Lin Feng examined the medicine cauldron before him and nodded with a sense of accomplishment. The cauldron he had acquired from Liu Xi was a low-level piece of equipment, but it was perfectly suited for his current skills. After all, he was still a novice in alchemy, and while the cauldron was simple, it was enough to help him learn the basics.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng picked up the alchemy manual Liu Xi had given him and leafed through it again, reviewing the techniques required to use the medicine cauldron properly. The book was packed with valuable information, teaching him the intricacies of heating, flame control, and the delicate art of refining medicinal materials. With determination, he memorized every step, replaying it in his mind until he was ready.
Following the manual's instructions, he placed his hand over the cauldron's fire inlet and circulated his energy, or "Dou Qi," down to his palm. As soon as the Dou Qi reached his hand, the cauldron emitted a faint suction, drawing the energy through the fire inlet and into the cauldron.
With a quiet "puff," the cauldron transformed his Dou Qi into a bright red flame. The flame roared to life within the cauldron, churning and flickering wildly. Surprised by the sudden burst of heat, Lin Feng instinctively flinched and nearly withdrew his hand, but he quickly recalled the instructions in the manual. Suppressing his initial panic, he steadied himself, regaining focus.
He stared at the roiling flames, entranced by their intensity, and then closed his eyes to calm his mind. Alchemy, he knew, required patience and unwavering concentration. Gradually, he allowed his powerful soul perception to sweep across his body, searching for a trace of wood energy, the complementary force needed to stabilize the flames.
After nearly ten minutes, Lin Feng finally detected a faint trace of wood energy hidden deep within him. Carefully, he extended a finger and guided a thin stream of green energy toward the cauldron's secondary fire inlet. As the green energy trickled in, the red flames within the cauldron immediately began to calm, as if soothed by the wood energy's gentle touch.
Lin Feng watched in awe as the once turbulent flames settled into a controlled, steady burn. The principle of "wood producing fire" was at work, creating a harmony between the elements. This made the flame more manageable, its heat no longer as fierce or unpredictable as before.
Satisfied with the stability of the flame, Lin Feng set down the manual and picked up a beginner's recipe for a simple healing medicine called "Rejuvenation Powder." Rejuvenation Powder was not a powerful or mainstream remedy, but it was practical; when applied to wounds, it could halt bleeding and prevent infection. The recipe was straightforward, requiring three primary ingredients: 'Rejuvenation Grass', healing plant and cold grass.
Each of these herbs served a specific purpose in the formula. The healing plant promoted blood clotting, the Rejuvenation Grass expedited cell repair, and the cold grass acted as a cooling agent to soothe inflamed tissues. The ingredients were fairly common, so Lin Feng had managed to buy a hundred portions of them at the Miter Auction House for twenty thousand gold coins—enough supplies to practice the formula repeatedly.
With a flick of his wrist, Lin Feng summoned a healing plant herb from his storage ring and tossed it into the cauldron. As soon as the green flower hit the flames, they surged upward, consuming the herb in an instant and reducing it to a handful of black ash, which was quickly expelled by the cauldron's filtration system.
Lin Feng frowned at the failed attempt. He realized the temperature must have been too high, burning the herb before its essence could be extracted. Undeterred, he tried again, this time controlling the flame more carefully. After a few failed attempts and some adjustments, he managed to refine the healing plan into a fine green powder.
Looking at the results, Lin Feng felt a surge of satisfaction. Although his temperature control was still imperfect, he had finally succeeded in extracting the herb's essence. Encouraged, he moved on to refine the Rejuvenation Grass and cold grass, repeating the process until he had a small pile of green powder ready for blending.
After nearly four hours of continuous refinement, Lin Feng's energy reserves were nearly depleted. Exhausted, he sat down on the ground, feeling the toll of his efforts. Alchemy, he now understood, was not an easy endeavor. It demanded immense focus, skill, and stamina, qualities that only improved with relentless practice.
Feeling his dou qi at its limits, Lin Feng closed his eyes and began to meditate, focusing on his cultivation to restore his strength. The quiet practice allowed him to recharge, his dou qi gradually recovering, until the dim cyclone of energy within him grew bright once more. He could feel his body revitalizing, the soreness in his muscles fading, and his strength returning.
After meditating for some time, he opened his eyes and stretched, feeling a newfound energy coursing through him. With renewed determination, he prepared for the next and most difficult stage in alchemy: fusion. This stage required him to combine multiple ingredients at once, each demanding precise control over the flame. Every ingredient in the mixture needed its own unique heat level, and any miscalculation could ruin the formula.
He took a deep breath, igniting the fire with a practiced flick, and began the fusion process. First, he poured the cold grass juice into the cauldron, watching as it sizzled and mingled with the flames. After a few moments, he added the essence of Rejuvenation Grass, allowing the two to blend before adding the healing plant powder. As the flames enveloped the mixture, he carefully increased the heat to encourage the ingredients to merge.
However, just as the fusion seemed to be nearing completion, Lin Feng accidentally raised the temperature a bit too high, and the contents of the cauldron were instantly reduced to black ash. He sighed in disappointment, but he wasn't about to give up. One by one, he went through his ingredients, repeating the fusion process, adjusting the heat and timing with each attempt. After several failures, he finally managed to control the flame at the optimal temperature.
At last, the ingredients merged perfectly, forming a vibrant green liquid. Lin Feng quickly reduced the heat and transferred the liquid into a small jade bottle he had prepared in advance. Looking at the liquid medicine, he felt an immense sense of accomplishment.
Holding the bottle, he couldn't help but smile. "Well, I suppose I can now call myself an alchemist," he thought, a feeling of pride swelling within him. Although there were still minor imperfections in the mixture, this was a significant achievement. He had successfully created a usable medicine—a milestone for any beginner in alchemy.
After a week of dedicated practice, Lin Feng returned to the inn, extending his stay for another month. He knew he needed more resources if he was going to continue refining his craft, so he headed to the Alchemist Guild's trading market, where he could find high-quality medicinal ingredients.
The vendors in the guild's market were different from those outside. Instead of shouting to attract customers, they sat quietly on comfortable chairs, some even brewing tea. These were seasoned traders, and transactions involving vast sums often took place over a few simple words.
Approaching a vendor who appeared well-stocked, Lin Feng inquired about purchasing enough ingredients for thirty hemostatic pills. The vendor, an elderly man with a long, white beard, smiled and assured him that he had more than enough.
After haggling briefly, they settled on an exchange: one of Lin Feng's Qi-restoring Pills for the thirty portions of ingredients. Lin Feng handed over the pill, and the vendor summoned the herbs from his storage ring. Lin Feng inspected the herbs closely and, finding them to his satisfaction, added them to his own storage ring before bowing respectfully and heading back to his rented alchemy room.
Back in the alchemy room, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel grateful for Liu Xi's generosity. Without the resources Liu Xi had provided, his progress would have been far slower, if possible at all. Determined to improve, Lin Feng prepared himself to tackle his most challenging goal yet: refining a genuine first-grade elixir.
He set up the cauldron and skillfully ignited the fire. Throwing in a blood-clotting herb, he began the process. But his first attempt resulted in a dark red pill, not the bright crimson specified in the recipe. Lin Feng examined it closely, realizing that although it had taken on the right shape, its color indicated toxicity.
This failed attempt left him contemplating the complexities of alchemy. Refined pills were far more delicate than liquid medicines, and their requirements for precision and control were far higher. After using up almost all the ingredients in several attempts, Lin Feng stared at the lone successful pill in his hand, feeling the sting of frustration at the wasted herbs.
For a moment, he considered the idea of taking on a master, thinking that such guidance could streamline his progress. But he quickly dismissed the thought. Becoming an apprentice would bind him to his teacher's side, and Lin Feng had bigger plans. He intended to attend Jia Nan Academy in two years, where countless adventures awaited.