Buzz.
Suddenly, the interior of the medicinal furnace started to vibrate, emitting a series of buzzing noises.
The energy within the furnace also began to become chaotic.
Ethan remained calm and even smiled.
This signaled the formation of the medicinal balls and was the crucial moment for refinement.
His Mental Strength was fully activated, with no reserves left. The flame in his hand suddenly exploded, and an invisible force tightly sealed the entire furnace.
This technique, known as the 'Efficacy Seal Method,' was derived from his memories and was used to prevent explosions.
This technique was very practical. It quickly sealed the Medicinal Energies within the furnace, preventing excessive leakage of Medicinal Energies.
Normal medicinal Magi would do this at the final step to stabilize the medicinal energies when they become chaotic. It would avoid a furnace or medicinal ball explosion and would, thus, decrease the danger associated with refinement.
But using it would also result in the loss of a significant amount of medicinal essence, resulting in an ordinary quality medicinal ball. That was one issue with this amazing method.
But Ethan only needed that level of pill now. He didn't want to be greedy and end up dead because of an exploding furnace before he started his journey towards becoming the Supreme Magus.
Bang!
After Ethan's Mental Strength completely suppressed the furnace, it emitted a muffled noise.
Then, silence fell.
The furnace had now become tranquil.
A second passed.
Ethan took a raspy breath, his body covered in sweat. He also felt somewhat dizzy.
When he regained his composure, he eagerly opened the furnace. His hand trembled as he picked out five perfectly round medicinal balls.
Holding them in his hand, a strong medicinal aroma filled the room.
"Two low-grade medicinal balls and three defective medicinal balls. It's embarrassing to say it out loud," Ethan chuckled. He even felt as if he had lost face—
What?
He blankly stared forward for a bit.
Ethan couldn't help but laugh. Lose face?
It seemed that the Medicinal Magus within him was unduly arrogant.
Kek. Of course, he didn't give a shit about his reputation unless it benefitted him. And in this world, as long as he got so strong the masses could only look up to him, his reputation would follow.
With a smile, he carefully examined the medicinal balls in his hand.
There were two low-grade medicinal balls, perfectly round and emitting a refreshing pill aroma.
Ethan couldn't help but feel delighted inwardly.
One successful medicinal ball could be sold in the imperial capital for, at the very least, ten thousand gold coins.
Even the three trash medicinal balls in his hand were better than the one his mother had bought him, especially since they contained at least thirty percent of the Medicinal Energies.
A medicinal ball that locked in fifty percent of the medicinal essence was considered low-grade, and most medicinal balls fell into this category.
If the Medicinal Energies reached sixty percent, it would be middle-grade. If it reached seventy percent, that would make it a high grade. Eighty percent would make it a top grade, and… ninety percent would make it a peerless grade Medicine.
As for one hundred percent...
Right now, Ethan didn't think too much about it as it was simply too far for his current self.
Some might wonder about the difference between fifty and sixty percent of Medicinal Energies. Was it significant?
Consuming two low-grade medicinal balls would be more effective than one middle-grade, right?
If a Magi heard that question, they'd probably sigh.
Inside a medicinal ball, there were impurities that couldn't be absorbed by the body. These impurities cancel out a portion of the absorbed essence.
Each medicine had its own side effects...
It was difficult to avoid accumulating medicinal toxins during the formation of a medicinal ball.
These toxins, if not consumed frequently, wouldn't have a significant effect. But for magi, medicinal balls were often life-saving measures, and one could consume numerous balls in a lifetime.
When the body's medicinal toxins accumulated to a certain level, it became life-threatening.
Medicinal toxins were challenging to eliminate. They penetrated deep into the flesh, Mana Bones, and even the spirit. However, the higher the grade of the medicinal ball, the fewer toxins it contained.
This was why the medicinal effect of a middle-grade medicinal ball was over ten times greater than that of a low-grade medicinal ball. And the price difference was at least a hundred times greater.
After collecting the five medicinal balls and tidying up the furnace, Ethan couldn't resist his exhaustion any longer and collapsed into a deep sleep.
While dozed off for an unknown amount of time, he felt two hands caressing his cheek and could hear some low-pitched murmurings, but he was too exhausted and incapable of waking up.
Three days had passed when he finally woke up.
His stomach growled with hunger, and he quickly devoured his food before returning to his seclusion. Today, there was something special going on in the city, and he would have to head out soon.
But before that...
Consuming one defective medicinal ball, he used his Mental Strength to guide the energy into the Sole Point on the bottom of his foot, the location of the First Cauldron in the Nine Celestial Cauldron Method.
The First Celestial Cauldron of the Nine Celestial Cauldrons.
BANG!
Ethan's left foot shook as intense energy surged from the Sole Point, causing cracks to appear on the ground.
"Excellent, I've found the meridian channel and the exact position. Now I can truly go for it..."
He took out a low-tier First Cauldron Birthing Medicinal Ball and consumed it, making the pure energy flow into the Sole Point using Mental Energy.
The Sole Point trembled as the Medicinal Energies rushed into it, like a dry riverbed receiving water, convulsing intensely.
BANG!
Ethan's left foot shook as intense energy surged from the Sole Point, causing cracks to appear on the ground.
"Excellent, I've found the meridian channel and its exact position. Now I can truly go for it..."
He took out a low-tier First Cauldron Birthing Medicinal Ball. With a second more preparation, he consumed it.
With focus, he sent all that energy towards his foot using his mental energy.
The Sole Point trembled as the Medicinal Energies rushed in, like a dry riverbed receiving water, convulsing intensely.
BOOM!
A loud noise echoed, and a powerful surge of energy filled Ethan's body from the Sole Point as the origin, and he became rooted in his position.
The room shook, dust fell from the ceiling, and vases fell from their shelves.
The entire room became filled with dust and dirt.
As they settled, it revealed a calm and refined Ethan, his eyes filled with excitement.
He could sense a small, pea-sized point on the bottom of his foot, from which a steady flow of energy flowed into him. The mere feeling made him want to laugh out loud.
The commotion in Ethan's room disturbed the entire manor, and the people there rushed over.
Seeing his mother also coming over, Ethan stood up and went towards her. She looked at him with an agape jaw.
"What are you looking at, sweet lady?" he asked, gently using his hand to close her mouth.
She gulped. "You... Your... looks."
"Your son became too handsome? Irresistible even for his mom?"
She went up and pinched his cheeks. "Who are you flirting with, you little rascal?"
His mother couldn't but yelp at the sense of substance his body had.
His body felt rock hard.
Ethan smiled and pinched her own cheek, which made her smile.
Indeed, his body had changed subtly, and he looked much more well-groomed and handsome.
Others might not notice, but Ethan was sure his mother would.
He took her hand from his face and gave her a look. She was such a gentle soul—he could disappoint anyone else in life but not this woman. He will give her the best life there ever was.
What her husband couldn't give her, as her son, he would.
He would give her the life she deserved instead of this current one.
He gave her hand a warm kiss and she smiled.
"Mom, today is the day that the noble heirs could enter the Imperial Library to study. I have to hurry over. I have some work there..."
She looked at him suspiciously but then nodded.
"Don't come back late. I'll prepare your food."
Nodding, he left behind a group of dumbstruck people and a pile of destroyed ruins as he changed into clean clothes and left directly for the Imperial Library.