Chapter 286: Learning alchemy
"You finally finished?"
Chen Tian turned to look at Duan Shu, who was standing by, clearly waiting for him to finish.
"Mm," Chen Tian nodded.
"It took longer than I expected, but I'm glad it's finally done," he replied with a sense of satisfaction.
"Good, since you know you have an alchemy flame, you can start learning the basic principles of alchemy," Duan Shu said, handing Chen Tian a book on the subject.
The book contained detailed information on the different types of herbs used in alchemy and their properties.
Alchemy ranks were also explained, along with the process of creating various pills.
Chen Tian eagerly began reading the book, excited to delve into the world of alchemy.
You should know that even in the Nine Heavens, alchemists were rare and highly respected for their knowledge and skills.
Especially after a cultivator reaches a certain level, the need for pills becomes essential for further advancement.
That's why many cultivators sought out alchemists, like Chen Tian, who did that many times before, in order to obtain pills that could aid in his cultivation journey.
Of course, such pills would hurt Chen Tian's wallet, but he knew that the investment in his own growth was worth every penny.
If he could become an alchemist, the money he could save on purchasing pills would be immense, not to mention he could sell the pills and make an extra profit.
So, Chen Tian decided to start learning the art of alchemy himself and wasn't opposed to Wu Ye's suggestion.
With determination in his heart, Chen Tian set out to learn all he could about alchemy.
The book in his hand was filled with hard information, and he would need someone to memorize everything in order to truly master the craft.
Advantageous cultivators are able to absorb information at an incredible speed; even a Qi cultivator can absorb information two times faster than an average person.
So, a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Chen Tian had the potential to learn even faster, and for someone like Chen Tian, he could even remember everything since the moment he came out of his mother's womb.
So, Chen Tian was confident that he could become a skilled alchemist in no time.
'How hard could this be?' he thought to himself as he read everything in the book.
It took only him the time to drink a cup of tea for Chen Tian to absorb and understand all the information in the alchemy book.
But even with that, Chen Tian had a long way yet to be considered a true alchemist.
Alchemy wasn't just about manipulating basic ingredients. It demanded a deep understanding of spiritual energies, the ability to control the heat of the flame with precision, and the finesse to coax reluctant ingredients into harmonious union.
"Do you have any cauldron?" Duan Shu asked.
"No, I do not," Chen Tian replied.
"Sigh… You came to learn alchemy; at least bring one,"
She suddenly took a cauldron from her ring and handed it to Chen Tian.
"Here, use this, you can think of it as a part of our deal," she said indifferently.
Chen Tian was grateful for her help and eagerly accepted the cauldron.
The cauldron was normal size, about two feet in diameter, with intricate designs etched into the metal.
Simply without using 'Chaos Insight,' Chen Tian could sense that the cauldron was a high-grade 1 spiritual treasure.
Acquiring a cauldron like that on the market would be costly, perhaps around 500 low-grade spiritual stones.
Of course, 500 low-grade stones are nothing for a cultivator of the Dao Emperor like Duan Shu, especially since she was a King Rank Alchemist.
Her pocket dimension contained millions, if not billions, of stones of varying grades.
It's like a millionaire buying a car worth 1 million dollars, for us normal people, it would be a huge investment or something impossible to buy, but for him, it's just a drop in the bucket.
It might not even make a dent in his finances. For him, it's like spending $1 to buy a car.
"Thank you." Chen Tian decided to take Duan Shu's cauldron without hesitation.
With the cauldron in his possession, Duan Shu started to teach Chen Tian how to create pills.
Because Chen Tian was still a beginner in the art of alchemy, Duan Shu recommended that he start with something simple, like an Ironwood Pill.
The Ironwood Pill was a grade 1 pill; it can temporarily boost physical strength, making the cultivator feel like their muscles are made of ironwood.
Increase in raw physical power by 10-15% for a duration of 2 hours.
It also improves endurance; the pill strengthens the cultivator's stamina, allowing them to train for longer periods without fatigue. Reduces fatigue buildup by 20% for a duration of 4 hours and some minor bone strengthening since the Ironwood Pill contains trace minerals that slightly strengthen the cultivator's bones, making them more resistant to minor fractures.
It increases bone density by 2-3% for a duration of 1 day.
This pill is best suited for Body Refinement Realm cultivators in the early stages.
It can be helpful during training to push past physical limitations and improve overall strength and endurance.
Due to its Grade 1 level of quality, the effects are mild and wear off after a set duration.
But it is a good pill for a beginner alchemist to start practicing with, as it is relatively simple to create and the ingredients to create it are readily available.
"Okay, take the crushed boar tusk and mountain ginseng root and grind them into a fine powder before mixing them together with the Ironwood bark powder.
Once the powders are thoroughly mixed, add one low-grade spiritual stone to the mixture and use your alchemy flame to carefully heat it until it forms a solid pill.
Remember to control the temperature carefully, as overheating could result in the pill losing its effectiveness."
Adding all the ingredients to the cauldron, Chen Tian summoned his golden flame and started to carefully heat the mixture.
Chen Tian carefully monitored the temperature of the alchemy flame, ensuring that the pill formed perfectly.
"Not bad," Duan Shu remarked, observing Chen Tian's skillful flame control.
"But that is just the beginning. The real test will be in the refinement process, where the pill's potency will be truly tested."
Chen Tian nodded.
What Duan Shu said was true.
After heating up the mixture, the next crucial step was to refine it and ensure that all ingredients were seamlessly merged to maximize the pill's effectiveness.
Chen Tian knew that this stage required even greater precision and focus than before.
With Duan Shu's guidance, he adjusted the flame and continued the refining process with the utmost care.
His spiritual sense expanded, and he started to detect any subtle changes in the mixture as he carefully controlled the process.
As the process continued, Chen Tian could feel the sweat starting to form on his brow as he concentrated intensely on the task at hand.
Truthfully, any mistake could ruin the entire pill, necessitating the repetition of the process.
Which not only means more work but also a waste of more ingredients.
After 3 hours of intense focus and dedication, Chen Tian finally completed the refining process for the pill.
"Not bad, but it still took you 3 hours to complete a Grade 1 pill," Duan Shu said, shaking her head in disappointment.
Chen Tian sighed, knowing that he still had a long way to go.
Most of his Qi was consumed in the refining process; lucky for him, he wasn't a normal cultivator and had a strong foundation to rely on.
"Now the last process is purification," Duan Shu continued, "This step is crucial to remove any impurities and enhance the potency of the pill."
Chen Tian nodded, understanding the importance of this final stage.
He carefully followed Duan Shu's instructions, focusing on channeling his Qi and controlling his flame to purify the pill.
After another hour of meticulous work, as the pill began to take shape, Chen Tian felt a surge of excitement.
It was not until 30 minutes more that he finally completed the purification process successfully.
"It's over!" Chen Tian exclaimed relief and accomplishment.
Duan Shu nodded in approval as Chen Tian carefully took the pill out of the cauldron.
In reality, she never had much hope that Chen Tian would be able to complete the task on the first try, but she was pleasantly surprised that he didn't fail.
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Chen Tian was already at the top when it came to Qi control, and in just a few minutes, he could control his flame as if he had controlled it for years.
Well, if it was another person, then they might not have been as lucky and would have lost control over his flame or Qi and ruined the pill.
Of course, it took Chen Tian more time just for a grade 1 pill, but it was only the first time for him to refine or do something like this.
In the future, when he improves and refines his skills, he could create such pills in just minutes.
'At least he has the talent and potential to become an alchemist,' Duan Shu thought to herself, satisfied that she is not wasting her time training him.
"Now let's take a look at this pill's purity and see if it meets the standards," Duan Shu said, examining the pill closely.
But after she saw the pill in Chen Tian's hand, she held her breath, and her eyes widened in astonishment.
"What!"