Chapter 265 - [Bonus] Pill-Making Experiment (1/2)
**This chapter refers back to Training (4) & Training (5). Due to the length, I didn't copy flashbacks of excerpts here. The scene describes Zero's experiment and the making of sixty-nine batches of mana recovery pills to gift to Truen.**
It took Zero a few days to gather all the required materials for his experiment. Hua Tuo didn't give him much time in between lessons and chores to roam around so Zero had to be smart and quick during his hunting trips.
He looked at the ingredients he had now by the river behind Hua Tuo's hut. His teacher was out for the afternoon and Zero finally had some free time for himself.
He had potatoes, yam, arrowroots, wild corn, rye and rice for the starch bases. Zero also worked hard to collect a jar full of honey. He also took pains to collect the oil from fish, seeds and nuts when helping Hua Tuo out in the kitchen.
The boy looked at his array of ingredients and decided to make different combinations of pills using the materials. First, he had to understand the kind of taste these pills would give under different combination. He had some spices and herbs on hand that he wanted to add for other health benefits in addition to mana replenishment. While he wanted to make pills for Truen, it didn't hurt to make some for the overworked Great Gods and King Yama either.
The first batch he made, Zero borrowed all of Hua Tuo's available pots to cook the starch bases while grinding the herbs and spices with the grinding stone. Zero drew out boxes in the dirt and placed some paper with a stone as a paperweight on each box. There were a total of twenty-four boxes for the first trial batch.
It took a total of an hour for Zero to finally cook the starch bases and roll them into tiny balls, adding different types of oils to them to test how they held up. Hua Tuo used animal fat oil from the pygmy boar the last time and Zero thought that the taste would be a little too strong for people like Sedna and Gaia so he didn't include that for the test. Ideally, he thought that water would be great but as the testing pills started to dry, Zero noticed how the water mixed starch pills begin to show signs of crumbling. No wonder Hua Tuo said that while it was a cheap way to manufacture, it was not good for storing pills made with water for long.
With a wave of his hand, Zero absorbed all six failed pills made from water. He would have to wait a little to see the result of the other eighteen pills.
Unfortunately, Zero didn't want to wait a few days for the pills to dry. Who knows when Hua Tuo might give him another day off again? Zero decided to subject them to heat magic for quicker drying. As long as it wasn't a fierce heat, the pills won't cook and it wouldn't lose any effectiveness.
The pills were drying well but Zero frowned. There was now a strange scent in the air. It smelled somewhat dead and pungent so Zero stopped to observe what was happening. After many guesses, he identified the culprit. Yet another six pills were absorbed and crossed out as failed experiments. Fish oil gave off a terrible smell, no wonder Hua Tuo didn't use it even though it was an abundant supply.
Zero tasted the remaining pills after determining that they were crafted sturdy enough for long-term storage. Rice and rye were not favourable because they gave off a strange taste that would clash with the herbs. Zero didn't strike them out immediately. Instead, he tried to mix and blend the different bases together.
The next fifteen minutes were spent trying out different starch combination. Zero wanted to keep arrowroot as the base formula for it because of the benefits it had. Eventually, Zero settled on the combination of arrowroot, yam and rye. The drying process was repeated and Zero chose to go with seed oil instead of nut oil for his pill base.
Satisfied with the results of his initial testing, Zero now tried to blend honey into it while shaping the pills differently. Zero wasn't a crafter but he did his best to create character chewable pills. It was the easiest way to identify which pills belonged to who. Zero wanted to customise different pills for everyone on top of the mana replenishing effects.
He looked at his list once more.
Gaia - Tree lady shaped, primrose and peppermint for fatigue relief and refreshing the tired mind
Sedna - Fishtail shaped, apple and mint for refreshing the mind
Zeus - Half Naked man shaped, Tumeric and Rhodiola for muscle pain and stress relief
Hades - Hooded figure shaped, Lavender and Lemon Balm for stress relief
Freya - Red hair, Rosehip and wild berries for rejuvenation
Isis - Sharp eyes, Green Tea, Cordycep and Holy Basil for nourishment and relaxation
Buddha - Beaded hair shape, Chamomile for relaxation
Enma - Scary Face, Ginger, Thyme and Turmeric for calming effect and increase immunity
Truen - Green eyes and dark skin, Five Flavour Berry and Cordyceps for fatigue and nourishing the eyes
It was getting late so Zero quickly put away his experiment materials and started working on dinner before his teacher returned. He still had to find some of the herbs mentioned in the list because of some last-minute additions so the apprentice planned to spend some extra time foraging for the herbs he needed. he had the basic herbs and flowers but berries, apple and tea weren't things he currently had.
”I suppose I could steal some of Hua Tuo's green tea leaves,” he mused and struck that off the list too.
Hua Tuo came back just as dinner was ready and he noticed how Zero had been using the grinding stone while he was out.
”Are you trying to concoct a new potpourri?”
Zero froze. He didn't think that his teacher would catch on to his newest project and didn't answer right away. That made Hua Tuo suspicious. What was Zero making this time? Now that he thought about it, some of his pots were out of place.