Right after spending time with Unity, Kent found a room in the new mini-mansion that had been given to him and his master, and he got to work.
He had a lot to do.
First, he needed to take his purity to the perfect stage, which was 100%. Then, he would have to concoct 120 different Tier-0 pills to reach the Pill Master stage. Of course, he had bought more than enough ingredients for this undertaking.
However, before he began concocting, Kent decided to follow the Tower’s advice and learn a new pill-flame control technique:
The Seven Flame Control and Refining Art.
He had tried learning this technique before, but that was back when he was just a Root Blossom cultivator. He may have had a lot of Spiritual Qi in his Dantian at the time, but it wasn’t sufficient for the technique.
So, he had to settle for the minor ones. Essentially, the Seven Flame Control and Refining Art was the skill he was meant to use from the beginning. It wasn’t just a static ability; it would evolve and grow stronger as he progressed in cultivation and in Alchemy.
It was a technique that could take him to the peak—provided he didn’t slack off. And Kent wasn’t about to slack off, not after everything Vexthra had done for him and was still doing for him.
Kent quickly got to work, summoning his Blue Void Flame, and started practicing the technique.
He already had some understanding, having concocted pills before, so it took him just an hour to grasp the full nature of the technique.
Once that was done, he retrieved the ingredients for the Qi Gathering Pill and got started.
Using the Seven Flame Control and Refining Art, he began heating the cauldron. Immediately, there was a noticeable difference in how the pill flame danced around the furnace.
It wasn’t overly dramatic. The technique was designed to be used with seven different pill flames at his current level. However, since he only had one flame at the moment, he focused solely on mastering that one.
After all, he would eventually awaken more flames as he advanced. This also meant the technique would evolve alongside his progress.
It was a growth-oriented technique, one that demanded total dedication to Alchemy if he truly wanted to walk that path until his mission was complete.
Once the cauldron was sufficiently heated, Kent tossed in the first ingredient and began extracting its essence. The process was faster than before, a testament to his improving skills. He swiftly added the second ingredient, and before long, the final one was in the mix.
He then started burning away impurities while gradually condensing the pill. The technique allowed him to do both simultaneously, which not only improved efficiency but also helped him increase his purity level without sacrificing too much essence from the pill.
<Tower, you once said I could practice complete extraction using this technique, right?> Kent asked
[Yes, Master. You can indeed do that. However, you would need to master the technique to a certain level before you can simply dump all the ingredients into the cauldron and extract their essences with ease.]
[Basically, you can begin by practicing with two ingredients. Once you’re proficient, move to three, and as you progress and refine your skill, you can handle more. The more mastery you achieve, the higher your chances of becoming an alchemy genius.]
<I thought I was already an alchemy genius.> Kent smiled slightly, amused by the remark.
[Master is indeed an alchemy genius… at your current level. However, as you climb the ladder of alchemy, you will encounter individuals whose genius surpasses imagination. That being said, Master is undeniably a genius in your own right.]
<I see. So, aside from complete extraction, what other perks would I gain from this technique?>
[Master can also practice batch refining. This means you could refine more than one pill in a single session. There are others out there who can concoct ten or even a hundred pills at once. If Master wishes to dominate the alchemy world, batch pill refining is a path worth pursuing.]
<Ha… I guess I’m just an ant at my current stage. But who knows? I might surpass everyone soon enough.>
Kent smiled, fully aware that he was entering a race. Things were about to get spooky and crazy for him. The alchemy world is large, after all.
But what was a little challenge if one truly wanted to become the best?
He continued refining the pill for 40 minutes until a soft poof came from the cauldron. Smiling, he retrieved the pill. Of course, the Tower wouldn’t disappoint him, even though he had the Appraiser’s Eye to detect the purity level, it decided to show him the outcome instead.
[You have successfully concocted a Qi Gathering Pill. Grade: Tier 0, Quality: Excellent. Purity: 99%.]
“Ha… looks like mastering a new technique will take some time,” Kent muttered. “But this is a good start. I just need to try again.”
Kent smiled and began concocting another pill.
Since the result wasn’t quite to his liking, he resolved to get more precise this time and address his shortcomings. The next concoction also yielded 99% purity, but he neither panicked nor frowned.
He understood it was only a matter of time before a perfect pill emerged. His confidence and anticipation weren’t misplaced.
After four more trials, he finally achieved his goal.
Opening the cauldron, Kent retrieved a dazzling white pill, its surface gleaming like the purest jade. The Tower wasted no time in praising him, proudly displaying the purity level.
[Congratulations, Master. You have successfully concocted a Qi Gathering Pill. Grade: Tier 0, Quality: Flawless. Purity: 100%. This is a perfect pill.]
Kent’s grin widened as he admired the flawless pill in his hand.
“About damn time,” Kent smiled as he retrieved a small box and placed the pill inside. At that very moment, the tower displayed yet another message, making his grin widen.
[You have concocted your first Flawless Pill. Because of your hard work, you have received a new understanding of the Seven Flame Control and Refining Art. Good luck.]
[Progress Level: 1/120 Tier 0 Pills to become a Pill Master.]
Kent smiled again, sensing a change in his understanding of the technique. He retrieved another set of ingredients for a new recipe.
He was about to concoct a strength-enhancing pill next. Some might argue that he should focus on solidifying his progress with the Qi-gathering pill, but that would be a waste of time, considering his newfound understanding of the Seven Flame Control and Refining Art.
Before long, he began concocting the pill. It was a new kind of pill, but since he had the recipe and a powerful refining technique, it took just 45 minutes for the pill to emerge flawless.
[Progress Level: 2/120 Tier 0 Pills to become a Pill Master.]
With his newfound success, he began concocting a variety of pills, one for every recipe he had. He didn’t need to waste much time on them, as in the world of alchemy, it was the Tier 3 pills and above that garnered the most attention.
Of course, Tier 0, 1, and 2 pills were also important, but the pills that could truly disrupt the market came from Tier 3 and beyond. Kent wanted to break into that market as quickly as possible.
And so, he began working even harder.