Techniques and Dao

Chapter 51 The Merit of the Furnace
"Two qian of black bear bile, five qian of thousand-year-old Changbai Mountain snow ginseng, three qian of thousand-year-old Tianshan snow lotus, three qian of hundred-year-old Minxian angelica, five qian of wolfberry, five qian of highland cordyceps, five qian of Tiangong Linglong jade powder... Hey! Did you remember that clearly?"

As Taishang Xiaojun recited, Hua Sheng quickly took notes beside him. The two found an old warehouse and began to plan their alchemy.

"Is the recipe for the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Pill correct?" Hua Sheng asked as he wrote.

"How could I be wrong? I have been reciting the secrets of alchemy since I was a child. Now I can say that I am full of knowledge and can recite them fluently."

Hua Sheng said, "So the formula should be correct. But where can we find the raw materials for these elixirs?"

"Any medicinal herb that exists in the human world, no matter how precious or rare, can be conjured up by immortal magic."

"Although they don't look like ordinary things, the world is so big that there must be raw materials available."

While looking at the list, Hanamori took out a clean piece of silk cloth from her bag and laid it flat on the table.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun pointed to the table, and a Chinese medicine appeared on the cloth. After more than ten times, a dazzling array of precious medicinal herbs appeared before them. Since they were all top-quality herbs that were rarely seen in a hundred years, the huge factory warehouse where the two were located was immediately filled with a fragrance that was refreshing and invigorating. Hua Sheng only took a few breaths and immediately felt clear-headed and refreshed.

"Wow, you're amazing, Supreme Lord! If it were me, I wouldn't know where to find all these rare and exotic herbs."

"But one thing is still missing."

"What's missing?" Hua Sheng compared his notes with the medicinal herbs on the table and quickly found the missing ingredient.

Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade.

"What is this thing?" Hua Sheng asked in surprise when he saw the name.

"It is a magical jade from the Heavenly Palace; there is no such jade in the mortal world."

"Jade is also medicine? I always thought jade was for wearing."

"Jade is certainly a medicinal material. Jade powder has the effects of clearing internal heat, relieving vexation, aiding the voice and throat, nourishing hair, nourishing the five internal organs, calming the soul, clearing blood vessels, and improving eyesight and hearing. There are records of grinding jade into powder for consumption in ancient times, as recorded in the 'Shennong Bencao' and 'Bencao Gangmu'," said Taishang Xiaojun. "And this Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade is even more precious, capable of curing diseases instantly and even bringing the dying back to life. In fact, the dosage is small; only a little Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade powder is needed in alchemy. This jade powder is always kept on hand at the alchemy sites in Shengping Ning."

"But we can't go back to Shengpingning right now, so where can we find the Heavenly Jade?" Hua Sheng was at a loss, holding his head in his hands. "What should we do?"

After a moment of silence, Taishang Xiaojun reached around his neck and pulled out a rope from which hung a piece of crystal-clear, smooth, and beautiful jade. The moment the jade was taken out, the warehouse was instantly illuminated.

"Ah!" Hua Sheng exclaimed in utter surprise, "Could this be..."

"Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade".

Upon hearing this, Hua Sheng's expression shifted from surprise and delight to a touch of sadness.

"So, you've been wearing this jade for a long time?"

Tai Shang Xiao Jun seemed to be recalling many distant memories: "Many years. It has been with me for a long time."

"If we grind it into powder, then this jade won't be able to be preserved, right?"

"good."

Hua Sheng was momentarily speechless. He understood the value of jade to people; regardless of the dynasty, if you carried a beautiful piece of jade close to your body, you must have a story to tell about it. Jade might represent someone important to you, or it might represent an unforgettable memory.

Looking at this beautiful jade that radiates a light green glow, Hua Sheng couldn't bear to part with it.

"Perhaps we can think of other ways."

"The Heavenly Jade Palace did not exist in the mortal realm. Now, the only one is right here."

Tai Shang Xiao Jun shook his head helplessly, but Hua Sheng believed that what he said was true.

"Since we only need some powder, perhaps we could cut a small piece off here? And then polish the rest?" Hua Sheng's words were full of regret.

"To what extent should it be polished?"

“Even if it’s missing a part, it’s still a beautiful pendant. How about I give it a try? I’m actually pretty good at crafts.” Hanamori asked tentatively.

"This piece of jade was not large to begin with, and the Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade contains the energy of heaven and earth, making it a naturally integrated and indivisible whole. If it is cut open, the remaining part will also be shattered."

"This is such a pity," Hua Sheng sighed. He thought that this Heavenly Jade could not be valued by earthly standards, and more importantly, it might have been a possession given to him by an elder.

Hua Sheng asked, "How long have you worn this jade?"

"I've been wearing it since I was a child."

"Hey! Your parents gave it to you?"

"No."

"Could it be that your grandfather, Laozi, gave it to you?" Hua Sheng asked in surprise.

"Not at all."

"It wasn't a gift from an elder?"

"No."

Could it have been a gift from your childhood sweetheart? Even so, you wouldn't part with it. Hua Sheng thought for a long time, unsure how to ask, before finally saying, "Such a beautiful piece of jade must have been hard to come by. It must have been given to you by someone very important to you?"

“No,” Taishang Xiaojun said, raising her head. “Why must jade be a gift from someone else?”

Hua Sheng suddenly recalled "Dream of the Red Chamber," in which Jia Baoyu was born with a jade in his mouth. If that were true, this beautiful jade would be an integral part of Taishang Xiaojun's life. To break this jade would be a cruel and unbearable thing for anyone.

"If it wasn't a gift from someone else, where did it come from?"

"It was I who bought it!" said Taishang Xiaojun.

"Huh? You bought it?" Hua Sheng's voice, which had been barely audible, suddenly became louder. "Didn't you say you'd worn it for years? Turns out, you bought it yourself?"

"Can't I wear the one I bought for many years?"

How old were you when you bought it?

"Bought when I was seven years old."

"A seven-year-old can buy jade?" Hua Sheng asked. "How much pocket money do you usually give me each month?"

"Not expensive. I bought it during a field trip organized by the Daoist Arts Academy."

Hanamori nearly fainted: "Is this a souvenir you bought during your spring outing?"

"Yeah! Hey? How did you know it was a spring outing?"

"Hey! You've wasted all my feelings. I'm actually a little embarrassed, I thought it was a keepsake from one of your elders!" "Buying this wasn't easy, I saved up my allowance for months. Do you know how hard it is for me to save up my allowance?"

"You actually wore your spring outing souvenirs for ten years? You're so frugal!"

"Why not? Because I like it. When I first bought it, I slept with it every day."

"Even if you wear it around your neck every day, it's still a cheap tourist souvenir! Dude, just think of it as a new accessory. It's been worn for so long, it's time to replace it! Look, the paint is almost peeling off!"

"Nonsense! How could jade chip its paint!"

"Sigh! I hope it's not fake!"

"How could it be a fake! Do you think Saint Pingning is the same as your tourist attractions on Earth?"

"Give it to me first, then we'll talk!"

Tai Shang Xiao Jun, with a helpless and reluctant expression, handed the jade in his hand to Hua Sheng.

Hua Sheng thought to himself that it was fortunate it wasn't some rare treasure, so he wouldn't have to pay a terrible price to refine the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun said, "You have to be careful, this jade cost over a million!"

Hua Sheng was so shocked she almost stuck out her tongue: "One... more than a million?"

"how?"

"I suddenly feel it's such a pity to ruin it like this."

Taishang Xiaojun said, "What kind of mentality do you mortals have? You always think it's good just because it's expensive, which is why you are easily deceived."

"So how much did it actually cost?"

"Don't tell you."

Although the Supreme Lord Xiaojun didn't say whether the jade was truly worth a million, Hua Sheng was still taken aback when he received the Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade from her. He had initially thought it was just an ordinary stone, but it was not of this world after all. The entire piece of jade felt incredibly smooth and warm to the touch, and holding it in his hand, he felt it was full of the rhythm of life.

He brought it closer to his eyes and examined it closely, discovering that what appeared to be patterns on the light green jade were actually slowly flowing.

The entire piece of Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade resembled a soap bubble filled with light green gas, ready to burst at the slightest touch. No wonder the Supreme Lord said that the Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade was naturally formed and could not be cut. If it were cut open, it would be like popping a bubble, causing the condensed energy of heaven and earth within to immediately disperse, making its shattering inevitable.

Moreover, the color of fine jade requires the wearer to nourish it over the years. Since Taishang Xiaojun has the bloodline of the immortals, if he wears it close to his body for ten years, even an ordinary stone will transform into an unparalleled piece of jade!

Thinking of this, Hua Sheng realized that this jade was no ordinary object. But since it was obtained from the Supreme Lord Xiaojun, they should proceed according to the previous plan. Otherwise, if they were stuck here and unable to make any progress, they would be unable to solve the current problem.

"So, the materials are all ready!" Hua Sheng placed the Heavenly Palace Exquisite Jade on the table and asked, "What's the next step in refining the pills?"

Tai Shang Xiao Jun clapped his hands with his fist: "Here's the problem!"

"Have you forgotten the art of alchemy?"

"How is that possible? To doubt that an immortal doesn't know anything about alchemy?"

“What other problems are there? We have all the materials,” Hua Sheng said. “Is it a lack of equipment? Damn it! How could I not have thought of that?!”

The two of them uttered three words in unison.

"An alchemy furnace!"

Hua Sheng slapped his forehead: "What era is this? Where are we supposed to find an alchemy furnace? A Taoist temple? No, that's not right. Nowadays, Taoist temples only have incense burners, it's unlikely they have an alchemy furnace, right? Even if they did, they were all smashed during the Cultural Revolution."

Taishang Xiaojun said, "Indeed!"

"How about we build one ourselves? I remember reading in a book that ancient Taoist priests built their own alchemy furnaces! Shall we build one out of bricks?"

"Built with bricks? That's the stove, isn't it?" Tai Shang Xiao Jun frowned.

“I remember when I was taking classes at the Daoist Academy, Master Yu Ran said that in the past, when conditions were simple, the ancients built houses with bricks.”

"So don't you see how many people in ancient times died from eating 'elixirs of immortality'? Besides, without Sheng Pingning's help, even the emperor couldn't refine elixirs of immortality. Don't you know that the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty died from heavy metal poisoning after eating an elixir of immortality?"

Hua Sheng fell silent for a moment, then thought for a moment: "But after all, technology has developed, so we can always find a way. Why don't you look at microwave ovens and induction cookers? They can also heat things up, so could they replace the alchemy furnace?"

"Teasing me, please," said Taishang Xiaojun. "Do you think alchemy is like eating hot pot? And you're even using an induction cooker?"

"Headache! Why are there always so many problems to solve?" Hua Sheng squatted down, clutching his head. "Then tell me, what exactly are the requirements for an alchemy furnace? Is there a specification sheet?"

Tai Shang Xiao Jun pondered for a moment and said, "A stone alchemy furnace is fine, and a bronze furnace will also work, but the internal structure needs to be sealed, and the volume cannot be too small, so that the immortal energy of the elixir can flow. Of course, it cannot be as big as a house, otherwise it will be difficult to gather the essence of spiritual energy, and the elixir will not be able to take shape. The inside of the furnace cannot be very dirty, and it cannot be a toxic high-temperature smelting furnace used in industrial production, otherwise it will destroy the medicinal properties of the materials and produce a toxic elixir."

"Stone furnace, bronze furnace? This won't do! That... um, still won't do." Hua Sheng held his head, turning his mind over and over.

What temperature is needed?

"It must at least be able to withstand the temperature of real fire."

"That would require a thousand degrees?"

"almost."

"Only factories can have this. But most of the furnaces in factories that can withstand this temperature are toxic and can't be used for alchemy!"

"As long as the copper furnace can withstand high temperatures, we can reinforce it with talismans to make it withstand even higher temperatures. Then we can work together to use fire control techniques to control the temperature. If all goes well, it will only take three or four hours to refine the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill."

"Let me think about it again."

"You grew up in the human world, so you should know more than I do."

Hua Sheng suddenly looked up: "I've got it!"

"where?"

"Coffee shop."

"How can a coffee machine be used for alchemy?"

"It's not a coffee machine. It's a large coffee roaster!"

"Hmm? A baking oven?"

"Supreme Lord, have you ever heard of a place called Starbucks? By the way, its Chinese name is... Starbucks."

(End of this chapter)