While cleaning up the mess, Zhang Yuan pondered why the refining had failed!
Is the problem with the induction cooker and the pot?
It's probably neither of those. Fuji can use an induction cooker and a pot to refine the Foundation Building Pill, and the materials, cooking methods, and even the wattage of the induction cooker he uses are all based on the methods provided by Fuji!
Could it be a problem with the Ganoderma lucidum?
The Ganoderma lucidum used in the Bu Er version is 30 years old, while the wild Ganoderma lucidum he used is even older, Zhang Yuan estimates it should be over 100 years old!
Moreover, the pot started boiling after he added the Ganoderma lucidum.
Could it be that my Ganoderma lucidum was too potent, causing it to overheat and explode?
Zhang Yuan felt that this was very likely!
After cleaning up the waste and washing the stainless steel pot again, Zhang Yuan began his second alchemy session.
Add 750ml of water, sesame seeds, and licorice root, and simmer for ten minutes.
...
When it came to adding Ganoderma lucidum, Zhang Yuan deliberately reduced the amount of Ganoderma lucidum used this time, about one-third less than the first time.
After adding the Ganoderma lucidum, the black paste in the pot started to churn again, but the force was much weaker than the first time, which seemed to confirm Zhang Yuan's guess.
After simmering for ten minutes, a faint burnt smell came from the pot. Zhang Yuan didn't know what to do. The book said to simmer for about fifteen minutes and then add the honey.
The burnt smell is getting stronger!
Five minutes later, Zhang Yuan poured the honey into the pot and simmered it for another five minutes to reduce the liquid!
Turn off the induction cooker and open the pot lid.
The mushy residue in the pot has completely stuck to the bottom! Neither the pale golden Foundation Establishment Pill described in the Alchemy Notes nor the unique black pill mass has appeared!
Zhang Yuan broke off a small piece of the paste stuck to the bottom of the pot and tasted it. It was sweet, but it didn't have a strong spiritual energy!
Depend on!
Another failure!
Zhang Yuan let out a sigh of relief, rubbed his temples, and pouted as he looked at the blackish-gold paste that was firmly stuck to the bottom of the pot, wondering which part of the process had gone wrong!
During the refining process, to enhance the pill's effectiveness, Zhang Yuan referenced the materials used by the Immortal Zhengyang in refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, adding an extra ingredient: licorice. However, the simplified Foundation Establishment Pill by Bu Er did not contain this herb.
Did you add licorice, which is why 750ml of water wasn't enough?
Alas! Alchemy is so difficult!
Zhang Yuan cleaned the clump of residue from the bottom of the pot, washed the stainless steel pot, and wondered whether he should try again.
Each failed attempt to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill costs thousands of yuan, which is too high for Zhang Yuan, a small farmer. He has already poured all his meager living expenses into refining the Foundation Establishment Pill!
It's almost eleven o'clock before I knew it.
Zhang Yuan didn't even eat breakfast because he was busy refining pills!
At this point, half of the various herbs had already been used up.
Never mind!
One last try. If it still fails, then I'll stop trying!
Screw alchemy!
Zhang Yuan composed himself and began refining the Foundation Establishment Pill again.
Add 750ml of water, or maybe 800ml, add sesame seeds and licorice, and simmer for ten minutes.
...
One ounce of Ganoderma lucidum!
Simmer for fifteen minutes!
While simmering, Zhang Yuan kept an eye on the pot. After adding the Ganoderma lucidum, the pot boiled again. After about eleven minutes, the water in the pot was running low. Worried that it would burn again, Zhang Yuan added some mineral water to the pot.
After cooking for fifteen minutes, Zhang Yuan started adding the raw honey.
This time, he didn't pour the honey in all at once, but added it little by little, stirring constantly with chopsticks.
As the black paste began to solidify with the addition of honey, Zhang Yuan adjusted the induction cooker to 1000 watts.
As honey was added, the paste in the pot gradually turned pale golden and solidified into a small lump.
The paste-like substance emits a unique fragrance that refreshes the mind and body.
After reducing the sauce for 5 minutes, Zhang Yuan turned off the induction cooker and let the paste in the pot cool down. Then he took a piece with his hand and put it in his mouth.
It has a subtle sweetness and a rich spiritual energy!
Ha ha!
Did it work?!
Zhang Yuan was so excited he almost jumped up.
The pale golden paste in the pot was about the size of a thumb. After cooling, it became oval-shaped, slightly soft to the touch, and had a faint herbal aroma.
He carefully took out the Foundation Establishment Pill and placed it in a specially prepared bowl.
Following the method of the second version, the Foundation Establishment Pill is now complete. However, according to the method in "Notes on Alchemy", this pill is only a semi-finished product. It is necessary to place the initially refined pill outdoors for 14 days to allow it to fully absorb the essence of the sun and moon.
Only then can it be considered a true Foundation Establishment Pill.
After playing with the Foundation Establishment Pill he had initially refined for a while, Zhang Yuan felt a little hungry. He put away the remaining herbs in his cabinet, then poured out the residue in the pot and took it to the bathroom to clean it.
Zhang Yuangang wiped the water off the stainless steel pot and put it in the cabinet. Xie Feng, carrying a black backpack, returned to the dormitory.
He returned to school from home ahead of schedule.
"What's that smell? It's so strong, like herbs!"
Xie Feng walked into the dormitory, sniffed the air, and gently pinched his nose with his hand.
He put down his bag and looked around the dormitory, but found nothing unusual. Finally, his gaze fell on Zhang Yuan.
"Zhang Yuan, are you brewing some kind of herbal medicine in your dorm?!"
Xie Feng asked.
Her eyes darted around on Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan smiled awkwardly. He hadn't expected Xie Feng to return to school early. Fortunately, he had already finished refining the pills and packed everything up.
If Xie Feng were to see them in the act, he would definitely bombard them with questions!
Zhang Yuan was fortunate that he had cleaned up in time.
He had a sudden inspiration and said, "Yes, I haven't been feeling well these past few days, so I brewed some traditional Chinese medicine."
Zhang Yuan felt guilty and his eyes darted around nervously.
Xie Feng looked Zhang Yuan up and down.
This guy has a rosy complexion, clear and bright eyes, and looks perfectly healthy. He doesn't seem sick at all.
At this moment, Xie Feng suddenly thought of something: Zhang Yuan seemed to be very averse to girls. He wouldn't even glance at the prettiest girl in the class, and his attitude was extremely cold!
Could it be...?
Ha ha!
Xie Feng, as if he had discovered a big secret, said slyly, "You don't actually have a problem in that area, do you?"
In which aspect?
Zhang Yuan was dumbfounded by Xie Feng's question, his face full of question marks.
"That aspect!"
Xie Feng grinned slyly, his eyes scanning back and forth between Zhang Yuan's groin.
Zhang Yuan seemed to understand. His face flushed red as he said seriously, "What are you thinking? I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!"
Then, his gaze unconsciously drifted to the small celadon bowl containing the Foundation Establishment Pill on his desk. Afraid that Xie Feng would discover it, he stepped forward, covered the celadon bowl, and mysteriously left the dormitory.
Seeing Zhang Yuan's hurried attempts to deny the situation, while he was mysteriously clutching a small bowl, Xie Feng became even more convinced of his suspicions.
He watched Zhang Yuan's departing figure, laughed heartily, then shook his head and sighed: "Alas, to have such a problem at such a young age, Zhang Yuan is quite pitiful!"
Zhang Yuan carried the small bowl to the rooftop of the dormitory on the 6th floor, wanting to find a place to store the Foundation Establishment Pill. However, he found that this place did not seem suitable. Putting a bowl on the rooftop would be too easy for someone to find. What if he ran into that cheating couple again and they took it?
This was a precious Foundation Establishment Pill that he had painstakingly refined at great expense and with a great deal of effort!
Thinking of this, he left the rooftop again.
He decided it would be safer to leave the Foundation Establishment Pill in the pile of rocks behind the school where he often practiced his skills.
The back hill of Tongcheng University.
The mountains and forests were dense and rarely visited by people. Zhang Yuan mysteriously covered a small bowl, then slipped into the grove and came to a pile of blue rocks.
This place is rich in spiritual energy, making it an ideal location to store Foundation Establishment Pills.
Zhang Yuan searched among the pile of stones and finally found a secluded spot. He hid the bowl under a stone cave, which would shelter it from the wind and rain.
Before leaving, he moved several large stones to block the small cave so that small animals wouldn't steal it.
After putting away the Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhang Yuan felt relieved and went down the mountain with a light heart.
...
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