His fingers drifted lightly over the herbs scattered on the ground. He Yi Ming was startled to discover that after channeling his Wood elemental Zhenqi, he could not only sense the vitality within the medicinal herbs in the crucible but could also feel it now, simply by brushing his hand over them.

The medicinal herbs brought in by He Wu De still contained enough material for two full refinement batches, and He Yi Ming began to slowly sift through them.

Moments later, He Yi Ming separated the two portions of herbs, naturally keeping the pile in his hand that felt more vibrant and potent.

He Wu De stepped forward to inspect them closely. Ever since the last embarrassing incident that led to his temporary expulsion from the clan, he made it a rule to thoroughly check the herbs before beginning any alchemy session.

After shuffling the herbs of both portions a few times, He Wu De suddenly gasped in surprise. He looked up at He Yi Ming, his gaze clouded with confusion. Then, he spent a long time comparing them stalk by stalk, and the suspicion in his eyes only deepened.

He Yi Ming, curious, asked, "Grandfather, is there something wrong with the herbs I selected?"

He Wu De let out a wry smile. "Yi Ming, how did you manage to choose these particular herbs?"

He Yi Ming blinked twice and stated the truth plainly, "I felt these herbs seemed better, so I picked them out."

The muscles in He Wu De’s face twitched slightly. "That was the reason?"

"Yes," He Yi Ming nodded honestly, deeply puzzled himself.

After a long silence, He Wu De sighed heavily, "What a pity, what a pity."

He Yi Ming looked at him inexplicably, unable to comprehend the sudden sentiment.

"Yi Ming, do you know that the herbs you just selected are indeed the batch of superior quality? To pick out the very best from a pile of otherwise identical ingredients, without a single error—even I might not achieve such absolute precision," He Wu De lamented at length. "But you have only been exposed to herbs for a month, yet you have already grasped their essence. Such talent, even the Master himself, I fear, would look upon with distant envy."

He Yi Ming’s face flushed slightly. He hadn't recognized the superior quality of the ingredients at all; he had simply relied on sensing their vitality to differentiate them.

However, this method was clearly not one his grandfather could employ, so he felt too awkward to explain.

He Wu De sighed once more. "Your comprehension of medicinal herbs is truly rare. This is precisely the innate talent required of the finest Innate Alchemist. But alas, the path you cultivate is not the Way of Fire and Wood."

Seeing his grandfather shake his head repeatedly, He Yi Ming found it amusing. He opened his mouth to speak but ultimately held back.

If he remained silent now, he could give the old man a massive surprise once the pill refinement succeeded.

The thought brought a secret surge of pride; in front of his grandfather, he felt a strange regression to his childhood days.

He Wu De stood up, stepped back a few paces, and shook his head. "Yi Ming, the Earth Fire essence here is too intense; I won't linger. Wait until you finish refining the pill, then come out on your own. I will wait at the entrance."

He Yi Ming acknowledged him and quickly escorted the elder out.

After leaving the alchemy chamber, He Wu De stepped into the coolness of the main hall of the cave dwelling and finally let out a breath of relief. While using Earth Fire and a bronze cauldron made pill success easier, the heat of the Earth Fire was unbearable for ordinary people. Apart from Innate experts, even peak Houtian masters cultivating Fire element techniques could not remain inside long enough to refine pills consistently.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flickered before him. The Daoist of Medicine had arrived at his side without warning and asked, "Wu De, is Elder He alone inside?"

He Wu De quickly bowed. "Master, after watching me refine pills, Yi Ming expressed a desire to try independently. Since the ingredients were only for the Grain Replenishment Pills, I agreed."

The Daoist of Medicine nodded slightly, then shook his head again. "Too hasty."

He Wu De smiled wryly; he had harbored the exact same thought, though he and his Master held a difference of opinion. The Daoist of Medicine hoped He Yi Ming would eventually take charge of the Spirit Herb Peak, but He Wu De strongly opposed this. In his heart, He Yi Ming was a rare cultivation genius, not an alchemy prodigy. It was better for him to understand the hardships of alchemy early on, thereby concentrating his limited energy solely on the Martial Path.

The Daoist of Medicine led He Wu De to the center of the hall, and the two masters began to converse, recreating the warm atmosphere that had resonated within the cave dwelling forty years prior.

After seeing off his grandfather, He Yi Ming did not immediately begin refining. Instead, he sat down, centered his mind, and recalled every detail of what he had just seen and heard.

This seemingly unnecessary review played an immensely important role.

Scene after scene revolved vividly in his mind until He Yi Ming was certain he had grasped every minute detail. Only then did he open his eyes and rise calmly.

Although this was his first attempt at refining a pill, He Yi Ming felt neither joy nor sorrow, entirely immersed in a state of serene emptiness.

He opened the bronze cauldron, took out the liquid and the herbs, and placed them inside according to the exact sequence and quantities He Wu De had set out.

However, while the ancestor and grandson performed this task, there was a crucial, unseen difference in their methods. He Wu De followed the established methods summarized by his predecessors, meticulously replicating them like tracing a pattern. But as He Yi Ming performed this step, his Zhenqi never relaxed; the vitality of the herbs soaking in the liquid was under his constant surveillance.

Slowly, he began to perceive a peculiar change: each type of herb seemed to possess a distinct vitality, each with its own characteristics, energies that should never have intersected. Yet, under the soaking of the liquid, these vitalities were subtly transforming. Some vitalities remained as unmoving as ancient mountains, showing no sign of shifting. But the vitality of other herbs was unstable, already beginning to merge with others, forging a new kind of vitality.

Of course, given the sheer variety of herbs and the fact that He Yi Ming was merely an alchemy novice, even though he sensed these differences, he did not know what each distinct vitality truly signified.

After a long time, once He Yi Ming completed all the initial steps and let the mixture steep for the time it takes one incense stick to burn, he covered the bronze cauldron and gently tapped the pedestal beneath it.

Instantly, a fiery red glow seeped out from the gap, and the temperature of the cauldron began to climb steadily.

He Yi Ming’s focus narrowed intensely. Even though this was his first formal refinement, and the pill was not advanced, it was monumentally significant to him. He could not afford failure under any circumstance.

His Zhenqi seeped layer by layer into the bronze cauldron, and he slowly began to recognize the advantage of this vessel. The object seemed exceptionally suited for the transmission of Zhenqi, offering minimal resistance—perhaps only slightly more than his own beloved great saber. This characteristic alone suggested that these bronze cauldrons were incredibly valuable.

The deeper he understood the refinement chamber, the more awestruck he became by the sheer wealth of the Hengshan lineage. Compared to this, the furnace Xie Zhi'en used was like a child’s toy.

Under He Yi Ming's perception, the herbs and liquid within the bronze cauldron were undergoing strange transformations. Catalyzed by the power of Fire, the various distinct vitalities were silently changing in myriad ways. Each different herb seemed to exhibit a unique metamorphosis.

When He Wu De conducted his refinement, He Yi Ming had only paid slight attention, never truly dedicating his full concentration. Thus, what he initially sensed was merely the overall vitality of all the herbs combined, without differentiating the specifics of any single one.

But now was different. Not only was he personally involved, but he was the only person in the alchemy chamber, allowing him to act without restraint. A subtle, wondrous change was occurring within him. He pressed one hand gently against the bronze cauldron; the scorching heat seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. Through contact with the vessel, his Zhenqi absorbed every internal change.

As the medicinal properties and vitalities of the herbs were continuously catalyzed, the resultant mixture of properties grew increasingly chaotic. Although He Yi Ming was pushing his limits to calculate the medicinal theory, he ultimately came up empty.

After a long while, he finally conceded defeat with a slump. The knowledge of medicinal theory was vast and profound, far beyond the grasp of a rookie who had only just encountered it. If he truly wanted to master it completely, it would require at least ten years of relentless study and experimentation.

If He Wu De were present now, he would be astonished to find that He Yi Ming was opening the crucible to inspect the process far less frequently than he did. This, ironically, was one of the primary prerequisites for refining high-tier elixirs later on. For low-grade pills, there was less fuss, but to forge the Innate Golden Elixir, one absolutely could not lift the lid before completion; one had to rely solely on Innate Zhenqi to probe the situation within the cauldron. This was why, even within the entire Hengshan lineage, only the Daoist of Medicine possessed the capability to refine the Innate Golden Elixir.

Finally, after two grueling hours, He Yi Ming’s eyes brightened slightly. He sensed that the final step was about to arrive. However, at that very moment, he felt that the power of Fire within the bronze cauldron seemed too weak. This sensation arose abruptly while he was sensing the fusion of medicinal vitalities. In that single instant, he made his decision.

He reached down and tapped the pedestal beneath the cauldron gently. The pagoda mechanism immediately retracted another level. The temperature of the Earth Fire instantly doubled, and the redness across the entire cauldron seemed to deepen considerably.

He Yi Ming concentrated fully, sensing the transformation of the herbs. A subtle smile finally touched his lips. Although he had resolved that even if this attempt failed, he still had the remaining materials to try again, the current situation suggested not only success but that the resulting medicinal vitality would likely surpass that of the Grain Replenishment Pills his grandfather had made.

After the time it takes to eat a meal, He Yi Ming struck out with two lightning-fast palms. The pagoda-shaped mechanism instantly returned to its original configuration, firmly sealing off the Earth Fire.

After a moment of silence, He Yi Ming reached out and gently rested his hand on the lid of the bronze cauldron. Although the lid was still scalding hot, He Yi Ming paid it no mind. With a slight exertion of force, he lifted the lid.

Instantly, a thick, rich fragrance flooded the air. He Yi Ming inhaled deeply twice, very satisfied with the aroma—it was decidedly richer than the Grain Replenishment Pills his grandfather refined.

Glancing into the bronze cauldron, he paused slightly in surprise. Inside, there were exactly twenty pills. But unlike those his grandfather produced, these Grain Replenishment Pills were all pure white.

He carefully took one out. The milky white pill spun in his hand, and even he felt a sudden urge to swallow it. Of course, He Yi Ming would never attempt it lightly.

After a moment's thought, He Yi Ming placed the pills into a jade vial. Twenty white pills, each the size of the first joint of a baby’s little finger, occupied very little space; an ordinary jade vial was more than sufficient.

Securing the pills, he pushed open the door of the alchemy chamber and looked up. The Daoist of Medicine and his grandfather were sitting quietly outside the door, seemingly waiting specifically for his emergence.

The Daoist of Medicine looked up and smiled. "Elder He, how was your first experience refining pills?"

He Yi Ming smiled slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Elder. The feeling was... I think," he paused, speaking sincerely, "although I didn't fully master it, I gained a tremendous amount." This was absolutely true. The integration of medicinal properties, especially the strange changes that occurred, was far beyond his current grasp, but his Zhenqi sense had given him an intuitive impression—an experience far more valuable than reading countless medical texts.

The Daoist of Medicine nodded slightly, smiling broadly. "Elder He, the art of alchemy is vast and profound. Failure in the first attempt is certainly understandable."

He Yi Ming blinked in surprise. "Daoist Yao, actually, I have already succeeded in refining the Grain Replenishment Pills."

Both elders started in shock. Success on the very first try? Could it be that He Yi Ming was not only a genius in the Martial Path but also possessed unparalleled talent in alchemy?

He Yi Ming coughed lightly. "However, the Grain Replenishment Pills I refined seem a little different from the ones Grandfather made."

The two elders exchanged a glance, then relaxed slightly. The Daoist of Medicine smiled. "It's alright, Elder He. Even if you produced dross on your first attempt, the experience is precious."

He Yi Ming opened his mouth and handed over the jade vial without hesitation. He Wu De took it, feeling a surge of emotion. Yi Ming truly was extraordinary; even his first attempt yielded a failed pill. How wonderful it would be if he possessed the Fire and Wood dual cultivation methods. He instinctively opened the stopper.

Suddenly, the expression on his face froze. His nostrils flared rapidly as his gaze locked onto the white pills in the vial. He felt as if the world had turned chaotic and might collapse at any moment.

The Daoist of Medicine hadn't even glanced at the vial; he was smiling gently, offering words of comfort. Suddenly, his nose caught a strange fragrance. He inhaled sharply twice, his expression snapping instantly to shock. When he finally saw the streak of white within the bottle, his face contorted into an expression of profound astonishment.

"Wu De, where did you get these pills?" the Daoist of Medicine finally managed to ask.

He Wu De snapped back to reality. "Master, Yi Ming just refined these."

The Daoist of Medicine stared for a long moment, then abruptly turned to He Yi Ming. "Elder He, did you really refine these pills yourself?"

"Yes," He Yi Ming affirmed seriously. He now understood that these white pills were clearly out of the ordinary.

The Daoist of Medicine’s eyes subtly glowed, and the way he looked at He Yi Ming became filled with the awe reserved for a world-shaking rarity, causing He Yi Ming’s entire body to break out in goosebumps.

After a long pause, the Daoist of Medicine suddenly frowned deeply, murmuring to himself, "Impossible, impossible. Without the sensory feedback of dual Fire and Wood Zhenqi, how could one possibly grasp the final stage of fire control so precisely?"

He Yi Ming smiled faintly. He had never intended to hide the truth. Seeing the Daoist of Medicine thoroughly perplexed, he calmly extended both hands. A thousand words of explanation were less effective than letting them witness it firsthand.

He Yi Ming's action immediately drew the attention of the two elders; their four gazes fixed upon his hands. Soon, his hands began to display a peculiar transformation.

His left hand pulsed with a bright crimson hue, emitting a distinct wave of heat. While nowhere near as exaggerated as the Earth Core Fire, anyone with even a little knowledge could instantly recognize this as the manifestation of mastery in some form of Fire cultivation technique.

Simultaneously, He Yi Ming’s right hand began to wither at a visible rate. It was as if the moisture in his body was being rapidly drained away; the entire right hand became desiccated, looking as gnarled as the 'chicken-claw' hands belonging to centenarians. Of course, both the Daoist of Medicine and He Wu De were fully aware that this hand held an unimaginably potent force, one that even the Daoist of Medicine himself wouldn't claim to easily suppress.

Observing these two drastically different hands, the Daoist of Medicine and He Wu De stared in utter stupefaction. They slowly raised their gaze to the harmlessly smiling He Yi Ming, and a single thought simultaneously arose in both their minds:

This boy, among the basic Five Elements, was cultivating four paths simultaneously.

Was he still human...?

Ps: Two more chapters in two minutes ^_^