Chapter 382: From Shotguns to Cannons, Comprehensive Improvement of the Cultivation Environment (I)

The cauldron of his dreams was indeed a masterpiece, but like all supreme-grade enchanted artifacts, it wasn’t without flaws. For instance, nearly all supreme-grade enchanted artifacts had tremendous spirit power consumption, and the Ice Emperor Cauldron was no exception.

Fortunately, Luo Chen didn’t mind. With spirit power reserves that far exceeded those of other cultivators in the same realm, the added consumption was little more than a drop in the ocean.

But the Ice Emperor Cauldron had another, far more troublesome flaw. Namely, it stood a towering two zhang tall, with a diameter of one zhang and two chi. It was, in every sense, a behemoth. And yet, despite its massive size, it lacked a Size Adjustment Formation. In other words, ordinary storage enchanted artifacts couldn’t contain it at all.

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t truly a flaw. According to the manual left behind by Shi Lan, the cauldron had originally been designed as a tool for the sect, and it was meant to stand over three zhang tall. Such cauldrons were never intended to be portable. They were permanently stationed within the Ice Fortress’s Alchemy Palace for use by Golden Core Adepts. Considering the original blueprint, the one loaned to Luo Chen was technically a failed product. But even though it was smaller, it was still beyond the limits of a typical storage pouch.

He couldn’t help but chuckle.

I suppose Fairy Ruthless didn’t want me running off with the cauldron.

He laughed and then formed a hand seal, directing it at the earth fire below.

A thin wisp of flame slithered out like a fiery spirit serpent. Though it was small, the heat it emitted was intense enough to make Luo Chen’s eyelids twitch.

“This temperature rivals the true fire of a new Foundation Establishment cultivator,” he murmured. “No wonder it's a second-tier earth fire.”

Foundation Establishment true fire was a technique that any cultivator could wield at that level. It didn’t matter what spirit roots they had; even those without fire spirit roots could summon it. That was because, strictly speaking, it didn't have anything to do with the fire element. Rather, it was the violent combustion of liquefied spirit energy. It burned with a power and volatility that resembled the actual fire element, hence the name.

Most of the time, cultivators avoided using true fire. It was too inefficient, and it consumed precious spirit liquid as if it was nothing. But in special circumstances, like in alchemy or artifact forging that required a sudden surge of heat, or when battling incorporeal beings like ghosts, it became a valuable tool that could deliver overwhelming bursts of energy.

Still, it was wasteful; no one could afford using it all the time. Now, with this second-tier earth fire, Luo Chen could refine pills without having to rely on his own true fire nearly as much.

This was especially true when crafting second-tier pills. Whenever he refined Jade Dew pills, he often had to unleash repeated bursts of true fire, draining his spirit power significantly. That was why he had so boldly requested second-tier earth fire from Fairy Ruthless. She had instantly understood why and needed no explanation.

The Ice Emperor Cauldron may consume more spirit power,

but the second-tier earth fire saves me even more. It balances out. And with greater efficiency in pill-making, I’ll profit handsomely.

Luo Chen was in an excellent mood. Reaching into his storage pouch, he pulled out several medicinal herbs and tossed them into the cauldron. The second-tier earth fire flared gently beneath it, licking along the cauldron’s base with refined precision.

This wasn’t to refine pills but to temper the cauldron! Just like how mortals had to season a new iron pot, even a top-grade cauldron needed to be "seasoned" before being put to work. Clearly, this Ice Emperor Cauldron was brand new, and Luo Chen needed to do this before using it properly. While he was at it, he also took the opportunity to test each of the inscribed formations.

Time passed quietly as flame and spirit power danced across the surface of the cauldron. It wasn’t until the afternoon that he finally finished.

When Luo Chen emerged from the alchemy room, the cave residence had already been completely transformed.

Not a single trace remained of Ling Yuzhi’s prior tenancy. In its place stood a harmonious, well-furnished sanctuary filled with elegant, antique-style furniture. Every room was lit with embedded moonstones that gave off a soft ambient glow. In the corners of the residence, small first-tier spirit springs bubbled gently, each with a few spirit fish swimming leisurely within.

In the medicine room, which connected directly to the alchemy room, Bai Meiling had organized Luo Chen’s commonly used medicinal materials.

A light sandalwood scent drifted through the air, emanating from the incense burner in the living room. Mi Li had been the one to light it.

“President,” Mi Li called respectfully upon seeing him.

Luo Chen nodded in response. His gaze swept across the spacious, refreshed residence, and his heart swelled with emotion.

After so many years of hard work, he finally had a proper home. Even if it was only rented.

“Alright, everyone, take a break,” Luo Chen said, gesturing for them to gather as he sank into a sofa behind him.

This sofa had been specially made for Luo Chen by Sima Huiniang, filled with bird feathers and covered in demonic beast hide. It cradled his body in perfect comfort the moment he sat down.

It didn’t exactly match Luo Chen’s usual image as a dedicated cultivator, but he could hardly care less. After so many years of relentless hard work, was it really so wrong to indulge in a bit of comfort? Of course, this wasn’t the kind of life he could live every day. But every now and then, a little softness went a long way.

He turned his eyes toward the four seated across from him.

“Any trouble with alchemy lately?” he asked. “Since I’m free today, I’ll answer all your questions.”

The four seemed to have expected this.

Qu Lingjun spoke up first. Among them, his alchemy skills were the best, and he could now steadily refine mid-grade Jade Essence pills. But the more he learned, the more he realized his ignorance.

His mind had been brimming with questions for some time, some about Jade Essence pills, others about fire control, medicinal materials, or general alchemy techniques. Now, like water rushing through a broken dam, his questions poured out one after another. Luo Chen answered most of them patiently; as for those that required demonstration, he noted them for explanation during future alchemy sessions.

After Qu Lingjun, Mi Li, Qiu Ying, and Ma Shoupu each took turns asking their own questions. If the questions overlapped with earlier ones, they were naturally skipped. If a question was particularly simple, Luo Chen didn’t give it to them directly. Instead, he used examples and analogies to guide them, helping them understand it on their own.

And so, this question-and-answer session stretched on until evening.

Finally, Luo Chen stood up from the sofa and stretched a little.

“Alright, let’s head into the alchemy room,” he said with a smile. “Today, I’ll be refining the Spirit Passage pill. It’s one of the most difficult first-tier pills to make. Watch carefully. How much you learn depends entirely on you.”

They followed him inside.

The moment they stepped into the alchemy chamber, Qu Lingjun and the others froze in awe. Their gazes locked onto the towering cauldron that stood three times their height. They had always thought the Four Symbols Cauldron was massive but this was on another level entirely.

Little did they know that the cauldrons used by truly high-tier alchemists were often even more unusual. Some cauldrons were built huge to accommodate raw materials that couldn't be broken down easily. Others, paradoxically, were famous for being extremely compact.

As far as Luo Chen knew, some alchemical equipment was renowned for its small size.

At the Medicine King Sect, there was even an alchemy

pot

known as the Sun and Moon Pot, which had three internal layers and was famous for its unique effectiveness. It could handle everything from first to third-tier pills, and even some fourth-tier pills. Of course, the Sun and Moon Pot was beyond his reach. For now, this brand-new supreme-grade Ice Emperor Cauldron was more than enough.

Although it was his first time truly putting it to use, Luo Chen felt calm, even relaxed. He had already reached Proficient level in refining Spirit Passage pills, with a success rate around twenty percent. And his years of dedication to alchemy had made his skills incomparable to what they once were. Refining such a low-tier pill was no longer a challenge for him.

However, a relaxed attitude didn’t mean his actions would be careless. If anything, his movements were even more cautious than usual.

“The demon fox blood must be processed using the Flowing Creek,” he explained in a steady tone. “Lingjun, pay close attention to this part. When using second-tier alchemical fire for a first-tier pill, the heat is too intense. That’s why here, we’re going to use the Fire Transformation Formation to lower the earth fire’s temperature and expand its contact area."

He continued on as he worked. “The Fire Transformation Formation doesn’t have any offensive or defensive function. It’s purely meant to help with fire control.”

Throughout it all, Luo Chen remained completely focused on the Ice Emperor Cauldron. Though he stood beneath its massive frame, he didn’t seem small at all. His calm confidence and fluid movements gave him a commanding presence, larger than life.

The four Luo Tian Society alchemists watched intently, taking in every detail.

Throughout the process, Luo Chen took the time to explain why he used certain techniques at specific moments, combining theory and practice. This manner of teaching allowed each of them to gain insights tailored to their stage and understanding.

“It’s done!” Luo Chen announced. But he didn’t move to open the cauldron; instead, he just stood there with his hands behind his back. “We’ll wait just a little longer. Unlike standard furnaces, the Ice Emperor Cauldron is equipped with both a Pill-Stabilizing Formation and a Cloud-Gathering Formation. Although these two formations are active anyway during the refining process, they only reach full effect if you wait a while longer before taking out the pills."

He smiled. “Well, good things are worth waiting for.”

With a flick of his sleeve, Luo Chen dismissed the earth fire. The cauldron’s residual heat took over, gently completing the pill-drying phase.

Inside, a dreamy, ethereal fragrance rose in spirals. The Cloud-Gathering Formation captured those delicate wisps and infused their essence back into the pills, subtly enhancing their quality and grade.

About half a cup of tea later, Luo Chen gave a slight mental flick and made a casual gesture.