Complete one practice method every day

The alchemy room is spacious, with the floor paved with bluestone slabs.

In the center stands a bronze octagonal alchemy furnace, and next to it are several large tables displaying dozens of processed medicinal herbs in different categories.

Clearly, this alchemy was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather something that had been prepared in advance, with all the medicinal materials having been properly processed beforehand.

Besides a young apprentice standing at attention, there was another person in the alchemy room.

The man was about fifty years old, with a thin face. He was wearing a dark brown brocade robe commonly seen on the elders of the Chen family. He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window, seemingly admiring the scenery outside.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

Upon seeing this person, Lin Quan's face immediately showed surprise, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "So it's Elder Chen Yan here! My apologies for not recognizing you!"

The clan elder, addressed as Chen Yan, nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping calmly over Lin Quan:

"The county has been quite unsettled lately. To maintain peace and prevent petty theft, I have been stationed here for some time now."

Lin Quan suddenly realized and quickly turned to Chen Yue to introduce him, saying, "Chen Yue, this is Elder Chen Yan of my Chen family. He is highly respected in the clan and has profound cultivation."

Chen Yue bowed respectfully and said, "Junior Chen Yue greets Elder Chen Yan."

As he spoke, he sensed a slight change in the aura of this elder Chen Yan, roughly estimating that he was at the Bone Forging Realm.

However, when the other person's gaze fell on him, it seemed to carry a subtle sense of scrutiny and examination.

Chen Yan nodded, his gaze lingering on Chen Yue's face for a moment before he slowly spoke:

"I have often heard your name in the manor. Chen Jing speaks highly of you, but unfortunately he has been too busy with worldly affairs to meet you. Today, I have finally met you."

"Elder, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise," Chen Yue replied humbly.

At this moment, Chen Zhige had already sat down on the futon in front of the purple bronze alchemy furnace, his gaze sweeping over the medicinal herbs beside the furnace, his tone becoming focused:

"The most difficult part of refining this Danyang Pill is the final step of condensing the pill. I have tried several times before, but each time I failed at the last moment when the medicinal power was about to merge and become one."

When I reach this crucial stage in the refining process, I urge you both to watch closely. You might spot an oversight that I may have missed.

Lin Quan quickly waved his hand and said, "Master Zhige is joking. Even you, with your alchemy skills, find it difficult. We are just beginning to look at the formulas, how can we offer guidance? It is already a blessing to be able to observe and learn."

Chen Zhige glanced at Lin Quan, then seemingly casually glanced at Chen Yue, who stood quietly to the side: "The path of alchemy sometimes requires lessons from others!"

After saying that, Chen Zhige stopped talking and began to put the prepared medicinal herbs into the alchemy furnace in a specific order. His technique was skillful and experienced, and his control over the heat was exquisite.

Inside the alchemy room, the aromas of various medicinal herbs mingled and collided, gradually forming a unique and rich fragrance.

Lin Quan stared intently at Chen Zhige's every move, not wanting to blink even once, for fear of missing any detail.

Chen Yue appeared to be observing attentively, but in reality, he was constantly keeping an eye on Elder Chen Yan out of the corner of his eye. Ever since they entered, they seemed to be standing casually, but their gazes frequently and subtly fell on him.

When Chen Zhige reached a certain step in the refining process and added a few pungent medicinal herbs, the aroma in the alchemy room seemed to undergo an extremely subtle change.

Chen Yue had achieved minor success in cultivating the Mind-Nourishing Technique, making him particularly sensitive to these kinds of changes in energy.

His nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly. He didn't smell any pungent or obvious odor, but a very faint feeling of dizziness quietly spread through Chen Yue's mind.

Just then, Lin Quan, who was intently watching the alchemy process, suddenly swayed without warning, stumbled a step, and looked bewildered and confused, as if he wanted to turn around and say something.

But before he could finish speaking, his eyes quickly lost their luster, and he slumped to the side.

Chen Yan, who had been standing casually nearby, seemed to have anticipated this. With a slight movement, he instantly appeared beside Lin Quan, reaching out to steadily support his limp body. His movements were smooth and natural, without the slightest hint of anxiety or surprise.

Almost at the same time, the apprentice who had been standing there also collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound, as if his bones had been removed, and lost consciousness.

Inside the alchemy room, apart from the hissing of the burning firewood and the soft gurgling of the medicinal liquid inside the furnace, there were no other sounds.

After settling Lin Quan in, Chen Yan's gaze sharpened and suddenly turned to Chen Yue, who had been standing calmly in place the whole time.

His eyes no longer held the previous indifference and scrutiny, but were filled with undisguised astonishment and suspicion.

At the same time, Chen Zhige, who had been concentrating on refining pills in front of the alchemy furnace, suddenly stopped his movements without warning.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze passing over the swirling medicinal aroma and landing on Chen Yue as well.

The face that had just been wearing a warm smile was now filled with undisguised surprise and bewilderment, as well as a hint of gloom from having his plans disrupted.

Chen Yue met their piercing gazes, tilted his head slightly, and said softly in an indifferent tone:

"Should I, like them, also fall down?"

Chen Yue didn't smell anything strange; it was all normal medicinal fragrance. However, it was clear that there was a colorless and odorless sleeping potion mixed in, which might have come from inside the alchemy furnace or from somewhere else.

However, with the various cultivation techniques Chen Yue has mastered and more than half of his talent making him immune to all poisons, this kind of drug has no effect on him.

The air inside the alchemy room instantly froze.

The glow of the firewood danced on Chen Zhige and Chen Yan's faces, reflecting their ever-changing expressions.

Seeing Chen Yue's calm face, Chen Yan's pupils shrank. He grabbed Chen Zhige's shoulder, pushed off with his feet, and pulled him backward until their backs hit the wooden door of the alchemy room, at which point they stopped.

His gaze was like that of a hawk, fixed on Chen Yue. His face was no longer filled with the calm scrutiny he had shown before, but only with cold vigilance, as if he were reassessing this prey that had suddenly slipped out of his control.

Chen Yue ignored Chen Yan's wary demeanor, his gaze sweeping over the limp Lin Quan before finally settling back on Chen Yan's face:

"I don't understand. Since I entered the manor, I, Chen Yue, have been diligently refining pills and have never overstepped the bounds. Why would they go to such lengths to set up this trap against me?"

Chen Yan was filled with surprise and doubt. Not only had this boy not been knocked down by the Bewitching Fragrance, but he was also able to question her so calmly. This was definitely not the behavior of someone who had just reached the Skin Refining Realm!

Could it be that he possesses some extraordinary protective treasure?

A flurry of speculations flashed through Chen Yan's mind. A fierce glint appeared in his eyes, and he let out a cold snort, his voice filled with impatience:

"Playing tricks! You dare to act like a ghost in front of an old man like me!"

Before he finished speaking, Chen Yan had already covered several meters in an instant, his right hand's five fingers curled into a claw, and with a sharp whooshing sound, he grabbed Chen Yue's throat.

This grab was as fast as lightning and extremely ruthless. It was the Ghost Shadow Claw, a rather insidious grappling technique of the Chen family, which was specifically designed to break through protective qi. Those who were hit by it would either die or be maimed.

In Chen Yan's view, even if Chen Yue had a treasure that could resist the bewitching fragrance, his cultivation level was only at the Skin Refining Realm, and he could never possibly block his claw attack!

Once we capture him, we can interrogate him and find out everything!