This processed sulfur takes the form of a fine yellowish-brown powder. It must be prepared from two ingredient…
This processed sulfur takes the form of a fine yellowish-brown powder. It must be prepared from two ingredients: Beiting Sal Ammoniac and sulfur, through the procedures of grinding into powder, sealing and storage, sun-drying, and flame calcination. However, the optimal ratio between the two ingredients has yet to be determined. I have thus conducted multiple rounds of tests with graded ratios, and recorded my observations and findings below.
Initial Test
#F1 part sulfur, 3 parts Beiting Sand. Cleared of sand and grit, ground into a fine powder, then calcined over a gentle flame. Smoke and fumes escaped. Once the smoke settled completely, the product was retrieved, with grayish-white ash clumped inside.#F Failed.
Second Test
#F3 parts sulfur, 1 part Beiting Sand. Cleared of sand and grit, ground into a fine powder, then calcined over a gentle flame, with only faint smoke produced. The product was retrieved, yielding a yellow powder that felt like a hard, caked gritty mass when twisted between the fingers. #FFailed.
Third Test
4 parts sulfur, 5 parts Beiting Sand. Ground into fine powder, to the point of utter exhaustion... Failed.
Fourth Test
8 parts sulfur, ground into fine powder. Accidental inhalation, resulting in loss of consciousness... Failed.
Fifth Test
FAILED! FAILED! FAILED!
...
23rd Test
3 parts sulfur, 4 parts Beiting Sand. Roasted over a gentle flame, with faint smoke rising. Added 1 part millet grains and 2 parts honey, and a sweet aroma wafted out. Discarded the powder, ate the millet... Failed.
34th Test
Feng Jisheng, oh Feng Jisheng! How could a mere thirty-some failures break you! Pull yourself together, and press on with the experiments!
35th Test
#F2 parts sulfur, 2 parts Beiting Sand. Cleared of sand and grit, ground into a fine powder. #FCharcoal was chosen as fuel, high-heat stir-frying at full blast!
Smoke billowed forth, more charcoal added, high-heat stir-frying at full blast!
The fire raged stronger, more charcoal added, high-heat stir-frying at full blast!
...
Addendum: The furnace cracked abruptly with a thunderous roar, thick black smoke billowed in all directions, leaving pitch-black soot caked all over Senior Brother Feng's face.
A word of warning to all who follow: #Fbeware of unrestrained high-heat stir-frying.
— Xiao Lei