The next day, before Ning Xuan left for her training class, Yan Fuzhen showed her the operating system for extreme environment simulation. He explained that he had already built a training facility for her at home, so she could train whenever she needed.

Ning Xuan was quite interested in the training. However, while she had a rough time yesterday, she had managed to clear the simulation. ’After another eight or ten uses, this training probably won’t be effective for me anymore,’ she thought. ’If that’s the case, isn’t buying this equipment a waste?’

When Ning Xuan voiced her concern to Yan Fuzhen, he looked at a loss for words. It was Chen Nan who stepped forward to explain. "Contractor, this is a standard military exercise. This kind of training facility is very common in the army. When you no longer need it, Housekeeper Yan can have it sent over to them."

"That’s good to know." Ning Xuan was relieved.

In the following days, Ning Xuan stopped her eye-catching training sessions and instead began to systematically study various methods for concocting potions: fluid extraction, freeze-drying crystallization, steam filtration, low-frequency resonance, energy deconstruction and recombination, three-stage centrifugal separation, and more. Previously, Ning Xuan had only ever read about these techniques in books. The only one she had truly used in her own Alchemy was the conventional fire-refining extraction method. Back when she passed the Advanced Alchemist exam, she had drawn upon some principles of the fluid extraction method to concoct the Illusion Spirit Flower Bud.

Although Ning Xuan’s alchemy skills were astonishing, she had never systematically studied the theoretical knowledge of the Alchemy Department. Likewise, she had never received formal, hands-on training in the standard alchemy system. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

She had managed to qualify as an Advanced Alchemist so quickly by relying on her powerful Spiritual Manipulation Ability and an almost instinctive Perception Ability for medicinal properties, one that felt etched into her very soul.

Thus, during her subsequent studies, Ning Xuan became completely engrossed in observing and experimenting with all sorts of standard alchemy methods.

The Three-Stage Centrifugal Separation Method primarily used a three-stage device. First-stage centrifugation: at 3,200 rpm, it separated coarse fibers and impurities. Second-stage magnetic levitation centrifugation: with an added adsorption unit, the speed increased to 7,800 rpm to separate toxins and fine particles. Third-stage vacuum centrifugation: at 15,000 rpm, it extracted the core essence.

The purity of medicine refined with this method could reach 100%, but the equipment was prohibitively expensive. In fact, no such device had ever been seen on all of D618 Star.

As for the Freeze-drying Crystallization Method, its core technology involved creating a triple-layered temperature field. The outer layer was a -78°C dry ice barrier to maintain the crystal framework. The middle layer was a -20°C frost zone for directional crystallization. The inner layer was a 4°C activity-preservation field.

These methods sounded complex, but in practice, they all relied on specialized equipment to strictly control time, temperature, and other crucial factors. They were mostly applicable to special mineral-based ingredients.

During this period, Ning Xuan saw, studied, and learned to operate a variety of high-end alchemy equipment and specialized methods. She had essentially completed the entire curriculum of the Alchemy Department. Only during this unique time could she gain access to so many High Level laboratories and equipment normally found only in academies on High-level Stars. It was a chance to learn the complete alchemy system in one go.

These two months of study were an incredible opportunity for her. She had epiphanies about problems that had long stumped her in her Alchemy. This gave Ning Xuan a feeling of comprehensive mastery, allowing her to feel that all the disparate knowledge was finally clicking into place as she concocted different types of medicine.

There was still over a month until the official start of the Alchemist Competition. Ning Xuan had already familiarized herself with all the rules for the unrestricted division. The preliminary screening round posed no difficulty for her. After passing it, she would enter the Lingxiao Secret Realm, where the competition would officially begin.

This time, the venue chosen for the unrestricted division was the Lingxiao Secret Realm. Of the Ten Great Secret Realms, Lingxiao was the earliest discovered and the most abundant in resources. According to the rules, each competing Alchemist was allowed to bring two assistants with them. As soon as this was announced, every Alchemist with a chance of passing the preliminary screening instantly became a hot commodity.

This was especially true for Alchemists from common backgrounds. Many powerful Spirit Controllers showed up at their doors, offering their services and vying for one of the coveted assistant slots.

The moment Ning Xuan learned she could bring two people into the Secret Realm, she decided on Lin Mo and Chen Nan. Both were powerful, and as her Contractors, they could provide her with the best possible protection.

Ning Xuan had already established a spiritual connection with Chen Nan, allowing them to communicate their thoughts instantaneously. Lin Mo was also her Contractor, and since she had decided to take him on, she planned to form a spiritual connection with him before the competition. Once the link was forged, Lin Mo’s very life would be bound to hers, leaving no room to doubt his loyalty.

With her assistants chosen, the next step was to prepare for entering the Secret Realm. This meant purchasing supplies, including weapons, equipment, food, and other necessary tools.

A while back, during one of the interstellar storm simulations, Ning Xuan had accidentally discovered a method for creating Spirit Talismans remotely using just energy. While these remotely created Spirit Talismans were powerful, they had one major drawback: they could only be used at the moment of their creation. She later tried to inscribe the talismans onto a physical medium, but despite searching the entire Star Network, she couldn’t find any suitable materials.

There were no pre-made Spirit Talismans for sale on the Star Network. The courses on Runes and Talismans offered by the major academies were mostly for show; they couldn’t even agree on a standardized textbook.

The ancient runes that had been passed down were abstruse and difficult to comprehend, so very few people had the patience to study them. Compounding this was the invention of new weapons and the general improvement of human physical conditioning, which made the effects of Spirit Talismans seem lackluster by comparison. Over time, the talismanic Tao had gradually fallen into decline.

Unable to find a suitable material on the Star Network to serve as a conduit for the talismanic energy, Ning Xuan began experimenting on her own. She tried paper made from Exotic Plants, thin sheets of wood, even malleable metals and soft stones. She tested countless materials, but none succeeded.

With the competition drawing ever closer, Ning Xuan had no choice but to set the matter aside for now and focus on her preparations.

One day, Ning Xuan went out shopping with only Chen Nan in tow. She was planning to purchase a batch of glass Energy Bottles to store her finished medicine. She had already arranged with a vendor on the Star Network to inspect some samples they had manufactured to her specifications. If the samples were acceptable, she would place a bulk order.

As Ning Xuan and Chen Nan walked down the street, she suddenly felt a chilling, malevolent energy brush past her. She scanned her surroundings—a bustling street filled with ordinary pedestrians—but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Just as Ning Xuan was about to take another step, Chen Nan abruptly yanked her aside. He drew his dagger and flung it toward the space just behind her. A sharp CLANG echoed out—the sound of metal striking metal.