His first attempt at refining Qi-Gathering Pills ended just as expected.
A slight miscalculation in controlling the earthfire instantly charred the spirit herbs in the furnace, reducing them to a heap of refuse.
Li Qingshan remained calm, not the least bit discouraged.
He carefully recalled every step he had just taken, sensing the subtle changes in the earthfire's temperature and reflecting on where his technique had been clumsy.
The essential teachings of the Pill Cauldron Scripture flowed through his mind, corroborated by the lessons of this failure.
He cleaned the pill furnace, lit the fire again, and added a second batch of ingredients.
Failure, reflection, another attempt.
He spent the entire day using up ten batches of ingredients for Qi-Gathering Pills, yet not a single one succeeded. But instead of looking dejected, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
With each failure, he gained a deeper understanding of controlling the heat and blending the medicinal properties.
Night fell. Rather than continue refining pills, he sat cross-legged in meditation, repeatedly going over the alchemy process in his mind until his experience became instinct.
At dawn the next day, he immediately checked the changes inside the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd.
Three hundred second-tier low-grade spirit talismans now concealed a radiant glow, their patterns incomparably more intricate and profound. The spiritual pressure emanating from every one of them had risen to the second-tier supreme grade!
The Blazing Sun Blade Talisman Treasure had undergone an even more dramatic transformation.
The small, pale-gold blade that had once been covered in cracks now gleamed brilliantly, as if forged from pure gold. Scorching flame patterns flowed across its blade, and it radiated a mighty, heart-stirring power.
Not only had it been completely repaired, its quality had leapt to the third-tier upper grade!
The power within it was boundless, enough to