One alchemist used extremely hot herbs, creating a pill with a more intense and spicy aroma, as if it carried the heat of the sun within it.
Another worked mainly with cold herbs, producing a refreshing fragrance that reminded one of the ice of the mountains.
A woman used an extremely delicate method, reducing the flame until it was almost extinguished before increasing the temperature again at exactly the right moment, a rhythm that seemed to follow the flow of her own breathing.
A middle-aged man attempted to use an aggressive technique, making the medicinal essence spin rapidly inside the cauldron, but his pill ended up with small imperfections on its surface. Even so, it was complete, a testament to his skill.
Another competitor chose a completely different combination of auxiliary herbs, risking an approach that others had avoided. The result was also a functional pill, although with a slightly different aroma.
