C30 Blood Gathering Pill

After the meal, Xiao Ling carried Xiaojin back to the bedroom. With a focused thought, he once again entered the realm of the Holy Monolith. Setting Xiaojin aside, Xiao Ling got down to the business of pill refinement.

"I have fifty batches of ingredients for the Blood Gathering Pill; that should be plenty for me to refine it successfully." Xiao Ling had faith in his innate talent for comprehension, and coupled with his hard work, he felt confident in his ability to produce the Blood Gathering Pill.

He carefully arranged the materials for the pill and positioned the white jade cauldron before him. Biting his tongue, he let a few drops of his essence and blood fall into the cauldron, claiming it as his own.

"Refining a pill requires not just a powerful soul but also a masterful control of the flame!" The Jade Slip had stressed this point repeatedly, and Xiao Ling took it to heart.

"Blood Flame!" With a mere thought, a crimson flame sprang to life in his palm. A flick of his finger sent the flame dancing into the white jade cauldron.

Instantly, the cauldron's flames surged, dramatically increasing the temperature around him. Xiao Ling's confidence in his Blood Flame was unshakable; its formidable power was a match for any of nature's fiercest fires.

"Snake's Blood Flower, Sweet Dew Grass, Hidden Red Fruit..." Following the instructions laid out in the Jade Slip, Xiao Ling began adding the herbs into the cauldron.

But soon, to Xiao Ling's astonishment, black smoke billowed from the cauldron, and with a loud 'bang,' a lump of charred material tumbled out. The first attempt at refining the Blood Gathering Pill had undeniably ended in failure.

"My heart aches!" Xiao Ling clutched his chest, his face twisted in a grimace. A failed refinement was akin to wasting hundreds of Essence Stones.

If he couldn't manage to refine the Blood Gathering Pill with the remaining forty-nine portions of ingredients, he might as well take a block of tofu and end it all with a headbutt!

"Keep going. Failure is the mother of success..." Xiao Ling murmured to himself, shaking off the disappointment and setting up for a second attempt.

Bang! Once more, black smoke erupted from the cauldron, followed by another piece of charred debris.

Undoubtedly, it was another failure.

Xiao Ling clenched his jaw in frustration. He refused to accept defeat and persisted in adding more medicinal herbs to the mix.

Bang!

Yet another attempt ended in failure, leaving Xiao Ling with a grim expression. It was a stark reminder that pill refining was no simple feat.

"I need to pinpoint the problem! If I keep failing like this, I'll exhaust all my medicinal ingredients!" he declared.

With determination shining in his dark eyes, Xiao Ling approached the next round of refining with caution, meticulously considering where he had gone wrong in his previous attempts to create the Blood Gathering Pill.

After several more unsuccessful tries, Xiao Ling's complexion was ghostly pale. He paused to recuperate, knowing that pill refining was a significant drain on his soul force. Without a strong soul force, successful pill creation was impossible.

As he restored his soul force, Xiao Ling reflected on his repeated failures.

"It's all about controlling the flame!"

The realization struck him suddenly. Different herbs required different levels of heat, and his prior approach to pill refining—relying on a rough estimate of the flame's intensity—was a grave error.

Feeling a surge of excitement, Xiao Ling waited for his soul power to replenish before attempting to refine the pill once more.

With each herb he added, his mastery over the flame was nothing short of skillful. He adjusted the heat for each herb, purifying them into a viscous liquid—the very essence of the medicine.

Now came the crucial step: condensing this essence into pills.

"Condense!"

Xiao Ling commanded, channeling his soul force to merge the herbal essences.

Bang!

At the sound, Xiao Ling's heart sank, fearing another failure.

"What's this aroma?"

Inhaling deeply, Xiao Ling detected a rich, potent fragrance of blood and Qi filling the air, bringing a look of surprise and delight to his face. His eyes sparkled as he turned to the white jade cauldron.

Inside, dozens of lustrous red pills tumbled out, their scent as invigorating as blood and Qi.

"I did it!"

Xiao Ling couldn't contain his laughter as he swiftly stowed the pills into a jade bottle.

He counted them—there were exactly 26 pills in the batch.

Moreover, the Blood Gathering Pills had a healthy, rosy hue and shone brilliantly, clearly indicating their superior quality.

Xiao Ling's grin widened, knowing full well that the Blood Flame deserved all the credit.

"Looks like one batch yields about twenty-six pills."

He rubbed his chin, contemplating the thirty-five sets of ingredients he had left. If he managed to refine them all successfully, he'd have nearly a thousand pills.

Considering the going rate for Blood Gathering Pills, he was set to double his investment and rake in profits over ten times the cost of the materials.

The thought alone made Xiao Ling's smile even more radiant.

Being an alchemist was incredibly lucrative!

He continued the process, methodically refining the Blood Gathering Pills.

Whenever he felt fatigued, he'd pause for a rest. Once rejuvenated, he'd dive back into the art of pill-making.

"At last, they're all refined."

Surveying the line of jade bottles before him, Xiao Ling collapsed onto the ground, gazing up at the sky with a contented smile. "Just two days inside the Holy Monolith, and I've finished all the Blood Gathering Pills—a grand total of 930."

He was immensely pleased with the outcome.

It was remarkable, considering he had only recently taken up alchemy, to have crafted such an abundance of low Grade One Blood Gathering Pills. It was enough to astound any alchemist and leave them agape with awe.

"With my Blood Flame as my fire and my robust soul force, I'm sure to have a long and successful journey as an alchemist!"

Xiao Ling clenched his fist, brimming with confidence for what lay ahead.

Once he became a formidable alchemist, resources would be the least of his worries.

Soon enough, powerful figures would be eagerly seeking his services for pill refinement. The mere thought was exhilarating!

"Now, it's time to work on my Martial Skill."

Xiao Ling secured the Blood Gathering Pills in the storage ring Huo Wu had given him, then drew the Edgeless Sword to commence his Martial Skill training.

At noon, Xiao Ling emerged from the Holy Monolith with Xiaojin in tow. After stowing the monolith away, he pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of Lau Miaoyi practicing her swordplay.

"Your sword strikes must be agile and cunning!" Xiao Ling observed Lau Miaoyi's technique and couldn't help but offer some advice. "Try adding thirty percent more power to your forward thrust. When you execute a horizontal slash, put more strength in your wrist, then quickly follow up with an attack..."

Lau Miaoyi took Xiao Ling's advice to heart and adjusted her movements accordingly. The change noticeably enhanced her swordsmanship.

"Xiao Ling, you're incredible!" Lau Miaoyi sheathed her sword, beaming with pride. "A few simple tips from you, and my sword skills have improved dramatically!"

Despite her admiration for Xiao Ling, Lau Miaoyi realized the importance of diligent practice to keep pace with him.

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me during mealtime..." Xiao Ling said, rubbing his nose. "Miaoyi, how about we go have lunch together?"

"Sounds good," Lau Miaoyi replied with a smile, nodding in agreement as they made their way to the dining area.

Post-meal, Huo Wu teased Xiao Ling with a grin, "Brother Xiao Ling, did you make any headway with your alchemy this morning?"

Her playful inquiry was meant to gauge whether Xiao Ling had grasped the basics of potion crafting.

All eyes turned to Xiao Ling, filled with a mix of curiosity and excitement. The prospect of him successfully concocting a pill was thrilling; it meant they had dined with a bona fide alchemist.

"Well, I've made some modest progress," Xiao Ling responded, touching his nose thoughtfully. He pondered the shock it would cause if he revealed the multitude of Blood Gathering Pills he had crafted.

Deciding to share his success, he retrieved the storage ring and passed it to the servant girl, who then handed it to Huo Wu.

Everyone's gaze fixed on the storage ring in Huo Wu's hands, their expressions brimming with eager anticipation.

"I never imagined Brother Xiao Ling would actually achieve something remarkable!"

Huo Wu exclaimed in astonishment, her mind racing as she scanned the contents of her storage ring.

Her face transformed with shock, her beautiful eyes wide with amazement, before she collected herself and steadied her emotions.

"Indeed, a hero emerges from youth!"

A curious light danced in Huo Wu's eyes as she appraised Xiao Ling, noting his brimming confidence. She couldn't help but beam with joy and said, "If you ever need assistance in the future, Brother Xiao Ling, don't hesitate to ask me!"

Her statement left no doubt in anyone's mind: Xiao Ling had successfully crafted a low-grade, Level One Blood Gathering Pill!

"Congratulations, Mr. Xiao, on becoming an alchemist!"

All members of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency rose to their feet, offering their congratulations to Xiao Ling with a respectful bow.

"Xiao Ling, you're incredible."

Lau Miaoyi's eyes shimmered with delight as she joyfully said, "You have to look out for me from now on."

She was thrilled about Xiao Ling's new status as an alchemist. She had the urge to embrace him but checked herself, resolving to diligently practice her cultivation to keep pace with Xiao Ling.

"Absolutely."

Xiao Ling's smile was radiant as he turned to Huo Wu and bowed respectfully: "I'll be counting on your guidance, Ms. Huo Wu. I promise not to let you down."

Huo Wu nodded, her smile genuine. Even with her Martial King composure, the sight of 930 Blood Gathering Pills in the storage ring left her astounded.

She was acquainted with many alchemists, yet the feat of producing 930 Blood Gathering Pills in just one morning was beyond belief.

This revelation confirmed Xiao Ling's boundless potential as an alchemist!

If she could bring Xiao Ling into her fold, it would be a boon. His alchemical prowess had already outshone any alchemist she knew.

"These Blood Gathering Pills will be stored at my Resplendent Building. I'll handle the sales for you," Huo Wu offered with a smile. "Once they're sold, after deducting the cost of the materials, all the profits will be yours."

"Additionally, if you require any other medicinal herbs, please don't hesitate to let me know," Huo Wu offered.

She had every intention of nurturing Xiao Ling's talent. Given his ability to produce pills in large quantities, it was crucial for her to secure his alliance.

"Much appreciated, Ms. Huo Wu!" Xiao Ling responded with a smile. Amidst the surprised looks from those around him, he produced a sheet of paper and announced, "Here, I have a formula for a mid-tier Grade One Spirit Nurturing Pill. I'm in need of a substantial amount of these ingredients, and could you also supply me with some additional ingredients for the Blood Gathering Pill?"