Primordial Era: The Witch Clan Reigns Supreme, Hongjun Begs Me to Become the Demon Emperor

Chapter 47 Lao Tzu: If you can't understand it, that's called technology.

Maitreya quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Disciple Maitreya greets Supreme Master Uncle!"

Lao Tzu slowly opened his eyes and his gaze fell on him.

His gaze was calm and indifferent, revealing no emotion.

"You are—" he began slowly.

"Disciples of Jieyin and Zhunti?"

Maitreya nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, indeed! This disciple is the common disciple of all my masters!"

Lao Tzu nodded slightly.

He certainly knew that the two Westerners had taken on disciples.

To be honest, he didn't have a close relationship with these two "fellow disciples". Although they were from the same sect in Zixiao Palace, they rarely interacted on a daily basis.

The Western place was dirt poor, and the two of them spent their days tinkering with strange and unusual things, so they really couldn't find common ground.

The sudden visit of this chubby young man surprised him somewhat.

"What is it?" Lao Tzu asked.

Maitreya took out a roll of blueprints from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "Senior Uncle, I wish to ask you for guidance on the art of alchemy! These are the blueprints for my initial design of an automatic alchemy machine. Please give me your guidance, Senior Uncle!"

Lao Tzu took the blueprints, unfolded them, and took a look.

Then he fell silent.

The drawing showed a round object covered with various symbols: array patterns, runes, numbers, arrows, and some completely incomprehensible scribbles.

Lao Tzu stared at it for a long time, then looked up at Maitreya and asked, "What is this?!"

Maitreya leaned closer, pointing at the blueprints and talking non-stop: "Master Uncle, look! This is the furnace body, this is the fire source array, this is the material input port, and this is the alchemy inscription area!"

The core principle is to fix the heat using array patterns, quantify the material ratios using runes, and then inscribe the alchemy formula into this disc. Rotating the disc automatically injects the formula into the pill embryo!

Lao Tzu: "————"

He understood each word individually, but had no idea what they meant when put together.

"What does this data mean?" he asked, pointing to the numbers on the drawing.

"It's just the ingredient ratio!" Maitreya said matter-of-factly.

"For example, to refine one batch of Nourishing Essence Pills, you need three parts Ganoderma lucidum, two parts ginseng, one part Vermilion Fruit, and a handful of these quantities. These quantities are then engraved into the machine, and each time you refine pills, the machine will automatically add the materials according to this ratio!"

Lao Tzu fell silent.

He refined countless pills, always relying on intuition to judge the heat, the aroma of the pills, and experience. When would he need "data"?

"This—automatic delivery?" He pointed to another spot.

"Yes!" Maitreya's eyes lit up.

"With automatic dispensing, there's no need to control the fire and add materials simultaneously! The machine will add them in the correct order!"

Lao Tzu took a deep breath.

Looking at the chubby boy in front of him, who was beaming with excitement, he suddenly felt a headache coming on.

What exactly is going on in the heads of these Westerners?

"Maitreya," he said slowly.

"The way of alchemy lies in the unity of mind and elixir, and the communion of spirit and fire. The changes in the heat depend on the mind; the matching of materials depends on spiritual understanding. How can you—a machine—comprehend the mysteries of alchemy?"

Maitreya paused, scratched his head, and said, "But Master Uncle, I can't learn your 'divine understanding' technique. I only know how to carve array patterns, draw runes, and invent things."

"Instead of failing to learn your 'unity of mind and elixir,' why not build a machine to help your disciples refine elixirs? The machine doesn't require learning; once it's carved, it's ready to use!"

Lao Tzu opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to refute it.

His father had seen all sorts of seekers of the Tao.

Some people seek methods, some seek treasures, and some seek guidance. But this is the first time I've ever encountered someone like this—bringing blueprints to ask how to build an "automatic alchemy machine."

"Master Uncle?" Maitreya looked at him cautiously.

"Don't you think my idea is incredibly foolish?"

Lao Tzu remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"It's not stupidity," he said slowly.

"However, this humble Taoist priest cannot understand it."

He paused, then added, "What do cultivators have—data, machines?"

Maitreya scratched his head: "Uncle-Master, I have a dream."

"Oh?"

"Let everyone who wants to refine pills be able to do so," Maitreya said earnestly.

"No talent or experience is needed. All you need is a machine. Just throw the materials in, and you can get pills."

I was stunned.

He looked at the chubby young man in front of him. In his eyes, there was no calculation, no utilitarianism, only a pure enthusiasm.

It's just like the me who had just taken human form and made a grand vow to heaven and earth.

After a long while, Lao Tzu sighed softly.

"That's enough." He stood up and walked to Maitreya.

"I can't understand your blueprints. But I can explain the principles of alchemy to you."

Maitreya's eyes lit up instantly: "Really? Thank you, Senior Uncle!"

Laozi waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

Then he began to tell his story—

From the origins of alchemy to the control of heat; from the selection of materials to the application of alchemical techniques, every detail and every key point is explained in a clear and concise manner.

Maitreya listened with rapt attention, frantically taking notes on the jade slip in his hand, occasionally interjecting with a question.

Three days and three nights passed in the back and forth between the questions and answers.

Seven days later, Maitreya left Kunlun Mountain satisfied.

Lao Tzu stood before the mountain gate, watching his departing figure, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"An interesting junior," he murmured.

He turned around, returned to the pine tree, and continued to enjoy his tea.

Business as usual.

But for some reason, he always felt that what the chubby boy said about the "automatic alchemy machine" didn't seem entirely unreasonable.

Little Western Paradise.

As soon as Maitreya returned, he went into the alchemy room and began his seclusion.

Ksitigarbha stood guard at the entrance, listening to the occasional explosions coming from inside, his heart pounding with fear.

On the first day, "BOOM"—it exploded.

The next day, "Boom!"—it exploded again.

On the third day, "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"—three explosions in a row.

On the fourth day, it was quiet.

Just as Ksitigarbha was wondering what was going on, the door to the alchemy room suddenly opened.

Maitreya walked out looking disheveled, but with a bright smile on his face.

He was holding a round, plump pill in his hands.

"It's done!" he shouted.

"Although it's just the most basic Qi-Nourishing Pill, it's automatically refined!"

Ksitigarbha stared wide-eyed as he took the pill and examined it closely.

It is indeed a Qi-Nourishing Pill. Although its appearance is average, it is definitely a medicinal pill!

"Senior brother!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"You really did it!"

Maitreya chuckled and stuffed the pill into his robes: "Let's go! Let's show it to His Majesty!"

The two flew excitedly toward the Lingxiao Palace, fearing that the pill would dissolve at any moment.

"etc."

At the entrance to Little Western Paradise, Maitreya and Ksitigarbha had just taken a step when they suddenly stopped at the same time.

Maitreya held the warm Qi-Nourishing Pill in his hands, his smile still lingering, when Ksitigarbha tugged at his sleeve.

"Senior brother," Ksitigarbha said in a low voice, "Something's not right."

Maitreya was taken aback: "What's wrong?"

Ksitigarbha looked around to make sure no one was there before leaning close to his ear and asking, "What are we here for?"

"What are you here for?" Maitreya blinked.

"Come to Heaven."

"What are you doing in Heaven?"

"Eat his food, use his things—"

"and then?"

"Then—" Maitreya suddenly stammered.

Ksitigarbha looked at him with an expression that said, "You remember now, don't you?"

Maitreya was stunned for three breaths, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "That's right! We're here to eat his food, use his things, and do little work!"

Ksitigarbha nodded repeatedly.