"Deer blood, deer antler, deer whip, mica, red stone..."
Gao Xian placed various processed medicinal herbs into the alchemy furnace one by one, igniting the fire to roast them.
The alchemy furnace was shaped like a three-legged water kettle without a spout, which could be divided into eight different areas through internal rotating discs and manual partitions.
Some areas were used for roasting, some for steaming, and some for extracting and refining the medicinal properties.
Under the alchemy furnace was a brick pedestal, with a flue connected to the outside chimney.
Alchemy required the use of a large amount of charcoal.
By using this simple pedestal in conjunction with the rotating furnace, the temperature could be controlled.
The alchemy furnace was inscribed with the Yin-Yang Water-Fire Array, and when necessary, spirit stones could be used to activate the array.
However, the cost of using the array was too high, and the demand for alchemists was also high.
The previous owner had only cultivated to the first level of Qi, and controlling the alchemy furnace array was very difficult, so they almost always used charcoal for alchemy.
Anyway, the alchemy being done was for low-level elixirs, so charcoal was sufficient.
Gao Xian elevated Deer Antler Powder to the Grandmaster level, completely mastering various basic alchemy techniques.
Having also gained all the alchemy memories of the previous owner, the two corroborated each other, transforming Gao Xian from a novice to an alchemy expert in one go.
Taking out the Wind and Moon Mirror, indeed, the gray alchemy technique had returned to normal, and the proficiency in alchemy had greatly increased, almost reaching the level of mastery.
To verify his learning, Gao Xian decided to try his hand at Deer Antler Powder.
This kind of elixir was very simple, using commonly found medicinal herbs that he could find in his own herb store.
After selecting the herbs, he started the fire in the furnace.
At this point, Gao Xian finally understood what gentle fire and fierce fire meant, and how to control the temperature, extract the medicinal properties, and so on.
These detailed techniques could never be learned from books.
Only by actually practicing alchemy could one grasp the subtleties of controlling the fire.
Alchemy was a technical skill with thousands of steps.
If any step went wrong, it would greatly reduce the efficacy of the medicine, or even lead to alchemy failure.
Gao Xian was a Grandmaster in Deer Antler Powder.
Although the world was vast, when it came to Deer Antler Powder alone, there were few who could surpass him.
After half a day's work, the Deer Antler Powder was ready, filling the room with the fragrance of medicine.
Just by the name Deer Antler Powder, one could tell that it was a pile of medicinal powder, weighing over two pounds.
Looking at this pile of charcoal-like substance, Gao Xian was greatly encouraged, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
It was like a master chef completing a signature dish.
In fact, alchemy was quite similar to cooking, with various ingredients combined, steamed, and roasted.
However, alchemy was more refined and complex.
In more advanced terms, it was a process of reducing entropy by recombining and rearranging the materials to make the energy more orderly.
This successful alchemy boosted Gao Xian's confidence and also solved his biggest problem at the moment!
Excited for a while, Gao Xian remembered that the task was not yet complete.
He took out jade honey to mix with pine resin to make pill casings, and rolled the medicinal powder into pill-sized pellets by hand.
The outer pill casing could preserve the medicinal properties and fragrance, making it easier to store.
It also enhanced the taste when consumed.
Rolling pills was a simple action, and with his lightning-fast hands, Gao Xian could do it effortlessly.
In a short while, Gao Xian had rolled over two hundred pills.
Elixirs crafted at the Grandmaster level like Deer Antler Powder were bound to have extraordinary effects.
Gao Xian, however, couldn't accurately estimate this.
He had never crafted Deer Antler Powder before, let alone consumed it, so he wasn't sure how effective the Deer Antler Powder he made was.
To test the efficacy, Gao Xian decided to try one himself.
A surge of heat rose from his dantian, swiftly spreading through his limbs and bones, and finally rushing to the top of his head.
This heat was strong but not violent, yang but not dry.
It made him feel so energized that it seemed to overflow, yet his mind remained clear, without becoming manic due to the potent medicinal properties.
"A Grandmaster-level elixir is truly powerful!" Gao Xian was quite satisfied with this.
Magic tools, talismans, and spells were generally divided into nine ranks and thirty-six grades, while elixirs were divided into nine ranks, not grades, but from first transformation to ninth transformation.
For the same elixir, the effects could only be barely exerted at the first transformation, while a ninth transformation elixir could maximize the effects.
Deer Antler Powder was a non-ranked tonic elixir, unable to be refined into a higher transformation elixir.
However, a Grandmaster-level Deer Antler Powder could bring out the effects to the fullest, removing all the toxicity from the elixir.
To test the efficacy, Gao Xian reluctantly went to find Lan Jie.
After coming out of the Wind and Moon Mirror, Gao Xian checked the Great Occult Art Book and found that his cultivation had increased by three points.
"With this divine elixir, I can easily crush those blue pills. If I could go back in time, I would immediately become the savior of middle-aged and elderly men!"
Gao Xian sighed.
He had learned the Dragon Slaying Technique but had no dragon, which was somewhat regrettable.
Fortunately, Deer Antler Powder was effective.
It was good for him to consume and could accelerate his cultivation in the Great Occult Art.
No, there were plenty of middle-aged and elderly people in this world.
Even their cultivators were subject to the limitations of natural laws.
Just like the neighbor, Old Wang, who was withered and weak, lacking in kidney essence.
He was the perfect candidate!
Making money could wait.
The immediate task was to refine a batch of elixirs.
Gao Xian took out the Wind and Moon Mirror and indeed, his alchemy had advanced, reaching the level of mastery in one go.
Alchemy was the most difficult skill to upgrade among all his skills, so such a rapid advancement surprised him.
Even the three types of elixirs the previous owner could refine had also reached the level of mastery.
Being at the Grandmaster level was only for Deer Antler Powder, but many of the techniques for crafting elixirs were common.
After this practical operation, integrating the previous owner's alchemy techniques, Gao Xian's alchemy skills had greatly improved, bringing him closer to the expert level.
Alchemy Mastery Level 1 (27/4000)
Revitalizing Pill Proficiency (155/200)
Foundation-Strengthening Pill Proficiency (161/200)
White Dew Pill Proficiency (177/200)
Looking at the data on the Wind and Moon Mirror, Gao Xian was quite satisfied.
In just a few days, he had made great progress.
According to this growth rate, um...
Gao Xian did a simple calculation and found it too exaggerated, so he decided not to take it seriously.
Taking advantage of his good condition, Gao Xian cooked some meat and ate until he was full.
The little black cat, attracted by the aroma, appeared out of nowhere and also ate until it was full, then curled up and fell asleep.
Gao Xian petted it a few times, and the little black cat wagged its tail but didn't react further.
This made Gao Xian a little envious.
Eating, sleeping, playing... the little cat was living such a comfortable life.
Perhaps he should feed it less for a couple of meals to let it understand the hardships of life and the vicissitudes of fate.
With his spiritual energy replenished, Gao Xian circulated the Five Elements Technique through the Thirty-Six Circulations, taking half an hour.
Without an accurate timing tool, Gao Xian felt that he was now circulating the Five Elements Technique more smoothly.
This was mainly due to Lan Jie's assistance.
Taking out the Wind and Moon Mirror, he saw that the Five Elements Technique had increased slightly, which pleased him.
Adjusting his state, Gao Xian went to the neighboring pharmacy.
The small courtyard where he lived had three main rooms: a bedroom, a half living room, and a half kitchen.
The remaining room was a storage room for herbs.
The alchemy room was a small side room next to the main room, where a furnace was placed.
The alchemy furnace was a first-tier magical tool and quite valuable.
It was very heavy, fixed on a brick platform, making it not easy to move.
Moreover, there were very few alchemists in Feima City who could use the alchemy furnace.
Even if someone stole it, it would be difficult to dispose of.
On the other hand, the herbs were light and easy to carry, so Gao Xian could only store them in the main room.
Checking the herbs, Gao Xian couldn't help but sigh.
The previous owner was really reckless, using up all the herbs for the White Dew Pill.
Although his alchemy skills had improved, he couldn't make up for such a large gap!
He could only first refine a batch of elixirs to send over, buying some time.
Then he needed to figure out a way to replenish the consumed herbs...
Selecting, steaming, drying, grinding, and re-entering the furnace to refine the elixirs.
It took Gao Xian three days to refine a furnace of Revitalizing Pills.
By manually rolling the pills, he obtained over two hundred pills.
After three busy days, Gao Xian decided to go out to adjust his state.
He took two Deer Antler Powders and went to visit Old Wang next door.
Old Wang's house was even more dilapidated, with only two main rooms in the small courtyard.
The walls were cracked, and if there was a heavy rain, it would definitely leak.
In the courtyard, a few pieces of bluestone slabs were laid as a path in and out.
In one corner, there was an open-air toilet without a door, looking quite airy.
Although Gao Xian didn't have a cleanliness obsession, he didn't dare to look too much.
Old Wang was napping on the bed, and when he yawned, he grumpily asked, "What are you here for, kid?"
Gao Xian encouraged himself in his heart, "Just selling some medicine, nothing to be ashamed of. It's not fake medicine..."
After mentally preparing himself, Gao Xian smiled confidently at Old Wang, "Friend, have you heard of Deer Antler Powder?"
Thank you to all the brothers and sisters for your support~ Bowing
(End of this chapter)