Wait a minute, where is my master?

The Taoist muttered another complaint in his heart.

Yet on his face he nodded solemnly, and said in a deep voice, "Hmm, I remember. Once this matter is settled, I'll buy some pill furnaces and try again."

Yu Yaoer tilted her head in thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Given her master's bizarre constitution that guaranteed a hundred percent furnace explosion rate, it was indeed wise to buy several pill furnaces as insurance.

Meanwhile, standing to the side, Xia Yunzhao, who was pondering whether the Little Fish Demon could successfully produce pills, immediately interrupted her thoughts upon hearing the Taoist mention buying pill furnaces.

"Mr. Jin, there's no need to spend extra outside; the Great Xia National Treasury has plenty of pill furnaces. I see Little Yu is quite proficient with this eight-ported pill furnace; why not take this furnace with you?

If you, Mr. Jin, do not like this pill furnace, you can also choose any you like from the treasury of Great Xia until you find one that satisfies you entirely," she said.

Xia Yunzhao looked at the Taoist's unmasked face, her beautiful eyes gleaming with admiration.

Of course, her generosity was not entirely due to, cough, certain desires — not entirely, at least.

After all, Jin Xu had played a crucial role during her coronation and had even been awarded the title of "National Uncle" by Great Xia.

Both emotionally and logically, she, Xia Yunzhao, ought to reciprocate with kindness.

Besides, her grandfather had also specially instructed her before he left...

"Thank you for your kind offer, Miss Yunzhao, but my situation is special. Being a beginner in alchemy, I am very prone to causing furnace explosions. I should buy the furnaces myself."

The Taoist politely declined her offer.

He feared he might end up blowing up the Great Xia National Treasury.

When Xia Yunzhao heard that Jin Xu might cause explosions during his alchemy, a peculiar expression flashed across her eyes.

Jin Xu had always given her the impression of being powerful, mysterious, and extremely quick at learning anything — like the 'Dongxuan Spirit Skill' and other subsequent magic.

Now, hearing that he, too, could cause furnace explosions while learning alchemy, just as she had during her initial practice, made him seem less mysterious and powerful, and more human.

Suddenly, Xia Yunzhao felt a closer bond with Jin Xu.

Feeling joyful, she waved her hand in a grand gesture that showed the magnanimous side of the Empress of Great Xia.

"Mr. Jin, you jest! After all, we are the foremost imperial dynasty in the Nine Provinces Realm; a few pill furnaces are nothing. From now on, let the Imperial Family of Great Xia take responsibility for your pill furnaces!"

"This..."

The Taoist still wanted to refuse; he didn't want the leading dynasty of the Nine Provinces to bear the reputation of hindering the development of Alchemy Dao.

However, Xia Yunzhao decisively said, "Let's settle it this way, Mr. Jin. You wouldn't deny me this small favor, your good friend, would you?"

In order to take on the responsibility of providing pill furnaces for Jin Xu's alchemy practice, even the Empress of Great Xia resorted to using such a transparent tactic.

Upon hearing this, the Taoist pondered for a moment.

He sighed softly and said, "Let's not talk about the future for now. During my stay in Shangjing City, if I wish to practice alchemy, please provide me with some pill furnaces, Miss Yunzhao."

As far as Jin Xu was concerned, staying a day or two longer in Shangjing City to practice alchemy and practically demonstrate the situation should make Xia Yunzhao realize the difficulty and step back.

"All right, that's settled then."

Seeing that the Taoist had finally relented, Xia Yunzhao eagerly agreed. To her, this was a promising start. Besides, she, Xia Yunzhao, couldn't believe that actively offering something could ever be declined.

Meanwhile, as the two conversed.

In the courtyard, where Yu Yaoer was conducting her alchemy, the process had reached the stage of reducing the fire.

She popped the crystal bead back into her mouth, puffed her cheeks, and blew fiercely toward the crystal lamp.

The flames on the wick surged dramatically!

Simultaneously, the Little Fish Demon used her spiritual power to remove the stopper of the jade bottle containing Che Liang Wood essence and extracted three drops of it.

By the time steam constantly rose from above the eight-hole Alchemy Furnace, faintly revealing a formation of three flowers converging at the top, Yu Yaoer, with the swiftness of lightning, moved the lid of the Alchemy Furnace slightly open and flicked three drops of tree sap into it.

Then, she exhaled a breath of innate natural energy.

Instantly, the flame on the crystal lamp flared up, enveloping the entire Alchemy Furnace.

Meanwhile, the Little Fish Demon was fully engaging its Spiritual Power, meticulously maneuvering through the eight holes.

A moment later, the fire had fully condensed the essence.

Above the furnace, a tricolor cloud undulated as if cheering and seemingly welcoming something.

Yu Yaoer inhaled, extinguishing the flame on the crystal lamp. Without time to expel the transparent bead, she used her Spiritual Power to create a Water Prison around the furnace, then lifted the furnace lid in one go.

A pill emitting a mist of cyan, white, and gold swiftly flew out, colliding with the tricolor cloud above it.

The cloud, carrying the pill, attempted to flee into the distance.

However, since Yu Yaoer had already prepared the Water Prison, the tricolor cloud circled midair, bumped several times finding no exit, and then helplessly remained in place.

Seeing this, a smile curved on the Little Fish Demon's lips as her hands formed a Pill Formula.

After that, the cloud carrying the Three Elements Rejuvenation Pill gradually merged back into the pill itself, spreading a fragrance that refreshed the mind and relaxed the body.

"A Nine-Turned Grade Pill with Pill Clouds guarding it!"

Under the eaves, Miss Yunzhao exclaimed.

She clearly hadn't expected that such a bizarre method of alchemy could produce a pill of such a grade.

At that moment, Miss Yunzhao even considered learning this method of alchemy.

Meanwhile, Jin Xu looked utterly confused. As a complete novice who had never succeeded in pill solidification, terms like 'Nine-Turned Grade' and 'Pill Clouds guarding' were clearly too advanced for him.

As for Little White, seeing Yu Yaoer produce the tricolor pill, all she could think about was whether she could taste it.

"Master, the Three Elements Rejuvenation Pill is ready,"

Unaware of the thoughts under the eaves,

Yu Yaoer expelled the transparent bead, turned to the young Taoist with a smile, then retrieved a jade box from her storage artifact.

While the pill was still hovering mid-air before hitting the ground, she placed it inside the box then turned and walked towards Jin Xu.

"Master, here."

The Little Fish Demon handed over the jade box, then went back to gather her crystal lamp and firewood knife.

The young Taoist received the jade box, encased it with Golden Spiritual Power, and then opened it.

Miss Yunzhao, Little White, and Li Mi couldn't resist their curiosity and gathered around.

Inside the box, a pill emitting a mist of cyan, white, and gold lay quietly. The mist continually transformed into tiny human figures before dissipating.

Its appearance was very similar to the Three Elements Rejuvenation Pill that the pot-bellied monk had previously presented.

However, the pill that Yu Yaoer had produced looked vividly brighter in color, and the human figures formed by the mist appeared more lifelike.

Despite his heart's continual doubts and the fact that Yu Yaoer's method of alchemy was very unrefined, Jin Xu had never doubted his demon pet's alchemical prowess.

Now, his intention in glancing at it was merely to see what made a Nine-Turned Grade Spirit Pill different from ordinary spirit pills.

Having finished his observation, he pinched the pill between two fingers and communicated silently to Xu Qian, who leisurely stood aside.

Meanwhile, a mischievous urge rose in the young Taoist's heart.

Xu Qian would recover upon consuming this pill.

And once he had recovered, the surprise prepared for him...