Ye Chuan's Alchemy

"What a demoness! How dare you harm my master? I, Huang Haotian, swear eternal enmity with you!" Ye Chuan glared at Della, who stood not far away wielding the Hammer of Dusk, then charged forward with his peachwood sword in hand.

The disciples who had come to assist hesitated when they saw even Elder Ziyun—a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage—wounded by the demonic aura radiating from that pitch-black armor. Yet, to their shock, Ye Chuan had already rushed ahead!

How fearless!

Wasn’t he only at the Foundation Establishment stage?

Della watched Ye Chuan’s approach and slowly raised a hand. A sphere of violet flame coalesced in her palm before hurtling toward him and exploding on impact.

"Ah!" The next moment, Ye Chuan was sent flying, vanishing into the night.

"…" Elder Ziyun’s heart clenched at the sight.

He never expected Ye Chuan to intervene—and now, struck by that terrifying fireball, his fate was unknown.

He… had truly misjudged him!

Regret gnawed at Elder Ziyun for only preparing a ninth-grade Core Condensation Pill for Ye Chuan. If they survived this ordeal, he resolved to reward him with a sixth-grade one.

Soon, the other elders arrived.

"Ziyun, are you alright?!"

"Senior Brother, take this Revival Pill!"

As the elders tended to Elder Ziyun, Della surged into the crowd, swinging her massive hammer and sending disciples flying with each strike.

"Stop her!"

Yet, despite the combined efforts of the disciples and elders, their barrage of spells proved utterly ineffective.

"She seems immune to magic! Senior Brothers, use artifacts!"

Hearing this, the elders and disciples summoned their artifacts—flying swords, shields, spears, and great blades—all channeled by spiritual energy to assail Della relentlessly.

Under the storm of attacks, her movements slowed until she finally stilled, dissolving into black particles that scattered into nothingness.

"We did it!"

Relief washed over the group as Della fell at last. This monstrous fiend had been terrifyingly impervious to magic.

"Junior Brother Haotian, are you hurt?" Amid the chaos, a senior disciple helped Ye Chuan to his feet.

"I’ll recover after some rest," Ye Chuan replied weakly, his face pale as he struggled to steady himself.

The elders soon carried the severely injured Elder Ziyun away, leaving the disciples to clean up the herb garden.

By the time Ye Chuan returned to his cave abode, it was late. Sitting on his bed, his pallor rapidly regained color, and he casually crossed his legs.

"Not bad. Harvested so many spirit herbs and gave that old dog Ziyun a beating."

Satisfied, he waved a hand, summoning a surge of chaotic energy. The metallic screech of grinding gears followed as Della’s figure materialized beside him.

Della had indeed been annihilated earlier—

But with the Holy Grail’s power, Ye Chuan could revive her endlessly.

He had merely pretended she was destroyed once his goal was achieved.

"Though Della’s physical resistance is high, she’s still no match for those formidable cultivators. Her speed is too slow." Ye Chuan pondered. Still, he was pleased that she could overpower two Nascent Soul experts despite the two major realm gaps.

Opening his alchemy interface, he found his stockpile of spirit herbs so abundant that he barely needed to purchase materials anymore.

He could start refining immediately.

"Profit. Saved a fortune."

The only downside was his limited collection of pill recipes, restricting him to the few he already knew.

"The Divine Pill Peak must have more recipes, but I don’t know where they’re kept."

Jiu'er might know, but she had already returned home. It would be too conspicuous to seek her out now—others would grow suspicious.

With time to spare, Ye Chuan began refining.

Batch after batch, his inventory swelled with assorted pills, though he conserved some herbs in case new recipes surfaced.

After a while, he started experimenting.

He tossed ingredients for Tiger Strength Pills into a batch of Deer Blood Pills and accelerated the process, curious about the result.

[Congratulations! You’ve obtained Deer Blood Pill (Tiger Strength).]

Oh?

Interesting.

He checked its description:

[Item: Deer Blood Pill (Tiger Strength)

Low-grade Immortal Pill. Consuming it boosts vitality and strength. Effects diminish with repeated use.]

Ye Chuan grinned.

Next, he added Rejuvenation Pill ingredients to the Deer Blood and Tiger Strength base.

[Congratulations! You’ve obtained Deer Blood Pill (Poison).]

[Item: Deer Blood Pill (Poison)

Low-grade Poison Pill. Continuously increases vitality until the consumer explodes.]

Ye Chuan: "…"

Did something go wrong?

Rubbing his chin, he realized he might have a knack for alchemy—just not the conventional kind.

He tinkered further, producing increasingly bizarre pills and even unlocking new recipes.

"This one’s good."

"This one too."

An hour later, his inventory was packed with peculiar toxins.

"Hmm…" Ye Chuan winced.

This wasn’t right.

Why were all his creations poisonous?

"Junior Brother Haotian, are you there?" A voice called from outside his cave.

Setting aside his phone, Ye Chuan stepped out to find an unfamiliar disciple waiting.

"Junior Brother, I’m your senior brother, Zhao Wuji. Master instructed me to deliver healing pills." The disciple rummaged through his storage pouch and produced several jade vials.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother." Ye Chuan accepted them, weighing the bottles. "Are these Rejuvenation Pills?"

"Yes." Zhao Wuji studied him. "Junior Brother, perhaps I should examine your injuries? That demoness struck you hard. A higher-level cultivator’s assessment would be safer."

"No need. Rest is enough." Ye Chuan pocketed the pills dismissively.

"Master also said you should visit his hall once recovered. He has words for you."

Ye Chuan feigned surprise. "What does he wish to discuss?"

"I’m not certain, but his tone suggested a reward for your bravery earlier." Zhao Wuji admitted. Ye Chuan’s fearless charge had indeed impressed many core disciples of the Flying Sword Peak.

"Understood."