Chapter 73
A hundredfold critical strike!
A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Minghuang’s eyes.
It had been a long time since she had triggered such a high multiplier compensation since leaving Beiyang City.
But after the initial excitement, a hint of disappointment flickered in her heart.
If only this critical strike could have been used on something more valuable, it would have been even better.
However, this feeling was fleeting.
Xiao Minghuang gathered her thoughts and remembered her original purpose for seeking out Ye Ruoshui—to improve the quality of her elixirs. She then posed her question.
Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui fell into deep thought. After a while, she slowly replied, “There is indeed a method to refine the quality of elixirs, but the conditions are extremely stringent.”
Noticing the troubled expression on Ye Ruoshui’s face, Xiao Minghuang asked, “What conditions?”
Ye Ruoshui explained, “Your Highness knows that refining elixirs involves melting various medicinal ingredients, then evenly and appropriately mixing the medicinal liquids together, and finally condensing them into pills with fire. This is an irreversible process. Once the pills are formed, they cannot be decomposed again, as doing so would cause the medicinal properties to be lost.”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. “So, does that mean the quality of the elixirs cannot be refined?”
Ye Ruoshui shook her head gently. “It’s not entirely impossible. Your Highness knows that the two most important things for an alchemist are the alchemical fire and the alchemy furnace. Both are equally crucial.”
“Innate fire can easily dissolve already formed elixirs, returning them to their original medicinal state.”
“A magical alchemy furnace can lock in the dissolved medicinal properties, preventing them from dissipating and retaining them within the furnace.”
“If you have both innate fire and a magical alchemy furnace, not only can you refine the quality of the elixirs, but you can also completely decompose formed elixirs back into medicinal liquids and re-refine them into other elixirs!”
After Ye Ruoshui finished speaking in one breath, a look of astonishment flashed in Xiao Minghuang’s eyes.
If refining the quality of elixirs was merely surprising, then dissolving and re-refining them into different elixirs was nothing short of miraculous.
But upon further thought.
Wasn’t this essentially recycling?
However, as she carefully considered Ye Ruoshui’s words, a troubled expression appeared on her face.
“Ruoshui, if we are willing to pay a high price, we might be able to acquire a magical alchemy furnace, but innate fire…”
Ye Ruoshui also showed a hint of helplessness in her smile. “Innate fire is a divine treasure of heaven and earth. Even the three great sects probably do not possess it. Your Highness need not dwell on it.”
“If it’s just about refining the quality of elixirs, as long as we can find a mid-tier Yellow Grade alchemy furnace, it should be achievable.”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang felt slightly reassured. She knew that the alchemy furnace in the hands of the royal family was precisely a mid-grade Yellow-tier furnace, and there was no second one like it in the entire Great Xia Empire.
Given her current status and position, it shouldn’t be a problem for her to borrow it for a while.
An alchemist’s furnace is actually a type of magical artifact, though it typically lacks combat capabilities.
The wonder of an alchemy furnace lies in its ability to greatly benefit the refinement of elixirs within it.
This includes, but is not limited to, increasing the success rate of elixir refinement, improving the quality of the elixirs, reducing the difficulty of controlling the fire, and suppressing anomalies during the refinement process.
Moreover, given Ye Ruoshui’s current strength, controlling a Yellow-tier furnace should already be her limit. Even if she were given a high-grade Profound-tier furnace, it would be difficult for her to handle it with ease.
After chatting for a few more moments, Xiao Minghuang finally walked out of the courtyard, her gaze shifting toward the direction of the imperial palace.
“It seems I need to find some time to visit the palace.”
…
The Imperial Palace.
In the Zhongji Hall, the Emperor of Xia sat behind the dragon-carved desk, reviewing memorials.
A young eunuch hurried in from outside the hall, knelt down, and reported:
“Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess requests an audience.”
A hint of curiosity appeared on the Emperor’s face. He had just returned from the Kingdom of Jinghai, where he had secured a hefty ransom.
A seventh-level Divine Sea martial artist was indeed a valuable prize…
Now that the Ninth Princess was seeking an audience, could it be… that she also wanted a share of the spoils?
The Emperor didn’t dwell on the thought and spoke:
“Summon her!”
“By His Majesty’s decree, summon the Ninth Princess for an audience!”
The young eunuch’s voice, sharp and clear, reached Xiao Minghuang’s ears.
She slightly raised her head, cupped her hands in a respectful gesture, and stepped into the grand hall.
“Your daughter pays respects to the Emperor!”
The Emperor, with a stern expression, glanced at the young girl standing in the hall, his eyes filled with emotion.
The girl, dressed in a bright yellow gown, was strikingly beautiful. Her delicate features, fair skin, and cascading black hair gave her an ethereal, otherworldly charm. She seemed more like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm than a princess of the royal court.
At this moment, a sense of pride welled up in the Emperor’s heart.
Xiao Minghuang was his daughter!
“What brings you here, Little Nine?”
Xiao Minghuang’s eyes were calm as water, and she spoke respectfully:
“I heard there is a mid-grade Yellow-tier alchemy furnace in the palace. I would like to borrow it for a look and return it soon.”
Hearing this, the Emperor breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that Xiao Minghuang had come for the ransom from the Kingdom of Jinghai.
But the next moment, he found himself in a dilemma.
“This matter…”
Seeing the Emperor’s troubled expression, Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly and asked in confusion:
“I only wish to borrow it for a look and will return it tomorrow. Is there any difficulty?”
The Emperor sighed lightly and explained:
“Little Nine, you may not know this, but the furnace you speak of is called the Flame-Turning Furnace. It is the Seventh Elder’s treasure, and he cherishes it as if it were his life. He never lends it to others easily.”
“Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll give you an imperial edict. Take it to the Seventh Elder. If he agrees to lend it to you, then so be it. If he doesn’t, there’s nothing I can do.”
Xiao Minghuang cupped her hands and bowed:
“Your daughter thanks the Emperor!”
The Emperor personally picked up a brush, wrote an imperial edict, and handed it to Xiao Minghuang.
“Take this edict and go to the treasury to pick some spiritual herbs, medicines, and fruits. Consider it the price for borrowing the furnace. When you meet the Seventh Elder, be respectful and do not lose your manners. If the Seventh Elder is in a good mood, he might be willing to lend it to you.”
Xiao Minghuang responded:
“Thank you for your guidance, Father. I understand.”
“You may go now!”
“Your daughter takes her leave.”
Xiao Minghuang went to the treasury to collect some spiritual herbs and then headed towards the Offering Hall. As she walked, she pondered.
She knew that the royal alchemists held a transcendent status in the Great Xia Empire, but who was the Emperor?
Before breaking through to the Spirit Seed Realm, the Emperor was the second strongest in the Great Xia Empire, having ruled for hundreds of years with immense prestige.
Moreover, his strength was unparalleled, being the strongest below the Spirit Seed Realm in the southern region.
Now that he had broken through to the Spirit Seed Realm, his power had reached new heights.
The current Emperor was a figure of both immense strength and authority.
Yet, the Emperor himself admitted that he could not command the Seventh Elder.
He could only request and plead!
If the Seventh Elder refused, then that was that!
This showed just how revered the profession of an alchemist was.
Even if their cultivation level was far below that of the Emperor, they could still remain beyond his control!
Xiao Minghuang sighed inwardly. If only she had talent in alchemy, how wonderful would that be?
But then she reconsidered.
Ye Ruoshui had a talent for alchemy, and the fact that she herself possessed such talent made little difference.
Moreover, she could dedicate the time spent delving into the art of alchemy to her cultivation instead.
Focusing on mastery was indeed more appropriate.
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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