The next day, Xiao Yan steeled himself and spent all the savings he had originally set aside for snacks on a secondhand Medicine Cauldron, pitch-black and clearly showing its age, along with some basic medicinal ingredients.
Returning to his shabby little room in the Xiao Clan compound, he shut the door, cutting off the clamor outside. Xiao Yan carefully set the heavy Medicine Cauldron on the floor. A wispy, illusory white figure slowly drifted out of the ring on his finger. It was Yao Lao.
Yao Lao examined the plain, unadorned Medicine Cauldron, then looked at the determination in the boy's eyes and nodded in satisfaction.
"It's time I taught you. The path of alchemy is tedious and arduous. Only those with great perseverance can succeed. Today, I'll teach you the foundation of alchemy: Fire Control..."
Xiao Yan practiced diligently. Once, twice, three times... He stubbornly tried again and again. Before long, a small pile of medicinal herb "corpses" had accumulated in the room, and the air was thick with the bitter smell of failure.
Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, not just from channeling Dou Qi, but also from the exhaustion of intense concentration.
Yao Lao merely watched quietly without interrupting. Only when Xiao Yan failed once more and stopped, panting for breath, did he slowly speak.
"An unsettled, impatient mind is an Alchemist's greatest taboo. You've seen only the outward appearance of my Fire Control, without understanding its inner 'soul.' Close your eyes and extend your soul power into the Medicine Cauldron. 'See,' 'listen,' and feel every groan and every transformation of the medicinal ingredients."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan closed his eyes and, following Yao Lao's guidance, carefully extended his intangible soul perception into the pitch-black Medicine Cauldron.
This time, when he kindled the flame again,