15: Stealing techniques in the alchemy room! Elder Situ's "file" is a bit scary!

Life in the Pill Room passed quietly amidst superficial calm and underlying currents of probing.

Jiang Linfeng followed his routine every day, carrying out his "important duty" of "cleaning up the pill ash and medicinal dregs at the Waste Slag Pit."

Like the most diligent sweeping monk, he held that fireproof broom and meticulously swept the chaotic area around the Waste Slag Pit.

His movements remained "clumsy," his footsteps still "staggering," and from time to time he would "accidentally" kick a stone or be "overwhelmed" by the heat, drawing sneers of disdain from the Disciples observing in the shadows.

However, no one knew that beneath this seemingly pathetic facade, Jiang Linfeng's Source Spirit Body was like the most precise radar, greedily capturing and absorbing every trace of Law fragments and pure pill Qi remaining in the air!

【 Ding! Absorbed weak Pill Dao Law fragment! Pill Refining Art proficiency + 1! 】

【 Ding! Absorbed weak vegetation Origin aura! Source Spirit Body activity increased! Descendant Ice Wood Spirit Root affinity + 0.01%! 】

【 Ding! Absorbed weak thunder Law fragment! Meridian resilience slightly increased! 】

【 Ding! Discovered medicinal dreg fragments containing "ice heart lotus" essence! Recovered! 】

【 Ding! Discovered medicinal dreg fragments containing "xuan yang fruit" essence! Recovered! 】

...

Every "inadvertent" bend of his back, every "staggering" swing of his broom was accompanied by the System's pleasant notification sound!

Those Law fragments, which the Sect Elders regarded as treasures but were difficult to utilize due to being too weak and mixed, were transformed into the purest nourishment under the sorting of the Source Spirit Body, nourishing his insights into the Pill Dao, the activity of his Source Spirit Body, and even the Foundation of the child in Yaner's womb!

The xuan yang fruit core bestowed by Elder Situ became the perfect fuel for him to repair the earth fire flame heart fragment.

Every day when his shift ended and he returned to the simple Room No. 3 of the C-Rank, Jiang Linfeng would sit cross-legged, activating his Source Spirit Body, carefully guiding the violent fire Qi within the xuan yang fruit core into the dim earth fire flame heart fragment.

【 earth fire flame heart (fragment) repair progress: 85%... 86%... 87%... 】

【 xuan yang fruit core energy consumption: 20%... 21%... 22%... Status: Stable! 】

The repair progress was steadily increasing!

The energy of the xuan yang fruit core was being efficiently utilized, and the violent fire Qi became docile and controllable under the sorting of his Origin Spirit Power.

Jiang Linfeng could even feel that the repaired earth fire flame heart fragment's core earth fire flame power seemed even purer and more condensed than before, faintly carrying a trace of the xuan yang fruit core's domineering aura!

The harvest was huge!

But Jiang Linfeng was not carried away by joy.

He knew well that Elder Situ's probing would never stop.

That old fox's gaze, like a maggot on a tarsal bone, had never truly left him.

Sure enough!

That day, just after Jiang Linfeng finished cleaning the Waste Slag Pit and was preparing to return to his residence, he was called over by Deacon Liu.

"Jiang Linfeng, come with me to the Pill Formula Pavilion."

Deacon Liu was expressionless, his tone unquestionable.

The Pill Formula Pavilion?

Jiang Linfeng's heart tightened.

That was the place where the Pill Room stored basic Pill Formula and Alchemy insights; even ordinary deacons and Disciples needed to apply to enter.

Was Elder Situ... going to test him?

He followed Deacon Liu calmly, passing through layers of halls, and arrived before a quaint pavilion filled with the scent of books and medicine.

There were Disciples guarding the entrance to the pavilion, their auras steady.

"Go in. Elder Situ is waiting for you inside."

Deacon Liu stopped and gestured for Jiang Linfeng to enter on his own.

Jiang Linfeng took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The light inside the pavilion was soft.

Rows of rosewood shelves were filled with countless Jade Slips and animal skin scrolls, and the air was permeated with the faint scent of ink and Spirit Medicine.

Elder Situ stood with his back to the door, hands behind his back, staring at a huge mural on the wall depicting complex Alchemy hand seals.

"Disciple Jiang Linfeng pays respects to the Elder."

Jiang Linfeng bowed.

Elder Situ turned slowly.

His face was still pale, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, carrying a power that could pierce through a person's heart.

He did not speak, just used those eyes to look Jiang Linfeng up and down, as if wanting to see through him from inside out.

The atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

After a long while, Elder Situ spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse: "Jiang Linfeng, you have been in the Pill Room for a few days now. Is this work of cleaning up waste... still manageable?"

"Replying to the Elder, this one... this one is doing his best! I dare not slack off!"

Jiang Linfeng answered with "fear."

"Hmm."

Elder Situ nodded noncommittally and paced over to a long table.

Spread out on the table was a yellowed animal skin scroll, on which complex medicinal herb diagrams and refining steps were drawn, with a few medicinal herbs exuding cold air placed beside it.

"This is the remnant formula for the 'ice soul tempering divine pill'."

Elder Situ pointed to the scroll, his tone calm and waveless, "This pill is of black rank low-grade and has the effect of tempering the Divine Soul and stabilizing the heart Meridians. Unfortunately, the Pill Formula is incomplete, and the core pill-condensing hand seal is missing, leading to conflicts in medicinal properties, a very low success rate, and heavy pill toxins."

He paused, his gaze turning to Jiang Linfeng, carrying a hint of elusive probing: "I have observed that you... seem quite interested in medicinal dregs? Every time you clean, you always manage to 'pick up' some unusual 'waste'? I wonder... do you have... any thoughts on this remnant formula for the ice soul tempering divine pill?"

It was here!

A naked probe!

Elder Situ wanted to see if he really understood Alchemy!

He even wanted to trick him into talking!

Jiang Linfeng sneered inwardly, but his face wore a look of "ignorant" fear: "E... Elder is joking! This one... this one is just a sweeper! How would I know anything about Pill Formula! These... these things on the chart... this one... this one doesn't recognize any of them! As for the medicinal dregs... I just feel that... the dark-colored ones... the harder ones... are easier to sweep... and not easily blown away by the wind..."

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands "nervously," his eyes darting around, looking exactly like a bumpkin who had never seen the world.

Elder Situ stared at him for a full ten breaths, his eyes as sharp as knives, as if trying to imprint every subtle expression on his face.

Finally, a flash of imperceptible disappointment and... deeper suspicion crossed his eyes.

"Forget it."

Elder Situ waved his hand, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible fatigue, "You may go. Remember, the Pill Formula Pavilion is a restricted area. Do not spread what you have seen and heard today!"

"Yes! This one understands! This one will take his leave!"

Jiang Linfeng felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, and hurriedly bowed as he exited the Pill Formula Pavilion.

Not until he walked out of the pavilion and was illuminated by the sunlight outside did he feel that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

This old fox... really hadn't given up!

Returning to Room No. 3 of the C-Rank, Jiang Linfeng closed the door and immediately sat cross-legged to calm his mind.

Elder Situ's probing was becoming more direct and dangerous!

He had to increase his strength as soon as possible!

He could not delay any longer!

He took out all the medicinal dreg fragments containing "ice heart lotus" essence collected in the System space.

These "antique" medicinal dregs had already had most of their Impurities removed after the initial purification by the Source Spirit Body, leaving only the purest cold medicinal essence.

"ice soul tempering divine pill..."

A sharp light flashed in Jiang Linfeng's eyes.

Elder Situ thought he didn't understand?

Little did he know that the System-rewarded 《Basic Pill Refining Art (Introductory Chapter)》 contained the complete Pill Formula for the ice soul tempering divine pill!

Although it was only theory, combined with his current Great Master-level understanding of Alchemy and the Source Spirit Body's absolute control over medicinal properties...

"Elder Situ... you want to test me? Then I will... refine it for you to see!"

A cold arc curled at the corner of Jiang Linfeng's mouth.

He did not act immediately.

Elder Situ had just probed him, and the risk of refining pills now was too great.

He needed to wait for the right moment.

Late at night.

Jiang Linfeng left his residence silently, like a ghost blending into the night, avoiding all possible eyes and ears, and arrived once again at the outskirts of the Waste Slag Pit.

He found a relatively hidden corner obscured by huge lava rocks.

He took out the earth fire flame heart fragment (xuan yang fruit core energy consumption 25%), which had reached 90% repair progress, and the thick clay pot that had been repeatedly reinforced by his Origin Spirit Power.

He did not use the medicinal herbs provided by Elder Situ, but instead used the purified ice heart lotus medicinal dreg essence as the main ingredient!

Supplemented by a few mild, cold-natured medicinal herbs he had "picked up" on the outskirts of the Waste Slag Pit.

His Source Spirit Body operated at full power!

Pure Origin Spirit Power was injected into the earth fire flame heart fragment!

Hum—!

A condensed, stable, and temperature-controllable crimson flame rose up!

It was even purer than before!

It carried a trace of the xuan yang fruit core's domineering aura!

Jiang Linfeng's eyes were focused, his movements flowing like clouds and water!

The medicinal dreg essence was thrown into the clay pot, rapidly melting and decomposing under the licking of the flames!

The Source Spirit Body, like the most precise instrument, accurately regulated the flame temperature and guided the Fusion of medicinal properties!

No pill-condensing hand seal recorded in the Pill Formula?

It didn't matter!

The Source Spirit Body's perception of the Fusion of medicinal properties was the best guide!

He pressed his hands into the void, and his Origin Spirit Power transformed into invisible pill techniques, simulating the natural trajectory of the medicinal properties' flow!

Inside the clay pot, the ice-blue medicinal liquid slowly swirled, and pure cold air permeated the area, forming a delicate balance with the heat of the earth fire flame heart!

A refreshing, invigorating medicinal scent that seemed to cleanse the Soul quietly wafted out!

【Ding! Refining "ice soul tempering divine pill (simplified version)" in progress... Medicinal property Fusion rate: 75%... 80%... 85%...】

It's done! Jiang Linfeng felt a surge of joy in his heart! A simplified version! The efficacy might not be as good as the complete version, but it was definitely sufficient!

However, just at the critical moment when he was preparing to perform the final pill condensation—

Hum!

An extremely faint, yet coldly probing spiritual sense, like an invisible tentacle, silently swept across the area surrounding the Waste Slag Pit!

Elder Situ?!

Jiang Linfeng's pupils constricted sharply! This old fox was indeed monitoring him! And the timing was captured so precisely!

A matter of life and death! Pill condensation was imminent! If interrupted, all previous efforts would be wasted!

A cold light flashed in Jiang Linfeng's eyes! His thoughts raced! As he violently injected Origin Spirit Power into the earth fire flame heart, his foot "very coincidentally" stepped on a loose rock that had been baked scorching hot by the earth fire!

Crack!

The rock shattered!

Jiang Linfeng's body "stumbled," losing his balance, and he crashed toward a huge, sharp-edged piece of lava waste slag beside him!

And his hands, which were maintaining the formless pill technique, were driven by his loss of balance to "just happen" to slam heavily onto the clay pot!

Bang!

A dull thud!

The clay pot vibrated violently! The ice-blue medicinal liquid swirling inside was impacted by the external force and instantly accelerated its rotation! The violent energy was forcibly compressed! Fused!

Sss—!

An even purer cold air erupted outward!

【Ding! Impacted by external force! Medicinal property Fusion rate forcibly increased to 95%! Pill condensation successful!】

【Congratulations Host! Successfully refined "ice soul tempering divine pill (simplified version)" × 2 (black rank low-grade)!】

【Medicinal Pill effect: Temper the Divine Soul, stabilize the heart Meridians, and significantly increase Ice Spiritual Root affinity!】

【Alchemy proficiency +500! Alchemy Rank: Great Master (500/5000)!】

It's done! A blessing in disguise!

Jiang Linfeng "embarrassingly" crashed into the lava rock, grimacing in pain—this time it really hurt—but he couldn't care about that. He quickly stored the two dragon-eye-sized, ice-blue Medicinal Pills that were emitting a refreshing cold air into the System space! At the same time, he kicked the clay pot into the pile of scorching hot lava waste slag nearby!

Pfft!

The clay pot was instantly swallowed by the high-temperature molten slag, turning into a wisp of blue smoke!

Almost at the exact moment the Medicinal Pills disappeared and the clay pot was destroyed!

Swish!

A cyan figure appeared like a ghost at the location where Jiang Linfeng had just been performing Alchemy! It was none other than Elder Situ!

His face was gloomy, and his sharp gaze swept around like a searchlight! The residual icy medicinal Qi and a faint trace of medicinal scent in the air made his pupils shrink slightly! But at the scene... there was only that Menial Worker, Jiang Linfeng, who was covered in dirt from the "collision" and was clutching his shoulder while groaning "ouch"!

"Jiang Linfeng! What are you doing here?!" Elder Situ demanded sharply, his voice filled with suppressed anger!

"El...Elder!" Jiang Linfeng turned around "in terror," pointing at the pile of scorching hot lava waste slag nearby, and said with a mournful face, "This one... this one deserves to die! This one couldn't sleep at night... thinking there was a spot that wasn't swept clean during the day... afraid of the Elder's punishment... so... so I snuck over to finish sweeping... as a result... as a result, I slipped... and crashed into a rock... and also... dropped my broom... into that fire pit! Wuwuwu... my broom... it was issued by the Pill Room... I have to pay for it..."

While "wailing," he pointed at the rapidly carbonizing broom handle in the lava waste slag pile (which he had deliberately thrown in earlier), his face filled with "heartache" and "regret."

Elder Situ looked at the broom handle rapidly turning to ash in the lava, then looked at Jiang Linfeng's "wretched" and "heartbroken" appearance, and then at the faint medicinal Qi rapidly dissipating in the air... his expression was uncertain!

Medicinal Qi? A broom? Crashing into a rock? Dropping it into a fire pit? Another coincidence?!

He forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart and said coldly, "Hmph! Neglecting your duties! Trespassing into a Forbidden Ground at night! Your half-month salary is forfeited! Get back! If there is a next time, you will be severely punished!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for your mercy, Elder! This one will get out of here now! Getting out now!" Jiang Linfeng, as if granted amnesty, scrambled away from the Waste Slag Pit.

Elder Situ stood in place, watching Jiang Linfeng's disappearing back, then looked down at the area covered by the high temperature of the lava, where there was no longer any trace, his eyes extremely complex.

Once! Twice! Three times! It was always like this! Every time it was a "coincidence" at the critical moment! Every time he could "perfectly" destroy all evidence! Was this really just luck?!

Elder Situ took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning emotions. He turned and walked toward the depths of the Pill Room. His footsteps were heavy, carrying a hint of indescribable fatigue and... deep confusion.

Returning to the quiet room. Elder Situ leaned back wearily on the soft couch. He opened his palm, and a Jade Slip lay quietly in it—it was the file on the secret investigation into Jiang Linfeng's background that he had sent people to conduct. Previously, due to the pill pattern phenomenon and Sect affairs, he hadn't looked at it closely. At this moment, with his mind unsettled, he was strangely compelled to once again probe his spiritual sense into the Jade Slip.

The content of the file was very "clean": Jiang Linfeng, former servant of the Luo family (Brother-in-law),, timid personality, poor Aptitude (Quasi-Innate Realm), no special background., no record of special abilities.

Everything seemed to point to an ordinary person who had "gotten lucky." But Elder Situ always felt something was wrong! A low-level researcher? Could he have such Heaven-Defying "luck"? Could he "coincidentally" escape from desperate situations time and time again? Or even... possibly refine a Divine Pill that triggered resonance with the Dao? (Although he was unwilling to believe it)

His brows were tightly locked, and his spiritual sense repeatedly scanned the file. Suddenly, his gaze fixed on an inconspicuous note at the end of the file: "Note: According to a casual remark made by a certain manager (deceased) of a Luo family branch when drunk, when Jiang Linfeng first arrived at the Luo family, he was in a coma for several days, and his behavior was abnormal after waking up (suspected amnesia). During the coma, he carried a metal square box (palm-sized, material unknown), which was snatched away by Luo Yong (deceased), the son of the second Elder of the Luo family branch, as a strange object, and its whereabouts were unknown afterward. The Origin of the metal square box is unknown."

A metal square box? Palm-sized? Material unknown? Origin unknown? Elder Situ's pupils constricted sharply! A thought struck his mind like lightning! Could it be... could this kid's Heaven-Defying "luck"... be related to that missing metal square box?!

He sat up abruptly! An unprecedented brilliance erupted in his eyes! "Come here!" Elder Situ shouted sharply!

A trusted Disciple immediately pushed the door open and entered: "What are the Elder's orders?"

"Immediately! Use all your power! Secretly track all of Luo Yong's movements before his death! Especially all the items he came into contact with! Focus on searching for a palm-sized metal square box of unknown material! At all costs! Find it for me!" Elder Situ's voice carried a hint of irrepressible excitement and... fanaticism!

"Yes!" The Disciple accepted the order and left. In the quiet room, the candlelight flickered. Elder Situ held the Jade Slip, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, muttering to himself: "Jiang Linfeng... little friend... this old man wants to see... what the source of that 'luck' on you... really is!"

He seemed to have already seen the moment the mystery was unveiled! That would be the Opportunity for him to break through his Bottleneck in the Dao of Alchemy, or even glimpse a higher Realm!

And at this moment, Jiang Linfeng, who had returned to Room C-3, did not know that the old "power bank" shell—which he had long forgotten in a corner when he Transmigrated, containing a few spare batteries and an employee card—had actually become a "Heaven-Defying Opportunity" in the eyes of Elder Situ.

He was sitting cross-legged on the bed, holding the two ice-blue, translucent ice soul tempering divine pills (simplified version) that were emitting a refreshing cold air in his palm, a satisfied arc curling at the corners of his mouth.

"ice soul tempering divine pill... temper the Divine Soul... stabilize heart Meridians... increase Ice Spiritual Root affinity..." Jiang Linfeng's eyes were bright, "It's perfect for Yaner to take! Not only can it nourish the fetus, but it can also help her stabilize her Foundation and improve her Ice-type talent!"

He carefully put the Medicinal Pills away, feeling the surging Origin Spirit Power in his body (his Realm had recovered to the Late Stage of the Innate Tenth Layer), as well as the vast, ocean-like insights into the Dao of Alchemy in his mind (Great Master level Alchemy), his heart filled with burning passion.

Elder Situ's probing? Secret investigation? Bring it on! Let's see who gets the last laugh!

He closed his eyes, his Source Spirit Body circulating, and began to nourish the earth fire flame heart fragment (repair rate 90%). 75% of the xuan yang fruit core's energy remained! It was enough for him to push for the final repair!

【earth fire flame heart (fragment) repair progress: 91%... 92%... 93%...】 The night was still long. The road to becoming stronger was endless.