Elder Xiong looked at the transparent glass cup in Zheng Fa's hand. The ice crystals glittering on its walls made it almost impossible for him to look at it directly.
But Zheng Fa's expression was even harder to scrutinize.
"This is Water-Method Alchemy?"
Zhao Jingfan leaned over, curiously studying the glass cup.
Zheng Fa looked at the solution in the cup, his tone cautious. "I don't know much about Water-Method Alchemy. I'm only purifying it."
Whether it was the earlier experimental process—
Or the final medicinal-property tests—
Both had pointed to the same difficulty in pill refinement: the finished pill was not pure enough.
There were only a few chemical methods for purification. Looking back through the previous experiment records, the first thing Zheng Fa thought of was extraction.
Based on his current observations, Zheng Fa had a hypothesis:
Under certain conditions, Frostleaf could form a kind of solvent.
This solvent could dissolve the active ingredients in the Five-Element Orchid, separating them from other impurities.
Then, through certain secret techniques, they could alter the environmental parameters and cause the solvent to crystallize again or turn into powder, thereby obtaining an intermediate product carrying medicinal efficacy.
What filled the beaker now was Frostleaf solution containing dissolved Five-Element Orchid powder.
He was currently observing under precisely what conditions the Five-Element Orchid powder would dissolve most thoroughly.
Zhao Jingfan turned back toward Elder Xiong again, seemingly seeking a definite answer. Elder Xiong despised his lack of tact—if he knew, would he have made such a fool of himself?
He took two steps forward, stared at the Frostleaf solution in the glass cup, and sniffed it. He seemed uncertain, but still gave a slight nod. "It does resemble it somewhat. I once exchanged pointers with an alchemist skilled in Water-Method Alchemy..."
"Though I never