For most people, theoretical knowledge and practical application are two completely different things.

Many people can talk a good game, but once it’s time to get their hands dirty, they’re completely lost and don’t know where to start.

Such people often focus on one thing only to forget another.

Compared to most Cultivators who only begin to dabble in the art of Alchemy at Tier One Peak, Fang Yang got a much, much earlier start.

When Fang Yang was only at the middle stage of Tier One, Second Uncle Fang had already helped him with Alchemy, letting him refine the Tier One Gathering Essence Pill on his own.

Although the ultimate goal was to strengthen the Fire Eagle Illusion and thus rapidly advance his cultivation...

...regardless, his proficiency in Alchemy was forged by spending a mountain of Yuan Stones.

His circumstances were something others could hardly imagine.

"Fang Yang, you’re starting the cauldron already? You’re not going to plan it out a bit more?" a Pharmacy Hall elder asked, somewhat surprised.

Fang Yang’s expression was calm. "There’s no need. I’m confident. Elder, please issue the herbs."

Hearing this, the Pharmacy Hall elder gave a helpless little laugh, but still handed a wooden bucket to Fang Yang.

Inside the bucket was a collection of herbs, as well as a sheet of parchment indicating which pill he was to refine.

[Tier One Gathering Essence Pill!]

After Fang Yang took the parchment from the bucket, he stared at the vermilion characters written on it, falling into a long-overdue silence.

Because he had refined this Tier One Gathering Essence Pill countless times. If not a thousand, then at least a hundred!

He had thought he’d already come to terms with the advantages his prominent family background had brought him.

But he never expected that he had still greatly underestimated it!

For the first time, he understood the true value of the Fang Clan’s legacy, passed down through the generations as masters of the medicinal arts.

Absurd. It was simply too absurd.

If the declining Fang Clan was already this impressive, then it went without saying for the other clans.

The name "Golden Clan" seemed to loom larger and larger in Fang Yang’s mind.

"Hooo..."

Fang Yang slowly let out a breath.

He then walked to the easternmost side and selected a relatively intact cyan stove.

BOOM! A blazing flame shot from his hand, and the cyan stove began to heat up and burn.

Flames surged beneath the pill cauldron.

Inside the pill cauldron, the liquid boiled.

Having performed the operation thousands of times, Fang Yang had even developed a degree of muscle memory.

He naturally added the various Spirit Grasses and minced meat, his movements as smooth as flowing water, even possessing a certain pleasing elegance.

"Not bad. Everything is perfect."

A certain Pharmacy Hall elder’s eyes lit up. "Right, the rumors say that the Lifebound Skill cultivated by the Fang Clan all take the form of a Pill Cauldron. They’re born with an affinity for the art of Alchemy. It seems I underestimated Fang Yang."

...

The key to refining a Tier One Gathering Essence Pill is to gather the Primordial Qi from the herbs, lock it in, and compress it into a pill.

And this was a point Fang Yang knew like the back of his hand, having committed it to memory long ago.

’["Thunderous Pill Cauldron," arise!]’ Fang Yang thought, and the Void Acupoint True Essence Sea within him churned.

A wisp of lightning shot from his palm, striking the cyan stove directly.

Immediately, the cyan stove was enveloped in lightning and flames, a truly extraordinary sight.

However, after just a short while, Fang Yang actively dispersed the lightning and flames.

CLANG! The lid of the pill cauldron was opened.

Inside the pill cauldron were perfectly formed, pure white pills.

Upon careful count, all ten pills had formed successfully!

"A genius! A true genius!" That Pharmacy Hall elder couldn’t help but applaud. "A success rate of ten out of ten. That earns a perfect evaluation."

This time, Fang Yang hadn’t even taken half a quarter-hour for the refinement. He was truly leagues ahead.

Just as Chen Ying stepped into the hall and was preparing to light her cauldron, she saw Fang Yang’s departing back.

In that instant, Chen Ying’s mind was thrown into chaos, and she even began to question her life.

’This can’t be real. Even if Fang Yang is better than me, he can’t be *this* much better. Don’t tell me... is that Sen Hui really so incredible?’ Chen Ying’s expression flickered between gloom and uncertainty.

The consequence of her wild thoughts was that she failed to light her fire several times in a row. Only after a frantic struggle did she finally manage to steady herself.

Not long after, Lie Shaolong walked in.

When Lie Shaolong saw no sign of Fang Yang, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran down his spine.

He didn’t think Fang Yang had failed the refinement.

Which meant that Fang Yang had already passed the three assessments and had become a Tier One Alchemy Master.

From now on, Fang Yang could freely accept alchemy missions in the Pharmacy Hall and earn battle merits of all sizes!

’So this is a true prodigy of the Golden Race...’ Lie Shaolong felt his heart sink with despair.

Only then did Lie Shaolong realize that the difference between the Golden Clan and the Silver Tribe was not merely superficial.

A deep sense of loss washed over him, and over every non-Golden Clan examinee who entered after him.

...

「Inside the Pharmacy Hall.」

It was a quaint, cyan-colored palace hall, filled with the scent of medicinal herbs. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Guided by a Pharmacy Hall attendant, Fang Yang slowly stepped inside.

Under the hesitant gazes of several Pharmacy Hall elders, a disciple of the hall recorded Fang Yang’s name into the Changkong Clan’s Pharmacy Hall system.

From this point on, Fang Yang could accept alchemy missions from the Pharmacy Hall and earn battle merits.

Facing the scrutiny of these Pharmacy Hall elders, Fang Yang’s expression remained impassive and calm.

The peers he now measured himself against were few and far between.

Now, his benchmarks were Sen Hui and his ancestor, Fang Nian.

A moment later, after receiving the robes of a Tier One Pill Master, Fang Yang strode away, heading outside.

Only after his figure had vanished did the Pharmacy Hall elders finally break into hushed whispers.

"It hasn’t even been an hour, has it? He’s already passed the Tier One Alchemy Master assessment. Isn’t that too fast?" a hunched-over old woman said, slightly shocked.

A powerfully built, middle-aged man exclaimed in admiration, "As expected of the Fang Clan’s Qilin son! Fang Yang could very well be the next Dao Seed, the next Carp Eagle Saint."

In truth, becoming a mere Tier One Alchemy Master was nothing to be so shocked about.

But considering Fang Yang’s age and his other duties, this achievement as a Tier One Alchemy Master was undoubtedly the finishing touch that made his extraordinary nature even more apparent.

「Elsewhere.」

Fang Yang walked out of the Pharmacy Hall and found the sky clear, the air fresh, and everything in harmony.

He strode toward the carriage flying the great banner of Taiyin.

The people waiting outside were stunned to see Fang Yang emerge first.

"How can it be Fang Yang? What about Chen Ying?"

"There’s no way Chen Ying lost to Fang Yang, right? He’s also been distracted with his combat skills... Don’t tell me he failed?"

"Incredible, truly incredible! An hour—no, it’s barely been half an hour, and Fang Yang has already passed the assessment and become a Tier One Alchemy Master! He’s amazing!"

"..."

He defeated Cyan Aura in combat, proving himself the champion.

His Alchemy skills surpassed Chen Ying’s, leaving her far behind.

At that moment, the crowd suddenly realized that Fang Yang being valued by the Sen Clan was by no means based on his looks alone.

Rather, Fang Yang himself truly possessed the extraordinary talent that the Sen Clan valued!

In the end, many could only stare blankly as Fang Yang boarded his carriage and departed.