I Tame Beasts by Feeding

Staring at the wavering flame before him, Yu Changsheng was filled with immense joy.

’I’ve formed the Sanwen Fire! This Three-coin Fire Refining Technique is truly wondrous. No wonder its Cultivation requirements are relatively low. Does it focus on borrowing power...?’

This was the very reason Gongsun Yang, despite only having a Qi Refining Cultivation, was a Tier Three Alchemist.

"You... you’ve grasped it?"

Gongsun Yang stared blankly at the flame, even rubbing his eyes. He still found it hard to believe, utterly dumbstruck.

’How long has it been since I started explaining it to him? Not even six hours, and he’s already comprehended Void Fire?’

Such Comprehension... Gongsun Yang was profoundly shocked.

While feeling a sense of absurd joy, his eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions.

’How long did it take me to comprehend it back then? Just a moment ago, I was planning on telling Yu Changsheng not to be hasty, to take his time...’

But now, staring at the ball of Void Fire, Gongsun Yang was stunned for a moment. He then coughed twice, clasped his hands behind his back, and with a look of admiration, said lightly:

"Not bad! The three fires are complete! You’ve also comprehended the mysteries of the Void Fire. Next, you just need diligent practice. Once you’re proficient, there should be no Tier Two Elixir you can’t refine."

After a pause, Gongsun Yang thought for a moment and added:

"About what I expected. Back in the day, it took me, your master, about four hours to understand the Void Fire."

"Oh. You’re still amazing, Master." Yu Changsheng nodded innocently. Hearing Gongsun Yang say this, he suppressed what little pride he felt and looked at him with an appropriately worshipful gaze.

"Don’t be discouraged," Gongsun Yang said, patting Yu Changsheng’s shoulder and suppressing the strange feeling in his heart. "With your talent, if you cultivate humbly, it’s only a matter of time before you surpass me."

He spoke these words from the heart. This should have made him happy, yet he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of melancholy.

"It’s all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance," Yu Changsheng said with a humble smile.

"That’s true, too," Gongsun Yang said, nodding in agreement after pretending to ponder it.

After familiarizing himself with using the Void Fire a bit more, an idea struck Yu Changsheng.

’Perhaps... I could even try refining the Foundation Establishment Pill myself?’

Yu Changsheng fell into thought. If Gongsun Yang could refine Tier Three Elixirs with his Qi Refining Peak Cultivation, then he, in a similar state, could at least give it a try.

Besides, he had a unique advantage that Gongsun Yang lacked: his Divine Sense. And in Alchemy, the more difficult the Elixir, the greater the demand on one’s Divine Sense.

With that in mind, Yu Changsheng told Gongsun Yang his idea.

Gongsun Yang fell silent. He didn’t refuse, but simply said, "When I refine the Foundation Establishment Pill later, I’ll call you over. You can act as my Dharma Protector and observe the process at the same time."

Yu Changsheng was growing much faster than he had imagined, so much so that he suddenly realized there wasn’t much left he could teach him.

’That’s right, I’m only a Tier Three Alchemist, after all,’ Gongsun Yang thought with a hint of bitterness.

"The Inner Sect trials are in a month. Are you planning to participate?" Gongsun Yang asked suddenly.

"Yes, I plan on it," Yu Changsheng nodded.

"You haven’t been in the sect for long. You could wait longer."

"Time waits for no one. Entering the Inner Sect early means better resources and smoother Cultivation, doesn’t it?" Yu Changsheng retorted.

Gongsun Yang sighed softly. He gazed at Yu Changsheng, his expression softening, and patted his shoulder as he said gently, "Since you think so, that’s fine too. The Inner Sect trials aren’t easy to pass, but I believe you have what it takes."

"Don’t neglect your Alchemy after entering the Inner Sect," Gongsun Yang said after a pause, his tone pensive. "When the time is right, I’ll introduce you to another, a true Alchemy Zhenren. With his abilities, he’ll be able to truly guide you."

Yu Changsheng was slightly moved. Seeing the somewhat dejected look on Gongsun Yang’s face, his heart warmed, but he also felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

"Master, you’ve taught me very well. I will benefit from your lessons for a lifetime," Yu Changsheng said softly.

A faint smile touched Gongsun Yang’s lips. He waved his hand, offering no reply.

’I’ll have to find a way to help Master raise his Cultivation in the future,’ Yu Changsheng thought to himself. He knew that Gongsun Yang’s true skill in Alchemy was greater than this; he was merely held back by his Cultivation.

In the end, all Four Skills of Cultivation required a solid foundation in Cultivation itself.

"Oh, right, Master. This disciple just came across a Single Formula today. I’d like to ask Master to look it over and offer some guidance."

After a moment’s thought, Yu Changsheng respectfully handed the Single Formula for the Beast-Storage Pill to Gongsun Yang.

"Oh? Let me see."

Gongsun Yang’s interest was piqued. As he looked at the Pill Formula, his furrowed brow gradually smoothed out.

"A very ingenious Pill Formula. Many of the medicinal ingredients on here conflict with each other and can’t be used in the same medicine. Putting them together would cause their properties to clash."

"For a Cultivator, taking this Elixir would not only be useless, it might even cause their Cultivation to regress. But for a tamed beast, it’s a great tonic. Used for nourishment over time, it can slowly wear down a beast’s Realm barrier, helping it level up and advance in tier."

After finishing reading the Pill Formula, Gongsun Yang was full of praise.

"The person who created this Elixir was likely a Beast Master, and an Elixir Master at that! For you, it’s a perfect fit indeed."

"It’s a bit troublesome to refine, but since you’ve just mastered the Void Fire, it’s a good opportunity to test your skills. It’s difficult, but success isn’t impossible if you try enough times. How about this: I’ll refine a batch for you first. Watch closely, and ask if there’s anything you don’t understand."

With that, Gongsun Yang sat down cross-legged on the spot. His hand seals shifted continuously as he took out the medicinal ingredients one by one. Magical Power surged, and a ball of flame enveloped the ingredients, slowly liquefying them before they entered the Alchemy Furnace.

Mild Fire! Gentle as rain, drop by drop, it slowly seeped in and melted the ingredients.

"Blue Silver Grass, Soft Bone Leaf, Overlord Branch..."

As each ingredient melted, Gongsun Yang didn’t stop talking. He deliberately slowed his Alchemy, explaining the techniques and the related medicinal properties of the ingredients to Yu Changsheng one by one.

Alchemy was a very complex process. If he had to make a comparison, Yu Changsheng felt it was a bit like chemical synthesis from his past life. A single mistake midway through could completely change the properties of the final product, leading to failure. There was no room for carelessness.

Yu Changsheng nodded, committing everything to memory while using his Divine Sense to watch every single step in meticulous detail, not missing even the slightest movement.

Amidst their conversation, the moment the ingredients turned to liquid, the flame wavered and flickered for an instant before becoming still again. As the glow of the fire intensified, the temperature began to rise.

The flame wasn’t wild, but very quiet, pulsing at a specific frequency.

Static Fire! Constant in its stillness, it could refine a hundred times to form an elixir. A gentle, nurturing force, utterly indispensable.

This instantaneous switch in flames also sped up the pill formation to a certain extent. Flames surrounded the Pill Furnace, and a faint, clear fragrance drifted out, refreshing the mind and spirit.