Back in the Dalamu Sect, Roan began his practice with Alchemy. There are two ways to make pills in this world, Neutral and Elemental concoctions. The first one is obvious, Neutral Pills that one has no need to care about the user's elemental affinity. The other is Elemental Pills. Each cultivation technique is based on the cultivator's elemental affinity. As a cultivator's realm improves, he gets more and more attached to that specific element. Obviously, elemental pills have to be compatible with them.
Neutral pills are the most sold ones by alchemists all around. After all, they are easier to be made. However, their effects are not as good as the ones made for the specific elements.
The problem is that pills made for a specific element usually needs many more materials compatible with it. As for neutral neutral pills, such a limitation is not applied. Of course, what Roan needed was not neutral pills, but elemental ones.
Because Rean and Roan's foundation are several times stronger than others at the same level, the pills' levels have to be on pair with them. Neutral pills would work, but far from the best result. Unfortunately, there are no alchemists with the power of controlling the Light or Dark Elements. Because of that, none of them could create Light and Dark Elemental Pills. Thus, Roan had to learn how to do it himself.
Roan was trying to concoct his first pill, a simple energy gathering one. That is one of the most basic types and used by a lot of Energy Gathering Realm disciples. This pills' effectiveness drops the higher your realm becomes, though. For Rean and Roan, such a pill would have minimal effect at their cultivation level. Especially since their Spiritual Energy pool is so much bigger than those at the same level.
Suddenly...
*Puf...*
The smell of burnt herbs began to spread in the alchemy room. Roan then lifted the lead of the cauldron, just to see a black liquid inside. All the Spiritual Energy of the herbs quickly disappeared after that too. Sure enough, he failed his first attempt.
'No wonder the system gave three months to reach Earth Low-Level Alchemist Rank. Controlling the Elements to enter the medicinal liquid is really hard. My Elemental Control is definitely much better than those at my level, but I'm still having difficulties grasping it. Now I know why I haven't seen a single alchemist around my age. It simply takes too long before one can get used to it. Anyone else would probably need a few years. Talented ones no less than several months.'
Roan pondered a bit and decided.
'I'm jumping steps here. I better start with a neutral Energy Gathering Pill first. Once I can concoct it with a good success rate, I can begin making Dark or Light Elemental ones.'
Elemental Energy Gathering Pills' materials change according to the Element one wants to create it. Roan had an idea about which herbs he could use to match his element, but he was still not ready for it. Thus, he simply switched to neutral pills that use basically the same herbs.
However, he still failed several times in a roll in the next few days of trials.
'Weird... I'm following the instructions described in the alchemy books correctly. Why can't I harmonize the properties of the herbs?'
In the end, Roan could only leave the room and go back to the alchemy repository. As always, Old Worm was sat behind the counter reading his alchemy books. Soon, Old Worm noticed Roan's presence and put his book down.
"You came faster than expected. I thought you would keep trying for another week before coming to make your first questions."
Roan was surprised to hear that.
"Do you know why I came here?"
Old Worm shrugged his shoulders.
"What else could it be if not your constant fails to make your first pill?"
Roan narrowed his eyes after hearing that.
"Were you spying on me?"
However, Old Worm just chuckled.
"Do I need to spy on you for such an obvious outcome? Anyway, let's not waste each others' time. Say it, what do you want to ask?"
Roan nodded.
"I can't harmonize the herbs' properties even though I'm following the concoction process correctly. I tried several times, but I always get stuck at the same point."
Old Worm was surprised to hear that.
"You already reached the harmonization process? I thought you would fail in the medicinal extraction instead."
Roan didn't find the medicinal extraction that hard. Although he failed in his first tries, it only took him around a day to grasp its gist. That's because the only difference between doing this in this world and his previous life was the fact that the herbs have spiritual energy. He simply merged both experiences and came up with his own way of extracting them.
Old Worm then got up and began to make his way out of the Alchemy Repository.
"Come, let me see what you are doing during your concoction process."
Roan nodded and quickly followed Old Worm. He still doesn't know why Old Worm is helping him, but he only had a month and a half to become an Earth Low-Level Alchemist. That being said, he won't refuse anything that could help.
The two quickly arrived at Old Worm's hut and got inside. Neither side said anything. Roan simply began his concoction process as Old Worm paid close attention.
Old Worm was quite surprised about Roan's way of extracting the medicinal liquid. Roan showed a level of proficiency that was hard to imagine for a kid to do. Not to mention that he seemed to do it a little different than what was explained in the Alchemy Repository's books. Still, it seemed to work pretty well for him, so Old Worm didn't say anything.
The concoction continued, and around an hour later, the same burnt smell began to come out of the cauldron. Sure enough, Roan failed once again.
"I see what is happening here. You are making a neutral pill, so you gave up any elemental attempt. However, even neutral pills aren't entirely void of elemental properties. You need to use your own element fused with Spiritual Energy to subjugate those elements. Of course, you won't add your own element since it wouldn't be compatible with the herbs inside. Still, it is possible and a must to take care of the herbs' own elemental properties."
Old Worm stepped in front of the cauldron and began a new concoction process. Roan, of course, watched that closely. Soon, Roan got bewitched by Old Worm's movement. From the extraction of medicinal herb, the fire's control, the addition of the medicinal liquid, etc. Old Worm's hands seemed to act like magic. Roan couldn't help but recognize the enormous chasm between him and the old man's skills.
Old Worm ignored Roan's surprise, though.
"Can you see it? At the harmonization process, you can't just follow the books. You need to use your own perception to take care of the herbs elemental properties."
Roan observed Old Worm's work.
"I guess I understand the basics."
Old Worm nodded.
"Alright, try yourself."
Just like that, Roan and Old Worm spent the rest of the day in the old hut.