37 Failed

Xiao Jun was aware of how hard it was to refine pills. He made sure that all his focus and attention were given to the herbs that he was now removing the impurities from.

Most of the herbs that created the Core Fortifying Pill were from mortal class herbs that could easily be obtained and purchased using gold.

The instructions in the pill formula were easy to understand. That's what he had initially thought. Reading was easier than doing what was written.

Placing all the herbs on the furnace after purification, he carefully released his spiritual energy, making sure all the instructions on the pill formula were followed.

The purification level that he could attain before was eighty five percent. Herbs were purified or cleansed using spiritual energy. The higher the percentage the more effective the pill would be.

He could feel Gao Lan Mei observing him. Being nervous would not help him, the task had to be completed.

Holding his breath, he started to mix the three herbs placed on the pill furnace gradually using his spiritual energy.

Making sure his concentration did not waiver, the herbs were made to twirl inside the furnace to mix together.

Preparing to add the remaining three herbs, he intended to increase his spiritual energy, "Do not increase your spiritual energy. Use the same until all herbs are ground." Gao Lan Mei suddenly said softly.

Xiao Jun did not question. He long trusted the young miss. Continuing to use the same level of spiritual energy, all remaining herbs were added and were ground finely inside the furnace.

With brows sweating, he proceeded to the final stage. This was the stage where all the herbs would combine to hold to form the pill. This was also the stage that he was never able to complete before.

Gulping, he glanced at Gao Lan Mei, who waved her hand signaling for him to continue. He checked the enchanted fire stone under the furnace to check the fire.

The blue fire from the blue enchanted stone, was still lit and did not show any sign of quenching soon. The little brown sparrow was also near the furnace, like it was waiting for something.

Probably waiting for him to fail? 

However, it would be unsafe for the small creature to stand close to the furnace as it could explode once he failed. 

Nevertheless, he could not be distracted. Xiao Jun took a deep breath before he returned his refocus on the herbs that were still mixing inside the furnace.

Little by little, he increased his spirit energy to hold all the herbs. Calming his anxious nerves by doing slow breathing exercises, he was able to relax.

The herbs were forming into a small pieces of round pills. His eyes brightened, when he saw the green pills forming, he immediately increased the spiritual energy to completely hold it together.

After increasing the released spiritual energy, he could see the pills starting to hold shape, but suddenly from the furnace, the smell of burning surfaced. "Bang" Then the pills softly exploded inside the furnace.

The originally forming green pills, were now black in color. "What went wrong?" Xiao Jun blurted. He clearly saw them forming, before sending more spiritual energy, he made sure that the pills were slightly formed already.

Gao Lan Mei grabbed one pill from the furnace and smelled it.

The black pill smelt like it was burnt but there was still a strong scent of herbs with potent spiritual energy.

"Failed," She said, then she grabbed a small knife to slice the black pill in half. The inside of the pill was bright green. "but not completely a waste."