Shu Lan led Qin An to the second cave.

This second cave contains countless alchemy manuals and alchemists' notes. Having just collected countless spiritual plants and herbs from the first cave, Shu Lan was worried that she didn't have suitable alchemy manuals to learn the corresponding alchemy knowledge and refine them into all kinds of pills.

Unexpectedly, someone offered him a pillow when he was just dozing off. Seeing the alchemy books and notes in this cave, Shu Lan was overjoyed. With a wave of his hand, he put all the alchemy books into his storage ring.

Then, Shu Lan couldn't wait to pull Qin An towards the third cave.

The third cave was somewhat empty, with a high platform in the center. On the platform were two things: a pill-making cauldron and a jade slip.

Shu Lan stepped forward and picked up the jade slip. The moment his hand touched the jade slip, it burst forth with a dazzling white light.

Then, the white light coalesced into a human figure.

"It's been a long time since you woke up." The white figure spoke, the voice of a somewhat weathered old man. "You're the first person to arrive here, a truly destined one. I presume you've collected the treasures from those two caves?"

"Greetings, Senior." Shu Lan bowed to the white figure. Having read the original text, he knew that this white figure was none other than the former Medicine Ancestor. His alchemy and pill-refining skills were unparalleled, reaching the highest level in this world, and he was only one step away from ascension. However, due to betrayal by a close friend, he failed at the last moment and died under the heavenly tribulation, leaving only a wisp of his soul to survive in the secret realm.

His illustrious career deserves Shu Lan's respect, especially since he is the master of the alchemist's legacy in this secret realm. Therefore, he deserves Shu Lan's respect.

"Senior, I did indeed collect the treasures from those two caves," Shu Lan said truthfully, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

"Well, the fact that you've made it this far shows that your alchemy talent is extraordinary. I am the Medicine Ancestor, possessing a lineage of alchemists. To prevent this lineage from being lost, I chose to slumber here, waiting for the arrival of a destined person." At this point, the Medicine Ancestor paused, then said with a sigh, "I never expected that after waiting for so many years, I would finally find someone as destined as you."

Shu Lan stood quietly to the side, listening to the Medicine Ancestor's story.

It seemed like it had been a long time since he had spoken to anyone, and the Medicine Ancestor became quite excited, recounting many stories from his past. Shu Lan, however, did not show any impatience, simply listening quietly and occasionally offering a word or two of agreement.

After some time, the Medicine Ancestor realized that he had been talking for a long time. He said to Shu Lan somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, young friend, I haven't spoken so freely in a long time, and I couldn't control myself for a moment."

"It's alright, Senior Medicine Ancestor." Shu Lan didn't take it to heart and instead showed great understanding towards Medicine Ancestor.

"Since you've come this far, young friend, it means you're destined to inherit this alchemy skill. I'm about to begin your test. If you pass, you'll receive the inheritance. If you fail, I'll have to continue my slumber, waiting for the next destined one." The Medicine Ancestor straightened his posture and said somewhat solemnly.

"Young friend, are you ready?"

"Ready!" Shu Lan nodded.

"Alright! Then I'll begin!" After saying that, the Medicine Ancestor waved his hand, and a soft white light enveloped Shu Lan. Then, an invisible force pierced through the white light and formed a protective shield around the entire platform.

The Medicine Ancestor and Shu Lan were inside this protective shield.

Qin An was originally standing on the high platform, but as soon as the protective shield appeared, it immediately ejected him from the barrier. He rushed towards the platform in a hurry, but was blocked by the barrier.

At this moment, as if sensing Qin An's anxious mood, the voice of the Medicine Ancestor came from within the barrier: "Don't worry, this young friend is currently receiving my alchemist inheritance and cannot be disturbed. This barrier will disappear after the inheritance test is over. Now, you just need to wait patiently."

After hearing the Medicine Ancestor's words and seeing that his master indeed seemed unwell, Qin An felt a little relieved. He patiently waited outside the barrier for the Shu Lan inheritance trial to end.

At this moment, after being enveloped by that white light, Shu Lan's consciousness entered a closed space.

Suddenly, all sorts of medicinal herbs and a pill cauldron appeared in the space. Then, the herbs were put into the pill cauldron one by one, and a pill fire rose under the cauldron.

At this moment, the voice of the Medicine Ancestor came in: "Young friend, I am now demonstrating the alchemy process of my unique formula. To date, no one has ever been able to learn it." Hearing this, Shu Lan seemed to sense a little bit of pride in the Medicine Ancestor's heart.

"Now, please watch the entire alchemy process. And you must choose one herb to be the final ingredient in the cauldron. Choose correctly, and you pass the test; choose incorrectly, and you fail. Understand?" The Medicine Ancestor's voice was somewhat serious, causing Shu Lan to unconsciously become serious as well. "Understood, Senior Medicine Ancestor!"

So, Shu Lan watched intently as the entire alchemy process unfolded before him. He watched as the color of the liquid in the cauldron constantly changed, sometimes yellow, sometimes green, sometimes orange…

Finally, the medicinal herbs in the cauldron before them had reached the final stage of refining. The liquid in the cauldron was now blue, emitting a captivating color and an alluring aroma.

A purple pill appeared in the void, and at the same time, the voice of the Medicine Ancestor rang out again: "Young friend, this is the finished product of my alchemy. Now it is your turn to make a choice."

Three medicinal herbs appeared before Shu Lan: a fiery red Flaming Grass, an icy blue Ice Ling Grass, and a yellow Golden Jade Grass.

"Choose a medicinal herb and put it into the cauldron to see if the final pill is the same as the one I made."

Shu Lan looked at the three medicinal herbs in front of her and fell into deep thought.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. The blue liquid, the purple pills... and these three colored herbs—wasn't this the color-mixing game he had played before?

If I'm not mistaken, I can eventually get a purple pill by simply adjusting the liquid to purple.

With that in mind, Shu Lan decisively chose the fiery red Fire Blaze Grass and put it into the alchemy cauldron.

The fiery grass burned into a red medicinal liquid, which merged into the blue medicinal liquid in the cauldron. Instantly, the entire medicinal liquid in the cauldron turned into a mesmerizing purple.

Then, with the final step of refining in the cauldron, a purple pill was born. As soon as the pill was formed, it emitted a wonderfully fragrant aroma.

Looking at the purple pill, the Medicine Ancestor's voice trembled with excitement: "Finally, finally someone has been able to refine the pill I created!"

In the end, the Medicine Ancestor wept with joy, and his emotional voice echoed throughout the space.

Shu Lan stood aside, listening to the Medicine Ancestor's excited voice, and felt extremely embarrassed.