Lin Yueru's surprise was not feigned. Although she couldn't refine pills herself, she knew that the Hui Ling Dan was a second-grade pill.
Not long ago, Zhang Ergou could only refine first-grade Hui Qi Dan. How long had it been, and Zhang Ergou was already refining second-grade pills.
This was simply unbelievable: "Master, are you teaching him to refine the second-grade Hui Ling Dan too soon?"
With a hint of doubt in her heart, Lin Yueru blinked her beautiful eyes, darting them between the two men.
"I don't have that much free time!" Qiao Yunyun said with annoyance, "This kid must be having a weird day. After watching me refine a batch of Hui Ling Dan, he insisted on trying it himself."
"He watched it once and wants to try?" Lin Yueru's eyes widened. "Doesn't he know how complex pill refinement is? Second-grade pills are a whole level higher than first-grade ones, and the complexity is more than double that of refining first-grade pills."
"This is also why I'm puzzled. The kid was so confident just now, acting as if he had everything under control."
"Youngsters these days, after refining pills for a few days, become arrogant. They think they have photographic memories. It might be a good opportunity to temper his arrogance."
As Qiao Yunyun spoke, he looked at Zhang Ergou, who was still fully engrossed in pill refinement, with a headache.
"Hehe, perhaps Brother Ergou really has a chance," Lin Yueru chuckled softly. She picked up a chair and sat beside Qiao Yunyun, watching Zhang Ergou refine pills in silence.
"He has no chance at all!" Qiao Yunyun grumbled again under his breath.
Beside the alchemy furnace, Zhang Ergou continued to refine the pill with unwavering focus. It was now at the crucial moment of fusion and condensation of various medicinal liquids, the most vital part of pill refinement.
Many alchemists' furnaces explode at this stage because the different properties of the medicinal ingredients require extreme skill to fuse and condense.
If the heat is not controlled properly, there is a risk of the furnace exploding.
At this moment, although Zhang Ergou was concentrating on fusing the medicinal liquids, his expression showed no panic. Instead, he was calm and composed, unlike someone refining the Hui Qi Dan for the first time.
Beside him, Lin Yueru clenched her fists tightly, worried that Zhang Ergou would fail at the critical moment.
Although Qiao Yunyun verbally berated Zhang Ergou, he still hoped for his success. Therefore, his heart was also sweating profusely.
Zhang Ergou finally understood the words spoken by the Grand Void Elder on his deathbed. The Six Paths Reincarnation Eyes were indeed incredibly powerful.
If he wasn't mistaken, these Six Paths Reincarnation Eyes could not only replicate, decompose, and deduce pill refinement techniques but perhaps also copy cultivation techniques and skills just by observing them once.
With this thought, Zhang Ergou was enveloped by a wave of immense joy.
However, his hands did not slacken. Zhang Ergou controlled the spiritual fire with skilled movements, which made Qiao Yunyun's eyes light up.
"Not bad, you brat. You've passed all the complex steps without a single mistake. It's truly incredible. Now it's time for the final fusion and condensation. Can this kid make it to the end?"
Unconsciously, Qiao Yunyun sat up straighter, his eyes fixed on the alchemy furnace.
The difference between second-grade and first-grade pills was not something that could be bridged overnight. Zhang Ergou's damnable monstrous talent had shocked even the experienced Qiao Yunyun.
Furthermore, Qiao Yunyun discovered something even more terrifying: Zhang Ergou had not asked him for the formula for the Hui Ling Dan to study.
This was going against the heavens!
Pill refinement was not like cultivation. Without a formula, even with sufficient medicinal ingredients, an alchemist could not refine a complete pill.
It was no exaggeration to say that a pill formula was like an alchemist's eyes.
Yet, Zhang Ergou had not looked at the Hui Ling Dan formula from beginning to end, only watching Qiao Yunyun refine it once.
Gulp!
Qiao Yunyun swallowed involuntarily, shocked by his own oversight.
With this thought, Qiao Yunyun uncontrollably moved closer to Zhang Ergou and stood beside him, observing the refinement process.
Zhang Ergou sensed someone approaching but did not speak. This was his first time refining the Hui Ling Dan. Although he had memorized the steps with the Six Paths Reincarnation Eyes, he still dared not be distracted.
Qiao Yunyun stood quietly behind Zhang Ergou, his surprise deepening.
Zhang Ergou's skill in controlling the flames was no less than his own. This was hardly the demeanor of a novice refining the Hui Ling Dan for the first time.
If Zhang Ergou wasn't possessed by some old monster, he could definitely be called a monstrous genius among geniuses!
Zhang Ergou continued to control the flames at a steady pace. The medicinal liquid in the alchemy furnace had fully fused and reached the final stage of condensation.
Incredible! This was not the first time Qiao Yunyun had this thought today.
"Condensation!"
Zhang Ergou grunted, and the medicinal liquid gradually solidified, forming several round pills that tumbled around inside the alchemy furnace.
"Output!"
Following another grunt, a wave of pill fragrance emanated, instantly filling the entire inner hall of the Bao Dan Pavilion.
Several perfectly round pills appeared directly in Zhang Ergou's hand. Qiao Yunyun beside him widened his eyes.
This kid, he actually succeeded?
Qiao Yunyun couldn't help but cast his gaze back at Zhang Ergou, who was still sitting by the alchemy furnace. This young fellow had truly exceeded his understanding.
"He actually refined the Hui Ling Dan!" Qiao Yunyun muttered to himself.
"Master, you're saying Brother Ergou only watched you refine the Hui Ling Dan once?" Seeing the pills in Zhang Ergou's hand, Lin Yueru also stood up from her chair in astonishment.
Qiao Yunyun nodded gently. He wished he could deny his own words, but facts were facts.
"This kid's talent for pill refinement is simply heaven-defying. He will surely become a pill grandmaster who shocks the continent in the future!"
"Pill Grandmaster?" Lin Yueru's beautiful eyes widened. "Master, you mean a pill grandmaster capable of refining sixth-grade pills?"
Qiao Yunyun nodded affirmatively.
"Master, how is it?" While they were talking, Zhang Ergou had already stood up. "Master, quickly see how this batch of Hui Ling Dan I refined is."
Qiao Yunyun reached out and took the pills handed to him by Zhang Ergou. Looking at the bright and visible pill patterns on the pills, his inner shock was immeasurable.
"Three pill patterns!" Lin Yueru leaned in to look and exclaimed in surprise.
Qiao Yunyun felt the same way. The hand holding the pills was trembling. His shock was even greater than Lin Yueru's.
Without looking at the formula, and only watching him refine the Hui Ling Dan once, he succeeded in refining a second-grade Hui Ling Dan with three pill patterns on his first try. What else could this be if not genius?
Beside them, before Zhang Ergou could even rejoice, his body swayed, and he fell down.
Lin Yueru quickly moved to support his body. Looking at the pallor on the young man's face, a hint of pity appeared in her beautiful eyes.