When my Qi had recovered, and my mind and mood were stabilized, I got up and gently stretched my body. Using a water Qi technique, I formed a gigantic ball of water in the air, which I smoothly inserted into the cauldron.
With the cauldron filled with water, I created a strong flame using a considerable amount of Qi and directed it to the bottom of the cauldron. As I had done for the pill, I manipulated the flames slowly, gradually raising the temperature to prepare for the herbs, ensuring they would blend harmoniously into the potion. A key difference between making a potion and a pill is the process of ingredient fusion and mixing. While a pill requires compressing the product with Qi into a round form, a potion is kept in a liquid state, necessitating a well-balanced harmonization of the liquid with a slightly higher amount of Qi.
In comparing pills and potions, a potion is more effective and has a longer shelf life, whereas a pill is quicker to take but has a shorter conservation period.
Regardless, I took some plants, cut them with a small knife, and gently placed them into the cauldron. With the temperature and flames, I made them melt and blend into the liquid. I then carefully used my Qi to mix the plant liquids with the water, while adding other herbs and materials with precision.
Inside the cauldron, the water was swirling, hitting the walls with varying force. New colors were added and mixed with the larger liquid mass. Meanwhile, small threads of Qi, containing both water and fire elements, touched the mixture and began to slowly modify and fuse the liquids. Within this Qi thread, besides the fire and water traces, another type of energy could be seen—a particular energy related to creation, seemingly associated with individuals who followed the path of alchemy.
I continued this tedious but careful process for a few minutes until I took out the most important and crucial herb for this potion, the Thunderstorm Bromeliad. I extracted the beautiful flower with wind element and small lightning bolts that gently passed through my hand and into my body. I placed it at the center of my hand, applying earth element on the right side and thunder element on the left as a preparatory step.
In my left hand, I gathered and combined the lightning, directed by my Qi, while the passive earth element in my right hand subdued and controlled the lightning. I had to perform this process quickly during the alchemy procedure because once I removed the thunder element, the wind element would start to escape, and if it escaped completely, the flower would lose its properties and usefulness.
I ensured that my Qi perception and sensation enveloped the herb well, and when I felt the lightning nearly depleted, I inserted the herb. Quickly, the fire and water Qi entered, and I resumed managing the entire potion production, ensuring there were no issues during the few seconds I had to contain the thunder Qi. Luckily, there was no noticeable damage, and seeing this, I smiled with relief and joy.
Continuing with the next steps, I began to fuse the herb with the entire mixture slowly. Fortunately, the thunder energy was at a level that wouldn't affect the potion. Instead, I decided to manipulate the remaining low amount of thunder Qi to impart a new effect to the potion, inspired by a hidden alchemy recipe within my space. I gently blended the low thunder Qi to merge and hide within the elemental Qi and other properties of the potion.
When I finally finished, the mutated fluffy cloud potion was created. After a brief rest and taking an energy replenishing pill, I used the remaining Qi to bottle the liquid. I ended up with three bottles, all crystal bottles made with appropriate materials and small arrays. The liquids inside had a white and green hue with a slight dark tint in small areas, representing the hidden thunder element within the cloud. This didn't reduce the potion's effect but rather added a special effect to the usual fluffy cloud potion, benefiting the potion's owner or user.
After properly sealing and storing the bottles beside me, I sat down to recover my Qi. A few minutes after I finished the potion, an announcement from one of the supervisors echoed throughout the room: "The time for creation is over. If anyone is still working, their potion and pill will no longer be accepted." Upon hearing this, some students panicked, and a few cauldrons even exploded. Fortunately, the supervisors intervened in time, or the matrix around the area protected them, so the students weren't severely injured, though some were slightly hurt.
I also saw a few who couldn't finish their items yet remained focused and responsible as alchemists. From a distance, I noticed Barney successfully making his potions and happily eating a piece of chicken. A few seconds later, the supervisor's voice returned: "Now, the results will be tested for the potions and their purity levels." As he spoke and clapped his hands, small cute golems entered. I was a bit surprised since golemancy is a rare and interesting profession in this world, and golems are expensive and seldom used. However, here the alchemy teachers used them easily.
One golem stopped in front of me and picked up my potion bottles and pill bottle. I watched the cute, mud-colored golem gather everything and walk away. Several cute golems transported the items to the supervisors and teachers, who had specific tools on stage to verify the potion's effects and purity. I wasn't too worried and closed my eyes again to gather my Qi back into my dantian.
With all the students, it would take some time to test each one and call specific students for results. "Please wait patiently; the results will be out in about 2 hours, with students being called individually. Those who wish may leave, but I advise staying seated and cultivating." The teacher finished speaking, but I was already focused on my cultivation and didn't hear anything else.