My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 93 Bronze Alchemy Furnace, Green Wood Alchemy Fire

Faced with Lü Yun's question, Master Lu's expression softened slightly.

He slowly said, "All things in the world have a spirit, especially these herbs. They grow among the mountains and rivers, experience the changing seasons, and gather the essence of the sun and moon."

"The art of alchemy requires not only a thorough understanding of the properties of herbs, but also mastery of subtle aspects such as heat, time, and proportions. Every detail directly affects the success or failure of the elixir and its efficacy. Therefore, every step in the alchemy process must be approached with utmost care and cannot be taken lightly."

After speaking, he unfolded the herbs in his hand. The leaves looked exceptionally crisp and fresh, as if they contained endless vitality.

Master Lu earnestly explained to Lü Yun, "This medicine is cold in nature and bitter in taste. It can clear heat and detoxify, but if used improperly, it can also harm a person's vital energy. Therefore, physicians should clearly distinguish the properties of medicines and not use them indiscriminately."

Green Bamboo listened intently, her eyes wide as she stared intently at the herb in Master Lu's hand, afraid of missing any detail.

Although she still seemed to understand but not quite, she was very serious.

Upon seeing this, Master Lu couldn't help but smile.

He carefully brushed aside the leaves and continued, "Although this herb is common, this one is extraordinary. Look at its thick, deep-colored leaves, which emit a faint fragrance; this is a sign of its potent medicinal properties."

Such herbs often produce extraordinary effects when used in alchemy. Therefore, we must be extra careful when harvesting and using them to avoid wasting these precious resources.

He could tell at a glance that the herb had just been pulled from the ground. Moreover, it had only undergone the simplest washing, without any other processing, and was still very fresh. If planted back in the soil and carefully nurtured, it could continue to grow.

So Master Lu asked, "What kind of elixir does the young lady wish to refine? Perhaps I can offer some guidance so as not to waste such a fine talent."

His tone revealed obvious concern, showing how much he valued this herb.

If it were a regular elixir, he could easily choose other herbs with similar medicinal properties as a substitute; he should save money on this one if possible. Besides, its medicinal properties are too strong, and it would be difficult to combine it with other auxiliary herbs.

"No, no, sir, you've misunderstood. How could I, a mere maid, know such profound things as alchemy?" Upon hearing this, Lüyun's cheeks flushed slightly.

She quickly explained, "Miss asked me to try it out, saying I should light the stove to warm things up. Sir, since you're here, I'll leave this to you."

As she spoke, she hurriedly closed the booklet in her hand and handed it to Master Lu with both hands, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

Master Lu took the booklet but did not rush to read it. Instead, he turned his attention to the blue flame that was floating under the furnace.

The flames leaped, emitting a faint bluish glow, neither as unbearably hot as ordinary fire, yet retaining the essential nature of burning.

He asked inquiringly, "May I ask, young lady, what is this blue flame?"

"Miss says this is called—Azure Wood Elixir Fire," Green Bamboo introduced, emphasizing each word with a touch of pride. "It's amazing; it doesn't need firewood at all!"

While the two were talking, Lin Li kept staring at the bronze alchemy furnace, and he naturally noticed the peculiar nature of the flames.

"Azure Wood Flame?" He repeated Green Bamboo's words in a low voice, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

This fire can suspend and burn itself without the need for coal or firewood; it is truly a marvel.

He had traveled all over the country and considered himself well-informed, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a magical object.

Master Lu circled the alchemy furnace, growing more and more puzzled with each look.

How many pills can such a small furnace produce at once? Besides, it's so small and has limited capacity that it can't refine overly complex pills.

Master Lu assumed that the furnace had indeed been taken out for the maid to play with, hence its small size, like a toy, which made perfect sense.

Only that ball of green flame made Master Lu feel extremely wary.

Despite its gentle appearance, the fire was incredibly powerful. Green Bamboo had only just added the herbs when it immediately emitted a medicinal fragrance.

This fire is probably a strange thing similar to the Misty Mountain Ice Lotus.

But isn't it a wonder that displaying it so openly might tempt some people to become greedy? Thinking of this, Master Lu gave a self-deprecating smile.

He was probably overthinking it. The Misty Mountain Ice Lotus had always grown in the icy lake, and for thousands of years no one could approach it, let alone possess it. By that logic, the Azure Flame must be the same; apart from certain special methods, outsiders simply couldn't take it by force.

Master Lu couldn't help but think: Hmph, could it be that the forces behind Chu Lengyu want to use this white mist and green fire to give him a hard time?

He had to admit that he was beginning to feel that this force was unfathomable and had extraordinary depth.

Seeing that he was just staring at the stove, Lüyun explained to him, "Old sir, don't underestimate this small stove, it can hold a lot! Miss said it's called something like mustard seed or something... anyway, it's really amazing."

"Oh? I don't know where Miss Chu is right now?" Master Lu asked, his expression slightly serious.

"Miss is cultivating in the back mountain. Please be patient and wait a moment," Green Bamboo replied solemnly.

Lin Li spoke up at the opportune moment, saying, "When in Rome, do as the host does; that is only right."

Master Lu nodded, not minding waiting for her for a while.

He looked down at the book in his hand.

This was just handed to him by Lü Yun. Master Lu casually opened it, and he could still smell the fragrance of pine ink from between the pages, as if it had just been written.

"Huh?" he exclaimed in surprise.

Looking at the first illustration in the book, Lu Danshi realized that she didn't recognize the plant.

The object in the painting has leaves shaped like swords, with edges shimmering with a faint silver sheen, while at the heart of the leaf, a drop of crystal-clear liquid, seemingly about to be revealed, is gathered.

It was labeled next to it: "Clear Dew Grass, First-Tier Spirit Herb".

"Born in secluded valleys and growing beside clear springs, it absorbs the pure air of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon. Its leaves are like jade, and in the morning dew, it is called 'Clear Dew Grass'."

"In spring, it sprouts tender green shoots, a delightful sight; in autumn, it blooms with delicate, pure white flowers."

"It has a mild medicinal property, a sweet and bland taste, and the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, calming the mind and improving eyesight. It is often used to make Qingxin Dan (a traditional Chinese medicine formula)."

Master Lu turned to another page. In the painting, a uniquely shaped, gnarled ancient tree stood proudly, its branches laden with fiery red fruits.

The book describes it as: "Fire Spirit Jujube, a first-tier spiritual fruit."

"The Fire Spirit Jujube Tree is a precious tree of the South, some over ten feet tall, others over a fathom. Its roots grow in the hills and valleys, and its branches and trunk are so gnarled that it takes several people to encircle them."

"Its tree shape resembles a coiled dragon, its leaves are dense like a green canopy, with a hint of blue in the green, swaying in the wind like surging green waves."

"The flowers bloom in early summer, with tiny yellow blossoms clustered on the branches. By autumn, the fruit ripens, resembling agate, reddish-purple, and hangs heavily on the branches."

"Consuming it can increase the power of the Fire Spirit, and it is the main ingredient of the Fire Spirit Pill."

Master Lu frowned, thinking to himself: There are such rare and exotic flowers and herbs in the world. I, Lu, who prides myself on being well-read, actually have things I don't recognize.

And what is this "first-order" classification standard? I've never heard of it before.

Seeing this, Lin Li asked softly, "Master Lu, what is so special about this book that makes you so engrossed?"

Master Lu came to his senses and said, "Patriarch Lin, come and see if you recognize the objects in this painting?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Li stepped forward and carefully examined the illustration.

Although he was not an alchemist, his family had a collection of rare books, and he had traveled extensively throughout the north and south, gaining some knowledge of exotic flowers and herbs.

However, upon seeing the object in the painting, he couldn't help but shake his head, indicating that he had never seen it before.

Suddenly, a clear, melodious bell sound came from the back mountain.

Green Bamboo rushed to the window and looked out. A look of joy appeared on her face. She quickly said, "Miss is out!"