112 Copying Elixir Three
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The countless herbs and numerous elixir formulas were all familiar to him, yet compared to them, his own knowledge seemed like a single grain of sand lost in the vast ocean—so insignificant that the waves didn’t even bother to acknowledge it.
Carefully counting, the formula involved twenty-five kinds of medicinal herbs in total, but the herb rack held over fifty varieties.
Though the formula did not merely list the herbs’ names, it also touched upon their general appearances and medicinal properties, the path of alchemy was intricate and obscure; without verification, it remained superficial knowledge.
Yet soon, Qin Chuan discerned a clue.
Among these twenty-five herbs, they could be categorized into four elemental attributes: earth, wind, water, and fire. The last ingredient, the Danxin Fruit, needed no further explanation.
Just as Qin Chuan was about to reach out and investigate, Yu Dan stopped him.
He wore a serious expression and said solemnly, “Use your heart to resonate, and you will feel the response of the alchemical herbs. Alchemy is a form of the Way of Heaven; how can one recklessly speculate? You may craft it as you wish, but remember, you only have one chance.”
Qin Chuan was stunned. Recklessly speculate? Thinking back to his time at Qingshan Sect, he had painstakingly studied herbs bit by bit, sparing no detail to lay his foundation. None of it was baseless or reckless guesswork.
Everyone’s talent in alchemy differed due to comprehension, fate, or other reasons, but it was absurd to claim that simply concocting pills by intuition was proof of exceptional talent.
Without verification, forging elixirs was mostly just lucky chance.
After pondering for a moment, he looked up at the so-called father, who was much taller than him. “Must I follow the formula exactly?”
“Of course not. As long as you can refine the Four Elements Pill and retain its medicinal properties,” Yu Dan said impatiently, sitting cross-legged.
“Some herbs in the formula I know nothing about. It might be better to improve the Four Elements Pill.”
From the formula’s description and the required herbs and their transformations, Qin Chuan deduced that the pill was made primarily with the Danxin Fruit, assisted by herbs representing earth, wind, water, and fire, to create an alchemical treasure.
“Don’t overthink it. Start refining immediately.”
Seeing Qin Chuan furrow his brows, Yu Dan’s expression grew darker.
Qin Chuan didn’t know what would happen if he failed, but after much consideration, he decided to follow the formula.
He immediately ignited the earth fire. Thanks to his profound spiritual energy control, the earth fire was finely tuned with minimal energy consumption.
At that moment, Yu Dan, who had closed his eyes, suddenly opened them.
Qin Chuan dared not slip up; every time he picked up an uncertain herb, he carefully identified it, despite Yu Dan’s urging from behind.
Rehmannia, Windbell Flower, Snow Spirit Herb, Brightlamp Grass...
A standard combination of earth, wind, water, and fire herbs, carefully and methodically followed according to the formula.
Qin Chuan focused solely on refining, unwilling to take any chances with unfamiliar herbs.
Fortunately, Yu Dan only urged him verbally without intervening physically. Although theoretically the pill should be ready within two hours, Qin Chuan labored until evening.
With his level of spiritual energy control, maintaining the current output was already taxing.
His movements were steady, betraying no sign of a novice, but as time passed, Yu Dan’s expression grew increasingly gloomy until only disappointment remained.
Qin Chuan, deeply absorbed in refining, did not notice when Yu Dan took the main ingredient—the Danxin Fruit—from the herb rack.
The Danxin Fruit resembled a chicken heart, about the size of a baby’s fist, glowing fully red.
According to the formula, it was to be placed whole into the cauldron.
Now all that remained was to ignite the earth fire properly and wait for the pill to form.
Qin Chuan held onto a faint hope, confident he had followed the formula without omissions, and all signs indicated his refining was correct so far.
The earth fire’s glow reflected in his eyes, shining with determination.
But soon, Qin Chuan’s hope was shattered.
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After adding the Danxin Fruit, within three breaths a chain reaction began.
The cauldron first trembled violently, then roared like an angry beast.
The noise grew louder and louder until—boom!—it exploded outright.
Qin Chuan tried to dodge, but suddenly his body slipped from his control. Because he stood too close, he bore the brunt of the blast and his body shattered instantly.
In the last moments of consciousness, he seemed to glimpse the entire Danxin Valley shattered as well, like a scene reflected in broken glass.
Then came a darkness of unknown length—perhaps an instant, perhaps millions of years.
When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, he found himself once again before the gentle slope of an earthen hill.
A middle-aged Taoist, his back turned to Qin Chuan, spoke: “My son, do you know how our Dan Family Village survives in these mountains and is honored by the myriad tribes?”
Twice, thrice...
Qin Chuan had traversed countless cycles by now, growing numb.
The seemingly simple elixir formula had stopped him repeatedly.
“Boom!”
Another tremendous sound rattled his mind. Qin Chuan sighed—another failure.
Just as he was about to enter the dark space again, his gaze flicked to the herb rack beside him.
“This is—!”
Suddenly, a flash of insight burst within him like a dam breaking, flooding his mind with clarity, overpowering even the explosion’s echoes.
“I understand now!”
“The Danxin Valley is truly wondrous.”
Qin Chuan sighed softly amidst the unconscious darkness.
“I entered the Danxin Valley’s light formation burdened by the obsession of the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, so this scene seems linked.”
“Even stranger, the Four Elements Pill seems unrelated to the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, yet their key problems are similar!”
When the familiar light brightened again, it was still the half-human-sized body, the same weathered figure, the same gently rising earthen mound.
Yet now, the soul within Qin Chuan’s body was different!
Yu Dan was about to speak when a voice came from behind.
“Our Dan Family Village survives by the Way of Alchemy in these mountains, honored by all tribes.”
“Among the four paths of alchemical arrays and 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 village!”
“Today, I have successfully stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement, earning the qualification to compete with other alchemists. Father, please give me the first formula.”
Without waiting for Yu Dan’s reaction, Qin Chuan spoke it all in one breath, then, seeing the surprise in Yu Dan’s eyes, he urged, “Father, quickly bring the formula—no dawdling!”
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Qin Chuan’s control over his spiritual energy was taxed to maintain the current output.
His movements were steady, showing no sign of a novice, yet as time passed, Yu Dan’s face darkened until only disappointment remained.
Qin Chuan, focused on refining, did not notice when Yu Dan took 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, glowing fully red.
According to the formula, it was placed whole into the cauldron.
Now all that was left was to ignite the earth fire properly and wait for the pill to form.
Qin Chuan held onto a faint hope, confident he had followed the formula without omissions, and all signs indicated his refining was correct so far.
The earth fire’s glow reflected in his eyes, shining with determination.
But soon, Qin Chuan’s hope was shattered.
After adding the Danxin Fruit, within three breaths a chain reaction began.
The cauldron first trembled violently, then roared like an angry beast.
The noise grew louder and louder until—boom!—it exploded outright.
Qin Chuan tried to dodge, but suddenly his body slipped from his control. Because he stood too close, he bore the brunt of the blast and his body shattered instantly.
In the last moments of consciousness, he seemed to glimpse the entire Danxin Valley shattered as well, like a scene reflected in broken glass.
Then came a darkness of unknown length—perhaps an instant, perhaps millions of years.
When Qin Chuan opened his eyes, he found himself once again before the gentle slope of an earthen hill.
A middle-aged Taoist, his back turned to Qin Chuan, spoke: “My son, do you know how our Dan Family Village survives in these mountains and is honored by the myriad tribes?”
Twice, thrice...
Qin Chuan had traversed countless cycles by now, growing numb.
The seemingly simple elixir formula had stopped him repeatedly.
“Boom!”
Another tremendous sound rattled his mind. Qin Chuan sighed—another failure.
Just as he was about to enter the dark space again, his gaze flicked to the herb rack beside him.
“This is—!”
Suddenly, a flash of insight burst within him like a dam breaking, flooding his mind with clarity, overpowering even the explosion’s echoes.
“I understand now!”
“The Danxin Valley is truly wondrous.”
Qin Chuan sighed softly amidst the unconscious darkness.
“I entered the Danxin Valley’s light formation burdened by the obsession of the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, so this scene seems linked.”
“Even stranger, the Four Elements Pill seems unrelated to the Yin-Yang Thunder Pearl, yet their key problems are similar!”
When the familiar light brightened again, it was still the half-human-sized body, the same weathered figure, the same gently rising earthen mound.
Yet now, the soul within Qin Chuan’s body was different!
Yu Dan was about to speak when a voice came from behind.
“Our Dan Family Village survives by the Way of Alchemy in these mountains, honored by all tribes.”
“Among the four paths of alchemical arrays and 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 village!”
“Today, I have successfully stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement, earning the qualification to compete with other alchemists. Father, please give me the first formula.”
Without waiting for Yu Dan’s reaction, Qin Chuan spoke it all in one breath, then, seeing the surprise in Yu Dan’s eyes, he urged, “Father, quickly bring the formula—no dawdling!”