When Xu Zhizhi saw Wen Jingshu return, she hurriedly went to greet her.
After paying her respects to Wen Jingshu, her expression became a bit hesitant.
Luo Yunting spoke up directly, “Miss, Xu Zhizhi also went to Pill Peak to participate in the experiment, and she successfully refined a Rejuvenation Pill.”
Wen Jingshu was stunned to hear this.
When she first learned that Yun Xiange was messing around with this, she had not taken it to heart.
The Dao of Alchemy had a long history and involved complex refining processes. With generation after generation of alchemy masters, the techniques of alchemy had long since been perfected and set in stone.
Even though the Eastern Azure Continent and the Northern Dark Continent were vast distances apart, their alchemy methods were largely the same.
Yet, with just some casual tinkering, had Yun Xiange actually lowered the threshold for alchemy?
It seemed she had truly underestimated this senior sister of hers.
Seeing that Wen Jingshu remained silent for a long time, Xu Zhizhi said apprehensively, “Senior Sister, you won't blame me for going to Pill Peak to do the experiment without permission, will you? It's just...”
Pill Peak was simply offering too much!
Although Wen Jingshu rewarded her generously as well, Wen Jingshu's gifts were always high-quality items that Xu Zhizhi wanted to save for her own use. As for the ordinary pills offered by Pill Peak, she planned to sell them to trade for other resources.
Hearing this, Wen Jingshu, as a talisman cultivator, waved her hand dismissively.
She did not mind. On the contrary, she understood Xu Zhizhi's perspective.
Besides, Xu Zhizhi was free to do as she pleased, and Wen Jingshu had never expected her to be intensely loyal.
It would actually be strange if Wen Jingshu tried to keep everything on Little Spirit Peak strictly under wraps.
“It is fine. You are free to do whatever you wish, as long as you do not disclose anything you shouldn't.”
Well... in truth, from Xu Zhizhi's perspective, everything on Little Spirit Peak was perfectly ordinary. There was nothing worth disclosing anyway.
Driven by curiosity, Wen Jingshu headed to Pill Peak the very next day.
She did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point:
“Peak Master Kong, Third Senior Sister, I heard you are conducting an alchemy experiment. I wonder if someone with a lightning spiritual root like me is eligible to participate?”
Yun Xiange gritted her teeth inwardly as she looked at Wen Jingshu's candid manner.
They had indeed posted experiment missions for disciples outside of Pill Peak.
However, their test subjects ranged from five-element spiritual root chore disciples to single spiritual root personal disciples. They had gathered people with all sorts of spiritual roots, except for a lightning spiritual root.
First, cultivators with a lightning spiritual root were too rare.
Second, those lightning spiritual root cultivators did not care for alchemy at all.
To them, a lightning spiritual root was inherently unsuited for alchemy. Rather than wasting time on such a boring experiment, they would rather go out and hunt demon beasts for a thrilling fight.
Kong Zhengping had long thought of inviting Wen Jingshu to join the experiment, but seeing how strongly Yun Xiange seemed to reject her, he had tactfully remained silent.
Now that Wen Jingshu had come on her own accord, Kong Zhengping was absolutely delighted.
Yun Xiange had always compared herself to Wen Jingshu, desperately wanting to prove that she was not inferior to the female protagonist.
In her subconscious, she did not want Wen Jingshu to participate in her alchemy experiment.
But then again, the omnipotent female protagonist was now actively seeking to participate in an experiment she led—especially one involving alchemy, which the original female protagonist had never been able to master.
Did that mean Wen Jingshu also recognized that she was inferior to Yun Xiange when it came to alchemy?
No matter what Yun Xiange thought, Wen Jingshu had come to Pill Peak in person. By all accounts of courtesy and reason, Yun Xiange should not refuse.
“It is my honor that Junior Sister is willing to spare her precious time to indulge in my little project,” Yun Xiange said.
Ignoring the sarcasm in Yun Xiange's words, Wen Jingshu smiled and entered the alchemy room.
The more Wen Jingshu showed she did not care, the more annoyed Yun Xiange became, yet she could not let it show.
It was incredibly frustrating.
The three of them entered the alchemy room. Watching Wen Jingshu look around with curiosity, Yun Xiange finally regained her sense of home-field advantage and said:
“My alchemy method is different from any method you have seen before. I can demonstrate it for you first.”
“However, since Junior Sister has a lightning spiritual root, which is inherently unsuited for alchemy, please don't cry if you fail later.”
Wen Jingshu's response remained modest and steady: “Alright, Senior Sister.”
At this moment, Yun Xiange actually felt that Wen Jingshu was putting on airs.
Where did she get the confidence to look so completely in control?
Wen Jingshu's posture made it seem as if she were a veteran alchemist guiding her through the refining process.
Yun Xiange grumbled a few words in her mind, took a deep breath, and began her alchemy.
Wen Jingshu watched as she retrieved various jars and bottles from the side and began pouring them into a palm-sized cauldron.
Beside her was a small gadget that looked like a timer. Yun Xiange timed it precisely, pouring in and blending the medicinal extracts bit by bit.
Finally, with the help of hand seals and the cauldron, eight pills were produced.
Looking at the seven mid-grade and one low-grade Rejuvenation Pills, Yun Xiange smugly brought the cauldron before Wen Jingshu.
“I hope I haven't made a fool of myself in front of Junior Sister.”
Wen Jingshu picked up one of the pills, sniffed it, and offered an objective evaluation:
“Senior Sister is too modest. For a metal spiritual root to refine pills of this quality is already a rare feat.”
“If this method is indeed viable, Senior Sister will be benefiting not only our Qingyun Sect, but all low-level cultivators in the world!”
Back when she was a talisman cultivator, Wen Jingshu had spent more than half of her resources just purchasing pills. If she had known how to refine pills back then, the resources she saved could have been used for her cultivation.
If all those resources had been used for cultivation, would her cultivation level have risen faster?
And if her cultivation level had been higher, would she have avoided being assassinated?
Wen Jingshu's thoughts wandered far. Yun Xiange, on the other hand, was momentarily dazed by her praise.
The ultimate female protagonist actually praised her, the villainous female supporting character?
Weren't the two of them supposed to be on opposing sides?
Shouldn't Wen Jingshu be hostile toward her, just as she was toward Wen Jingshu?
Why could she praise her so candidly?
“Senior Sister, may I try?”
Yun Xiange looked at Wen Jingshu with a complex expression, eventually nodding. “Of course. We don't have any experimental data for a lightning spiritual root refining pills yet.”
“However, before you begin, Junior Sister, you must memorize these steps first.”
Wen Jingshu took the paper Yun Xiange handed her and carefully read the steps.
After all, as someone who had refined thousands of cauldrons of Rejuvenation Pills in her past life, Wen Jingshu only needed a brief glance to grasp the key points.
In Yun Xiange's eyes, however, Wen Jingshu had merely glanced over it perfunctorily before saying, “Senior Sister, I am ready.”
Kong Zhengping also felt she was being perfunctory.
Thinking of how Wen Jingshu possessed a lightning spiritual root, Kong Zhengping could not help but feel a bit regretful.
This young girl was probably just trying her hand at alchemy on a whim.
Before Wen Jingshu even began, Kong Zhengping could already foresee her failure.
Yet, Wen Jingshu's movements were as smooth as flowing water. Her timing was precise, and her control of the heat was flawless. Her level of experience gave Kong Zhengping the illusion that she was a professional alchemy cultivator.
A quarter of an hour later, Wen Jingshu stopped.
Due to the limitations of using a lightning spiritual root, Wen Jingshu only produced seven pills this time.
One high-grade, five mid-grade, and one low-grade.
Kong Zhengping: ?
Wait, is Wen Jingshu's talent even real?
He had been considered a genius back in his day, but even his first attempt at alchemy had not been so effortless!
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