, plopped down, and stared at the broken stove in his hand.

"What on earth is this thing?"

Luo Fan stared at the thing the old man had risked his life for, growing angrier the more he looked at it.

"Fine, you'll keep it, right? You'll find it useful, won't you?"

He stuffed a few pieces of dregs from the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill into his mouth, then plucked a handful of weeds growing from the grave. "Come on, let's refine the simplest Lesser Rejuvenation Pill!"

Luo Fan was simply venting his frustration; he had no hope whatsoever and only wanted to show that old man whether what he had risked his life for was truly worth it!

A wisp of smoke rose from his fingertips, the result of his twenty years of arduous practice of the Fire-Inducing Technique.

laugh...

The stove did not respond.

Luo Fan chuckled self-deprecatingly. Sure enough.

He was about to throw the stove aside and continue mocking the old man over the tombstone.

suddenly!

The furnace shuddered violently, and the rust on its surface emitted a faint, almost invisible light.

Red light shone through the several holes in the lid.

After that!

A mixture of burnt, grassy, ​​and... indescribable, strange medicinal aroma wafted out.

Luo Fan was stunned and sniffed hard.

This smell... goes straight to the top of your head!

It's like a fairy wearing slippery, sticky stockings, inhaling a breath of ethereal energy that surpasses even the taste of stir-fried chili peppers.

Even more surprisingly, the stove lid popped open a crack, and thick smoke choked Luo Fan, causing his eyes to water.

Four dark, unremarkable pills lay at the bottom of the furnace, with faint fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from them.

"This is a Lesser Rejuvenation Pill?!"

Luo Fan's heart pounded uncontrollably, and the hand holding the pill trembled slightly.

This broken furnace actually has the power to turn waste pills into miraculous ones!

etc??

This pill seems to be different from a normal Lesser Rejuvenation Pill.

He leaned closer to take a closer look and discovered some pink patterns on the surface of the pill!

And when I held it in my hand, my lower abdomen felt inexplicably warm.