Chapter 193

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Beneath the Starfall Secret Gold Cauldron, orange mundane fire burned fiercely.

As the temperature inside the cauldron gradually rose, changes appeared on the surface.

Among the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, the Wei Fire Tiger, Shi Fire Pig, Zi Fire Monkey, and Yi Fire Snake all lit up one after another, resonating from afar at the four positions of the gold cauldron.

Each time a mansion representing fire lit up, it signified the temperature rising by one tier.

All four lit up, indicating that pill refinement could begin.

Xu Zhangqing seized the right moment and tossed the purchased high-quality iron sand into it; a "sizzling" sound immediately rang out from inside.

The iron sand bounced back and forth inside, looking like ants struggling in a hot pan.

But under the high-temperature forging, vitality began to drain away, then it decomposed bit by bit; the pure parts remained, the impure parts oxidized directly.

Before long, it turned from silver-gray to reddish-brown.

This step is called "Subduing Fire".

It is specially used to temper metal, strip away impurities, and remove toxicity.

After another while, seeing it was about done, Xu Zhangqing scooped in with a wooden spoon as long as his arm, took out the reddish-brown iron sand that had shrunk by half, and placed it into the prepared mortar and pestle nearby.

Taking advantage of the temperature not having dropped yet, he threw in several stalks of Red Flame Grass.

Sizzling sounds rang out in succession.

A wisp of red flame even emerged.

Seeing this situation, Xu Zhangqing's heart was calm; he had not the slightest reaction.

Currently, all changes were normal, without any surprise.

He watched with his own eyes as the Red Flame Grass burned bit by bit into ash, then picked up the Green Wood Vine that had already been washed clean and even stripped of its outer skin, snapped it into several sections by hand, and tossed them in one by one.

At this time, the temperature inside the cauldron had already become very high with the addition of the iron sand and Red Flame Grass.

The moment the Green Wood Vine entered, its surface began to scorch and crisp, and a small amount of juice was forcibly decocted out.

But accumulating little by little, the quantity increased bit by bit with the passage of time.

Waiting until it had thoroughly turned into green slurry, he immediately poured in the slightly cold Cold Pool Water.

With a hiss, the contents inside produced a violent reaction, and a puff of white hot steam sprayed out.

The Red Flame Grass ash, the Green Wood Vine juice, thoroughly fused with the Cold Pool Water.

In an instant it turned turbid, giving off a pungent fishy smell.

Xu Zhangqing seemed not to smell it; expressionless, he tossed in his own top-grade Spirit Rice, quite a large quantity, at least a handful.

Then, he took the wooden spoon and began stirring clockwise.

One circle after another, he stopped after seventy-seven forty-nine circles.

At this time, with the constant stirring, the liquid inside was no longer as turbid as before.

Especially that fishy smell, it was as if it had disappeared, never appearing again.

Xu Zhangqing walked to the side, took the iron sand that had already cooled in the mortar and pestle, pounded it into fine powder with the pestle strike by strike, then poured it all into the gold cauldron.

Gurgle~

Gurgle gurgle~

The reaction was still quite intense, bubbles continuously emerging.

The temperature seemed to have risen another notch in an instant.

Xu Zhangqing picked up the wooden spoon again, this time stirring counterclockwise, a full ninety-nine eighty-one circles.

The internal liquid, sometimes clear, sometimes turbid, kept changing.

As if the contents inside were constantly rising and falling, looking slightly bizarre.

As the stirring ended, the Wei Fire Tiger, Shi Fire Pig, Zi Fire Monkey around the gold cauldron dimmed, only the Yi Fire Snake did not; simultaneously the Jiao Wood Flood Dragon, Lou Gold Dog, Shen Water Ape lit up in succession.

This situation signified the internal temperature had reached a threshold, indicating it had stabilized.

Xu Zhangqing exhaled: "First time truly refining pills, the heart indeed has some nervousness; fortunately I've already reached Miao Shou Level, impossible to make a mistake."

The liquid mixed with iron sand, Cold Pool Water, Green Wood Vine, and Red Flame Grass, with the passage of time, oxidized, evaporated, and diminished bit by bit.

However, this is an inevitable situation.

Signifying that the impurities inside are further removed.

What remains will be the essence of essences.

At the previous Pill Appraisal Meeting, Xu Zhangqing personally witnessed how Fang Xiaozǐ refined a top-grade Foundation Spirit Pill; regarding the techniques and steps needed, he knew them thoroughly.

What needs to be done next is just wait.

Wait until the liquid inside is only enough for one bowl of water, then act.

Time passed minute by second, unknown how long.

Suddenly, the Jiao Wood Flood Dragon, Lou Gold Dog, Shen Water Ape, Yi Fire Snake dimmed one after another.

Then, one of the West White Tiger Seven Mansions, the Biyue Crow representing the moon, lit up.

This is a signal; if the four mansions representing the moon on all sides all light up.

It signifies the temperature inside the gold cauldron has dropped, needing timely addition of a stoke of fire.

Xu Zhangqing leaned over to take a look, discovering the liquid inside had diminished, just enough for one bowl.

Seeing this, he immediately operated the 【Nine Flames Mysterious Technique】, mobilizing the Fire Spirit Power in his Qi Sea.

In an instant, both palms turned crimson, and he slammed them against the golden tripod before him.

Intense high heat erupted in a split second.

Whoosh—

Along with it, the mundane fire beneath the golden tripod also turned crimson.

Surging flames quickly burned the firewood to ash, then died out.

Thus, only the fire spirit power in Xu Changqing's Qi Sea remained to maintain the golden tripod's temperature.

He had long known this step would come, so he remained unhurried and composed as ever.

As the fire spirit power in his Qi Sea was consumed bit by bit, the liquid inside the tripod gradually condensed, no longer so turbid, becoming increasingly viscous.

Not long after, the Fang Sun Rabbit opposite the Bi Yue Crow lit up.

Sun and moon in the sky together, yin and yang in balance.

Sizzle~~~

A wisp of smoke carrying the scent of medicinal herbs burst out from inside.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing not only did not take out the viscous medicinal liquid, but instead covered the golden tripod tightly with the lid.

Moreover, he continued channeling fire spirit power, without the slightest intention of stopping.

Until the Xinyue Fox, Xuri Rat, Mao Ri Chicken, Xing Ri Horse, Zhang Yue Deer, and Wei Yue Swallow — all representing the sun and moon — lit up at the same time, only then did he stop.

He retreated several steps, then silently estimated the time in his heart.

Smothering is also a technique.

Many alchemists overlook this step, thinking it is done, and take it out directly.

But in fact, this step can not only compress the medicinal liquid, but also release the impurities remaining in the deepest part.

The quantity will certainly be less, but the quality absolutely will not be poor.

Of course, if one only pursues quantity and not quality, one could act now.

This is Xu Changqing's first time refining the Foundation Spirit Pill; no matter what, he must achieve a good start.

Therefore, he does not care how many pills form; he only pursues the final quality.

Not long after, a buzzing sound came from the golden tripod.

The Qi inside seemed to have reached its limit.

The tripod lid began shaking left and right, as if it would be flipped open at any moment.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing waved a hand; under the movement of spiritual power, the tripod lid rose into the air.

With a "wu" sound, the compressed hot air inside surged out.

The already high-temperature alchemy room rose several degrees more in temperature.

Xu Changqing has a Fire Spirit Root, so he did not find it too unbearable; after the hot air dissipated, he stepped forward and glanced at the medicinal liquid in the golden tripod.

From the turbid color at the start, it has now turned greenish-yellow.

If before it was the amount of a bowl of water, now there should only be half a bowl left.

Xu Changqing once again circulated the Nine Flames Mysterious Technique, drawing away the fire Qi inside the golden tripod bit by bit, then divided the remaining medicinal liquid into two.

With this, the pill is complete!