Chapter 1332: One Must Refine the Heart Before Refining Pills

"Taking disciples will not be necessary. However..."

Ling Feng paused briefly, his expression calm as he continued. "Your simplified method for extracting medicinal materials does allow martial practitioners who have never studied alchemy to handle herbs and improve efficiency to a certain extent. Still, there are several areas that can be further refined."

"For example, when using elemental force to condense threads and expel impurities from the herbs, the technique can be adjusted in this way..."

Before long, Ling Feng systematically revised Ye Xiong's extraction and purification method. After Lu Yu and the other outer sect disciples tested it themselves, they found that not only had efficiency increased, but the level of purification had also improved significantly.

This left Ye Xiong even more awed by Ling Feng. He no longer dared to make things difficult for him and instead asked Ling Feng to focus solely on refining the alchemy process, without needing to personally handle the work.

By the end of the day, the alchemy room's efficiency had nearly doubled. Tasks that usually could not be finished in an entire day were completed well before dusk, with results exceeding the usual quota.

"As expected of Junior Brother Ling... no, Master Ling!"

Lu Yu and the others looked at Ling Feng with deep admiration. After losing to Ling Feng, Master Ye truly stopped tormenting them. With the improved and simplified extraction techniques, the consumption of elemental force and spiritual consciousness was greatly reduced.

Generally speaking, a qualified alchemist needed strong spiritual power to assist them. This applied not only during pill refinement, but also when handling medicinal materials.

Lu Yu and the others had relatively weak spiritual consciousness aptitude. During the daily repetition of extracting herbs, they exhausted a great deal of mental energy. This was precisely why most disciples were unwilling to take on daily duties in the alchemy room.

Compared to physical recovery, the recovery of spiritual power was several times slower.

Now, with Ling Feng's simplified extraction and purification method, even after a full day of work, Lu Yu and the others only felt mild fatigue. The consumption of spiritual consciousness had become a secondary concern.

Under such conditions, working long term in the alchemy room was no longer a torment. Instead, it became a relatively relaxed assignment.

"We finished today's tasks ahead of schedule. Everyone may return and rest."

Looking at the rows of bottled medicinal pills, Ye Xiong saw that not only had the quantity exceeded expectations, but the overall quality had also improved noticeably.

Ling Feng had merely offered a few suggestions, yet the entire workload of the alchemy room had become much easier.

Whether it was Lu Yu and the others, or Ye Xiong himself, all felt fortunate that Ling Feng had come.

"Yes!"

Hearing that Master Ye was actually letting them leave early, Lu Yu and the others were so excited that their eyes nearly filled with tears. In the alchemy room of the "Black Abyss Executioner", there was truly a day when they could rest ahead of time!

"Master Ling, please stay for a moment."

After Lu Yu and the others left, Ye Xiong stopped Ling Feng and bowed deeply. "Master Ling, thank you for reminding me of the original intent I once held toward the path of alchemy."

"Master Ye, is there something else?" Ling Feng looked at him and asked calmly.

"No, no..." Ye Xiong hurriedly waved his hands. "In front of you, how could I be called a master. Please just call me by my name in the future. I do not deserve that title before you."

The burly man scratched the back of his head in embarrassment before continuing. "Well, Master Ling, I would still like to ask you about some techniques related to pill formulas, if that is possible..."

"Of course." Ling Feng smiled faintly. "We can learn from each other."

"

Ah...

" Ye Xiong froze for a moment, then nodded heavily. "Mm. Thank you, Master Ling!"

...

"Look over there. Those disciples. Is that not Lu Yu, the unlucky one sent to the Black Abyss Executioner?"

"And that guy. Is that not Wang Zhen? He was also sent to Master Ye's alchemy room. He already bears the Black Abyss brand and is destined to be sent there."

"Why did they leave Master Ye's alchemy room so early today? Could it be that they know they cannot endure it anymore and plan to report themselves to the Black Abyss?"

Outer sect disciples from other alchemy rooms stared at Lu Yu and the others in shock.

On ordinary days, these few were always the last to leave the Dan Ding Grand Hall. Sometimes they worked through the night and still failed to complete their tasks. Yet today, they had left Ye Xiong's alchemy room so early.

It was simply unbelievable.

"

Hey,

Lu Yu. Are you not afraid Master Ye will skin you alive? How dare you sneak away like this?"

One disciple shouted.

"That is not it." Lu Yu quickly shook his head. "Master Ye allowed us to leave because today's tasks were completed beyond the required amount!"

"Beyond the required amount? Are you joking, or are you still dreaming?"

The alchemy room disciples shook their heads repeatedly, clearly refusing to believe it.

Among all the alchemy rooms, Master Ye had the fewest disciples under him. How could they possibly finish early!

"In any case, Master Ye is no longer the same Master Ye as before!"

Lu Yu clenched his fists and said firmly, "All of this is because of Master Ling. His arrival will be a blessing for every disciple working in the alchemy rooms."

"What nonsense! Who would believe that? You naive fool! What Master Ling? You unlucky lot were probably beaten senseless by Master Ye and started hallucinating!"

After discussing among themselves, a few bolder disciples gathered their courage and crept to the entrance of Ye Xiong's alchemy room. When they peeked inside, they were met with an unbelievable sight.

Ye Xiong was actually kneeling on the ground, adopting an extremely humble posture as he sought guidance from a young man. He nodded repeatedly, as if gaining sudden insight.

This was nothing like the usual Master Ye Xiong. In the past, even if alchemists from other Dan Ding Grand Halls voiced the slightest disagreement with his methods, he would erupt in fury and curse them mercilessly.

And now, he was asking a young man for instruction instead.

"No, no. This must be wrong. Something is off!"

The leading disciple rubbed his eyes fiercely. No matter how many times he looked, Ye Xiong was truly seeking guidance from a youth, with an attitude so humble that it was as if he regarded the other party as a divine figure!

Sensing someone peeping from outside, Ye Xiong frowned and was about to act when Ling Feng spoke unhurriedly. "Before refining pills, one must first refine the heart. If the mind cannot be as calm as still water, how can one speak of the path of alchemy at all."

Ye Xiong's eyelids twitched. He immediately took a deep breath and replied slowly, "Master Ling is right."

After speaking, he remained seated, without the slightest trace of anger. His mind was calm and unmoving, like an old monk in deep meditation.

The Black Abyss Executioner had truly achieved great enlightenment!