"For your first batch of pills, refine the ' Qi Refining Elixir.' This is the pill used when you Qi Refining Realm; it's considered a true introductory pill, and many alchemists begin their journey with this pill."
"You've already studied the recipe for the Qi Refining Elixir some time ago. It involves eleven kinds of medicinal herbs, and the price isn't too expensive, so it's suitable for you to practice with." Zhou Xuan instructed Zhou Fuling to take out a batch of medicinal herbs for refining the Qi Refining Elixir from the pharmacy in the courtyard and place them all in front of Lu Ming.
" Qi Refining Elixir, huh..."
Lu Ming licked his lips. This was a pill that was a bit more advanced than the Qi Refining Pill, but not as good as the Bone-Tempering Pill. It was suitable for beginners like Lu Mengmeng.
He took a deep breath, reached out and picked up a medicinal herb, then threw it directly into the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace. However, as the flames formed from the Primordial Qi within the furnace swept over it, the herb was instantly burned, and even its medicinal properties were not preserved.
"The fire is too intense. You need to control the temperature and refine the herbs without damaging their medicinal properties," Zhou Xuan instructed.
Zhou Fuling, standing to the side, crossed her arms and teased with a smile, "This technique doesn't seem like that of a genius alchemist."
Ignoring her interference, Lu Ming's expression gradually calmed down. He put another batch of medicinal herbs into the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace. The flames rose, and the herbs tumbled inside, gradually turning yellow and eventually turning into dregs.
This time, however, while the medicinal herbs were burned, some of their medicinal properties were successfully preserved within the flames.
Zhou Xuan nodded slightly, but still said, "The remaining medicinal power is a bit weak; I need to improve my proficiency."
Then Lu Ming began to put other medicinal herbs into the lotus pill furnace one after another. He made some mistakes along the way, but overall it went smoothly, and he gradually became more skilled.
About half an hour later.
Lu Ming finally managed to extract the medicinal power from the various herbs. The fire energy enveloped this medicinal power, swirling and turning in the furnace, displaying a dazzling array of colors.
"The next step is the most important and also the most difficult. Return the alchemy furnace to the Divine Ability Bone, use your Spirit Sense to guide the fire energy, and continuously refine the medicinal power. Follow the steps described in the formula to fuse them one by one. Different medicinal properties will combine and harmonize to form a unified whole. When the medicinal power is perfectly condensed, the pill will take shape," Zhou Xuan said.
Lu Ming dared not be negligent. With a thought, the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace transformed into flames, fell into his palm, and disappeared.
He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, concentrating on manipulating the Primordial Qi within his body to refine pills.
"Fourth Uncle, can he really make it?" Zhou Fuling asked curiously.
Zhou Xuan rolled his eyes at her and said, "How could that be? If alchemy were that easy, would alchemists still be in demand?"
"The internal alchemy step is the most difficult. Although the medicinal materials required for Qi Refining Elixir are not many, the fusion of each medicinal power requires the use of Spirit Sense to control the heat. Its complexity and tediousness are enough to exhaust one's mind, and there is no room for shortcuts."
"When you were refining the ' Qi Refining Elixir,' I remember you failed for half a month in a row, ruining countless medicinal herbs, before you finally succeeded in the first batch, right?"
Zhou Fuling blushed and muttered, "You stingy little thing, why do you remember so clearly?"
"Let's wait and see. Let this kid fail a few times first, dampen his spirits, and let him know that Dao of Alchemy is profound and complex. If he wants to succeed in alchemy, he still needs to hone his skills." Zhou Xuan sat down at the stone table and said leisurely.
Zhou Fuling was also very curious about the result of Lu Ming's first alchemy attempt, so she patiently sat aside and waited with him.
However, while they waited there, they were unaware that a storm was brewing in Lu Ming's heart.
Because after the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace was retracted into the body, it was directly absorbed into the Lotus Mark, and the strands of medicinal power within it flowed back and forth within the Lotus Mark.
Lu Ming activated his Spirit Sense, intending to enter the Lotus Mark to integrate the medicinal power.
Before he could act, the Flame of Life residing within the Fire Lotus Mark was suddenly activated by the Fire Lotus Mark, and emerald flames roared out, directly enveloping the strands of medicinal power.
"Stop it, my medicine is too strong!"
Lu Ming was startled by the sudden change in the Fire Lotus Mark. Just as he was about to stop it, he saw that as the Fire Lotus Mark slowly rotated, the strands of medicinal power began to fuse under the melting of the emerald flames.
What shocked Lu Ming the most was that the fusion of these medicinal powers was quite perfect! There were no mistakes whatsoever!
Because each time the fusion is successful, a drop of medicinal liquid will condense.
In a short while, the medicinal power was completely fused together, turning into drops of medicinal liquid. Then, the emerald flame swept over the medicinal liquid, and the liquid gathered together, gradually transforming into a somewhat irregularly shaped rudimentary pill.
"Holy crap, it's formed a pill?!"
Lu Ming was filled with shock and disbelief. He stared blankly at the somewhat irregular nascent pill, completely dumbfounded.
After studying Dao of Alchemy for some time, he now knows that the most difficult part of the alchemy process is the integration of medicinal power and the formation of the elixir. This is because it requires Spirit Sense to probe into the elixir and control every component of the medicinal power. The complexity of this process is extremely taxing on Spirit Sense and mental strength, which is why the vast majority of alchemists fail at this step.
But what did Lu Ming see now?
The most difficult step—the fusion of medicinal power and the formation of the elixir—was completed automatically by the Fire Lotus Mark before he could even intervene!
Lu Ming felt like he was dreaming.
Although he already knew that the mysterious " Fire Lotus Mark " was incredibly powerful, what he saw before him was still beyond his comprehension.
Learn alchemy? What a load of rubbish!
This Fire Lotus can refine itself!
Lu Ming was still shocked and couldn't calm down for a long time. It wasn't until the Fire Lotus Mark trembled slightly that he came to his senses. He hurriedly circulated his Spirit Sense and entered the Fire Lotus Mark to wrap the nascent pill.
Because the alchemy process is not yet truly complete.
Although the Fire Lotus Mark helped him complete the most difficult step, this was only the initial form of the pill. The final completion of the pill still required him to activate his Dao of Alchemy abilities.
"Fortunately, at least I can demonstrate my usefulness. Otherwise, if the Fire Lotus Mark had done everything, I would feel uneasy." Lu Ming thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile. Then, with a thought, a faint aura slowly rose from the Fire Lotus Mark.
It was the Clear Qi that had been swallowed by the Fire Lotus earlier.
Lu Ming then used his Spirit Sense to activate the Clear Qi, enveloping the nascent pill form, and used the " True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi " Dao of Alchemy technique to refine it in its final stages.
This step also went exceptionally smoothly.
The purpose of the " True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi " is to remove impurities from the nascent form of the elixir and refine its medicinal power to make it more perfect and stabilize its grade. However, the Fire Lotus Mark is too outstanding, and the medicinal power produced by the fusion is no less than that of a master.
Therefore, even though Lu Ming could only barely perform the First Refinement of the " True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi ", as the Clear Qi continued to flow through the nascent pill, the color of the pill began to brighten, and its shape gradually became rounder.
A faint fragrance of cinnamon wafted out from it.
Finally, after another incense stick had burned.
Lu Ming stared blankly at the greenish-blue pill that appeared within the Lotus Mark, lost in thought once more.
"..."
He succeeded in his first attempt at alchemy.
With extremely mixed feelings, Lu Ming opened his eyes.
"How is it?" Zhou Xuan asked with a faint smile, holding the teapot and leisurely pouring tea into the teacup.
Lu Ming remained silent, unsure if his behavior might be intimidating.
Seeing his silence, Zhou Fuling assumed he had failed, so she immediately went up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him, "Oh, junior brother, don't be sad. Everyone fails the first time; it's normal."
Lu Ming let out a long breath. Since he wanted to demonstrate his value to Zhou Xuan and the others, there seemed to be no need to hide it. So he raised his hand, and the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace appeared.
Zhou Xuan and Zhou Fuling looked over, and then, in the next moment, their expressions froze.
Because they saw that inside the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace, a perfectly round, bluish-green pill was spinning around, and wisps of its fragrance were spreading out, lingering around their noses.
Zhou Fuling slowly parted her red lips.
Zhou Xuan's arm, which was pouring tea, froze. The teacup was filled to the brim, and then it overflowed little by little, covering the stone table.