CHAPTER 976: CHAPTER 973: FUSION

"Elder Jiang, I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I’ve always been lazy and can’t stand being restrained by rules." Lin Tian refused. He disliked being bound by regulations and had no desire to be a leader.

Jiang Xiu Ying didn’t get angry due to his refusal; instead, she calmly said, "You won’t face any restraints. Everything will remain as before; you just need to continuously improve your medicinal skills, that’s all."

"I can do that. Alchemy is an interesting endeavor, and I will certainly keep enhancing my skills. Moreover, I believe no obstacle can stop my progress." Lin Tian confidently stated.

"Good. Young people need that kind of vigor. Since that’s the case, how about completing the final steps of the Shaoyang Pill? Once done, you’ll be a true Pharmacist, a junior apothecary." Jiang Xiu Ying smiled slightly.

Lin Tian blinked and said, "Now? Not now."

Everyone was surprised, wondering how his boastful words turned into retreat so swiftly.

"Uh, esteemed seniors and lovely ladies, I stayed up all night and haven’t had a single grain. My stomach is already starving; you must let me eat. Just like a horse needs a full belly to run fast." Lin Tian said rubbing his stomach.

"In the excitement, I almost forgot." Jiang Xiu Ying suddenly realized.

With Wang Wanxi around, there was no worry about food. One directive from her, and a variety of delicacies was served. Lin Tian couldn’t care less about maintaining his image in front of the beauties and started eating heartily.

After the feast, Lin Tian commenced the final phase of his alchemy work.

He first brought down the materials from the rooftop, selecting the purest medicinal essences from them and arranging them neatly beside the cauldron.

Others focused intently on Lin Tian’s alchemy process. Jiang Xiu Ying solemnly said, "Fusion is the most crucial step in turning ingredients into an elixir, also the most complex. It requires precise control of fire, to harmonize the properties of each ingredient so they merge perfectly, finally forming the elixir."

"Once junior brother crafts the Shaoyang Pill, his grasp on refining the Yin Yang Life Elixir will be much greater." Zi Yan seemed to murmur to herself, yet also explained to Wang Wanxi and Yun Xiaotian.

Lin Tian understood the importance of fusion. He specifically chose the highest purity medicinal essences to maximize fusion success.

He closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, a blue light flickered deep within. Lin Tian had activated the Eye of Clarity, enveloping the entire cauldron in his vision, capturing all internal changes within his mind.

During extraction, Lin Tian started with the primary ingredients, but for fusion, the sequence must reverse. He picked up a bottle of pale yellow powder and first added it to the cauldron, then ignited the charcoal inside the furnace.

The blue flames heated the cauldron, and under the heat, the pale yellow powder’s color deepened gradually. After several minutes, it transformed entirely into a golden hue.

As the powder turned golden, Lin Tian quickly added the second medicinal powder. The white powder and golden powder melded together, and under heating, surprisingly transformed into a purple-gold hue.

Lin Tian closely monitored the changes inside the cauldron through his vision and wasn’t distracted by the alteration in the medicine’s color.

Jiang Xiu Ying nodded approvingly, stating, "Very good. The first step of fusion was excellent. But this involves only two ingredients; more ingredients will follow, truly testing the Pharmacist’s skills."

Zi Yan, Wang Wanxi, and others watched Lin Tian’s operation tensely, whereas Lin Tian appeared more relaxed as if it wasn’t him doing the alchemy.

Though Lin Tian seemed relaxed, his spiritual power was fully engaged. It was his first alchemical attempt, and he wouldn’t allow himself to fail.

With many ingredients, control becomes challenging because each requires different temperatures for fusion and their properties harmonizing. Lin Tian was fully aware, yet still proceeded boldly to add ingredients.

When the third ingredient was added, an aroma suddenly wafted to his nose, causing Lin Tian to tighten up and quickly reduce the flame’s intensity.

Sigh...

Lin Tian let out a breath; he nearly failed just now. During alchemy, a slight scent escape is normal, but if one doesn’t control the fire when the aroma appears, it’s too late when it escapes abundantly.

If a significant aroma escapes, it implies the fire inside the cauldron is too fierce and the reactions too intense, which is unfavourable for forming an elixir and commonly leads to the failure of alchemy.

Harmonize, harmonize, focus on "harmony." Through regulation, all properties blend smoothly together, being a crucial principle for novice Pharmacists.

Due to novices lacking experience, their control is weak, leading to excessively intense fusion, possibly losing control and resulting in failure. In the Pharmacist’s notes, Oda Manaka clearly delineates the principles of alchemy, and Lin Tian, of course, remembers them well.

Once the third ingredient was added, the original purple-gold color faded back to gold.

The fusion of the third ingredient finally succeeded; Lin Tian felt a slight joy, yet didn’t dwell long and promptly added the fourth medicinal essence.

The Shaoyang Pill consists of ten ingredients, including Shaoyang Grass. As Lin Tian added each ingredient, Zi Yan and others held their breath in tension until successful fusion, finally daring to breathe deeply.

"It’s to the Iron Bone Grass now, Lin Tian, you must hold on. This alchemy attempt is crucial for you; whether you can successfully promote to junior apothecary depends on your perseverance and skill," Jiang Xiu Ying solemnly stated.

The promotion from apprentice to junior apothecary holds significant meaning, marking the beginning of a Pharmacist’s journey. Moreover, the success of one alchemical attempt is critically revealing, providing Pharmacists insights unattainable from any books or elder’s teachings.

With this gleaned success experience, a Pharmacist’s chance for success in subsequent attempts greatly soared, distinguishing junior apothecaries from apprentices hugely.

Pharmacist apprentices lack successful alchemical experience, preventing them from comprehending such insights.

Jiang Xiu Ying understood this profoundly, knowing Lin Tian certainly comprehended this as well.

Lin Tian indeed understood, but at this moment, success or failure thoughts were absent from his mind, with only a single intention: continually controlling the fire, harmonizing properties to gradually blend together.

"Iron Bone Grass, succeeded!" Zi Yan couldn’t help but exclaim softly, then immediately realized her exclamation might disturb Lin Tian and quickly pressed her slender fingers against her red lips.

If Lin Tian turned his head slightly to glance at Zi Yan now, he’d be awe-struck by her captivating demeanor. Her beautiful eyes reflected Lin Tian’s image, slightly showcasing surprise. Her fair and slender fingers and rosy lips incredibly alluring, her charming face flushed with excitement, a distinct allure from her usual mature elegance.