"Amazing." Zhishi Wu thought as he slowly absorbed the contents of the spirit stones which promptly shattered after absorption the process was long and took him nearly a week, although the spiritual energy seemed to sustain him without any need for food whatsoever.
"It's like the Qi itself is a higher form of energy, these spirit stones which are mined are natural reserves which formed after reaching a certain density."
The Qi from the spirit stones had nearly pushed him to the late stage of QI condensation, he could feel that there was a little gap separating him from the peak of what his body could store.
"Since it seems my body has to adapt to the energy physically I might as well take a break from cultivation and look around the sect."
Zhishi Wu left his cave aboad and headed to the alchemist pavilion, formations could wait as the soul foundation pill seemed to be a more urgent issue for him.
As he went through the sect he saw the usual, disciples sparring, playing around and enjoying themselves, it seemed contrary to the cruel cultivation world he had imagined.
"It's too early to judge I need to get a greater sample size before coming to conclusions."
As he was talking to himself he arrived at his destination. The pavilion was unlike other structures within the sects, while the other structures were built with grace and aesthetics in mind the pavilion was built based solely on its functionality alone.
As he was about to walk into the building a smell assailed his nose, it could only be described as a herbal smell that had a mix of sweetness and spice in it.
"Reminds me of the botanical laboratories back on earth." he thought to himself as he walked through the door.
As the door opened before him the sight wasn't exactly what he had expected, the main area within the pavilion was similar to a library, books stacked all around chairs and tables. The end of the main area had a door which seemed to lead into more of a laboratory setting.
As he was about to do what he does best and grab a book something else caught his attention. There was actually a single person that had just exited the laboratory section of the pavilion. When the individual caught sight of Zhishi Wu she rushed over immediately.
She hurriedly bowed before him and spoke.
"Greetings to the Elder Sage. I am the attendant of this pavilion Jia Lin. How may I assist? " her voice slightly trembling.
It seemed like Zhishi Wu thrashing the top disciples of the sect had made him seem somewhat terrifying to the disciples.
"I am a beginner to alchemy, how about you introduce me to the subject?"
She hastily stood up and adjusted the glasses that were about to fall off her face, her face carried a nervous smile and her disheveled black hair didn't really help plead her case as the calm and collected type, although Zhishi Wu wasn't a great judge of age here physically she seemed to be in her 20'S.
"A cultivator with glasses, I was under the impression Body refining would fix such problems?" Zhishi Wu was shocked but didn't say it out loud, he did not want to seem dimwitted in front of a junior.
"I'm sure senior knows but the reason I wear glasses is because I was initially born blind, for those who were blind body refining doesn't perfect eyesight rather it improves it."
"Of course, of course, now what can you tell me about the art of alchemy disciple Jia?"
"Yes of course, if you would follow me."
Zhishi Wu followed Jia Lin and walked to where he thought the laboratory was, in reality it was a garden it was very large and contained what seemed to be a wide variety of herbs and right at the center was a what seemed to be a huge cauldron.
"At its very core Alchemy is just like classic medical brewing that mortals have grasped."
She began to pick various plants and herbs.
"You have a number of ingredients and mix them all together to gain a desired effect."
She threw the collected herbs into the cauldron and fanned the flame that had been burning under it slightly, after that she quickly sat into a lotus position in front of the cauldron and began to focus.
"The only difference is the fact that we must integrate Qi into the medicine so we can gain our desired effect."
Her forehead scrunched up.
Zhishi Wu was surprised, this girl seemed to be very timid outside this room but the moment she entered she was far more assertive and confident. In fact, he even felt a little more attentive than usual.
"The problem isn't directing the Qi, the success or failure is decided about the quality of the flame, the purity of the Qi and your ability to discern how much Qi should be poured into the mixture."
As she said this the cauldron made a slight THUMP! She skillfully removed the lid reveling a little dark looking pill the floated up to meet her palm.
"Tsk." she let out her emotions unknowingly and immediately remedied the frown that had grown across her face.
"This is a mortal grade pill with around 70% Qi efficiency, 67% Flame quality and 86% refinement accuracy."
"I see Zhishi Wu said as he observed the pill in his hand."
The pill truly did seem like just a black pill with not much other information on it physically, however to Zhishi Wu it was much more telling the subtle Qi that was leaking from the pill, the miniscule burn marks and microscopically fractured surface was clear.
"In conclusion to refine pills, you must work on the purity of your own Qi, the Quality of the flame which can be compensated with by a better cauldron and finding the exact amount of Qi required in each recipe."
Jia Lin let out a sigh as she let out the final piece of information she had regarding alchemy.
"Interesting, interesting, so you have to find the perfect ratio of Qi to medicinal herbs to properly refine the pill."
A smile started to form on Zhishi Wu's face, of course his mask didn't let his emotions be shown so clearly.
As the two were focused on the pill a slithering serpent made its way up Zhishi Wu's arm nigh invisible to both of their senses.
Just as Zhishi Wu was about to return the pill the snake quickly shot out from his wrist and swallowed the pill in less than a second and ran back inside Zhishi Wu's robe.
"...." Jia Lin was having trouble figuring out how to address the situation.
"..." Zhsihi Wu was having trouble figuring how he was going to explain this.
"Can I ask what that pill was?" Zhishi Wu had to address this first.
"It wasn't too valuable just a sustenance pill meant to feed disciples."
The seconds passed by far too slowly.
"Can we forget about that pill?" Zhishi Wu asked with a monotone voice.
"Of course." Jia Lin responded immediately.
Zhishi Wu internally sighed.
"As long as the elder memorizes the herbs and their effects, the QI density they have and how they interact with each other, then making pills will be possible."
"Or you can tell me as I work." Zhishi Wu began walking further into the garden.
"..." Jia Lin was speechless.
"Can I ask what the elder means?"
"It means I am about to refine a pill, feel free to provide a recommendation." Zhishi Wu loved books and knowledge, but what he loved more than just books was learning a new skill, especially one that involved this new higher form of energy.
"THIS IS TOO MUCH STRESS FOR A LONER LIKE ME!" Jia Lin thought internally, she felt like crying but she could not deny the elder's request.
"Well then let's make a super drug." Zhishi Wu thought to himself and chuckled.