Volume 1, Chapter 20: Talent for Alchemy!

"Hmph! Then why are you coming to the Alchemy Hall to study the path of alchemy now? Oh, that’s right, I forgot you are a good-for-nothing in the martial arts!"

Li Daoyuan said with disdain, "I suspect you won't fare well in alchemy either; otherwise, why didn't you come when you first realized you had no future in martial arts?"

Chu Tianxing frowned slightly, wishing not to dwell on the matter. The truth was that he had once mentioned his desire to study alchemy at the Alchemy Hall to Mu Yuyao, Xing Bufan, and the outer sect elders. However, he had been stalled by various excuses until the matter simply faded away. Thinking back now, Mu Yuyao and Xing Bufan must have already harbored treacherous intentions back then.

"Senior Brother, whether Chu Tianxing succeeds or not is not for you to decide," Shangguan Han said with profound meaning. "If Chu Tianxing fulfills the requirements of the Alchemy Hall, then you should devote yourself entirely to alchemy and stop meddling in administrative affairs."

Upon hearing this, Li Daoyuan’s expression darkened. He had not expected Shangguan Han to turn the tables and attempt to strip him of his authority.

"And if he fails to meet the Alchemy Hall’s requirements, then you are to stop interfering in the affairs of the Hall, and furthermore, stop meddling in the matters between me and your sister," Li Daoyuan retorted.

"Li Daoyuan, you had better stop dreaming!" Shangguan Han laughed with contempt. "I’ll tell you the truth: as long as I am here, you will never inherit the position of Hall Master!"

Li Daoyuan's expression shifted uncertainly. As he rose to leave, he said coldly, "Three months from now, if Chu Tianxing has not met the requirements and promoted to a second-tier alchemist, I will petition the elders, the Hall Master, and even the inner sanctum of the Alchemy Hall to revoke your position as Young Hall Master."

"And you, Chu Tianxing, stop boasting about how you entered the Core Hall through the promotion examination. I don't care who brought you in—three months from now, given that you are hopeless in both martial arts and alchemy, your end is destined to be miserable! I trust the judgment of Yuyao and Bufan!"

"Senior Brother Daoyuan..." Shangguan Miaotong frowned, casting a helpless look at Shangguan Han before rising to follow Li Daoyuan.

Shangguan Han curled his lip, looked around at the others, and said, "Everyone, disperse for now. Go back and study the Compendium of Spiritual Herbs; you will be tested in ten days."

"Understood, Third Senior Brother!" The disciples stood up and bowed respectfully.

Once they had left, Shangguan Han touched the gold ring on his index finger. A flash of light shimmered, and a book flew out from within. "This is the Compendium of Spiritual Herbs. It contains detailed records of tens of thousands of medicinal plants. You must study it carefully." He tossed the book to Chu Tianxing.

"Very well, thank you, Young Hall Master." Chu Tianxing caught it and tapped the cover lightly, causing the book to transform into a streak of light that vanished into the jade ring on his thumb.

Seeing this, Shangguan Han was astonished. "Hasn't your Chu Kingdom been in decline for a thousand years? How do you still possess a storage ring?"

Chu Tianxing chuckled, "Though the Chu Kingdom has declined, it is not as wretched as you imagine; it is simply not on par with the peak powers."

"That is certainly true, or why would you come to the Demon-Slaying Holy Land to cultivate? Isn't it just to have the Holy Land protect the Chu Kingdom?" Shangguan Han smiled and added, "Come, I will take you to your quarters, and on the way, I shall explain the basics of alchemy so you can get started quickly."

***

Night fell, and a crescent moon hung in the sky. As the cool breeze drifted through the window, Chu Tianxing felt exceptionally clear-headed.

*Thud!*

Chu Tianxing placed the Compendium of Spiritual Herbs on the table, alongside two scrolls of alchemy recipes, a volume of insights on the path of alchemy, and a treatise on alchemy techniques—all left behind by Shangguan Han. The insights recorded Shangguan Han's personal experiences in alchemy to date, while the two recipes were for first-tier and second-tier Spirit-Replenishing Pills.

With his photographic memory, Chu Tianxing had already committed everything to heart.

"Whether my talent for alchemy is strong enough, and whether I am suited to walk the path of both martial arts and alchemy—using the latter to nourish the former—will be decided tonight."

Chu Tianxing took a deep breath and looked at the two wooden racks standing against the walls. They were stocked with six hundred bundles of spiritual herbs, each bundle sufficient to refine one batch of medicine. Three hundred bundles were for first-tier pills, and three hundred for second-tier. This was the resource allocation for a new disciple for three months; if one failed to promote to a second-tier alchemist by the time these were exhausted, they would be expelled.

He took a bundle of first-tier herbs and walked to the center of the room, stopping before a black alchemical cauldron. It stood on three legs, about four feet tall, with cloud patterns carved into the lid and body. Though it was his first attempt at alchemy, Chu Tianxing remained calm. He raised his hand and cast the herbs into the cauldron.

As the lid settled, he opened his palm, and a crimson alchemical flame ignited.

"Spirit Crane Breath Technique!"

He flicked his wrist, sending the crimson flame toward the cauldron. Instantly, a spirit crane manifested from the fire above the vessel. As the crane breathed, the crimson flame heated the entire cauldron until it glowed red.

*Clang!*

After about an hour of refining, a metallic sound echoed from within. Hearing this, Chu Tianxing, beads of sweat covering his forehead, became even more focused.

"Nine rings signify success; anything less means the pill has shattered."

Chu Tianxing frowned, channeling his flame through the crane while observing the interior.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Four more rings sounded. Drawing on Shangguan Han’s insights, he knew he had reached the critical juncture. Five rings indicated that the herbs had been refined into liquid and gathered into a mass. Through the crane’s breath, he saw a black lump forming inside; the outer layer was useless ash, while the inner core held the essence.

"At five rings, I must control the heat, slowing it down to separate the useless ash from the essence."

He gradually reined in the flame, causing the fiery crane to turn increasingly translucent as the heat diminished.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Suddenly, three consecutive rings sounded, making Chu Tianxing’s heart race. One more, and it would be nine—success! But the closer he got, the calmer he had to remain to avoid wasting his previous efforts.

"Full heat!" He pushed his flame to its limit.

*Clang!*

In an instant, the final ring echoed. Chu Tianxing immediately withdrew the flame and swept the lid away with his sleeve.

"This is...?" He leaned in to look. Inside the cauldron sat a pill, half-black and half-white.

Frowning, he picked it up and squeezed it gently. The black half crumbled into ash, leaving only the white half.

"This must be what the insights referred to as a semi-finished product." Chu Tianxing gave a wry smile. "It is formed, but unfortunately, it is incomplete and contains very little spiritual energy."

"Again!" He steadied his mind, took another bundle of herbs, and cast it into the cauldron.