Chapter 986

Andrew moved with effortless precision, his hands steady, every motion deliberate. He had the kind of confidence that made it seem like he was in complete control. But standing to the side, Aiden noticed something odd. Andrew's fire control was slightly lower than it should have been. This caused some of the ingredients to refine faster, while others remained partially intact, not yet fully broken down. It wasn't uncommon in alchemy, but it was a risky mistake. If the temperature wasn't perfectly balanced, the active ingredients in the herbs could be damaged or lost, affecting the final quality of the pill. Technically, Andrew could still keep going, waiting for the rest of the spirit herbs to fully melt before moving on to the final fusion process. But the odds of success were slim. Even if he managed to pull it off, the final potency would be only ten percent of what it should be—essentially useless. Any experienced alchemist in his position would have abandoned the attem