Are you kidding me?
She had gone through so much trouble to gather this crowd.
If she refined the pills inside, how many people would actually see it?
Just Grandmaster Ming and a few apprentices? How much emotional value could they possibly provide?
No, emotional value had to come from the masses!
And Yun Jin wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.
Grandmaster Ming frowned, his expression turning stern for the first time.
"You're still young, and I understand the temptation to show off. But pill refinement demands unwavering focus and absolute calm. Even a single moment of distraction can lead to failure. If you truly wish to become an alchemist, you must cast aside such vain thoughts."
Yun Jin knew he meant well.
But what choice did she have?
She needed emotional value.
So she calmly replied, "I still want to refine in public."
Ming Heng's eyes flashed with irritation, but he took a deep breath and suppressed it.
"Fine. Have it your way." He sneered, then pointed at an apprentice. "Bring out the cauldron from Alchemy Room One."
The apprentice shot Yun Jin a disdainful look but obeyed.
If this girl wanted to embarrass herself in front of everyone, so be it.
While the apprentice left, Ming Heng asked Yun Jin, "Which first-grade pill will you refine?"
"The Biling Pill," she replied directly.
The Biling Pill was a common first-grade pill for boosting spiritual energy during the Qi Refinement stage. It wasn't particularly difficult to make, which made it a popular choice among novice alchemists.
But Yun Jin hadn't chosen it for that reason.
It was simply the only first-grade pill recipe she currently had, a gift from Ye Danxia. And after several simplification attempts, she had reduced the process to its most basic form.
Naturally, she would use this pill for the examination.
Master Ming nodded and turned to another apprentice. "Bring three sets of Biling Pill ingredients."
Then, looking back at Yun Jin, he said, "You will have three attempts. Success in any one of them counts as passing."
Yun Jin's eyes lit up. "If I succeed on the first try, can I keep the remaining two sets?"
"...Yes," Master Ming said after a short pause.
Yun Jin beamed.
Master Ming, however, had already written her off as a vain performer. He no longer paid her much attention.
Soon, the pill furnace and herbs were delivered. By now, the crowd surrounding them was packed several layers deep, and the scene had grown lively.
After all, watching an alchemist perform publicly was a rare spectacle.
Most alchemists meticulously prepared before refining, some even bathing and fasting beforehand, offering incense and prayers. During the actual process, they would isolate themselves completely to avoid any interference.
But someone flashy enough to perform in public? Unheard of.
At least, for most of the people here, this was the first time witnessing such a thing.
"You may begin," Master Ming said coolly.
Yun Jin stepped confidently up to the furnace.
Thanks to the simplified process, refining the Biling Pill now involved just three steps: ignite the flame, add Biling Grass and cleansing liquid, and after half an hour, the pill would be ready.
The simplification had removed three entire herbs and cut the time significantly—it was basically foolproof.
Still, she used a few more simplification attempts.
This time, the method didn't change, but the pill quality did.
Whereas before she could only make high-grade Biling Pills, now the result would be of perfect quality—the pinnacle for first-grade pills.
Only then was Yun Jin satisfied.
With so many people watching, she had to make a real impression.
The emotional value she spent was worth it—she'd definitely earn it back.
Now fully confident, she approached the pill furnace, inspecting it top to bottom.
The onlookers watched curiously.
Some alchemists did have strange rituals before starting. Was this girl performing one too?
Just as they were wondering, Yun Jin gave an awkward smile.
She turned to Master Ming. "Master Ming, how do you turn this thing on?"
Silence.
Deafening silence.
Ming Heng: "..."
Chen Changrong: "..."
Yue Zhao: "..."
Yue Zhao's last shred of hope shattered.
He had clung to the faint possibility that Yun Jin had secretly studied alchemy before joining the sect.
But now?
She didn't even know how to light the cauldron.
If she somehow succeeded now, it would defy all logic.
Chen Changrong sighed.
"The girl had talent, but becoming an alchemist was still beyond her."
At least his investment wasn't a total loss—with training, she might still advance.
But today?
No chance.
"Is… is it a secret?" Yun Jin asked, genuinely puzzled by the silence.
Ming Heng exhaled sharply. "Channel spiritual energy into the red crystal at the top. It will activate the cauldron."
Yun Jin tried it—whoosh!
The cauldron flared to life, flames dancing at its base, responding perfectly to her will.
"Nice!" She grinned.
After familiarizing herself with the controls, she moved to the herbs.
Originally, refining Biling Pills required four herbs plus Spirit-Cleansing Liquid.
But her simplified version only needed Biling Grass and the liquid.
She carefully selected herbs of similar potency from the three sets provided.
Ming Heng raised an eyebrow.
Her herb selection was impeccable.
In alchemy, uniformity mattered more than sheer quality. If one herb overpowered the rest, the imbalance could destabilize the entire batch.
Perhaps she wasn't a complete amateur after all.
Now, the next step would be pre-processing the herbs, removing impurities, and—
THUNK.
Yun Jin dumped all the Biling Grass into the cauldron at once, slammed the lid shut, and leaped back like it might explode.
Ming Heng: "???"
WHAT KIND OF HERETICAL REFINING WAS THIS?!
Before he could react, Yun Jin grabbed the Spirit-Cleansing Liquid, poured the entire vial into the cauldron, and jumped away again.
Ming Heng: "..."
He was done.
This girl wasn't here to become an alchemist.
She was here to test his sanity.
Who just threw ingredients in raw and walked away?!
At least with first-grade pills, even if it exploded, he could contain the damage.
But then—
Crunch.
Crunch.
A strange sound filled the air.
Ming Heng tensed.
Was the cauldron about to blow?
Crunch.
Crunch.
The noise continued.
He turned—
And saw Yun Jin sitting on a stool, happily munching melon seeds.
Ming Heng: "..."