I can identify everything, but the level is increased by one

Information surfaced before Su Han's eyes:

"The introductory Dan Arts and methods for processing some medicinal herbs. The former elaborates on the general principles of alchemy, being overly vague, grandiose, and empty. The latter involves the specific processing of certain medicinal herbs, all within the same theoretical framework, but lacking the true essence of Dan Arts."

He nodded, as expected.

The so-called apprentice of Zhou Yue was actually just a glorified medicine slave, only appearing to manage other medicine slaves, and could not learn the true meaning of the Li family's alchemy.

However, this trick wouldn't work on him.

Since the Li family had already taken him as a medicine boy.

Then it was normal for him, a medicine boy, to learn a little alchemy, right?

With a slight thought, he began to upgrade.

[Water-Fire Alchemy: An alchemy created by the True Cultivator Xuan Yuan Zhenren, combining the fierceness of fire-based alchemy and the gentleness of water-based alchemy. The pills possess both the wonders of water and fire and can become high-grade.]

Water-fire alchemy, combining the wonders of water and fire?

Su Han's eyes lit up. This looked extraordinary.

The contents of the Water-Fire Alchemy Technique flooded into his mind.

After browsing through it, his face instantly darkened.

How should he put it?

This Water-Fire Alchemy was strong, even containing content for refining high-level spiritual pills, but to improve its progress, he had to personally practice medicine refining and couldn't rely solely on brainstorming.

But in that case, the pill furnace and medicinal materials would be a huge expense.

Alchemy was indeed highly profitable, but it also required initial investment.

He roughly calculated that if he relied solely on himself, he would go bankrupt even before he could afford the medicinal materials. It seemed he still had to rely on the financial resources of the Cao Gang and the Golden Pavilion and couldn't do it alone.

But this was also good.

Before his strength became strong enough, an alchemist protected by a force was convenient and safe enough.

Otherwise, that Apothecary Li would have been knocked unconscious and taken away long ago.

He left the courtyard and found Qian Guang.

Su Han smiled slightly and continued, "I can refine ordinary pills, such as the Qi Cultivation Pill, but if I want to successfully create pills, it will take a few days, during which I need a continuous input of medicinal materials."

Hearing this, Qian Guang immediately understood.

In that case, Su Han probably knew how to refine pills but had never done it himself, or hadn't practiced for a long time and needed a few days to adapt?

Where did he learn it from?

Could it be that he stole it from Apothecary Li?

But was that possible?

Moreover, the most important thing in alchemy was hands-on practice. Reading books without practice was of little use. If he hadn't personally practiced, it was practically no different from not knowing alchemy.

He frowned. Should he agree to Su Han?

Logically speaking, if someone else said this to him, he would tell them to go back where they came from and not be an eyesore, and also mock them for making empty boasts.

But this was Su Han.

Not only a martial arts genius but also from the Northern Border and surnamed Su.

"Alright, I'll take a gamble with Brother Su!"

Soon, he made a decision and agreed to Su Han.

Although he felt that this matter was unreliable, he would just indulge Su Han for a few days. Anyway, the investment in medicinal materials for a few days was still within acceptable limits, even if they were all wasted.

What was this little bit of money compared to investing in a martial arts genius?

But he hoped that his father wouldn't ask about it.

He sighed, thinking of that stubborn donkey-like temper, and immediately had a headache. He started instructing the servants to clear out a room as an alchemy room and prepare the medicinal materials and pill furnace for refining the Qi Cultivation Pill.

Two days later, inside the luxurious main hall of the Li Mansion.

Apothecary Li and Li Qingyun were discussing matters, their faces filled with smiles.

"The movements of the Cao Gang have been investigated. In the past two days, they have been purchasing medicinal materials and pill furnaces for refining the Qi Cultivation Pill, and the alchemist is Su Han, that disloyal family slave, but they have all failed."

Li Qingyun took a sip of tea and smiled.

"Heh heh, what an ignorant child."

"If alchemy was really that simple, how could I, the old man, be the only ranked alchemist in this eight hundred li radius?"

Apothecary Li was somewhat complacent, smiling disdainfully.

A few days ago, he had investigated and found that a Dan Arts introduction had been lost from Zhou Yue's room, but he didn't care at all and was too lazy to investigate.

Because this Dan Arts introduction was written by him and didn't contain any real substance, only some seemingly correct but actually false and grandiose theories. If one were to refine pills according to these theories, they would definitely fail.

"But isn't the Cao Gang afraid of offending my Li family? Don't they know that with my Li family here, other forces cannot support other alchemists?"

"Aren't they afraid that my Li family will cut off their supply of pills?"

Apothecary Li frowned.

"Perhaps the Cao Gang is in financial trouble and is desperately seeking help, unexpectedly valuing a young child who was once a medicine boy and medicine slave so much. It's truly pitiful."

"But it's just right, convenient for my Li family to rise."

Li Qingyun responded indifferently.

His Li family's situation was now excellent. With alchemy, they attracted many martial artists to join them. His eldest son was also promising and had been accepted as a disciple by a martial arts sect. His youngest daughter had even obtained the inheritance of a True Cultivator.

Unfortunately, there was one flaw: his second son was useless and unpromising.

He might as well have been shot on the wall back then.

Apothecary Li continued to ask, "But these are just trivial matters, obviously not worth mentioning. Family Head, how are the important matters? What did they say?"

"They said that barring accidents, they will likely launch an uprising next spring, and at that time, they will let us act according to circumstances and provide some support. Moreover, I also had them investigate the Guangning Su family of the Northern Border."

"Their reply is..."

"No one from the Guangning Su family is missing!"

Li Qingyun replied, his expression cold.

"Then weren't we fooled by a young child?"

Apothecary Li frowned immediately.

"We can only say that we were too cautious and overestimated Su Han's background. Perhaps he has good talent in martial arts and can become a martial artist in half a month, but he may not have any profound background."

"This is also good. If it becomes necessary to eliminate Su Han in the future, there won't be too much hesitation. The only thing we need to consider is the Golden Pavilion..."

On the other side, inside the Cao Gang's alchemy room.

Su Han looked at the freshly produced lumps emitting an unknown odor, lost in thought. Where did the problem lie? He clearly felt that he was only one step away, but every time he failed.

Was it because impurities were mixed in during the water-based extraction of medicinal properties, or was there a problem with the ratio of medicinal materials? Was there one or two too many Azure Sky Flowers, or should he add neutralizing medicinal materials to prevent the medicinal properties from clashing?

Improving this alchemy was more difficult than he imagined.

Outside the alchemy room.

Even standing in the freezing cold, Qian Guang could smell the pungent odor and sighed. It seemed he had failed again, and hundreds of taels of silver had gone down the drain.

"Young Master, we can't let this one keep messing around. Although this one is a martial arts genius, he may not be an alchemy genius. The gang leader is already somewhat dissatisfied, saying that you are messing around."

The old man serving beside him said with a sigh.

"Uncle Hong, let's wait a few more days."

"Give Brother Su a little time."

Qian Guang was silent for a moment and replied.

Inside, Su Han finished thinking.

His eyes lit up. That's right.

The most crucial thing was the problem of heat!

This problem was quite basic and could only be solved by constantly trying and accumulating experience, but the embodiment of experience on him was the progress of the Water-Fire Alchemy.

He glanced at the progress (9/10000).

It had reached the critical point. It was time to upgrade!

He started another furnace. Half an hour later, the fragrance of pills filled the entire room.