After a long while, Yang Kai's eyes suddenly cleared, a thoughtful expression flickering across his face. He reached out and summoned his alchemy furnace, then took out several medicinal ingredients from the space within the Black Book.
The fire of his Divine Sense erupted, enveloping those ingredients. Under the searing heat, they were quickly refined into medicinal liquids, which were then poured into the furnace in a specific order. The fire of his Divine Sense then shifted to envelop the furnace itself, where the liquids began their wonderful process of fusion and transformation.
In just a moment, a fresh medicinal fragrance permeated the chamber. With a soft sound, a perfectly round pill shot out of the furnace. Yang Kai caught it in his hand and examined it closely, a smile appearing on his face.
A Spirit Grade pill! He had refined it with ease. Compared to refining pills with True Yang Energy before, this was far quicker and more convenient. Not only had the time been drastically cut short, but Yang Kai could sense that as he gained proficiency and wielded the fire of his Divine Sense with greater skill, the quality of the pills he refined would also improve.
Refining pills with the fire of Divine Sense versus using True Yang Energy—they were simply not on the same level.
Throughout the entire process, Elder Li and Zhai Yao watched with undivided attention. Zhai Yao clicked his tongue in amazement; even though he had seen his teacher use the fire of Divine Sense for alchemy countless times, he couldn't help but feel a surge of awe. For someone who lacked this advantage, he naturally envied Yang Kai's capital immensely.
Elder Li also nodded approvingly, his eyes gleaming. Yang Kai's comprehension and aptitude made him feel that entrusting his experience had not been in vain. He would definitely grasp the essence of his teachings, and on that foundation, develop his own insights and innovations.
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Li!" Yang Kai stored the spirit pill away and bowed solemnly, cupping his fists.
"Hehe, young brother, you're too polite. My teaching you this actually comes with a condition," Elder Li said with a slight smile.
"Please speak, Elder Li."
"I wish to ask, how was your fire of Divine Sense born? Moreover, I observe that its intensity seems no less formidable than my own, given your age. It's hard for me to imagine how you cultivated it to such a degree. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me about it?"
Yang Kai pondered for a moment before speaking. "Um... Regarding the first question, it actually appeared by chance. I once possessed a Spirit Within Jade, intending to absorb its energy to enhance my own cultivation and combat power. But unexpectedly, during that cultivation session, through a series of fortunate accidents, I ended up cultivating the fire of Divine Sense."
"Spirit Within Jade?" Elder Li's expression changed upon hearing this. "You were truly audacious to dare absorb something like that."
"I wasn't thinking much back then. Looking back now, it was indeed quite dangerous," Yang Kai replied with a grin. "Fortunately, that Spirit Within Jade wasn't too powerful, otherwise my life would have been forfeit."
Elder Li nodded slightly, deep in thought. "So absorbing a Spirit Within Jade can also give birth to the fire of Divine Sense. However, that method is still rather too reckless." His questions were clearly also for Zhai Yao's sake, hoping to enable him to possess the fire of Divine Sense as well. Yang Kai's method, however, was not suitable for Zhai Yao. Setting aside the danger, even if it were safe, it might not necessarily allow Zhai Yao to develop the fire of Divine Sense—the element of chance was far too great.
"Regarding the second question..." Yang Kai continued slowly, "The reason my fire of Divine Sense is on par with Elder Li's, I believe, is probably because I have absorbed the fire of Divine Sense of others, rather than cultivating it entirely through my own bitter efforts."
"You absorbed the fire of Divine Sense from others?" Elder Li's expression shifted dramatically.
"Elder Li misunderstands. It wasn't through forceful seizure. In a certain place, many warriors possessing the fire of Divine Sense had perished, and their spiritual energy remained. Through a stroke of fortune, I was able to absorb it," Yang Kai explained.
"Your luck is truly enviable!" Zhai Yao was utterly jealous. Throughout the world, warriors with mutated spiritual senses, while rare, did exist. However, high-level alchemists who possessed the fire of Divine Sense were probably only Yang Kai and Elder Li. Perhaps others had it, but they weren't proficient in alchemy, using it only for battle.
"I understand now," Elder Li nodded slightly. "Thank you for clarifying this for me, young brother. This has been of great help."
"Elder Li is too kind. I have also benefited greatly from you," Yang Kai hastily replied. After a thought, he asked, "Senior, were you about to tell me something earlier?" Elder Li had previously deduced that Yang Kai hadn't joined the Tianxiao Sect long ago but hadn't revealed his reason, which had made Yang Kai curious. Someone like Elder Li wouldn't make vague statements; his actions surely held deeper meaning.
"Um, this matter may concern you, or it may not," Elder Li chuckled and handed Yang Kai a pill. Yang Kai took it and examined it closely, startled. "Isn't this the spirit pill I refined?" The pill was precisely the one he had refined during the competition with Zhai Yao at the inn, bearing the faint lines of pill veins.
"If it's convenient for you, young friend, could you draw the spirit array used to refine this pill?" Elder Li asked amicably. "Rest assured, I have no intention of prying into your knowledge. I merely have some doubts."