Shen Liqian picked up the remaining ingredients, including water.
He met his mother in the hallway and headed downstairs to his cultivation abode.
When the door opened, no leaking Qi hit Shen Lexi.
That was thanks to Shen Yiren and Shen Jixian cultivating inside.
They controlled so much Qi that Shen Lexi believed they had stolen the forest's Qi for themselves.
Shen Liqian chuckled.
"I will let you know what's going on in a few weeks.
"For now, just know these two are cultivating profound cultivation methods and will do their best to catch up to me.
"Though that's going to be too difficult."
He smiled meaningfully at his mom.
She returned it with a wink.
As his mom, she wanted him to be the best!
Little did she know Shen Liqian meant his cultivation methods were transcendent, while Shen Yiren and Shen Jixian cultivated Immortal methods, a grade below.
Zhiyin had said the grade difference between Immortal and transcendent was like the difference between a world and a realm.
Shen Liqian hadn't seen much of his world, let alone been in a realm, but he could see where she was coming from.
Inside the cultivation abode, Shen Liqian gently put the cauldron on the ground.
He then filled it with buckets of water he'd gathered beforehand.
"It's filled halfway," Shen Liqian said.
His mother finished putting cut wood beneath the cauldron and stuffing in dark stones for flames.
"I'm done here as well."
With the setup complete, Shen Liqian handled the heavy lifting and lit the dark stones for flames.
The water started boiling, and the smoke from the flames and burning wood flowed to the polished steel of the cauldron, disappearing within.
"Is it acting like fuel?" Shen Liqian thought aloud.
Shen Lexi tilted her head in confusion. "Fuel?"
"Ah, I mean the cauldron is using the smoke as additional energy, or maybe it uses smoke for heat?" Shen Liqian explained.
Zhiyin confirmed his assumptions.
"It appears so.
"This cauldron is of Spirit Grade, after all, so it must have passive alchemy techniques.
"Nonetheless, its best feature is the connection to the Spirit.
"It ensures Lexi doesn't need to be proficient at Spirit Cultivation or even have much knowledge or practice.
"Additionally, it will help her start Spirit Cultivation down the line."
Shen Liqian was all smiles upon hearing this.
The cauldron was truly a treasure, as it could help anyone reach at least the basic realm of Spirit Cultivation.
He was sure his mother would lend it to anyone who struggled with this path.
"Connect it to your spirit, Mom," Shen Liqian urged, excitement palpable in his voice.
"Um, but how do I do it?" Shen Lexi asked.
Their eyes fell onto the crimson cat.
Zhiyin smiled.
"I can pull her spirit to the cauldron.
"That will be enough to connect both of them."
This item came from Shen Liqian's system, so he wasn't worried about it.
That said, his mother's spirit was like a small grain of rice.
"Will she be okay?" he asked, concerned.
"Do you trust me?" Zhiyin asked.
Shen Liqian nodded.
Zhiyin tilted her head back with pride.
"I am experienced enough to tenderly catch even the tiniest spirits.
"Leave it to me."
Shen Lexi added, "I trust Zhiyin."
With everyone in agreement, Zhiyin looked into Shen Lexi's chest and through her flesh, locating her heart and the small spirit behind it.
Gently tugging at it, Zhiyin carried it out from Shen Lexi's body and straight into the Lucky Karma Cauldron.
Ancient engravings glowed gold along the upper rim.
With her ancient knowledge, Zhiyin read about the circle of reincarnation and karma as well as Shen Lexi's name.
I am interested now as well.
Shen Liqian looked at his mom.
"How do you feel?"
Shen Lexi replied, "I'm okay.
"I can feel the boiling water… and its temperature."
A new kind of information was now flooding her Sea of Consciousness.
Through trial and error, she would learn more about this information and how to use it in an alchemy process.
"There's also a strange feeling… like I can grasp anything within the cauldron," Shen Lexi added.
Zhiyin nodded.
"Purrfect.
"Imagine your arms within the cauldron and try to wave your hands around.
"You will feel the water and Qi's flow."
Following Zhiyin's instructions, Shen Lexi managed to make a small vortex in the water and even splash it upward.
She yelped and stepped back, but the connection remained, so she hadn't made a mistake.
Her embarrassed laugh eased the room's tension.
Shen Liqian and Zhiyin chuckled at this sight.
Zhiyin said, "Have some fun with the water first.
"Then Liqian will pour some blood in.
"Your objective will be to bring it down to the cauldron's bottom and let it burn without any Qi leaking upward.
"After that, we will add a beast's flesh.
"Press the flesh against the blood and let it stay that way.
"It will become a paste.
"Eventually, we will add bones.
"Imagine the bones as dough.
"Compress them and shape a few hollow round shells you can stuff with the paste."
Each instruction was clear and straightforward.
Shen Lexi also had experience dealing with tough cooking ingredients from the forest and beasts, on top of having raw alchemy talent.
Qi from the Earth Qi Vein flowed into the cauldron as well, making everything much easier.
No sooner had she started her first alchemy process than she finished it.
It felt like she did it in the blink of an eye, but two hours passed.
Three silver pills rested at the bottom of the cauldron.
Quiet pride warmed Shen Liqian's chest at his mother's first success.
Water and other ingredients were completely gone.
Zhiyin examined the pills' sheen and nodded in approval.
"Looks fine.
"You can check if one works by putting it on your tongue.
"If the pill's shell melts on your tongue, it's most likely to work well.
"That said, I can't tell what kind of effects your pill has received from the Lucky Karma Cauldron.
"Without those effects, you have made a simple vitality pill.
"It will naturally flow to the lung and stomach meridians to help with stamina and Qi conversion."
Shen Lexi wasn't scared of her own product.
She put it on her tongue and felt the shell melt, releasing a tasteless texture that also dissolved and flowed down her throat.
Shen Liqian picked up the other pill.
[A Vitality Pill (Mortal) (Enhanced)]
[A pill which naturally flow to the meridians of the lung and stomach. It's enhanced properties also ensure that the vitality essence flows to the bladder meridian, building up excess of Yang/Ying Qi, depending on the user's gender.]
Shen Liqian: (＝〃_〃＝)
His cheeks flushed as he realized what the enhanced essence did!
Why did it have to be the bladder meridian…
I need to give one to Father today!
Mom took one… so he desperately needs one too.
Even if he has no Dantian, he will be able to keep up with her now…
I should have thought about it, but it's not like I ever had time for a girlfriend or love to begin with…
Zhiyin saw the pill's status from Clan Cultivation System and shook her head.
She leaped onto Shen Liqian's head and perched herself with her little paws.
"Lexi, don't leave your room tonight and wait for your husband's return."
Understanding dawned across Shen Lexi's face.
Turning to them, Lexi saw her son's flustered face and the smirking cat.
She lovingly nodded.
"That's what I always do."