Sludge suction system

The next day, early in the morning, Bai Pingping and Xia Mu hurriedly entered the mysterious White Bird Valley. The valley was filled with a variety of herbs, and Bai Pingping, with her profound knowledge of pharmacology, discerningly picked a host of common herbs such as honeysuckle, forsythia, isatis root, coptis, scutellaria, angelica, chuanxiong, poria, and atractylodes. What was particularly remarkable was that they were also fortunate enough to find a rare herb unique to White Bird Valley—White Bird Grass.

This white bird grass plant is short, usually only 20-30 centimeters tall, with slender, narrow, dark green leaves covered in fine hairs that feel soft to the touch. Its stems are flexible, slightly purplish-red, and have few branches. The flowers are small and delicate, white with five petals and pale yellow stamens, emitting a faint fragrance. It blooms in early summer each year. This white bird grass only grows at the bottom of White Bird Valley, making it difficult for most people to find.

Xia Mu nimbly assisted with the harvesting, and soon the basket was filled with various rare medicinal herbs. Back home, Bai Pingping quickly began the processing. The honeysuckle and forsythia were first washed and carefully laid out on bamboo trays to dry. However, controlling the degree of dryness of the herbs was extremely tricky; a slight mistake would affect their efficacy and the formation of the pills. The isatis root was sliced ​​thinly and dried in the same way, while the coptis and scutellaria needed to be carefully cleaned and impurities removed before use.

During processing, honeysuckle and forsythia are slowly stir-fried in a pot over low heat, with Bai Pingping constantly turning them with a bamboo spatula until they turn slightly yellow and release their aroma, then they are ground into powder. Isatis root slices are dried and then pounded into fine powder. Coptis and Scutellaria are sliced, steamed with wine, and then ground into powder. At the same time, Angelica and Ligusticum are washed, steamed, dried, and ground into powder. Poria and Atractylodes are peeled, sliced, steamed, and dried, and this process is repeated several times to make powder for subsequent pharmaceutical needs.

Bai Pingping handled the white bird grass with utmost care. First, she gently rinsed it with spring water to remove surface impurities, then steamed it in a special bamboo steamer, with precise control over the heat and time. Afterward, she placed it in a cool, ventilated place to dry, and finally ground it into an extremely fine powder. This powder emitted a unique fragrance and contained powerful medicinal properties.

When preparing the pills, difficulties arose one after another. They tried to adjust the dosage according to old medical books, but due to the lack of written records, the two could only rely on experience and experiment repeatedly, consuming many precious herbs. When mixing the powder and honey, controlling the moisture was even more difficult, and problems such as softening and cracking occurred frequently. After many failures, they finally found the right ratio and method.

After three days of tireless effort, the room was filled with carefully prepared pills. There were pills for clearing heat and detoxifying, to expel heat and toxins; pills for fighting epidemics and detoxifying, to resist the invasion of diseases; pills for promoting blood circulation and relieving meridian blockages; pills for strengthening the spleen and kidneys, to nourish the body's constitution; and pills for calming the mind and aiding sleep, to help alleviate insomnia. Particularly unique was the "Hundred-Eliminating Pill" made from white bird grass. This pill, combining the power of various herbs and processed through a complex process, can detoxify all poisons. Whether caused by accidental ingestion of poison or snake and insect bites, it can alleviate and clear toxins. For sores and boils caused by accumulated heat toxins, it can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and relieve pain, and promote wound healing. It also improves skin itching and eczema caused by dampness and toxins, helping the body expel dampness and heat toxins and restore the normal flow of qi and blood.

"We've finally finished!" Bai Pingping said excitedly, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"Xia Mu, you should go back and rest early. We're leaving the valley tomorrow, so pack your things properly. We'll set off at dawn tomorrow," Bai Pingping said, looking at Xia Mu who was still helping to organize the herbs.

"Okay, Pingping, you should get some rest too. I've sorted out all the herbs. Just put them in the medicine box when you need them." Xia Mu explained the details and then left the pharmacy.

"Little Zha, Little Zha, I need your help!" Bai Pingping called out to Little Zha anxiously.

"Host, I'm here. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Quickly teach me how to use my Qiankun Shrinking Bag so I can put all these herbs and pills inside!" Bai Pingping's eyes were filled with urgency.

"Okay, host, we are searching for instructions on how to use the Qiankun Shrink Bag. Please wait..." Xiao Zha's panel started flashing, constantly switching between different screens.

"Found it. Here are the instructions for using the Qiankun Shrink Bag." A data box slowly appeared on the screen.

"Qiankun Shrink Bag User Guide"

I. Mnemonic

Storage: "Heaven and earth possess a spirit, this bag holds all things. Open!"

- Take out: "The breath of heaven and earth, the object returns to my hands. Release!"

II. Instructions for Use

- Storage items:

- Small items: Hold the Qiankun Shrinking Bag in front of you, and recite the storage incantation "Qiankun has spirit, the bag holds all things. Open!" Focus your attention on small items such as jewelry or elixirs, and use your mind to drive the suction force generated by the bag, like an invisible hand gently wrapping and steadily sucking in the item. Once the item is completely inside the bag, the suction force at the bag opening will decrease and close to prevent it from falling out.

- Medium-sized items: Hold the bag with both hands, recite the incantation to open it, and aim it at medium-sized items such as weapons or scrolls. Due to their large size, you need to strengthen your willpower and imagine a powerful suction vortex. Precisely control the relative position of the bag and the item so that they are pulled into the bag. After that, check the closure of the bag.

- Large objects: Stand at a safe distance from large objects such as tables, chairs, or small building components, and loudly and clearly recite the incantation. Then, concentrate all your mental energy and, in conjunction with guiding gestures such as pushing your hands forward, imagine the bag transforming into a giant opening that emits a powerful suction force, evenly acting on all parts of the object, causing it to shrink and be sucked into the bag. This process is strenuous and requires a certain level of magical power. After completion, be sure to ensure the bag opening is tightly closed to prevent danger.

- Take out the item:

- For items with known location: Visualize their shape and location in your mind, recite the incantation "Breath of Heaven and Earth, the item returns to my hand. Take it out!", reach your hand near the bag opening, and use your mind to guide the item closer and take it out.

- Items in unknown locations: First, recite the incantation, reach into the bag, and use your mind to transform into an invisible light to explore every corner of the bag. Once you touch the target item, carefully grasp it and remove it.

"This Qiankun shrink bag is really a wonderful thing!" Bai Pingping exclaimed.

Immediately afterwards, she went to the table piled with herbs and pills, her eyes focused and determined. With a light flick of her jade-like hand, Bai Pingping took out the Qiankun Shrinking Bag. The ancient patterns on the surface of the bag faintly appeared in the dim light, and the mysterious runes at the opening of the bag seemed to twinkle like stars, eagerly awaiting their owner's command.

Her cherry lips parted slightly, and she softly murmured, "Heaven and earth possess spirit, this bag holds all things. Open!" Instantly, the opening of the Qiankun Shrinking Bag slowly unfolded, a gentle yet powerful suction quietly spreading out. Bai Pingping gazed at the herbs on the table, her thoughts reaching out like threads. The stems and leaves of honeysuckle were the first to sense this, gently swaying and detaching from the table, drifting towards the bag's opening; the thin slices of isatis root followed closely behind, arranging themselves neatly in the air before entering the bag in succession. In a moment, the herbs on the table vanished without a trace, all steadily swallowed by the Qiankun Shrinking Bag.

Bai Pingping paused briefly, her gaze shifting to the container of pills beside her. With a thought, the pills seemed to come alive, rolling in an orderly fashion and sliding one by one towards the opening of the bag. The subtle sounds of the pills falling into the bag were like a beautiful melody. Only after the last pill was in the bag did Bai Pingping relax slightly, silently reciting the incantation to close the bag.

Bai Pingping let out a long sigh and said, "I'm exhausted! With this treasure, I'll be rich! Haha, haha..." A greedy expression appeared on her face.

Bai Pingping quickly fell asleep clutching the Qiankun Shrinking Bag, looking forward to her journey out of the valley the next day.