The divine manifestations began at the Gongwei Division.

"By 'most suitable,' do you mean alchemy?"

Zhou Heng said calmly, "What if I were also a second-grade alchemist?"

"Lord Zhou, please don't joke like that."

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, said with a wry smile, "Lord Zhou, you are a cultivation genius. You are already a third-grade cultivator at such a young age. This is truly unprecedented."

However, alchemy is different from cultivation; mastering alchemy requires sufficient time for refinement.

I heard from Zhiwei that you, Lord Zhou, only recently began to consult her about alchemy.

The alchemy manual in your hand, sir, was written by my own hand.

To be honest, even I, in my youth, spent a full twenty years of arduous cultivation to become a second-grade alchemist, and I also had the support of the spiritual herbs accumulated by the Lin family through over a hundred years of business."

"The truth cannot be hidden, and falsehood cannot be made true."

Zhou Heng said calmly, "Mr. Lin, you have no idea how much effort I have put into alchemy, so don't easily deny others' abilities."

Lin Hanyuan: "..."

Am I denying you?

I acknowledge that you are a cultivator of the upper third rank.

But when it comes to alchemy, I am the expert!

Even though his granddaughter is a genius who looks like a second-grade alchemist before she's even twenty, Xue Zhiwei has been immersed in alchemy for fifteen or sixteen years.

Moreover, Xue Zhiwei had been taught by famous teachers since childhood and never lacked spiritual herbs to practice with.

How many people in the world can receive personal guidance from Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine?

Xue Zhiwei has no shortage of talent, background, or resources.

In this way, it took Xue Zhiwei fifteen or sixteen years to become a second-grade alchemist.

Regardless of whether Zhou Heng has a talent for alchemy, even if he does, without spiritual herbs to practice with and without the time to accumulate experience, how could he possibly become a second-grade alchemist?

That's absolutely impossible.

"Since that's the case, please forgive my rudeness, but I'll put Lord Zhou to the test."

"The King of Southern Medicine, Lin Hanyuan, said solemnly."

When it comes to alchemy, he will never compromise.

The Heaven-Reaching Pill might be the last batch of top-grade divine pills he ever refines, and he absolutely cannot allow any accidents to occur during the refining process!

Even though Zhou Heng provided all the materials for this batch of top-grade divine pills, he absolutely would not allow Zhou Heng to interfere with his pill refining process.

He didn't care what to do with the Tongtian Pill after it was made, but how it was made was up to him, the Southern Medicine King Lin Hanyuan.

In the realm of alchemy, he is the king, and even a third-grade cultivator would never dare to make him bow down.

"please."

Zhou Heng said calmly.

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, spoke in a serious voice with a solemn expression.

"Refining fifth-grade pills requires 'Six-One Mud,' what exactly is this 'Six-One Mud'?"

"Heaven generates water, and the sixth is the completion of it. The mud of the sixth is used in the external alchemy process to solidify and seal the pot, ensuring that the sublimated gas is condensed and preventing the elixir essence from leaking out."

It needs to be refined from red ochre, oyster shells, talc, alum, and brine.

Zhou Heng spoke without hesitation.

A hint of surprise flashed across Lin Hanyuan's face, but these were just theoretical knowledge. It was not surprising that a cultivator of the third rank with a powerful soul and photographic memory could remember these things.

"The river maiden, most spirited and divine, can fly when she gets fire... What does it mean that the yellow sprout is the root to subdue her?"

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, continued to ask.

Zhou Heng answered without hesitation.

The two exchanged questions, and in a short time, Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, had asked more than ten questions.

These problems cover everything from fifth-grade pills to second-grade pills, with the difficulty increasing progressively.

There are a few questions that cannot be answered simply by rote memorization.

Even with those questions, Zhou Heng still answered them without hesitation.

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, was filled with shock.

"Lord Zhou, did you really only start learning alchemy a few days ago?"

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, couldn't help but ask.

The questions he just asked could not have been answered without years of immersion in alchemy.

"I've had some contact with teachers before, but none of them were famous."

This time, it was also from Lieutenant Xue that many of my previous doubts were answered.

Zhou Heng said calmly.

"I believe that my current alchemy skills, even if not at the second rank, should be more than enough to reach the third rank."

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine: "..."

He frowned. In terms of theoretical knowledge, Zhou Heng did indeed have the level of a second-grade alchemist.

However, he had never seen Zhou Heng refine pills, so he couldn't be sure how good Zhou Heng was at practical application.

Logically speaking, someone with such theoretical expertise should also be quite good at practical application.

The problem is that he is refining the Heaven-Reaching Pill, and there is no room for error.

"Lord Zhou, you are indeed exceptionally talented. Regardless of whether you have been exposed to alchemy before, your current skill level is no less than that of Zhiwei."

However, theory and practice are two different things...

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, remained very cautious.

"You want me to refine a batch of pills right in front of you?"

Zhou Heng said calmly, "May I borrow your alchemy furnace?"

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, frowned deeply.

You don't even have a pill-making furnace, and you're telling me you're a second or third-grade alchemist?

Are you kidding me?

When did alchemy become such a simple thing?

If it were anyone else, Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, would have already given him a thorough dressing-down.

But it was Zhou Heng who said this.

The Governor of Shu Prefecture of the Great Yue Guard, a cultivator of the third rank.

The other party could really kill him with a single slap.

"Alright, as long as you can refine one batch of Five Spirit Pills, Lord Zhou, I'll agree to let you help me refine the Heaven-Reaching Pill!"

"The King of Southern Medicine, Lin Hanyuan, gritted his teeth and said."

A smile appeared on Zhou Heng's lips.

Logically speaking, I don't need to prove anything.

Zhou Heng said calmly, "But the Tongtian Pill is of great importance, and we need to work together. So I will prove it to you."

This is the first and the last time.

Zhou Heng walked straight to the alchemy furnace of Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine.

This is the alchemy furnace that Lin Hanyuan specially transported from Chengdu to refine the Heaven-Reaching Pill; it's something he's used for decades.

This alchemy furnace alone can be said to be priceless.

This alchemy room was also specially built by Lin Hanyuan.

Now Zhou Heng has become the first person to use it.

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, stood to the side, watching Zhou Heng begin to select medicinal herbs.

The Five Spirits Pill is a third-grade divine pill, and the medicinal materials he prepared were sufficient to refine it.

However, whether Zhou Heng can succeed in refining it depends on his abilities.

One, two, three...

Soon, Zhou Heng had gathered all the spiritual herbs needed to refine the Five Spirit Pill.

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, nodded slightly.

The fact that Zhou Heng found all the correct medicinal herbs shows that he truly knows the formula for the Five Spirit Pills.

"Even if he can't refine a third-grade divine pill, he is still an alchemy prodigy, one in ten thousand."

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, thought to himself, "Could there really be omnipotent people in this world?"

He felt a slight sense of anticipation.

Just then, Xue Zhiwei suddenly walked in from outside.

Just as she was about to speak, Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, made a shushing gesture.

"This is?"

Xue Zhiwei glanced at Zhou Heng in the alchemy room, then at her maternal grandfather.

She suddenly understood something.

Zhou Heng had previously said he would come to be her grandfather's assistant, but she thought he was just saying it casually.

Did Zhou Heng actually come?

And judging from this, it seems that Grandpa is testing Zhou Heng?

Are you kidding me!

Just a few days ago, Zhou Heng knew absolutely nothing about alchemy.

My grandfather actually made him use the alchemy furnace to refine pills?

Xue Zhiwei stared wide-eyed at Zhou Heng's actions, a look of surprise appearing on her face.

Zhou Heng's movements were skillful; he didn't seem like a novice alchemist at all.

Without decades of immersion in alchemy, it would be impossible to develop such skillful techniques.

Was Zhou Heng just teasing me all along?

He already knew alchemy?

But that shouldn't be the case.

Xue Zhiwei frowned.

Zhou Heng's background is very clean. His father is a centurion of the Imperial Guard, and he grew up in the capital of Dayue.

He practiced swordsmanship from a young age, but his talent was dull.

Later, when his father died, he suddenly had an epiphany while escorting the coffin back to his hometown, and from then on, his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

If the commander of the department hadn't personally confirmed Zhou Heng's identity, some people would have even suspected that he was a great demon in disguise, or that he had been possessed by a powerful being.

However, since the company has confirmed his identity, it means he has no problems.

Zhou Heng had no prior experience with alchemy.

Xue Zhiwei's face also showed the same look of doubt as that of Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine.

Are there really omnipotent geniuses in this world?

Zhou Heng has only studied alchemy for a few days, yet he is already so proficient in alchemy?

But when she explained alchemy to Zhou Heng before, Zhou Heng clearly didn't show any talent for alchemy at all.

Or perhaps Zhou Heng is a martial artist of the upper three ranks, whose body is more developed than his mind?

As Xue Zhiwei pondered this, she watched Zhou Heng's alchemy movements with wide eyes.

"Grandpa, is Lord Zhou refining the Five Spirit Pill?"

Xue Zhi whispered.

"Aren't you afraid he'll blow up your alchemy furnace?"

She was so impressed that he could refine a third-grade divine pill right away; she even wondered if her grandfather had gone mad.

"What's the use of me being afraid?"

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, said, "How could I, a commoner, possibly go against the Commander of the Imperial Guard?"

Weiwei, tell me, does Lord Zhou have feelings for you?

Xue Zhiwei's face turned bright red, and she couldn't help but stomp her foot.

"Grandpa, what are you saying? Lord Zhou is a third-rank martial artist; he can hear your voice!"

Xue Zhiwei said in a low voice.

"What are you afraid of? If Lord Zhou is truly interested in you, then you are lucky. The Lin and Xue families wholeheartedly agree."

"Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine," said.

"Grandpa, don't talk nonsense!"

Xue Zhiwei said urgently, "Lord Zhou only has the Great Way in his heart, and there is no personal affection between us."

I know you're thinking that Lord Zhou deliberately concealed his alchemy skills to get close to me.

But let me tell you, he has never hidden anything.

He had never been exposed to alchemy before; he was truly a beginner in alchemy!

Grandpa, there really are geniuses in this world who are born with knowledge.

I didn't believe it before, but after meeting Lord Zhou, I have no doubt about it at all!

This is not the first time this has happened.

Zhou Heng had previously consulted her about the path to becoming a celestial official.

She was certain that Zhou Heng had not cultivated any immortal techniques or arts at that time.

However, Zhou Heng soon became a celestial official and continued his meteoric rise.

In just one year, Zhou Heng had become a fourth-rank celestial official, which was truly astonishing.

It's not surprising that someone with such experience could master alchemy in just a few days.

Although Xue Zhiwei couldn't understand how Zhou Heng had managed to do it.

The two spoke in hushed tones, while Zhou Heng's movements became increasingly rapid.

They watched as Zhou Heng closed the alchemy furnace, then circled it, performing a series of powerful footwork movements, and continuously struck the furnace with his palms.

boom! boom! boom!

The muffled sound echoed within the alchemy room, its tone melodious.

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, and Xue Zhiwei exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.

If they had any doubts before that Zhou Heng had studied alchemy, those doubts have now completely disappeared.

Because the alchemy technique Zhou Heng is currently using is the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds, created by Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine!

This is the unique technique of Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine. The only people in the world who understand this alchemy technique are the direct descendants of the Lin family.

Zhou Heng could never have come into contact with the alchemy techniques of the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds before.

"Weiwei, how long did it take you to master the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds back then?"

"The King of Southern Medicine, Lin Hanyuan, asked in a low voice."

"It took three days to record, but it took half a year to fully execute the first time."

Xue Zhiwei whispered, "But by then I had already been practicing alchemy for three years."

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, gasped.

"I now believe that there really are geniuses in this world."

He whispered.

"It's a pity he's the Garrison Commander of the Imperial Guard, otherwise I would really like to let him inherit my mantle."

He said with a hint of regret.

Regardless of whether Zhou Heng could successfully refine this batch of Five Spirit Pills, Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, no longer doubted Zhou Heng's alchemy skills.

With such talent, if Zhou Heng were willing to become his apprentice, he was confident that within a few years, he could train Zhou Heng to become a first-grade alchemist and the next Medicine King!

"Grandpa, don't even think about it. Lord Zhou is already a third-rank Grandmaster, and he has the merit of killing the Heavenly Demon King and the Lord of Qingyang Mountain. He will be promoted to Commander in no time. He will never inherit your mantle."

However, his alchemy skills come from the Lin family, and the stronger he becomes in the future, the more beneficial it may be for the Lin family.

Xue Zhiwei said.

suddenly.

Hurried footsteps sounded from behind.

A group of people burst in from outside.

Several servants tried to stop them, but were pushed aside by those people.

When Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, looked back, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

"What are you doing?"

"The King of Southern Medicine, Lin Hanyuan, asked in a deep voice."

Xue Zhiwei's expression turned solemn. He took a step forward, his slender fingers forming hand seals, and immortal energy surged as he unleashed an immortal technique.

A gentle breeze barrier instantly appeared around the alchemy room, isolating it from all sounds.

No matter how much these people made a fuss, it wouldn't affect Zhou Heng, who was refining pills.

"presumptuous!"

After doing all this, Xue Zhiwei turned to look at the people who had barged in.

"You're so good at guarding the palace, do you have a death wish?"

Xue Zhiwei placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and said coldly.

"Captain Xue, you don't need to scare us."

We're not easily intimidated.

Even if the Imperial Guard is tyrannical, does that give them the right to indiscriminately kill innocent people?

One of them sneered, "Even if you kill us today, you won't be able to silence the gossip."

My family members will also go to the capital to appeal for justice!

"You think you can control everything? Don't even think about it!"

"Zhang Jinying, have you lost your mind? Coming to the Imperial Guard to spout nonsense!"

Lin Hanyuan, the King of Southern Medicine, was furious when he saw his granddaughter being targeted.

"You're so old, if you can't speak properly, just shut up!"

What do you want to do here with your people?

"Whatever you come here for, we'll come to do."

Zhang Jinying said, "Refining the Heaven-Reaching Pill is a major event in Shu Prefecture. Why should you, Lin Hanyuan, monopolize it all?"

Just because Captain Xue is your granddaughter?

That doesn't make sense!