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

A wisp of smoke drifted from the fingertip into the bottom of the stove.

The flames ignited, turning from blue to red.

Luo Fan focused intently, channeling his spiritual energy into the ignition technique, attempting to control the temperature of the new furnace.

But something's not right.

The heat control is completely out of my control!

Sometimes it would surge violently upwards, almost reaching the top of the furnace; other times it would sway weakly, nearly going out.

"snort."

Seeing this, Qian Butong curled his lips into a mocking smile, "Kid, it's not too late to admit defeat now."

Xiong Chumo also frowned, sighing inwardly.

Refining elixirs in a new furnace is difficult enough, let alone a newly forged furnace that has not been properly seasoned.

Impurities inside the furnace and residual metallic smells can interfere with the stability of the heating temperature.

Luo Fan's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

He tried to increase his spiritual energy output, and the flames suddenly surged. He quickly restrained them, and the flames instantly withered.

This stove is so hard to control!

It's like riding an untamed wild horse; you could be thrown off at any moment.

"Master, this... how about we..."

Xiong Chumo tried to persuade Qian Butong to let Luo Fan go.

"Don't speak, just watch."

Qian Butong crossed his arms and said, "If he can't even overcome this little difficulty, he doesn't deserve to stay in Danfeng."

Luo Fan gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he recalled the fire control techniques the old man had taught him.

But all those techniques seemed to be ineffective in the face of this new furnace.

The flames got out of control again, nearly burning his sleeve.

But he can't lose!

We absolutely cannot lose!

Ji Kun was waiting, Senior Sister Bai was worried, and the entire sect was watching Danfeng make a fool of himself.

He can't afford to lose.

Luo Fan took a deep breath, preparing to try again.

Deep within his sea of ​​consciousness, the once silent Great Dao furnace trembled without warning.

hum!

A warm and vast aura flowed automatically along with his spiritual power, pouring into the new furnace.

Luo Fan was taken aback at first, then overjoyed.

"This is……?!"

Before he could react, that aura had already created a mysterious resonance with the new furnace.

The miracle happened at that very moment.

The once raging and unruly flames instantly became docile.

The flames burned steadily, the temperature was evenly distributed, and there was no longer any disturbance.

Even more amazing is!

Luo Fan saw that the impurities that had not been completely removed from the inside of the new furnace were being assimilated and absorbed by the Great Dao Furnace!

It was as if this new furnace had become an extension of the Great Dao's furnace!

A sense of connection, of being able to control something as easily as using one's own arm or fingers, arises spontaneously.

"Now!"

Ignition Technique, Second Activation!

This time, the flames moved as if they were part of his arm, doing whatever he pleased.

Smoke curled up, and the flames changed from red to white, then from white to blue.

"What?!"

Qian Butong's eyes widened like saucers. "Three-colored True Fire?! How is that possible?"

Three-colored true fire is a sign that the skill of fire control has reached a subtle level!

Even a qualified alchemist needs to practice diligently for ten years before they can barely master it!

Isn't Ke Luofan a good-for-nothing?

This is a new furnace. How long has it taken him to stabilize the heat?

Xiong Chumo also covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

Next, Luo Fan began to add the medicinal herbs.

The precise timing, temperature control, purification, and fusion—every step is executed flawlessly.

What shocked Qian Butong the most was Luo Fan's fire control precision.

"A little too much and it'll burn; a little too little and it'll be ruined."

He muttered to himself, his eyes shifting from shock to horror, "This kid's control is unbelievably steady!"

It's more than just outrageous.

It's incredibly stable!

He controlled the temperature fluctuations of the flames to within one-thousandth of a degree!

Such precision in fire control is comparable to that of many seasoned alchemists!

Even someone as confident in his control over the heat as he has been forging weapons for many years would find it difficult to achieve this level!

"Something's really off about this kid!"

Qian Butong stared at Luo Fan, trying to find some flaw in him.

But it can't be found.

Time passed second by second, and the aroma of medicine in the alchemy furnace gradually became stronger.

"open!"

The furnace lid is opened.

Amidst the swirling white mist, a smooth, round elixir lay at the bottom of the furnace.

Luo Fan took out the pill and placed it in his palm. Cloud patterns flowed on the surface of the pill, and the spiritual energy was contained within.

Yellow-tier top-grade!

No! Not only that!

The quality of this pill is almost at the Xuan rank!

Qian Butong's lips moved for a long time, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Shock, confusion, bewilderment, and incomprehension... a mix of emotions clung to his face.

Xiong Chumo covered her red lips, her pupils dilating in shock.

Is this junior brother a monster?!

Using a brand-new, unseasoned furnace, a top-grade Yellow-rank Cleansing Heart Pill, nearly reaching the Profound rank, was refined?!

Luo Fan looked at Qian Butong, opened his palm, and spoke calmly.

"Elder Qian, please verify."

Qian Butong stood there, the fragrance of elixirs filling his nostrils, and Luo Fan's silhouette reflected in his eyes.

Xiong Chumo also snapped out of her shock, a strong sense of curiosity welling up inside her.

This is hardly a piece of trash who deserves sympathy.

He's clearly a hidden genius!

Despite possessing such exceptional alchemy skills, he willingly remained unknown on Danfeng Peak, bearing the reputation of being a good-for-nothing.

What does he want to do?

"Young man, the success or failure of an elixir isn't determined by appearances alone; its inner qualities also matter!"

Qian Butong strode forward, and to Luo Fan and Xiong Chumo's astonishment...

He inserted two fingers into Luo Fan's palm, pinched the pill between them, raised his hand, and tilted his head back.

Gudong!

He swallowed it down in one go.

"Master!"

"Elder Qian!"

Both of them exclaimed in surprise as the pills had already entered their mouths.

Qian Butong wiped his mouth and said arrogantly, "I've consumed more pills than you've eaten rice. Do you think this kid will refine a poison pill?"

Before he could finish speaking...

His expression changed.

All the abnormal dark red color on the forehead, neck, and palms disappeared.

The burning sensation in the skin and internal organs quickly subsided.

In just a few breaths, the crimson faded, and his skin returned to its original bronze color.

The fire poison that tormented him for almost half a month, making him unable to eat, sleep, or even hold a hammer properly, is now gone?

Qian Butong stood there dumbfounded.

The spiritual energy within his body flowed freely through his meridians, without any stagnation or burning pain.

With a wave of his hand, a ball of true fire emerged from his palm. The flame was gentle and stable, without the violent fluctuations of before.

"Is that all?"

Qian Butong found it unbelievable; he had taken no less than ten Qingxin Pills before, and they had been completely useless!

But it happened that Luo Fan took this one, and the effect was immediate.

This is unreasonable!

Luo Fan's heart jumped into his throat.

He was worried that the pills refined using the Great Dao Furnace might have side effects.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

Qian Butong rubbed his stomach, twisted his neck, and jumped twice on the spot.

Nothing's wrong.

Feeling refreshed and relaxed all over.

He even felt he could go back and hammer the black iron for three days and three nights.

That's strange.

He stroked his chin and looked at Luo Fan with a deep sense of inquiry in his eyes.

This kid couldn't refine pills before.

The pills they're offering now are top-grade spiritual pills, and their effects are incredibly potent!

And that technique, that skill, that precision in controlling the flame...

It's like he's a completely different person!

"Old Li! Was that you?!"

Qian Butong suddenly slapped his thigh, pointed at Luo Fan, and stared at him with eyes as wide as copper bells.

"You possessed this kid, didn't you?! Hahaha!"

He put his hands on his hips, looked up at the sky, and laughed loudly.

He looked like a simpleton who had discovered a shocking secret and was intoxicated by his own extraordinary intelligence.

Luo Fan: "..."

Xiong Chumo: "(꒪⌓꒪)!!"

She silently took two steps back, raised her hand to cover her face, and quietly opened her fingers.

Master, do I look like I'm a fool to you?

Do not!

You are the epitome of a fool.

I've heard that brain diseases are contagious.

For the sake of her little brain, it's safer to keep our distance.

"Master, your joke isn't funny!" Xiong Chumo felt ashamed.

Everyone in the Peach Blossom Temple knows that Elder Li treated Luo Fan like his own son and doted on him.

Possession?

You might as well say he's Elder Li's illegitimate son.

Other people's imaginations are boundless, but yours is completely empty.

Luo Fan took a deep breath, but couldn't suppress the twitching at the corner of his mouth.

He realized that this Elder Qian not only had a fiery temper, but also an astonishingly complex thought process.

"Elder Qian, have you forgotten something?"

Luo Fan's eyes were clear as he reminded him, "If you can't afford to lose, I can pretend that what just happened never occurred."

"Who, who said I can't accept defeat?" Qian Butong's face flushed red, and he stiffened his neck.

He glanced at Luo Fan, then at his own disciple, and suddenly chuckled, nudging Xiong Chumo with his elbow.

"My dear girl, look how much effort I've put into finding you a husband! What do you think?"

Xiong Chumo: "(⊙ˍ⊙)?"

"This kid's cultivation level isn't great, but his alchemy skills are unparalleled!"

Qian Butong proudly raised his chin, pointed at Luo Fan, and said, "He's quite handsome, a perfect match for you!"

Xiong Chumo blinked, then blinked again.

Then--

"Master! What are you saying?!"

Her face flushed red, and her white leather boots stomped on the ground with a dull thud.

"Men should marry when they're of age, and women should marry when they're of age. What are you being shy about?"

Qian Butong laughed heartily, "This kid has a limitless future. If you don't act now, you'll regret it when another peak snatches him away!"

Xiong Chumo: "(〃＞皿＜)!!!"

She covered her face with her hands, only peeking out from between her fingers to steal a glance at Luo Fan.

Luo Fan stood there dumbfounded, his expression stiff, his lips twitching.

"Master, please stop talking nonsense!"

She stamped her foot, "Junior Brother Luo is still... still young! And... and..."

And instead of causing trouble, why do you suddenly want to pack up and take other people away?

"If Brother Li were here, he would definitely approve of this marriage!"

Seeing his apprentice so embarrassed, Qian Butong laughed even harder. "Right, kid?"

He turned to look at Luo Fan, winking at him.

Luo Fan: "..."

He really wants to say: Elder Qian, our bet was about an apology, not an arranged marriage!

But he dared not say it; if he continued, he was afraid his senior sister would explode on the spot.

Qian Butong laughed for a long time before looking at the back of Danfeng Mountain with a solemn expression.

"Brother Li, I'm not good with money, I made a mistake."

"You didn't make a mistake in taking on the wrong apprentice."

Luo Fan listened quietly, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

Old man.

Did you hear that?

Someone apologized to you.

Some people say you have good taste.

Qian Butong straightened up, walked up to him, and said, "Kid, when did you achieve such skill?"

Luo Fan had already prepared his words, his face displaying just the right amount of reminiscence and sadness.

"Before his death, Master imparted to me all his life's experience in alchemy."

"This disciple is dull-witted, but I practice diligently day and night, daring not to slack off, for fear of disgracing my master's legacy."

The old man did pass on his insights, but what truly changed him was the Great Dao Furnace and the Spirit Fusion Technique.

Qian Butong stared at Luo Fan for a long time, then patted him on the shoulder.

"If you ever run into trouble in the future, just mention my name, and let's see who dares to mess with you!"

The speed and thoroughness of this change in attitude left Xiong Chumo, who was standing to the side, dumbfounded.

She blinked and muttered to herself.

"Just over an hour ago, you were calling him a piece of rotten wood and a piece of trash."

"I called that a test! Don't you understand what a test is?!"

Qian Butong glared and puffed out his beard.

Xiong Chumo: "(ㅍ_ㅍ)……"

Qian Butong rummaged in his pocket for a moment, then pulled out a heavy bag and stuffed it into Luo Fan's hand.

"Take it! These fifty high-grade spirit stones are my apology!"

He waved his hand generously, and then affectionately hooked his arm around Luo Fan's shoulder.

"I'll go and inform the sect leader right away and tell him your true skill level!"

His good elder brother, Li Chishui, has taken on an extraordinary disciple!

We can marry Chu Mo to this boy later. That's like planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade!

No matter how talented Luo Fan is, he will eventually become a junior under Qian Butong's control!

"Isn't that unnecessary?"

Luo Fan's smile froze. "My little tricks are really not worth mentioning."

"Moreover, my alchemy is not yet perfect and still has some minor flaws."

If the Pill Hall were to learn of the effects of his pills, they would definitely carve the words "evil cultivator" on his forehead.

This is not the main point.

He lacks the strength to protect himself, so playing it safe and developing his strength is the key.

But why haven't the side effects appeared yet?

Luo Fan secretly glanced at Qian Butong.

Old Qian, if you don't leave now...

I'm really afraid you'll suddenly start doing a striptease or something!