Read Novel Full Chapter 630: Alchemy Competition Final (7)
Chapter 630: Alchemy Competition Final (7)
Kyrian held the first herb, his fingers wrapping around the stem with the precision of a surgeon. His violet eyes glowed, an inner light igniting as his perception penetrated the structure of the plant.
He could see its spiritual structure, every layer of energy, every vein of essence, and every hidden impurity.
The energy within the plant was not uniform. There was a primary essence, the heart of the herb, where its medicinal properties were concentrated.
There was secondary energy, circulating like blood through invisible veins. There were impurities, residues that needed to be removed so that the pure essence could be extracted. And there was a small structure hidden near the central fibers, a knot of energy that many alchemists would overlook.
Kyrian smiled slightly, a smile meant more for himself than for anyone around him.
“So this is where it is…” He murmured, his voice low.
He placed the herb into the cauldron, and the flame immediately enveloped only the area that needed to be refined. No unnecessary energy was consumed, no heat was wasted. The medicinal essence was slowly extracted, every molecule of energy being released in its own time.
Lio Han narrowed his eyes, his attention now completely focused on Kyrian.
“Precise control. It is not merely skill, it is a fundamental understanding of what he is doing.”
The elder remained silent, his eyes fixed on the young man’s work.
Kyrian added the second herb, then the third, then the fourth. Each received different treatment, adapted to its specific nature.
One was heated until it released its essence, like a flower blooming beneath the sun. Another was cooled by another essence, a balance of temperatures that preserved its integrity.
A third had its essence compressed before being released, concentrating its power at a specific point. A fourth was almost completely destroyed, leaving behind only a small spiritual core that contained its true essence.
To any other alchemist, this would have seemed excessively complicated, a process that required more effort than it was worth. To Kyrian, it was natural, his eyes allowed him to see what others needed decades of experience to discover, a vision that transformed chaos into order.
He did not see merely herbs, he saw functions, he saw relationships, he saw possible paths. Each ingredient was a piece of a puzzle, and he could see how they all fit together.
The incomplete recipe had provided seven ingredients, and Kyrian had confirmed all of them. But, after analyzing the twenty-five available herbs, he realized something that no one else had noticed, the original recipe did not necessarily have to be followed absolutely.
The ingredients had functions, and if he could reproduce those functions through other herbs, he could obtain practically the same result.
That was when he began searching for substitutes, his mind working like an architect designing an alternative structure.
The first missing herb possessed an extremely specific property, stabilizing the medicinal essence during the final stage, preventing the pill from disintegrating.
Kyrian found another herb capable of producing the same effect, not identical, but whose spiritual energy possessed a similar characteristic.
The second missing herb was supposed to neutralize an excessively aggressive energy, an element that, if left unchecked, could destroy the entire structure.
Kyrian found two possibilities and chose the weaker one. The reason was simple, the original herb would have been used in a small quantity, and the substitute possessed a more concentrated essence. Using it in the same proportion would destroy the balance, so he reduced its quantity.
The third missing herb was supposed to serve as a bridge between two incompatible essences, a function that required a neutral and adaptable nature. He found a root that could fulfill this function, its energy flowing between the two extremes.
The fourth was even more difficult, its function was to prevent the pill’s energy from escaping during the final condensation, a critical role that could make or break the entire process.
Kyrian spent nearly a minute analyzing the remaining herbs, his eyes examining each one with meticulous attention. Then his eyes settled on a small blue flower, almost invisible among the others.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“You.”
He picked up the flower, his fingers touching its petals with a familiarity that seemed to come from years of practice.
Lio Han immediately noticed the choice, his eyes widening.
“That is not part of the recipe.”
The elder nodded, his expression thoughtful.
“No.”
The old man watched closely, his eyes following Kyrian’s movements.
“But that flower possesses a property similar to the original herb. It is not identical, but its function is compatible.”
Lio Han fell silent, his mind processing the implication of that choice.
Kyrian continued, his sequence flowing naturally. Ten herbs, the seven present in the recipe and three more that he had correctly deduced.
Ten out of thirteen. The other three would not be used, replaced by four auxiliary herbs. Not because they were more powerful, but because, when combined, they could reproduce the effects of the three missing herbs.
The elder responsible for the competition finally showed an expression of surprise, his eyebrow rising slightly.
“He understood. He is not merely following the recipe, he is reconstructing its logic.”
Lio Han smiled, a smile carrying the satisfaction of someone seeing his suspicion confirmed.
“I told you.”
Kyrian began refining the four auxiliary herbs, each receiving specific treatment. The first was transformed into spiritual powder, its particles so fine that they looked like stardust.
The second had its liquid essence extracted, a thread of energy flowing like water. The third was burned until only a small green crystal remained, a jewel of pure energy. The fourth was used almost entirely, its essence merging into the process.
When the four essences met, a subtle reaction occurred inside the cauldron, the energies intertwining, one did not cancel out the other, they began forming a structure similar to the one the original herb was supposed to produce.
The elder breathed slowly, his voice filled with admiration.
“Impressive. He is not reconstructing the recipe, he is creating a new version of it.”
Lio Han did not respond, his eyes fixed on Kyrian.
Kyrian did not know that he was being watched, his attention remaining completely focused on his work.