Yu Changsheng didn’t immediately help the Iron-Feathered Eagle metamorphose.

Because he didn’t have enough essence.

Perhaps it was due to the Iron-Feathered Eagle’s flawed bloodline, or maybe its species’ potential was higher than the Red Snake’s, but its first metamorphosis required 2,680 essence!

You have to understand, whether it was the Red Snake or the Spirit Chickens, one metamorphosis only cost a few hundred essence!

So, metamorphosis was out of the question this month; he’d have to wait until next month. Besides that, Yu Changsheng’s Spirit Stone reserves were also running low. For the sake of the Red Snake King and the others, as well as his own Cultivation speed, he had to keep the supply of Elixirs up.

Of the three sets of materials from before, the first batch yielded six pills, while the second and third yielded eight. This already met the Pill Formula’s standard. To achieve a perfect ten or create Two Pill Patterns, he would need much more practice in Alchemy; it wasn’t something he could achieve in a single leap just by spending essence.

’Spending essence isn’t a cure-all. Even if I grasp the technique, I still have to execute it myself. One tiny mistake in a subtle change, and I won’t be able to refine ten pills.’

’However, my current skill already surpasses most Tier One Alchemists.’

’The rest is just a matter of time.’

Yu Changsheng closed his eyes and began to cultivate while sitting on his bed.

「The next day」

After feeding the Spirit Chickens, he took his Alchemy Materials to the Alchemy Hall. Just as he was about to rent an Alchemy Room from the Blue-robed Steward...

"You’re finally here! Quick, come with me to see Gongsun Alchemist!" The Blue-robed Steward was overjoyed to see him and frantically pulled him inside.

"Gongsun Alchemist, he’s here, he’s here!"

Yu Changsheng was completely bewildered. By the time he reached Gongsun Yang’s classroom, the three Outer Disciples still inside learning Alchemy all turned to look at him.

Gongsun Yang, who had been dozing off, heard the voice and his eyes snapped open. He rose from his rush cushion in pleasant surprise.

"That’s all for today’s lesson. The rest of you are dismissed."

With that said, he eagerly walked over to Yu Changsheng.

"Come, come with this old man."

"Gongsun Alchemist, you were looking for me to..."

Before Yu Changsheng could finish, Gongsun Yang dragged him into a small room in the back, leaving him utterly confused.

The Outer Disciples left behind in the classroom were even more astonished.

"Isn’t that the servant disciple from a month ago?"

"Why is he back?"

"What does Gongsun Alchemist want with him? He even ended the class early! I’ve never heard of such a thing!"

"This old Pill Master is so unreliable. I’m switching to another Pill Master tomorrow, dammit!"

Amidst the clamor of discussion, only Tang Xing stared silently at the retreating figure, his expression exceptionally grim.

A few days ago, he had pestered Gongsun Yang about the matter of becoming a Direct Disciple. Gongsun Yang, who had initially been sincere, had started to become ambiguous.

Since he had already promised to take him as a student, Gongsun Yang couldn’t easily go back on his word. So, after being asked several times, he finally gave Tang Xing the title of Inner Chamber Disciple.

But what he wanted was to be a Direct Disciple, what was an Inner Chamber Disciple? At most, it would only allow him to obtain the subsequent parts of the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique’s Cultivation Technique; it wouldn’t guarantee Gongsun Yang’s wholehearted guidance in Alchemy!

And this change was all because of that servant disciple.

Yu! Chang! Sheng!

Tang Xing clenched his fists. He had a bad feeling that Gongsun Yang had been dragging his feet all this time because he wanted to accept that servant disciple as his Direct Disciple.

’But why? On what grounds?’

Tang Xing couldn’t figure it out, but he could guess from the details of the past few days that it must be related to what happened in the Alchemy Room that day. The most likely possibility was that the other party, like him, had learned the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique, and his talent was a cut above his own.

’But I was here first! I was here first!’ Tang Xing screamed resentfully in his heart.

Yet, he couldn’t show his hostility toward Yu Changsheng. If the other party truly became Gongsun Yang’s Direct Disciple, his status would be higher. In terms of seniority, he would even have to address him as "Senior Brother."

The thought of this made Tang Xing feel as awful as if he’d eaten shit.

「Meanwhile」

Yu Changsheng, who had been pulled into the small room, grew secretly vigilant.

"Sit, sit down in front of me."

"Relax. This old man didn’t bring you here to harm you, but only to confirm a few things."

Gongsun Yang sat on a wooden chair, his face wreathed in a kind and amiable smile.

"What is it that Gongsun Alchemist wishes to ask? This disciple will tell you everything I know." Yu Changsheng sat primly to the side, looked at him, and asked softly.

"Mm, the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique this old man taught a month ago—have you reached the beginner stage with it?"

"No, it must be more than just the beginner stage. Can you tell this old man what level you’ve cultivated to?"

Gongsun Yang stared at him with a fiery gaze, as if unwilling to miss the slightest change in his expression.

Yu Changsheng’s heart leaped in shock, and he was almost frightened by the intensity. But fortunately, his mental fortitude was strong enough that he didn’t reveal any flaws, and he managed a strained smile.

"The Three-coin Fire Refining Technique is so difficult. How could this disciple possibly reach the beginner stage in just one month? Gongsun Alchemist must have misunderstood something."

"No need to play dumb with this old man. Not long after you left the Alchemy Room that day, this old man went in to have a look. I’m certain your Alchemy has already reached the beginner stage."

"You may not believe it, but this old man has been refining with the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique for nearly a hundred years. How could I misjudge? If you want to hide your skill level in the future, you’d better remember to clean the Pill Furnace and the ashes. A Tier Three Alchemist’s eyes are sharper than you can imagine."

Gongsun Yang raised a hand, cutting off Yu Changsheng’s attempt to spin more lies. He continued, "This old man told you, I won’t harm you. On the contrary, the faster you learn, the happier I’ll be."

"So, can you tell me the truth?"

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng secretly regretted his carelessness. He never thought that simply forgetting to clean the Pill Furnace and ashes would expose him.

’Then what I told the Blue-robed Steward about failing the Alchemy—couldn’t he see through that too?’

’No, he’s not a Tier Three Alchemist. Right now, the only one who should know my true level is Gongsun Yang!’

Yu Changsheng stared at Gongsun Yang, saw no malice in his eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing he could no longer hide it, he said.

"It’s not that this disciple deliberately hid it, but I didn’t want to attract too much attention."

"I have now cultivated to the second level and grasped the essence of the Slow Fire."

A brilliant light flared in Gongsun Yang’s eyes. His face flushed with excitement, he said, "Is that true?"

Yu Changsheng nodded.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"To think there’s truly such a prodigy in this world, one who could grasp one of the core essences of the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique in just one month!"

"I want to accept you as my Direct Disciple. Are you willing to take this old man as your master?"

Gongsun Yang had already stood up and walked over to Yu Changsheng. He grasped his hands, his face full of anticipation and joy.

"This old man will definitely pour all my heart and soul into teaching you the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique! I only hope that you will carry this method forward and make it shine, leaving all the Alchemists in the world feeling inadequate and amazed!"

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng was so shocked he trembled and nearly lost his footing and fell to the ground.

’A Tier Three Alchemist wants to take me as his Direct Disciple?’

For others, such a wonderful opportunity would be something they could only dream of. But he felt he was unworthy of such a blessing!

’From Gongsun Yang’s words, if I become his Direct Disciple, I’m afraid I’ll have to inherit the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique and its rivalry with the Alchemy Daos of other Alchemists.’

’And most importantly, to me, the Alchemy Dao is just a supplementary path. The Beast Taming Dao is the foundation of my survival!’

And so, with the expression of a constipated man, Yu Changsheng forcefully bowed his head, cupped his hands, and said, "Please forgive me, Gongsun Alchemist, but this disciple’s heart does not lie with the Alchemy Dao..."