I was just making up techniques... how did all of you become Emperors?

Chapter 250: Fang Mu — I Also Know Alchemy

"Fang Er, age eighteen, Body Tempering Stage Seven, aptitude above average, qualifies for outer sect."

The moment the outer sect disciple of Yunlan Sect announced the result, Fang Er stood frozen in place.

Princess Qinghe glanced at him and said coolly, "Fang Er, aren't you going to thank Elder Chen and Senior Brother Liu?"

At her reminder, Fang Er quickly bowed deeply. "Disciple thanks Elder Chen, thanks Senior Brother Liu."

"Mm."

Senior Brother Liu gave a faint response, showing no further reaction.

Elder Chen simply nodded expressionlessly. A mediocre outer sect disciple wasn't enough to interest him.

Fang Er then moved to the left side of the crowd, visibly proud as he scanned his companions. If there hadn't been so many important figures present, he might have shouted, "I got accepted into the outer sect!"

As fewer and fewer people remained ahead, Fang Mu, who had been calm until now, began to feel a trace of excitement.

"Next."

Senior Brother Liu's tone remained flat.

Fang Mu stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother Liu."

Senior Brother Liu gave a slight nod. "Place your hand on the test stone."

Fang Mu placed his hand on the stone. At once, a pillar of purple-gold light nine feet tall burst forth.

Everyone present was instantly stunned, as if turned to stone. For a long time, not a single word was spoken.

Even Elder Chen, who had been quietly sipping tea, immediately stood up and looked at Fang Mu as if he'd just discovered a priceless treasure.

"Supreme aptitude. Do you know what physique you've awakened?"

The test stone measured a cultivator's bloodline and innate roots. The stronger the bloodline and purer the roots, the more brilliant the light. The scale ran from one foot to nine, with nine being the highest.

Light colors ranged from lowest to highest: white, red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and gold.

A purple-gold glow signified that this youth possessed an extraordinary bloodline and exceptional roots.

Even Fang Linglong's eyes revealed a flash of astonishment. When she was tested back then, her result was only eight feet of purple-gold light.

Yet she had been hailed by Yunlan Sect as its second most talented disciple after Song Zhaoyi.

Now, a mere servant she had brought with her had shown even greater aptitude. It was unexpected.

Why hadn't this been noticed during the initial testing back at the estate?

Fang Linglong quickly figured it out: the test stone in the estate was only a low-grade one—it could at most reveal a yellow-level result. Anything higher wouldn't show.

Looks like the estate needs some changes. Otherwise, someone like Fang Mu—an actual prodigy—might have remained buried and unseen.

Fang Mu shook his head. "Elder, I do not know."

Elder Chen replied, "No matter. Once you enter Yunlan Sect, your bloodline will naturally awaken. What's your current cultivation? Do you have any other skills?"

Fang Mu respectfully answered, "Reporting to Elder, this disciple has reached Body Tempering Stage Nine. Also, I know alchemy."

Over the past half-year, he had refined many Body Tempering Pills. Although he sold most of them, he had kept some for his own use. As a result, his cultivation had progressed rapidly, breaking through several realms to reach the ninth stage.

"What?"

"How is that possible?"

The entire Fang household cried out in disbelief.

Even Fang Linglong's eyes flickered with surprise.

She remembered clearly—none of the servants in the royal household had ever studied alchemy. Where had this boy learned such skills?

Looks like he's hiding more secrets than I thought.

Elder Chen looked somewhat surprised. "Xiao Mu, are you sure you know how to refine pills?"

Fang Mu replied respectfully, "In front of Elder, I wouldn't dare conceal anything. If Elder doesn't believe me, I can refine a batch of Body Tempering Pills here and now."

"Good."

Elder Chen spoke with great interest, "Xiao Mu, it's not that I don't believe you. I just want to broaden my horizons. After all, there aren't many cultivators in the Body Tempering realm who can refine pills. If you can produce a batch of Body Tempering Pills, I will make an exception and accept you as a registered disciple, directly entering Yunlan Sect's inner sect."

As soon as those words were spoken, the eyes of everyone present filled with envy and jealousy as they looked at Fang Mu.

Fang Mu glanced around and said, "Elder, I don't like being disturbed while refining. May I trouble you to arrange a quiet room so I can refine pills alone?"

Elder Chen smiled. "Of course. Xiao Mu, Linglong—you two come with me. I'll leave things here to you, Liu."

"Yes."

Senior Brother Liu replied briefly, casting a sidelong glance at Fang Mu and silently committing his face to memory.

Elder Chen then took Fang Linglong and Fang Mu to Danhuo Peak, one of Yunlan Sect's alchemy peaks. Using his own sect token, he unlocked a private alchemy room for Fang Mu.

"Xiao Mu, do you have any alchemy ingredients?"

Fang Mu replied, "Elder, I still have one set of materials."

"In that case, I won't need to waste effort gathering any for you. Go ahead and begin."

With that, Elder Chen opened the alchemy room door.

Fang Mu cupped his hands toward the two of them and stepped inside.

As the door closed, Elder Chen turned to Fang Linglong and smiled. "Linglong, I didn't expect you to bring me such a big surprise."

Fang Linglong replied, "Martial Uncle flatters me. I only happened to be there. If Fang Mu hadn't joined the assessment, I wouldn't have known he had so many secrets."

Elder Chen said nothing in response, merely narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard with a wide smile.

Inside the alchemy room, Fang Mu encountered a serious problem—he had no idea how to control the ground fire embedded in the furnace chamber.

Fortunately, he had his own spiritual flame, so he didn't need to worry about the fire source.

Refining Body Tempering Pills was something he could already do with ease.

An hour later, the scent of pills filled the room, fragrant and intoxicating.

Fang Mu instinctively wanted to divide the large, pitch-black pill into portions and shape them into pill beads like he had always done.

But just as he raised his hand, he suddenly stopped.

As the saying goes: being one step ahead makes you a genius; being ten steps ahead makes you a monster.

He had yet to comprehend the Lesser Destiny Art—best not to draw too much attention. Though the oversized black pill looked rather ridiculous, it was aligned with the fragments of fate around him.

So, Fang Mu simply stood up, cradled the pitch-black pill in his arms, put away the pill cauldron, and walked toward the door.

Creaaak...

As soon as the alchemy room opened, a faint medicinal scent drifted out, catching Elder Chen and Fang Linglong's noses and lighting up both of their eyes.

Fang Linglong instinctively asked, "You succeeded in refining the Body Tempering Pill?"

"Reporting to Senior Sister, I have refined it. But I don't know the grade."

"Let me have a look!"

Elder Chen was visibly excited, his gaze growing fonder by the second as he looked at Fang Mu.

"This is the Body Tempering Pill I refined," Fang Mu said, handing over the large, pitch-black lump in his hands.

The moment Elder Chen and Fang Linglong saw the charred mass, they both froze in place—utterly speechless.

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