However, after giving it some thought, he realized something was amiss.

The refinement temperatures for luoma and Fragrant Maple Grass differed greatly, and luoma is prone to sublimation under high temperatures. If he were to use this average temperature which exceeded that of luoma's refinement to process both materials together, he would inevitably reduce the medicinal properties of luoma, which would be highly detrimental to the elixir's creation. It could likely lead to the failure of the elixir's refinement, so he mustn't use this average temperature.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Yifan decided to use the luoma's refinement temperature to process the materials, ensuring at least the preservation of luoma's medicinal properties; however, this meant that the processing time would be extended, and the amount of Fragrant Maple Grass would need to be increased.

Using the temperature suited for luoma meant that only a little of the Fragrant Maple Grass's medicinal properties could be extracted; to achieve the required properties for the elixir, the quantity of Fragrant Maple Grass had to be increased. However, as Fragrant Maple Grass was not a rare medicinal material and was quite common, an increased quantity did not represent a significant loss.

With an answer in mind, Lin Yifan began to adjust the temperature.

Feeling the current temperature of the fire pit, the Peach Blossom Valley Venerable nodded slightly, sensing that Lin Yifan had good intuition and wasn't rigid in his thinking.

"Good! Very good! Indeed, you didn't disappoint me," the Peach Blossom Valley Venerable said with slight praise.

Hearing this commendation, Lin Yifan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and exhaled a breath of relief. Just now, he had been truly afraid of adjusting the temperature incorrectly, thankfully it was just a false alarm.

Before he could even steady his emotions, the Peach Blossom Valley Venerable posed another challenge: "The temperature for refining blood vine flowers and Yellow bulrush together."

Upon hearing these two medicinal materials, Lin Yifan jumped to a conclusion—again, it was two materials with greatly differing refinement temperatures that needed to be processed together.

This time, he had to think more deeply.

It was impossible for the Peach Blossom Valley Venerable to pose the same type of question; there must be a trap hidden within, so he had to be cautious.

The refinement temperature for blood vine flowers was much lower than that for Yellow bulrush, and the medicinal properties of blood vine flowers dissolved easily in water and did not evaporate or sublime easily with heat; whereas Yellow bulrush required higher temperatures to extract its medicinal properties. Therefore, when mixing these two for refinement, high temperatures were essential to fully extract the medicinal properties from both materials.

Thus, Lin Yifan immediately set the fire pit's flames to the refinement temperature of Yellow bulrush.

Once again, the Peach Blossom Valley Venerable nodded with satisfaction, feeling that Lin Yifan was adaptable and a true treasure for alchemy. Unlike most of his disciples, who lacked flexibility and were dogmatic in their elixir refinement.

Both of these questions involved materials with significantly different temperatures for processing combined. But what if the refinement temperatures of the two materials were relatively close, yet their properties were completely different? What then?

So, the Peach Blossom Valley Venerable gave Lin Yifan this problem: "The temperature for refining luoma and 'Eight-month Hoof' together."

"Luoma again, what trap could the Venerable be setting this time?" Lin Yifan wondered as he began to ponder.

The refinement temperatures for luoma and 'Eight-month Hoof' were not much different, but since luoma was prone to sublimation, high temperatures were out of the question; yet using the refinement temperature for luoma to refine 'Eight-month Hoof' certainly wouldn't work either. 'Eight-month Hoof' required a specific temperature to release its medicinal properties; unlike Fragrant Maple Grass, which could release its properties by just soaking at a certain temperature.

Therefore, a balance between gain and loss had to be struck.

It should be clarified upfront that the temperature for releasing medicinal properties is not the same as the material's refinement temperature.

The temperature to release the medicinal properties of 'Eight-month Hoof' was a few degrees lower than its refinement temperature, while the temperature at which luoma's properties sublimated was a few degrees higher than its refinement temperature. Still, these temperatures did not coincide, so it was inevitable that some of luoma's medicinal properties would be lost.

If one were to raise the temperature of luoma's sublimation by two to three degrees, it would reach the property-releasing temperature for 'Eight-month Hoof'. And an increase of two or three degrees would not cause the luoma's properties to sublimate too rapidly; so as long as one is willing to sacrifice a bit of luoma's medicinal properties, it would be possible to refine these two types of pills together.

Therefore, raising the temperature by two or three degrees at the sublimation temperature of Luo Ma's medicinal properties is the temperature at which these two herbs are to be refined together.

Thus, Lin Yifan immediately deployed his Cultivation Power to adjust to this temperature.

"To have gains, you must have losses. Not bad, not bad! In Alchemy, one cannot be rigidly inflexible, one must learn to think from different perspectives, to adapt flexibly, and infer other things from one case; your performance today satisfies me greatly. The test of controlling the temperature of the herbs ends here," Peach Blossom Valley Venerable said while stroking his white beard in praise.

In fact, whether you are refining with three, four, or multiple herbs together, it is the same. As long as you balance the gains and losses of each herb properly, you will be able to adjust to the right temperature for refinement. If you cannot balance them, then this combination of herbs must be given up, and another path must be sought, or replace them with other types of herbs with the same properties.

Therefore, Peach Blossom Valley Venerable didn't continue the test. As long as Lin Yifan understood this principle, that was enough.

"Does this mean I can learn your Alchemy now?" Lin Yifan asked eagerly.

"You speak too soon; there are other tests to come," Peach Blossom Valley Venerable replied.

Alchemy is not just about the combination of herbs and the control of the fire. The order in which the herbs are added and the timing of the refinement are also crucial.

All these are indispensable links in the process of Alchemy and must be carefully tested.

"More tests?" Lin Yifan was exasperated.

By now, he was exhausted both physically and mentally, worn out. Were it not for the effect of the fragrant scent of Yunmu, he would have already become frustrated and felt like his head was about to explode.

However, things having reached this point, there was no chance to regret or back out; he could only continue forward, or else all the effort he had put in so far would be wasted.

"What's the matter? Can't you handle it? Or are you scared?" Peach Blossom Valley Venerable challenged.

His successor could not be someone who gave up easily, without accountability or courage; therefore, if Lin Yifan gave up halfway, he would be directly driven out of Peach Blossom Valley.

"How can a man say he 'can't handle it'? I, Lin Yifan, am afraid of neither heaven nor earth. How can I be afraid of a mere test? Bring it on!" Lin Yifan replied with vigor, washing away the dejected expression he had just moments before.

For the sake of future glory and wealth, he was all in.

As the saying goes, "A small measure of patience ruins a great plan; one who is to achieve great things must not sweat the small stuff. A little difficulty is nothing to endure; it's not a big deal at all."

"That's the successor I want to see," Peach Blossom Valley Venerable nodded in response.

He then began to test Lin Yifan's sequence of adding herbs and the distribution of refinement times for each stage.

"You have eight herbs to refine a Tranquilizing Pill. You must allocate the combination of each herb, add them quickly, and allocate the refinement time for each stage."

"Hmm! Alright, understood!" Lin Yifan responded.

"Listen carefully, the eight herbs are sour jujube kernels, cypress seeds, Lingzhi, valerian, fleeceflower vine, silk tree bark, polygala, and sandalwood. Start arranging now, you have five minutes," with that command, Peach Blossom Valley Venerable began timing.

Timing was to test Lin Yifan's comprehensive ability in the realm of Alchemy; only an Alchemist who could allocate herbs both quickly and accurately could become a top-tier Alchemist.

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