Chapter 107 - 106: Like Cheating
In the Great Xia Dynasty, Vice Positions mainly included Alchemists, Array Masters, Artifact Refiners, Beast Masters, and Planting Masters... They were generally divided into four levels: Low, Middle, High, and Top.
Of course, this was the classification most people knew, because when most people cultivated a Vice Position, they hovered within these few levels, unable to advance any higher.
However, after learning that the Extraordinary realm was above the Tenth Grade, Xia Wuyang came to realize that in the eyes of high-level Martial Artists, this classification was inaccurate.
In truth, the accurate classification should add the word "Mortal," just like with those Cultivation Techniques, Combat Techniques, and Secret Techniques. What ordinary people considered Low Level, Middle Level, High Level, and Top Level Cultivation and Combat Techniques... were actually just Low Level Mortal Techniques, Middle Level Mortal Techniques... all the way to Top Level Mortal Techniques.
The same was true for Alchemists. What was commonly known as a Low Level Alchemist should accurately be called a Low Level Mortal Alchemist.
Even becoming a Low Level Mortal Alchemist was a feat beyond the reach of countless Martial Artists.
By simply stepping through the gates of the Alchemy Dao and becoming a Low Level Mortal Alchemist, one could easily become an honored guest of the nobility and the wealthy. A prosperous life was a simple matter.
If one could become an Intermediate Mortal Alchemist, then attaining glory and riches would be no difficult task.
If one were to luckily reach the level of a High Level Mortal Alchemist, they would be treated with deference even by the Great Xia Royal Family and would command an extremely high status.
Thus, Xia Wuyang’s promotion to Low Level Mortal Alchemist was no easy feat. For an ordinary person, such an achievement could change their destiny.
The way of the Herbal Tomb was the orthodox path of an Alchemist. Although its primary focus was on healing the sick and saving lives, it built a solid Foundation with immense potential for future growth.
Once he became proficient, he would not only be able to perform Alchemy and create medicine, but he could also adjust Pill Formulas according to a patient’s specific condition. In his hands, the same Hemostatic Powder could be adapted into dozens of variations, each with an optimal formula for different types of injuries.
When the epiphany ended, he had solidified his cultivation as a Low Level Mortal Alchemist. His medical skills and mastery of the Alchemy Dao had both reached the appropriate level. He was now capable of diagnosing most common illnesses and refining several basic Elixirs. He could even refine Low Level Mortal Pills.
However, he had not yet attempted it. Only by successfully refining a Low Level Mortal Pill would his new status be recognized by the outside world.
He planned to consolidate his skills for a bit before making an attempt, and truly step into the ranks of a Low Level Mortal Alchemist.
Although the road to curing the Heart-devouring Poison was still long, he could finally see a glimmer of hope.
As he took stock of his gains, Xia Wuyang discovered he also had a new understanding of the Enchanting Heart Technique, as well as its various associated Combat Techniques and Secret Techniques.
A Physician’s diagnosis relied on observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, and these principles shared a remarkable similarity with how the Enchanting Heart Technique probed the minds of others.
Now, when he used the Enchanting Heart Technique, he could not only use Illusion Techniques to understand a person’s thoughts but also perceive their physical condition. This ability was quite useful when making a diagnosis.
However, with his current medical skills, he was still a long way from being able to diagnose and treat the Heart-devouring Poison. But given his rate of progress, achieving this was no longer an impossible dream.
’I should spend this time consolidating and adapting. I wonder if, by my next epiphany, I can raise both my Alchemy and medical skills to the level of an Intermediate Mortal Alchemist.’
After spending two days consolidating and adapting to the Low Level Mortal Pill Technique, Xia Wuyang began refining a Low Level Mortal Pill.
Although he had refined some basic elixirs before, they were not Entry Level and didn’t even count as Mortal Pills. They were the kind of basic elixirs mastered by alchemy apprentices.
What Xia Wuyang was about to refine was a Low Level Mortal Pill, the kind that could supply the cultivation needs of a Lower Third Grade Martial Artist. It was also known as an Entry Level Elixir, or simply a Low Level Elixir.
As night fell, Xia Wuyang returned to the Practice Room, feigning exhaustion. He bolted the stone door and, after confirming there were no prying eyes, began to refine the Low Level Mortal Pill.
Blood Replenishing Pill!
This was the Low Level Mortal Pill he was preparing to refine, and it was one of the most commonly used Elixirs for Lower Third Grade Martial Artists.
From his Personal Space, he took out an Alchemy Furnace. It was a High Level Mortal Furnace he had obtained from the Inner Treasury, which would allow him to achieve twice the results with half the effort during Alchemy.
The body of the furnace was engraved with intricate cloud patterns, shimmering with a faint glow under the light of a Luminous Pearl.
He carefully inspected the prepared herbs. They included Sanqi, Danggui, Shudi, and Goji berries... all were necessary ingredients for refining the Blood Replenishing Pill, and all of them were well-aged.
Each plant had been meticulously selected, its medicinal properties potent and full. Naturally, these too had been obtained from the Inner Treasury.
’Charcoal...’
Xia Wuyang took out some jet-black charcoal. This was a special Alchemy Carbon made from decades-old peach wood. It burned with a stable, long-lasting flame, making it very suitable for novices.
Following the instructions recorded in the Herbal Tomb, Xia Wuyang first used a Mild Fire to warm the furnace.
He lightly placed his palm on the furnace body, sensing the change in temperature within until the entire Pill Furnace was evenly heated.
Moreover, Xia Wuyang also had his Mental Force Field, making the effect even more astonishing. With the two working in tandem, there was virtually no risk of error.
’Three qian of Sanqi, need to remove its dry property!’
Xia Wuyang tossed the processed Sanqi inside. Other Alchemists could only rely on experience to gauge the situation within the furnace, but Xia Wuyang merely needed to activate his Mental Force Field to clearly perceive the condition of the herbs in the Alchemy Furnace.
Next was the Danggui. ’Danggui replenishes and invigorates the blood; it must be refined quickly with a Martial Fire!’
The furnace fire suddenly flared, and the Danggui rapidly released a rich, medicinal aroma under the high temperature.
One by one, the herbs slowly melted inside the furnace, their impurities being precisely separated.
Xia Wuyang was fully concentrated, performing each step with extreme care. Fortunately, with his Mental Force Field, he could clearly grasp every minute change in the herbs, and nothing went wrong.
Once all the main ingredients had been added, the process entered the crucial fusion stage.
The different medicinal properties clashed with each other inside the furnace. The slightest misstep would mean all his previous work was for naught.
’Shudi nourishes yin, Goji berries nourish the liver. These two must be melted slowly with a Mild Fire...’
Xia Wuyang regulated the heat, his Spiritual Power seeping in like silken threads. He activated his Mental Force Field to its fullest extent, leaving no chance for anything to go wrong.
In his perception, the various herbs seemed to transform into streams of different-colored light, weaving and winding around each other in the Alchemy Furnace.
All he needed to do was ensure these streams of light fused perfectly to form a stable Elixir structure.
With his Mental Force Field active, it was as if he had turned on a cheat code, allowing him to constantly observe the situation inside the Alchemy Furnace and make adjustments at any moment.
Before long, a strange hum emanated from the Pill Furnace. The lid trembled slightly, and a rich medicinal aroma filled the entire Practice Room.
Xia Wuyang knew this was the sign of Pill Formation and immediately activated the Enchanting Heart Technique, using his Spiritual Power to perform the final shaping.
With his Spiritual Power rating at over one hundred, its might was exceptional, and it took effect with ease.
"Condense!"
With a soft cry, the furnace lid popped open, revealing several thumb-sized, scarlet Elixirs. Each one was perfectly round and plump, its surface shimmering with a faint luster.