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Chi Yu stared at Qin Shu's smiling face, feeling a bit lost.

**"Junior Sister, you're saying that just remembering the refining time is enough? Should I try again?"**

Qin Shu pondered for a moment before adding,

**"Senior Sister, if you want to improve your pill-forming success rate, we'll need to conduct a few more experiments."**

Chi Yu tilted her head in confusion.

**"Experiments? What's that?"**

To a **science-minded modern student** like Qin Shu, **experimental modeling** was nothing out of the ordinary.

But for **Chi Yu, a naturally raised member of the Fire Spirit Bird Clan**, this was an entirely new concept.

Qin Shu pulled her over to a meditation cushion and **explained patiently**:

**"Senior Sister, different herb ages have different medicinal strengths. That means the time needed to extract their essence also varies. Since you don't have a wood spiritual root, you can't precisely sense the perfect extraction timing."**

**"But herbs of similar age have similar medicinal potency. Through repeated trials, we can estimate a general refining time. Once we figure that out, you won't need to rely on sensing the herbs anymore!"**

The moment **Chi Yu heard this, her eyes lit up with excitement**.

**"If I learn how to refine pills, I'll be the only alchemist in my entire Fire Spirit Bird Clan!"**

Hearing the **excitement** in her voice, even **Qin Shu couldn't help but laugh**.

**"Then I'll congratulate you in advance, Senior Sister!"**

Chi Yu bit her lip shyly, then said,

**"Let's try it now!"**

Qin Shu had collected plenty of herbs to help **her second senior brother** complete his sect missions—**10-year, 20-year, 30-year, even 50-year-old herbs** were in her inventory.

**"Senior Sister, let's start with the 10-year-old herbs. Just focus on remembering the feeling of refining them."**

**Cultivators have good memory,** so Qin Shu had faith in her senior sister.

Chi Yu nodded solemnly as **Qin Shu tossed the first herb into the alchemy furnace**.

She immediately **steadied her mind**, and a thread of **pure, blazing fire spiritual energy** poured into the furnace...

---

### **The Art of Experimentation**

Patience was key in the experimental process. **In the cultivation world, time was vague—months or years could pass in the blink of an eye**.

Qin Shu even thought,

*"If only we had a stopwatch, we could refine Senior Sister's alchemy technique so much faster."*

She considered **making a sand timer** to help, but neither of them were **artifact refiners**, nor did they know any disciples from **the Artifact Sect** to craft one for them.

---

### **Hundreds of Trials Later...**

After **over a hundred tests**, Chi Yu's **control over her fire spiritual energy improved significantly**.

Qin Shu handed her another set of herbs.

**"Senior Sister, this time, try it on your own."**

Chi Yu froze. The **fire energy she had just gathered scattered** as she hesitated.

**"Junior Sister, I..."**

Qin Shu **firmly placed the herbs in her hands** and said,

**"Senior Sister, we've already refined over a hundred batches. You can do this."**

Then she smiled and **softened her tone**:

**"And even if you fail, it's just one set of herbs. No big deal!"**

Hearing this, Chi Yu finally **steadied herself**, took a deep breath, and **regained her confidence**.

She glanced at the herb in her hands and could **instantly tell its age**.

With **renewed determination**, she **tossed it into the furnace**.

---

### **Hand Movements Becoming Natural**

She had been nervous before starting.

But once she **got into the flow**, her hands moved **instinctively**.

She refined the herb to the **exact timing she had practiced**, then seamlessly added the next ingredient.

Her movements were **fluid, natural—like flowing water**.

When she finally reached the **pill-condensing step**, she felt an **intuitive certainty**—this batch would succeed.

Taking a deep breath, she **opened her eyes**, exhaling slowly.

**"Senior Sister, open the furnace!"** Qin Shu urged, her own excitement rising.

Chi Yu **nodded sharply**, forming a hand seal.

The **golden lid of the furnace lifted**, and with another **seal**, six **round pills** gently floated out.

A **relieved smile** spread across **Chi Yu's face**, while **Qin Shu practically jumped with excitement**.

**"Senior Sister, we did it!"**

Chi Yu turned to look at **Qin Shu's bright, sparkling eyes**, and for some reason, she **felt a contagious happiness welling up inside her**.

**"Shu'er, I really need to thank you this time."**

Qin Shu **playfully winked**.

**"Senior Sister, we're family! Master said that as fellow disciples, we should always help each other."**

Chi Yu **shook her head slightly**.

**"It's not just that... Every single herb I used today came from you. Tell me how much I owe you, and I'll pay you back."**

---

### **Qin Shu, the Ultimate Opportunist**

Hearing this, **Qin Shu suddenly grinned mischievously**.

**"Senior Sister, now I really need to thank YOU instead!"**

Chi Yu blinked.

**"Thank me? For what?"**

Qin Shu explained,

**"Senior Sister, do you remember how I owed Second Senior Brother 60 years' worth of alchemy tasks?"**

Chi Yu glanced at the **dozens of scattered pill bottles** on the floor and then back at **Qin Shu**.

Her voice was **incredulous**:

**"Junior Sister... are you saying all of these were meant for Second Senior Brother?!"**

Qin Shu beamed, her **eyes narrowing into happy crescents**.

**"That's right! If it weren't for you, I don't know how long it would've taken me to refine all these pills."**

Since she had been refining alone, **her spiritual energy would deplete quickly**, forcing her to **constantly replenish it with pills**.

But with **Chi Yu providing the fire energy**, it was **far less exhausting**.

As they **grew more synchronized**, their **efficiency skyrocketed**.

**And just like that, she'd paid off another YEAR of debt!**

She **couldn't hide her victorious grin**—she looked **exactly like a cat that had just stolen fish**.

Chi Yu saw the **expression on Qin Shu's face** and, instead of getting mad, she **found it rather endearing**.

So, **she also mimicked Qin Shu**, **winking playfully** and said,

**"Junior Sister, that means we're even now."**

---

### **Meanwhile, the Sect Was in Chaos**

What **Qin Shu and Chi Yu didn't know** was that while they were **cooped up refining pills**, **the entire sect had been buzzing with rumors**.

As soon as **Cheng Yan** emerged from his **closed-door cultivation**, he heard whispers in the halls:

**"Did you hear? Chi Yu stormed into Qin Shu's alchemy chamber, and she never came out!"**

**"Wait... what?! They fought?!"**

**Cheng Yan's eyebrows twitched**.

*"I've only been in seclusion for a month, and I've already missed THIS much?"*

He immediately stopped two **junior disciples** who were gossiping.

**"You two—wait a moment."**

The two disciples turned around and, upon **seeing his Inner Sect disciple badge**, their expressions immediately turned **respectful**.

**"Senior Brother!"**

Cheng Yan frowned.

**"What were you just talking about? Chi Yu and Qin Shu got into a fight?"**

The two disciples **glanced at each other**, then **grinned knowingly**.

**"Senior Brother, you like hearing this kind of gossip too? Their story is all over the sect!"**

**"They say Qin Shu caught Second Senior Brother Wen Chi's attention and was personally guided in alchemy. Chi Yu wasn't happy about it, so she stormed over to confront her!"**