Kemo Stier had barely slept these days, and he realized that coming to Border Town was the wisest decision he'd ever made.
After two days and one night of reading through *Elementary Chemistry* and sleeping for two or three hours, he was refreshed and ready to continue. Now he had returned to the first page, carefully studying this ancient text from the beginning.
Matter is composed of extremely small particles! The transformation of matter involves the disintegration and recombination of these particles! During the reaction process, the total amount of matter remains constant!
Good heavens, what a remarkable individual the author of this book is, capable of depicting the unseen world with such clarity. He had repeatedly doubted that the content in the book was fabricated, yet when conducting alchemical experiments according to the examples provided, the results perfectly matched the descriptions! Moreover, some common real-world cases also corroborate the accuracy of the book.
Take the oxygen described in the first chapter as an example.
This gas is the primary component of air. What humans breathe is not air but oxygen. Flame combustion requires oxygen because combustion is essentially an oxidation reaction. The more oxygen present, the more vigorous the combustion becomes.
These words brought back memories of the glass kiln in Chishui City, where two workers had to continuously agitate the bellows to raise the furnace temperature to the melting point of sand and gravel. Since it was a physical substance, it could apparently be refined through alchemy... Wait, through chemical reactions to extract pure oxygen. If oxygen could be directly introduced into the furnace, wouldn't that eliminate the need for bellows equipment?
Most remarkably, the book states that water is composed of two hydrogen particles and one oxygen particle, which likely explains why all living organisms require water. However, hydrogen also appears to be a gas. How is it possible for two gases to combine and form a liquid?
Kaimo realized he still had many questions to ponder. Yet one thing was certain: he had already outpaced all the alchemists. While they were still groping for formulas in chaos and mist, a straight and smooth path had already appeared before him.
However, the important task still needed to be completed. Reluctantly, he closed the book. By now, the sky had turned pale, and it was time to work again.
Kaimo blew out the candle, stepped into the bedroom to check on his sleeping wife and daughter, then slipped out of the door without a sound.
His Highness was assigned a residence west of the castle, significantly larger than his own home in Chishui City. Built with brick and stone walls, the house was far more comfortable than the mold-prone wood, complete with all necessary furniture and kitchenware. Though he didn't say it aloud, he was inwardly pleased. Meanwhile, his disciples lived in a separate neighborhood two blocks away. Their houses were smaller and shared, resembling a hotel's layout, with a single bedroom accommodating four people.
Upon reaching the chemistry lab by the Chishui River, the disciples were already bustling about. These were Kei Mo's carefully selected individuals, most of whom had trained in material purification at the alchemy workshop since childhood, now in their twenties or thirties. Seeing the immaculately clean lab and gleaming glass containers, Kei Mo nodded approvingly.
"Good morning, Chief Mentor," the disciples bowed in unison.
"Let's begin." He took a pair of gloves from the cabinet and put them on—these gloves were extremely thin and elastic, likely made by stitching animal intestines. The alchemy workshop had never required this before, but Your Royal Highness had repeatedly emphasized the dangers of chemical experiments. According to the operating regulations, anyone handling corrosive materials must wear gloves and open all windows.
Unlike the workshop, their current task is clearly defined: producing acid for Your Highness. Having practiced the Shuangshi acid-making method many times, Kaimo only needs to supervise from the sidelines, without having to participate in the process.
Both acids are thoroughly documented in *Elementary Chemistry*: sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Historically, chemists preferred nomenclature based on their natural sources—sulfuric acid was termed green vitriolic acid, while nitric acid was called saltpeter acid. Though named differently, their preparation methods were essentially identical: the acids were distilled from the pyrolysis of green vitriol and saltpeter, with the resulting vapors condensed into liquid acid. Green vitriol, typically associated with sulfur mines, and saltpeter, produced in specialized nitration pools in major cities, were both common raw materials.
However, Your Highness emphasized that the two acids he required must have high concentrations, and specifically outlined the purification method.
For instance, after collecting sulfuric acid, heating can evaporate the water, yielding a concentrated sulfuric acid solution with a concentration of up to 98%. However, nitric acid presents significantly more challenges. As Your Royal Highness mentioned, this acid is inherently unstable and prone to volatilization. When its concentration reaches a critical level, it even decomposes upon exposure to light. Therefore, the dilute nitric acid obtained through dry distillation must be mixed with concentrated sulfuric acid and heated to allow the concentrated acid to absorb moisture, thereby evaporating the nitric acid. The mixture is then stored in brown glass bottles. To ensure this process, Your Highness even prepared a thermometer specifically for this purpose.
At first glance, Kaimo was struck by the ingenious design of this apparatus. A hollow glass tube contained mercury, sealed at both ends to prevent leakage. Several painted lines marked the tube's surface, and when heated, the mercury would gradually rise, with its final position indicating the current temperature.
Currently, the laboratory has produced three bottles of concentrated sulfuric acid and one bottle of concentrated nitric acid. At this concentration, he discovered that sulfuric acid does not flow as easily as water but rather resembles a viscous oil. The nitric acid, at high concentrations, is no longer colorless and transparent but instead turns pale yellow. Upon opening the glass bottle cap, white smoke is emitted.
"Master Mentor, do we need to prepare these two acid solutions every day?" asked a disciple named Amun.
"Until Your Highness assigns new tasks," Kaimon paused. "What's the matter? Worried you won't have time to figure out the alchemy formula?" Amon nodded.
Kaimo chuckled, stroking his chin stubble. "I forgot to mention that the title of Alchemist is no longer required. So you won't need to rely on trial-and-error formulas to become one." "No..." Amon froze. "No longer required?" The other disciples slowed their work, ears perked up for their mentor's next words.
"Exactly. Alchemical formulas no longer require trial and error—they depend on memorization and deduction," Kaimo declared, clapping his hands and gathering everyone around him. "Your Highness has entrusted me with a copy of Elementary Chemistry, which is precisely why I brought you here. With thorough study, most formulas in the world can be deduced from its contents." "Deduce?" The disciples gasped in unison.
"That's correct. Once I've thoroughly reviewed the material, I'll begin teaching you," he said. "Your Highness has also mentioned the promotion process. From now on, you must pass the tests he personally arranges to earn the title of Chemist. Trust me, this honor will soon surpass even the Alchemists. The knowledge you possess is so advanced that even the Royal Alchemy Association can't match it."