"Disciple understands." Chen Tu cupped his fists together and replied. His response also helps confirm that he will be taking the assignment seriously.

"Xiao Tu will start paying more attention to his pill refinement after returning and wouldn't disappoint the teacher's expectation," he added.

After saying what he should, Chen Tu excused himself from the workshop by giving a reason he'll have to get back and prepare. And obviously, the eight Grain Pellets were left in the workshop without saying.

That's a must in case the elder changes his mind later. And regardless of how he decides, Chen Tu still has to leave a sample for Elder Wei Xuan to check on them, correct? This means a copy of everything from the ingredient, steps, and final product was left for the elder's inspection.

Chen Tu's activities consisted of eating, sleeping, cultivating, and refining pills for the following days. Thanks to all these tasks in his hand, he hardly reported to the Spiritual Garden to work or assisted Elder Wei Xuan in his pill refining. And to Chen Tu's surprise, his performance improved by leaps and bounds.

From knowing how to refine a pill, he had improved to the point he could succeed in ten out of ten tries on all four base-level medicinal recipes. Of course, he wasn't at the level of Titled Alchemist yet.

After all, Chen Tu's success came from productivity and not quality. He might successfully slash the chances of failure to zero, but that naturally comes with a great setback. For example, the result of his refinement was inconsistent.

At one time, he could refine at least a Two-Star Pill from every pot. But more often, it came with subpar results. There's definitely more to learn before he is qualified enough to be considered by Elder Wei Xuan.

Luckily, Chen Tu's hard work paid off by forming his third Sun and Moon Essence. Added with this droplet, Chen Tu now had the qualification to challenge the fourth level of the Body Tempering Layer.

This development helps prepare Chen Tu for the breakthrough by taking a day off. As soon as the evening was here, Chen Tu immediately melted the three droplets of Sun and Moon Essence through his Spiritual Energy.

The melted essence naturally blended into his body, seeping into all available crevices around his flesh and bones. And before he was mentally prepared, a burst of Spiritual Energy exploded from the inside.

This outburst of energy can naturally blow Chen Tu into a pile of mincemeat. But he lucked out as his physique was powerful enough to withstand the force. Of course, while death is escapable, his internal injury is a different story.

Chen Tu coughed out a mouthful of dark, contaminated blood that blocked several of his blood channels. This is naturally the stubborn impurities that could not be forced out when he breaks through to the third level.

As it was Chen Tu's first time challenging the fourth level, he naturally faced more obstacles this time. After all, the first three levels of Body Tempering focus on the flesh, while the second focuses on the bones.

To allow the Spiritual Qi to be capable of tempering his bone marrows, it is obvious that Chen Tu had to possess a qualified muscle and flesh first.

(Ku - Aargh!!!)

Chen Tu opened his mouth wide and screamed, but it was quiet. After all, he can't be caught wailing like a wild hyena in torture. And at the same time, his entire body was bombarded by Spiritual Energy, starting from his flesh.

Each bombardment is akin to getting whipped to the point that it is enough to tear his flesh apart. But weirdly enough, whenever his muscle and ligament were about to rupture, it would be reinvigorated by a soothing liquid-like substance.

Chen Tu is obviously in great pain but managed to keep his sanity together. At this moment, it was a battle between his tenacity and the Spiritual Energy's ferocity.

Obviously, the nourishment came from the Sun and Moon Essence. And after a few repetitions of the same process, Chen Tu's flesh finally cracked like a maltose candy. His skin's outer layer broke like glass, revealing a smoother layer coming up from the bottom.

Chen Tu appeared healthier, stronger, and had a better complexion after the cracked layer was completely replaced.

Even he could feel that his skin had been replaced and was no different from the resin of a rubber tree. It retains a part of elasticity yet is durable and smooth, like the skin of a newborn.

It was also obvious that Chen Tu was once again taller and fairer. The brownish color of his chestnut-colored hair also appears more mysterious and deeper, like there's a part of profoundness to be seen in him.

If Chen Tu appears childish back then, the current him more closely resembles a young and suave boy. Barely old enough but too good-looking.

But unfortunately, his breakthrough is yet to be over. So far, he had obtained the peak of the third level in Body Tempering and was just a small step away from the fourth. And without external help, it would be difficult for Chen Tu to make this breakthrough happen.

The problem is, from where could Chen Tu get external help?

(The Spiritual Replenishing Pills! I still have these pills in hand!)

Chen Tu immediately thought of them and quickly reached for his nearby drawer. Although it would be considered wasteful, he had no other choice now. And without thinking twice, he devoured the pills like a starving ghost.

By right, only one Spiritual Replenishing Pill shall be taken at a time and refined into the body within an hour. But Chen Tu obviously doesn't have the time and luxury to refine them slowly. As his body could only store four days' worth of Spiritual Energy, won't the ones remaining in his body be wasted if he delayed this any further?

It was a risky bet, whereas Chen Tu currently had no choice.

(Those who dare to die won't die. Those who dare to try would definitely escape dying!)

(Bring it on!)

Tu Chen gritted his teeth tightly and tried to refine the Medicinal Pills as efficiently as possible.