Chapter 33: Purple Cloud Copper Furnace

"Xiangxiang, can you really refine elixirs in an iron pot?"

In a water pavilion at the Tianxiang Pavilion, Gu Caiyi lay on the table, watching Yu Xiang, who was applying makeup in front of her.

Under the delicate, slender fingers of the maid, her already beautiful face became even more dazzling.

Sometimes, she couldn't understand why Yu Xiang, having already become an inner sect disciple of the Hehuan Sect, still insisted on coming to such a filthy place.

Yu Xiang closed her eyes, letting the maid apply the watercolor to her face.

"A pot? If it's an iron pot that has been licked by spirit minerals, then naturally, it can be used to refine elixirs."

"Hmm?"

Gu Caiyi was puzzled and asked doubtfully, "Don't you alchemists all use cauldrons to refine elixirs?"

"Hehe, that is a misunderstanding in your perception."

Yu Xiang chuckled, "The Dao of alchemy is vast and profound. There are many methods of refining, such as water refining, fire refining, blood refining, living refining, and so on."

"And when it comes to alchemy tools, there is an even greater variety."

"Because a cauldron can withstand flames of sufficient intensity, hold more medicinal materials, and at the same time, nourish the elixir after it has formed, locking in more medicinal power, it has become the most mainstream alchemy tool."

"But in reality, pots, furnaces, gui, and pots are all common alchemy tools. I have even heard that there are demonic cultivators who use humans as cauldrons, employing the method of living refining to refine Human Dao Great Elixirs."

Gu Caiyi was left dumbfounded.

She had never imagined that there were so many intricacies to the Dao of alchemy.

And looking at the unspoken meaning in Yu Xiang's words, she feared there was even more to it.

"Then, can the lowest-quality iron pot from the Wanbao Pavilion also be used to refine elixirs?" Gu Caiyi still found it somewhat inconceivable.

Yu Xiang didn't know much about it, "How low-quality is that kind of pot?"

"Miss, that kind of pot only has a trace amount of black iron added to it, barely enough to lock in the spiritual energy that escapes during the steaming of spirit rice. The selling price is one low-grade spirit stone."

The maid nearby answered this question.

"Ah!"

Her small mouth slightly agape, Yu Xiang opened her eyes in surprise.

"With such a tool, I'm afraid one cannot refine good elixirs!"

"Yes, that's why I'm so surprised, and I even suspect that my decades of cultivation life have been spent in vain."

Through the smooth and clear glass mirror, Yu Xiang looked at Gu Caiyi, who was lying on the table in the mirror, feeling somewhat curious.

"The person you mentioned who uses a low-quality spirit iron pot to refine elixirs, wouldn't that be the alchemist neighbor you mentioned last time?"

Gu Caiyi nodded.

Yu Xiang said with a hint of admiration, "A Qi Refining mid-stage cultivator's spiritual power is already limited, and to refine elixirs with a low-quality spirit iron pot containing only a small amount of black iron—your neighbor is either gifted in the Dao of alchemy or has an incredibly solid foundation, knowing the characteristics of medicinal materials perfectly and mastering the heat at every stage."

"Regardless of which one it is, if word got out, they would be an alchemy seed pursued by small families and small factions."

Gu Caiyi was skeptical, "Are they that amazing?"

"Hmm, very amazing." Yu Xiang nodded heavily, and then her face was ruined.

The maid was helpless and could only redo her makeup.

"I spent three years as a fire-watching disciple in the Hehuan Sect's alchemy room, five years as a medicine-dispensing disciple, and then personally refined elixirs for twenty years before laying down a decent foundation. Even then, it was only because I had a certain talent for alchemy that the sect was willing to cultivate me on this path of an alchemist."

It was a bit hard to imagine such a beautiful and quiet woman spending years watching fires and dispensing medicine.

Gu Caiyi just felt that her neighbor seemed really amazing.

At the Qi Refining mid-stage, although he had a storage bag, his living conditions looked very poor, and he had no faction behind him to cultivate him.

Yet, he had managed to hone alchemy skills that ordinary cultivators wouldn't even dare to think of in such difficult circumstances.

"However, Caiyi, there is one thing I think you should warn your neighbor about."

"What?"

"If there are conditions, it's better to change to a good alchemy tool! A low-quality spirit iron pot greatly affects the grade of the elixir after it forms. And it's very easy for the pot to explode; one careless move could lead to serious injury or even death."

Why did the alchemy cauldron become the mainstream alchemy tool?

Besides the various advantages Yu Xiang mentioned earlier, the biggest advantage is safety!

Even if a batch of elixirs is ruined and the earth fire is too strong, the alchemy cauldron is not prone to exploding.

"He's so poor, he probably can't afford any good alchemy tools."

Gu Caiyi curled her lips, then suddenly thought of something.

"Xiangxiang, don't you have an extra alchemy furnace?"

The days of refining Zhongmiao Pills were always dull and boring.

Or rather, any repetitive work would feel similar after doing it for a long time.

But Luo Chen didn't feel that way!

The rise in proficiency and the predictable spirit stone income constantly stimulated him to refine elixirs with perseverance.

And recently, he had added other "entertainment" activities.

Watching a bucket of nearly fifty catties of water fly out of the well at a steady speed, Luo Chen couldn't help but grin and smile proudly.

The Traction Art had reached the minor success stage, and its level had also reached the proficiency level.

The reason he progressed so quickly was that he had drawn inspiration from the scene of Gu Caiyi drawing water at the time.

In fact, there was no need to strictly follow the cultivation method of the Traction Art.

This spell could be fully applied to all aspects of life.

From small things like dressing and sweeping the floor to larger tasks like moving heavy objects, by releasing spiritual power whenever he had nothing to do, the Traction Art naturally became more and more familiar.

With the Traction Art at the proficiency level, he could already easily control that set of Biyu Saber magic tools.

Besides the Traction Art, Luo Chen had recently learned two more spells.

Wind Control Art and Spirit Eye Art.

The former was easy to get started with, which probably had something to do with his near-perfect Xiaoyaoyou; anyway, he got the hang of it in the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

The latter was a bit difficult.

Because it involved the fragile eyes, and the spiritual power was too strong, one could easily become blind if not careful.

So, Luo Chen only controlled his spiritual power to attach to his eyes after the Traction Art was upgraded.

It had to be said that before the spiritual power entered his eyes, Luo Chen had had some expectations.

"In urban novels, this would count as a superpower, right? Having a perspective function would definitely not be excessive!"

However, when Luo Chen opened his eyes to look at the world, he was very disappointed.

There was no perspective.

All there was, was a stinging sensation, like looking at the sun; after looking for a long time, his eyes were very sore.

The drawbacks were significant!

But the reason this spell was listed among the five basic spells that Qi Refining cultivators must know was certainly for a reason.

Spirit Eye Art: observing Qi, inspecting spirits, and seeing through the hidden and evil.

For low-level cultivators, what affects their survival is not a low realm or a lack of a powerful background, but ignorance.

Provoking an enemy who looks ordinary but is actually deep in realm, failing to distinguish the habitat of demonic beasts, or running into ghosts on a night walk—all these can easily cost one their life.

But the Spirit Eye Art can very well avoid these problems.

Although it has limitations, at least it allows cultivators to know who they cannot afford to provoke and which places they cannot go.

Filthy places can be seen through at a glance, and then avoided.

"However, this spell cannot be used indiscriminately. If you happen to look at someone you shouldn't, it will be troublesome if you annoy them."

It's fine for a high-level cultivator to look at a low-level one, but if a low-level cultivator looks at a high-level one, they are very likely to be detected.

Peering is inherently prone to causing misunderstandings.

Of course, the high and low realms mentioned here refer to major realms.

Such as Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment and Core Formation.

Within the same major realm, except for those who cultivate special techniques, one generally cannot detect others peering.

Splash!

A bucket of water was poured into the large water vat under the traction of spiritual power, and Luo Chen activated the Spirit Eye Art, looking inside carefully.

Buddha says that in a single drop of water, there are 48,000 insects.

Modern biology also says there are a large number of microorganisms in water.

Why can't I, a dignified immortal cultivator, see anything?

"This beginner-level Spirit Eye Art is not even as good as a microscope."

Muttering a few words, Luo Chen looked at the thirty jade bottles packed in front of him.

This was the result of his half a month's work; not only were there three pots of finished products, but he had also brushed the proficiency of the Zhongmiao Pills to the proficiency level.

There were still twenty-five portions of the raw materials prepared earlier; if he wanted to finish refining them all, it would take at least nearly a month.

What Luo Chen was considering now was the time to sell the Zhongmiao Pills.

The incident of the Tianxiang Pavilion being exceptionally busy at the beginning of the month, which Gu Caiyi mentioned, made him notice a problem in his sales.

"Selling them at the big market every time can save more time for refining elixirs, but in fact, the money earned will be less."

Elixirs with solid quality are usually not lacking a market.

But if one wants to form a continuous profit, one must keep these elixirs flooding the market, so that consumers can notice them at any time and buy them at any time.

Why are Yangqi Pills so popular among low-level cultivators?

One must know that elixirs that can increase the spiritual power of Qi Refining cultivators are not just Yangqi Pills.

The reason lies in the fact that Yangqi Pills are always available for sale in the Spirit Medicine Pavilion's shop.

They use a huge supply to forcibly squeeze the living space of other similar elixirs.

Currently, there are not many competing products for Zhongmiao Pills, but he should also consider this problem.

Trying his best to increase production, but ensuring that Zhongmiao Pills are always present in the market, is also necessary.

"Decided, I will set up a stall three times a month from now on!"

Two small markets, one big market.

Luo Chen is just one person, unable to be in two places at once, and currently, he can only barely manage to do this.

However, this plan was shaken the next morning.

"First-grade low-grade magic tool, Purple Cloud Copper Furnace?" ===== CHAPTER 34 =====