Grade One

According to Basics of Alchemy, during refinement, the purity of the Medicinal Essence extracted from medicinal ingredients was divided into grades. Generally, an Alchemist Apprentice was only considered qualified if they could bring that purity to sixty percent.

Because only when the purity of the Medicinal Essence reached sixty percent or higher could one ensure that the pill being refined would barely achieve the medicinal effect of a ranked pill.

And in the pill formula for Blood Coagulation Powder, there were detailed descriptions of the various purity levels of the three medicinal ingredients, with the lowest at sixty percent and the highest at ninety percent.

Xiao Bai discovered that the description of Purple Yang Fruit at ninety percent purity was also somewhat different from the pale purple powder now in his hand.

Purple Yang Fruit at ninety percent purity: the powder as a whole was light purple, and the portion of powder with a deeper purple color must not exceed ten percent.

Yet the pale purple powder in Xiao Bai's hand was completely uniform in color. It did not look at all as if it contained the darker-colored portion mentioned in the description.

Moreover, the powder was crystal clear. Looking closely, there was even a faint trace of green within it, so pale it was almost invisible.

"I wonder whether this mutated thing I refined will affect the final Blood Coagulation Powder or not. I suppose there shouldn't be any problems!"

Xiao Bai silently decided in his heart that after he refined the pill, he absolutely had to find a few lab mice for clinical trials.

Otherwise, even if this thing had been refined by his own hands, he would not dare toss it into his own mouth. Who knew whether some strange, bizarre medicinal effect might appear?

If he ended up getting screwed over by a pill he had refined himself, wouldn't that become proper dark history, the kind that could never be washed clean for a lifetime?

Setting aside his thoughts, Xiao Bai looked at the cave entrance and discovered that it was already the early morning of the second day. He had not expected time to pass so quickly; in the blink of an eye, ten-odd double-hours had gone by.

He did not plan to leave. When he came this time, his Storage Ring had been loaded with enough water and food.

Within three months, he would not leave this cave unless he succeeded.

After resting for a while and eating something, Xiao Bai immediately began preparing to extract the Medicinal Essence of the Blood Coagulation Grass and Jade Flower without pause.

However, in the subsequent refining process, Xiao Bai discovered that the purification method for Purple Yang Fruit could not be directly used on Blood Coagulation Grass and Jade Flower.

Each medicinal ingredient had different medicinal properties, so the extraction method also had to be adjusted accordingly.

Purple Yang Fruit was hot in nature, Jade Flower was cold in nature, and Blood Coagulation Grass had mild medicinal properties. Each one required attempt after attempt.

During this process, Xiao Bai also gained some understanding of medicinal properties and pharmacology, especially as he slowly adapted within his own special alchemy method.

Because no one could directly guide him in his method. Other people's methods could at most serve as references.

In the end, Xiao Bai finally extracted the Medicinal Essence of the Blood Coagulation Grass and Jade Flower. Looking at the two types of powder before him, both of which were also greatly different from the descriptions on the pill formula, Xiao Bai was a little speechless.

He wouldn't become "Bai Xiaochun," would he?

Xiao Bai shook his head. Next came the fusion of the Medicinal Essences. According to the pill formula, he first had to fuse the Medicinal Essences of the Purple Yang Fruit and Jade Flower.

Then, at the exact instant of fusion, he had to toss the Blood Coagulation Grass essence into the cauldron, neutralizing the two cold and hot medicinal properties and successfully condensing them into medicine.

Following the procedure, Xiao Bai first threw the two powders into the cauldron and began fusing them. But before long, he felt the resistance of the Medicinal Essences' fusion grow greater and greater.

Suddenly, Xiao Bai's expression changed.

Bang!

A soft sound rang out, and then black smoke drifted from the Medicine Cauldron.

Expressionless, Xiao Bai lifted the cauldron lid and casually waved his hand, sweeping away all the residue inside the Pill Furnace.

Fortunately, there was no magic core this time. Otherwise, the commotion would not have been like this. And he did not know whether this cauldron could withstand a magic core's explosion. If it could not, he would have to wait another few days again.

As for failure, Xiao Bai was not disheartened. It had been within his expectations. If he could refine a pill on the very first attempt, how were all those alchemists on the continent supposed to live?

Thinking of this, Xiao Bai began to recall the process of his failure.

It had been fine at first, but when the medicinal ingredients fused, he had felt the resistance grow greater and greater. It should be that the balance between the medicinal properties and the flame was still insufficient.

Xiao Bai took out the pill formula and found the few medicinal ingredients used in it, then began to look through them carefully.

"Purple Yang Fruit, hot in nature. After extraction, its activity rises. Jade Flower, cold in nature. After extraction, its activity falls, making it difficult for them to merge. Meanwhile, Blood Coagulation Grass has a harmonizing effect."

It should not be an issue with the proportions.

Purple Yang Fruit had high activity, so the temperature should be lowered. Jade Flower had low activity, so the flame temperature should be raised. The timing for the Blood Coagulation Grass's harmonizing effect also needed attention.

After identifying the various reasons, Xiao Bai recorded them with a brush.

Refining pills was a complicated process, and this was even a new method of pill refining, unique across the Dou Qi Continent. Xiao Bai could only explore and summarize it bit by bit.

When it came to cultivation, Xiao Bai never lacked patience.

After finishing his summary, Xiao Bai began extracting medicinal ingredients again. This time, he planned to extract a large amount of Medicinal Essence from the ingredients and make thorough preparations.

The sun rose and the moon set. Ten days passed, and by now, only a few dozen portions of medicinal ingredients remained beside Xiao Bai. The rest had all been extracted into Medicinal Essence.

With the experience of his first success, Xiao Bai extracted much faster this time.

This time, he had extracted one hundred portions of each medicinal ingredient. He refused to believe that with one hundred portions, he could not even achieve a one-percent success rate.

After preparing all of these, Xiao Bai stood up and relaxed for a while. Now, just looking at those three medicinal ingredients made him feel the urge to vomit. Ten days of nonstop refining had truly left his entire being numb.

He had directly transformed into a heartless Medicinal Essence extraction machine. Now, he could pat his chest and guarantee that he could purify these three medicinal ingredients even with his eyes closed.

After relaxing, Xiao Bai sat cross-legged before the Ebony Cauldron and took a deep breath. Success or failure would be decided in this one attempt.

He threw the two Medicinal Essences into the cauldron, and soon arrived at the crucial stage of fusion. Based on the experience he had summarized, Xiao Bai carefully controlled the Bing Fire flame. Different medicinal ingredients required different temperatures. Fortunately, Xiao Bai's soul was powerful, so controlling it was not difficult.

The first time, failure.

The second time, failure.

On the thirty-sixth attempt, thanks to his earlier experience, the Medicinal Essence of the Purple Yang Fruit and Jade Flower finally began to show signs of merging. Seizing the moment, Xiao Bai hurriedly added the refined liquid essence of the Blood Coagulation Grass into the Medicine Cauldron, using it to catalyze the fusion of the other two medicinal ingredients.

As time slowly passed, the three medicinal ingredients finally merged together, and the resistance did not increase like it had last time.

Xiao Bai knew he was close to succeeding, but the closer he got to the end, the more careful he had to be.

At last, a small clump of viscous purplish-red medicinal liquid appeared inside the Medicine Cauldron. Xiao Bai knew it was time to condense the pill. Following the method recorded in the pill formula, he continuously formed hand seals, and the clump of medicinal liquid in the Medicine Cauldron became perfectly round, spinning rapidly as it gradually changed from liquid to solid.

Finally, only a single round purplish-red pill remained inside the Medicine Cauldron, bobbing in the Bing Fire flame.

Xiao Bai waved his hand and opened the Medicine Cauldron's lid. A pill flew out and appeared in his hand. He looked at the first pill he had ever successfully refined—Blood Coagulation Powder.

Though he did not know who had named it—clearly it was a pill, yet they called it a powder—but whatever. Xiao Bai was now filled with a sense of accomplishment.

He had finally become an alchemist, a First Grade Alchemist.

After playing with it for a while, Xiao Bai placed the Blood Coagulation Powder into a Jade Bottle he had prepared in advance. Although it was only a first-grade pill, it held great commemorative meaning.