Wait a minute, where is my master?

Jin Xu stroked his nose with a look of confusion.

That expression, that tone, that gesture.

How could he not tell that Grandma Yu obviously didn't want to say it?

The young Taoist, recalling the previous situation when he asked Grandma Yu why she could determine that the pill had at least two effects, felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

"The 'Strengthening Pill' I've practiced won't have any terrifying side effects, will it?

"Could it be... that taking this thing could cause one to suddenly die or lose their hair?"

In an instant.

Many wild and unfounded thoughts flashed through his mind before they were interrupted by the Shui Clan Elder's introduction.

"These four pills, from what I've ascertained, all have the same effects."

Hearing this, Jin Xu was taken aback, and then he heard Grandma Yu continue.

"However, they are different in color; it doesn't make sense for the first three pills to have distinctive effects, and then suddenly the last four have uniformly the same effects. That's why I said earlier that I suspect these pills all have at least two or more medicinal properties.

"Of course, it could also be a coincidence, though the chances are very slim. Logically speaking... never mind."

She wanted to say that the alchemist himself should be the clearest about this matter, but as the words reached her lips, she realized that if the young Taoist were clear about the situation, he wouldn't have brought these pills here seeking help.

Jin Xu snapped back to reality, looking at the four pills with doubtful eyes.

His intuition told him that the various abnormal behaviors of Grandma Yu earlier might all have something to do with these four pills having the same medicinal effect.

"May I ask Grandma, what are the effects of these four pills?"

"They... can balance the water and fire dwellings within living creatures' bodies, and greatly, cough... strengthen their innate essence, qi, and spirit."

The Shui Clan Elder hesitated for a moment before speaking with an inexplicable tone, then quickly put the four pills back into the crystal box.

This statement left the young Taoist somewhat baffled.

When describing the effects of the three pills earlier, she summed them up in one sentence and then discussed the comparison with similar pills from the Nine Provinces.

So why, when it came to these four pills, were the effects unclear and the comparison with similar pills omitted?

Confusion brimmed in Jin Xu's eyes, and he was about to ask for clarity.

Yu Yaoer, seeing his perplexity, straightened her back, came over and earnestly explained.

"Young master, what Grandma means is, these four pills can fortify... er, glug glug."

Before she could finish, a stream of water wrapped around Little Fish Demon's mouth.

But with a strong sense of duty, she did not give up easily and instead conveyed the last word to the young Taoist through soul sound transmission.

"Yang."

"Fortify... yang???"

Jin Xu subconsciously repeated it quietly.

Then he turned suddenly, his eyebrows knitted closely as he stared at the seven pills inside the transparent crystal box, his gaze becoming indescribably complex.

The batch of pills he had finally succeeded in making could actually, damn it, fortify yang?

You're supposed to be a top-tier pill that has withstood a Heavenly Tribulation!

Isn't this effect a bit hasty?

Besides, a top-tier yang-fortifying pill that's survived a Heavenly Tribulation, who the heck could handle that?

...Even if your side effects are hair loss... forget it, let's stick with fortifying yang.

Amidst Yu Yaoer's glug glugging noises.

The young Taoist pondered for a moment, then finally shifted his gaze away from the seven 'Strengthening Pills' and said to the Shui Clan Elder.

"So, Grandma, the reason you said that earlier was because you suspect all seven pills actually possess this effect, just that you hadn't ascertained it with the visualization method for the first three?"

The Shui Clan Elder was simultaneously tugging on Yu Yaoer's ear, telling her to mind her speech as a young lady, and giving Jin Xu an inexplicable nod of affirmation.

"In that case, it seems quite inappropriate to casually use that healing pill for Elder Big Willow Tree. If by any chance..."

Jin Xu shook his head somewhat helplessly, his eyes still betrayed confusion as he looked at the seven pills.

A perfectly good pill, how did it come to also carry the effect of enhancing Yang energy?

"Grandma, you have been immersed in the Alchemy Dao for quite a while, do you know why this pill would exhibit... such an effect?"

The little Taoist was not willing to give up and wanted to get to the bottom of things.

Grandma Yu pondered for a moment before speaking.

"That's what I wanted to ask you. The Strengthening Pill is originally only meant to stabilize and cultivate one's foundation. Logically speaking, no matter how you refine it, it shouldn't reach the level of replenishing the innate essence, qi, and spirit of living creatures.

"Yet you not only did so but even produced several pills of varying effects in one batch. How did you manage that?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Xu scratched his head with an embarrassed expression.

He then described the entire situation of the day he practiced alchemy in Shangjing City in great detail.

The Shui Clan Elder listened intently and felt that the alchemy steps were rather standard, typical of a beginner in the Alchemy Dao and nothing particularly special.

Thus, after pondering for a moment, she suggested an idea to the little Taoist.

Why not take advantage of the present time and directly demonstrate in the Alchemy Room?

...

...

After the time it took an incense stick to burn.

A thunderous explosion boomed forth from the Alchemy Room for the fourth time.

The Clam Elf and the shrimp spirit standing guard outside, adeptly used their magic to disperse the black smoke billowing from the doorway and carried in a brand-new six-holed Pill Furnace.

"Cough, cough..."

Grandma Yu, staring at the once again exploded Pill Furnace, momentarily forgot to use her Spiritual Power to clear the smoke in front of her, and thus began to cough.

"Cough, go, go, take that Pill Furnace away. Without my command, don't you bring another one in," she said, waving her hand at the Clam Elf and the shrimp spirit, signaling them to quickly take the Pill Furnace away, then she stepped towards Jin Xu.

"Alright, I give up. The peculiarity of the same Pill Furnace producing multiple effects on the pills... let's just leave it unexplored.

"Let's head back to the parlor," she said. As she walked out of the Alchemy Room, she muttered to herself quietly.

"The little Taoist was right; this is too hard on the Pill Furnaces. Fortunately, I didn't bring out that nine-holed Pill Furnace at the start, or else my dining paraphernalia might have ended up forfeited today."

Upon hearing this, Jin Xu could only smile helplessly behind her, having already told her about his talent for inevitably causing explosions when practicing alchemy. But still, the Shui Clan Elder insisted on giving it a try.

He quickened his pace to catch up to her, speaking gently.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Grandma. I already tried to reduce the power of the flames as much as possible, but..."

The Shui Clan Elder waved her hand dismissively.

"It's fine. There are so many arts in the path of Cultivation; you don't need to hang yourself on the Alchemy Dao alone."

Hearing these words, which he wasn't sure whether to take as consolation, the little Taoist fell silent for a moment.

Silence reigned as they traveled.

The two returned to the parlor.

The little Taoist noticed that Yu Yaoer and Little White had previously gone to the kitchen to prepare a new recipe and had not yet returned.

And the Ancestor of the Immortal Palace, who had gone out to beat up the old man,

was now already sitting refreshed and reinvigorated in the parlor.