Chapter 24: Slow-Fire Alchemy (Seeking Continued Reads)

He grabbed three sets of Gathering Qi Pill materials, costing a total of twelve Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Adding the expense of purchasing the Pill Formula, Yu Zhangsheng now had only forty-one Low-grade Spirit Stones left in his pouch.

There are many pills that assist Qi Refining Period cultivation; among them, Gathering Spirit Pill, Gathering Qi Pill, and Increasing Spirit Pill are relatively common. Gathering Spirit Pill has the lowest price — a small bottle of six pills costs over a hundred Spirit Coins.

Gathering Qi Pill is its enhanced version; compared to it, the price is higher — a small bottle of six pills can sell for over twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

As for Increasing Spirit Pill, a single pill is worth over a dozen Spirit Stones.

So with three sets of materials, as long as one set succeeds he can earn back the material cost — a profit of over five times! This made Yu Zhangsheng sigh with feeling: Alchemists truly make damn good money.

Of course, if your Alchemy Skill is no good, that is also truly damn burning money.

Without an Alchemy Furnace, go rent one at the Main Peak Lian Lian Dan Tang — three Low-grade Spirit Stones a day. Inside there are Formation Arrays and Earth Fire; when you lack magic power or grow exhausted from alchemy, the Formation Array will automatically activate to stabilize the flame.

Ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators who rent to refine pills exhaust their magic power after two hours; this Formation Array gives them a full second chance to perform, otherwise they would have to find someone else to assist in the refining.

This is also the awkward realm of Qi Refining Period Alchemists.

However, the Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy Skill is different; unlike other Alchemy Skills that emphasize speed and urgency, it has low magic power requirements — just one word: "Slow".

Yu Zhangsheng found the Blue Robe Steward, handed over the Spirit Stones, and entered an Alchemy Room.

The Alchemy Room layout was very ordinary: a pit in the center, a small Formation Array drawn around it, a copper Alchemy Furnace standing inside. From the ash beneath and the faint Medicinal Fragrance inside the furnace, one could tell disciples often used it for alchemy.

Yu Zhangsheng summoned the Chi She Wang and ordered: "Later, if my magic power runs low while I refine pills, you take over and spray a few streaks of flame. Remember not to spray too fiercely — gentle fire only."

"?"

The Chi She Wang stared wide-eyed, as if a question mark were about to pop out on its forehead.

Although it could breathe fire, you're letting a Demonic Beast serve as an alchemy attendant — isn't that a bit inappropriate? Yu Zhangsheng saw its thoughts, stroked its Beast Head, and said.

"It's fine. You're already a mature Chi She Wang; you must learn to assist your Master in refining pills."

"When the refining is done, I'll let you eat two extra pills."

Hearing this, the Chi She Wang became much more interested, raised its head and nodded, then stood guard beside the Alchemy Furnace.

Yu Zhangsheng took out the materials one by one, spread them before the furnace, sat down, and felt some nervousness in his heart.

"No worries, everyone has a first time."

"Even if the pill refining fails, it's only a few Spirit Stones."

He formed a Hand Seal and, using the Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy Skill, sent a streak of flame down beneath the Alchemy Furnace.

"First put in the auxiliary ingredients, slow fire to fuse into Spiritual Liquid."

Yu Zhangsheng swept his single hand; several herbs flew into the furnace. When the fire timing was about right, he put in the main ingredients, covered the furnace lid, closed his eyes, and carefully controlled the flame.

"Slow, the fire must not be rushed."

"Empty yourself, let the medicinal properties of the spirit herbs combine naturally."

To the side, the Chi She Wang stared for three hours until its eyes nearly ached, but the furnace seemed to have no movement at all.

It turned its head to look at its own Master — that appearance of sitting with eyes closed, nurturing his spirit.

Is this refining pills? Could it be he's dozing off!

It lay down bored, its eyes glancing over every now and then, looking once, looking again.

This alchemy is truly slow enough. Another two hours later, Yu Zhangsheng leisurely opened his eyes, formed a Hand Seal and swept; the flame beneath the furnace shifted from Slow Fire into fierce fire.

"Can Tong principle, refine Golden Core, water and fire fumigate through a hundred passes."

"Pill formed!"

As the Hand Seal was withdrawn, the Spiritual Liquid inside the furnace gathered and took shape; a bright light flared in the fierce fire, and dense Spirit Qi rushed toward his face.

"Pop!" The furnace lid flew open, revealing six Gathering Qi Pills inside — each round and plump, with One-Path Pill Pattern! Seeing this scene, Yu Zhangsheng withdrew his magic power, beaming with joy.

"This method is truly formidable; even with my magic power I could refine the whole way through, and the consumption wasn't large — there was fundamentally no fatigue at all!"

With his Familiarity level of Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy Skill and his understanding of Second Rank Alchemy, refining a First Rank Gathering Qi Pill had fundamentally no difficulty — it was just his first time refining, so he was a bit nervous; otherwise the pill quantity could have increased by several more, even reaching the Ten Complete Ten Perfect maximum of ten pills! "Just don't know how the Medicine Effect is."

Yu Zhangsheng took out a prepared Jade Bottle, stored the pills, and looked toward the Chi She Wang at his side.

The Chi She Wang immediately slithered over, blinked its eyes, and opened its mouth wide.

An expression of "hurry up and feed me".

"Eat up. Thanks for standing guard so long."

Yu Zhangsheng smiled and tossed a Gathering Qi Pill into its mouth.

The Chi She Wang swallowed it directly without even chewing. The effect wasn't as refreshing as Increasing Spirit Pill, but it still made it feel a bit more comfortable.

【You successfully fed a Chi She Wang, consumed Gathering Qi Pill*1, gained Reward 18 Essence, trace Magic Power】

This trace was truly trace — incomparable to Increasing Spirit Pill. Yu Zhangsheng felt practically nothing after it entered.

"No wonder the price difference between Gathering Qi Pill and Increasing Spirit Pill is so large. Ordinary Qi Refining Scholars might eat several bottles and still not necessarily raise a single Realm."

Yu Zhangsheng shook his head, somewhat disappointed.

Compared to that, he still preferred the feeling brought by Increasing Quantity Pill — the Magic Power increase is clearly visible.

He didn't even dare imagine what kind of effect the even lower-grade Gathering Spirit Pill has.

After the Chi She Wang finished digesting, Yu Zhangsheng fed it another Gathering Qi Pill — this one was obtained from Luo Lesheng, its quality worse than his own refined ones, lacking even a Pill Pattern, yielding only 12 Essence.

"Continue refining pills. Still have six hours."

Yu Zhangsheng lit the fire and, with full concentration, formed the Hand Seal.

Nine hours later, he had refined the remaining two sets of materials entirely into pills. The Pill Formation rate was absurdly high — partly due to Second Rank Alchemy, partly thanks to the Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy Skill.

After packing everything up, Yu Zhangsheng recalled the Chi She Wang into his Inner Landscape and pushed open the Alchemy Room door.

Outside the door, the Blue Robe Steward saw him, kept a straight face, and said: "You exceeded three hours; I must charge you one extra Spirit Stone."

"Naturally, naturally. Trouble you, Steward." Yu Zhangsheng handed over two Spirit Stones, smiling.

Many Outer Sect Disciples need the Alchemy Rooms. The Blue Robe Steward had only let him, an Outer Disciple, use it for a day because he had received a bribe before. Result: he exceeded three hours — isn't that offending someone?

Fortunately, no Outer Sect Disciples came this morning. The Blue Robe Steward silently accepted the Spirit Stones, his Complexion improved a lot, and he asked.

"How was it? Did you gain anything from your first time refining pills?"

"Sigh, what gain could there be? It all went to feed the alchemy furnace."

Yu Zhangsheng revealed a heartbroken expression and sighed.

"That's normal too. You've only been in contact with alchemy for a month. If you ask me, you should still go listen to more lectures before refining pills. Starting before mastering the art makes it easy to lose your entire savings."

"Last time I wasn't tricking you either. It's just that Gongsun Dan Shi's method is most suitable for you Qi Refining Cultivators. Don't look at how slow his lectures are, but if you can comprehend even a thread of its essence, it's enough to benefit you for the rest of your life." The Blue Robe Steward spoke earnestly.

Yu Zhangsheng hurriedly nodded and smiled: "Gongsun Dan Shi's lectures are too profound. I still want to try more attempts. Only by refining this way can I refine with understanding."

The Blue Robe Steward shook his head and said: "Forget it, go on, go on."

"Anyway you have many spirit stones. If you're willing to refine, then refine."

Yu Zhangsheng left the Lian Lian Dan Tang smiling.

Yet he didn't know that just as his front foot left, Gongsun Yang arrived at the Lian Dan Fang on his back foot.

(Chapter End)