Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Water Refinement Method
Translator: 549690339
This Pill Scripture was not actually an artifact from ancient times. At least by Fang Lin’s estimation, this Pill Scripture did not exist during his previous life.
This scripture recorded many alchemy techniques. Most of them were known to Fang Lin, but some were unfamiliar to him.
To be precise, these were alchemy techniques that appeared after Fang Lin’s lifetime.
This was somewhat unexpected for Fang Lin. He had thought that this was just a worthless Pill Formula, but now it seemed to have some value.
At least, it gave Fang Lin some understanding of the innovative alchemy techniques that emerged in later generations.
Fang Lin had always felt that the Alchemy Tao of this era was far inferior to that of his previous life. Many schools of Alchemy Tao were missing, and various kinds of alchemy techniques had been lost.
For example, the ‘Shaking Three Mountains’ technique that had brought Fang Lin fame was already lost in this era.
In Fang Lin’s previous life, ‘Shaking Three Mountains’ was a very common alchemy technique, but in this era, it was considered a treasure by countless pill refiners.
Keep in mind, Fang Lin’s alchemy techniques were so numerous that if he displayed them all, he could frighten every pill refiner in the Nine Countries to death.
However, despite the sharp decline in the overall strength of the pill refining circle, the incomplete schools of Alchemy Tao, some rather innovative alchemy techniques and factions still emerged.
For example, this Pill Scripture recorded an alchemy technique called Water Refinement, which involved refining pills using Rootless Water – a unique approach.
In Fang Lin’s previous life, pills were always refined using fire. This was the first time he had seen water being used for pill refining, so naturally, he was surprised and started to closely study it.
After reading the Water Refinement Chapter, Fang Lin couldn’t help but sigh with admiration. Indeed, with each generation, new talents emerge. The person who created this Water Refinement was truly an unparalleled genius of his generation, earning Fang Lin’s great respect.
According to the Water Refinement Chapter, the creator of this technique was a downcast pill refiner who had suffered severe injuries after failing twice to absorb the Soul Commanding Pill Fire. He managed to cling on to his life, but just barely.
Although he didn’t have the Soul Commanding Pill Fire, he took a different path, diligently studying other alchemy techniques. He finally created this shocking Water Refinement Alchemy after immersing himself in a vast ocean for ten years.
Refining pills with fire is something even beginners of Alchemy Tao understand, but refining pills with water is truly unusual.
At that time, the pill refining circle was in an uproar, abounding with mockery and contempt. Some advanced alchemists even proclaimed that this Water Refinement technique was unorthodox and unimpressive.
However, in an alchemy competition, the creator of Water Refinement successively defeated eleven renowned alchemists, thereby gaining fame overnight and bringing the Water Refinement technique to the public’s attention.
Sadly, this flourish was short-lived. After the death of the pill refiner who created it, the Water Refinement technique quickly faded into obscurity.
The reason was simple, the Water Refinement technique was still new and much harder to master than Fire Refinement. It was more difficult to implement.
Spare time spent learning the Water Refinement technique could have been better used to delve deeper into the orthodox Alchemy Tao.
Thus, despite its momentary dazzle, the Water Refinement technique didn’t gain widespread recognition. Only a small fraction of pill refiners quietly learned and inherited it in memory of its creator.
As time passed, the once unbelievable Water Refinement, as of now, had almost been lost. Only a few ancient books and remnants recorded this alchemy technique.
But how many people still paid attention to it?
The basics of the Water Refinement technique detailed in this Pill Scripture is relatively rudimentary. However, with Fang Lin possessing the Pill Sovereign Soul, he was able to discern its intricacies from the most basic and rudimentary aspects.
In Fang Lin’s view, the individual who conceived the Water Refinement technique was a genius among geniuses. If they lived in the same era, Fang Lin would’ve sought to become close friends with them.
Now, this Water Refinement technique was almost extinct. Fang Lin didn’t know if anyone in this era knew it, but he certainly wanted to learn it.
It was not just because Fang Lin found the Water Refinement technique interesting, but also because he was a Pill Sovereign. He didn’t want to see such an extraordinary alchemy technique disappear.
After all, too many things have already vanished in this era.
Water Refinement, as the name suggests, was refining pills using water.
Yet, it was not ordinary water. Commonly, Rootless Water and deep-sea water were used.
To learn the Water Refinement technique, naturally, you needed to refine pills with water. This was an alchemy technique completely opposed to Fire Refinement. Hence, many pill refiners accustomed to Fire Refinement couldn’t learn it.
Fang Lin initially found it difficult to adapt to Water Refinement as well, but he mastered the basics of Water Refinement in less than ten days.
However, it was just the basics. Even with the foundation of being a Pill Sovereign, mastering a completely novel branch of Alchemy Tao would still take some time.
While Fang Lin was engrossed in the Water Refinement technique, time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.
The Alchemists’ Conference was about to begin!
Each Alchemist Conference was hosted by the Pill Alliance and held between countries. Although it was ostensibly for exchange, it had long become a competition to gauge the Alchemy Tao prowess of each country.
Unlike the matches among martial artists, the competition among alchemists may not involve physical fights or bloodshed, but it could be equally brutal.
The winner would be the focus of everyone’s attention, rising instantly to prominence.
The loser would fade out, subjected to public critique. Without a firm resolve, they would end up being ordinary forever.
The pill refiners representing their respective countries shoulder the hopes of all their nation’s pill refiners.
Yun Country, Meng Kingdom, and Qian Country, despite being among the Lower Three Kingdoms, there was an increasing disparity in their respective Alchemy Tao standards in recent years.
The standards of Qian Country and Meng Kingdom were okay. In the last Alchemist Conference, there was very little difference between the two, although Qian Country was slightly stronger.
But only slightly. Perhaps the alchemists of Qian Country performed a bit better at that time.
As for Yun Country, they had an edge over both Qian Country and Meng Kingdom.
In the last Alchemist Conference, the performances of Yun Country’s alchemists were extremely impressive, birthing many eye-catching figures and overwhelming Qian Country and Meng Kingdom.
There were even rumors that the standard of Yun Country’s Alchemy Tao was approaching that of the middle-ranked countries. Although the rumor was preposterous, it clearly demonstrated how formidable Yun Country’s Alchemy Tao was.
Three days before the Alchemist Conference began, the Pill Alliance sent someone to escort Fang Lin to Qian Capital. There, he met others who were participating in the Alchemist Conference.
In the Qian Capital’s Pill Alliance, Fang Lin met other participants of the Alchemist Conference, including Li Jianlong and Li Feng, those from the Li family.
However, what Fang Lin was more interested in was another person.