Lu Qing initially attributed the issue to the pill grade. When Xiao Man, upon starting her alchemy, attempted to refine a fifth-grade pill, Lu Qing found her overly ambitious and asked her to practice with the入门 hemostatic pill. However, even this basic pill would result in an explosion, leaving Lu Qing perplexed.
"What exactly is going wrong?"
Suddenly, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted through the air. Lu Qing inhaled deeply, recognizing it as the scent of a Foundation Establishment Pill. Yet, it was different from the Foundation Establishment Pills they had refined; this scent was more profound and invigorating, bringing a sense of peace and refreshment.
Lu Qing mused, "Now that I smell the medicinal fragrance, the explosion isn't far off. What a waste. I wonder how many pills I'll be able to snatch this time?"
Lu Qing waited for the anticipated explosion, but after a long while, no sound of an explosion occurred. He abruptly looked up towards the window. No explosion, no screams. Had she finally discovered the reason for the explosions?
Lu Qing strode out of his room and headed towards the side chamber. As he reached the doorway, he saw Xiao Man standing sheepishly before an alchemy furnace. The furnace glowed with a soft radiance; it wasn't the furnace in his abode. Furthermore, the aura emanating from it made him feel as if the furnace possessed life, rather than being merely a tool for refining pills.
"Great Martial Uncle, it didn't explode," Xiao Man turned her head, her face smudged black and white, presenting a comical sight. However, Lu Qing did not laugh at her. After so many explosions, Xiao Man had lost all confidence. To think that on her last attempt, she had finally succeeded.
Lu Qing clapped his hand on the alchemy furnace. The pills inside instantly flew out and landed in a nearby medicine box. He had initially thought that producing a single batch of pills would be considered excellent. However, the moment Lu Qing saw the grade of the pills, he was utterly speechless with astonishment!
Lu Qing quickly stepped forward, picked up a pill, and examined it meticulously. He was afraid he might have misread. After a long moment, he looked at Xiao Man with disbelief, his mind echoing with just two words: prodigy!
"Great Martial Uncle, are the pills problematic?"
Lu Qing numbly shook his head and handed the pill to Xiao Man. "Foundation Establishment Pills, exceptionally high quality, with virtually no side effects. What surprises me even more is that Foundation Establishment Pills are fifth-grade pills. How did you manage to refine them into fourth-grade pills?"
"Fourth-grade?" Xiao Man looked utterly surprised.
Lu Qing pondered for a moment and then suddenly laughed. "I finally understand why your pills exploded every time you refined them. It's because the pills you were refining had already surpassed their original grade. Ordinary alchemy furnaces couldn't withstand such potent medicinal properties, which is why they exploded."
"So, it's not that I lack alchemy talent?" Xiao Man asked, her eyes shining with joy.
Lu Qing nodded slowly. "You don't just have alchemy talent; your talent is practically monstrous. Xiao Man, one day you will become a renowned alchemist throughout Cang Xuan. Your name will be known by everyone!"
Zhai Ge and the others were lamenting the Sect Master's shamelessness for hiding away when the ground began to shake violently, even throwing them from their chairs onto the floor.
Vases and ornaments on the shelves tumbled to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Was that an earthquake?" Xuan Hu's expression changed slightly. The surrounding disciples also picked themselves up from the ground and looked towards a direction shrouded in dust.
"Is it an enemy attack?"
"It shouldn't be."
"That looks like Great Martial Uncle's abode."
"Great Martial Uncle's abode has been destroyed?"
Zhai Ge and the others exchanged glances and quickly flew over on their swords.
Xiao Man and Lu Qing crawled out from the ruins, both appearing remarkably disheveled. Lu Qing, in particular, was a far cry from his usual refined and elegant demeanor.
"Martial Uncle, what happened?"
Lu Qing looked at Xiao Man, his eyes filled with questions.
Xiao Man turned her head and whistled, as if to say it wasn't her fault. She had merely wanted to try out an ancient formula she obtained from Yan Yan. Although the formula was incomplete, she had managed to supplement it with her understanding of herbs. However, during the refinement... Xiao Man glanced guiltily at the ruined abode, then at Jun Feier who was rushing over, and quickly hid behind Jun Feier.
Jun Feier glanced at the destroyed abode, her heart trembling. She lowered her voice and asked, "Did you do this?"
Xiao Man sheepishly rubbed her nose. "It was an accident."
"Martial Uncle, you look so disheveled. You should go clean up quickly," Jun Feier rushed forward. "Third Brother's abode has a natural hot spring, perfect for bathing. Please go and clean yourself, Martial Uncle."
Zhai Ge, inexplicably singled out, nodded quickly when Lu Qing looked his way. "I'll lead Martial Uncle."
Lu Qing glanced at Xiao Man and followed Zhai Ge. Once Lu Qing left, Jun Feier breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and grabbed Xiao Man, examining her from head to toe. "Oh, you troublemaker! What did you do to blow up your Great Martial Uncle's abode? Are you tired of living?"
"An accident, the furnace exploded."
"Exploded?" Jun Feier placed her hands on her hips. "What, does the alchemy furnace have a grudge against you, or does your Great Martial Uncle's abode have a grudge against you? To blow up his abode like this, you must have exploded ten or eight furnaces at once!"
"No, just one," Xiao Man replied softly.
"One? And you blew up Martial Uncle's abode? I'd have to sell my entire Pill Spirit Courtyard to compensate for this!" Jun Feier massaged her temples, her disciple causing her such headaches. Su Dan Novels.
"Just let the Sect Master compensate us," Xiao Man said matter-of-factly. "Besides, it's destroyed now, it's too late to say anything."
"Troublemaker!" Jun Feier gritted her teeth. "Go wash up quickly. If I don't watch you for a day, you'll turn the world upside down."
Xiao Man didn't get angry and happily followed Jun Feier back to the Pill Spirit Courtyard.
Xuan Hu looked at the destroyed abode and then at Xiao Man, whom Jun Feier was leading away. He couldn't help but shake his head. This boy was truly something. In the past, any disciple who entered Martial Uncle's abode would emerge in a daze. Yet, this boy had only been there for a few days and had managed to pull the rug out from under them, blowing up Martial Uncle's abode!
When the disciples in the sect heard that Lu Qing's abode had been blown up by Xiao Man, they were overjoyed. In their eyes, Lu Qing's abode was a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, a palace of hell. Anyone who entered would be stripped to the bone. Now, someone had entered, emerged unscathed, and even destroyed the hellish palace they feared!
Jun Feier was contemplating how to smooth over the incident of Xiao Man blowing up Lu Qing's abode when she saw Lu Qing approaching on his sword from a distance. She trembled with fear and rushed forward to greet him.
"Greetings, Martial Uncle," Jun Feier said with a smile, blocking Lu Qing's path.
Lu Qing glanced at Jun Feier, not giving her a chance to react, and then sealed her acupoints. He walked past her and, within moments, emerged from a room carrying a freshly washed Xiao Man. He then took her away on his sword.