Chapter 82: Casual Stir-Frying
If one has real skills, then they dare to talk big.
Zhang Daoming, as a Spirit Alchemist, had no small amount of ability and was confident that he could lead Chen Xia into the path of alchemy and let him have a glimpse of its secrets.
His natal alchemy fire was lit beneath the furnace, burning together with the alchemy fires of the other three people.
This was the first step in alchemy, heating the furnace.
Only by heating the alchemy furnace could the medicinal properties in the medicinal materials be fully volatilized and fused into pills.
However, it couldn't be too hot either, or else the medicinal materials would be burned and melted.
The four of them were concentrating intently and had no spare thoughts. Their hands moved quickly as they orderly put the medicinal materials beside them into the furnace one by one.
The whole process emphasized that meticulous work yields fine results and couldn't be rushed.
The medicinal materials needed to be refined in the furnace for a long time. Only after the medicinal properties were fully volatilized could they proceed to the next crucial step of forming the pills.
Some disciples who were devoted to studying the alchemy path watched beside them, completely entranced. They felt that every step of the elders' alchemy process was an inspiration to them and that they had gained a lot.
Chen Xia, on the other hand, couldn't get into it at all. He felt a bit bored, stretched himself, and went back to his iron pan. He sat there crookedly, leaning against the iron pan, looking completely lazy as if he were half-dead.
The watching disciples were surprised and glanced at Chen Xia. They didn't expect Chen Xia to be so casual about alchemy and didn't seem very interested.
Then why did he still come to this alchemy place?
The disciples couldn't understand it.
The time for volatilizing the medicinal properties was quite long, just like when untying the three or four buttons at the back of a woman's bellyband, it always felt extremely long when undoing them.
Chen Xia looked up at the sky. There was a slight change up there.
A tiny bolt of thunder was spreading.
According to what was written in the books, it should be the pill thunder before the pills were formed.
Pills that could trigger pill thunder were quite good among the Dao pills.
The tiny bolt of thunder grew bigger and bigger, and the others also noticed this change and started shouting one after another.
"Pill thunder! It's actually pill thunder! Elder Zhang and the other three can really refine the Guanxuan Pill!"
"This... This is too amazing! They can actually trigger the image of pill thunder. As expected, they are worthy of being the famous Spirit Alchemists in the sect!"
"If they can form the pills, then they will really be considered to have half-stepped into the threshold of being Dao Alchemists. Their future is limitless!"
"..."
The words of the watching disciples were full of surprise.
The expressions of Zhang Daoming and the other three became even more nervous. Their eyes were fixed firmly on the furnace, preparing to condense the volatilized medicinal materials in it into pills.
This was the most difficult process in alchemy. There couldn't be the slightest flaw. They didn't have the energy to be distracted by other things either. The four of them joined forces and tightly controlled the furnace.
Chen Xia took out the scraps of pills he had picked up from his pocket, remembered the pill formula of the four people, and sorted out the scraps of each medicinal material.
He opened his mouth and spat out a crimson flying sword. The blade of the sword was a sharpened lava tooth that was still emitting flames.
This crimson flying sword was a Dao Artifact. Even in Chen Xia's body, there were only nineteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, so it was rather precious.
The crimson flying sword turned upside down and hovered beneath the iron pan, starting to heat the pan.
Chen Xia imitated the techniques of the four pill elders, put the scraps of materials into the pan one by one, and slowly cooked them, quietly waiting for the medicinal properties to volatilize.
Generally speaking, without an alchemy furnace, it would be impossible to suppress the medicinal effects, so the medicinal effects would scatter in all directions and flow between heaven and earth, and the pills refined would naturally be of poor quality.
But Chen Xia was different because he was lucky.
Sometimes, something mysterious was enough to explain everything.
The medicinal properties didn't flow around in heaven and earth but stayed obediently in the iron pan.
Chen Xia crossed his arms, waited boredly, and then looked towards Zhang Daoming and the other three.
This was the most critical moment.
Zhang Daoming clenched his teeth tightly. His wrinkled and aged face was as taut as that of an eighteen-year-old. He was sweating profusely, his face flushed red.
The other three were also having a hard time. They had used all their tricks, but still hadn't managed to condense the pills.
The expressions of the disciples watching from not far away were also furrowed with worry as they said.
"Has the process of the elders forming the pills been going on for too long? The pill qi is going to stagnate!"
"The pill thunder has been slow to fall and even seems to be fading away. It's a bit iffy for the elders to form the pills this time."
"Shocking: The elders actually did this and angered the thunder in the sky!"
"..."
"Everyone, put in more effort and don't hold back. As long as we can form the pills this time, we can take another step forward on the alchemy path!"
Zhang Daoming roared loudly, his neck turning bright red.
The other three had already used all their supernatural powers. Even Pi Hu of the Witch Clan had sacrificed his natal magic weapon, but there was still no sign of the pills being formed.
The pill thunder in the sky was slowly fading away, changing from a web-like bolt of thunder to just a few tiny streaks of pill thunder.
It was already too late to turn things around.
Beads of sweat as big as beans slid down Zhang Daoming's forehead. His face was full of unwillingness. He gritted his teeth tightly, his eyes widened, and he kept forming seals with his hands.
He was unwilling to give up. He wanted to make one last attempt!
There were thirteen seals in the alchemy path. He could only form the first six seals before. Now, he forcibly formed the seventh seal, not hesitating to sacrifice his cultivation realm just to hold onto this pill thunder!
Pi Hu and the other two had disbelief in their eyes. They didn't expect Zhang Daoming to be so desperate.
Suddenly, the pill thunder in the sky exploded in size. The few tiny streaks turned into thick, web-like ones and were still expanding, covering several miles of the sky.
"The pill thunder is back, and it's even more violent than before. The elders have a chance to form the pills!"
"With such violent pill thunder, the pills formed will definitely be top-quality and priceless!"
The excited discussions among the disciples continued.
Pi Hu and the other two also had joy on their faces.
Only Zhang Daoming was a bit puzzled because the pill thunder had come back before he could even form the seventh seal.
Could it be that it was okay even without finishing forming the alchemy seals?
Zhang Daoming shook his head, not thinking about it anymore. The most urgent thing was to form the pills. There was almost no time left, and he had to seize the opportunity.
The four of them shouted loudly, used their supernatural powers, and applied their respective techniques to wrap the pills in the alchemy furnace and form them.
The pill thunder in the sky became even more violent, accompanied by the howling of the wind, indicating that it was about to strike down.
The four of them were excited, their hearts surging, and even their bodies couldn't help trembling slightly.
The pill thunder rang out for the first time.
It was a loud and clear clap of thunder.
Then the sky turned completely white, as if there was a flash of light between heaven and earth.
The pill thunder fell!
Zhang Daoming and the other three had excited expressions on their faces, looking forward eagerly. They couldn't wait even before the pills were formed.
Two breaths later.
The excited expressions on their faces froze completely.
Because the pill thunder didn't fall on them, and their alchemy furnace had exploded.
Their pills were ruined!
Then where did the pill thunder fall? Where was the good pill?
The four of them reacted and quickly started looking.
The good pill wasn't hard to find at all because the abundant colorful pill qi was shining brightly high up, indicating the high quality of this pill.
However, under the abundant pill qi, there was only half a pill.
This wasn't the most absurd thing yet.
The most absurd thing was that this half a pill was on a spatula.
And the person holding the spatula, needless to say, was Chen Xia.
The four elders and the watching disciples were all dumbfounded.
A faint smile hung on Chen Xia's lips as he said softly.
"Just casually stir-fried it."