Chapter 17: Refining the Heavenly Fire Pill

In the entire Tianhe Dynasty, the highest-ranking alchemist is only of the third grade. As the president of the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce, she is herself a third-grade alchemist. As for a fourth-grade alchemist, she had never encountered one in the Tianhe Dynasty. Yet, Qin Xingchen intended to concoct a fourth-grade pill! Does this mean that Qin Xingchen is at least a fourth-grade alchemist? And such a young one at that?

Facing Jiang Rong’s question, Qin Xingchen merely smiled without answering. In his past life, he was a Saint of Alchemy, far above the ninth grade, but he had no intention of revealing this; it was better to keep a low profile. Qin Xingchen found pen and paper in Jiang Rong’s chamber, quickly wrote out a list of medicinal ingredients, and handed it to her. "President Jiang, please go and prepare these ingredients for me, and provide me with an alchemy room. I can begin."

Seeing that Qin Xingchen did not wish to reveal his exact rank, Jiang Rong did not press the matter. Whether he was truly a fourth-grade alchemist would be revealed once the results were in. However, upon taking the list, she was stunned. She had never seen or even heard of this "Fourth-Grade Heavenly Fire Pill." Moreover, the ingredients required—Yuanyang Fruit, Wind-Blowing Grass, Icy Sticky Jade Liquid, Rootless Green Vine, and Savage Dragon Flower—were all of the third or fourth grade.

"Putting the Yuanyang Fruit and the Icy Sticky Jade Liquid together? Yin and Yang mixing in opposition is against all logic. Wouldn't that easily cause the furnace to explode?" Jiang Rong asked, looking puzzled. She began to doubt whether Qin Xingchen was an alchemist at all.

"Yin and Yang mixing is against the logic of alchemy?" Qin Xingchen scoffed. "Whoever said that cannot be done simply lacks sufficient mastery. President Jiang, if you trust me, go prepare the ingredients. If you don’t, I can leave right now, and you won’t have to worry about wasting your materials."

Jiang Rong quickly replied, "Young Master Qin, please calm down. It is my first time seeing such a method, so I found it hard to believe. I will prepare the ingredients and the room for you at once." She was gambling now. If Qin Xingchen was not a fourth-grade alchemist, she would lose some precious herbs, but if he truly was one, the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce would spare no effort to recruit him; he was not a man to offend.

Soon, Jiang Rong had prepared the room, complete with the ingredients and an alchemy furnace. "Young Master Qin, I have a request. Would you be willing to grant it?"

Qin Xingchen paused. "What request?"

"I would like to watch you refine the pill," Jiang Rong said.

"Very well," Qin Xingchen replied.

The essentials of alchemy are: materials, a furnace, a flame, and soul power. The basic steps for the Fourth-Grade Heavenly Fire Pill are: refinement, purification, condensation, and completion. Once everything was ready, he began! First, he lit the furnace.

This required an alchemical flame. "Young Master Qin, I possess a high-grade artificial flame called the Blazing Flame. It is very precious, and I have used it for years. If you do not have a flame, I can lend it to you," Jiang Rong offered tentatively.

Qin Xingchen shook his head slightly. "No need. I have my own." He opened his right palm, and a flame of intense, scorching heat hovered above it.

"Beast... Beast Flame! You... you actually possess a Beast Flame?" Jiang Rong was dumbfounded, utterly shocked. She had not expected him to possess a Beast Flame. Such flames were rare to encounter in a century, and not everyone could tame them. Even she, a third-grade alchemist, could not. Compared to a Beast Flame, her artificial Blazing Flame was nothing. She no longer dared to doubt his credentials. *Who exactly is this youth?* she wondered.

"Ignite!" With a soft command, he cast the Beast Flame into the furnace, where it roared to life. He then unleashed his soul power, tossing all five ingredients—the Yuanyang Fruit, Wind-Blowing Grass, Icy Sticky Jade Liquid, Rootless Green Vine, and Savage Dragon Flower—into the furnace simultaneously to begin purification.

"All five at once? He’s mad!" Jiang Rong gasped. A normal alchemist would add ingredients one by one to avoid errors. Tossing them all in at once was a beginner’s mistake that almost guaranteed an explosion.

Qin Xingchen ignored her shock. Under his incredibly skillful control, the five materials did not conflict or explode. Instead, each liquefied under the flame, independent and harmonious.

"How is this possible?" Jiang Rong’s jaw nearly dropped. This level of control was beyond a fourth-grade, perhaps even a fifth-grade alchemist. It required immense soul power. As a former Saint of Alchemy, Qin Xingchen’s control was masterful. What others had to do step-by-step, he could achieve in one go. This was the absolute confidence of a Saint.

Once liquefied, it was time to fuse them—the condensation stage. He performed each movement with fluid, artistic grace. Jiang Rong watched, mesmerized. Every motion was a peak display of artistry, hitting her soul with such force that her lush, graceful body trembled. She could only describe his technique with one word: miraculous.

Half an hour later. "The pill is complete!"

At his command, a rich, intoxicating aroma filled the room. As Jiang Rong inhaled it, she felt refreshed, as if transported to a blissful paradise—an experience unlike any other.

"President Jiang, I have succeeded." Qin Xingchen handed her the completed Fourth-Grade Heavenly Fire Pill. She examined it and inhaled the scent again, overwhelmed. "I have never smelled such pure, rich fragrance! And it contains such immense alchemical power... Is this truly a fourth-grade pill?" She looked at him with newfound reverence. "Young Master Qin, I never imagined you were truly a fourth-grade alchemist! Who are you?"

No one in the Tianhe Dynasty was a fourth-grade alchemist. Yet today, one appeared—and he was so young! If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, no one would believe it.

Qin Xingchen said calmly, "Don't think too much for now. Consume the pill, meditate for a quarter of an hour, and the Heavenly Fire Pill will thoroughly destroy and evaporate the Phantom Orchid poison in your body. You will be healed."

Jiang Rong nodded excitedly, swallowed the pill, and sat cross-legged. A warm current spread from her abdomen, making her feel increasingly hot. Her beautiful, peach-like face flushed with a seductive glow.

"President Jiang, it will be a bit hot, but bear with it. The heat is the medicine fighting the poison. Once this feeling subsides, you will be well. Just calm your mind and wait," Qin Xingchen reminded her. She nodded, obediently following his instructions.

As time passed, hot beads of sweat soaked her face and neck, and soon her entire body was drenched. A foul, murky gas began to evaporate from her skin—the toxic vapor of the Phantom Orchid, forced out by the potency of the pill. Then, her proud, prominent breasts began to "shrink," settling at two-thirds of their original size, though they remained firm and alluring.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the flush faded from her face, and she opened her eyes.