Chapter 448 – A Mutated Alchemy Technique

Zhang Xiaohua furrowed his brow and asked: “Uncle Nie, the temperature in this valley seems slightly higher than outside. Is it because of the alchemy furnaces?”

Valley Master Nie smiled and replied; “Nephew Ren, you’re truly observant. The temperature during this season is actually similar to that outside. I thought you wouldn’t notice. In truth, if you came here during winter, the difference would be much clearer.”

Zhang Xiaohua was startled, a look of realization dawning upon him. “Could it be that the temperature inside the valley isn’t the same as outside?”

“It’s exactly so,” Nie Qianyu said with a bright smile. “This inner valley is like spring all year round. The temperature remains constant throughout the seasons. Otherwise, how would our Spring Rebirth Valley come to be named ‘Spring Rebirth’?”

The three continued walking as Valley Master Nie explained: “This inner valley is quite vast, stretching dozens of li in all directions. Countless rare medicinal herbs are cultivated here. The few li near the valley entrance are where the disciples frequently come and go. Deeper in, it becomes a more primitive forest, home to various birds and beasts. Oh, and the Mountain Manor’s Sibu Xiang was discovered there.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded. He had already swept the area with his divine sense earlier—trees thickly forested, vegetation lush, and indeed, many wild beasts and birds roamed freely. It was clear that the area was rarely touched by human presence.

Valley Master Nie pointed to the vast expanse of medicinal fields ahead and said: “This is considered the very heart of our Spring Rebirth Valley. All kinds of herbs are cultivated here. Because our inner valley is like spring year-round, the herbs of Spring Rebirth Valley are renowned across the land. Naturally, it is precisely these herbs that established the reputation of our valley’s pills.”

As he spoke, Valley Master Nie’s face was full of pride.

Zhang Xiaohua nodded again. Having stayed in Spring Rebirth Valley for so long, he was well aware of its standing in the martial world. Back then, when Ou Yan of Huanxi Villa faced difficulties with herbs, didn’t she immediately think to seek help from Spring Rebirth Valley? However, the alchemy sites of Spring Rebirth Valley were all nestled within the cliffs of the inner valley—his divine sense couldn’t penetrate them, so he hadn’t been able to investigate. Judging by Valley Master Nie’s demeanor, they must be quite extraordinary.

Then, Zhang Xiaohua pointed to the mountain wall on the right and said with a smile: “Uncle Nie, I saw many disciples going in and out beneath the mountain wall on the left. That must be where our Spring Rebirth Valley carries out its alchemy. But what about this side? It’s so quiet and still—what is it used for?”

Valley Master Nie glanced at the stone wall to the right, then looked at Zhang Xiaohua and said solemnly: “Nephew Ren, you’re not really an outsider, so it’s fine to tell you. Within the left stone wall reside the senior masters of the previous generations of our Spring Rebirth Valley. They are all advanced in age and no longer involve themselves in valley affairs. They dwell here in this eternal spring to enjoy their twilight years in peace.”

“So that’s how it is.” Zhang Xiaohua nodded thoughtfully. In truth, when he scanned the area earlier with his divine sense, he had already seen it clearly—he just couldn’t be certain. Though Spring Rebirth Valley wasn’t one of the great orthodox sects, it did have a history stretching back over a thousand years. If there weren’t any hidden experts residing in the valley, that simply wouldn’t make sense.

However, right after that, Zhang Xiaohua’s thoughts turned to the Piaomiao Sect. The Piaomiao Sect was a major sect with an immortal Dao lineage—surely it should have had deep foundations. So then where did all of its previous generation’s experts go? The entire sect was wiped out, and yet not a single master had stepped forward?

That really was strange!

“Then, Uncle Nie, how many of our seniors are still living within the valley?” Zhang Xiaohua asked casually.

“This…” Valley Master Nie seemed a bit hesitant. He glanced at Nie Qianyu, then said: “Nephew Ren, you’re not an outsider, but this is considered a secret of our Spring Rebirth Valley…”

Zhang Xiaohua understood and quickly said: “Uncle Nie, if it’s a confidential matter, then it’s best not to say.”

“Hehe, actually,” Valley Master Nie chuckled, “the climate in this valley is mild and pleasant. Within our Spring Rebirth Valley, I dare not speak for anything else, but as for longevity herbs and restorative pills, we have no shortage. So, hehe, quite a few of our seniors do indeed live here in the valley.”

“Moreover,” Valley Master Nie added mysteriously, “Nephew Ren, don’t be fooled by my average martial arts. Our Spring Rebirth Valley does possess its own secret techniques. Many of the martial artists who once ranked high in the pugilistic world—quite a few of them hailed from our valley.”

His expression was full of self-satisfaction.

Zhang Xiaohua was speechless.

Nie Qianyu pointed to a nearby herb garden and said, “Brother Ren, look over there. That’s Tianma, the main ingredient used in refining Blood-Replenishing Pills. If it’s only a year old, it’s of little use. The ones we use for the pill are all over five years old. And because Spring Rebirth Valley has such a stable climate, it’s perfect for growing herbs. Also, for some reason, herbs in the inner valley always grow better than those in the outer valley. That’s why we’re able to produce such high-grade pills.”

Zhang Xiaohua walked closer and released a trace of his divine sense. Sure enough—the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth in this inner valley was more than three times richer than in the outer valley. With such an environment, how could the herbs not thrive? Looking at the terrain of the inner valley, and the lush, dense herb fields, it was only natural for the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth to gather here.

“Ah, right!” Zhang Xiaohua suddenly came to a realization. “Valley Master Nie, why is the climate in this inner valley so unique?”

Valley Master Nie simply smiled without answering. Nie Qianyu replied: “Once Brother Ren enters beneath that stone wall and sees how our Spring Rebirth Valley refines pills, you’ll understand everything.”

Beneath the stone wall on the left were dozens of small cave entrances, with disciples of Spring Rebirth Valley frequently coming and going. Upon seeing the valley master, they all respectfully bowed in greeting.

As they approached, Valley Master Nie pointed toward the many cave entrances and said with a smile: “Nephew Ren, this is where we refine pills in Spring Rebirth Valley. Why don’t you guess—why do we have so many caves?”

Zhang Xiaohua was momentarily taken aback. He thought for a bit, then shook his head and said: “I don’t know. Do the different caves serve different functions?”

Nie Qianyu said: “Brother Ren, don’t overthink it. Just try a simple guess, and I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

Just as Zhang Xiaohua was about to shake his head again, a light flickered in his mind. He laughed and said: “Could it be that different pills are refined in different caves?”

Nie Qianyu immediately clapped her hands and said: “Exactly! I told you—Brother Ren, you’re thinking too much. The art of pill refinement isn’t as miraculous as the books make it out to be. As long as you start from a simple perspective, you’ll definitely figure it out.”

“Not as miraculous as in the books?” Zhang Xiaohua was startled. A suspicion arose in his heart—could it be that Spring Rebirth Valley’s method of refining pills is different from the way it’s recorded in the books?

As Valley Master Nie and Nie Qianyu casually led Zhang Xiaohua into one of the caves, he was instantly dumbfounded by the sight before him. Yes, truly frozen in place, unable to move!

Valley Master Nie and Nie Qianyu weren’t surprised. They merely stood to the side quietly, waiting for him to react.

After a long moment, Zhang Xiaohua rubbed his nose and asked with a wry smile, “Uncle Nie, this is the pill refinement place you mentioned?”

Then he turned to Nie Qianyu. “And this is what you called the ‘ordinary’ pill refining process?”

Nie Qianyu smiled and said: “That’s right. Pill refining is just like this. But… were you perhaps startled by Spring Rebirth Valley’s grand scale?”

“Yes… yes, I was.” Zhang Xiaohua looked around carefully, even releasing his divine sense to examine everything again and again.

Dear readers—what kind of scene could possibly have left this descendant of an Immortal Dao lineage, this Zhang Xiaohua who had personally refined a Fasting Pill, so completely shocked?

It was a rather large cavern, elongated in shape. In the cliff wall before Zhang Xiaohua, more than a dozen alcoves had been carved out. Each alcove held a cauldron of varying size—not unlike the one Zhang Xiaohua carried in his own pouch. At the moment, blue and red flames were surging beneath the cauldrons, licking their bases. And above the cauldrons… above them was an endless stream of steam drifting upward!

Was this boiling medicine, or refining pills?

No wonder Zhang Xiaohua was utterly stunned.

“This is what you meant by ‘different from what’s written in the books’?” Zhang Xiaohua asked once he regained his senses.

Nie Qianyu nodded affirmatively.

Valley Master Nie, standing beside them, explained: “The pill refinement methods recorded in the books are all theoretical. In practice, most of it simply can’t be done. For instance, precise control of the cauldron’s temperature—how is that supposed to be achieved?”

Looking at the blue and red flames under the cauldrons, Zhang Xiaohua traced them with his divine sense. Only after a while did he slowly nod. Valley Master Nie continued: “Nephew Ren has likely seen how they decoct herbs at the Qihuang Courtyard, right? Back then, we also couldn’t control the cauldron’s temperature. If we simply burned it directly, the herbs would turn to ash—how could a pill be formed like that? So we turned to water power to extract the essence of the herbs. Once the water is completely boiled away, the remaining essence stays at the bottom of the cauldron.”

Zhang Xiaohua came to a realization and said: “So decocting medicine draws out the medicinal power of the herbs into the water. The patient drinks the water to be cured, and what’s left at the bottom of the pot is just residue. But this so-called pill refinement—you’re only using herbs, and there’s no residue left at the bottom? Hm, no, wait a minute… Uncle Nie, while most herbs are leaves and fruits of plants and not as dry or fibrous as medicinal ingredients, they still contain impurities. What’s left at the bottom of the cauldron—is it really all essence?”

Valley Master Nie pointed at the steam and said: “A lot of the impurities are boiled away along with the steam. What remains is already very little.”

Through his divine sense, Zhang Xiaohua could feel the vitality of the herbs’ essence within the steam rising above the cauldrons. How could that be impurity? That was clearly the main component of a proper pill! Only now did Zhang Xiaohua understand why, that day, Nie Qianyu had said their Spring Rebirth Valley’s Fasting Pills only staved off hunger for a day or two. So the essence of the polygonatum was all boiled off during the decoction process.

Zhang Xiaohua was at a loss for words. He could only mutter: “But… doesn’t the essence of the herbs get carried away with the steam as well?”

Valley Master Nie answered awkwardly: “That’s unavoidable. If you don’t use boiling, you get nothing at all. If you do boil it, at least you get something.”

At this moment, Nie Qianyu said: “Brother Ren, aren’t you curious about the flames under the cauldrons, how they burn without using dry wood?”

Zhang Xiaohua was instantly full of surprise. “Little Fish Nie, now that you mention it, I really hadn’t noticed! Go on then, tell me—where does the fire come from?”

Nie Qianyu looked quite proud. “Brother Ren might not know this, but beneath this valley are many passageways that connect directly to subterranean earthfire. All the fire we use in Spring Rebirth Valley for pill refining comes straight from those underground flames through those channels.”

“I see.” Zhang Xiaohua smiled. “Then… is this the reason why it’s so hard to control the temperature of the cauldrons?”

Valley Master Nie nodded. “Exactly. But if we didn’t use the earthfire, the cost of ordinary flames would be far too high. Spring Rebirth Valley may be wealthy, but we still have to consider cutting costs and increasing efficiency.”

“Ah!!” Zhang Xiaohua was dumbfounded.