Meng Yirou watched as Gu Heng stared at the pill and then at her, feeling so proud she could almost float.

Hmph, dumbfounded, aren't you?

Never seen a nineteen-year-old genius beauty who can refine a Sixth Grade spiritual pill, have you?

No matter if you're a mere mortal or a Hidden World Master, if you have the skills, try refining a Sixth Grade pill at eighteen. Can't do it? Well, sorry, but you'll just have to be amazed by me, the "Divine Medical Saintess"!

However, Meng Yirou noticed that this young man didn't show any signs of ignorance or confusion, indicating he wasn't a mere mortal. Mortals couldn't possibly understand the effects of this pill, while cultivators could sense the immense medicinal power contained within the Soul Separation Pill. Of course, those who frequently deal with treasures of heaven and earth and can refine Seventh, Eighth, or even Ninth Grade spiritual pills, the "Medicine Emperors" and "Medical Sages," wouldn't be so impressed.

They wouldn't care much about a mere Sixth Grade spiritual pill.

Then Gu Heng suddenly asked, "May I know the age of Miss Yirou this year?"

Meng Yirou raised an eyebrow and replied gracefully, "I've lived a little over ten years, just nineteen."

"Oh, very young..."

Gu Heng seemed to have an epiphany, and Meng Yirou felt even prouder, knowing that this person was definitely impressed by her young age and her almost monstrous pill-refining skills!

"Well, I'm still young, and as for refining pills, I still need to..."

Before she could finish, Gu Heng casually placed the jade bottle containing the Sixth Grade Soul Separation Pill on a nearby table and said, "Though this might not be pleasant to hear, I must say, Miss Yirou, your pill-refining skills still lack maturity."

"...What?"

Meng Yirou was stunned, almost thinking she had misheard. "My pill-refining, lacking maturity?"

Gu Heng shook his head, speaking earnestly, "To be honest, this pill isn't very good. In my opinion, its effects are quite average. Of course, I'm not saying your skills are poor. At least you have patience, but your technique needs more practice."

He adopted a mature demeanor, as if an elder giving earnest advice to a younger generation, leaving Bai Fei'er dumbfounded.

The Divine Medical Saintess was indeed a prodigy, but she hadn't expected Senior Gu to have such high standards for "genius."

Clearly, Meng Yirou had never faced such doubt or belittlement. A nineteen-year-old Sixth Grade Alchemist, there wasn't a second one in the world!

Being unique, with a Transcendent Power backing her, shouldn't she be praised to the skies?

"As for pill refining, I won't claim to be an expert, but I do have the right to critique you."

Gu Heng's voice remained calm, as if he were merely lecturing a young girl with some spare money who took up pill refining as a hobby.

He could tell at a glance that this purple "pill" only had some refreshing effects. He even suspected it might be sweet, as Miss Yirou seemed like a young lady with a strong personality who disliked bitterness.

However, the fact that she could refine such a well-shaped and visually appealing pill, regardless of its efficacy, meant she had certainly put in a lot of effort and energy... albeit on its appearance.

But this also showed that Meng Yirou had patience!

After all, in pill refining, the biggest taboo is impatience and recklessness.

Ruining a pill wastes the ingredients, and ultimately, it might ruin one's own skills!

Judging by its appearance, Gu Heng was certain that Miss Yirou had put in effort to refine it. Perhaps she wanted to boast to her friends that she was also an "alchemist"!

In the future, if they had any minor ailments, she could help treat them...

So, he reluctantly offered her some advice.

After all, he was a little senior, wasn't he?

The girl seemed earnest in her learning, though not very skilled. Who knew which master she learned from? That person probably only cared about money and didn't teach this wealthy young lady any real medical skills.

But why hadn't he been invited to teach by wealthy families?

Running this Medicine Hall was barely making ends meet.

So frustrating.

"..."

Meng Yirou was rendered completely speechless by Gu Heng's words, her face alternating between red and white, as if she were performing a drama.

Since she first emerged, she had never been subjected to such humiliation. Even her master had never spoken a word against her. After a moment, she widened her eyes, gritting her teeth, and said angrily, "You... what did you say!?"

Gu Heng smiled and looked up at her, "Bitter medicine is good for you, Miss Yirou. It's beneficial to listen to these words."

Meng Yirou was even more furious, her face flushed with anger. "How dare you speak to me like this? Even my master never—"

"Your master wouldn't scold you, but I'm not your master. Pill refining is not something to be taken lightly. If it's not done well, it shouldn't be glossed over."

Gu Heng knew that Meng Yirou had probably never been reprimanded like this and found it hard to accept.

But he saw potential in her and couldn't bear to give up on advising her.

"Moreover, it seems your master isn't that great. At least in teaching you, I think he hasn't done a good job."

"What, you even think my master... don't you know he is—"

Before she could finish, Gu Heng interrupted her again. "No matter how great he is, if he hasn't taught you well, he hasn't taught you well. Criticism is necessary."

Meng Yirou was utterly dumbfounded.

Since arriving here, she never imagined she would be criticized in her most skilled and monstrous field of pill refining, let alone that he would even dare to criticize the Divine Medical Palace's leader!

The Divine Medical Palace's leader "isn't that great"?

There are fewer than five renowned Ninth Grade Alchemists in the world, and her master is respected by all of them!

And yet, he still received a "not that great" evaluation?

In her anger, Meng Yirou also felt an immense sense of grievance.

Bai Fei'er couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

Hahaha, Senior Gu is truly a character, witnessing the Divine Medical Saintess being lectured like this! It's truly a rare sight.

Meng Yirou glared at Bai Fei'er, gritting her teeth and whispering, "Miss Fei'er, what kind of master did you bring me to see? So arrogant!"

"Criticizing me is one thing, but even my master!"

Honestly, is this really a master?

She felt that this "Senior Gu" seemed a bit excessively ignorant.