The fourth batch turned out to be a failure.
Everything went well until the Mending Vine Powder stage, where Han Yu noticed a slight dent in the cauldron's inner lining—likely a long-term flaw in the tool. The powder clumped at the edges and formed a crust, disrupting the pill's fusion phase.
Boom!
The cauldron belched black smoke and foul vapor. The flame extinguished itself defensively, but Han Yu still choked on the sudden stink.
"Ugh…" he grimaced, coughing as he wafted the smoke away. "That wasn't my fault."
Still, he made a note to inspect the cauldron more thoroughly next time and avoid letting it clump in that part. There was more than enough space in the cauldron anyways.
With only one batch left, Han Yu took a brief rest, washing his hands and sipping some spirit-replenishing tea he'd brought in advance from Li Mei's personal stash.
Then came the fifth batch.
