Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 44 Spirit Wine (Please read further, vote with monthly tickets and recommendations)
In the afternoon, since tomorrow was a ten-day holiday, Zhou Ling ended his technique class at the Taoist academy early and went to the Lu family workshop.

Master Lu was sitting on a stone chair under the locust tree, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, his face flushed.

Upon seeing Zhou Ling arrive, Master Lu hurriedly stood up and said, "Brother Ling, the order we took from Duobao Pavilion this time is for a mid-grade first-level storage bag."

"It is made from cloud crystals with spatial properties and the hide of a mid-stage first-tier demon beast, the Black Rock Sheep."

"It took me almost four days to refine just these two storage bags."

"We have seven days left to deliver the goods!"

As Master Lu spoke, he handed two storage bags to Zhou Ling.

This storage bag looks similar to a hot water bottle, only slightly larger, and appears to be made of matte leather.

Zhou Ling took the storage bag and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

It is currently the hottest period of summer.

Inside the workshop, the furnace glowed gently.

It was unbearably hot in the yard.

Zhou Ling sat down on the stone chair opposite Master Lu, poured himself a cup of tea, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

He had become familiar with Master Lu and the others, so he didn't stand on ceremony.

Then he added, "The storage bag will take another seven days!"

Generally, drawing storage bags requires an imprint of spatial attributes.

Fortunately, storage bags are common magical artifacts used in weapon crafting.

Among the inscription essences obtained from the Dao Academy this time, there was a Void Yuan Inscription used for refining storage bags.

It's just fourteen inscriptions.

It would be quite difficult for me to draw it myself now.

But I've already agreed, so no matter how difficult it is, I have to bite the bullet and take it on.

After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "Master Lu, do you have a mid-grade Tier 1 storage bag?"

"That's mine!"

"May I take a look?"

Master Lu reached out, took the storage bag off his belt, and handed it to Zhou Ling.

Zhou Ling took the storage bag and examined it carefully.

The storage bag looks basically the same as the two items we just saw.

"This is a storage bag with two storage spaces! It would cost seventy or eighty spirit stones on the market!"

"The cost of the materials alone is almost thirty spirit stones. If you can successfully draw the Void Origin Inscription, I will pay you fifteen spirit stones as a reward."

"However, there are only two tools, and they are both broken. You'll have to pay for the spirit stones."

Master Lu said seriously.

Zhou Ling didn't reply to him, but carefully examined the storage bag in her hand.

[You are observing the Void Inscription. Beginner Observation +1, Void Inscription Proficiency +1]

[You are analyzing a Void Inscription. Basic Analysis +1, Void Inscription Proficiency +1]

"Fourteen inscriptions, two nodes, and a diffusion structure."

"We can draw the structure first, and then treat it as two first-order inscriptions with seven runes. The only challenge is connecting the nodes!"

As Zhou Ling analyzed the data, a preliminary drawing plan gradually formed in his mind.

Seeing Zhou Ling deep in thought, Master Lu didn't disturb him, but picked up his teacup and drank his tea.

Zhou Ling carefully examined the virtual elemental inscription on the storage bag, using [Basic Observation] and [Basic Analysis] to try to analyze the techniques and key points drawn on it for reference.

Generally speaking, even a first-grade inscription master might not gain much from observing inscriptions in this way.

It's even possible that the structure of the inscription is not clearly visible.

After all, different inscription artists use different techniques, so even the same inscription may appear in different forms.

However, with the help of his two talents, Zhou Ling was able to clearly observe the structure of the inscription, the distribution of the inscription patterns, the speed of the brushstrokes, the slowness and heaviness of the strokes, and other details.

The "Primary Analysis" section then serves to analyze and summarize the shortcomings of the analysis.

Each inscription he drew was a valuable accumulation of experience for him. Normally, the higher the grade of the inscription, the more difficult it is to cultivate and comprehend.

Without proper mentorship and guidance from renowned teachers, even the most talented person will find it difficult to achieve anything significant.

But Zhou Ling is different. He has the talent of "the more setbacks, the stronger he becomes". The more difficult things are, whether it is a cultivation technique, an inscription, or other sword techniques, he can overcome them.

If you persevere, you will reap the rewards!

After watching for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhou Ling finally handed the storage bag back to Master Lu.

"Can it be completed in seven days?" Master Lu asked cautiously after putting away his storage bag.

Zhou Ling pursed her lips. "I'll do my best!"

Master Lu fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan and warned again, "Be very careful! Each tool costs fifteen low-grade spirit stones!"

Zhou Ling nodded, cupped his hands in farewell to Master Lu, and left the workshop.

As I left the workshop, I thought for a moment and then bought a jar of fine black rice wine from a wine stall across the street.

I plan to go back and make wine for my mother as a reference.

······.

As soon as I entered the house, a rich aroma of spiritual rice mixed with the unique fragrance of spiritual herbs wafted into my nostrils.

The small hall was filled with the pure aroma of wine.

"Ling'er, you're back! Now's the perfect time to try the spirit wine your mother brewed!"

On the wooden table were three ceramic bowls.

The spirit wine in the bowl had a crystal-clear amber color.

Li Ru also smiled and said, "Ling'er, come and try it!"

Zhou Ling hadn't expected his mother to be so efficient, brewing wine in just one day.

Perhaps practice makes perfect, because she hadn't forgotten her skills from back then.

Zhou Ling put down the wine jar in his hand, picked up a ceramic bowl, took a sip, and found it sweet and refreshing, leaving a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth.

The aroma of the rice blends with the subtle fragrance of medicinal herbs, creating the unique aroma of the dark, smooth rice wine.

"Mom, this tastes much better than what I bought!"

Zhou Shan also laughed and said, "I already told you, with your skills and this brewing furnace, it won't be long before you're able to brew even better spirit wine."

Li Ru smiled and looked at the spirit wine in the bowl, saying, "But I feel that the purity of the wine is still a bit lacking, and the spiritual energy it contains seems to be a bit less."

"I wonder if it's a problem with the timing? Or is my spiritual power insufficient?"

Zhou Ling felt that it was more than twice as good as the black rice wine she had bought.

However, seeing his mother's serious expression, he did not disturb her.

After thinking for a moment, he walked to the brewing furnace.

Inside, there were also remnants of spirit rice mixed with spirit cloud grass.

[You are analyzing the recipe for Black Rice Wine. Basic Analysis +1, Black Rice Brewing Proficiency +1]

Soon, Zhou Ling had an improvement plan in mind.

The main issue is the ratio of black rice to aged rice. The ratio of new rice to aged rice should be 7:3 to produce the purest and most flavorful wine.

The mother's recipe was roughly 6 to 4.

However, he didn't know how to bring it up with his mother.

After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "When I bought this jar of wine, the shopkeeper assured me that they used 100% new rice."

Upon hearing this, Li Ru chuckled and said, "There's no such thing as a recipe made entirely of new rice. This shopkeeper is just fooling laymen!"

Then, as if realizing something, he said, "That's right, the proportions are a problem!"

Looking up at the approaching night, he slapped his forehead and said, "Sigh, I forgot to cook when I got busy!"

He then hurriedly walked towards the kitchen.

The father and son stayed behind to continue tasting the wine.

(End of this chapter)