Chapter 155: Chapter 146: Fragrant Bait Combining Technology and Soul Beasts (Part 2)

Han Ning nodded and continued to ask, "So... has anyone made any progress?"

"This is why we were looking for you. As you can see, one step in making the Fragrant Bait is to rapidly cool the semi-finished product. We can get fire sources and electrical power, but we don’t have the ability to cool things down quickly. Only your Yin Yi has control over the Ice Attribute."

"Let’s try it, then."

Han Ning turned his head and saw Teacher Zhou completely engrossed in assembling a device the size of a corn thresher.

This was the mixer for the Fragrant Bait. To think the academy’s teachers had built it in just one afternoon.

The mixer was not only the size of a corn thresher, it looked like one, too.

On top was a funnel-shaped opening where all sorts of materials could be tossed in.

The middle section featured an industrial thermometer to display the temperature.

As for the temperature display, it was actually quite simple. Much like pH paper, when a certain temperature was reached, the corresponding mark would become visible.

At the bottom was the outlet for the finished product.

Overall, the mixer was very crude. Most of the process was manual, and it had a completely low-tech feel.

"It’s about ready. We should be able to start pre-processing the materials."

Teacher Zhou looked at the impressive-looking device, gave his dry brow a wipe, and muttered to himself in satisfaction.

Then, he took out the paper with the Fragrant Bait recipe written on it and said:

"Dehydration and roasting... Place the insect carcasses into the mixer and use a Flame to heat the mixer’s heating zone. This will heat the contents and achieve dehydration..."

As Teacher Zhou spoke, Lü Xiuning, who was standing to the side, tossed several pounds of foul-smelling insect meat, cut into small chunks, into the funnel.

Nearby, three teachers each held a simple, improvised blowtorch.

The other end of each blowtorch was connected to a large barrel full of diesel fuel.

Teacher Zhou pointed to a rod sticking out of the mixer and said to the others, "The insect carcasses are difficult to grind up. We need a Soul Beast with good Power control to turn this mixing rod clockwise."

"Dean Wu, why don’t we let Egg Pancake do it? Its control over its Power has improved a lot recently." Han Ning volunteered his pet, considering that a Silver Lotus Wood, Tree Spirit, or Wood Demon wasn’t as sensitive to Power fluctuations as a Blood and Flesh Soul Beast.

"Let Egg Pancake give it a try, then," Dean Wu nodded.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK!!" Egg Pancake pounded its chest, as if to guarantee, ’This Pancake will complete the mission perfectly!’

The others made way for Egg Pancake. It crouched in front of the mixer, carefully extended a claw, grabbed the mixing rod, and gently began to stir.

Immediately, a THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING sound of objects tumbling around came from inside the machine.

"Keep stirring until the blades have completely ground the carcasses into a thick paste..."

"Squeak... Squeak-squeak... Squeeee..."

The process was a mix of smashing and crushing, but Egg Pancake turned the rod tirelessly, enjoying every moment.

About ten minutes later, Teacher Zhou stopped Egg Pancake. He took a long wooden stick, inserted it into the mixer, and dabbed out a bit of the insect paste to examine it closely.

"According to the recipe, the insect carcasses must be ground until no particles are visible. It looks like we’re about there..."

Teacher Zhou nodded, then said to the three teachers holding the blowtorches,

"Aim your flames at the heating zone, and don’t stop until I say so."

"Egg Pancake, you need to keep turning the rod while we’re applying heat."

"SQUEAK!!"

With that said, the other three teachers switched on their blowtorches at the same time.

WHOOSH!

A long, thin, orange-yellow flame shot out from each nozzle.

All three nozzles were aimed at the heating zone, and the heating began.

Egg Pancake’s eyes widened as it slowly turned the rod. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Just like popcorn, the insect slurry inside the mixer tumbled over and over as it was subjected to high heat.

The recipe required the temperature to reach at least the third mark, but with the heat from the blowtorches, it was barely reaching the second—nowhere near enough.

Teacher Zhou’s brow furrowed as he stared at the wavering liquid in the temperature gauge.

"Turn the blowtorches to the highest setting! Full blast!"

At his command, everyone increased the fuel output, and the flames burned even more vigorously.

But even so, the temperature gauge still hovered at the edge of the third mark, stubbornly refusing to go past it.

’This isn’t working... The blowtorches are at their limit. We need a device that can generate higher temperatures...’

The thought flashed through Han Ning’s mind.

The heating process didn’t require a constant temperature; it needed to alternate between high and low, roasting for a time and then baking at a lower heat. In total, the process was supposed to take about five minutes.

At that moment, another one of the blowtorches’ shortcomings became apparent: they couldn’t control the temperature precisely.

When a low temperature was required, their flames were too hot. When a high temperature was needed, they couldn’t get hot enough.

Seeing this, Han Ning said to Egg Pancake, "Release a Flame where the blowtorches are aimed. Help heat the device."

"SQUEAK SQUEAK!"

Egg Pancake extended its left claw. A crimson Flame appeared at its tip, joining the three blowtorches in heating the mixer.

The heating zone was made of steel plates, and the Flame from Egg Pancake heated the bottom until it glowed faintly red.

With this, the temperature finally began to rise.

Teacher Zhou let out a sigh of relief and continued, "Add the remaining ingredients: two stalks of Xiangyi Grass—that’s the light purple grass—three Blood Rhombus Fruits, and two pounds of insect innards..."

Lü Xiuning, who was waiting nearby, followed Teacher Zhou’s instructions and added the required materials in order.

Then came several more steps, such as adding water, shaking, and cooling.

Three minutes later, Teacher Zhou looked at Yin Yi and said urgently, "Cool it down! Drop the temperature to the first mark, quickly."

The others immediately shut off the blowtorches.

Egg Pancake retracted its claw as well.

"Ling!"

After receiving Han Ning’s signal, the blue-and-white petals on Yin Yi’s head fluttered slightly, and a wisp of frosty air shot out, blanketing the red-hot steel plate.

Tiny Ice Crystals hit the scorching metal, instantly vaporizing with a loud SIZZLE.

With the cooling complete, most of the steps were finished.

All the steps had been attempted, except for the electrical discharge.

Just then, a peculiar smell wafted out of the mixer.

The smell was very strange. You could call it fragrant, but it also had a warm, fishy odor.

In short, it was bizarre and faintly nauseating.

"Sniff... sniff... What a strange smell."

Han Ning instinctively held his breath.

The next second, a long, semi-liquid, semi-solid glob of viscous, dark-green meat paste squeezed out from the bottom of the mixer, plopping onto a ceramic plate below like toothpaste from a tube.

Han Ning: "..."

The others: "???"

"The final step is to insert the positive and negative electrodes into the semi-finished product and run a current through it."

As soon as he finished speaking, two vines wrapped around the electrodes and plunged them into the viscous mixture.

CRACKLE~

A faint, dark purple spark danced across the light green goo, making a sizzling sound.

The sign of a successfully made Fragrant Bait was a faint, pleasant aroma, a glossy, light-green surface, and the consistency of clay.

But as he stared at the mushy, viscous, dark-green substance that refused to change, Han Ning felt that they could zap it until the end of time and its color and form still wouldn’t change.

"Alright, stop the electrical charge."

After ten-odd seconds, Teacher Zhou called a halt.

Under the effect of the electrical charge, the mixture’s color had lightened somewhat, but it still lay limply on the ceramic plate.

It was less a solid chunk and more a glob of paste.

Han Ning picked up a twig, scooped up a bit of the dark-green paste, and held it to his nose for a sniff.

"...It smells a bit like cooked carp, still with a fishy odor."

But at that same moment, the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm inside his body radiated a feeling of intense craving.