Chapter 206: The Alchemy Jade
The newly refined alchemy furnace was quite large, though slightly smaller than the great forging furnace in the courtyard. Its form appeared more ancient, its cloud patterns more elegant, and its overall structure somewhat more intricate.
The formation within the alchemy furnace bore similarities to that of the forging furnace, though the two were not identical. Both required the Molten Fire Array as their foundational formation. Yet while forging emphasized the intensity of firepower, alchemy focused on the precision of heat control and the balance of spiritual attributes.
The formation Mo Hua intended to inscribe on the alchemy furnace was also a Composite Formation known as the First-Grade Fire-Wood Dual-Life Composite Formation.
This Composite Formation comprised two primary First-Grade arrays: a First-Grade Molten Fire Array and a First-Grade Wood Spirit Array, along with several auxiliary functional arrays such as a Spirit-Gathering Array and a Cold Energy Array.
The formation's core node not only controlled the flow of spiritual energy but also served to harmonize elemental attributes.
Whether in terms of the required strength of Divine-Sense, the difficulty of formation inscription, or the intricacy of matching the formation to the furnace structure, this Composite Formation was more demanding than the previous First-Grade Molten Fire Spiritual Control Composite Formation.
Even so, it remained within Mo Hua's capabilities.
After the forging furnace project, he had already grown familiar with the previous composite formation. Thus, learning this advanced variant of the same class was a process of refinement rather than reinvention.
The only challenges lay in the intensity of Divine-Sense and the proficiency required for Composite Formation inscription, both of which could be overcome with time.
Mo Hua had long planned ahead. After finishing the Molten Fire Spiritual Control Composite Formation on the forging furnace, he had already begun practicing this new dual-element formation for the alchemy furnace.
After several days of focused training, he finally mastered the technique and began the actual inscription work.
...
In the courtyard of the Southern City's Alchemy Workshop, the great alchemy furnace had been dismantled, its components carefully laid out across the ground.
Mo Hua crouched beside the inner furnace chamber, brow furrowed in concentration as he painted the formation lines.
The process was not smooth at first. The formation core was particularly troublesome, and several attempts ended in minor errors, forcing Mo Hua to erase and redraw with patience.
Elder Feng arrived quietly, saw Mo Hua wholly absorbed in his work, and chose not to interrupt, instead standing silently nearby.
Mo Hua's expression was focused, his eyes bright with intensity, his movements precise. The formation lines he drew were both complex and graceful, possessing a natural sense of order and rhythm.
As Elder Feng watched, he gradually became entranced.
He sighed inwardly. No matter how many times he witnessed this, it never ceased to amaze him.
That frail child, once clear-eyed and innocent, whose smile had been pure, had grown before his very eyes. Yet though barely into his early teens, he could already inscribe a First-Grade formation.
A First-Grade formation…
Many elderly formation masters, their hair already gray, would need deep meditation and exhaustive effort just to complete one. When they finally finished, their faces would be pale, and their bodies drenched in sweat.
Yet Mo Hua drew these formations with effortless poise. Even when fatigue set in, a short meditation was enough for him to recover, bright-eyed once more.
If Elder Feng had not watched Mo Hua grow up, he might have suspected the boy had been possessed by some ancient monster.
When Mo Hua finally grew tired, he let out a long sigh and plopped onto the ground, rubbing his sore arms.
Elder Feng stepped forward, pressing several acupoints along Mo Hua's shoulders, then gently guided his Qi and blood circulation with soft spiritual energy.
Mo Hua exhaled with relief, his fatigue melting away like ice in spring sunlight.
"Thank you, Grandpa Feng," Mo Hua said with a smile.
"I should be the one thanking you," Elder Feng replied kindly, brushing the dust from the ground and sitting beside him. "Without you, I might never have had the chance to use such a fine alchemy furnace in this lifetime."
"I'll make you an even better one in the future!" Mo Hua declared earnestly.
Elder Feng chuckled. "This one is already more than good enough."
He reached into his robe and drew out a jade pendant, offering it to Mo Hua. "This is for you."
The jade was of a pale white hue, with faint greenish-blue spirit lines hidden within. It emitted no discernible spiritual energy, and its craftsmanship appeared simple, yet upon gazing at it, one felt an inexplicable sense of peace and serenity.
"What kind of jade is this?"
"This is Alchemy Jade," Elder Feng replied.
"Alchemy Jade?"
He turned the pendant over. Mo Hua saw a single character—"丹" (Dan)—engraved upon its surface in firm strokes.
"Alchemy masters traditionally wear such pendants. By nourishing them with Wood-element spiritual energy over many years, the jade gradually becomes spirit-infused. It soothes the mind and keeps one's heart clear of distractions."
"This piece was gifted to me long ago by my master. Through the years, I have carried it with me as I diagnosed ailments and refined elixirs to heal others. Now that it no longer serves me, I wish to give it to you."
Mo Hua shook his head. "Something this precious... I cannot accept it."
Elder Feng, however, gently hung the jade around Mo Hua's neck. "When a senior gives a gift, it should not be refused."
"But…" Mo Hua hesitated, feeling undeserving. "I'm not even an alchemist. Why would you give this to me?"
Elder Feng pondered for a moment before replying, "An alchemist saves lives, yet his reach is limited. A Formation Master may not heal the wounded directly, yet his work can save countless lives."
Mo Hua paused, then nodded thoughtfully, a glimmer of understanding dawning in his eyes.
Elder Feng's expression softened with expectation. "There is another saying: an alchemist accumulates virtue through his acts of healing, and this jade carries the merit of those deeds. By giving it to you, I hope it will protect you, ward off misfortune and grant you peace and longevity."
Mo Hua's heart tightened. "If you give it to me, what about you?"
Elder Feng smiled gently. "Such talk of merit and virtue is intangible, existing only for peace of mind. My life of alchemy and medicine was never founded upon superstition."
Mo Hua asked quietly, "But if such things are real?"
Elder Feng's smile deepened. "Then giving you this jade—and seeing it truly protect you—would be the greatest merit I could ever achieve."
Mo Hua blushed slightly, then bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Grandpa Feng."
The cool touch of the Alchemy Jade against his skin calmed his spirit and warmed his heart.
Perhaps it was indeed the jade's influence, but Mo Hua soon found his mind steadier and his hand more fluid. His formation work became smoother, his brushstrokes more natural and confident.
...
Two days later, the First-Grade Fire-Wood Dual-Life Composite Formation was complete.
Mo Hua invited Elder Feng to conduct the furnace's activation. Several other alchemists accompanied him, colleagues whom Elder Feng had invited to collaborate within the Alchemy Workshop on refining techniques and medicinal research.
Elder Feng placed the spirit stones, ignited the formation, and the crimson flames roared to life.
Even though he had anticipated the result, witnessing the purity of that flame left him momentarily stunned.
This was a fire surpassing the limits of ordinary Qi-Refining cultivators.
The other alchemists, too, were visibly shaken, their eyes alight with excitement.
Elder Feng then tested the furnace by refining a batch of Blood Qi Pills, a common restorative elixir used to replenish vitality and stop bleeding, a staple for cultivators and monster hunters alike.
Although simple, the resulting pills were of exceptional quality. The purity of the furnace's flame enhanced their potency by more than ten percent.
Elder Feng was deeply satisfied. He glanced toward Mo Hua, a look of heartfelt pride and relief softening his face.
(End of Chapter)