After agreeing to Ye Zhong's request, Xiao Yan's schedule inevitably became more pressing. Within just two months, he needed to diligently practice and refine his alchemy skills, facing off against outstanding alchemists from across the continent—and stand out among them. Even Xiao Yan himself felt a noticeable sense of pressure. This kind of competition was fundamentally different from ordinary battles—it was a contest in a completely separate domain. And the demands of such a contest were far more rigorous than simply channeling qi and charging forward with momentum. After all, alchemy relied not on sheer force or initial burst of energy, but on calmness, precision, and an unwavering grasp of every detail within the cauldron. As for enhancing one's alchemy skills, it can be put another way—spending money, or more precisely, spending on medicinal herbs. Regardless of how exceptional a pharmacist's talent may be, hands-on practice remains the most crucial. To practice refining elixirs, medicinal herbs are indispensable. At Xiao Yan's level, even the herbs used for practice are no ordinary ones. Without a strong backing from a powerful faction, one might indeed appear somewhat out of place. Fortunately, although the Ye family has declined, their collection over the years has remained remarkably rich. This time, they have truly placed all their hopes on Xiao Yan, and thus have made every effort to fulfill his various requests. Under Ye Zhong's instructions, rare herbs are continuously transported to Xiao Yan's residence. If the Ye family had been any more modest or hesitant at this point, they would have truly faced collapse. With the full support of the Ye family, Xiao Yan no longer needs to search for herbs on his own. His only task is to refine pills—whether successful or not, he gains valuable experience. This experience is the true treasure of a pharmacist, and as it accumulates gradually, it will eventually erupt, bringing about a transformative change. Among the master alchemists across the continent, not one is merely theoretical—each possesses experience far beyond that of ordinary individuals. While innate talent is undoubtedly important in the alchemical realm, experience is equally indispensable. Even under the most pressing schedules, Xiao Yan has never ceased refining pills, and thanks to the extensive formulas left behind by the Elder Medic, he has established a smooth and favorable path. As a result, he has progressed further than most alchemists within the same timeframe. Of course, Xiao Yan is well aware that while his starting point is strong, there are undoubtedly other outstanding alchemists on the continent with even more favorable conditions—some even beginning at a higher level than his own. To outperform them at the grand assembly will certainly not be an easy task. Therefore, over the next two months, he must dedicate immense effort and fully concentrate his mind and energy on alchemical refinement! ... Inside the spacious chamber, a scorching heat permeated throughout, making the room feel exactly like an oven—steamy and intense. Anyone lingering within for just over ten minutes would likely find it difficult to breathe and have to escape. The chamber was entirely constructed from a deep crimson stone known as pumice, extracted from within volcanic regions. This stone is not only exceptionally hard but also possesses a unique insulating property, making it especially well-suited for constructing alchemical rooms, where its performance is outstanding. The entire chamber appears seamless, as though hollowed out directly from a single, massive block of pumice. Currently, numerous jade boxes are stacked within, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs. As the surrounding high temperature evaporates this scent, the fragrance becomes even more intense and pronounced. At the heart of the sealed chamber stood a stone platform. Upon it, a slender figure sat cross-legged, facing a crimson cauldron hovering in midair before him. Inside the cauldron, emerald flames burned vigorously, radiating intense heat that spread throughout the space. This figure was none other than Xiao Yan, who had devoted himself tirelessly to refining his medicinal arts. Since he first sensed the urgency of time, he had nearly devoted every moment to this very spot, opening the cauldron to refine pills whenever he had a moment of leisure. Though physically taxing, for the sake of the Three Thousand Yan Fire, these efforts were nothing short of worthwhile. Within the cauldron, the emerald flames surged upward, and faintly, a shape beginning to take form could be seen—delicate, pill-like, with a gentle fragrance of medicine drifting out from within. The nascent pills gradually took on a rounded shape under the heat of the flames. After approximately one hour, Xiao Yan's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened. With a flick of his finger, the lid of the cauldron was launched into the air, and a streak of vibrant green light surged forth from within the cauldron, then automatically settled into Xiao Yan's hands. The pill that landed in his hands was only the size of a thumb, though small in volume, it would undoubtedly attract considerable attention if displayed and auctioned outside. The pill is known as the Instant Qi Pill, a consumable type of pill that ranks only modestly at the lower end of the seventh grade. Its function is to restore a significant amount of combat qi in a very short period. Even for a strong Douzong-level cultivator, the effect is impressive. Should such a pill be taken when both combatants are nearing exhaustion during a battle, the restored qi might just be enough to reverse the situation. Therefore, many powerful cultivators typically carry several such pills. However, the pill is relatively expensive, and cultivators without substantial resources may find it difficult to use it casually. To be honest, even the previous Xiao Yan had never prepared this kind of Shunqi Dan. First, its rank was not ordinary, and second, the required herbs were both intricate and precious—how could one simply take it like a common bean? From his Na Ji, he retrieved a jade bottle and placed the Shunqi Dan he held into it. Inside the bottle now were six identical Shunqi Dangs, representing Xiao Yan’s nearly twenty-day harvest. Over the past half-month in this sealed chamber, Xiao Yan had remained largely indoors, as the herbs would naturally be replenished when they ran out. His entire focus and concentration had been devoted to refining the Dangs. With such relentless dedication, his achievements were substantial—he had successfully produced numerous seventh-grade, lower-tier Dangs, and even managed to produce one successful seventh-grade, mid-tier Dan. And after undergoing such nearly frantic alchemical refinement, Xiao Yan could clearly sense a gradual improvement in his alchemical skills. Of course, even the Elder of Medicine could not deny Xiao Yan's innate alchemical talent. When the Elder first departed, Xiao Yan could only produce five-rank pills; now, through his own efforts, he had mastered the crafting of seven-rank pills. While Xiao Yan's diligence played a significant role, his natural aptitude was equally crucial. However, over these past twenty days of frenzied alchemy practice, Xiao Yan had been somewhat astonished to discover that the qi within his body was also gradually increasing—slowly and steadily. After a moment's reflection, he found this quite logical. Alchemy is inherently a highly consuming endeavor, placing significant demands on both qi and spiritual energy. During this period, whenever the qi within him was depleted, Xiao Yan would immediately enter a state of cultivation. Once the qi replenished, he would promptly resume his work without pause. Under such continuous cycles of consumption and restoration, it was no surprise that his qi had strengthened. Seated cross-legged on the stone platform, Xiao Yan slightly restored his ki before taking a long, deep breath and murmuring softly, "With my current alchemy skills, the success rate for producing low-grade seventh-tier pills is already quite satisfactory. For mid-grade seventh-tier pills, it's slightly lower, though still acceptable—significantly better than most ordinary seventh-tier alchemists. Still, that's not enough yet..." To stand out at a grand alchemy gathering like the Dan Assembly and secure a spot among the top ten, merely producing mid-grade seventh-tier pills would clearly be a challenge. According to Xiao Yan's expectations, he would need at least a solid capability in producing high-grade seventh-tier pills—something that would give him a genuine chance of making the top ten. "High-grade seventh-tier..." Gently tightening his grip, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with determination. High-grade seventh-tier? He simply wouldn't believe he couldn't manage it! A sharp determination flashed through his mind. Xiao Yan grasped his palm, drawing a jade box filled with herbs across the space, then waved his hand, causing numerous herbs to float upward, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma. He exhaled gently, flicked his finger, and sent the herbs into the medicinal cauldron. As his hand seals shifted, the emerald flames within the cauldron flared up once more, burning fiercely. And just as Xuanyin had been preparing to continue his rigorous cultivation after the one-month period ended, a sudden, urgent bell sound abruptly rang inside the alchemy chamber. This unexpected chime disrupted his alchemy routine, causing him to pause and his expression to shift—he recognized the bell as the Ye family’s emergency signal. "Has something happened to the Ye family?" With a furrowed brow, Xuanyin quickly rose and opened the alchemy chamber. Since he had already committed to the Ye family, he could not afford to ignore any issues that arose during this period. Moreover, having drawn heavily on their collection over the past time, he felt a sense of unease. He knew that the Ye family had placed all their hopes upon him.