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Chapter 69: Alchemy
Before they knew it, one month had passed since Bai Chen arrived at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
That day, he and Ning Tian received a package from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
When they opened it, they found several jade bottles and jade boxes. Inside were various medicinal herbs and pills, accompanied by instructions explaining how to consume them.
As a sect famous for its immense wealth, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect naturally spared no expense when it came to their young sect heir.
Originally, Bai Chen—being Ning Tian's guard—should have received slightly fewer resources.
However, after Ning Jingchen explained the situation to the sect elders, they unanimously decided to increase Bai Chen's resource allocation, raising it to the same level as Ning Tian's.
Which meant—
The highest level of resources the sect could provide.
Ning Tian was overjoyed when she saw the herbs.
She had just broken through to Level 9 a few days earlier.
With the help of these medicinal ingredients, she could break through to Level 10 in one go and obtain her first soul ring.
Once she gained her first soul skill, she would no longer be the powerless girl standing behind Bai Chen.
The percentage-based amplification of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would greatly enhance Bai Chen's combat ability.
But Bai Chen stopped her before she could follow the instructions and consume the medicine.
Instead—
He went to find Xuan Ziwen.
"Teacher Xuan," Bai Chen said.
"Can you make a small alchemy furnace?"
"Hm?"
Xuan Ziwen raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I can… but what do you need it for?"
Bai Chen answered without hesitation.
"To make pills."
"What else would an alchemy furnace be used for?"
"No, that's not what I meant…"
Xuan Ziwen rubbed his temples with a headache.
"What I mean is—"
"You actually know alchemy too?"
"Yeah," Bai Chen replied casually.
While researching ways to detoxify poisons, he had also studied alchemy techniques along the way.
Aside from its technology, the Tang Sect was also famous for its pharmacology.
Naturally, its achievements in alchemy were impressive.
At least in Bai Chen's opinion—
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's method of directly consuming herbs was too primitive.
It wasted a large portion of the medicine's energy.
As the one taking the medicine, Bai Chen naturally didn't want to waste such valuable resources.
Looking at Bai Chen's indifferent expression, Xuan Ziwen couldn't help twitching.
First it was Soul Master talent.
Then forging skill.
Then soul engineering genius.
Now alchemy too?
Wonderful.
Ever since meeting Bai Chen, he felt like his confidence had been repeatedly destroyed.
Xuan Ziwen extended his hand with a dark expression.
Bai Chen blinked in confusion.
"Teacher Xuan… what is it?"
Xuan Ziwen snorted.
"What do you mean what is it?"
"An alchemy furnace is a top-tier Level 7 soul tool."
"You want me to make one? Fine."
"But where's my payment?"
Bai Chen thought for a moment.
"How about ten pieces of First-Grade Thousand-Refined metal?"
"Deal!"
Xuan Ziwen agreed instantly.
First-Grade Thousand-Refined metal was the strongest material he had ever worked with.
With such materials, he could create soul tools approaching Level 9 quality.
During this past month, Bai Chen and Xuan Ziwen had conducted many transactions.
One piece of First-Grade Thousand-Refined metal was valued at 100,000 gold soul coins.
Ten pieces meant one million gold soul coins.
Far beyond the cost of a Level 7 alchemy furnace.
Satisfied with the deal, Xuan Ziwen happily started working.
Within three days, the finished product was delivered.
A small crimson-gold alchemy furnace now sat inside Bai Chen and Ning Tian's laboratory.
After briefly familiarizing himself with the furnace's properties, Bai Chen began refining pills.
Thanks to his pharmacological knowledge far ahead of this era, Bai Chen finished the alchemy in just two days.
During the process, he couldn't help feeling amazed.
The resources of this era were simply too abundant.
In the Douluo III era, Bai Chen had investigated these heavenly treasures before.
Nearly every single one was considered a rare treasure, some even valued at over 100 million Federation Coins.
This single resource shipment alone would cost over 300 million Federation Coins in the future era.
The difference was terrifying.
Bai Chen estimated that during the few years he and Ning Tian spent in the Sun Moon Empire—
They might consume resources worth tens of billions of Federation Coins.
Thinking about it, he suddenly felt fortunate.
Perhaps awakening the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul in the Douluo II era wasn't a bad thing.
Among the three eras—
This one had the richest accessible resources.
Although the total natural resources couldn't surpass the Douluo I era, humanity's extraction efficiency had improved enormously.
The Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff clearly followed a body-refinement path.
And body refinement required large amounts of heavenly treasures.
In the other two eras, acquiring these resources would require enormous sacrifices.
Only in this era was the cost relatively low.
And the issue of medicine efficiency?
Bai Chen had already solved that through the Medicine Scripture.
Combining the resource advantage of the Douluo II era with the technical knowledge of the Douluo III era—
That was the best way to cultivate the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff.
"Alright. Done."
Standing before the furnace, Bai Chen wiped sweat from his forehead and handed the finished pill to Ning Tian.
"Here. This one's yours."
"Mm…"
Ning Tian accepted the golden pill.
She glanced at Bai Chen before swallowing it.
Then she immediately sat down and began meditating to absorb its power.
Bai Chen remained beside her the entire time.
Only after confirming she had finished absorbing the pill did he take his own portion.
The heavenly treasures Bai Chen received were different from Ning Tian's.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect knew his physique was far stronger.
Therefore, the medicines prepared for him were much more potent.
But even such powerful medicine struggled to impact Bai Chen.
Under the influence of his Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul, the violent medicinal energy only rampaged briefly before being forcibly absorbed.
When Bai Chen opened his eyes again—
His soul power had increased by two levels, reaching Level 18.
And that was merely a side effect.
The treasures the sect sent him were primarily meant to strengthen his body.
His physical improvement was even greater than his soul power growth.
Bai Chen was certain that his upper limit of strength had now reached the level of a Power Attack–type Soul Emperor.
If he fought Ji Juechen again, the battle would look very different from last time.
Of course, there was one small regret.
He couldn't maintain such rapid growth forever.
After all—
Every medicine carries some toxicity.
Even a supreme elixir like the Qiankun Creation Pill would damage one's foundation if consumed endlessly.
According to the letter, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would send the next batch of resources three months later.
Until then, Bai Chen needed to fully digest the improvements these treasures had brought.
But before worrying about the next batch—
There was something more urgent.
Ning Tian had already reached Level 10.
It was time to take her out and hunt her first soul ring.