Chapter 426: The Secrets of the 3rd and 4th Grades

Xiao Fan nodded, and Kong Ping gestured for Xiao Fan to sit on the bench below.

Xiao Fan didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly.

Long Caiwei was all smiles as she stood beside Xiao Fan, her gaze never leaving him.

Kong Ping cleared his throat and looked at Xiao Fan, asking, "What is it? To come to Danding Peak so suddenly, is there something the matter?"

Given his status as an Alchemist, he naturally couldn't directly ask if Xiao Fan had come to join his Danding Peak.

It was better to take things step by step.

If it wasn't the case, wouldn't he be making a fool of himself?

"Disciple has indeed come here because there is a matter I wish to consult the Elder about."

Xiao Fan spoke up, not hiding anything, and voiced his current confusion.

"You're saying… you can now refine Level 2 perfect Medicinal Pills, but you just can't succeed when refining 3rd Grade ones!!"

Kong Ping lost his composure, his voice rising a few notches…

Good grief.

How long has it been?

He can already refine Level 2 perfect Medicinal Pills on his own?

And he's even trying to refine 3rd Grade Medicinal Pills…

Is he crazy?

Xiao Fan nodded and admitted it.

There was nothing to hide about this.

Kong Ping took a deep breath and didn't rush to respond; he was calming his emotions.

Suddenly being able to refine Level 2 perfect Medicinal Pills meant he was only one step away from the 3rd Grade.

Didn't that mean Xiao Fan was already a Level 2 Alchemist and was about to reach the 3rd Grade?

What kind of Prodigy talent could achieve this!

Kong Ping had been exceptionally talented in Alchemy back then, but he still spent many years accumulating experience before finally reaching his current level of Alchemy attainment.

Back then, it took Kong Ping fifteen years to become a 3rd Grade Alchemist…

A full fifteen years…

And yet, here was Xiao Fan, running straight to him to ask how to become a 3rd Grade Alchemist.

If anyone else had said this, Kong Ping might have beaten them to death.

But he believed what Xiao Fan said.

The latter had no reason to lie to him.

At this moment, he glanced at Xiao Fan with envy, believing this surely had a great deal to do with the Enlightenment Seed…

In truth, while it was related to the Enlightenment Seed, it was also related to Xiao Fan's own hard work and the countless resources within the star chart.

Kong Ping calmly settled his emotions, not letting himself lose his composure.

He let out a breath and spoke, "To be promoted to a 3rd Grade Alchemist, one first needs to be able to refine Level 2 perfect Medicinal Pills. According to what you've said, you can already do that."

Xiao Fan nodded and remained silent.

"But… to reach the 3rd Grade Alchemist level, just being able to refine Level 2 perfect Medicinal Pills isn't enough. There is a fundamental difference between 3rd Grade Medicinal Pills and Level 2 Medicinal Pills."

"To refine Level 2 Medicinal Pills, one only needs a general understanding of heat control and pharmacology; even if the heat control is slightly off, it can still be refined."

"But that won't work for 3rd Grade Medicinal Pills… To refine 3rd Grade or even the subsequent 4th Grade Medicinal Pills, besides requiring high mastery over flames, one also needs to master the pharmacology of every medicinal herb to the extreme. Even the slightest discrepancy is unacceptable…"

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Xiao Fan was startled…

So it was a matter of mastering pharmacology.

pharmacology is different from fire control; understanding pharmacology requires immense foundational work, studying various ancient texts, and mastering the medicinal properties of countless herbs.

He hadn't been involved in Alchemy for very long, and pharmacology had always been his weak point.

"I understand. Thank you, Elder Kong."

Xiao Fan stood up and bowed in thanks…

Kong Ping's words made him realize where he was lacking.

Kong Ping nodded, his internal shock not diminishing.

"Then this Disciple shall take his leave," Xiao Fan spoke, intending to depart.

"Wait."

Kong Ping spoke to stop him, saying, "Refine a batch of Level 2 Medicinal Pills. Let me see what your current Alchemy attainment is."

Xiao Fan thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Long Caiwei stood dazed to the side. Why was her brother-in-law suddenly going to perform Alchemy?

"Hmm, just refine it here." Kong Ping thought about it and decided not to let Xiao Fan go out and refine pills in public.

He was afraid of crushing the fragile hearts of the Disciples in his peak…

Xiao Fan nodded, staring blankly at Kong Ping without saying a word.

Kong Ping: "…"

"What are you looking at me for? Start refining."

Kong Ping was puzzled. He told him to refine pills, so why was he staring straight at him?

"I… I don't have a Pill Furnace…" Xiao Fan was speechless; where would he have a Pill Furnace?

His Pill Furnace was the bronze alchemy furnace inside the star chart; in the outside world, he didn't have one of his own at all.

"You don't have a Pill Furnace? How do you usually refine pills then?!" Kong Ping was shocked, feeling like Xiao Fan was playing with him.

No Pill Furnace?

And his Alchemy attainment just suddenly went up?

Are you kidding me…

Xiao Fan: "…This Disciple's Pill Furnace was left in the Immortal Cave; I didn't bring it out."

Xiao Fan thought of an excuse; he had indeed forgotten about this point.

How did his Alchemy attainment grow without a Pill Furnace…

This was indeed a problem. He decided that after leaving, no matter what, he had to get a Pill Furnace.

Otherwise, it would be easy to arouse suspicion later.

Kong Ping nodded; this reason was sufficient, and it was normal not to have a Pill Furnace on hand.

He slapped his Storage Pouch, and a man-sized Pill Furnace appeared, floating in front of Xiao Fan.

Judging by its external patterns and various aspects, it was much stronger than the Pill Furnace Xiao Fan had used in the main hall before.

"Just use this one," Kong Ping said.

Xiao Fan nodded in agreement, then stared straight at Kong Ping again without speaking…

"What are you looking at me for again?!" Kong Ping was puzzled.