Day and night tour

Chapter 451 The First Furnace of Pills
"This is going to be difficult."

Zhou Xuan used Cui Jie and Bai Lu Fangshi as "points" and walked around them in a figure-eight pattern, glancing at the two of them as he went.

His gaze was truly frightening, making Cui Jie and the other woman feel uneasy. After thinking for a long time, the White Deer Taoist finally asked the others, "This great master of yours, does he eat people?"

"Don't move. My young master likes to pace around when he's thinking," Xiao Fuzi advised.

"The stove maker is highly skilled; the designer is incredibly ingenious, but the two just can't communicate? This is..."

Zhou Xuan thought and thought, then suddenly a thought struck him and he said, "That's it! Cerebellum, how could I have forgotten about it?"

He slammed his palms together and shouted, "Cerebellum, come out!"

A silver-gray "walnut" popped out and immediately roared like thunder: "Boss! Here!"

The shout startled Zhou Xuan, who asked, "Little Brain, what's wrong with him? He's so energetic, even his shouts are so intense."

"Boss, those two pieces of flesh and blood that cost nine incense sticks each, after I ate them, my back didn't ache anymore, my legs didn't hurt anymore, and I even had the energy to scold Big Brother and Third Brother."

"You've got nothing better to do than criticize Da Wa and San Wa? I've told you before, don't do things that are detrimental to unity. Come here and let me see these pictures."

Zhou Xuan couldn't help but laugh and showed the blueprint to "Cerebellum".

The cerebellum has quite a history; it was created by the "research monks" of the Buddhist Kingdom, who spent an extremely long time imitating the main brain of the Flesh and Blood Divine Dynasty.

This cerebellum is like it has a supercomputer inside it; understanding things like "engineering drawing" is much simpler for it than "scolding the eldest and third children."

He glanced at it once and said, "Boss, I understand."

"How could I not know that you can understand it?"

Zhou Xuan patted the counter in the shop and pointed to the miniature house, saying,
"See these house models? Learn from them and project a 3D holographic image of the stove in this picture, exactly the same as the one on the drawing."

"Leave it to me, boss. Gentlemen, today I, Xiao Nao, will show you a real work of art." Xiao Nao hadn't even done anything yet, but he was already making a lot of boastful remarks.

"..." Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan gets a terrible headache just hearing the word "art." This cerebellum-like "art" loves to add things to images.

For example, he would paint a white wall blood-red in the video for the sake of so-called "artistic tension," claiming it was to create a sense of suspense.

He could add to the usual things without a problem, as long as he was happy, but if this alchemy furnace was something that was "unnecessary," then Sister Cui would do it anyway.

Finally, the "art furnace" was created, because refining elixirs inevitably required the furnace to explode.

He immediately coughed and said, "Cerebellum, I need to correct your concept of art. Tension is an art, but isn't absolute accuracy and precision also an art?"

Upon hearing this, the cerebellum actually pondered for a moment and said, "Boss, you're right, that makes sense."

"If that makes sense, let's get started."

Zhou Xuan was greatly pleased; this little brain of his was still a promising talent.

Upon receiving the command, the cerebellum produced pores all over its body, each pore emitting a beam of light. These beams of light did not disperse; when they fell in front of Sister Cui, they formed a "light and shadow of the alchemy furnace" with an almost realistic texture.

The alchemy furnace has no lid, and when viewed from above, its internal structure is clearly visible.

Sister Cui looked down and examined it carefully, keeping it in mind. As a fox, she was naturally intelligent, and now that she had the actual object, it would be easier for her to understand.

"This time I understand."

As Sister Cui spoke, she observed even more carefully.

The White Deer Alchemist standing nearby was stunned and said, "This little brain of his, usually such a useless little thing, has actually come in so handy!"
"If I had had this thing back then, even if my apprentices were dull-witted, I could have trained them."

"Old Bai, times have changed."

Zhou Xuan patted Bai Lu Fangshi on the shoulder with a smile and said, "You have to keep up with the times. Go check and see if the dimensions of the components in this holographic projection are correct."

"No need to check, my eyes are the ruler."

The White Deer Alchemist said with great confidence.

"Well, when the furnace explodes, my eyes will be like knives..." Zhou Xuan's gaze turned cold.

"..." White Deer Alchemist.

As if remembering something, the White Deer Taoist said, "I remember now. My master once said that we must never be careless about anything. The most common place to capsize is in the gutter."

He hurriedly went to the Light and Shadow Furnace and began to examine it inch by inch until he was covered in sweat. He then stopped and said to Zhou Xuan, "Master, I've finished examining it. It's extremely accurate."

"That's good."

Zhou Xuan was now just waiting for Sister Cui to fully understand the structure of the stove. He went to the kitchen, boiled a large pot of water, and made tea for everyone in the room. The group leisurely drank their tea.

Finally, Sister Cui said she had seen enough and was going out to buy some bricks and stones.

She can control the earth and rocks, but she can't just demolish Zhou Xuan's shop to build a furnace.

"Sister Cui, you can rest, I'll go buy it."

Xiao Fuzi was also full of energy. When he heard that Zhou Xuan's elixir could save Hua Zi, he, as Hua Zi's best friend, was just as excited as Sister Cui.

But having worked in the interior design department for so long, he has developed a somewhat reserved personality, especially with so many guests present; he couldn't afford to appear overly excited.

Now, when he goes out to buy bricks and soil, he finally lets loose, walking with a bouncy gait, like a child who has just received candy.

"This young man, Xiao Fuzi, is really good," Sister Cui said to Zhou Xuan.

"That's right, our family depends on Fuzi. Without him, we would all fall apart."

Zhou Xuan also said with a smile.

……

Xiao Fuzi went to a brick factory three streets away and bought two cartloads of blue bricks. The brick factory initially thought two cartloads of bricks were not enough and refused to do the business, but when they heard that it was Zhou Xuan's shop that wanted to buy them, they immediately agreed.
He didn't charge a penny for the bricks and even took on the role of a laborer, helping Xiao Fuzi transport sand and gravel.

"That's not right, boss. Our young master said not to take advantage of others."

Little Fuzi muttered to herself.

The boss shook his head vigorously and said, "If it weren't for Mr. Da, I would still be a refugee. My brick factory was built thanks to his great fortune."

The shop owner loaded the bricks and stones onto a cart and hauled it over with great effort. Once inside the shop, he thanked Zhou Xuan profusely, then turned and left without even accepting the tea Zhou Xuan offered.

Zhou Xuan gave Xiao Fuzi a wink and then forced a pig's trotter into the boss's car.

"These pig's trotters..."

"Boss, you give me bricks, I'll give you pig's trotters, it's a good match."

Zhou Xuan waved his hand before returning to the shop.

Now, the bricks and stones are ready, and the furnace maker is in place.
"Make a furnace."

Zhou Xuan said.

Sister Cui waved her hand at the scattered bricks and stones on the ground, and instantly, the area around her seemed to be a furnace burning at a thousand degrees.
The bricks and stones melted like metal, changing shape in the extremely hot furnace.

New bricks and stones were continuously added, and more bricks and stones were continuously being melted down.

With the addition of more and more materials, a furnace with a diameter of half a meter, which looked like a large water vat from the outside, was fired.

Once the alchemy furnace landed smoothly, its exterior was still crimson red. If you moved closer, a wave of scorching heat would wash over you.

"It needs to cool down a bit more."

Sister Cui blew a breath towards the large alchemy furnace, and the fragrant aroma sprayed onto the furnace.
With a hiss, the furnace cooled from its crimson color to its original brick-blue hue, though steam rose from its surroundings.

The White Deer Alchemist inspected the furnace again. After confirming that the furnace had no internal pores and that all the mechanisms had been successfully constructed, he immediately opened his arms wide.

"Start the furnace!"

The large alchemy furnace suddenly took flight. When it was about half a meter off the ground, it called out to Zhou Xuan, "Master, that starry sky scroll is yours. It is the lid of this furnace and needs your blood and essence to activate it."

"Easy to say."

Zhou Xuan cut his palm with his bone teeth and sprayed the blood onto the suspended Starry Sky Scroll. At the same time, his mind became tightly connected with the Starry Sky Scroll.

Having learned of its master's intentions and tasted the essence of blood, the Starry Sky Scroll floated and hung about a foot above the stove.

"Master, add the feed."

"Human willpower is put into the furnace."

Zhou Xuan followed the steps and summoned the "Book of Willpower". He pointed it at the furnace, and the limited human willpower stored in the book entered the furnace like a wisp of white smoke.

"Master, summon the divine thunder from the heavens!" the White Deer Taoist priest shouted again.

Zhou Xuan looked at King Xishan: "Old Xi, it's your turn to strike with lightning."

After Zhou Xuan of the Xishan Dynasty clasped his hands in greeting, he emerged from the Jingyi Temple dressed in white, soaring hundreds of meters into the air and releasing the "divine power" within his divine essence.

Several dark clouds joined together, coalesced into a mass, and covered the East Market Street, followed by a flash of lightning.

"Boom!"

The lightning struck Zhou Xuan's shop, turning into a ball of lightning that rolled several times before leaping into the alchemy furnace.

The heavenly fire entered the furnace.

As soon as the fire was added to the furnace, the blue and red fish in Zhou Xuan's secret realm sensed it and began to become restless. "Come out if you want."

Zhou Xuan said.

At first, when the White Deer Alchemist wanted to see the Blue and Red Fish refining pills, Zhou Xuan was somewhat reluctant. What was the difference between this and "watching an animal performance"?
But now,

These two animals insisted on performing.

With Zhou Xuan's permission, the blue and red fish joyfully left the secret realm and eagerly plunged into the large furnace, chasing after the ball of lightning.

Two fish, one named "Cloud and Rain," and the other named "Transformation into a Dragon."

After the rain cleared and the clouds dispersed, thunder and lightning followed.
Their obsession with heavenly lightning can be discerned from their names.
After chasing each other several times, the two fish, like nibbling on bait, swallowed all the lightning bolts whole.

And then,
The two fish, one redder and the other bluer, like two colorful gems, formed a "Tai Chi diagram" in the furnace, slowly rotating.

The temperature rose rapidly as the fish rotated.

"The blue and red fire can refine the sun and moon, and then the furnace will be shut down."

The White Deer Taoist shouted, and the Starry Sky Scroll, also believing the time had come, snapped shut.

Just hear a roar,
The furnace became one, with half of the starlight flames on the star scroll glowing blue and the other half radiating crimson flames.

Inside the furnace, there were bursts of noisy noises and various kinds of shouts, which sounded extremely shrill.

"How could there be such a scream?"

Zhou Xuan asked the alchemist Bai Lu.

The White Deer Alchemist said with a smile, "Master, when the power of human vows is condensed, it will also give birth to a soul. The temperature in this alchemy furnace is extremely high, and the soul cannot bear it, so it will naturally cry out."

"That sounds a bit irritating," Zhou Xuan said.

"Ah, sir, you are kind and righteous, but this soul of willpower only possesses the most basic instincts, lacking intelligence and any spiritual insight. It is no different from a chicken or a dog. Please listen to more..."

"If you listen more, will the soul stop calling out?"

"Listen to it a few more times, and you'll get used to it," said the White Deer Taoist with great candor.

"..." Zhou Xuan.

The shouts lasted for a full fifteen minutes before finally subsiding.
The "blue flames and red flames" in the fire eye on the starry sky scroll have also merged together.

The color resulting from the blending of the two colors was slightly richer than the sky blue after rain, and it had a somewhat refreshing and pleasant feel to it.

"Congratulations, Master, this batch of pills has been successfully refined."

The White Deer Taoist said.

"So fast? So smooth?"

The fact that things were going too smoothly left Zhou Xuan feeling somewhat empty inside.

"The Blue and Red Fish are the ancestors of alchemy in the human world. If the two fish come together, they can refine a tiny amount of pills. If it takes more effort, then the ancestors of alchemy have come for nothing."

"Too."

Zhou Xuan gazed at the alchemy furnace. After the fire merged, its momentum gradually weakened until it disappeared.

After the azure and red flames disappeared together, the starry scroll suddenly opened, and the two fish, looking as if they hadn't had enough fun, swam back into Zhou Xuan's secret realm.

But a speck of dust in the furnace slowly rose into the air.

This speck of dust, radiating a seven-colored light, was exactly the same color as the elixir Zhou Xuan had seen in the divination at the Blood Well.

"It's this kind of pill, this kind of pill, that can save Hua Zi."

Zhou Xuan reached out and grabbed the pill in his hand.

As soon as Yao Chen touched his palm, he felt a chill run through his body, as if he were walking in polar ice and snow wearing only thin clothing.

"Master, let me take a look at this speck of dust."

The White Deer Taoist said.

Not only did he want to see it, but everyone else in the room also crowded around, wanting to observe.

Seeing that the White Deer Alchemist had swallowed, Zhou Xuan became somewhat uneasy and said, "You're not thinking of swallowing me whole, are you?"

"How could I dare to swallow your pill? Although... I do want to, I will restrain myself."

"If you swallow it, I'll choke you."

Zhou Xuan handed over the pill dust.

The White Deer Alchemist glanced at it and immediately said, "I really can't swallow this pill."

"What kind of pill is this?"

"This elixir is called 'Heaven and Earth Longevity Enhancement.' Heaven and earth also have lifespans; like humans, they desire longevity and extended lifespans."

"This kind of pill is a special medicine used to exchange with Heaven and Earth; it cannot be consumed by humans," said the White Deer Alchemist.

Zhou Xuan asked, "What if people eat it?"

"Heaven and earth bestow upon people destiny and fortune. If one tries to compete with heaven and earth for these things, one's destiny will inevitably be disrupted and one's fortune will be lost."

The White Deer Alchemist said, "More importantly, people cannot absorb the essence of this pill; eating it is as good as not eating it at all."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan understood.
It's like people don't benefit from eating it; instead, they offend heaven and earth. No one would do something that harms others and doesn't benefit themselves.

"But this pill can nourish my two souls, one for day and one for night. If my two souls consume it, wouldn't that be going against the will of heaven and earth? Will there be any good outcome?"

Zhou Xuan was pondering this.
Suddenly, many strange things began to happen in the ritual implement shop.

The lights in the shop kept turning on and off for no apparent reason.
The room was sometimes bright and sometimes dark.
Then, the glass shattered piece by piece.
"There was a sound that normal people can't hear, which shattered the glass."

Zhou Xuan's senses were far more sensitive than others, but he only heard a faint sound when he had pushed his senses to their limit.

The sound was like someone's murmured whisper.

Then, the record player in the room started playing even though it wasn't plugged in.

"Spring light~ beautiful spring light~ like flowing water~"

The singing was very gentle, but its sudden appearance inexplicably instilled a sense of unease.

Fortunately, everyone inside was a master, so they didn't lose their composure. They were just sensing things and trying to figure out where these strange phenomena came from.

Bai Lu, the sorcerer, was a seasoned veteran. He immediately understood and said, "Master, you've arrived!"

"Who's coming?"

"The person who came to you asking for the elixir... comes from heaven and earth..."

The White Deer Alchemist turned around and said to everyone, "You all lower your heads. No one except the Pill Master can see it, or you will be in danger of losing your luck."

Hearing this, the people inside the room were both eager to see what the person sent by Heaven and Earth to retrieve the elixir looked like, and also afraid of jeopardizing their luck.
After much struggle, everyone finally lowered their heads.

"If we can't see it, we can't see it. Being able to sense that person's aura can also help us improve our cultivation."

Lord Arrow, the painter, and others all shared this thought.

Zhou Xuan held the pill dust in his hand, quietly waiting for the "elixir collector".

But he didn't expect that what took the elixir wasn't a person... but a flower.

After a tremor, a small white flower sprouted from the ground inside the shop.

The flower buds were tightly closed and had not yet opened; the flowers also appeared somewhat wilted.

A sound reached Zhou Xuan's mind.

"what do you want?"

"I want Mu Hua to be resurrected."

Zhou Xuan said.

The white flower extended its roots, which transformed into long tentacles that climbed onto Zhou Xuan's hand and hooked onto Yao Chen.

"not enough."

"What can all this medicinal dust be exchanged for?"

Zhou Xuan asked again.

"To show you Mu Hua... the hope of resurrection."

"make a deal."

Zhou Xuan didn't haggle any further—he knew that this grain of medicinal dust was simply too tiny.

The flower's tentacles swept the medicinal dust into the bud, and then the flower opened, its petals lazily unfolding to reveal the stamen inside.

But the flower's stamen is a "finger," a finger that seems boneless, twisting and turning alluringly...

(End of this chapter)