Cultivating Chai

46:

“Pearl Orchids are considered a delicacy amongst spiritual beasts, due to a circular bulb that is found in the center of each flower. Full of seeds, the bulb is packed with both unattuned Qi and nutrients that aid in the development of any spiritual beast,” Xiao Feng explained.

A quick nod from Lianhua confirmed that he was on the right track.

“The same can be said for Cloud Moss, though I would say that the intention behind adding that ingredient has more to do with making the aroma and flavor of the pill irresistible to the newly hatched beast over merely increasing the Qi density,” He added.

“You’ve been studying, I see. Good,” Lianhua praised, before directing him, “Continue.”

“Star Anemone is an interesting one,” Xiao Feng remarked.

“Oh. How so?”

“It is the most expensive ingredient I have bought, outside of the beast materials. It is valuable because it both heals any internal wounds and clears the body of impurities the best it can. Sure, its effect is muted compared to an actual pill that is designed to heal, but it is of only auxiliary importance in the pill formula. Say, if the newly hatched beast were to come out injured or malformed,” Xiao Feng stated, his tone emphasizing his last point.

“Your concern is noted,” Lianhua replied, catching on to the implication, or perhaps, request, concealed in his tone. “However, it is impossible to change the formula without destabilizing it. And, while we are at the mercy of the egg in this case, the odds are still weighted towards it accepting a pill that has been tested on hundreds of spiritual beasts.”

“I understand,” Xiao Feng replied, though he wasn’t able to completely eliminate the worry in his tone.

“So, tell me. What base does the Star Anemone have?” Lianhua asked, not relenting on her quizzing.

“It uses Water Qi to heal and purify,” Xiao Feng replied after a heartbeat.

“Why would we use an elemental Qi when we do not know what type of beast slumbers within the egg?” Lianhua asked, as a knowing smile played upon her lips.

“Water Qi is… different,” Xiao Feng replied, knowing the answer but finding himself struggling to explain. It took him a few moments before the correct analogy came to his mind, “If I were to be admitted in an infirmary after battle, the healer attending to me would use Water Qi to heal me. Its healing and rejuvenating properties are second to none, but more importantly, it is in the very nature of Water Qi to purify. Any living creature would instinctively understand that there will be no clash between the element in question and the one nestled in their dantian.”

“Close,” Lianhua replied, much to Xiao Feng’s surprise. “Sure, Water Qi heals. However, when you call the element different, you make a grave mistake. For it is not necessary for the elemental Qi itself, in its base form, to be useful to you, but its reaction with other ingredients can be invaluable as well.”

“The Sylvan Heartroot and the frost lily,” Xiao Feng replied, naming the two ingredients he understood the least.

“Go on,” Lianhua encouraged.

“The Sylvan Heartroot has an Earth Qi base,” Xiao Feng mused aloud. “Initially, I had dismissed it as an auxiliary ingredient, but it does have a curious property. It carries a reserve of Earth Qi and unlike most other spiritual plants I’ve read up on, it only disperses seeds after it becomes a full-fledged tree. To that end, it seeks to conceal itself by attracting nearby organic matter, whether it be soil or other spiritual beast plants. That’s why it is stoppered in a glass vial, though it poses no harm to any living creature.”

“Correct,” Lianhua replied. “We add the Sylvan Heartroot near the end, to bring together all the refining ingredients and stabilize the melange. Most of the Earth Qi will be lost to the refinement, however a little can be beneficial to any spiritual beast, if only to develop a familiarity with the element. Don’t worry, I did not expect you to guess that,” She explained, her tone already seeming quite satisfied with Xiao Feng’s performance.

“Then, I suppose the Frost Lily is to balance out the temperature?” Xiao Feng voiced the conjecture, his brows furrowed in thought.

“Now you’re getting the hang of it,” Lianhua nodded, her enthusiasm for alchemy leaking into her energetic tone. “Frost Qi may seem similar to Water Qi, but in reality they could not be more different. Frost Qi does not heal, it does not purify. It does little else than lower temperature and…,” She trailed off, pursing her lips as she searched for a way to frame her answer.

“And kill,” Xiao Feng replied calmly.

“Yes, that,” Lianhua confirmed, if a bit hesitantly. “The Frost Lily is added at the very end of the pill refinement, a minute or two before you shall use your Wind Qi in concert with the Fire Qi from the amethyst dragonstone burner to compress it into a pill. Do you know why?”

“Compression means heat,” Xiao Feng blurted out before he could even fully think through the question.

Lianhua blinked.

“How do you know that?” She asked, clearly not having the answer to come so quickly.

Uhh… High-school physics? The laws of thermodynamics… I guess I can’t answer with that, Xiao Feng thought, his expression turning a bit awkward.

“I… erm, well, that seems like the only logical answer. You add the Frost Lily onto an already heated mixture of ingredients that are packed with Qi. However, if the Frost Lily was that essential to containing heat, it would’ve been added near the beginning or at least the middle. At the end, though? It means you need to mitigate the excess heat that will be generated from forcing all those Qi-packed materials into a small ball,” Xiao Feng rambled, managing the best explanation he could without calling upon the laws of thermodynamics, kinetics and maybe a little material science? Maybe.

“I’m impressed, Xiao Feng. Take it as the compliment it is, because I am seldom impressed,” Lianhua offered, raising an eyebrow as she seemed to take him in a new light.

“Thank you,” Xiao Feng managed, as his cheeks flushed a soft red.

“Now, I suppose I’ve harried you enough with these questions,” Lianhua noted as she reached for the vial containing the bone marrow of the Stoneback Ursine. “It’s time for the fun part.”