CHAPTER 998: CHAPTER 995: BEGINNING ALCHEMY (PART 2)

Jiang Xiu Ying and Zi Yan, Wang Wanxi and Yun Haoyu, and Yun Xiaotian, quietly waited together. When they saw Lin Tian coming over, everyone’s eyes lit up.

"Lin Tian, I really apologize. Due to my oversight, I forgot to arrange people to help you carry things." As Lin Tian approached, Yun Haoyu saw the medicine cauldron and medicine box in Lin Tian’s hands and said with embarrassment.

"No worries, one hundred pounds and two hundred pounds make no difference to me. Let’s go up." Lin Tian said effortlessly.

They knew Lin Tian was an Ancient Martial Artist and wouldn’t care about such weight, so they did not dwell on the matter. The group walked through the forbidden zone gates, and Yun Haoyu waved a hand. Immediately, guards appeared, closed the doors, and locked them. Clearly, the Yun Family’s forbidden zone fireproofing tonight was tighter than usual.

Upon arriving at the villa, Yun Hongxi was already waiting at the entrance. Lin Tian glanced surprisingly at the person pushing the wheelchair, a middle-aged man with one arm missing.

The one-armed middle-aged man seemed very fond of Lin Tian, smiling friendly at him.

"Yun Wu, it’s rare to see you smiling at a stranger." Yun Haoyu said curiously.

"Family Head, Mr. Lin healed the old man; he is my benefactor." Yun Wu said earnestly.

"Alright, let’s not chit-chat; lest we miss the opportunity for the alchemical ritual, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow night again. Let Zi Yan and Lin Tian go in." Jiang Xiu Ying urged.

Yun Hongxi nodded in agreement: "Xiao Tian, do you really not need any more helpers?"

"No need, and soon, it’ll be just me and my senior sister. You all can wait in the living room." Lin Tian refused, saying too many hands with too few brains; those not versed in pharmacology would only make things chaotic if they went in.

Under the gaze of the group, Lin Tian and Zi Yan passed through the villa, entered the backyard, and headed toward the mystical sea eye deep within the garden.

The sea eye remained as before, unchanged from the last visit: the moonlit spring, floating green lotus, and delightfully moist mist attracted the senses, making one feel refreshing yet not cold.

"Such a beautiful place, such a mystical sea eye. Junior brother, thanks to you, I’m witnessing the legendary Yun Family’s sea eye for the first time. It’s even more beautiful than imagined." Zi Yan said, somewhat enchanted.

"Haha, moonlit spring, picturesque scenery, handsome man and beautiful woman; hope my senior sister has an unforgettable night." Lin Tian chuckled.

"Then don’t disappoint your senior sister, okay?" Zi Yan glanced at Lin Tian with profound meaning.

Lin Tian was momentarily stunned; he was still a bit inexperienced and couldn’t outwit his senior sister.

Zi Yan seemingly hadn’t noticed Lin Tian’s helplessness and continued speaking, "Junior brother, we’ve got two hours at midnight; when are you planning to start the alchemical ritual?"

"At zero o’clock." Lin Tian replied.

With an hour left until midnight, Lin Tian placed the medicine cauldron at the center of the pavilion, then opened the medicine box and laid out the ingredients one by one. Zi Yan took containers to fetch spring water from the stream, then helped Lin Tian arrange backup glass bottles and jade bowls.

All necessary tools and materials were neatly organized. Lin Tian and Zi Yan counted the ingredients: a total of nineteen, just missing the last main ingredient.

Lin Tian solemnly took out the glass bottle containing the main ingredient, the Yin Yang Life Fruit. Under the moonlight, the five fruits showed red and black colors, looking very eerie.

"Senior sister, after picking the Yin Yang Life Fruit, they must be sealed immediately; otherwise, they’ll wither quickly and lose potency. Once I take out the fruits, seal the glass bottle quickly; the longer the Yin Yang Life Fruit is exposed to air, the faster its efficacy dwindles." Lin Tian instructed solemnly.

Zi Yan frowned slightly and asked, "Is the consequence that severe?"

"Yes, the reason I chose to perform the alchemical ritual near the sea eye is because I found that the flowers and grass in the backyard are extraordinarily vigorous, evidently nourished by the sea eye mist. The environment near the sea eye helps slow down the potency loss of the Yin Yang Life Fruit." Lin Tian explained.

"Alright, I’ll cooperate with you." Zi Yan nodded in understanding and agreed.

Everything was ready. Lin Tian closed his eyes, recalling the Yin Yang Life Elixir recipe in his mind once more, with a total of twenty ingredients listed.

Other than the main ingredient, the others were also precious, such as stalactite resin. This substance is extracted from a ten-thousand-year-old stalactite.

Stalactites are commonly found in ancient caves, and reportedly grow only one centimeter in a thousand years. Thus, forming stalactites is extremely difficult, and artificially manufacturing them is impossible.

Due to different formation environments, stalactites can be white, brownish-yellow, light yellow, green, or amber. Among them, snow-white is the best, amber-colored next, and the stalactite found by Yun Xiaotian is amber, which, though not as good as snow-white, is still quite fine.

Stalactites can replenish vitality, cure five weaknesses and seven injuries, soothe the five organs, and harmonize the hundred joints. This is just the right remedy for the old man’s prolonged illness.

Furthermore, there are Purple Ginseng, Heavenly Horse Blood, and over a dozen more ingredients. Heavenly Horse Blood is the blood of Ferghana Horses, born in the Yang year, Yang month, Yang day, and Yang hour. Upon their first run, as their blood sweat emerges, this is collected, dried, and processed into solid form.

Typically, blood would darken over time, even turning black, but this Heavenly Horse Blood remains bright red even when dried into solid form, which is indeed miraculous.

Ferghana Horses are already rare, and it requires those born in the Yang year, month, day, and hour to be useful. Thus, Heavenly Horse Blood is extremely scarce.

"Junior brother, there’s only five minutes left until midnight." Zi Yan suddenly reminded.

Lin Tian seemed not to hear her, unmoved, still keeping his eyes closed. Until the last few seconds, Zi Yan nearly wanted to lift him up, but he suddenly opened his eyes.

With a swift motion, Lin Tian’s hand produced a piece of carbon crystal, swiftly placing it into the fire chamber of the medicine cauldron and igniting it. Light blue flames instantly ignited.

Perfect timing, just at midnight. Zi Yan sighed with relief but still couldn’t help saying, "Junior brother, you’re playing on the edge. Just now, I thought you fell asleep."

"With a beautiful senior sister present, I couldn’t sleep even if not for the alchemical ritual." Lin Tian replied lightly with a smile.

"Hmph, still joking around. Whenever Master performs an alchemical ritual, he is wholeheartedly focused, aren’t you a bit too relaxed?" Zi Yan flirtatiously gave Lin Tian a glance, dissatisfied.

"I’m relaxed because I’m confident. After such careful preparation, success in concocting the elixir is expected; if unsuccessful, it would be fate." Lin Tian said calmly.

"Alright, I’m beginning now." Lin Tian said.

Having said that, Lin Tian expertly picked up the stalactite resin beside him and placed it into the medicine cauldron. The medicine cauldron was already [heated] to a high temperature by the blue flames. However, the amber stalactite caused no reaction upon entering.

"Junior brother, the stalactite is solid, could the heat be insufficient?" Zi Yan asked worriedly.