Chapter 27:Herbs Knowledge
The morning sun bathed the Eternal Void Lotus Sect in a warm glow as Ling Yue led Bhoumik to the renowned Pill Lotus Peak. The peak stood tall and proud, its base covered in lush greenery with flowers of all colors blooming across its expanse. The fragrance of rare herbs filled the air, a testament to its status as the sect's hub of alchemy.
As they arrived at Gui Xian's courtyard, the air grew even richer with the scent of spiritual plants. Gui Xian herself stood at the center of her neatly arranged workspace, surrounded by cauldrons, herbs, and shelves filled with books and tools. Her long silver hair shimmered as she turned to greet Ling Yue and Bhoumik.
"Senior sister," Gui Xian said, her soft voice carrying a note of curiosity. "What brings you here today?"
Ling Yue motioned toward Bhoumik. "This disciple of mine wishes to learn alchemy. I believe he has potential, but I'll leave it to you to decide."
Gui Xian's sharp eyes studied Bhoumik closely, her gaze lingering on him longer than expected. She thought to herself, His soul power is extraordinary. I noticed it the first time we met, and I've been curious about him ever since.
"I see," Gui Xian finally said, a faint smile on her lips. "Very well, I'll teach him."
The Introduction to Alchemy
Hearing Gui Xian's agreement, Ling Yue gave Bhoumik a short nod. "I leave you in her care, Bhoumik. Learn diligently."
"Yes, Master," Bhoumik said respectfully, watching as Ling Yue's figure disappeared into the distance.
Gui Xian turned to Bhoumik with a calm but commanding presence. "From now on, you should call me Master Xian, as I'll be guiding you in alchemy."
Bhoumik nodded. "Understood, Master Xian."
She folded her arms and began pacing. "Tell me, Bhoumik. What do you think is the most important skill in alchemy?"
Bhoumik scratched the back of his head, thinking for a moment. "Is it… soul power?"
Gui Xian nodded slightly. "Soul power is indeed crucial. But more importantly, an alchemist must have in-depth knowledge of herbs their properties, their uses, and the interactions between them. Without this knowledge, even the strongest soul power is useless."
With a flick of her hand, she summoned a thick manual bound in dark green leather. She handed it to Bhoumik. "This book contains information on hundreds of herbs, including detailed diagrams and descriptions of their properties. Before you even touch a cauldron, you'll need to study this thoroughly."
Bhoumik's eyes widened at the weight and size of the manual. "This is… a lot."
Gui Xian smirked. "I hope you weren't expecting alchemy to be easy. Learn everything in this book. Once you've mastered it, I'll begin teaching you the refining process."
A Warm Interruption
Just as Gui Xian was about to continue, a cheerful voice interrupted them. "Master, I've returned!"
Both turned to see Qing Yan, her radiant smile lighting up the space as she approached. She greeted Gui Xian with a bow and then noticed Bhoumik.
"Bhoumik? What are you doing here?" Qing Yan asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Gui Xian chuckled softly. "He's here to learn alchemy. Since you're here, why don't you show him to his courtyard? He'll need a place to stay while he studies."
"Of course, Master," Qing Yan said, her tone enthusiastic. She turned to Bhoumik. "Follow me. I'll show you around."
A New Space
Qing Yan led Bhoumik through the winding paths of Pill Lotus Peak, the area bustling with activity. Disciples carried baskets of herbs, while others tended to vibrant fields of spiritual plants.
"This peak is beautiful," Bhoumik murmured, taking in the sights and scents.
Qing Yan beamed. "It is, isn't it? The Pill Lotus Peak is one of the most serene places in the sect. You'll grow to love it here."
They finally arrived at a modest courtyard nestled in a quiet corner of the peak. Qing Yan gestured toward the single-story building. "This will be your living quarters. It's simple but comfortable."
Bhoumik entered, noting the clean room with wooden furniture and a small bed tucked in the corner. The courtyard outside had ample space, perfect for quiet study or meditation.
"If you ever have questions about herbs or alchemy, don't hesitate to ask me," Qing Yan offered.
Bhoumik gave a slight nod. "Thank you, Qing Yan."
With a smile, she left him to settle in.
Alone in his new space, Bhoumik sat at the small desk and opened the manual. Inside, he found detailed sketches of herbs accompanied by dense descriptions of their properties and uses.
He began reading, his focus sharp as he absorbed information about various herbs how the Fire Blossom was used to enhance spiritual energy recovery, or how the Jade Leaf neutralized toxins. The more he read, the more he realized the vast depth of knowledge required to master alchemy.
By the time night fell, he had barely made it through half the book. Sighing, he closed the manual and leaned back in his chair. His body was tired, but his mind was restless.
Alchemy is no simple art, he thought, glancing at the manual. But I won't give up.
With that resolve, he crossed his legs and began meditating to clear his mind for the challenges ahead.
The sun rose over the Pill Lotus Peak, casting a golden hue across the sprawling herb gardens. Bhoumik stretched as he stepped out of his courtyard, the thick manual of herbal knowledge tucked under his arm. Determined to master his first step in alchemy, he made his way toward the garden where rows upon rows of herbs flourished under the care of the sect.
As he entered the herb garden, the air was filled with the crisp, earthy scent of fresh plants and spiritual energy. Bhoumik started examining the herbs, comparing them to the diagrams in the manual. But the real-life variations made it challenging.
"Struggling already?" a familiar voice chimed.
Bhoumik turned to see Qing Yan approaching, her elegant robe fluttering lightly in the morning breeze.
"I thought you might need some help," she said with a playful smirk.
"I'm doing fine," Bhoumik replied, his cold demeanor still intact.
Qing Yan arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Let me see," she said, pointing at an herb Bhoumik was examining. "That's not 'Silver Vein Grass.' It's 'Twilight Root.' Look at the subtle purple tint near its base."
Bhoumik frowned. "The diagram in the manual wasn't clear about that."
"Real herbs are never as perfect as the diagrams," Qing Yan replied. "Here, let me show you."
For the next hour, Qing Yan guided Bhoumik through the garden, pointing out subtle differences and teaching him how to identify rare herbs. Despite his initial resistance, Bhoumik found himself appreciating her knowledge.
A Sudden Trap
As they approached a section of rarer herbs, Bhoumik noticed an unusual plant with radiant, glowing petals. It pulsed faintly, exuding a calming aura.
"What's that?" he asked.
Qing Yan's expression turned serious. "That's the 'Moonlight Bloom.' It's valuable, but also heavily protected. You shouldn't—"
Before she could finish, Bhoumik's curiosity got the better of him. He reached toward the plant. A sudden burst of energy erupted from the ground, forming a transparent barrier around the herb.
"Step back!" Qing Yan warned, pulling him away just in time as the barrier crackled with electricity.
"That's a defensive formation!" she said, exasperated. "Did you think the sect wouldn't protect its rarest herbs?"
Bhoumik dusted himself off, his expression a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. "Noted. Don't touch glowing herbs."
Qing Yan sighed but couldn't hide her amusement. "You're lucky the formation wasn't lethal."
The Test
A few days later, Gui Xian summoned Bhoumik to her courtyard. He stood before a table laden with various herbs, each carefully arranged. Gui Xian crossed her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on him.
"You've been studying for a while now. Let's see what you've learned," she said. "Identify these herbs and their properties."
Bhoumik stepped forward, his expression focused.
"This is Spirit Grass," he began, pointing to a pale green herb. "It's used in low-grade recovery pills for stabilizing spiritual energy."
Gui Xian nodded approvingly. "Go on."
"This one is Flame Petal Leaf," Bhoumik continued, gesturing to a vibrant red plant. "It's used to enhance fire-based pills, but it's volatile if not processed correctly."
As he moved down the line, his answers grew more confident. However, he faltered when he reached a pair of intertwined herbs.
"This… I think it's Mist Vine," he said hesitantly, "but the other one…"
"That's the partner herb, Cloudroot," Gui Xian explained. "Together, they're used in calming elixirs. Alone, they're useless."
She smiled faintly. "You've done well for a beginner, but there's always more to learn."
First Attempt at Refining
After the test, Gui Xian led Bhoumik to the alchemy chamber, where a simple cauldron sat atop a glowing formation.
"Today, you'll attempt to refine a basic recovery pill," she said. "Follow my instructions closely."
Bhoumik nodded, his hands steady as he placed the herbs into the cauldron. Gui Xian guided him through the process, explaining how to use spiritual energy to control the flame's intensity and extract the essence of each herb.
At first, Bhoumik struggled to balance the flame. The cauldron either grew too hot, charring the ingredients, or too cold, failing to extract their essence.
"Focus," Gui Xian said, her voice calm but firm. "Alchemy requires precision, patience, and control. It's not just about power."
Bhoumik took a deep breath, calming his mind. He adjusted the flow of spiritual energy, and this time, the mixture inside the cauldron began to stabilize.
"Good," Gui Xian said. "Now compress the essence."
Sweat beaded on Bhoumik's forehead as he followed her instructions. Finally, a small, glowing pill formed in the cauldron.
"You've done it," Gui Xian said, her tone filled with approval.
Bhoumik picked up the pill, examining it closely. It wasn't perfect, but it was his first step into the world of alchemy.