Chapter 3481 — A Continuous Breakthrough in Strength
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
After that, the medicine cauldron began to warm slowly; after roughly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, it finally eased into the alchemy state.
Under Han Jingyi's ingenious modifications, the automatic Divine Farmer's Medicine Cauldron needed only a steady flow of true qi from its operator, and its internal programs would adjust flame and temperature on their own. Surplus true qi was stored in the energy stones beneath the cauldron; and if, at the very end when the elixir was nearly complete, the true qi ran dry, then upon detecting the shortage the cauldron would automatically draw on the reserve true qi in the energy stones to make up the shortfall!
Still, this was of little use to Wei Zhao—unless he were refining elixirs above his level, such that his own physical strength and true qi could not supply and sustain the process within the given time, would the energy stones' power be activated to supplement it!
Seen from that angle, Han Jingyi's design did have its uses.
The ingredients within the cauldron, driven by the elixir fire generated from true qi, began to change bit by bit. The process was slow and gentle, utterly imperceptible to an ordinary person—and yet it was precisely this process that alchemists savored most.
Only, Wei Zhao could savor none of it! He had no idea what was going on inside the cauldron at all; all he watched was the tablet computer beside him!
Time trickled away. Wei Zhao needed only to feed in pure energy and consider nothing else, while on the screen the countdown crept down……
At last, with a final clear hum, the elixir refinement was declared finished!
"Phew—" The whole process had been calm and uneventful, with no mishaps to speak of, and yet Wei Zhao was still terribly nervous. After all, this was his first time refining elixirs with the automatic Divine Farmer's Medicine Cauldron, and he was refining Qi-Gathering Elixirs at that—five portions of ingredients! If he botched it, he would not even have time to cry!
He gathered his wits, steadied his breathing a little, and only then rose to his feet and opened the Divine Farmer's Medicine Cauldron before him.
The instant the lid was lifted, a rich medicinal fragrance spread through the entire jade pendant space. Wei Zhao took a single shallow breath of it and at once felt clear-headed and refreshed, his heart at ease.
Judging by the look of things, this ought to count as a success?
Full of anticipation, Wei Zhao leaned in and peered inside the cauldron. Sure enough, seven Qi-Gathering Elixirs lay quietly within, each plump and full, their fragrance spilling everywhere……
Success!
The quality of the Qi-Gathering Elixirs was extremely high—comparable, one might say, to those found in Zhang Lifeng's ancient tomb. Wei Zhao took one out and examined it: it was indeed no ordinary specimen!
"Jingjing, let's start taking them now. This stuff…… well, it doesn't need to be eaten hot, but the sooner you take it, the sooner your strength will rise!" Wei Zhao said to Han Jingyi.
"Mm-hm. Then let's take it together!" Han Jingyi picked up a Qi-Gathering Elixir as well.
"Oh, right, Jingjing—it would be best if we took them separately, because when a Qi-Gathering Elixir triggers a breakthrough, the clothes on your body will likely be blown to shreds. It'd be a bit awkward for the two of us……" A rather serious problem had suddenly occurred to Wei Zhao.
"That's all right!" Han Jingyi said, utterly unconcerned. "Jingjing belongs to Brother Wei Zhao anyway—it doesn't matter if you see. Or is Brother Wei Zhao afraid of Jingjing looking?"
"Uh…… that's not it." Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback, but since Han Jingyi did not mind, he might as well stop being prim about it. He drew the curtains and said to her, "In that case, we may as well take all our clothes off—otherwise they'll just get blown to bits in a moment anyway."