Chapter 20: Is Master Ye Truly So Learned and Talented?

“How else would I know? Naturally, by seeing with my eyes and smelling with my nose,” Ye Junlin replied calmly, his tone light and serene, under the gaze of the entire crowd.

“Young Master Ye? What?”
“What did you say? You saw it with your eyes? Smelled it with your nose?”

Fang Jingshan was truly startled by Ye Junlin’s words. Even he couldn’t help but exclaim, his voice trembling slightly. See with the eyes? Smell with the nose? Was this a joke?

Fang Jingshan knew well that he did not have such abilities. Yet he was acutely aware that the skill to identify medicinal properties by scent alone required at least the level of a five-star alchemist. A five-star alchemist! Such a status was exceedingly rare; even in the entire Empire of Flame and Sun, few could claim such a title.

Could it be that this youth, barely sixteen or seventeen, was already a five-star alchemist? The very thought nearly frightened Fang Jingshan to death.

“Fang Jingshan, if I’m not mistaken, the reason you made such a costly modification was primarily because you chose Azure Crystal Rock to neutralize the medicinal properties,” Ye Junlin explained seriously. “Azure Crystal Rock has a yin nature, and both Red Silkwood and Azure Moon Clay are also yin. During the refining, it's difficult to balance their properties. To resolve this, you substituted Phoenix Blood Paste and Myriad Wheel Flower, which are of a more fiery disposition. However, did you consider that these two are too strong? Using them might allow you to refine the Restoration Pill, but the process becomes vastly more difficult. The temperature requirements become especially stringent, and the slightest misstep could cause the furnace to explode.”

While Fang Jingshan was still reeling from this analysis, Ye Junlin continued his patient explanation.

At that moment, Fang Jingshan was utterly dumbfounded that Ye Junlin could so clearly articulate the rationale behind his actions. Who would have thought such a young man would possess such deep insight into alchemy? Could Ye Junlin be a disciple of some grandmaster?

This possibility made Fang Jingshan’s breath quicken.

“Young Master Ye, do you perhaps have a solution to this problem?”

Fang Jingshan immediately turned to Ye Junlin and asked.

“Fang Jingshan, the solution is actually quite simple. The two main ingredients for the Restoration Pill, Azure Moon Clay and Red Silkwood, remain unchanged. But you should replace the neutralizing agent, Azure Crystal Rock, with Blood Sun Stone. Blood Sun Stone has a fiery nature, which perfectly balances the yin properties of Azure Moon Clay and Red Silkwood. Moreover, Blood Sun Stone is much less demanding in terms of temperature.”

Ye Junlin smiled slightly, his tone earnest as he addressed Fang Jingshan.

“Haha! Master Ye, you are truly learned and wise. I am ashamed—my attainments in the alchemical arts are clearly no match for yours. Master Ye, using Blood Sun Stone instead of Azure Crystal Rock is a stroke of genius! Imagine, I’ve been poring over the Restoration Pill’s formula for ten years and never thought of this!”

Hearing Ye Junlin’s analysis, Fang Jingshan’s eyes lit up, and he broke into excited laughter.

“What? Master Ye? Master Jingshan, a high-level one-star alchemist of the Pill Treasure Pavilion, actually calls Ye Junlin ‘Master Ye’?”

“Heavens, am I dreaming?”

The crowd was utterly stunned. Ye Muchen, Ye Jingyue, and Ye Yunxiao all stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend the dramatic turn of events.

“Um, Master Jingshan, perhaps you don’t know—Ye Junlin is just a good-for-nothing from the Ye family, a useless wretch. Please don’t be fooled by his glib tongue,” Ye Yunxiao hurried to interject loudly, stepping in front of Fang Jingshan.

“Ye Yunxiao, you wretch! What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you speak that way to Master Ye? Are you looking for trouble?”

Fang Jingshan was so startled by Ye Yunxiao’s words that his face changed dramatically.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Fang Jingshan raised his hand and delivered several resounding slaps to Ye Yunxiao’s face.

What a joke! How could a master with such profound alchemical knowledge be a useless fool? If Ye Junlin was a wastrel, then what did that make Fang Jingshan himself?

After a few slaps, Ye Yunxiao was so aggrieved he was on the verge of tears. How did things come to this? It was all Ye Junlin’s fault! That useless wretch! His gaze turned venomous as he glared at Ye Junlin.

Ye Junlin, noting the hatred in Ye Yunxiao’s eyes, merely curled his lips into a cold smile.

“Master Ye, would you do me the honor of joining me inside the Pill Treasure Pavilion?” Fang Jingshan asked eagerly. “There are still several steps in the Restoration Pill’s process I haven’t quite grasped. I would be grateful for your guidance.”

At this, Ye Junlin’s expression turned cold. “Fang Jingshan, you want my guidance? Your Pill Treasure Pavilion’s threshold is too high. I’m afraid I, Ye Junlin, am unworthy of such an honor.”

“Master Ye, why say such a thing? Your presence would be the Pill Treasure Pavilion’s great fortune!” Fang Jingshan exclaimed in anxiety.

Ye Junlin’s icy gaze fell upon Ye Yunxiao.

“Fang Jingshan, because just now, this Ye Yunxiao tried desperately to bar me from entering. He said I was a useless fool, unworthy of stepping foot in the Pill Treasure Pavilion, and that I would only dirty its halls.”

Ye Junlin’s voice was cold and purposeful.

Upon hearing this, Ye Yunxiao’s heart skipped a beat.

Fang Jingshan’s face darkened instantly, his gaze locking unyieldingly onto Ye Yunxiao.