"No"

Ming Xuan remarked, "Chen'er, the alchemists you mentioned aren't genuine practitioners. Your understanding is rather superficial."

"Superficial? But isn't that what true alchemists are?" Ye Chen questioned.

Ming Xuan countered, "You need to explore this further. Tell me, What defines the most powerful pill in the world?"

Ye Chen pondered deeply before responding, "Master, the most potent pill should offer profound insights into heavenly laws and fortify a cultivator's essence and cultivation base, and a masterful alchemist could craft a divine pill from any substance."

Shaking his head gently, Ming Xuan explained, "Your thoughts echo common beliefs. True alchemists transmute heaven and earth into pills, each containing its own realm. Understand?"

Ming Xuan painted an extravagant image of alchemists, leaving Ye Chen astonished by the idea of refining heaven and earth into pills, each containing a world within.

Ye Chen was overwhelmed by the concept. "To refine pills from heaven and earth, each pill a world in itself... I didn't realize alchemy could be this extraordinary."

This revelation made Ye Chen realize how limited his understanding of alchemy had been. He felt like a mere frog at the bottom of a well.

Observing Ye Chen's stunned reaction, Ming Xuan understood that he had successfully deceived him. If he didn't dupe Ye Chen first, how could he appear impressive?

"Master, your words have truly enlightened me. Please grant me another opportunity to learn the Dao of Alchemy."

He recalled Ming Xuan's condition: only if he answered correctly could he receive teachings on alchemy. Fearful of missing this chance, Ye Chen kneeled before Ming Xuan, pleading earnestly, "Master, I may have failed to grasp the essence of your question. But I genuinely desire to learn alchemy from you. Please allow me another chance to prove myself."

At that moment, Ming Xuan assisted Ye Chen in standing up, letting out a faint sigh. "Forget it. Since you're genuinely keen on learning alchemy from me, I'll instruct you. Considering your slower comprehension of Dao, I'll start with basic alchemical methods and assess your aptitude. Understood?"

"Yes, Master. Thank you for your guidance."

"Now, listen closely. Every pill contains impurities, and even the greatest alchemists can't completely eliminate them. I'll teach you a method to create pills with minimal toxicity. It's called the non-toxic pill method, which eradicates all impurities."

Ming Xuan was fabricating this information. While medicinal pills indeed carried impurities, claiming to have a method to entirely remove them was practically impossible. He could only make such assertions with Ye Chen since saying this to any other alchemist would lead to dire consequences.

The truth was that non-toxic pills were a myth in the alchemical world. The presence of toxins in pills was directly related to the medicinal herbs used. No toxicity would mean no medicinal benefits, as both aspects were inherently interconnected.

"Chen'er, the foundation of refining a non-toxic pill remains unchangeable due to the nature of its medicinal properties. So, in your opinion, what should be the focal point for refining a non-toxic pill?"

"I don't know, Master." Ye Chen contemplated for a moment but couldn't formulate an answer, finding the question beyond the scope of his knowledge.

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However, Ming Xuan smiled and calmly stated, "Actually, it is quite simple. If you eliminate medicinal herbs, there won't be any impurities."

Ye Chen was left dumbfounded by his Master's words. While the statement had a certain logic, the notion of refining a pill without using medicinal herbs was utterly impossible. He fell silent, unable to articulate a response. Ming Xuan's words seemed far-fetched and absurd to him.

Sensing Ye Chen's perplexed expression, Ming Xuan maintained his composure and calmly asked, "Chen'er, do you think I am deceiving you?"

“I wouldn’t dare assume so." Ye Chen promptly shook his head, immediately denying any thought that his Master might be tricking him. Despite having doubts about Ming Xuan's words, he couldn't believe that Ming Xuan was intentionally misleading him; it just sounded too unrealistic to be true.

Ming Xuan chuckled softly and continued, “It's normal to doubt when you don't understand. Imagine this: If you were a mortal in a world where someone claimed there were beings who could crush stars and command the seas with their thoughts, would you believe them?”

Suddenly, Ye Chen had enlightenment.

Indeed, many things might seem implausible simply because one was incapable of achieving them. But that didn't necessarily mean that others in the world couldn't achieve them.

In response, Ye Chen said, “Thank you for dispelling my doubts, Master. I was being narrow-minded.”

He felt a sense of embarrassment as he realized his own limited perspective.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. I, too, would have considered it unrealistic if I were in your place," reassured Ming Xuan with a gentle smile.

Ming Xuan continued his explanation, stating, "The pill refining process essentially involves three fundamental steps: gathering spiritual herbs, refining them using earth or sky flames, and ultimately condensing the refined essence into a pill. But have you ever pondered the root cause that hinders us from refining non-toxic pills?"

Ye Chen found himself unable to provide an immediate response. Sensing his hesitation, Ming Xuan elaborated, "It's quite straightforward. The root cause lies within the medicinal herbs themselves. Despite their spiritual properties, these herbs absorb natural energies from the heavens and the earth. While this infusion of natural energy typically enhances their purity, it also exposes them to the impurities of the five elements, resulting in the accumulation of toxins within the herbs."

Ming Xuan highlighted the paradox within medicinal herbs—they absorb the purest natural energies while simultaneously becoming tainted by impurities from the elemental forces. This dual nature causes the accumulation of impurities within these otherwise spiritual plants.

Consequently, Ming Xuan emphasized, "We must discard the tainted medicinal herbs and directly shape pills using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. This approach will eliminate impurities, allowing us to produce supreme-grade pills. Do you comprehend?"

If his second disciple, Ye Chen still can't be deceived by his theory of creating non-toxic pills, he will simply start calling him "Daddy" from now on.

Ming Xuan's eloquent discourse resonated clearly with Ye Chen, and his final words resonated like a resounding bell within Ye Chen's mind.

"Directly condense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and then shape supreme-grade pills."

This method!

Initially skeptical, Ye Chen now found himself astounded by the plausible logic of Ming Xuan's theory.

The doubts that lingered within him were dispelled because the theory sounded exceptionally rational. He no longer questioned anything; the theory made perfect sense.

"What do the treasures in the world of immortal cultivation contain?"

"Spiritual energy."

Hence, Ming Xuan's assertion was accurate.

Medicinal herbs were essentially another manifestation of spiritual energy. The presence of toxins in medicinal herbs stems from their contamination by the energy of the five elements in the world. This distinction lay between innate properties and acquired postnatal properties. Consider, for instance, an unborn fetus possessing innate attributes.

However, upon birth, it promptly adopted postnatal attributes.

Unless it abstained from breathing, eating, drinking, or exposure to the five elements, it would transition into a postnatal state. Yet, avoiding these actions was inherently impossible.

Ming Xuan's theory, though seemingly complex, revealed itself as remarkably straightforward upon closer consideration.

"Understood," Ye Chen replied, Ming Xuan's explanations completely dispelling his skepticism.

"Take the time you need to grasp these concepts. If one day is insufficient, extend it to two, and if two days prove insufficient, make it three. Success will come through dedication! Despite your limited perception, Master has faith in your ability to comprehend. Delve into it thoroughly. I believe in you."

With those words, Ming Xuan turned away, leaving the ground beneath him to transform into clouds as he ascended into the sky.

After laboring for an extended period of time, it's time to take a break.

"Time to unwind. I'll head to Maple Leaf City for a meal since it's free," Ming Xuan mumbled to himself.

He soared through the air on the clouds, eagerly making his way toward Maple Leaf City.

...

After Ming Xuan departed, the disciples of the sect continued their pursuit of the Dao.

On the mountain's peak, Long Aotian stood, observing the celestial and earthly Dao, unraveling the chains and runes.

Beside the cascading waterfall, Ye Chen pondered his Master's teachings.

As the sun dipped beyond the horizon, the crescent moon ascended, casting a tranquil ambience over Skyview Mountain.

Under the night sky, silence enveloped the mountain.

Ye Chen persisted in comprehending the intricacies of refining non-toxic pills, a task easier spoken of than achieved. Driven by his determination to grow stronger swiftly and repay his Master, he remained undeterred.

His eagerness to master the Dao of Alchemy intensified. He yearned to demonstrate to his Master that he had met the expectations and comprehended what was required.

However, the means to grasp this eluded him. Despite contemplating methods for an extended period, he remained without insight.

Irrespective of his patience, frustration gradually took root, gnawing at his resolve.

Amidst this vexation, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted Ye Chen's contemplation. He turned to behold Long Aotian descending the mountain path, clad in a flowing white crane robe and wielding a longsword, exuding the demeanor of a proud and aloof sword immortal.

Upon seeing Long Aotian approaching, Ye Chen swiftly rose to his feet.

"Junior Brother Ye Chen pays respects to Senior Brother."