Even a talented disciple would need much more time. Therefore, she decided to test him. She picked up a spiritual herb from a small box on the table.
"Could you tell me what medicinal herb this is?"
Yun Che looked at it.
"Blue Mist Root. Cold in nature. It possesses a strong ability to stabilize spiritual energy, but loses much of its effectiveness when directly exposed to a high-temperature flame."
Qin Ruolan did not answer. She picked up another one.
"And this one? Do you know what it is?"
"Crimson Flame Flower. Hot in nature. Excellent for stimulating the circulation of energy, but incompatible with Blue Mist Root if the two are fused directly."
Qin Ruolan became serious.
"Well, could you explain why?"
"Because the difference between their natures causes an unstable reaction during fusion."
"Then, since you’re such a know-it-all, tell me how you would solve it."
Yun Che answered without hesitation.
"By using an intermediate ingredient of neutral nature and changing the order of integration."
Qin Ruolan fell silent.
There was something different in her gaze. It was not merely curiosity. There was surprise, deep surprise.
"You really have learned something. Very good. But if you did not already possess this knowledge beforehand, it could also have simply been luck."
Yun Che placed the book on the table.
"If that is what Master says, then so be it."
Qin Ruolan observed him for several seconds before a small smile appeared on her face.
"Good, good."
She turned toward the door.
"Come with me."
Yun Che followed her.
"Where are we going, Master?"
Qin Ruolan did not look back, her large breasts rising and falling as she walked.
"Now that you know the theory..."
She opened the door.
"...let’s find out how long you’ll survive when you put your hands on an alchemy furnace alongside your fellow disciples."
Part 2
The wooden door opened slowly, allowing Yun Che to step out behind Qin Ruolan, and he immediately felt a change in the environment.
The private corridor where he had been minutes earlier was quiet, almost completely isolated from the rest of the building. Here, however, the Refining House seemed to possess a characteristic bustle of its own.
As they walked, heat came from all directions. Large alchemy furnaces were distributed throughout open rooms, separated by small walls made of spiritual stone.
Flames of different hues burned inside them, some red like embers, others bluish or almost white. The air was filled with various aromas.
There was the bitter smell of burning roots, the sweet fragrance of spiritual flowers, and beneath it all, a metallic odor caused by jade containers heated by the flames.
The sounds of activity blended into a constant noise. There was the crackling of flames, the sound of furnace lids being opened, and the clashing of jade containers.
The voices of disciples discussing recipes made the atmosphere completely different from the Massage House.
Every disciple seemed to be competing over who could refine better, produce more, create a higher-grade pill, and receive more resources from the sect.
Qin Ruolan walked ahead without showing any haste. Yun Che followed closely, occasionally glancing at his master’s breasts as they rose and fell with each step.
After walking for a while, they arrived at a large circular hall.
The ceiling was supported by twelve black stone pillars covered in spiritual inscriptions. Between them were tall windows through which the afternoon light entered, forming long golden strips across the floor.
Dozens of tables surrounded the hall, and each table contained herbs, containers, small furnaces, and books.
There were both male and female disciples among them. Some wore white robes with green details, the standard attire of the disciples of the Refining House. Others wore dark-blue robes, indicating a slightly higher position.
The female disciples particularly attracted attention because of the elegance of their clothing.
One young woman with black hair tied into a high bun wore a long white robe embroidered with small green flowers. Her wide sleeves partially concealed her hands as she carefully separated small leaves on a jade tray.
Another, seated beside a furnace, had dark-brown hair that fell to her waist. She wore a blue sash around her waist and a narrow-sleeved robe, suitable for working near flames without sacrificing mobility.
Farther ahead, a disciple with an oval face and large eyes was reading a treatise while holding a small spiritual tweezer. Her long hair was only partially tied back, allowing several strands to fall over her shoulders.
Yun Che quickly realized that the beauty of those disciples contrasted with the concentrated expressions on their faces. No one there seemed willing to waste time.
Qin Ruolan stopped, and the entire hall seemed to notice her presence. Several disciples raised their eyes, while the others continued working, though they discreetly paid attention.
Qin Ruolan turned around.
"Attention, disciples. This is Yun Che, my new personal disciple."
The disciples’ eyes fell upon Yun Che.
"He will be your fellow disciple of the Refining House. Treat him well."
For several seconds, no one answered. Then, a young man sitting near a furnace let out a small laugh.
The laugh was not loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Yun Che looked in his direction.
The young man was approximately twenty years old. He was tall, had short black hair, and wore an arrogant expression. His white robe had a golden sash around the waist, indicating that he was not an ordinary disciple.
Qin Ruolan cast him a glance.
"Is there a problem, Zhao Ming?"
The young man called Zhao Ming raised his hands.
"None, Master Qin."
The smile, however, remained on his face. Qin Ruolan did not pursue the matter.
"Continue with your tasks, then."
She turned toward Yun Che.
"Familiarize yourself with the place and your new fellow disciples. After that, I will teach you how to properly refine pills."
With that said, she walked away.
Yun Che remained alone. It was then that he noticed the gazes had increased. A group of young men was talking near one of the pillars.
Among them was Zhao Ming. Near another table, three female disciples were also watching Yun Che. One of them leaned toward her companion and whispered something.
The other discreetly covered her mouth to hide a laugh. Yun Che ignored them and chose an empty table to sit at.
He had not even placed his hands on the first book when a voice came from behind him.
"So you’re Qin Ruolan’s new disciple, aren’t you?"
Yun Che turned around.
It was Zhao Ming, accompanied by two young men behind him.
One of them was short and sturdy, with thick eyebrows and hands covered in small marks left by flames. The other was thin, with narrow eyes and a much more calculating expression.
"I am. Didn’t you hear when Master introduced me?"
Zhao Ming crossed his arms.
"Hmph... I heard you came from the Massage House."
"You seem to be well informed."
"Of course, of course."
He looked Yun Che up and down.
"Normally, disciples of the Refining House need to demonstrate some aptitude before entering here, you know? We all went through several tests and a fairly rigorous selection process."
Yun Che did not respond. Zhao Ming, in turn, stepped closer to him.
"By the way, what is your cultivation level?"
"Profound Elemental, first level. Is there a problem?"
The answer provoked an immediate reaction. The sturdy young man burst into a rather irritating laugh.