70: Alchemy

Chen Linsheng sat cross-legged in his underwater Immortal Cave at the bottom of the river, the faint light on the four walls shimmering like water, reflecting his focused face.

He did not rush to start, but instead solemnly took two items from his robes.

One was a thin booklet with slightly curled corners, titled "Basic Introduction to Alchemy" on the cover.

This was obtained from the Water Patrol Division's warehouse by spending one of the three minor merit points he had earned from hunting the Jade Water Toad.

Originally, he thought Alchemy involved finding a Pill Furnace and controlling the heat, but upon opening this book, he realized the methods recorded within were vastly different from what he had imagined.

The methods described in the book were completely different from those of mundane craftsmen; they pointed directly at a Martial Artist's Origin.

There were three methods, all of which used oneself as the Foundation and did not rely on external tools.

The first was called Weapon Evil Qi Tempering.

It focused on channeling the murderous Evil Qi nurtured within one's own weapons, or absorbing the aura from special ominous lands in the world to temper the medicinal properties.

Medicinal Pills refined through this method often carried a sense of sharpness, capable of breaking through barriers or increasing killing power, possessing a unique edge.

However, controlling Evil Qi was like driving a ferocious poisonous snake; one slip-up would not only destroy the Medicinal Pill but also damage one's own mind. It required a profound understanding of one's weapon and microscopic control to attempt.

The second was called Qi and Blood as Fuel.

There were two paths: one was "Blood Guidance," using one's own essence blood as a guide to enhance the spirituality and compatibility of the Medicinal Pill with oneself.

The other was "Body Furnace," which involved activating a special technique like the "Qi and Blood Furnace," using one's own boundless Qi and Blood as Fuel to directly melt the medicinal power, saving the trouble of external objects with extremely high efficiency.

This method placed extremely harsh requirements on a Martial Artist's vigor of Qi and blood and the strength of their physique.

The third was the profound True Intent Smelting.

This method was the most advanced and also the most difficult.

It required the Martial Artist to comprehend their own Martial Dao True Intent, striking a sliver of that True Intent into the medicinal power, using intent to govern the medicine, controlling its birth, death, and transformation, and even replacing water and fire for nurturing.

Medicinal Pills refined through this method contained a sliver of Martial Dao True Intent and possessed extraordinary Divine Effects.

However, the words "True Intent" represented an extremely high martial arts Realm, usually requiring the visualization of a Divine Intent Diagram, or a Cultivation Technique that pointed directly to True Intent to be reached. For instance, the Nine Nether Cold Prison Art mentioned by his Master required the assistance of a Divine Intent Diagram.

It could not be attained without great Opportunity and great Comprehension Ability.

Chen Linsheng's fingertips brushed across the pages as he weighed his options.

"True Intent Smelting is too ethereal; it's still too early for me."

"As for 'Body Furnace' within Qi and Blood as Fuel, although I have the ability of the 'Qi and Blood Furnace,' this is my first attempt and my control might not be precise enough. 'Blood Guidance' consumes one's innate essence blood, which is not a good strategy."

His gaze finally landed on the Solid Iron Long Spear he carried with him.

The shaft of the spear was dark, as if it had drunk its fill of blood, faintly exuding a cold aura of slaughter.

Having followed him through suppressing bandits, hunting beasts, and fighting Essence Spirits, this spear had long since internalized Evil Qi. Coupled with his Tracking Perfection and keen perception of auras, controlling this invisible Evil Qi might give him an advantage over others.

"Weapon Evil Qi Tempering it is!"

With his mind made up, Chen Linsheng no longer hesitated.

He took out another palm-sized grey cloth bag—the "flesh bag" gifted by Senior Brother Shi Poyue, which contained an internal space to keep flesh and blood fresh.

With a thought, several Materials appeared before him: a small piece of Jade Water Toad flesh, a few stalks of "Red Blood Grass" and "Qi-Nourishing Roots" he usually kept prepared, and most importantly, that deep purple, medicinally potent Toad Venom.

Following the recipe for the "blood essence pill" in the book, he used the edge of his palm like a blade, exerting precise force to chop and grind the Materials, mixing them evenly with the Toad Venom.

Then, with his palms cupped together, his boundless Qi and blood surged between them, constructing an invisible "Qi and Blood Furnace" that steadily held the mixed medicinal powder within.

Immediately after, he grasped the cold shaft of the Solid Iron Long Spear with his right hand and closed his eyes to concentrate.

Moments of the spear breaking waves, piercing the throats of Water Bandits, and striking the giant eyes of the Jade Water Toad flashed through his mind.

His spiritual sense from Tracking Perfection was pushed to the limit, and he clearly "saw" it—wisps of black-red, seemingly sentient, ferocious Evil Qi, like poisonous snakes coiling around the spear, slowly slithering from the tip and shaft.

"Come!"

He silently recited the mantra in his heart, his concentration highly focused. Like a most skilled fisherman, he cautiously guided the thinnest wisp of Evil Qi away from the spear.

That wisp of black-red Evil Qi seemed to possess a spirit of its own. Under his precise guidance, it meandered toward the "Qi and Blood Furnace" between his palms.

The moment the Evil Qi touched the medicinal powder—

"Sizzle!"

A faint sound, barely audible, like cold water dropping into boiling oil.

The originally calm medicinal powder suddenly tumbled and contracted violently. Under the tempering of the Evil Qi, its color rapidly became pure and dark, and a medicinal power fluctuation that was both scorching and sharp spread out, impacting the invisible walls of the Qi and Blood Furnace.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Chen Linsheng's forehead as his entire mind was devoted to controlling the intensity and penetration of that wisp of Evil Qi.

He could feel the Impurities within the medicinal powder being ruthlessly torn apart and annihilated by the Evil Qi, while the essence was forced to merge tightly under the immense pressure.

This process was extremely taxing on his mind. Had it not been for his solid Hunyuan True Body Foundation and stable Qi and blood, he would have likely been unable to continue.

Time passed bit by bit. In the Immortal Cave, there was only the sound of his steady breathing and the faint humming of the medicinal power under the tempering of the Evil Qi.

After an unknown amount of time, the medicinal powder in his palms finally disappeared completely, replaced by three pills the size of longan fruit. Their surfaces were slightly coarse, yet they were dark red throughout, faintly emitting a sharp fluctuation of Qi and blood as they floated quietly.

It's done! blood essence pills!

And they were blood essence pills refined through the Weapon Evil Qi Tempering method, containing a sliver of the sharpness of Evil Qi!

Chen Linsheng slowly dissipated the Qi and blood in his palms, and the three still-warm pills fell into his hand.

He sensed them carefully. The power of Qi and blood contained within the pills seemed to have an extra bit of penetrating sharpness compared to the standard blood essence pills described in the book, and their medicinal properties were even more overbearing.

"To think I could succeed in refining three pills on my first attempt..." Chen Linsheng let out a long breath, his eyes unable to hide his joy and exhaustion. "This Weapon Evil Qi Tempering method is truly miraculous!"

He looked at the spirit book again, and as expected, a new Skill had appeared on it.

Alchemy!

[Skill: Alchemy (Initiate)]

[Progress: (0/500)]

[Divine Effect: Initial sense of heat, analysis of medicinal properties. Preliminary mastery of fire control techniques, able to perceive subtle changes in the temperature of the Pill Furnace. Enhanced intuitive understanding of the properties, age, and compatibility of medicinal Materials, with reduced loss during processing. Can stably refine mortal grade middle and Low Grade Medicinal Pills.]