Bai Xifeng centered herself, mentally preparing to dive into the world of alchemy. Sensing her readiness, Baishe materialized a cauldron for her use. It was a heavy, obsidian-black vessel that seemed to swallow the light around it. Curiously, a pale, silver crescent moon was etched into its side, shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow.
However, Bai Xifeng was far too focused on the task at hand to admire the craftsmanship. She turned her attention to Baishe, her expression a mix of determination and slight nerves.
"Alright, I'm ready. What's the first step in this process?" Bai Xifeng asked.
"Here is the detailed recipe for the antidote to the first layer of poison. Read every word with the utmost care." Baishe said, handing a weathered slip of paper to her.
Bai Xifeng took the parchment and began to scan the contents. Her eyes widened, and her brow furrowed in disbelief.
"What the hell? Is this alchemy or a cooking class?" Bai Xifeng snapped, spinning around to face Baishe. "'Dice the mushrooms into small cubes. Smash them into a paste. Simmer for twenty minutes. Are you absolutely certain this is a medicinal antidote and not a recipe for mushroom soup?"
"It is indeed the recipe. Read the rest of the instructions properly and stop complaining." Baishe replied, giving her a sharp, impatient glare.
Bai Xifeng returned to the paper, but the more she read, the more her head began to throb. The instructions grew increasingly bizarre and technically demanding.
"Inject your Qi into the cauldron during the brewing process?" Bai Xifeng looked up, her face blank. "I don't even understand what that means in a physical sense."
"Exactly what it says. You must channel your internal energy into the vessel to stabilize the reaction." Baishe explained.
"Baishe, as I have mentioned before, I come from a world built on modern science and logic. Magic, Qi, and 'internal energy' don't exist where I'm from. I seriously have no idea how to even begin 'channeling' anything." Bai Xifeng said, crossing her arms.
Baishe fell silent for a moment, his golden eyes blinking as he processed her dilemma. He had neglected to consider that her soul lacked the basic instincts of a cultivator from this realm.
"I see... I suppose I will have to guide you through the sensation." Baishe nodded. "But first, prepare the physical ingredients. And take note, if you fail the brewing process, the herbs will be incinerated. You will lose the materials and have to start from scratch."
That sentence caused Bai Xifeng to freeze mid-motion. The expensive herbs she had just spent eighty percent of her gold on would be wasted? Absolutely not! In her mind, herbs equaled money, and money was essentially her lifeblood. The thought of her hard-earned gold going up in smoke was more terrifying than any beast.
Suddenly, she became incredibly diligent. She handled the herbs with the precision of a master scientist conducting a high-stakes lab experiment. Back in her world, she had started by working for major corporations, but once she realized they were selling her life-saving products at a massive markup while paying her peanuts, she had struck out on her own. She had learned the value of every milligram of material.
Baishe watched her in silence. He noticed that the moment she began her work, her playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating focus.
"What about the heat source?" Bai Xifeng asked suddenly, looking at the base of the black cauldron.
"For this specific antidote, a standard flame will suffice. However, if you could produce a fire fueled by Qi, the purity of the result would be significantly higher." Baishe explained.
"I see," Bai Xifeng nodded, her mind already calculating the temperatures. "But is it even safe to light a fire inside this room? My courtyard is not exactly private. If smoke starts billowing out of the windows, the whole mansion will know something is up."
*** This novel is a work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If it is not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, then it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. For those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, can you consider reading it on the original website? As your support to me. Thank you, for your shameless author, ZerahNeko***
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