Elder Sheep finally reacted and burst into loud laughter. “Brother Ye, you are truly impressive.”
“In all my years, this is the first time I have seen Old Monkey admit defeat.”
“For some reason, seeing him lose makes me suddenly very happy.”
“Brother Ye, quickly put away these spiritual herbs.”
Ye Qiu did not stand on ceremony. He opened his Qiankun bag and swept all the spiritual herbs from the storage into it.
Although most were thousand-year or ten-thousand-year herbs with ordinary effects, some were top-grade nearly hundred-thousand-year herbs unique to the demon clan, impossible to find outside and of incalculable value.
Moreover, the medicinal sable and that mysterious egg in his Qiankun bag were both gluttons. With these herbs, they would have enough to eat for a while.
Ye Qiu quietly checked the egg. It remained the same, no larger.
“You glutton, after eating so many of my spiritual herbs, you will have to work for me in the future,” Ye Qiu muttered inwardly.
The egg seemed to hear his thoughts, rolling back and forth as if saying, “Okay, okay~”
Elder Sheep looked at the now empty storage and exclaimed in amazement, “Old Monkey said it took him a full three years to identify all thirty-four thousand spiritual herbs. Yet Brother Ye, you only needed two hours.”
“In terms of talent, you far surpass Old Monkey.”
“Old Monkey became a heavenly-grade alchemist. Brother Ye, you will surely be even greater in the future.”
“By the way, Brother Ye, do not forget what you promised me. When you become a heavenly-grade alchemist, remember to refine a pill for me.”
Ye Qiu smiled. “Rest assured, I remember.”
“Brother Ye, come. Let us go see Old Monkey.” Elder Sheep and Ye Qiu left the side hall chuckling.
As soon as they emerged, they saw Elder Monkey in the courtyard gulping wine, his face gloomy and clearly depressed.
Elder Monkey was upset not only about losing the bet and Ye Qiu taking the storage herbs, but also because Ye Qiu had identified all the herbs in just two hours, while it had taken him three full years. Truly, comparisons were odious.
“Do you know how I spent those three years?”
“Every day in the storage, like a dog, constantly sniffing to identify herbs by scent.”
“Yet that kid did it in two hours. Damn, what kind of monster is he?”
The more Elder Monkey thought, the more depressed he became.
“Old Monkey, why are you drinking alone? Discovered a pill refining prodigy and overjoyed?” Elder Sheep laughed.
Elder Monkey rolled his eyes. “Which eye of yours sees me overjoyed?”
“Are you not happy?” Elder Sheep said. “Brother Ye identified over thirty thousand spiritual herbs in two hours. With such talent, having him learn pill refining from you is like smoke rising from your ancestors’ graves.”
Elder Monkey took a fierce swig of wine and said coldly to Ye Qiu, “How did you do it?”
Ye Qiu replied, “Very simple. I stood among the wooden boxes, focused my mind, and soon smelled the medicinal fragrances. From the scents, I knew what herbs were inside.”
Damn, and that is simple?
Back then, I stood before boxes for days before catching a whiff.
Elder Monkey said icily, “Scent identification is merely to test pill refining talent. It seems yours is acceptable.”
Elder Sheep muttered, “What do you mean acceptable? Brother Ye is clearly a pill refining genius.”
“This is none of your business.” Elder Monkey glared at him.
Ye Qiu said, “Elder Monkey, today was my first time identifying by scent. I lacked experience, so I was a bit slow.”
“If you think two hours to identify all those herbs shows average talent, we can try again.”
“I believe I can be faster.”
“If you do not believe me, we can bet on it.”
Earlier, Ye Qiu had not used his heavenly eye at all, strictly following Elder Monkey’s instructions without any cheating.
If he used the heavenly eye, his speed would certainly be much faster.
Hearing the word “bet”, Elder Monkey’s blood pressure soared. He nearly choked.
Damn it, are you here to learn pill refining or to rob me?
Not satisfied with winning so many herbs, you want more?
What do you take my place for?
Elder Monkey took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. “Ye Changsheng, scent identification is only the first step in pill refining. You have passed the first step.”
“However, the path of pill refining is thousands, even tens of thousands of times harder than cultivation. Do not become arrogant.”
“The road ahead will be very difficult.”
“Are you prepared?”
Ye Qiu’s face was full of confidence. “I am fully prepared.”
This kid does not know humility at all.
Elder Sheep asked, “Old Monkey, what will you teach Brother Ye next?”
“Ye Changsheng, follow me.” Elder Monkey led Ye Qiu to another room’s door.
The door had a restriction.
Elder Monkey formed seals with both hands, pressing a palm on the door. Array patterns flowed for a moment. With a clang, the door opened.
Ye Qiu looked up and saw this room was larger than the storage, lined with rows of bookshelves packed densely with books.
Elder Monkey said, “The second step in pill refining is pill formulas.”
“Here are preserved one hundred thousand pill formulas, recording methods of combining spiritual herbs and the steps for refining pills.”
“An outstanding alchemist must memorise every formula in their mind, knowing them by heart. Upon seeing herbs, they know what pills can be refined.”
“Ye Changsheng, your next task is to memorise the contents of these formulas.”
“I give you ten days to remember them. Any problem?”
Before Ye Qiu could speak, Elder Sheep interjected first.
“Old Monkey, ten days is too short. These are one hundred thousand formulas. Memorising them is not that easy.”
Elder Monkey said coldly, “In my domain, we follow my rules.”
“Ye Changsheng, if you find it difficult, you can give up…”
“I want to try,” Ye Qiu said.
Elder Monkey glanced at Ye Qiu, thinking, “This kid has guts, but unfortunately, he cannot possibly memorise these formulas in ten days.”
“It took me a full ten years to memorise them back then.”
“Humph, if you cannot memorise them in ten days, and still want to learn pill refining, you will have to beg me.”
“Then, I will make you return all the spiritual herbs. Otherwise, if the other elders learn I lost to a human kid, they will laugh me to death.”
Elder Monkey said, “Take your time looking at the formulas. I am leaving.”
With that, he turned to go.
“Wait a moment.”
Ye Qiu quickly said, “Elder Monkey, if I memorise all these formulas within ten days, can you give me some reward?”
Elder Monkey instantly understood Ye Qiu’s intent.
Bastard, after winning so many of my herbs, you still want benefits? Have you no shame?
But do you really think you can memorise one hundred thousand formulas in ten days?
Keep dreaming.
An idea struck Elder Monkey. “Ye Changsheng, this elder will bet with you once more.”
