Seven days later, in the morning at the kitchen, a young girl named Gu Dandan was seen washing dirty dishes and utensils, including her own and her master's, left from breakfast. As Gu Dandan was focused on scrubbing a dirty chopstick in her hand, she heard her master's voice behind her, calling her to come to the backyard garden.

After hearing her agreement, her master went ahead to the backyard garden. Not wanting to keep her master waiting for long, Gu Dandan quickly finished her task and made her way to the garden. Upon arriving, her curiosity got the better of her, and she immediately asked what her master wanted to tell her.

“Master, why did you ask Dandan to come to the garden? Is there something important you want to tell Dandan here?”

“You’re right, there is something important I want to tell you. It’s time for me to teach you the alchemy techniques you’ve been eager to learn.”

“Yeah, finally! The alchemy lessons Dandan has been waiting for are about to begin. I’ve been waiting so long for this day to come!”

“W-well, I’m glad you’re excited to learn. But before we begin, I want to review the results of your training over the past seven days while I left you to practice absorbing and controlling qi. Y-yah, even though I already know how your training went, it’s better if you explain your cultivation progress and any issues you’ve encountered during the process. So, tell me everything first, and only then will I teach you the techniques.”

“All right, Master! Hmm… hmm… hmm… let me think… From what I remember during the past seven days of training, I’m sure there were no issues at all. In fact, I was very smooth when it came to absorbing and controlling qi. As for my cultivation, I’m confident that I’ve now reached the Mid stage of the Building Foundation level. So, Master, what do you think? Are you satisfied with the results of my seven days of training?”

"Satisfied? Uhum, little Dandan. Why is your cultivation so slow? Have you been training incorrectly these past seven days? How could it be that when master left you alone to focus on training for a full week, the results are this disappointing? Master even gave you a high-level training technique, yet you still haven’t broken through to the Golden Core stage?"

“Ugh, s-sorry, Master… This is all Dandan’s fault. I couldn’t quickly make potions or treat the patients who came to me, so I wasn’t able to train my cultivation properly.”

“…How could you say it’s just because of the patients? Don’t tell me that for the past seven days, you’ve actually been too lazy to practice and are just using this as an excuse so I won’t punish you?”

“No, Master, Dandan is not making excuses. Dandan is truly being honest. For the past seven days, the number of patients coming here has been overwhelming, leaving Dandan with no time to practice. On top of that, Dandan had to prepare the remedies that had run out, so my time to cultivate became even more limited… A-and, honestly, all these problems could have been solved if Master helped. B-but, seeing Master lying around in the backyard every day, Dandan didn’t dare disturb your rest, so I had to handle everything alone.” Gu Dandan spoke hesitantly, trying to explain why her cultivation had been so slow.

“O-oh, I see. M-my apologies for not helping you at the time. A-actually, you misunderstood when you saw me lying there as if I was sleeping. The truth is, at that time, I was… uh, well, I was digesting the knowledge I had obtained from the Great Dao! Because you are a mere mortal, you mistakenly thought I was napping.”

‘What is the Great Dao? Does everyone who gains knowledge from it end up looking like they’re snoring in their sleep? How strange… Wait, could it be that Master is just making up another excuse to fool Dandan again?’

“Is what Master said true? Don’t tell me you’re lying to Dandan again?”

“O-of course not, my dear Dandan~” Master replied with a smile, patting Gu Dandan’s head gently.

“Hmm… Even though Dandan doesn’t know what this Great Dao you mentioned is, Dandan is pretty sure that for those seven days, Master was definitely sleeping from the sound of your snoring that Dandan heard. Or… was it just my imagination, and I mistook it for snoring?” Gu Dandan said, her voice unsure of her own words.

“Bfft—uhuk, uhuk… A-anyway, let’s just forget about that. It’s time for Master to teach you Alchemy. Besides, Master has already examined you. Even though your cultivation is low, it’s no problem for me. So, let’s begin your training.”

“Yes, Master!”

“But before we begin the training, Master will first explain to you what an Alchemist is. Well, an Alchemist can be said to be quite similar to the healer profession you’re familiar with. The difference is, Alchemists… when making potions, they do so in a much stranger—I mean, much more magical way—by controlling fire in their hands and then using it to extract the essence of herbs with… wait a moment… L-Little Dandan.”

“W-what is it, Master? W-why are you suddenly gripping my shoulders so tightly?”

“Oh, my apologies, forget about that for now. Master has an important question for you. Do you feel a natural affinity for fire, like a sense of comfort when you’re near it?”

“Huh? Why is Master suddenly talking about fire?”

“Just answer the question. Do you have any connection or affinity with fire?”

“Hmm… Dandan isn’t sure if Dandan feels comfortable with fire, but if Dandan gets too close to it, Dandan is pretty sure Dandan would get burned.”

“O-oh, I see… Little Dandan… it seems Master won’t be teaching you Alchemy after all.”

“Eh? Why won’t Master teach Dandan Alchemy anymore? Didn’t you just say you would? Is it because Dandan doesn’t have an affinity with fire that you’re canceling the lesson?”

“I-it’s not because of that… well, actually…”

“…”

‘Huh? Why is Master turning away from Dandan and just silently staring at the sky? C-could it really be a problem if Dandan doesn’t have an affinity with fire? Ugh, I-I hope that’s not true like Master said. It seems I need to question Master to find out the truth!’

“Master! Why are you just standing there silently? By turning your back on Dandan like that, could it really be a problem if Dandan doesn’t have an affinity with fire? If that’s true, then how can Dandan learn Alchemy, Master? Should you throw Dandan into a fire so I can get comfortable with it and finally learn Alchemy?”

“Pfft—y-you, what kind of strange thoughts are those? Didn’t Master already tell you it’s not because of that? W-well, the real reason Master went silent was because I was gaining enlightenment by gazing into the mysterious Void. So, be quiet for a while and let Master find an excuse—I mean, understand the enlightenment I am receiving.”

“Yes, Master.”

For about fifteen minutes, Gu Dandan stood still, staring at the ant hole nearby, waiting for her master to finish contemplating the enlightenment she had spoken of. When Gu Dandan became very bored from just standing still and doing nothing, her master finally turned back toward her with the demeanor of an expert that she couldn’t quite understand, then said something that made her focus once again on listening to her master.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Uhum, Little Dandan, be happy, for I will give you a magical method far greater than if you became an Alchemist.”

“A magical method? Wait a moment, what about the enlightenment you gained from staring at the mysterious Void you mentioned?”

“Eh? Y-yeah, you don’t need to worry about that because I have already finished understanding it. So, forget about that and let’s focus on the magical method I mentioned.”

“Alright, Master, so what is this magical method?”

“The magical method is, I will grant you a unique physique—specifically, a physique of a potion body that you can only obtain by using the power of your eyes.”

“A potion body? What do you mean by a potion body, Master? Could it be that this so-called physique you speak of will turn Dandan into a herbal plant?”

“O-of course not, Little Dandan. Let me explain so you don’t think weirdly anymore. A potion body is one of the unique physiques that, if someone manages to acquire it, they will be able to absorb all the properties or poisons from anything in the world, which will then cause their body to possess the same properties and poisons as the things they absorb.”

“Hah! I-isn’t that amazing, Master? I-if that’s the case, doesn’t that mean I won’t need to search for plants to make potions anymore, since my own body can give me the same effects as those potions if I consume them, right Master?” Gu Dandan said eagerly.

“That’s correct, but it’s not just that. The potion body is much more powerful than you think, because this unique physique isn’t limited to just one property or poison that you absorb. Instead, you can have many different properties or poisons from anything you absorb.”

“Woah! Master, I really want it! Please teach me how to get this physique of yours as soon as possible!”

“Alright, I will teach you. The method is… you use the power of your eyes to search for an effect from any plant you see, and if you combine their properties, it will allow you to obtain the potion body.”

“Oh, I see. So, after I collect all the plants, I need to combine them to achieve the effects of the potion body. But how do I combine them, Master? Can you tell me how to do it?”

After Gu Dandan said this, she watched as her master turned away from her, staring at the sky. Then, for some reason, her master turned back toward her again, and Gu Dandan couldn’t understand why her master was spinning around like that. Afterward, she saw her master fold her arms, close her eyes, and then open them again, staring at her while speaking in a lecturing tone.

“Gu Dandan, don’t rely too much on me. It’s not good for you to always ask questions like that. It would be better if you figured it out yourself so that your mind becomes sharper.”

“Ugh, alright, Master.”

“Good. Now, without any more small talk, it’s time for you to use the power of your eyes to observe all the effects of the plants around you. I want to see what method you’ll come up with to combine all the effects of the plants you’ve gathered.”

Nodding in response to her master's words, Gu Dandan opened her eyes to reveal her bright green irises, then shifted her gaze from her master to the plants surrounding her, gathering all the information entering her mind to study later.

‘Hmm? It’s strange, my eyes don’t hurt at all even though I’m staring at so many plants. I had prepared myself for the pain, but it doesn’t feel like anything. Could it be because my body has become stronger after drinking the Luna Might Anomaly brew, so the pain isn’t as noticeable now? Maybe so. But, what should I do with all this information about the plant effects in my mind? Hmm… since Master said I need to combine their effects, could it be that I should try combining all the effects in my mind first? Then, once I find the physical body effect from the combined plant effects, I’ll just need to figure out how to physically combine the plants to create the potion. Hmm… this method seems worth trying. Alright, it’s time to do this.’

Focusing her gaze on all the plants her vision captured, while attempting to combine all the effects stored in her mind, Gu Dandan tried with all her might to merge the effects. However, no matter how hard she tried, the words and effects in her mind were always rejected, as if it was impossible to merge them directly.

Because it was indeed impossible to directly combine all the effects in her mind, Gu Dandan finally gave up on merging them all at once and decided to combine them one by one in her thoughts.

As she merged the effects of the plants one by one in her mind, she discovered that the combined effects could be merged with other effects, or the effects she had already combined could be merged again with previous ones. This realization made her aware of how complex and numerous the ways to combine the plants were, which made her think harder and focus more intensely, desperately searching for the path where the potion body effect might lie. Unfortunately, Gu Dandan’s concentration was shattered when her master suddenly spoke to her while she was deeply focused on combining the plant effects in her mind.

“L-little Dandan, hey! Are you alright?”

“Huh? What is it, Master? Why did you suddenly interrupt me? I was making good progress with combining the effects. Now, because of your interruption, my thoughts are scattered. What should I do, Master? I’ve forgotten where I left off. Do I need to start over?”

“You… Forget about that for now. Didn’t you notice that your eyes, nose, and ears are bleeding a lot?”

Hearing her master’s words, Gu Dandan, who hadn’t realized the blood on her face, became aware of it after feeling a sticky liquid on her skin. Wiping the liquid with the sleeve of her robe, she saw that it was indeed blood, marked by the red stain on the fabric.

“This is really blood… but why didn’t I feel it? Master, this is very strange. For some reason, I didn’t feel any pain or anything from the blood coming from my eyes, nose, and ears. What’s really happening, Master?” Gu Dandan said to her master with a confused expression, her face still showing traces of blood that hadn’t been wiped away properly.

“…That’s probably because you pushed yourself to observe all the plants here with your eye ability. I’m sure the reason you didn’t feel any pain is because, as a cultivator, your body is now strong enough to endure it. Besides, you should rest for now, so you don’t push your body past its limits and end up fainting from blood loss.”

“No, Master, I’ll continue. I’m sure I was close to finding the path to my potion body earlier. It’s better if I continue now; who knows, the memory I’ve forgotten might return while I’m combining the plants,” Gu Dandan said with determination.

“Little Dandan, it’s good to be hardworking like that, but remember your body has already lost quite a bit of blood. It’s better if you rest for now so nothing bad happens to you,” her master replied, wiping the blood still lingering on Gu Dandan’s face.

‘Uh, Master is right. I should rest for now. But I still want to continue. Who knows, my memory might return. What should I do? What if plants can’t… wait! That’s it! I can eat the medicinal plants that can heal and replenish my blood. With that, I won’t need to rest to heal myself!’

Excited by her discovery, Gu Dandan quickly scanned the plants around her, searching for the effect she needed. After a short while, she found the medicinal plant that could help her heal her wounds.

‘Here it is! The Shy Miss plant, which has strangely become the Shy Miss Anomaly with its many effects, should be able to help me! With this, I won’t need to rest, and I can continue combining the plants without worrying! Alright, it’s time to proceed!’

After pulling out a decent number of Shy Miss Anomaly plants, Gu Dandan, still excited, ended up pulling up all the plants in her backyard. She quickly headed toward her house, carrying a large bundle of herbs in her hands.

“H-hey! Little Dandan! Stop! Why are you rushing inside with so many herbs in your hands? What are you doing?”

Stopping at the door after her master called out to her, Gu Dandan, forgetting about her master still in the garden, quickly turned around and spoke to her.

“Oh! Sorry, Master, I forgot to ask for permission. I’m heading to the herb preparation room to combine the plants I’ve gathered. I’m sure if I lock myself in the herb preparation room and focus solely on merging their effects, I’ll succeed in getting the potion body! As for resting, that’s no longer necessary since I’ve brought the Shy Miss Anomaly plants that will heal me. So, goodbye, Master!” Gu Dandan said, showing the Shy Miss Anomaly plants in her hands, then gave a small bow before quickly leaving her master, who stood silent, watching her swift actions.

“…That little girl, did she really manage to figure it out? I only tricked her with sweet words, weaving a story that the potion body truly exists, but I didn’t expect her to believe it so strongly and be so confident she’ll get it. If she really manages to obtain the potion body, wouldn’t she end up with a cheat-like body constitution that can absorb all properties and poisons, then have her body take on all the effects of the properties and poisons she absorbs? …I don’t know why, but it feels like I’ve just awakened a monster.”

“Even so, today’s training felt quite odd. With all the coincidences that have happened before and today, could it be that I really have some hidden ability? Hmm… It seems I should test it to see if I truly have an ability I haven’t noticed. But thinking about it again, if I were the main character in a novel, I’d definitely be the type of main character who’s incredibly perceptive, quickly realizing something is off. It’d probably only take 5 chapters for me to figure it out, right?”

“Ah, forget it. Why am I even thinking about that random stuff? I should just go to sleep—wait! Since Dandan-chan locked herself in the herb preparation room, focusing on combining the plant effects, doesn’t that mean once again I’ll have to pretend to be a Healer and treat patients who need care? Ugh, I guess I have to pretend to understand all the plant effects and trick them into thinking they’re healed, just like before. Haah… whatever, it’s not worth overthinking. I’ll manage somehow, maybe?”

Vheena muttered this long monologue to herself, unfortunately unheard by Gu Dandan, who had already entered the house.