If the heart is not sincere, the intention cannot be conveyed; if the intention is not conveyed, the heat is hard to control, and the elixir's energy will dissipate on its own.

Elder Yao's expression instantly crumpled.

He subconsciously turned around and glanced into his cave abode.

There, six heads were furtively poking out, looking like groundhogs emerging from the ground. Each of them craned their necks and peeked in this direction.

They were all his painstakingly trained disciples.

The art of alchemy was highly sought - after everywhere. Those who could be apprenticed to Elder Yao were all carefully selected good seedlings.

On weekdays, he was the absolute authority in front of these disciples.

Not to mention scolding them a few times, even if he gave them a slap, they had to obediently take it.

But now...

Was he supposed to admit in front of these six brats that he had misjudged a junior?

And even say "The younger generation is to be feared"?

If this got out, how could he still hold his head up in the sect?

He couldn't afford to lose this face!

Elder Yao rolled his eyes, leaned close to Su Ji, and whispered through gritted teeth.

"Wait... wait..."

As he spoke, he winked in the direction of the cave entrance, with a hint of negotiation in his tone.

"I'll drive those blind brats away, and we can do whatever you want in private!"

After saying that, he turned around and started shouting at the disciples poking their heads out at the cave entrance.

"What are you looking at! Get back into the cave for me..."

"Elder."

A soft call interrupted his roar.

Su Ji was sitting in a wheelchair. His sickly pale face at this moment made his eyes appear all the more clear - eyed.

He shook his head, with a look of appropriate disappointment on his face.

"In the way of alchemy, the 'heart' and the 'will' are of utmost importance."

"If the heart is not sincere, the will cannot be achieved; if the will cannot be achieved, the fire cannot be controlled, and the essence of the pill will disperse."

Su Ji said slowly.

"Elder, you can't even overcome this small 'mental obstacle' of admitting your misjudgment in public. How can you achieve a calm and undisturbed state of mind when alchemy?

"Even if I were to tell you the entire pill formula, with your current state of mind, being so worried about gains and losses..."

Su Ji let out a long sigh, shook his head, and didn't continue.

But the meaning was self - evident.

You're not sincere, and giving you the pill formula would be in vain. You'd still end up with a useless pill.

He directly elevated the matter of "losing face" from a simple matter of face to the level of "your Dao heart is flawed and your skills are lacking".

But unfortunately, Elder Yao couldn't refute a single word.

Because what Su Ji said was indeed the supreme principle of the Dao of alchemy!

Alchemists, especially high - level alchemists, all emphasized the state of mind.

Which master of the Dao of alchemy didn't stress the need to eliminate distractions and be completely focused when alchemy?

Now Su Ji equated "admitting mistakes" with "overcoming mental obstacles".

If he denied it, it would be like denying the Dao of alchemy he had always believed in!

He suddenly turned around and roared at the six disciples still peeking out at the cave entrance.

"What are you looking at? Get out here for me!"

The six disciples were so frightened that they jumped. They scrambled out of the cave and stood in a row, with their heads down, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Yun Yao was also stunned.

She looked at her furious Elder Yao and then at Su Ji in the wheelchair, her mind in a complete mess.

What... what was going on?

Then, Elder Yao walked up to Su Ji like a man going to the execution ground.

And then.

In front of everyone's shocked gazes.

He solemnly bowed deeply to Su Ji sitting in the wheelchair.

"Alas..."

A long sigh, filled with shame.

"I never thought that after studying the Dao of alchemy for hundreds of years, today... I would actually misjudge someone..."

Each word of Elder Yao seemed to be squeezed out of his throat.

"Really..."

He lifted his head, his lips trembling, and couldn't say the last few words.

"What is it?" Su Ji leaned back in the wheelchair, casually reminding him.

"Is..." Elder Yao closed his eyes, looking like a martyr.

"The younger generation is to be feared!!!"

After shouting these words, the six disciples all stared at Su Ji with eyes almost popping out, their mouths wide open enough to fit an egg.

What did they see?

Their master, who usually scolded them like they were his grandsons, actually bowed his head to an outsider?

They suspected that it was just an auditory hallucination caused by the heavy snow.

Only Su Ji.

There was a bright smile on his face.

"Elder, you're being too kind. I'm just lucky."

Yes, this was exactly what he wanted.

Su Ji was being polite with his words: "Since the elder has overcome the mental obstacle..."

Su Ji looked at the somewhat dark cave.

"Can I... borrow the elder's pill - refining chamber?"

Elder Yao waved his hand weakly.

He had already lost so much face. Did it really matter this little thing?

"Go in, go in..."

"Everything is up to you..."

He just wanted to find a hole in the ground to hide in right now.

Su Ji smiled and said to Yun Yao, who was still in a daze behind him: "Miss Yun, please."

"Ah? Oh! Oh!"

Yun Yao finally came to her senses and quickly stepped forward, pushing Su Ji's wheelchair towards the pill - refining cave that she had regarded as an off - limits place since childhood.

It was not until Su Ji's figure completely disappeared into the cave entrance that the six disciples seemed to come back to life and instantly erupted.

"Senior brother! Just now... did I see it wrong? Master he..."

"You didn't see it wrong! Master really apologized to someone!"

"My god! What's the background of that kid? How could he make master bow his head?"

"I don't know! But... did you understand what he said just now? Something about mental obstacles and fire control..."

"It sounded... quite reasonable..."

"Not only reasonable! It was simply full of pearls of wisdom! I think it was more profound than what master usually taught us!"

An older - looking disciple suddenly lowered his voice.

"Do you think... that kid might actually be a hidden master of the Dao of alchemy?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Thinking about what had just happened...

The more they thought about it, the more likely it seemed!

They looked at each other, and they all saw strong shock in each other's eyes!

...

Inside the cave.

Su Ji felt the thick, almost tangible fragrance of medicinal herbs rushing towards him and nodded in satisfaction.

He turned his head and looked at Elder Yao who had followed him in.

"Elder."

"Bring out all the medicinal herbs in your storage."

Elder Yao's eyelids twitched. He had a bad feeling.

"What do you need so many medicinal herbs for?"