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The boy learned that the liquid part of the Master Work was called the Elixir of Life, and that it cured all illnesses; it also kept the alchemist from growing old.
男孩在书中看到，元精的液体部分叫作长生不老液，除了能防止炼金术士衰老，还能医治百病；
And the solid part was called the Philosopher's Stone.
固体部分则叫点金石。
"It's not easy to find the Philosopher's Stone," said the Englishman.
“并非轻而易举就能发现点金石。”英国人说，
"The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals.
“炼金术士们在实验室里守候多年，观察冶炼金属的火焰，
They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world.
观察久了，渐渐就把世上所有的虚荣尽皆弃之脑后。
They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves."
于是，有一天，他们发现提炼金属的结果却是净化了他们自身。”
The boy thought about the crystal merchant.
男孩想起了水晶店的老板。
He had said that it was a good thing for the boy to clean the crystal pieces, so that he could free himself from negative thoughts.
老板曾说过，擦拭水晶是件好事，可以使他们摆脱不好的念头。
The boy was becoming more and more convinced that alchemy could be learned in one's daily life.
男孩越来越坚信，在日常生活中就能把炼金术学到手。
"Also," said the Englishman, "the Philosopher's Stone has a fascinating property. A small sliver of the stone can transform large quantities of metal into gold."
“另外，点金石有一种迷人的特性。一小片点金石的碎片就能把大量的金属点化成黄金。”英国人说道。
Having heard that, the boy became even more interested in alchemy.
听到这番话，男孩对炼金术产生了极其浓厚的兴趣。
He thought that, with some patience, he'd be able to transform everything into gold.
他想，只要耐心一点，就能把一切都变成金子。
He read the lives of the various people who had succeeded in doing so: Helvetius, Elias, Fulcanelli, and Geber.
他读到了几位获得成功的炼金术士的传记，比如埃尔维修斯、艾利亚斯、弗尔坎内里、热贝尔等。
They were fascinating stories: each of them lived out his personal legend to the end.
他们的经历令人着迷：他们都实现了自己的天命。
They traveled, spoke with wise men, performed miracles for the incredulous, and owned the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life.
他们云游四方，遇见智者，向怀疑者展示奇迹，获取了点金石和长生不老液。
But when the boy wanted to learn how to achieve the Master Work, he became completely lost.
但是，当男孩想掌握获取元精的方法时，却完全晕头转向了。
There were just drawings, coded instructions, and obscure texts.
书中只有一些图案，用密码写的说明，以及晦涩难懂的文章。
