Tong Hua worked with complete concentration, following the knowledge in his mind. First, he pitted and sliced the Pecha Berries, gently crushed them in a stone mortar to extract their juice, then peeled the Chesto Berries, keeping only their translucent flesh.
The two fruit pulps sat in separate containers, showing enticing shades of pink and pale purple.
"I'll try extracting the active ingredients separately first," Tong Hua murmured, slowly pouring the Pecha Berry juice into a small glass flask and heating it over an alcohol lamp at a low temperature.
Hattrem watched quietly from the side, her curls swaying slightly. "You finally look like you're taking this a little seriously, hattrem."
As the temperature rose, tiny bubbles began forming in the Pecha Berry juice, and its color gradually faded to transparency.
Tong Hua carefully controlled the heat until the liquid had reduced to a third of its original volume.
A rich, sweet fragrance filled the workshop. He extinguished the flame and poured the Pecha Berry essence, now reduced to a syrup, into a small bottle.
"Next, the Chesto Berries-" Tong Hua turned to the other container and, following the method recorded in the book, soaked the pale purple flesh in Moomoo Milk.
Just as the book described, the Chesto Berry flesh slowly dissolved in the milk, turning the entire cup pale purple.
"Low-temperature extraction. Not bad." Hattrem offered a rare word of praise. "That'll preserve the active ingredient in Chesto Berries that cures sleep, hattrem."
Tong Hua stared intently at the cup of pale purple milk and carefully placed it in a basin of ice water to cool. As its temperature dropped, a thin purple skin gradually formed on the surface.
"Now!"
With a soft cry, he carefully lifted the skin with a specially made strainer and spread it flat