What time has come, Still practicing traditional herbal medicine

Chen Xia regained consciousness on this side, patting his sleeves, preparing for the upcoming alchemy task.

Since he had agreed to Zhang DaoMing's request, he had to take it seriously.

For example, he would increase his luck in Qi cultivation and stack it up.

You can never have too much good luck.

It had been ten years since he last practiced alchemy. With the accumulation of his luck, if he were to practice alchemy again, he should display a terrifying level of skill.

As for how terrifying it would be, Chen Xia couldn't say for sure.

He might directly refine a low-grade Dao pill into a top-grade one.

If things went even further, he might even transmute it, such as converting a water attribute pill into a fire attribute pill.

But it didn't matter.

After all, Chen Xia never guaranteed what kind of pill he would refine, only that he would be able to refine one.

Chen Xia's preparation method was also simple. Every day, he would call upon his dog, Da Huang, to roll the dice. There were three dice in total, and whoever had the highest total would win.

No supernatural powers were allowed, and they could only roll the dice once a day.

Naturally, Chen Xia always won. Every time, it was three sixes. The dice even shattered, but the face with six points was still facing up.

"Weird." That was the only comment from Da Huang. Its dog head couldn't figure it out. Chen Xia couldn't possibly be secretly using supernatural powers.

So, there were only two possibilities.

Either its luck was really bad, or Chen Xia's luck was too good.

Of course, it could be a combination of both.

After the first month of Chen Xia rolling the dice, Zhang DaoMing finally came to find him in a fluster, urging him to hurry. He said that someone had come to the auction house.

Chen Xia didn't delay and first picked up the dice, giving Da Huang a pat on the head. Then he walked towards the house and soon came out with an iron pot and an iron shovel.

"Still using this setup?" Zhang DaoMing was momentarily stunned and asked.

"I've improved my alchemy technique a bit. You'll see later," Chen Xia replied with a smile.

"But... this is for alchemy at the auction house. It's crucial for our Dan Medicine Association to build a reputation. Isn't it inappropriate to do it this way?" Zhang DaoMing tried to advise him again, saying, "Especially with your alchemy method, how should others promote it? Frying pills in an iron pot or explosively stir-frying Dao medicine?"

"Using something else doesn't feel right to me. This is the most convenient," Chen Xia explained, shaking his head. "As long as I can refine it, there's no need to worry about these ordinary words."

That was a fair statement. As long as he could refine the pill, he didn't have to care about what others said.

Would the Emperor care about other people's opinions?

The Emperor would only kill those who spoke out.

Zhang DaoMing also thought it made sense and stopped advising. He hurriedly led Chen Xia towards the tip of the Heavenly Pavilion.

The journey was not far, and they arrived in fifteen minutes.

Gao Zongming, the auction house's high priest, was waiting, accompanied by several elders in specially tailored robes for alchemists. From their ranks, they were all Spirit Medicine Masters, at the same level as Zhang DaoMing.

When Gao Zongming saw the two of them, he quickly clasped his fists and said, "Greetings, Grandmaster. Gao has come according to the ten-year agreement. Please refine the pill. These are alchemists from the auction house who wish to learn from the Grandmaster's alchemy. If there's any offense, please forgive us."

"That's fine." Chen Xia waved his hand. Let them watch; after all, they wouldn't be able to learn.

Not to mention them, Chen Xia himself couldn't even understand how he practiced alchemy.

The same pill, if you ask Chen Xia to refine it a second time, there's no guarantee he can succeed.

Following that, several alchemists hurriedly bowed and respectfully greeted, "Greetings, Master!"

Chen Xia had a somewhat mismatched appearance, looking young and out of place, unlike someone accomplished in the field of alchemy.

But when it comes to cultivation, the most dangerous thing is judging a person based on their appearance, because some great emperors may not have an impressive appearance.

There are even records in ancient texts of an emperor who had the appearance of a nine-year-old child.

So the alchemists didn't dare to be negligent and were extremely respectful in their words.

"Very well." Chen Xia nodded calmly, placed the iron pot he was carrying on the stand, and set the ladle aside. Then, amidst the perplexed expressions of the others, he made a gesture with his hand.

"Bring me the medicinal ingredients."

"What is this for?" Gao Zongming was somewhat bewildered and puzzled.

If it's time to eat, it shouldn't be now, right?

Is this an invitation?

He couldn't really figure it out. In the thousands of years of alchemy, he had never encountered such a fantastical thing of setting up the pot first.

"Chen Xia always refines medicine like this, just bring the medicinal ingredients." Zhang DaoMing helped explain.

Gao Zongming didn't say anything and took out the medicinal ingredients one by one from his storage treasure, while introducing them at the same time.

"Ten Thousand Year Dragon Beard Grass, Jade Dragon Root, Star River Central Water, True Dragon Reverse Scales, these are the materials, and I'm sure you've guessed the pill that needs to be refined, Master?"

Chen Xia looked at him with a calm expression, not saying a word.

The scene was slightly awkward.

Gao Zongming forced a smile and continued, "What needs to be refined is a middle-grade Dao pill, the Jade Dragon Spirit Pill. Consuming it will allow you to cultivate a jade dragon in your Sea of Consciousness, embodying the majestic image of a dragon swimming in the clouds!"

Chen Xia picked up the ladle, tapped the iron pot, and nodded, "Very well, since that's the case, let's start by putting it in the pot. I've also changed the alchemical technique a bit, this is the first time I'm using this new method."

Upon hearing this, Zhang DaoMing became interested and watched attentively.

He saw Chen Xia first place the ladle properly, then rummage in his bosom and make a slight flick.

Several dice appeared on the ground without anyone realizing it, all showing six points facing up.

There was a momentary silence at the scene.

Zhang DaoMing rubbed his forehead with his hand, feeling more and more puzzled.

In his thousands of years of studying alchemy, he had heard of heating the furnace before alchemy, cleaning the medicinal ingredients, and nurturing the fire of one's life.

But it was the first time he had seen dice being rolled!

Alchemy doesn't rely on strength but on luck, is that it?

"Alright, let's begin," Chen Xia nodded and said.

Then, in the blink of an eye before anyone could react, he grabbed all the medicinal ingredients and threw them into the pot without any hesitation.

"No, the medicinal properties are wrong, it's not supposed to be like this, not like..." Gao Zongming shouted twice before he opened his mouth wide but couldn't make any sound.

Because Chen Xia had already started flipping the pot.

Gao Zongming felt that it wasn't the pot being flipped, but himself.

He was about to pass out.

Zhang DaoMing turned his head to look aside, already accustomed to it, so he didn't look anymore.

Only true alchemists know how much psychological damage this alchemical technique can cause them.

The several alchemists behind were completely bewildered, suspecting that they didn't come today to observe alchemy, but to watch a chef cook.

Chen Xia stirred the wok vigorously and tapped the iron pot with the spatula, causing it to slide and produce the clanging sound of metal colliding. He then flipped the medicinal herbs casually.

Suddenly, the sky dimmed, and dense thunderclouds covered the horizon, with flashes of red lightning among them.

"A tribulation caused by Daoist medicine?!"

Gao Zongming exclaimed in disbelief. He couldn't believe that he had actually refined it?!

"But... although... however... despite..."

Wow, he almost ran out of conjunctions.

The heavenly tribulation didn't last long and quickly descended. A hundred-meter thunder pillar, accompanied by red lightning, struck Chen Xia with precision.

Chen Xia raised his hand to protect his head and easily withstood the attack, as if he were blocking a light rain.

The embryonic form of the pill in the iron pot also took shape, and the pill thunder and radiance dissipated.

It was a round and smooth emerald-green pill, covered in dragon patterns, and one could faintly see a true dragon coiling around it.

"A top-grade Daoist medicine, the Great Dao Jade Dragon Pellet!"

Gao Zongming was astonished beyond measure, exclaiming with a high-pitched voice that even the final tone became sharp.

The observing alchemists were dumbfounded, some even began slapping themselves, suspecting that they were dreaming.

It's one thing to refine pills in an iron pot, but to actually succeed?

They could reluctantly accept that.

But the crucial difference between the Great Dao Jade Dragon Pellet and the Mid-grade Daoist medicine Jade Dragon Spirit Pill was the inclusion of the crucial ingredient, the genuine heart of the Jade Dragon.

You don't even need the most critical material and just refine it directly?!

"Is this how alchemy works? But... no, but..."

Gao Zongming stammered, unable to find the right words for a long time.

Chen Xia touched his nose and casually said, "What era is this? Are we still refining traditional pills?"

...

...

Xiao Suan tried to update more frequently, to express sincerity, and will share more dark jokes with everyone.

1. "Everyone dies twice. The first time when they stop breathing, the second time when their internet search history is revealed."

2. "Off to a good start," said the zombie excitedly.

These dark jokes are all collected by Xiao Suan and shared with everyone.

Also, let me clarify that because Xiao Suan's cultural knowledge is not extensive, there may be loopholes in the content he writes, such as how sound can be transmitted in outer space where there's no atmospheric pressure.

Don't pay too much attention to it; consider it a special setting.

After all, we're all cultivating immortality, right?

Haha.

Lastly, I would like to ask for your support and attention. Thank you all so much.