Chapter 228: Chu Feng: It's Mainly to Give the Fire Spirit a Sense of Participation
Upon hearing those words, the Fire Spirit flew toward Fang Mu in fear, hiding beneath his thigh as if trying to cling to him.
At the same time, Fang Mu sensed a wave of pleading emotion from the Fire Spirit—as if it were begging him, please, master, take me in.
???
Fang Mu turned to look at the Fire Spirit, completely speechless. Weren't you usually full of guts?
Now you're acting so cowardly? If you've got the nerve, why don't you go pick a fight with my master's Fire Spirit instead!
Chu Feng smiled and said, "Xiao Huo, I just wanted you to teach this reckless junior a little lesson—and while you're at it, show it how to control flame during pill refinement."
At those words, everyone except the little Fire Spirit was dumbfounded.
Even Elder Bing looked at Chu Feng with astonishment. The Golden-Winged Eagle King was the first to break the silence. "Bro, you're joking, right? A Fire Spirit understanding pill refinement fire control?"
Chu Feng turned his gaze to the little Fire Spirit, his tone calm and unhurried. "Brother Diao is questioning you. Want to prove him wrong?"
The little Fire Spirit floated in the air and wobbled twice. "Of course. I'm a Fire Spirit who's studied alchemy."
The Golden-Winged Eagle King hadn't expected this tiny Fire Spirit to boast so boldly. "Fine, I'll see for myself today."
Chu Feng turned to Fang Mu and said, "Today, I'll show you how Fire Spirit Pill Refinement stands apart."
As he finished speaking, his storage ring glowed faintly, and a pill furnace appeared in the courtyard.
"Brother Diao, please set up a full isolation barrier. I don't want others noticing once the spirit pills are born."
"No problem."
The Golden-Winged Eagle King flapped his wings, and in an instant, a shimmering barrier enveloped the entire residence.
Chu Feng shot the little Fire Spirit a glance. Understanding the signal, it obediently scurried beneath the pill furnace and began preheating it.
While that was underway, Chu Feng pondered what pill to refine. He didn't need any himself. The Golden-Winged Eagle King didn't either—especially since he was already at peak Nirvana Realm. No pill could yield him noticeable improvement.
His eyes fell on Elder Bing. He decided to refine a batch of Heaven Origin Spirit Pills, a common and essential pill for Nirvana Realm cultivators in Wendao Academy.
It was said that Pill King Xuanhuo had become the head of the Pill Dao Academy precisely because he could refine top-grade Heaven Origin Spirit Pills.
Coincidentally, Chu Feng had all the necessary ingredients in his storage ring.
He began placing the herbs into the furnace one by one. His refining technique was simple, lacking any flashy moves. At first glance, he looked no different from a beginner—occasionally even calling out to the Fire Spirit, "More flame."
This sight made Bing Yan quietly break into a cold sweat for him.
At first, Chu Feng seemed to barely keep up. But as time passed, he grew smoother and more natural in every motion.
Two and a half hours later, Chu Feng shouted, "Cut the fire! Open the furnace—rise!"
As he spoke, he activated a spell to open the furnace. There was no explosion, no burnt scent.
Everyone peered into the furnace. Nine pills floated in the air.
The Golden-Winged Eagle King remarked, "One high-grade, four mid-grade, and five low-grade. Bro, you really do know how to refine pills! Your skills aren't a bit worse than those youngsters in the Pill Academy—just a touch behind that brat Cao."
Chu Feng replied, "I told you—I'm the number one theorist in alchemy. Do you believe it now?"
The Golden-Winged Eagle King nodded solemnly. "I yield. Fully convinced!"
Fang Mu, watching this unfold, could only feel envy. He subconsciously looked down at the Fire Spirit by his feet, wanting to say something—but didn't know what.
Chu Feng asked, "Xiao Mu, how much of that did you follow?"
Fang Mu replied, "Reporting to master, this disciple only caught about half."
"Which half?" Chu Feng asked.
"Controlling the flame is all about yelling," Fang Mu replied honestly.
Chu Feng's face remained deadpan. In a serious tone, he explained, "You can also do it without yelling—but that makes the Fire Spirit feel left out. Once you form a contract with it, you'll be able to control the flame mentally."
Little Fire Spirit: ???
Fang Mu's eyes lit up as he thought to himself, If I were Master, I wouldn't shout at all—keep it mysterious to make my fire control look impressive.
The little Fire Spirit, upon hearing the words "form a contract," became so excited that it flew circles around Fang Mu.
Dizzy from all the spinning, Fang Mu shouted, "Stop!"
The Fire Spirit didn't dare disobey and immediately froze in mid-air.
Seeing this, Fang Mu smiled and asked, "Do you want to sign a master-servant contract with me?"
The Fire Spirit bounced twice in the air, clearly expressing its willingness.
Fang Mu cupped his hands toward Chu Feng. "Master, I ask for your help in forming the contract."
"No problem."
Chu Feng cast a spell and facilitated the contract between Fang Mu and the Fire Spirit.
"All right, today's lesson ends here. Tomorrow I'll teach you how to process medicinal herbs."
"Yes, Master."
Fang Mu responded and left the courtyard fully satisfied.
Chu Feng collected the nine pills floating mid-air and selected the top-grade Hunyuan Pill, handing it to Elder Bing.
"Miss Bing, this pill is for you."
"Thank you, Young Master Chu."
When Bing Yan received the pill, her fingers accidentally brushed against Chu Feng's. In that instant, a strange electric sensation coursed through her. Her cheeks immediately flushed red.
Is this the first time Young Master Chu has ever made a gift just for me?
Chu Feng smiled. "There's no need for thanks between us."
"Mm."
Bing Yan responded softly, her heart racing, face buried in shyness, even her ears turning scarlet. Is he… hinting something?
The Golden-Winged Eagle King, watching this scene, thought to himself: Something's definitely going on between these two.
Chu Feng didn't dwell on it. Glancing at the sky, he turned and returned to his study to continue tutoring the little Fire Spirit in pill refinement.
Over the following days, Chu Feng instructed Fang Mu in the daytime and the little Fire Spirit at night.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
That night, just after finishing a lesson with the Fire Spirit, Chu Feng suddenly heard a familiar voice in his mind:
"Little Fire Spirit has reached entry-level in pill refinement. Rewarding host with Spirit Flame Pill Refinement—Advanced Stage."
Hmm?
Chu Feng's lips curled up. "Xiao Huo, not bad. You've got some talent—already grasped pill refinement. I seem to remember… you also know artifact crafting, don't you?"
The Fire Spirit immediately sensed danger. "N-No I don't! I haven't even mastered pill refinement yet!"
Chu Feng grinned. "I know you can refine pills. Tomorrow, show everyone what you've got. If something goes wrong… well, you know."
He deliberately left the sentence hanging, giving the Fire Spirit a meaningful look.
"If I succeed, will there be a reward, lord?" the Fire Spirit asked eagerly.
Chu Feng took out a blazing Fire Crystal Stone from his storage ring.
Upon seeing it, the little Fire Spirit cried out in delight, "I remember that—it's that old guy's treasure! A top-grade Fire Crystal Stone!"
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