Here he Comes with a Spatula

Zhang DaoMing arranged the alchemy tripod upright, sitting north facing south, with the top of the alchemy stove facing the center of the Great Sun.

The way of arranging the alchemy stove was also very particular, just like selecting the location of a residence, it needed to observe the qi, plus choose a good time.

This was called timing.

The final human harmony depended on the alchemist's skill level.

In general, alchemy was a meticulous task, requiring a lot of preparation, and many considerations, including the prior processing of medicinal materials, the subsequent selection of stove fire, and technical skills.

These were all kinds of concerns in alchemy. To refine a dan medicine of excellent quality, these steps also needed to reach an excellent level, with at most one or two minor flaws.

Minor flaws referred to not affecting the efficacy of dan medicine. More than one or two minor flaws would affect the efficacy of dan medicine, changing from excellent to entry level.

The next higher level of perfection was not allowing any minor flaws, and the aura, fragrance, and form of dan medicine all had to be perfect.

This was considered the perfect level dan medicine. As for the even higher level of heavenly work, that was too ethereal.

Zhang DaoMing had lived for thousands of years, but had never seen any dan medicine of the heavenly work level come into being. This required a Dan Dao saint to refine.

For Zhang DaoMing, Dan Dao saints were unattainable existences. He had never seen one, let alone become one. His current level was at most refining dan medicines of excellent quality, still quite a distance away from perfection.

But there was no way around it. Dan medicine was a path that required an enormous foundation and exceptional talent.

The dan recipe, medicinal materials, alchemy tripod, stove fire, techniques, etc. Not a single component could be missing.

It was not possible to casually fry something in an iron pot and call it a dan.

Zhang DaoMing finished preparing the medicinal materials. The dan medicine to be refined today was exceptional, a Observing the Profound Elixir of the dao medicine level, which was high quality among dao medicines.

It could briefly enlighten the dao and glimpse the great profound imagery.

The great profound was the remains of ancient immortals, supposedly located in an abandoned star realm. Above the Profound Capital were thirty thousand daoist laws, a total of ninety million cryptic large characters, circling around the Great Profound Capital.

A few great eras ago, a quasi-emperor crossed star realms and unintentionally caught a glimpse of the Great Profound Capital, and was forcibly blinded. He fled in horror.

Since then, this quasi-emperor relied on the imagery in his mind to research and develop the Observing the Profound Elixir, allowing later generations to see the Great Profound Capital imagery in his memories.

In other words, what the Observing the Profound Elixir showed was not the true Great Profound Capital imagery, but the quasi-emperor's memories.

However, this was in line with the dao medicine ranking of the Observing the Profound Elixir. After all, the quasi-emperor was blinded just by looking once. If their level of cultivators who could move mountains and overturn seas directly saw the true Great Profound Capital imagery, their lives would be at stake.

But even so, the Observing the Profound Elixir was still extremely precious. Its price outside once reached one hundred thousand spirit stones, double the usual price of dao medicines.

Zhang DaoMing exhaled, his short stature standing upright, watching the Great Sun wheel turn, waiting for the best moment to arrive.

He was also waiting for someone.

The other dan medicine elders, Pi Hu of the witch tribe, Hei Yan of the divine fire tribe, and Tong He of the six-armed jinde tribe.

These tribes also had innate advantages in alchemy, and had unique insights into it.

Today's refining of the Observing the Profound Elixir was a very demanding challenge that required the combined efforts of the four to have a chance at success.

It was a little past noon.

Three figures abruptly appeared in front of Zhang DaoMing, the alchemists of the three tribes arriving at the same time, each with a different expression.

The divine fire tribe was the most enthusiastic. Hei Yan had a fiery beard and grinned, "Old Zhang! Why did you come so early, there are no bugs here for you to eat."

"It's better to prepare early." Zhang DaoMing also smiled in response. He had a good relationship with this Hei Yan.

"Three quarters past noon is the optimal time, it's still early now." Pi Hu of the witch tribe spoke plainly, with a calm expression.

Tong He of the six-armed jinde tribe said nothing, his six hands in his pockets as he looked at the sky.

They all took today's refining of the Observing the Profound Elixir very seriously, and were determined to succeed, because success would allow them to take a step further and have a chance at reaching the threshold of dao medicine masters.

The world's ranking system for alchemists was: the lowest level was alchemist, able to refine dan medicines with some minor benefits.

Next was spirit medicine master, able to refine spirit medicines that provided major benefits to cultivators below the mountain moving stage. They could receive great respect in remote areas of star realms.

After that, dao medicine masters were exceptional people that could be counted on one hand in the entire Blue Sky Sword Sea.

The subsequent Grand Masters and Saints of Dan Dao were not levels they dared to even think about.

Dan Dao Grand Masters were at least at the Heaven Patching stage, already qualified to establish their own sects and serve as patriarchs.

Needless to say, Dan Dao Saints were even more precious existences. In a certain aspect, they were more valuable than quasi-emperors.

Zhang DaoMing timed it and lowered his head from the sky, looking into the distance, as if waiting for someone.

But he did not see anyone coming.

He sighed slightly in his heart. That fellow human, Chen Xia, had not come after all. Perhaps he was not interested in alchemy.

It was normal. Few young people nowadays were interested in taking the time to study alchemy.

He had just thought that since he saw a young human cultivator reading dan medicine books with enjoyment, Chen Xia might also like alchemy.

It was his fault for being overly delighted and getting ahead of himself.

The optimal timing was almost here.

Zhang DaoMing turned around. He and the other three stood in four different directions, surrounding the alchemy stove in the center. Their expressions were solemn.

This alchemy stove was a top-grade furnace they had borrowed, containing over a thousand years of accumulated dan qi. It was extremely fire-absorbing and fire-resistant.

Using it to refine the Observing the Profound Elixir was a perfect match.

The medicinal materials were also of the best quality, striving to maximize the medicinal potency, so that when dan crystallization happened, it could have a bit more dan qi.

Now it was a little past noon.

The Great Sun hung high.

The four concentrated their minds, fully prepared, not allowing the slightest carelessness.

They were behind the Heaven Pavilion, so in order to achieve the best celestial timing, they did not go to a remote place. Therefore, some disciples had come to watch.

Mainly to see the lively scene, since they could not understand alchemy anyway.

Not far away on the sword-marked road, a figure in green walked slowly, carrying a large pot in hand, and holding a brand new... ladle.