BLOODLINE TEMPERING: Transforming From Worm To Dragon

Chapter 73: No Wonder

"Not good! The ingredient will explode if he tossed everything in altogether!" everyone else panicked except for Tang Yun Long and the elder. But even with their degree of experience, they still find Chen Tu's peculiar pill-refining method unbelievable.

After all, pill refinement is an extremely delicate process that requires patience, concentration, and part of luck. Even the wildest and most confident alchemist out there wouldn't be seen as barbaric as the current Chen Tu.

To their surprise, the cauldron didn't explode. Furthermore, the charred smell that supposedly comes from burnt Spiritual Herbs also didn't appear. This made them question if Chen Tu really fired the cauldron enough.

But then, a delicious aroma resembling the sweetness of a freshly steamed bun came into their nose. The sweetness from the grains, beans, and yam makes their stomach growl. And unconsciously, these few people swallowed saliva and created a soft noise.

"Teacher... What..."

"Shh..."

Ting Wei and Xia Xuan-Xuan were about to open their mouth. But before they spoke the third word in their sentence, Tang Yun Long hand patted their shoulder and stopped them. He gently placed his finger over his lips and reminded them to stay quiet.

Additionally, he shook his head sideways, telling them to not interrupt until the process was over. With no other way to sate their curiosity, the rest could only obediently follow after Tang Yun Long.

They patiently watched Chen Tu as he continued with the process.

Although his Spiritual Energy was too thin to be seen with the naked eye, the Alchemic Refinement Flame used in between made it possible. Chen Tu's action was akin to how a blacksmith polished the cauldron.

His precise control over the flame allowed the rest to see how Chen Tu made the impossible possible.

Drop after drop of the watery Medicinal Essence was extracted from the pile of Spiritual Herbs. And when the extraction process was completed, Chen Tu was left with a bowl-worth of concoction.

From here, Chen Tu followed by cooking the concoction through an intense flame. Additional charcoal was added to the fireplace to give Chen Tu a hand. This means that even without the Alchemic Refinement Flame, it is still possible to successfully refine the Grain Pellet.

After seven minutes or so, the concoction finally thickened. Over a third of the Medicinal mixture has evaporated, leaving only the purest part inside the cauldron.

The overall process can be said to be completed by now. 

All Chen Tu needed was to pour the Medicinal mixture into the pill mold individually and allow the concoction to cool down. After a while, it would coagulate and harden into a standard medicinal pill.

The changes in the entire process were surprising enough. But even that couldn't change the fact that one set of ingredients could refine eight Grain Pellets. 

With this show now concluded, everyone may directly approach Chen Tu. They all had their own curiosity to satisfy, but no matter what, they had to take turns based on their hierarchy, correct?

Naturally, this means the elder would go first, followed by Tang Yun Long, then only the rest.

"How high was the success rate for this recipe?" the elder asked. This was the concern of an acknowledged alchemist. Although the result of eight pills from a cauldron is undoubtedly amazing, it would still be pointless if only Chen Tu could use this recipe.

"70-80%, teacher. I tried refining it without using Alchemic Refinement Flame, and only twenty below-standard pills appeared in ten batches." Chen Tu replied. Naturally, a quarter of the total will appears as reject pills if a newcomer tries to follow the recipe.

"Alright. Yun Long, its your turn." the elder looks satisfied with the answer. He then closed his eyes before going into his own deep thought.

"Youngest junior brother." Tang Yun Long said. 

"My question is very simple. Just tell me why you're adding in the Spiritual River Rock Beans. Was it to increase the success rate?" he asked. It seems that his interest lies in how to ensure the success rate.

"No, eldest senior brother. The Rock Beans' function was not to increase the success rate but the number of pills in one batch. I select this Spiritual Herb because it goes harmoniously with the Spiritual Grains and Mountain Yam." Chen Tu answered the question in his own way.

But the answer does not end there.

"Most importantly, eldest senior brother... It's taste is much better than before." Chen Tu gently whispered.

"Pu!" the elder laughed.

(This brat... Still had the time to adjust the taste of the concoction before everything else...)

The elder shook his head slightly and continued what he had in mind.

"My turn!" Ting Wei pulled Chen Tu to his side.

"Can the ingredient still be used after they sprouted? Won't that makes them spoil much faster?" Ting Wei asked.

"Ah!!! You asked the question I had!" Xia Xuan-Xuan naughtily fisted Ting Wei's back to express her unhappiness. Of course, it was done deliberately. Being the naughtiest amongst them, she would always be the first for all these childish ideas.

"Actually, second senior brother... The sprouted ingredient makes the extraction process easier. This should be the answer that the eldest senior brother wanted." Chen Tu smiled while he answered the question.

Per his answer, the main reason for the success rate is not the Spiritual River Rock Beans but the sprouted grains. Allowing the grains to germinate enhanced their medicinal value and made the ingredient tolerate more heat.

Since the fire-retardent ability had grown, the ingredient naturally had more time to release its Medicinal Essence. And this is where the Rock Beans came into effect. Because the component had higher water content, that would naturally go over to the grains and yam when you refine them at one go." Chen Tu explained.

"No wonder!" Tang Yun Long, Ting Wei, and Xia Xuan-Xuan punched their other palm after the explanation. But Li Sheng Jie and Peng Yiyuan, Chen Tu's fourth and fifth senior brothers, had difficulty understanding it.

That was natural. After all, the Pill Refining potential inside these two youngsters is yet to be triggered. Furthermore, they're like Qin Lei and more focused on cultivation.

"It's my turn next! Would there be a Two-Star Pill inside the eight Grain Pellet you refined?" Xia Xuan-Xuan asked. Her question immediately piqued everyone's interest.