Magha acknowledged his doubt without hesitation. “Yes, you remember correctly. The traditional demon refinement method uses blood as the medium. However, this is not the old method,” he explained calmly. “In this new technique, you must replace blood with refined ki. This method is neither demonic nor righteous—it is a fusion of both paths, created by merging their strengths while eliminating their flaws. After the herbs fully liquefy, you must merge all the liquids at once, then compress them into a single mass. Once the pill core stabilises, draw a refining flame line across the surface to seal it.”

  Eklavya nodded in understanding and immediately began to act. Carefully, he guided his ki into the cauldron, mimicking the circulation pattern used in the demonic blood-refining technique, while replacing every trace of blood intent with pure, controlled spiritual ki. The process was slow and demanding. The herbs resisted at first, their structures breaking down reluctantly under the combined pressure of ki and heat.

  Gradually, however, the Blue Leaf Herbs softened and melted into shimmering liquid. They were followed by the Spirit Grass, the golden fruits, the vines, and finally even the dense wooden branches, which dissolved into a thick, aromatic essence.

  For a brief moment, everything proceeded perfectly.

  Magha observed the process closely and spoke with clear approval.

  “Well done, Eklavya. You made it this far on your very first attempt. That alone is impressive.”

  A faint smirk appeared on Eklavya’s lips, pride flickering in his eyes—only for that expression to vanish in the very next second. A sharp boom echoed from the cauldron, and a burst of dark smoke erupted upward, coating his face instantly until his skin turned the same pitch-black shade as his hair.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Magha burst into uncontrollable laughter. “HAHAHA! Well—HAHA! I suppose I shouldn’t even be surprised anymore. HAHA! Truly, a perfectly matched couple!”

  Eklavya’s eyes twitched as he shot an irritated glance toward the three-coloured ring where Magha resided. “Hey! Enough already. It was just a small mistake,” he snapped.

  “Of course,” Magha replied, still amused. “Just a tiny mistake—one that only turned your face completely black.”

  Eklavya chose to ignore him. He steadied his breathing, wiped his face, and attempted the refinement again. Once more, he followed every step precisely, guiding the ki, maintaining flame balance, and controlling the liquefied herbs. Yet the moment he reached the same stage, Boom!, The cauldron reacted violently, the smoke surging out again in a mocking repeat of his failure.

  He tried again and failed again.

  By the third failure at the same point, frustration finally overwhelmed him. Eklavya stepped back and collapsed onto the curved tree branch nearby, clutching his head with both hands. “Where am I going wrong?” he muttered, his voice strained.

  He forced himself to calm down and began to think carefully, replaying every step of the process in his mind with painstaking detail. From flame division to ki circulation, from herb liquefaction to compression timing, he analysed each stage again and again, searching for even the slightest deviation.

  The more he examined it, the more confusing it became because, by all logic, he had not made a single obvious mistake.

  Minutes passed in silence as he sat there, lost in thought. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened slightly.

  He had found it. Not a major flaw. Not a missing step.

  But a small oversight, subtle enough to escape notice, yet critical enough to ruin the entire refinement.

  The problem was not how he was using ki. It was how much.