Chapter 31: Five Portions of Bloodline Mutation Potion

"Out of ten sets of materials, eight were successful... Eighty percent success with a single Centennial Blood Ginseng. Not a bad run!"

Qi Ping was fairly satisfied with this success rate. He originally estimated that he could only succeed with seven sets of materials.

"But the next step of merging into a potion will be much more difficult...."

The process of merging into a potion requires all the potion liquids to be fully merged at once, without the slightest error. Each step’s degree of merging must be just right, and the fusion between every Spirit Medicine Essence is crucial.

This process is a huge test of Spiritual Power control, the sensitivity to the properties of spiritual medicines, and one’s mindset.

Especially the step of merging the green of Flowing Light Grass into the Blood Ginseng, which allows less than a breath’s time; too early or too late will render the merged potion useless and completely ruined.

The merged potion is unlike a failed Blood Ginseng extraction, where the material can still be given to the Golden Marrow Honey for brewing. A failed merged potion’s properties are essentially utterly wasted and can only be discarded.

So once it fails, the precious Spirit Medicine Essence is completely wasted...

But this is inevitable.

"My success rate for merging this potion is estimated to be only about sixty percent..."

"Hope the final result can give me a little surprise..."

Before starting the potion merging, Qi Ping checked each portion of Spirit Medicine Essence multiple times, confirming there were no issues before he began to meditate and adjust his state.

After about half an hour had passed and his state returned to its peak, Qi Ping opened his eyes.

These Spirit Medicine Essences are too precious, even wasting one would upset Qi Ping for a long time, so he could not afford to be careless.

"Let’s begin!"

With his condition back at its peak, Qi Ping, with a determined look, started the potion fusion work without the slightest pause.

This fusion process Qi Ping had practiced many times and rehearsed countless times in his mind.

So once Qi Ping began, his movements were smooth and fluent, demonstrating the style of a master.

Yet, under such proficient operations, Qi Ping’s first attempt at fusing the Bloodline Mutation Potion... predictably failed!

"The Flowing Light Grass’s essence was too little, and the green essence was a bit too much..."

"The difference between fifty-year-old Flowing Light Grass and ordinary Flowing Light Grass is still too big..."

Although Qi Ping followed the proportional formula strictly, there was still a deviation.

"Perhaps it’s due to the passage of time, changes in the properties of either green or Flowing Light Grass, or simply the individual peculiarities of the spiritual medicines. But as long as I can detect where the issue lies, it’s fine..."

Here is where the importance of sensitivity to spiritual medicine properties can be seen, because often there are individual differences in each spiritual herb. The differences become more apparent when refining different potions.

If one were to refine solely according to the formula, success would be purely dependent on luck.

Meanwhile, a skilled Alchemist or Pharmacist can easily identify the nature of a potion and quickly make the necessary adjustments, which is merely the basic operation of becoming a true Alchemist.

Qi Ping was undoubtedly fortunate, not only having the Jungle Druid profession blessing, but also sharing the talent of the Golden Marrow Bee’s Brewing Artisan.

"Again!"

After identifying the problem, Qi Ping immediately started the second attempt at fusion.

On the second attempt to fuse the Bloodline Mutation Potion... failed again!

"The timing for adding the green essence has become even more demanding..."

Another failure darkened Qi Ping’s complexion a bit.

So next, instead of continuing, Qi Ping readjusted his mindset and reviewed the fusion processes of the past two attempts.

Much later, as Qi Ping opened his eyes again, his gaze was once more replaced by calm and determination.

This time, Qi Ping was as smooth and fluent as before!

The third attempt at fusing the Bloodline Mutation Potion... succeeded!

The fourth attempt... succeeded!

...

The sixth attempt... failed!

The seventh attempt... succeeded!

The eighth attempt... succeeded!

Out of eight fusion attempts, three failed! Five succeeded!

"Phew..."

After merging the remaining herbal essences all at once, Qi Ping let out a big sigh of relief.

The initial consecutive failures disturbed his mindset slightly, but thankfully he adjusted in time, and with the remaining six portions of Spirit Medicine Essence, he succeeded in five!

"Barely reaching the goal of sixty percent... "

No surprises, but it nearly gave him a fright!

Luckily, the final result was still acceptable.

"There’s no surprise in the fusion success rate, I wonder if the upcoming Bloodline Mutation of the bee swarm might surprise me..."

Qi Ping consoled himself that maybe his luck this time wasn’t present, but perhaps it had been saved for the bee swarm’s transformation to come...

....

"Buzz buzz... (Boss, is the Bloodline Mutation Potion completed?)"

"Buzz buzz... (This concoction is even more enticing than the previous ones! I’m about to lose control!)"

Seeing Qi Ping finishing his refinement, the Golden Marrow Bees surrounding him couldn’t help but ask.

"Hmm, it’s done, and there’s enough for about fifty drone bees."

Qi Ping nodded and replied, an indescribable joy appearing on his face.

It wasn’t easy!

Qi Ping didn’t know how much thought and effort he had put into these portions of Bloodline Mutation Potion, and now he just hoped the bee swarm’s transformation result could bring a little surprise!

Otherwise, all this effort would have been for naught.

The Golden Marrow Bees would probably be quite disappointed too.

"Buzz buzz... (Wow! Boss, you’re amazing!)"

"Buzz buzz... (I really want to try it too...)"

"Buzz buzz... (That’s only available for drone bees, silly!)"

"Buzz buzz... (Boss, should we notify the drone bees to prepare?)"

"Hmm..." Just as Qi Ping was about to nod in agreement, some Golden Marrow Bees rushed over at almost their maximum speed.

Even from afar, they began communicating with Qi Ping through their special connection.

"Buzz buzz... (Boss, a strange two-legger has appeared on the mountain!)"

"Buzz buzz... (It feels a bit dangerous to us, but we haven’t sensed any hostility yet...)"

A strange cultivator?

A bit dangerous?

Those two pieces of information instantly made Qi Ping’s heart miss a beat, thinking it could be a Tribulation Cultivator coming for them.

However, hearing there was no hostility made him relax a little, as Golden Marrow Bees are extremely sensitive to hostility and usually wouldn’t make a wrong judgment.

It’s probably Steward Zhu coming to collect the rent.

"If you calculate the time, these days coincide roughly with when Steward comes to collect the rent..."

Thinking of this, Qi Ping’s heart finally settled a bit.

However, his sense of caution didn’t diminish in the slightest, and he knew everything must be prepared thoroughly.

"Inform the other Golden Marrow Bees to get ready for battle, and attack immediately on my command!"

"Buzz buzz... (Okay, Boss!)"

Simultaneously, Qi Ping discreetly placed the Ink Cicada into his sleeve, and also donned the Lower Grade Magical Robe, ready to handle any possible crisis.

After rapidly preparing these, Qi Ping headed down the mountain at full speed.