You're just a single demon beast? I have a whole army of beast tamers!

"It would take many years to figure it out on my own."

It's always better to have someone guide you than to reinvent the wheel.

He pondered for a moment and decided to go to Shui Qingli the next day to ask about the Shui family's alchemist.

As for the elixir of immortality, he wasn't too worried.

Although the Condensing Immortal Grass is a first-grade immortal herb, it is not considered rare in the immortal realm.

However, although his space can accelerate growth, it requires the energy accumulated by the colored spheres.

That energy has other uses right now and cannot be used lightly.

The next morning, Qin Shou changed into a simple robe and used a sound transmission talisman to arrange a meeting with Shui Qingli.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shui Qingli arrived at his villa.

She remained smiling and cheerful, and after sitting down, she first glanced at Qin Shou, a strange glint flashing in her eyes:

"Fellow Daoist Qin's cultivation seems to have improved quite a bit. It seems you gained a lot from that time you entered the pool."

Qin Shou smiled and said, "I've made some progress, but I'm still far from it. I came to see you today to inquire about the situation of the clan's immortal alchemists."

Shui Qingli raised an eyebrow slightly: "You want to learn how to refine elixirs?"

"That's right." Qin Shou nodded. "I also learned some alchemy techniques when I was in the lower realm."

Only after arriving in the immortal realm did I realize that elixirs and spiritual pills are very different.

If I try to figure it out on my own, I don't know how long I'll waste.

If there is a skilled alchemist in the clan, I, Qin, am willing to pay a price for a chance to observe him.

Shui Qingli pondered for a moment and said, "The Shui family's expertise is not in alchemy."

The clan has only two first-grade alchemists, and they can only refine a limited number of different types of pills.

Observation is allowed, but you must pay one hundred immortal crystals.

Moreover, you can only watch; you can't ask questions freely, and there's no guarantee you'll learn it.

Qin Shou frowned slightly, then relaxed.

Although one hundred immortal crystals are expensive, if he could witness the entire process of the immortal pill going from being put into the furnace to undergoing tribulation, with his comprehension and the colorful sphere, he might be able to grasp the key in one go.

"Okay, I agree," he said.

Shui Qingli was somewhat surprised, but she didn't offer any further advice:

"Since you've made up your mind, come with me."

Qin Shou followed her through two long bluestone streets and arrived at a detached courtyard in the northeast corner of the Shui family mansion.

Above the courtyard gate hangs an old plaque with the three characters "Alchemy Hall".

Before even stepping into the courtyard, a wave of heat hit us.

The heat was different from ordinary earth fire and spirit fire, carrying a sharp burning sensation, which caused the fire law within his body to stir slightly.

"Huh?" Qin Shou narrowed his eyes and looked up.

The courtyard was dimly lit by firelight. In the very center stood a bluish-gray stone platform, which was sunken several feet deep. A golden-red fire snake sprang up from the ground and kept licking a bronze furnace that was more than half a person tall.

The flame was entirely golden-red, with a wisp of silver at its core, exceptionally lively, yet firmly locked within the stone platform by some force.

"This fire..." Qin Shou thought to himself, "It seems to be a mutated earth fire that has been tainted with immortal spiritual energy, somewhere between a spiritual fire and an immortal fire."

"This is a fire source that our clan drew from a Celestial Flame Cave, specifically for the use of the two alchemists," Shui Qingli explained from the side.

As the two were talking, an old man came out of a house in the courtyard.

The man was thin and gaunt, with sunken cheeks. He wore a stained, grayish-brown alchemist's robe, his hair was tied haphazardly behind his head, and his brows revealed an undisguised arrogance.

Seeing Shui Qingli enter, he simply nodded casually: "What brings you here today, Steward Shui?"

"By order of the elder, I have brought this fellow Daoist Qin here to observe a pill refining process."

"One hundred immortal crystals, it's settled." Shui Qingli smiled, but her tone was somewhat indifferent.

The old man glanced at Qin Beast, looked him up and down twice, and suddenly chuckled: "Observe?"

Do you think the elixir of immortality is some kind of street performance that you can learn by watching it once?

"Could it be that they have too many immortal crystals and nowhere to spend them?"

Qin Shou remained expressionless and cupped his hands in greeting:

"This junior only wants to broaden my horizons, please grant my request, senior."

"Grant your favor?" The old man snorted lightly, not answering immediately, but instead walking half a circle around Qin Beast. "Judging from your bone age, you must have ascended from the lower realm."

I've seen plenty of ascended cultivators; nine out of ten can't even distinguish a first-grade immortal medicine, let alone refine pills.

"And you, you immediately ask to observe and learn, do you really think alchemists are as common as cabbages?"

"This junior has never underestimated the art of elixirs."

Qin Shou said calmly, "It is precisely because I know how difficult it is that I am willing to observe and learn first, and dare not act rashly."

"That sounds nice." The old man curled his lip, returned to the table and sat down, picked up a half-worn medicine cup and took a sip, "One hundred immortal crystals, pay first."

Let me make this clear beforehand: if you dare to make a sound or approach the alchemy furnace during the observation period, don't blame me for throwing you out.

Qin Shou wasn't annoyed; he took out a cloth bag and handed it over.

The old man took it, weighed it in his hand, didn't bother to count it, and casually tossed it to the medicine boy behind him before getting up and walking towards the gray stone platform.

"Today is the perfect day to refine a batch of Condensing Essence Pills."

If you want to look, then look more carefully.

However, let me be clear: the key to refining elixirs lies in those final few tribulations of lightning.

"You can't just look at the technique; it's useless." The old man said without turning his head.

"This junior understands." Qin Shou walked to the stone bench in the courtyard and sat down, facing the stone platform.

Shui Qingli didn't leave either, standing beside him, clearly also wanting to see this batch.

The old man walked to the alchemy furnace, first scanning the furnace with his divine sense, and then taking out several kinds of immortal medicines and arranging them one by one.

The most eye-catching one is a slender fairy grass with long, thin leaves that are silvery-green all over and have a faint shimmering effect on the edges.

The other ingredients also exude a strong spiritual aura.

"The elixir is not like the pills you refine in the mortal realm, where ordinary fire or spiritual fire can suffice."

When I start the fire later, you'd better use your internal energy to protect your heart meridian.

"This furnace fire carries the aura of immortals. Let alone you, even an ordinary true immortal might not feel good if they got too close." The old man said, glancing sideways at Qin Beast.

"Thank you for reminding me, senior," Qin Shou said.

The old man said no more, opened his mouth and spat out a beam of blue spiritual light, which he then sent into the furnace.

The golden-red flames at the bottom of the furnace suddenly surged and covered the furnace.

He swiftly formed hand seals, and beams of spiritual light entered the furnace, causing the medicinal liquid to churn within.

The whole process is not rushed. Sometimes, if a new ingredient is added, the process will be paused for half a day.

The old man didn't say anything, but his hands moved quickly, and every adjustment to the heat showed his experience.

The Qin beast remained outwardly still, but secretly activated the colorful sphere.

A cool sensation rose from the depths of his consciousness, and everything before his eyes became slow and clear.

Every gesture of the old man, every flow of spiritual energy, and every control over the heat was magnified many times over in his eyes.

Even the rhythmic flickering of the golden-red flames and the changes in the medicinal liquid inside the furnace were as clear as the lines on the palm of one's hand.

This observation lasted for five days and five nights.

On the seventh day, a buzzing sound suddenly came from the furnace, and a rich medicinal fragrance soared into the sky.

Immediately afterwards, the sky above suddenly darkened, a black cloud gathered out of thin air, and a bright white lightning bolt fell upon the alchemy furnace.

Qin Shou's eyes narrowed.

The lightning bolt wasn't particularly strong, but the immortal energy it contained was extremely pure.

As the lightning entered the alchemy furnace, the medicinal liquid inside rapidly contracted, eventually condensing into two silvery-white balls at the bottom of the furnace.

After a while, the clouds dispersed and the sky cleared. The furnace lid was opened, and two pills the size of longan flew out, which the old man caught in his hand.

Each pill has a fine, hair-like golden line.