The concocting of the first elixir took thirty attempts. The human blood wasn't good enough material for runes and it was destroyed after few attempts. Runes needed a stronger medium like the blood of a beast with strong vitality. He couldn't hunt one yet, and he decided to ask Reis about it and try to get it.
(I wonder what kind of blood was used to create the runes on the cauldron I had on Earth. Ok let's sell these elixirs.)
He sent Aron to the Reis and asked about any scrolls he could get. He used the hobby as an excuse, and he said that these elixirs were only beginning. Actually, the ingredients for healing elixir were cheap and all of them were common herbs so it would be easy money. The problem was beast's blood. People wouldn't dare go to the forest to hunt. Most of the residents of this city were ordinary mortals without strength but there were few that had enough courage to risk their lives for the money. They were mercenaries and adventures. People crazy enough to go attack the giant monster for riches and fame. Reis posted the notice about a reward for the body of any beast from the forest.
Greed attracted some hot-blooded people, and they went to the forest. Many of them won't come back alive and many of them will come back with empty hands. Neo didn't care about their fate. Only important thing was that one of them come back with the corpse of the beast. It was one of the rules of the universe these people have their own minds and it's their business how they will use their lives.
A two weeks later...
The success rate of a concoction of healing medicine increased and Neo was ready to try the second recipe, but he was annoyed by the constant need of engraving the runes on the cauldron. The elixir became popular in the city. It wasn't cheap nor expensive it had a moderate price and it had great effects. It was considered as extremely useful and the market had a high demand for medicine like this. Neo created a schedule for himself and trained in assassination techniques at morning, from noon to evening he concocted medicine and at night he meditated. Aron wasn't free either he had many tasks to do, and he was studying the alchemy theory that Neo wrote for him. He meditated too because he will be a great aid in concocting medicine in the future. Their schedule was interrupted by someone. It was one of Reis servants.
"Hello, misters. I came to tell you that someone completed the challenge and I brought some knowledge scrolls to you." He was told with sincerity and respect.
"Finally. Tell them to bring the beast carcass here!"
He inspected the scrolls that servant brought. Most of them were related to philosophy and religious staff but there were some of them that aroused his interest. For example, the history of the continent and geographical scroll that had a map included in it.
(Nice. It will be useful. I am really sad that there is so small amount of written knowledge in this city. I hope they will bring me more in the future.)
An hour later.
They brought the carcass to Aron's house. It was something like a boar with many spikes on its body.
(Interesting it's should be good enough to create runes.)
He gathered all blood from the carcass into the container, and he started engraving the runes. He decided to prepare more cauldrons to have some spare ones. Aron made some progress with soul cultivation. He was close reaching 2nd stage of soul embryo. I don't want him to use evil techniques, so I will wait until he reaches 3rd stage by himself.
Next day.
It was time to concoct the Cleansing elixir. This time he was trying to concoct actually one of more useful elixirs for the martial artist. It cleansed the body from impurities. During his previous life, he researched this elixir and it causes small evolution of genes but it's limited too few uses and later it becomes useless. A human body is a strange thing. It has high adaptability and it develops the immunity to substances with every use. There are some exceptions...
(I need to change place because this house is too small for all my experiments and future development. I need something bigger and it's best if it is isolated too. If we make enough money, I will talk with Reis about this.)
He started to concoct the Cleaning Elixir. It was a lot harder than the first elixir and ingredients were more expensive but still in the acceptable range. It wasn't easy but at least runes weren't destroyed every few attempts. Time passed, and he couldn't a success, so he stopped and started meditating. His soul's energy was limited, and he needed to rest. After the third day, he stopped counting the failures.
(I really need to advance my soul cultivation to concoct this medicine?)
The healing elixir's success rate was almost 100% now, but he didn't feel any sense of accomplishment.
(I have to concoct it now. There will be too many problems later.)
He considered going out and hunt some thugs, but he is too weak and it was too risky. The tall man was still there.
It was another day and another attempt to concoct the medicine. This time, the process was smoother than usual.
"The final step! And, and! It's completed hahaha!"
He finally concocted the cleansing medicine for the first time. It wasn't for sale. He needed to clean his body first.
Gulp. He swallowed the container of elixir.
(I forgot about it. I should prepare bathtub with water.)
His entire body became hot and he felt immense pain.
(I NEED TO ENDURE!)
Aron saw him and didn't know what to do. Neo said with weak voice.
"Leeeavee!" Aron knew that he cannot help Neo in any way, so he left him and closed the door of the room.
The first cleansing was always most painful and hard to endure but with pain comes gain. The boy was sitting in cross-legged position for more than hour already. His body was covered in a black substance. It was a mix of blood, sweat, and impurities from his body.
(AHHH. It's more painful than cleansing I did in my previous life.)
This time the process was longer and his body was of a child he didn't put it into the equation. Child's body isn't strong enough to take bear such burden for so long...