It was still Alchemy Room A-18.
And still, he was refining Tier One Gathering Essence Pills.
Flames surged beneath the alchemy cauldron.
Inside the cauldron, the liquid boiled.
Under the watchful eyes of Second Uncle Fang and Fang Xuan, an even more majestic Fire Eagle Illusion flew out from Fang Yang's Void Acupoint True Essence Sea. It soared through the air and plunged into the alchemy cauldron, its body merging with the roaring flames.
At that moment, a sharp glint flashed in Second Uncle Fang's eyes. "Tier One High-Level! He's progressing even faster than I imagined!"
Hearing this, his cousin Fang Xuan stared up at Fang Yang in astonishment. 'Seriously, bro? I just managed to condense my first Lifebound Skill, and you're already working on breaking through to Tier One Peak, and even Tier Two?'
"WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH~"
The alchemy cauldron began to vibrate, the tremors growing more and more intense.
Fang Yang paid them no mind, instead continuing with an extremely crucial step: gathering the Primordial Qi from the medicinal herbs, locking it in place, and condensing it into a pill.
Back when he was at the Tier One Mid-Level Realm, performing this step for Fang Yang felt like swimming against a great wave—extremely difficult.
But now at the Tier One High-Level Realm, Fang Yang could clearly feel the difference. He was no longer swimming against a great wave, but against the current of a small river. Although there was still resistance, it was obvious Fang Yang had a much easier time.
The time it takes for half an incense stick to burn passed.
Without needing a reminder from his uncle, Fang Yang had a premonition. He stopped the rising flames and recalled the Fire Eagle Illusion.
The solidity of the Fire Eagle Illusion's wings had increased by a tiny fraction. If calculated as a percentage, it was about 0.05% at most.
To solidify the remaining parts of the wings—that is, to complete the 25% progression from Tier One High-Level to Tier One Peak—Fang Yang would have to repeat the process at least 500 more times!
Although this time, after performing alchemy, his True Essence Sea had only dropped to fifty percent capacity—less consumption than before.
But 500 times was still a monumental number, because the act of alchemy consumed not only True Essence, but mental energy as well!
However, the fact that Fang Yang had stopped the process on his own caused Second Uncle Fang to narrow his eyes slightly.
And when the lid was removed, revealing one perfectly formed, snow-white pill and six shattered failures, Second Uncle Fang's mouth fell slightly agape, as if he hadn't expected this result.
His cousin Fang Xuan, however, exclaimed in shock, "By the Thunder Ancestor, bro, with skills like yours, I bet even Ancestor Fang Nian at the same age would have had to bow down to you..."
"Mind what you say; gods and spirits are all around," Second Uncle Fang chided, rapping Fang Xuan on the head. "Though, it's true that at the same age, Ancestor Fang Nian was indeed slightly less impressive than you are now. But early brilliance doesn't guarantee future greatness. You must still guard against pride and impatience!"
Fang Yang nodded, a pleased expression on his face, but his heart remained as still as an old well.
Alchemy and combat skills were one and the same—merely tools to protect his path.
In that moment, his mind was actually pondering how to quickly recover his True Essence and how he could sneak away during work hours to secretly practice alchemy, all for the sake of advancing his Cultivation Realm.
The barriers between realms were right there. Compared to perfecting his combat system, Fang Yang was more inclined to raise his cultivation first and worry about fighting later.
After all, what he had always sought was the Path of Longevity. That was his true way!
...
Fang Yang wanted a flexible work schedule, to use company time for his own affairs, but the tense and grueling battles forced him to work around the clock, keeping him so busy his feet barely touched the ground.
Soon after, because of his flawless track record, he was promoted straight from the B-Group to the A-Group. This was an exceptional achievement, as the A-Group was generally composed of Tier Two and Tier Three cultivators who possessed healing-related Lifebound Magic.
Fang Yang, however, was the only Alchemist Doctor to enter their ranks with a mere Tier One High-Level cultivation!
Some people even began calling him the "Little Carp Eagle"—a junior Fang Nian—to curry favor with him. The name implied that his skills as an Alchemist Doctor were so extraordinary that he was destined for greatness.
Faced with this situation, Fang Yang's expression remained unchanged.
In truth, it wasn't that his medical skills were so superior, but that the other Alchemist Doctors of his generation tried to save everyone. They couldn't match his focus on efficiency and battle merits!
On this day, Fang Yang was dispatched to Hall A-6 to treat an injured female Array Master.
Suddenly, Fang Yang's eyes narrowed as he gazed toward an injured person in the southeast corner who looked like a mummy.
Zhang Ye!
At this moment, Zhang Ye was lying on a sickbed, resting with his eyes closed. A jade slip was placed on his forehead.
'This guy, even while recovering from his injuries, doesn't forget to study Ancient Scriptures to deepen his foundation!'
Perhaps sensing Fang Yang's scrutiny, Zhang Ye's body trembled as if he had just entered the hunting grounds of a mortal enemy. He snapped his eyes open.
In that instant, the jade slip slid from his head, causing Zhang Le, who was watching over him, to panic. But Zhang Ye paid Zhang Le no mind, his gaze locked directly onto Fang Yang's.
One was like a great eagle spreading its wings to hunt the world, free and exultant.
The other was like a sick crocodile confined to its bed, a tiger in flatlands, utterly down and out.
Although their circumstances were different, their two pairs of cold eyes were so very similar.
'Dead fish. Sick as an old dog, yet he still dares to put on airs in front of me. How ridiculously overconfident,' Fang Yang sneered inwardly, a cold smile on his lips.
'Stupid bird. Dressed up like a chrysanthemum, trying to attract bees and butterflies. All show and no substance,' Zhang Ye thought, his gaze profound.
As if by unspoken agreement, their gazes broke at the same time. In each of their hearts, the weight of their rivalry grew a little heavier.
Fang Yang understood a certain principle very well: when dealing with an enemy, you should scorn them strategically but respect them tactically.
That was why he never underestimated Zhang Ye. But he never would have imagined that this guy, Zhang Ye, understood a similar principle!
For the time being, however, Fang Yang still held the lead, because Zhang Ye's condition was just too pathetic. This was especially true when the two of them were in the same place; the contrast made Zhang Ye seem all the more desolate.
The silent contest between Fang Yang and Zhang Ye drew a crowd of onlookers. Or rather, many people had been eagerly awaiting their meeting.
The Fang-Zhang rivalry was one of the few sources of entertainment these days; it was practically becoming a classic!
In the distance, Hong Qishang was lost in thought, instantly recalling the intelligence he had gathered on Fang Yang.
He murmured to himself:
'Zhang Ye's fortune was already impressive, but compared to Fang Yang, he still falls short. I knew Fang Yang was extraordinary. Indeed, my decision to get on his good side was the right one.
But I can't get too close. If even Zhang Ye can't stand up to him, it'll be even harder for me. It's best to just maintain a friendly relationship.'
...
In the current struggle between Fang Yang and Zhang Ye, Zhang Ye had stagnated while Fang Yang was advancing by leaps and bounds.
Soon, the gap between the two became apparent.
His cousin Fang Xuan used his battle merits to exchange for a Thunder Bomb Talisman, hoping to stabilize his Lifebound Magic. For this purpose, he made a special trip to the Battle Merits Battalion.
When he returned, he excitedly told Fang Yang:
Fang Yang's accumulated battle merits had now surpassed Zhang Ye's, and he was far, far ahead!
Most importantly, the prevailing opinion was no longer that Zhang Ye's reputation overshadowed Fang Yang's, but that Fang Yang now held a firm upper hand over Zhang Ye!
"Once I've beaten him down, he, Zhang Ye, will be kept under my thumb for the rest of his life!" Fang Yang declared, his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor calm and composed.
This wasn't just because of the 'Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune' orb of light in his mind, but also because of his own relentless efforts!