Chapter 87: Chapter 83: [Alchemy Room: Level 1]
Wen Lin glanced over and said, "Brother Ji is planning to start with the Hundred Herbs Pill."
"Exactly."
The Hundred Herbs Pill is a Tier One Low Grade elixir, and it’s also a marked item in the alchemy room. Naturally, Ji Yuan wouldn’t aim for something too distant.
"In alchemy, there are three steps: fusion, purification, and pill formation. Which step is troubling you, Brother Ji?"
"Pill formation." Ji Yuan recalled his alchemy process and said in a deep voice, "The previous steps are no problem, but I fail every time at the pill formation stage."
Hearing this, Wen Lin smiled and cupped his hands, "Forgive me for being blunt..."
"Between us, Brother Wen, just speak frankly."
"Then I won’t be polite. In my years of alchemy experience, it seems likely that one of the previous steps might be problematic for you."
"Oh?"
"If there were no problems with the previous steps, the pill formation should be manageable."
"Indeed..."
This explanation makes some sense.
"How about this, if it’s convenient for you, let me observe you crafting a batch of the Hundred Herbs Pill. We can see where the problem lies, how about it?" Wen Lin proposed.
"I couldn’t ask for more."
Ji Yuan had been thinking of getting guidance from an expert, hoping that it would help him master the Hundred Herbs Pill.
Initially, he considered consulting Lame Li, who was also an alchemist, but upon reconsideration, his relationship with Wen Lin’s family was better, so there was no need to look farther.
For crafting a Tier One elixir, using the "Lihuo Spell" to control the flame is sufficient.
Only when crafting Tier Two or higher elixirs is it necessary to invoke the power of earth veins for refinement.
Thus, Ji Yuan began his attempt at home.
According to the "Hundred Herbs Pill Formula," he removed the seeds from the Celestial Spirit Fruit with a Jade Saber, soaked the Nine-Leaf Ganoderma in Rootless Water in advance, and finally ground the Five-Willow Root into fine powder, mixing it with the ash of wick grass.
During this whole process of ingredient preparation, Wen Lin watched silently without speaking.
Once Ji Yuan was done, Wen Lin said, "The ingredient preparation step was done without any issues."
An hour later, after the Nine-Leaf Ganoderma had soaked sufficiently.
Ji Yuan then performed the Lihuo Spell to summon a crimson flame, suspending it beneath the pill furnace.
The first step in alchemy is fusion, where all ingredients are refined into elixir liquid.
Five breaths after summoning the Lihuo Spell, Ji Yuan placed the Celestial Spirit Fruit, Nine-Leaf Ganoderma, and Five-Willow Root mixture into the pill furnace sequentially.
After the ingredients were added, the flame maintained a constant temperature.
This continued for about half an incense stick’s time, at which point all the ingredients turned into elixir liquid.
Ji Yuan wasn’t in a hurry and waited a moment longer until the liquid turned amber before he abruptly increased the infusion of spiritual qi.
The flame, initially the size of a fist, expanded to the size of a human head.
As a wave of heat hit, the elixir liquid inside the furnace began to contract at a visible rate.
Ji Yuan kept track of the timing.
According to the formula, the heating should only last ten breaths.
By the fifth breath, he was already performing the Frost Spell with his other hand.
However, he used very little spiritual qi.
Once ten breaths passed, he withdrew the flame with his left hand and applied the Frost Spell atop the furnace with his right.
This marks the second step of alchemy, purification.
The temperature inside the furnace rapidly cooled, with a layer of blackish-brown impurities quickly congealing on the elixir surface.
After waiting for three breaths, Ji Yuan performed the Lihuo Spell again to reheat the elixir.
And this was the final step of alchemy—pill formation.
With the elixir liquid suspended, Ji Yuan formed the "Pill Formation" hand seal, dividing the elixir liquid into three portions to start forming pills.
But just as the liquid began to take shape into elixir pills, at the most critical moment, they shattered, turning into dregs.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan spread his hands, conceding defeat.
"There you have it."
He smiled wryly.
Wen Lin, who had watched the whole process, sighed in relief and chuckled, "Glad to be of service."
"Did you find the problem?!"
Ji Yuan asked eagerly.
"Yes." Wen Lin nodded and explained, "Actually, the problem Brother Ji encountered is one that many water cultivators also face."
"Oh?"
"During the purification step, since we are water cultivators, and you’re in the late stages of Qi Cultivation, the Frost Spell you cast was likely too strong, causing the temperature inside the furnace to drop too quickly. Some impurities weren’t forced out. Next time you refine, just use a bit less spiritual qi."
"Is that so..."
Ji Yuan nodded with understanding. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
"If Brother Wen has no other engagements, would you mind accompanying me as I try another batch?"
Ji Yuan eagerly retrieved another set of ingredients from his Storage Bag. He had over a dozen sets of these.
"Nothing pressing, so just go ahead." Wen Lin still maintained his cheerful demeanor.
In the following hour or so, Ji Yuan followed the same process but reduced the spiritual qi during purification, weakening the Frost Spell’s effect slightly.
As a result, when performing the Pill Formation hand seal...
Two of the three Hundred Herbs Pills successfully formed, landing in Ji Yuan’s hand.
Wen Lin, seeing this, laughed, "Achieving success and forming two pills at that, it seems Brother Ji’s talent in alchemy might surpass even his talismanic skills."
"It’s all thanks to Brother Wen’s excellent guidance."
Ji Yuan looked at the Hundred Herbs Pills in his hand, feeling quite pleased.
After all, this was his first successful attempt at entry level, resulting in two pills. Perhaps, as Wen Lin said, his talent in the Alchemy Dao might indeed exceed his talent in the Talisman Dao.
After forming the pills, Wen Lin reminded Ji Yuan of various alchemy precautions and common issues encountered on the path of alchemy.
One such common issue was that the pill furnace, due to the sudden temperature drop during purification and the reheating during pill formation, suffered substantial wear and tear.
Inferior quality pill furnaces couldn’t endure prolonged use.
So when cracks begin to appear in a furnace, it must be replaced promptly to prevent an explosion.
The explosion of a pill furnace is very powerful—many alchemists meet their end this way, so it must be approached with extreme caution.
He also encouraged Ji Yuan to visit anytime if he had questions.
Ji Yuan agreed with a smile.
After seeing Wen Lin off, Ji Yuan returned indoors to examine the panel.
Sure enough, after [Alchemy Room] appeared three words.
(Upgradeable)
Given this, Ji Yuan had no hesitation. After all, upgrading the [Alchemy Room] from Level 0 to Level 1 only required the consumption of 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones and a copy of "Basics of the Alchemy Dao."
With a thought, Ji Yuan refreshed the [Alchemy Room] interface.
The building had been upgraded to Level 1.
Immediately following, the panel displayed the requirements and spirit effects for upgrading the [Alchemy Room] to Level 2.