After burning his first pill, Kent didn’t immediately begin his second concoction. He sat down and examined the pill for a few more minutes before putting it away in the space ring he had taken from his unofficial master.
Then he turned to face the dead body of his shameless master.
“Let me bury you, master,” Kent said, walking toward another room. A few seconds later, he returned with a cloth and wrapped James in it.
He carried him outside and dug a hole. Gently, he placed James in the hole and stood over him with a blank expression. He just couldn’t let the dead sit like that for long.
He tried to say a few words, but everything he thought of felt strange.
He was currently relying on James’ memories, so it felt odd. Nonetheless, he proceeded to say a few words.
“I know we haven’t officially met, but in this life, you are my master. So know that this disciple will fulfill your dream. If this mysterious daughter of the merchant is worth dying for, then I will be sure to make her remember you while I drill her.
It’s only natural for a disciple to make his master proud.”
With that, he covered him and walked away.
However, He didn’t immediately return to the house. Instead, he walked forward for a while until he reached the peak of a small mountain.
“Though he died a perverted Alchemist, Master sure knows how to pick his dwelling,” Kent said, admiring the scenery before him. There were tall trees, their branches twisting and leaves forming a soothing and harmonious environment.
“The air is clean and nourishing; clearly, global warming is not a thing here,” Kent said, sighing.
Back on Earth, just breathing carries a high risk of making one sick. The air was poisonous due to all the toxins being released into the atmosphere. But here is different.
“I guess once I grow strong enough, I’ll go back and set some people straight—and kill a few,” Kent grinned, then spent the afternoon there before heading back to the house.
When he returned back to the apartment, He didn’t get down to business right away; instead, he started practicing flame control using the empty cauldron. The Tower had said it was all in the flame control, so he wanted to master that before trying again.
After all, he had already wasted the first of the three portions of ingredients he had, so trial and error was not something he could afford at the moment.
He was broke. His master had wasted all his money on a Sex Enhancement pill recipe, so he would first need to concoct the pill to a decent purity and then sell it when he had the chance to travel to Caprath City. He might do that when the merchant’s soldiers came to pick him up in his master’s stead.
Caprath City was one of the nine cities in the Althea Kingdom. It wasn’t the strongest or the largest, but it was known for great commerce. If what his master heard was true, he would be headed there soon.
According to his master’s memories, a Tier 0 pill with 40% purity could sell for as much as 100 gold coins, equivalent to a single spirit stone.
Kent knew from James’ memories that the highest Tier 0 pill to have appeared in the city was a 94% pure pill from the Divine Palace Sect. It was a Martial and Alchemy sect, renowned for having some of the best alchemists in the Kingdom due to their rigorous training.
It was hard to get in, but Kent knew that was somewhere he would want to be if he wanted to achieve his goal—getting many Beauties. But first, he had to prove to himself whether he had what it took to concoct a good pill.
“A pill is not a pill if it is not 100% pure,” Kent muttered. “I guess I have to prove to these records that I have what it takes to be the next Pill Celestial,” he declared.
[You may be shooting too far this time, Master, but thumbs up on the confidence,] the Tower said, making Kent want to smack it silly.
“Whose side are you on?” Kent said.
[Yours, of course, Master. But I just want you to stick to your level for now.] The Tower was mocking him at this point, but Kent didn’t mind it anymore.
He took out the next set of ingredients and decided to try concocting the pill again. He would prove to the Tower that he had what it took. After all, it would be the one grading the pill once it was done.
Kent set up his ingredients carefully, his hands steady as he worked. This time, he paid closer attention to each step, recalling the knowledge he had absorbed from the Primordial Alchemy records.
No mistakes this time…
He adjusted the flame control, keeping it steady and consistent, making sure not to let it flare or dim too quickly. Every second counted.
He heated the cauldron slowly, allowing the ingredients to break down smoothly. Last time, he’d rushed this step, causing some ingredients to burn and ruin the concoction. Now, he took his time, letting each herb release its essence fully.
As the mixture started to blend, he stirred gently, mindful of the balance. Too much force could disrupt the harmony within the cauldron. He kept his focus sharp, watching for any signs of instability in the pill’s formation.
Midway through, he realized he’d made some improvements. His flame control was steadier, and he managed the heat with more precision.
The essence extraction, refining, and condensing were much sturdier this time. He was also able to handle the impurity removal great this time too.
Slowly, a faint aroma began to rise from the cauldron. The scent was clear and refreshing—a sign of purity. Kent smiled, knowing he was close. He adjusted the flame one last time, lowering it gently as the pill took form, its surface smooth and without any visible flaws.
Finally, the pill settled, solidifying with a faint glow after 50 minutes of concocting. Kent retrieved it from the cauldron, examining it closely. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better—much better.
The Tower’s voice echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations, Master. That’s a 75% pure pill. A commendable improvement.]
Kent grinned, feeling a surge of satisfaction. He had done it this time.
With one last look at the pill, he placed it carefully into his space ring.
He went back to the process again. He would be able to sell this for a few more gold coins. But he wasn’t satisfied with just the money; for some reason, he hated the idea of depending on an impure pill to earn money.
He felt he needed to do better. Much, much better. So he spent many more hours practicing the flame control arts until he was finally satisfied with the outcome.
He began concocting a new pill, and this time, after 45 minutes, he achieved a good result. A much better result considering he hadn’t been an alchemist for long.
[You have successfully concocted a Qi Gathering Pill. Grade: Tier 0, Quality: Excellent. Purity: 91%.]
He only rested for a few hours before deciding to tackle his next task: unlocking the swordsman subclass. What followed, though, was rather shocking…