Chapter 111: Duplicate Elixir II
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It was precisely the countless herbs and numerous elixir recipes he was familiar with. Compared to them, these were like a grain of sand dropped into the sea, not even causing a ripple out of respect.
Carefully counting, the recipe involved twenty-five different herbs, yet the herb rack held more than fifty varieties.
Though the recipe didn’t just list the names but also touched upon the general appearance, characteristics, and medicinal properties of the herbs, the alchemical path was profound and obscure. Without verification, it remained superficial knowledge.
However, Qin Chuan soon discovered a clue.
Among the twenty-five herbs, they could be classified into four elemental attributes: earth, wind, water, and fire. The final ingredient, the Danxin fruit, needed no further explanation.
Qin Chuan was about to step forward and reach out to examine it.
But the elder Yu Dan stopped him abruptly.
With a stern expression, he said seriously, “Use your heart to resonate, and you will feel the response of the elixir herbs. Follow your own feelings. The alchemical path is a way of heaven; it cannot be recklessly guessed. You have only one chance to refine it, so decide carefully how you want to proceed.”
Qin Chuan was dumbfounded. What did he mean by recklessly guessing?
He recalled how, back in the Qing Mountain Sect, he had painstakingly explored every herb piece by piece, leaving no detail overlooked, building his foundation. None of it was baseless or random conjecture.
Everyone’s talent in alchemy might differ due to comprehension, fate, or other reasons, but that didn’t mean refining elixirs by mere feeling was true talent.
Without verification, refining an elixir would mostly be just luck or chance.
After a moment’s thought, Qin Chuan looked up at the so-called father who was far above him in stature. “Must I refine strictly according to the recipe?”
“Of course not,” Yu Dan said impatiently, sitting cross-legged. “As long as you can produce a Four Elements Pill with medicinal properties intact.”
“Some herbs in the recipe are completely unfamiliar to me. In that case, it would be better to improve this Four Elements Pill.”
Judging by the description of the elixir, the herbs required, and their transformations, Qin Chuan deduced that this pill was made chiefly from the Danxin fruit, supplemented by herbs representing earth, wind, water, and fire, refined into a precious elixir.
“Don’t overthink it. Start refining immediately.”
Seeing Qin Chuan’s furrowed brow, Yu Dan’s expression darkened.
Uncertain of the consequences of failure, Qin Chuan weighed his options and finally decided to follow the recipe to the letter.
With that, he summoned the earth fire. Thanks to his subtle spiritual energy control, he managed it with great precision and minimal energy consumption.
At that moment, Yu Dan, who had closed his eyes, suddenly opened them.
Qin Chuan dared not make the slightest error. Without confirmation, every time he picked up an ambiguous herb, he carefully identified it, prompting Yu Dan behind him to urge him forward.
Rehmannia, bellflower, snow spirit herb, bright lamp grass...
A standard combination of earth, wind, water, and fire, step by step, methodically following the recipe’s instructions.
Qin Chuan focused intently, not multitasking, as some herbs were unfamiliar, and he could not afford even a trace of carelessness.
Thankfully, during the refining process, Yu Dan only urged him on without interfering physically. What should have taken two hours stretched until evening.
With Qin Chuan’s level of spiritual energy control, even maintaining this output was somewhat strenuous.
His movements were steady, betraying no sign of inexperience, but as time passed, Yu Dan’s face grew darker and darker until only disappointment remained.
Focused on the task, Qin Chuan failed to notice that Yu Dan had directly taken the main ingredient—the Danxin fruit—from the herb rack.
The Danxin fruit resembled a chicken heart, roughly the size of a baby’s fist, entirely red.
According to the recipe, it was placed whole into the cauldron.
Now all that was left was to ignite the earth fire and wait for the elixir to form.
Qin Chuan held onto a flicker of hope. He had followed the recipe strictly, with no omissions. Every sign so far indicated his refining was correct.
The glow of the earth fire shone in his eyes, reflecting a spark of life.
But soon, Qin Chuan’s hope was shattered.
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No sooner had the Danxin fruit been added than, within three breaths, a chain reaction erupted.
The cauldron first trembled, then roared like a furious beast.
The noise grew louder and louder, culminating in a sudden, explosive blast.
Qin Chuan intended to dodge, but somehow his body lost control. Standing too close, he directly bore the brunt of the explosion’s immense force, and his body shattered instantly.
In the last moments of his consciousness, he seemed to see the entire Danxin Valley torn apart, like a shattered mirror reflecting chaos.
Then came an endless darkness—perhaps a moment, perhaps a thousand years.
When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, the scene before him was once again that gentle, sloping hill.
A middle-aged Daoist stood with his back to Qin Chuan and said, “My son, do you know what sustains our Dan Family Village in this mountain range, and why it is revered by the myriad races?”
Twice, thrice...
Qin Chuan had lost count of how many times he had cycled through this reincarnation, growing numb.
What seemed like a simple elixir recipe had become his stumbling block.
“Boom!”
Another tremendous roar shook his mind. Qin Chuan sighed—yet another failure.
Just as he was about to enter the dark space again, his eyes caught a glance at the nearby herb rack.
“This is...!”
Suddenly, a wave of clarity flooded his mind. The spark of insight exploded like a dam breaking, overwhelming all else—even the sound of the shattered space.
“I understand now!”
“This Danxin Valley is truly wondrous.”
Qin Chuan sighed quietly in the pitch darkness.
“I entered the Danxin Valley’s light array burdened by the obsession of the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, which is why this scene seems linked.”
“Strangely, although the Four Elements Pill appears unrelated to the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, the critical issue is similar!”
When the familiar light returned, the half-human-sized body was still there, the figure before him still bore the weary back, and the gently rising mound remained.
Yet now, the soul within Qin Chuan’s body was different!
Yu Dan was about to speak when a voice sounded from behind.
“Our Dan Family Village survives in this mountain range by the Way of Alchemy and is honored by the myriad races.”
“Among the four paths of alchemical arrays and mystical 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 village!”
“Today, having successfully stepped into the first level of Qi Refining, I have earned the right to compete with other alchemists. Father, please give me the first recipe.”
Without waiting for Yu Dan’s reaction, Qin Chuan spoke fluently in one breath, his gaze fixed on Yu Dan’s astonished face as he urged, “Father, bring me the recipe quickly—do not dawdle!”
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With Qin Chuan’s level of spiritual energy control, sustaining this output was already somewhat taxing.
His movements were steady, giving no hint of being a novice at refining, but as time wore on, Yu Dan’s face grew darker until only disappointment remained.
Focused on refining, Qin Chuan did not notice Yu Dan taking the main ingredient—the Danxin fruit—from the herb rack.
The Danxin fruit looked like a chicken heart, about the size of a baby’s fist, entirely red.
Following the recipe exactly, it was placed whole into the cauldron.
Now all that remained was to ignite the earth fire and wait for the elixir to form.
Qin Chuan preserved a glimmer of hope, knowing he had followed the recipe to the letter without omission. All signs indicated his refining was correct so far.
The firelight of the earth fire danced in his eyes, reflecting vitality.
But soon, his hope was dashed.
After the Danxin fruit was added, within three breaths, a chain reaction ignited.
The cauldron trembled violently, then roared like a raging beast.
The noise grew louder and louder until—boom!—it exploded.
Qin Chuan intended to dodge, but at some point, his body lost control. Standing too close, he bore the blast’s full force; his body shattered instantly.
In the last flickers of consciousness, he seemed to see the entire Danxin Valley shattered like a broken mirror.
Then came a darkness of unknown length—perhaps a moment, perhaps a million years.
When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, the scene was that gentle sloping hill again.
A middle-aged Daoist stood with his back to him, saying, “My son, do you know what sustains our Dan Family Village in this mountain range and why it is revered by the myriad races?”
Twice, thrice...
Qin Chuan lost count of how many times he had passed through this cycle, growing numb.
Though the recipe seemed simple, it was his barrier.
“Boom!”
Another loud crash shook his mind. Qin Chuan sighed—yet another failure.
Just as he was about to enter the darkness once more, his eyes caught the herb rack beside him.
“This is...!”
A sudden insight struck him like a flood breaking through a dam; the spark in his mind blazed forth, overwhelming even the sound of the exploding space.
“I understand!”
“This Danxin Valley is indeed extraordinary.”
Qin Chuan murmured within the pitch-black void.
“I entered the Danxin Valley’s light array bearing the obsession of the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, which linked this scene to my fate.”
“Even stranger, though the Four Elements Pill seems unrelated to the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, the core issue is similar!”
When the familiar light returned, the half-human-sized body was still there, the figure before him still bore the worn back, and the gently rising mound remained.
But now, the soul within Qin Chuan’s body was different!
Yu Dan was about to speak when a voice sounded behind him.
“Our Dan Family Village survives in this mountain range by the Way of Alchemy and is honored by the myriad races.”
“Among the four paths of alchemical arrays and mystical 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 village!”
“Today, having successfully stepped into the first level of Qi Refining, I have earned the right to compete with other alchemists. Father, please give me the first recipe.”
Without waiting for Yu Dan’s reaction, Qin Chuan spoke fluently in one breath, his gaze fixed on Yu Dan’s astonished face as he urged, “Father, bring me the recipe quickly—do not dawdle!”