Duplicate Pill One

Compared to the myriad herbs and numerous alchemical formulas he was familiar with, this collection was like a single grain of sand dropped into the sea, not even worthy of a ripple.

A careful count revealed that while the formula required twenty-five types of herbs, there were over fifty varieties on the shelves. Although formulas often listed basic characteristics and properties, the art of alchemy was profound; without personal verification, anything learned remained merely superficial.

Suddenly, Qin Chuan noticed something. These twenty-five herbs could be categorized into the four elemental attributes of earth, wind, water, and fire, not to mention the final ingredient, the Danxin Fruit. Just as Qin Chuan stepped forward to examine them, he was stopped by Yu Dan.

With a stern expression, Yu Dan said, "Use your heart to resonate with them; you will feel the herbs respond. Follow your instincts. Alchemy is a path of Heaven; how can you treat it with mere guesswork? Refine it as you see fit. Remember, you only have one chance."

Qin Chuan was dumbfounded. What did he mean by "guesswork"? He recalled his time at the Qingshan Sect, where he had meticulously explored every herb, leaving no detail to chance to build his foundation. None of that had come from thin air, nor was it mere guesswork. While talent might vary due to insight or fate, one could not claim that refining a pill by pure feeling was the mark of supreme genius. If one succeeded without verification, it was usually just luck.

After a moment of contemplation, he looked up at the man who stood much taller than him—his supposed father. "Must I follow the formula exactly?"

"Of course not, as long as you can refine the Four-Element Pill and preserve its medicinal properties." Yu Dan seemed impatient, sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Some of the herbs in the formula are entirely unknown to me. Perhaps I should improve this Four-Element Pill instead." Based on the description and the herb interaction, Qin Chuan deduced that the pill used the earth, wind, water, and fire herbs as auxiliary materials, with the Danxin Fruit as the core, to create a pill treasure.

"Stop overthinking and start refining." Seeing Qin Chuan’s furrowed brows, Yu Dan’s expression darkened.

Unsure of the consequences of failure, Qin Chuan eventually decided to follow the formula. He channeled his earthly fire, his mastery of micro-level spiritual energy allowing for precise control with minimal consumption. This move caused Yu Dan, who had been keeping his eyes closed, to suddenly open them.

Qin Chuan dared not make a single mistake. Because he hadn't verified the ingredients, he hesitated while picking up the unfamiliar herbs, drawing impatient urges from Yu Dan behind him.

Earth-Yellow Grass, Wind-Bell Flower, Snow Spirit Essence, Lantern Grass... He followed the standard earth-wind-water-fire sequence, step by step, exactly as the formula dictated. He dared not split his focus, being unfamiliar with some of the herbs. Fortunately, while Yu Dan kept urging him, he did not intervene. What should have been a two-hour task was dragged out by Qin Chuan until dusk.

Even with his control over spiritual energy, maintaining the output was becoming strenuous. His movements were steady, showing no sign of a novice, yet as time passed, Yu Dan’s expression grew increasingly grim, ending in sheer disappointment.

Focused on the furnace, Qin Chuan didn't notice this as he took the core ingredient—the Danxin Fruit—from the shelf. It was shaped like a chicken heart, the size of an infant's fist, and deep red. Per the formula, he placed the whole fruit into the furnace. Now, he only needed to maintain the fire and wait for the pill to form.

Qin Chuan held onto a shred of hope. He had followed the formula strictly; all signs suggested he had made no errors. The glow of the fire reflected in his eyes, full of anticipation.

But soon, his hope was shattered.

The moment the Danxin Fruit was added, a chain reaction occurred within three breaths. The furnace trembled before emitting a roar like an enraged beast. The commotion grew until it finally exploded. Qin Chuan intended to dodge, but his body suddenly became unresponsive. Being so close, he bore the full brunt of the explosion, and his body was instantly pulverized.

In the final moments of his consciousness, he seemed to see the entire Danxin Valley shattering like a reflection in a broken mirror. Then came a darkness of unknown duration—perhaps an instant, perhaps ten thousand years.

When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, he was back at the gentle slope. The middle-aged Daoist stood with his back to him. "My son, do you know what sustains our Dan Family Village in these mountains and earns us the tribute of ten thousand clans?"

Twice, three times... Qin Chuan had traveled through this cycle so many times he had become numb. The seemingly simple formula had become his stumbling block.

"Boom!" Another massive explosion shook his mind. Qin Chuan sighed; he had failed again. Just as he was about to fall into the dark void, he caught a glimpse of the herb shelf.

"This is!" A jolt went through him. Enlightenment struck like a bursting dam, drowning out even the sound of the world shattering. "I understand now!"

"This Danxin Valley is truly marvelous." Qin Chuan sighed to himself in the darkness. "I entered the light formation of the Danxin Valley while obsessed with the Yin-Yang Thunder Bead, which is why this scenario is linked to it. More strangely, while the Four-Element Pill seems unrelated, the core problem is the same!"

When the familiar light returned, he was back in that small body, facing the same weathered back and the same earthen mound. But the soul within this body was different.

As Yu Dan began to speak, he was interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Our Dan Family Village relies on the art of alchemy to survive in these mountains and receive the tribute of ten thousand clans."

"Among the four arts of alchemy, arrays, seals, and talismans, alchemy is the most complex. Father, please impart the essence of alchemy to me. I will surpass all my peers and every other alchemist, for I am the future master of alchemy and the future leader of this village."

"Today, I have successfully entered the first level of Qi Refining, granting me the qualification to compete with other alchemists. Father, give me the first formula."

Without waiting for Yu Dan to react, Qin Chuan spoke in one breath. Seeing the surprise in Yu Dan’s eyes, he urged, "Father, bring the formula quickly! Do not dally!"