Cultivating Chai

8:

Whoa, Xiao Feng thought, as he took in the ethereal sight unfolding before him. He had wondered where the Alchemy Division would source the spiritual herbs needed in large quantities if it was literally situated inside a hollowed out part of a mountain.

That question did not take long to answer itself, as Xiao Feng took in the silver trunked tree that dominated the center of the vast, octagonal chamber he found himself in. It’s canopy was a sight to behold, its shimmering gem-like leaves and dark-wood branches enveloping the length of the chamber almost entirely.

It was a magical, ethereal sight to behold, a notion only deepened by the gentle heaviness he felt in the air.

He noticed that the tree’s trunk was embedded in a square seedbed of sorts, the soil within a yellow ochre color.

The tree…. It’s condensing the ambient Qi to astonishing levels. It probably wouldn’t last if a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators meditated under it, but…, Xiao Feng’s gaze turned to the dozens of seedbeds nestled under the tree’s canopy in understanding.

“Grand Alchemist Xin Wu, may I ask you a question?” Xiao Feng paused to ask the question, so that the Core Formation cultivator would not simply ignore it.

Xin Wu paused, before he turned his sharp gaze on Xiao Feng, a hint of annoyance leaking through as he spoke, “You may.”

“That tree, it must be quite precious to have such a profound effect on ambient Qi. Why is it placed near the entrance of the Alchemy Division, where it would be hard to defend it against attack?”

“You really know nothing, don’t you?” Xin Wu remarked. “Nobody destroys a Verdant Harmony Tree, they transplant it instead. Alchemists are not killed even if our defenses our breached— we are far too valuable for that. Though, admittedly, the means the demons would use to make us capitulate are far from pleasant. Regardless, guarding us is the duty of the Martial Division. In turn, it is the Alchemy Division’s responsibility to prove the Martial Division with the best quality pills we can.”

“I understand,” Xiao Feng nodded, his expression devoid of any anger at Xin Wu’s first statement. “But Grand Alchemist Xin Wu, would it not be easier to grow the plants out in the open, on forest soil that has enough earth qi diffused to aid their growth and then have cultivators ship it to the Alchemy Division?”

“Hmph,” Xin Wu snorted derisively. “Xiao Feng, does your Martial Division teach you inferior techniques because they are easier to learn?”

“No, Grand Alchemist,” Xiao Feng promptly responded, even though he was still not quite sure where the conversation was headed.

“Then you understand,” Xin Wu said. “We are not mortals, we are cultivators. Why should I rely on the capricious nature of the heavens, subject to wind, rain and varying levels of diffused Earth Qi within the soil when I can control every aspect right here?”

“I see now,” Xiao Feng replied, his tone genuinely sounding interested at the revelation. “Thank you, Grand Alchemist.”

All he got from Xin Wu was a quick nod, before he gestured to follow and Xiao Feng complied.

Each of the octagonal chamber’s inner walls housed a passageway that led deeper into the Alchemy Division, an observation that had originally prompted Xiao Feng’s first question.

They came to a stop before one out of seven such passageways, if he excluded the main pathway he had entered from.

The words Junior Division were carved out on a jade plaque situated above the passageway, letting Xiao Feng know what to expect as he followed Xin Wu in.

As Xin Wu knocked upon a simple wooden door, Xiao Feng was hit by the realization that his life hadn’t so drastically changed after all. All he had effectively done was transfer colleges from a high acceptance rate university on Earth to an elite, selective subsidiary sect of the Azure Lotus Sect.

Sure, there was the whole switching planets after transmigrating into the body of a cultivator named Xiao Feng part, but he was starting to get used to it.

This is really weird but…. I might be kind of excited, He thought. Compared to the marketing major he had eventually ended up settling for, mostly because it was, well, marketable, studying advanced pharmacology so he could brew magical tea sounded so much more fun.

The sliding door slid open to reveal a violet-haired woman who was dressed in a formal light green hanfu, an embroidered patch placed above chest level depicting a lidded cauldron stitched in a bright silver.

‘Come to think of it, that old codger has the same patch as well. His is in gold, though,’ Xiao Feng thought, having noticed the patch before but hadn’t gotten the time to attribute too much brain power to it. He blamed Xin Wu for that, for the Grand Alchemist’s words were too biting on top of Xiao Feng finding myriad things to be fascinated by.

“Senior Alchemist Lan Huang,” Xin Wu greeted.

“Grand Alchemist Xin Wu,” Lan Huang offered in kind, her tone sounding overly polite.

Xin Wu nodded at the acknowledgement before he spoke, “This is cultivator Xiao Feng, a recent transfer from the Martial Division. He wishes to become an alchemist, so I am placing him under your care.”

Surprise flashed in Lan Huang’s gaze as she turned to examine Xiao Feng.

He repaid the favor in kind, noting that the woman before him appeared to be in her mid to late twenties, just like Xiao Feng. That meant that she was in her early forties, again, just like Xiao Feng.

I guess this is supposed to be awkward, then, He thought and indeed, noticed the hesitation on Lan Huang’s slightly plump visage.

Sure enough, he saw the hesitation flicker in her eyes, before she turned to Xin Wu and nodded.

“Very well, Grand Alchemist Xin Wu.”