109 Don't dawdle.
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These were the countless medicinal herbs and numerous pill formulas he was familiar with, and compared to them, this was like a grain of sand falling into the sea, barely causing even a ripple of respect.
Counting carefully, the pill formula involved a total of twenty-five kinds of medicinal herbs, yet there were more than fifty varieties on the herb shelf.
Although the pill formula did not simply list the herb names, it also touched upon their general appearance, characteristics, and pharmacological properties, the art of pill crafting was intricate and obscure; without verification, it remained superficial.
However, Qin Chuan soon discovered a clue.
Among these twenty-five herbs, they could be categorized into four elemental properties: earth, wind, water, and fire, with the last ingredient being the Pill Heart Fruit, which needed no further explanation.
Qin Chuan was about to reach out and investigate.
But just as this thought occurred to him, Yu Dan stopped him.
With a serious face, he said solemnly, "Use your heart to resonate, and you will feel the herb’s response. According to your own sensations, alchemy is a form of the Way of Heaven; how can you be reckless in your guesses? You have only one chance; craft the pill as you wish, but remember this."
Qin Chuan was stunned. What did he mean by “reckless guesses”?
He recalled how, back in the Green Mountain Sect, he had painstakingly explored herbs bit by bit, leaving no detail overlooked, laying a solid foundation. This was not something conjured out of thin air, nor was it guesswork.
Everyone’s alchemical talent might vary due to comprehension, fate, or other factors, but it did not mean that simply relying on feeling to concoct pills demonstrated supreme talent.
If a pill could be made without verification, it was mostly just luck.
After a moment’s thought, Qin Chuan looked up at this so-called father who was far above him in status. "Must I strictly follow the pill formula?"
"Of course not," Yu Dan said somewhat impatiently as he sat cross-legged. "As long as you can produce a Four Element Pill that retains its medicinal properties."
"Some herbs in the formula are completely unfamiliar to me, so it might be better to improve this Four Element Pill."
Based on the pill description and the herbs and their transformations mentioned in the formula, Qin Chuan deduced that this pill was crafted primarily from the Pill Heart Fruit as the main ingredient, assisted by herbs corresponding to earth, wind, water, and fire, to create a precious pill.
"Don’t overthink it. Start crafting immediately."
Yu Dan’s expression darkened as he saw Qin Chuan’s furrowed brow.
Not knowing what consequences failure might bring, Qin Chuan finally decided to follow the formula precisely.
With this in mind, he directly activated the earth fire. Because he had reached a state of subtle spiritual energy control, the earth fire was finely controlled with minimal energy consumption.
At that moment, Yu Dan, who had closed his eyes, suddenly opened them.
Qin Chuan dared not make the slightest mistake. Because he had not verified the herbs, every time he picked up a vaguely familiar herb, he carefully identified it, prompting Yu Dan behind him to urge him on.
Rehmannia, wind bellflower, snow spirit essence, bright lamp grass...
A precise combination of earth, wind, water, and fire, followed step by step according to the formula.
Qin Chuan did not multitask because some herbs were unfamiliar, and he could not afford carelessness.
Fortunately, Yu Dan only urged him on without physical interference. Although this pill should have been crafted in two hours, Qin Chuan ended up working until dusk.
Given his level of spiritual energy control, maintaining this output was already somewhat strenuous.
His movements were steady, showing no sign of being a novice, but as time passed, Yu Dan’s face grew darker, eventually sinking into disappointment.
Focused on his work, Qin Chuan did not notice that Yu Dan had taken the main ingredient—the Pill Heart Fruit—directly from the herb shelf.
The Pill Heart Fruit was shaped like a chicken heart, about the size of a baby’s fist, and entirely red.
According to the formula, it had to be placed into the cauldron whole.
Now, all that remained was to activate the earth fire and wait for the pill to take shape.
Qin Chuan held onto a glimmer of hope. He had followed the formula strictly, without omission, and all signs so far indicated that his crafting was correct.
The firelight of the earth fire shone in his eyes, reflecting a spark of spirit.
But soon, his hope was shattered.
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After adding the Pill Heart Fruit, within three breaths a chain reaction occurred.
The cauldron first trembled, then emitted a roar like an angry beast.
The noise grew louder and louder until—boom!—it exploded violently.
Qin Chuan tried to dodge, but somehow his body lost control. Being so close, he bore the brunt of the blast’s immense force, his body instantly shattered.
In the last moments of his consciousness, he seemed to see the entire Pill Heart Valley torn apart, reflected as if in broken shards of glass.
Then came a stretch of darkness of unknown length—perhaps an instant, perhaps millennia.
When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, the scene before him was again the gentle slope and earth mound.
A middle-aged Taoist man stood with his back to Qin Chuan and said, “My son, do you know what our Alchemy Clan relies on to survive in these mountains, and why we are worshipped by the ten thousand tribes?”
Twice, thrice...
Qin Chuan had traversed countless cycles of reincarnation and was growing numb.
This seemingly simple pill formula had stopped him in his tracks.
Boom!
Another tremendous sound shook his mind, and Qin Chuan sighed—he had failed once again.
Just as he was about to enter the dark space, his gaze happened to fall on the herb shelf beside him.
“This is…”
Suddenly, a flash of understanding surged through his mind like a flood breaking through a dam, overwhelming the sound of the space shattering.
“I understand now!”
“This Pill Heart Valley is truly wondrous.”
Qin Chuan sighed quietly in this senseless darkness.
“I entered the Pill Heart Valley’s light array carrying the obsession of the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, so this scene seems to be linked somehow.”
“More strange still, this Four Element Pill appears unrelated to the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, yet the key issues are similar!”
When the familiar light returned, it was still the half-human-sized body, the same weathered figure, the same gently rising earth mound.
Yet now, the soul within Qin Chuan’s body was different!
Yu Dan was about to speak when a voice behind him interrupted.
“Our Alchemy Clan survives in these mountains through alchemy and is worshipped by the ten thousand tribes.”
“Among the four paths of alchemical arrays and forbidden talismans, alchemy is the most complex. Father, please impart the essence of alchemy to me. I will surpass all my peers and other alchemists, for I am the future Master of Alchemy and the future leader of this mountain clan!”
“Today I have successfully stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement, thus earning the right to compete with other alchemists for supremacy. Father, please give me my first pill formula.”
Before Yu Dan could respond, Qin Chuan spoke fluently without pause, and seeing the surprise in Yu Dan’s eyes, he urged him, “Father, quickly bring the pill formula. Don’t dawdle!”
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Qin Chuan’s spiritual energy control was already strained to maintain this level of output.
His movements were steady, showing no signs of a novice, but as time went on, Yu Dan’s face grew darker until only disappointment remained.
Focused on crafting the pill, Qin Chuan did not notice Yu Dan taking the main ingredient—the Pill Heart Fruit—directly from the herb shelf.
The Pill Heart Fruit was shaped like a chicken heart, about the size of a baby’s fist, and entirely red.
Following the formula, it was placed whole into the cauldron.
Now all that remained was to activate the earth fire and wait for the pill to form.
Qin Chuan held onto a fragment of hope, having followed the formula exactly, without omission. All signs so far indicated his crafting was correct.
The firelight of the earth fire danced in his eyes, reflecting a lively gleam.
But soon, his hope was crushed.
After adding the Pill Heart Fruit, within three breaths, a chain reaction erupted.
The cauldron trembled, then roared like an angry beast.
The noise escalated until—boom!—it exploded violently.
Qin Chuan tried to dodge, but somehow his body lost control. Being close, he absorbed the blast’s tremendous power, and his body shattered instantly.
In the last moments of consciousness, he seemed to see the entire Pill Heart Valley shattered, reflected as if in broken glass.
Then came an unknown length of darkness—perhaps an instant, perhaps thousands of years.
When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, the scene was again the gentle slope and earth mound.
A middle-aged Taoist man stood with his back to him: “My son, do you know what our Alchemy Clan depends on to survive in these mountains and why we are worshipped by the ten thousand tribes?”
Twice, thrice...
Qin Chuan had traversed countless cycles, growing numb.
This seemingly simple pill formula had halted him.
Boom!
Another tremendous sound shook his mind. Qin Chuan sighed—he had failed again.
As he was about to enter the dark space, his gaze fell on the herb shelf.
“This is!”
Suddenly, enlightenment flooded his mind like a dam breaking, overwhelming even the sound of the space shattering.
“I understand now!”
“This Pill Heart Valley is truly wondrous.”
Qin Chuan sighed quietly in the void.
“I entered the Pill Heart Valley’s light array carrying the obsession of the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, so this scene seems linked.”
“Strangely, this Four Element Pill seems unrelated to the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, yet the key issues are similar!”
When the familiar light returned, it was still the half-human-sized body, the same weathered figure, the same gently rising earth mound.
But now, the soul within Qin Chuan’s body was different!
Yu Dan was about to speak when a voice behind him interrupted.
“Our Alchemy Clan survives in these mountains through alchemy and is worshipped by the ten thousand tribes.”
“Among the four paths of alchemical arrays and forbidden talismans, alchemy is the most complex. Father, please impart the essence of alchemy to me. I will surpass all my peers and other alchemists, for I am the future Master of Alchemy and leader of this mountain clan!”
“Today I have stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement, earning the right to compete with other alchemists. Father, please give me my first pill formula.”
Before Yu Dan could respond, Qin Chuan spoke fluently and urged, “Father, quickly bring the pill formula. Don’t dawdle!”