"The so-called alchemy involves extracting the essence of a hundred herbs with fierce fire, supplemented with the roles of monarch, minister, assistant, and courier, and the theory of the Five Elements mutual generation and mutual restraint to blend them into one pill. Therefore, a Pill Master needs to master a wealth of herb knowledge and understand the properties of different materials to mix them accordingly..."
Xie Tianyun explained the so-called alchemy in simple terms, while Zhong Lin listened carefully, constantly comparing it with his previous shortcomings in deciphering the Blood Replenishing Pill, then reflecting upon the newly received elixir recipe.
An epiphany rose in his heart.
Previously, relying on his continuously improving medical skill in Black Mountain County, Zhong Lin had deduced the ingredients of the Blood Replenishing Pill. The reason he had not been successful in crafting it was due to missing the most crucial step.
That’s right, it was all about the order.
Alchemy is not like decocting medicine. It’s not about throwing all the herbs into a pot and boiling them on high heat, but having a different order of addition.
Through the mutual generation and restraint of different herbs and the fusion of various herbal properties, the required elixir can finally be refined.
Zhong Lin stroked his chin, thinking to himself, "No wonder I had deciphered the ingredients of the Blood Replenishing Pill, yet ended up with a lump of black residue. The key lies here."
Seeing Zhong Lin’s thoughtful expression, Xie Tianyun paused his teaching.
"Young Master, do you understand what I explained?"
"I understand a bit. Could Pill Master Xie demonstrate alchemy for me?"
"Alright, then I’ll craft a batch of Blood Replenishing Pills," Xie Tianyun agreed with a nod.
Xie Tianyun instructed a disciple to bring a set of the ingredients for the Blood Replenishing Pill, then sat calmly in front of the pill furnace.
He cleaned the pill furnace, lit a fire, and added the ingredients.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, as if he had done this thousands of times, every step filled with Xie Tianyun’s unique rhythm.
Every change in the pill furnace was anticipated by Xie Tianyun, or rather, it was within his expectations.
"Young Master, there are only a few ingredients for refining the Blood Replenishing Pill, so the changes in properties aren’t many. Mastering these changes means ensuring each batch of pills is successful."
While adding ingredients, he explained to Zhong Lin and revealed several small tricks for crafting the Blood Replenishing Pill.
After about an hour, as the lid of the pill furnace opened, a wisp of medicinal fragrance wafted through the alchemy room.
A self-satisfied smile appeared on Xie Tianyun’s face. He had crafted the Blood Replenishing Pill countless times with very few failures. Just by the fragrance, he could tell this batch of elixirs was not subpar.
The apprentice who was assisting diligently retrieved the pills from the furnace, while Zhong Lin stepped forward eagerly to observe.
There were a total of six Blood Replenishing Pills, identical to those Zhong Lin had purchased from the Black Market in Black Mountain County, but even more lustrous and with a richer fragrance.
Zhong Lin graciously gave a thumbs up, "Marvelous skills, Pill Master Xie."
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, Young Master, but they are just First Grade pills."
Xie Tianyun beamed with a big smile, stroking his beard laughingly.
"May I have a go at it?"
"This... naturally, of course, Huan Yu, fetch three more sets of ingredients for the Blood Replenishing Pill."
Zhong Lin, full of enthusiasm, approached the pill furnace. After the apprentice cleaned the furnace of impurities, he began his first attempt at alchemy.
With Xie Tianyun’s guidance, Zhong Lin added the ingredients in a specific order at different times. His actions were somewhat clumsy, and his techniques rather unfamiliar.
There were even some errors due to the timing of ingredient addition.
After about an hour, with a muffled sound, no elixir fragrance emitted from the furnace. Instead, a puff of black smoke drifted out.
Quickly, Xie Tianyun reassured, "It’s easy to fail in your first alchemy attempt, don’t rush, practice a few more times."
However, Zhong Lin wasn’t downcast due to the failure. Instead, a smile appeared on his face.
His eyes had already shifted to the virtual panel before him, which displayed new changes.
Skills: Heavenly Treasure Pile (Full Level), Golden Muscle and Jade Bone Skill (Full Level)...
Skills: Thousand Mist Swordsmanship (Full Level)...
Miscellaneous: Alchemy: Blood Replenishing Pill (Beginner)...
"I knew it, System, give me a boost."
With an order, infinite skill points poured in, instantly upgrading the Blood Replenishing Pill field to full level. At the same time, a vast stream of information surged into his mind.
In just a moment, Zhong Lin felt like he had been crafting Blood Replenishing Pills for decades, filling his mind with insights about the pill.
Xie Tianyun quickly instructed the apprentice to clean up the pill furnace, preparing to offer encouragement.
As the first herb went into the furnace, Xie Tianyun suddenly noticed a change in Zhong Lin’s demeanor. He was no longer cautious, but rather at ease. Each move carried a special rhythm, and an aura of a Grandmaster naturally emanated from him, a presence he had only seen in Hall Master Yin Daoyan.
"This... this isn’t right!"
Xie Tianyun momentarily forgot to instruct.
As time passed, a faint medicinal fragrance floated from the furnace. After about an hour, as the lid was opened, an even richer fragrance enveloped the alchemy room.
Hurrying forward, Xie Tianyun peeked inside, finding ten Blood Replenishing Pills lying quietly within, each perfectly round and potent.
His right hand trembled, plucking several strands of beard, yet he felt no pain, only a surge of disbelief.
"Ten! There are ten of them, and every single one is top-grade. How... how is this possible?"
Xie Tianyun seriously looked up at Zhong Lin, his first thought was that Zhong Lin was playing a game with him.
But he quickly dismissed that notion.
He was merely a Second Grade Pill Master in the Dan Ding Garden of the Hundred Herbs Hall, whereas this young man was the hall master’s direct disciple. He wasn’t even qualified to be toyed with.
So, does this hall master’s direct disciple truly possess a remarkable alchemical talent?
But this talent is a bit too extraordinary!
After a short while of learning, failing once, he crafted ten Blood Replenishing Pills on his second attempt, each one top-grade.
Bear in mind, in his own thirty years of alchemy, such outstanding results could be counted on one hand.
"You... Young Master, could you refine another batch of Blood Replenishing Pills?"
Suppressing the tremor in his heart, Xie Tianyun asked.
"Alright, let’s do it again."
Zhong Lin was equally eager, even if Xie Tianyun didn’t ask, he was keen to try again.
The Blood Replenishing Pills were extracted, and the apprentice cleaned the furnace.
Lighting the fire, adding the ingredients...
After about an hour, there was another batch of ten Blood Replenishing Pills, each top-grade, lying within.
Taking a deep breath, Xie Tianyun gave Zhong Lin a respectful bow.
"Young Master, today this old man has learned there are always greater powers in the world, and what true genius means."
The apprentices who were assisting all the while looked at Zhong Lin as if seeing an immortal. No wonder he could become the hall master’s direct disciple; compared to the young master, they felt as foolish as pigs.