rule 12

Chapter 6: The Martial Way

The rest of Xiao Feng's journey ended up being a sombre one, as Mei Chen no longer engaged in conversation with him besides checking with him to make sure he didn't need aid while traversing patches of challenging terrain.

Roughly two hours later, they found themselves before a protruding facade hewn entirely from the same greyish-white stone that made up the mountain. Accessible via steep stone steps that Xiao Feng had carefully made his way through, the structure seamlessly blending in with the mountain.

Greeting him were two thick stone pillars, their top and bottom fused with the mountain to perhaps give the impression that they were holding it aloft. The pillar to his left depicted a long-tailed dragon whose length was wreathed in a vivid depiction of powerful flames as it coiled around the pillar, its mouth open and teeth bared in a prideful roar.

The pillar to his right depicted a much smaller yet no less formidable Skywing, a mythical spiritual beast whose wings stretched out four times the length of its body from head to talons. Arcs of wind blades spilled outward with the Skywing as its epicentre, depicting its fabled vicious nature.

One represented fire, the other wind. The two schools of alchemy practised by the Frontier Sect, also the most efficient ones the Azure Lotus Sect was aware of.

Xiao Feng took in the jade-slab portico that had the words "Alchemy Division" carved onto its surface.

Finally, he took in the reinforced metal-plated double-doors that were coated with poison-tipped spikes, noting that the defensive mechanisms in the Frontier Sect itself were not that extreme.

Probably because the Frontier Sect is packed to the brim with cultivators eager to fight. Nobody is going to charge in there without a plan. The Alchemy Division though? Seemingly, not so much. 

"Honoured Alchemists!" Mei Chen called out, her voice amplified with a touch of Qi. "I am Inner Disciple Mei Chen, here under the direct order of Elder Haoyun. To my left is Cultivator Xiao Feng, who has sought transfer to the Alchemy Division. Please grant him entry!"

Xiao Feng's gaze shifted to the double-doors, wondering how long the holed up alchemists would take to respond.

He was slightly surprised when one of the metal-plates from which a poisoned spike was protruding began to sink inwards, the rattle of a chain audible as it was replaced by a metal tray.

"Cultivator Xiao Feng, place your identification if you truly are who you claim to be," A scratchy voice demanded from the other side, their words sounding out clearly.

Xiao Feng allowed himself a glance at Mei Chen, who nodded and only then did he step forward and place the blue jade identification token on the tray.

The same rattle echoed out as the tray sunk in, heralding the return of the poison spike.

Once it had returned to the original spot, silence once again befell the entrance to the Alchemy Division.

A few moments passed by without any further question or response. Just as Xiao Feng was beginning to wonder if something had gone wrong, the silence blanketing the mountainous overhang was replaced by the whirring of a much larger chain.

Xiao Feng watched with building anticipation in his gut as the double-doors guarding his path to the Alchemy Division receded inwards, creating a gap that was a little larger than what he needed to pass through.

"Only the alchemist aspirant, now," The same scratchy voice declared, his tone firm.

Nodding, Xiao Feng turned his gaze to Mei Chen.

"Thank you, Sister Mei Chen," Xiao Feng offered, his tone warm as he did so.

"I was merely doing my duty," Mei Chen politely replied.

"Still, thank you. You were considerate of me throughout the journey when you could have chosen not to be. I appreciate it," Xiao Feng explained, his smile genuine as he did so.

It was the regular Earth kindness his old man had drilled into him, which was basically ingrained habit at this point. He always remembered to say his pleases and thank-yous to people that rendered him a service of any kind, because that's what decent folk did.

Xiao Feng had not expected a light blush to colour Mei Chen's features as she nodded, accepting his gratitude.

I wonder when was the last time Xiao Feng said thank you to anyone, He thought and the answer to his question did not require more than a couple seconds to process.

Apparently, cultivators were not the best at being upfront with their emotions.

"See you, Sister Mei Chen. Send my regards to the others, I'll miss them," Xiao Feng said his parting words, before striding forward with firm steps.

Perhaps it was a bit rude, but Xiao Feng did not look back even once as he stepped inside the territory of the Alchemy Division. Of course, he did not particularly mind, but it would have been a markedly un-Xiao Feng like thing to do.

After all, a cultivator did not look back once they decided upon a path.

Such was the way, after all.

The Martial Way.

As Mei Chen watched Xiao Feng step inside the Alchemy Division, she could not help but be perplexed.

Elder Haoyun had ordered her to report on Xiao Feng's behavior and highlight any inconsistencies or aberrant behavior.

While the Healing Hall had granted him the all-clear, Xiao Feng was a unique case in the sense that, they had been able to find no records that hinted at even the possibility of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator surviving the blow of a Nascent Soul.

Why had Xiao Feng survived when any other in his place would have instantly died?

Had it been a concealed artifact, it would have been long since discovered by the healers that had operated upon him while he was unconscious. Had there been any anomalies within his Dantian, Elder Haoyun would have discovered it.

Had the Demon let Xiao Feng live? Had he done something to his soul?

Unlikely. A Nascent Soul cultivator would not sacrifice himself for a plot involving a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, leave alone one that belonged to the self-centered Demonic Path.

However, it was true that the current Xiao Feng was much different from the brooding, ever-serious person she had seen in the Martial Division.

He does not try to mimic who he used to be, makes no effort to regain what has clearly been lost. Is it not natural to change, after dying once? Mei Chen contemplated. For all intents and purposes, Xiao Feng had died once. Even the Healers treating him believed that his recovery was an impossibility.

Mei Chen found herself thinking back on the words Xiao Feng had said to her, Would it not be a pity if I squandered away my second chance at life the same way, bleeding out on a battlefield without stopping to consider why the Heavens have bestowed this chance upon me?

It was not the words itself that had surprised her, but rather the man who had spoken those words.

Xiao Feng was a fearless dragon amongst men who had broken formation and charged deep into the enemies lines on his lonesome. He was a seeker of blood and death, who slew one enemy after the next, not pausing to consider that more than a few were stronger than him, faster than him and more experienced than him.

They had died anyway.

How curious. I wonder what truth you have stumbled upon, Xiao Feng, to change so much in the span of a few days. 

Mei Chen allowed herself a final glance at the now closed Alchemy Division gates, before her silhouette blurred in motion as she began her much faster journey back to the sect.

Chapter 7: Grand Alchemist Xin Wu

The first difference between the Frontier Sect's Martial Division and it's Alchemy Division came in the form of an overpowering aroma that enveloped him the very moment he stepped inside the premises. It took him a few moments to register that it was not merely one aroma wafting in the air, rather a melange of many.

There was a powerful scent that had a medicinal edge to it, reminding him of camphor. A sweet, cozy aroma scent that his mind associated with vanilla extract. There was a burst of strong citrus, a savory heaviness that resembled roasted garlic and many others that he could not yet place.

Only as the double-doors behind him clanged shut was Xiao Feng snapped out of his reverie. He finally took note of the cultivator standing before him, his hands clasped behind his back as he studied Xiao Feng.

The first thing Xiao Feng noticed was the man's aged features. Strands of gray lightly populated his otherwise balding head, his visage betraying his age in a manner few cultivator's did. Sagging cheeks, fine lines running across the forehead and thinning lips would not reflect easily on a cultivator's visage, given their resistance to physically aging and the availability of pills that allowed one to retain a youthful appearance for far longer as long as their dantian was intact.

Then, he noted the aged cultivator's aura. The pressure he, or rather, his Qi was subconsciously exerting on its surroundings did not give him the same sense of casual oppression Elder Haoyun exerted. It was more diffused, gentler in comparison— yet that did not change the fact that he was likely looking at a cultivator of the Core Formation stage.

"Never seen an old man before, kid?" The aged man finally broke the silence that had taken hold between them, his tone carrying a bit of a bite.

"Sorry, uh, Alchemist," Xiao Feng hurriedly apologized after realizing that he'd been caught staring.

"That's Grand Alchemist Xin Wu to you," He retorted, giving Xiao Feng the impression that he wasn't nearly as welcome in the Alchemy Division as he had been in the Martial one. "Now, why exactly, are you here?"

Xiao Feng reigned in his instinct to respond immediately and allowed himself to consider the question. From what he knew of the Martial Division, cultivators as a society seemed to attribute great importance to tests and trials. Whether they came in the form of tournament style battling or coming of age trials that involved leaving the sect and returning only after a particular task set out by the test had been accomplished.

I'm probably being tested, right? He wondered, almost certain for it to be the case.

"I want to be an alchemist, Grand Alchemist Xin Wu," Xiao Feng declared, his expression resolute and his gaze meeting the Elder's own.

To Xiao Feng's surprise, Xin Wu just sighed and shook his head.

"Calloused hands," He began, his tone sounding a bit exasperated. "Recently recovered from severe injury. Well-defined physique. Firm foundation base that shows signs of regular exertion. Coiled musculature that conceals great strength. You are a Martial Cultivator through and through, so I ask again, why are you here?"

Inwardly, Xiao Feng was shocked by the Grand Alchemist's thorough inspection. Had he seen through so much only by gazing at him?

He couldn't show his surprise, though. More importantly though, he could not allow the Grand Alchemist to turn him away.

"Because I want to become an Alchemist," Xiao Feng repeated again, his gaze earnest and his expression firm.

"You are not the first one, you know?" Xin Wu shook his head disapprovingly. "Martial Cultivators that require resources to either ascend to the next stage or clear debts in their name temporarily turning to Alchemy because they look down upon the disciple and believe they will easily master it," He explained, revealing what he truly thought about Xiao Feng.

"Grand Alchemist Xin Wu, I really want to—," Xiao Feng tried to explain himself reflexively, only to come to a grinding halt as Xin Wu raised his open palm before him, signaling for him to stop.

"However," Xin Wu began. "I will not turn away someone who bled for the frontier," Xin Wu declared, much to Xiao Feng's elation.

"Thank you, Grand Alchemist Xin Wu," Xiao Feng immediately bowed, the gratitude in his tone genuine.

"Rise and don't thank me yet," Xin Wu nonchalantly replied, his expression unmoved by the display. "You will be placed in a class of Qi Condensation disciples. We are currently in the middle of a teaching cycle, so it will be your duty to catch up. If you do not own a pill furnace, it will be your responsibility to purchase one at your own cost. If you still want to be here by next week, I will see to issuing you an Alchemist's robes," Grand Alchemist Xin Wu promised, a hint of smugness betrayed in his tone.

Xiao Feng did not have to scour his memories for long before the why revealed itself. Grouping a higher stage cultivator with a class of lower stage cultivators, alchemist or not, was a blatant humiliation, especially to a cultivator of the Martial Division, where strength was everything.

"Thank you for your kindness, Grand Alchemist," Xiao Feng thanked him again.

The surprise coloring Xin Wu's face was worth showing deference in Xiao Feng's book. After all, if there was one distinct discipline where he held an advantage over other cultivators, it was his complete and utter lack of pride. As a broke college kid back on Earth, he had been too busy trying to keep up with coursework and after classes, jumping from one side-hustle to the next in an effort to make a dent in his student loans to particularly care who or where the money came from.

Though admittedly he wasn't too inclined to ever pick up the professional party clown gig again. Having a cake thrown in your face by a snooty rich kid wasn't fun the first time and he would rather not stick around for a second.

"Very well," Grand Alchemist Xin Wu muttered under his breath. "Follow me, then."

Xiao Feng did, down the broad passageway and into the light.

Chapter 8: So, you wish to become an alchemist?

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."

Chapter 9: Interlude: Xin Wu

Grand Alchemist Xin Wu allowed himself a small smile for a job well done as he watched Xiao Feng step inside the classroom after Senior Alchemist Lan Huang. 

It was not as though he had any particular issue with Xiao Feng. Neither had he been all that harsh with the Martial Division cultivator. No, it was the arrogance of the Martial Division that irked him to no end. 

Grand Alchemist Xin Wu did not knock on the Frontier Sect's doors demanding to be made a part of the border defense force. He had not trained in the martial way, had not honed and sharpened his Fire Qi for war. Battling other cultivators had never been his strength and he knew that. He acknowledged his weaknesses. 

Only by acknowledging your own weaknesses could you seek true strength, after all. Grand Alchemist Xin Wu had chosen the path most suited for his temperament, spending years and then decades refining his craft until he became essential to the Frontier Sect's functioning. From a recruit to alchemist, from alchemist to senior alchemist and then reaching the most coveted Grand Alchemist stage by laying down the formula for five unique pills that had not existed in the known world before his contribution. 

How arrogant it was for a Martial Cultivator to believe that they could overcome all his skill, those years of effort and the zealous passion required to string forth a new pill formula that was not only unique, but also useful to the Frontier Sect— a chase that could just as easily resulted in nothing worth showing if Xin Wu had been any less passionate, dedicated and lucky. 

How arrogant it was for them to believe that they could stride into his division, learn the myriad, nigh limitless ways of alchemy and then leave, after having refined a fortune in pills. 

These days, Grand Alchemist Xin Wu was more than happy to let such arrogant fools trip and fall on their own. To a Martial Cultivator, coming from a world where strength was everything, their first test would be to adapt to being placed in a class full of juniors. 

Juniors who would be far more skilled and deft in the gentle ways of Alchemy than a Martial Cultivator, who is taught to destroy and kill from the moment he is old enough to walk. 

Would this Xiao Feng be able to cast aside his pride and accept that he was the clueless student instead of the experienced teacher?

None of the other cultivators the Martial Division had been able to. 

"Honored Father," A cheerful voice acknowledged as Grand Alchemist Xin Wu stepped into the privacy of his office. 

He was not surprised to find two wooden desks placed adjacent to each other near the far wall of the room. His own desk hosted a few files stacked upon each other, an ornate hourglass and a bowl that contained five different varieties of spiritual fruit. 

His daughter's, on the other hand, was piled high with two different rows of files, her expression contemplative as she considered the report before her. Besides the space demarcated for her reading, the rest of the table was covered by neatly arranged inkpots, spare stationary, thick tomes that contained specialized information and other paraphernalia required for the task she was tackling. 

"Daughter," Grand Alchemist Xin Wu returned the greeting, a hint of pride audible in his tone.

Unlike Xiao Feng, that rabble from the Martial Division who thought he could master the Dao of Alchemy as if it was an afterthought discarded by the Heavens, his daughter was the personification of what an Alchemist should be. 

She had eclipsed even his own accomplishments by reaching the Senior Alchemist stage five whole years before him and she had done so while taking on most of the burden of his administrative duties so he could throw himself into his research. 

Now, she had gotten so efficient at it that Grand Alchemist Xin Wu could not wrest away those duties from her if he wanted to. 

He didn't of course. His first love, his wife and Lianhua Wu's mother, had died of Qi sickness not long after giving birth to her. His second love was his daughter, who had grown up far faster than she needed to. That left alchemy and only alchemy. There was no room for a fourth as Xin Wu pursued the pinnacle of his craft. 

It was also no coincidence that one of the pill formulas he had come up with reduced the odds of Qi sickness after giving birth. 

It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to be used throughout the Azure Lotus Sect's territory. 

The life-saving 'Meixhu' pill, named after his wife, had earned Grand Alchemist Xin Wu renown throughout the land. 

"How is the new recruit settling in? Did you make the arrangements Elder Haoyun had requested?" Lianhua Wu casually asked as she continued her work in an unbroken stride. 

"Bah," Grand Alchemist Xin Wu dismissively leaned back into his chair. "I sent him to study with the Junior Division. Let me see how long an arrogant Martial Cultivator lasts in a class full of his juniors. I would wager ten gold taels that he is fuming in his seat right about now. If Elder Haoyun thinks he can forge an alchemist just by buying special treatment off me, then I'll show him just how weak-willed those so-called Martial Cultivators can be." 

"Honored father," Lianhua Wu said, applying intentional emphasis on the latter half of her address and intentionally dragging the word our with a sharpness to her tone.

"Yes, dearest daughter?" Grand Alchemist Xin Wu snapped back to a seating position, as his daughter's sharp tone gave him the distinct impression that he had made a mistake. 

"Did you read Elder Haoyun's letter?" She asked, the sharpness not leaving her tone. 

"Yes well, no you see… I- well, dearest daughter, I was quite busy with researching complications in the–" 

"Read the letter," Lianhua Wu demanded of her father, her fist gently slamming the table to make a point out of it. 

"Yes, very well," Grand Alchemist Xin Wu conceded, knowing better than to try and argue. He pulled the already unsealed letter out of his robe and raised it towards Lianhua Wu, before saying, "See, I really did make an effort. I swear I was going to read it, but then research started going well and I lost track of time."

In response, Lianhua Wu crossed her arms and gave him a deadpan stare. 

Finally getting the message this time, Xin Wu opened the letter and began to read.

"War Hero?" He muttered the question under his breath, his expression going from mildly curious to surprised. "That brat is a war hero?" He asked Lianhua Wu. 

"Keep reading," She replied tersely. 

"He distinguished himself at the highest level in battle… his actions possibly saved the life of Elder Zheng and allowed him to slay a Demonic Path Nascent Soul cultivator…." Grand Alchemist Xin Wu muttered aloud.

And then he froze. 

"Zheng?" He asked the question rhetorically. "Mad Wolf Zheng? A foundation establishment cultivator aided and helped Mad Wolf Zheng kill a powerful demon? Preposterous!" Grand Alchemist Xin Wu all but shouted, his expression incredulous. 

"Now," Lianhua Wu spoke. "Do you understand why Elder Haoyun wrote to you, asking for special treatment?" She asked, even as she cradled her forehead with her thumb and index finger. 

"Dearest daughter…. It appears that I have made a mistake."

Chapter 10: The Essence Cultivation Art

While Xiao Feng was struggling to follow what exactly the difference between adventitious and fibrous roots was, he was nevertheless finding the class quite engaging. 

Albeit for an entirely different reason, one that none of the students in the class or Senior Alchemist Lan Huang was even vaguely aware of. On the table before him were two different stalks of uprooted spiritual plants. 

One had adventitious roots and the other fibrous roots and Xiao Feng was somehow required to tell the difference between them, before listing out what the characteristics implied when it came to Alchemy. 

He honestly was not too interested in that, considering he was missing an entire semester's worth of knowledge. Not yet, at least. 

Brewing Chai was a passion of his, one that he dreamed of making a career in his old world. He would make it a reality in this one. 

But the new Xiao Feng, much like the old one, was not a fool. 

He hadn't chosen the Alchemy Division on a whim, after all. 

For like any competent cultivator, Xiao Feng had a secret of his own. 

It was no coincidence that he managed to slay one cultivator after the next on his own, uncaring of how much more powerful they were than him. There was no sudden epiphany that struck him in the midst of battle, no awakening that increased his strength by tenfold when he called for it. 

No, the truth was, Xiao Feng knew what he was doing. 

He always had. Over two decades ago, a little after Xiao Feng reached the third layer of the Qi Gathering realm, he came face to face with a brutal realization. For a cultivator left with a singular purpose, to take from the demons what had been taken from him, Xiao Feng was forced to accept a simple conclusion— he could not beat his heretical enemies with the cultivation art the Frontier Sect was offering him. 

Of course, if he remained patient, worked his way up the ladder, from the outer sect to the inner sect and then to core disciple status, he would be awarded with the profound cultivation arts he sought. 

And just how long would that have taken him? 

Xiao Feng didn't just want his revenge, he wanted the shortest pathway to it. 

That meant looking where others were not willing to. The lowest of the low grade techniques available in the outer sect library, the incomplete, nameless techniques that lost a cultivator face by merely deigning to look through them. 

Seven incomplete techniques caused him to suffer from Qi Backlash. 

Two nameless techniques almost pushed him to cripple his cultivation base. 

These were the techniques he had chosen after sifting through dozens upon dozens of techniques. And almost all of them had brought him harm. 

Almost all. 

For there was one incomplete, nameless technique that did… nothing, when he cycled his Qi to the tempo and pattern the technique prescribed. 

Nothing at all. 

Nothing was good. 

The technique mentioned that there were six stages to the technique, but Xiao Feng had only found the first three written. The last three were either torn away, lost to time or intentionally desecrated by another. 

But that didn't matter to Xiao Feng. 

He practiced the Wind Qi Art the Frontier Sect had bestowed upon him, but never forgot about the nameless, incomplete technique. 

Six months later, he figured it out. 

The Art that he would later name the 'Essence Cultivation Art' was an ocular technique. 

The Essence Cultivation Art's first stage required a trickle of Qi to maintain and true to its name, it let him see through to the essence of anyone or anything, as long as they had Qi flowing through their internal structure. 

So when Xiao Feng fought, not even a Nascent Soul Elder could see anything out of the ordinary. His Qi Reserves, fighting technique, artifact usage— none of it exceeded what a cultivator of the Second Layer, Foundation Establishment stage out to have been capable of, when he fought in the battle for the Zheyan Pass. 

Of course, it was not the Frontier Sect's fault that they were unable to see through his true strength. The Essence Cultivation Art, while incredibly formidable, was far from invincible. Once cultivators of the Frontier Sect started using it en masse, they would turn the tide against the demons… for a little while. Then, the Demons would find a way to adapt, like they always did and once again, there would be a stalemate. 

So, Xiao Feng was not to be blamed for the disappearance of a nameless, incomplete cultivation art that nobody knew of or cared for. He had incinerated it thoroughly after committing it's contents to the deepest reaches of his memory, making sure that not a single soul but him would get to pry upon his secrets.

Pretty ironic, given how things turned out. 

However, not even in his dying moments did Xiao Feng regret his decision. He had lived his life in the pursuit of revenge and to that end, he had done everything he possibly could. The Frontier Sect enjoyed forging weapons of war out of orphans like him and in return, Xiao Feng enjoyed taking from them an invaluable secret, to further his own goals. 

Such was the way of cultivators in a society where cultivation was everything. 

Merely recalling memories of Xiao Feng's battle was enough to get his blood pumping when he had woken up with full access to his deceased predecessor's memories. 

He saw. 

Xiao Feng saw. 

He did not see people, but masses of floating acupuncture gates, anchored by their dantian and interconnected by vein-like meridians. 

He saw the meridians down which Qi flowed from the dantian, saw as the Qi was more and more compressed corresponding to the greater number of acupuncture gates it passed by. Xiao Feng's opponents may be faster and stronger than him, but seeing where the attack was coming from turned out to be enough for him to bridge the gap. 

'Follow the flow of Qi and the attack would betray itself' was the combat methodology Xiao Feng had devised and it had worked brilliantly until he was shot down by an attack that was so quick it superseded his reaction time. 

The terrifying Essence Cultivation Art was the reason the new Xiao Feng had chosen to come to the Alchemy Division. 

It was not as if his predecessor had been a fool. No, he had been smart and cunning when he needed to be, but his desire for vengeance had ultimately blinded him. If he had stopped to consider the way to truly defeat the Demonic Path, he would have found his way to the place where he could have made the greatest contribution. 

Xiao Feng could see through the essence of things and Alchemy was the art of refining the essence of many things into a singular, greater essence. 

Come on, He chided himself as his fifteenth attempt to use the Essence Cultivation Art on one of the uprooted spiritual plants. I have the muscle memory. My body knows how to cycle Qi instinctively. I remember how to do it. The real Xiao Feng accomplished it while facing down an army of demons, I'll be damned if I can't do it in a class full of teenagers.

"Essence Cultivation Art," Xiao Feng mouthed without actually speaking, his gaze locked onto the spiritual plant that was placed to the right.

To his surprise, he saw with the eyes his predecessor had not long ago seen through. 

Through the eyes that were capable of making history.

Chapter 11: I just want to brew tea

It's so pretty, Xiao Feng thought, as he held the slender spiritual herb in his hand. It's texture and surface reminded him of ginger, but instead of forming in knobby clusters like it did on earth, it stretched out into a long line, with a cluster of thin, hair-like roots stretching outwards on one end. 

Of course, that was not what Xiao Feng saw. 

In his gaze, he was holding onto a canister of faint, liquid blue Qi that was suspended in mid-air, the roots registering as a network of meridians that were complete on some pathways and spotty on others. Perhaps because the spiritual plant had been yanked out of its original habitat. 

Though the most interesting thing he discovered was a floating orb that was suspended within the canister of Qi, bobbing up and down as he moved the spiritual plant around. It was faint growing fainter by the minute, but the Qi contained within the spiritual plant surprisingly did not diminish. 

It's not a dantian, Xiao Feng thought, contemplating on the matter. But it functions similarly. Beasts have cores from birth to house their larger than human Qi reserves, but only after reaching the Core Formation stage do their cores take on a physical form. I guess it is the same for plants, because I'm pretty sure I won't find a table tennis sized ball if I cut this spiritual root open.

So interested was Xiao Feng in this discovery, that he lost the focus he had been dedicating to maintaining the Essence Cultivation Art. 

"Cultivator Xiao Feng," Senior Alchemist Lan Huang called out his name, snapping his attention towards her. 

It took every bit of willpower he possessed for him to not reply with an annoyed 'what?' in response, as he abandoned his attempt at re-establishing the Essence Cultivation Art. 

Instead, he replied with a polite, "Yes, Ma'am?" 

"There is someone who wishes to meet you. They are waiting for you, outside the classroom," Senior Alchemist Lan Huang explained, her tone oddly deferential as she held on to a small paper note. 

As he observed Lan Huang's expression, he noticed that there was surprise reflected in her gaze. 

Wonder what that's all about, He thought, before responding in affirmative, "Very well, Ma'am. Permission to go and meet them?" 

"Permission granted," She replied, the Foundation Establishment level alchemist betraying a tone of elation in her tone as she did so. 

Xiao Feng nodded, before scooting out of his chair and walking towards the exit. 

Stepping outside the sliding door and closing it behind him, Xiao Feng found himself face-to-face with a raven-haired woman. She wore the same formal light-green hanfu as Senior Alchemist Lan Huang, the embroidered patch on her robes suggesting a similar status. 

Her glossy hair was combed back into a neat ponytail, her light-green eyes containing depths that seemed familiar to Xiao Feng. Her figure was neither slender nor overly full, as balanced as the sense of poise and grace she was effortlessly exuding as she took his own features in. 

"Cultivator Xiao Feng," She began, her words calm and measured. "I am Senior Alchemist Lianhua Wu. Please allow me to apologize for my father's misguided actions," She offered, before bowing in apology. 

A flabbergasted Xiao Feng took in the bowing figure before him, not understanding what had just transpired. 

Wait, those gray eyes. That presence. Her status as a Senior Alchemist. Don't tell me… she's that old codger's daughter? Xin Wu… Lianhua Wu… Of fricking course. 

"Please rise, Senior Alchemist. I cannot see any reason why you should be apologizing to me," Xiao Feng hurriedly replied, his tone barely managing to keep the panic out. 

Lianhua Wu straightened her back, before meeting his gaze. "The Alchemy Division would lose all face before the Azure Lotus sect if it came to light that we treated a war hero so poorly. Again, I request you to please accept my apology," She said, her tone polite but not vulnerable. 

This time, Lianhua Wu did not bow. 

"Again," Xiao Feng began. "Actually, can we walk while we have this conversation?" He asked in a lowered tone, gesturing to the class behind the closed sliding doors. The perception of a cultivator, even as weak as a Qi Gathering realm one, could likely overhear their conversation with ease. 

"As you wish," Lianhua Wu placatingly replied. 

"So," He addressed the matter only after they had walked a fair distance away from the classroom. "As I was saying, I do not see the need to apologize to me." 

Lianhua Wu blinked, her tone seeming uncertain. She peeked at Xiao Feng's expression, only to find earnestness there. 

"Forgive me for my brazenness, but are you being sarcastic here, Cultivator Xiao Feng?" Lianhua Wu decided to address the issue directly instead of letting any misunderstandings fester. 

"Uh, not really?" Xiao Feng replied. Perhaps you can tell me why I should be offended, He thought, finding the situation a bit amusing. Okay, more than just a bit amusing, if he was being honest. 

"My father placed you in a class of Qi Gathering Cultivators taking their first steps towards both cultivation and the Dao of Alchemy, hoping that you would take offense at the humiliation and quit. Granted, he was not aware of who you were then, but it is still inexcusable behavior." 

Wow, he really had it out for me. Or, really had it out for Xiao Feng, ordinary cultivator of the Martial Division. Guess it wasn't a test. I don't really care but it's weird, his daughter doesn't seem appalled by the idea, He thought, clearly not understanding something that was fundamental to the matter at hand. 

"Why?" Xiao Feng asked. 

"My father is not an unjust man," Lianhua Wu said, her tone flaring with pride. 

"He has dedicated his life to the Dao of Alchemy, so it is only natural for him to expect genuine interest from students. I mean no offense to you, Cultivator Xiao Feng, but the ones that have transferred before you saw Alchemy as a means to an end rather than a Dao to be cultivated. While my father greatly respects the peace the Martial Division fights for, he believes our contribution to the Frontier Sect is equally important. To that end, he has no interest in dedicating resources to students that are not interested in the craft." 

Only the sound of their own footsteps was audible as they walked down the passageway for a few long moments, as Xiao Feng considered his response. 

"I see," He said, his tone one of understanding. "But Senior Alchemist Lianhua, you need not worry about me. I still do not see any reason to take offense at the Grand Alchemist's actions. It is I who requested the transfer to the Alchemy Division and inconvenienced you all. Not only would it be brazen of me to complain about the class I've been placed into, but it would defeat my purpose. I am here to learn, not fight." 

It was not surprise, but shock that flickered across Lianhua Wu's visage, before she managed to compose herself. 

"Xiao Feng," She addressed him, her tone far more informal than before. "What is your reason for coming to the Alchemy Division?" She asked the martial cultivator who did not act, behave or talk like a martial cultivator. A war hero who carried with him none of the pride foisted onto him by virtue of his title. A man who defied the heavens to cultivate, yet possessed a demeanor more befitting a mortal. 

"Well, if I am being honest," Xiao Feng smiled, genuinely smiled at Lianhua before answering,"I wish to learn how to brew tea."

Chapter 12: The Proposal

"Tea?" Senior Alchemist Lianhua blurted out, the carefully crafted composure she always maintained in public shattering in one particularly unexpected blow that completely snaked past her guard. "Like the mortal drink?" 

"Correct," War Hero Xiao Feng replied with an earnest expression. "Though if I wanted to make regular tea, I could've learned that art at any regular mortal village. You see, Senior Alchemist Lianhua, I wish to brew medicinal tea." 

"Medical Tea," Senior Alchemist Lianhua repeated, sounding dazed. "So, like a concoction?" She managed to ask, her experience on the subject matter kicking in reflexively. 

"Yes," Xiao Feng enthusiastically nodded. "I wish to learn about concoctions first, for without it I cannot start researching tea blends." 

"And, erm," Senior Alchemist Lianhua coughed, trying to reign in the emotion that sought to overwhelm her. "What do you intend to do with the medicinal tea you make?" 

"Sell it, naturally. I have a shop in the Martial Division for that purpose," Xiao Feng explained. 

Senior Alchemist Lianhua could no longer keep the emotions warring inside her at bay. First, a chuckle escaped her. Then, a delicate laughter illuminated the thankfully vacant passageway, as the mask Senior Alchemist Lianhua had been reinforcing for the years and decades since her mother had passed, cracked. 

"I'm sorry…" Senior Alchemist Lianhua managed to explain in between bouts of laughter. "I'm not laughing at you… I just really haven't met… someone so interesting in years," She explained, finally managing to reign it in. 

Then a blush colored her cheeks, as she realized just how far she had overstepped. 

Xiao Feng smiled, finding the situation quite amusing himself, "I'll admit that as far as ideas go, it is pretty out there." 

"Can I ask why?" Senior Alchemist Lianhua shyly asked, already having embarrassed herself too much before Xiao Feng to claim any semblance of pride in her tone. 

"Senior Alchemist Lianhua, I am sure you are well aware of this, but let me ask anyway— Are you aware of the greatest drawback of alchemist made pills?" Xiao Feng asked, delighted to having gotten the opportunity to steer the conversation. 

"They are expensive," Senior Alchemist Lianhua replied, her interest piqued by the conversation. 

"Indeed," Xiao Feng replied. "Correct me if I am wrong, but it is not uncommon for an ordinary alchemist to lose ten tries of materials to make a single pill. This requires the pills to be priced at increasingly higher tasks, while more talented alchemists are drawn to refine higher quality pills for more powerful cultivators." 

"Your understanding is rough, but mostly correct," Senior Alchemist Lianhua replied, not requiring long to think it through. 

Xiao Feng nodded, before continuing, "I do not know how well you know the Martial Division, Senior Alchemist Lianhua?" 

"I am not too familiar with its inner workings," She admitted after a pause. 

"Well," Xiao Feng sighed. "It is quite the dull, dreary place if I am being honest," Xiao Feng bluntly admitted. 

"That is… an interesting perspective," Senior Alchemist Lianhua replied, not having expected the Martial Divsion's Hero to say such disparaging words. 

"Do not misunderstand me, Senior Alchemist Lianhua," Xiao Feng shook his head. "The Martial Division made me who I am, gave me the strength I needed to protect what I wanted. However, the cultivators there constantly train, push themselves to their limits and obsess over getting stronger because they know, because Iknow that the demons will destroy us if we get complacent. However, the reward for all that training is to fight in a life and death battle that a third will not survive."

Taking in Xiao Feng's melancholic tone, Senior Alchemist Lianhua thought it best not to interrupt. 

"My goal here is to learn how to give them some joy," Xiao Feng continued, his tone brightening. "Pills are expensive. Concoctions are cheap. A single spiritual plant can make more than ten doses at times. When pills run out in battle, and they almost certainly do run out, concoctions are used and they save lives. They saved my life. That is why my first goal is to research how to create a concoction that can rejuvenate the body after a long training session." 

"That is a noble goal," Senior Alchemist Lianhua said, a hint of approval in her tone. 

"And then make it taste good," Xiao Feng added. "That part is crucial." 

"I do not understand," Senior Alchemist Lianhua replied, this time managing to hold her composure. "If it is the equivalent of a lesser restoration pill you wish to make, what has taste got to do with it?" 

"Why?" Xiao Feng rhetorically asked, chuckling. "Because I need my customers to come back, of course. It is not medicine I wish to sell here, Senior Alchemist Lianhua, you can do that much better than me. I wish to sell tea. A cup of tea to share victories and jubilations over. A cup of tea to accompany as you vent sorrows and grief. A cup of tea together to make a friend. A final cup of tea together before you say farewell to your Dao Partner. I wish to entertain and be entertained, that is all." 

Senior Alchemist Lianhua could not understand what it was Xiao Feng exactly wished to accomplish, but his words… his odd and eccentric words somehow managed to move her heart. 

"I have a proposal then," Senior Alchemist Lianhua said. 

"By all means, go ahead." 

"To save the face of the Alchemy Division in how the matter of your admission was handled, let me be your teacher for the next six months". 

Six months? Xiao Feng thought, finding himself staggered by the proposal. It's a great offer. It's not really an offer I can afford to refuse, if she means one on one tutoring. But six months, isn't that too long- Oh. Ohhh, Xiao Feng snapped back into the moment, as he remembered that six months wasn't really all that long for a Foundation establishment Cultivator considering they could live for two hundred years. 

"I would be delighted to accept," Xiao Feng replied with a smile.

Chapter 13: The Alchemist's Flame

"So," Senior Alchemist Lianhua. "Before I teach you anything, we need to get you a pill furnace. Can you afford one, or do you wish to borrow one from the sect?"

"I can borrow one?" Xiao Feng questioned, his expression appearing to be a little flummoxed. 

"Uh….," Senior Alchemist Lianhua trailed off. "Father didn't tell you that, did he?" She asked sheepishly, before breaking into an awkward chuckle. 

"He told me that I needed to purchase one at my own cost," Xiao Feng replied calmly. Inwards though, he was anything but. 

Damn, He thought. That old codger really was out for my blood. 

"I'll help you apply for a pill furnace," Senior Alchemist Lianhua hurriedly replied, a blush coloring her cheeks from the embarrassment she was feeling. 

"No," Xiao Feng replied. "I wish to purchase one. If it sends the message that I am serious about the Dao of Alchemy, that is even better." 

"Are you certain?" Senior Alchemist Lianhua asked. "Pill furnaces are known to be notoriously expensive. They start from one gold tael for the most basic one and their price can rise manifold depending on the quality." 

"Yes," Xiao Feng replied. "I can afford it, Senior Alchemist Lianhua. It turns out that becoming a war hero pays quite well." 

"Please, just call me Lianhua. If we are comparing accomplishments in our respective fields, then you would still be ahead of me by a sizable margin." 

"In our respective fields?" Xiao Feng flashed her a quizzical glance. "I am merely a humble recruit alchemist taking his first steps in search of the Grand Dao of Alchemy." 

Lianhua just rolled her eyes in response, clearly seeing them as equals instead of sharing a master-disciple relationship. 

That made sense, of course. They should've been about the same age, considering they were both cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage's early layers and neither of them were prodigies when it came to ascending layers and stages. 

"Very well, Lianhua," Xiao Feng said, having gotten his enjoyment out of the earlier jest. "I shall oblige." 

"Good, Xiao Feng," She replied, dropping the prefix 'cultivator' she had been using as part of his address. "Now, let us be on our way." 

He nodded and now, walked beside her.

Stepping out of the Junior Division, Xiao Feng was once again dazzled by the Verdant Harmony tree and the seedbeds resting under its canopy. However, he didn't get long to appreciate its beauty as Lianhua continued walking towards a passageway that had the words Pill Treasury carved on a jade plaque fixed above the entrance. 

"Do you know why it is necessary for you to learn pill refinement, even though it is concoctions you are interested in brewing?" Lianhua asked. 

"Hmm," Xiao Feng contemplated the question for the greater part of a minute before he came up with an answer, "Perhaps it would be like mastering immaculate swordplay without ever understanding Qi control and manipulation. Still useful, but far less effective."

"That is a good analogy," Lianhua praised, offering him a smile that might have made his heart flutter a little. "What you are attempting is hardly unheard of. Many alchemists across the years have undertaken projects where they have sought to create a concoction that surpasses the efficacy of pills. They have all failed. You must first understand the why, see for yourself the difference between the two processes and only then, will you be able to refine the formula for the concoctions you seek to make." 

"I understand," Xiao Feng replied. I guess I can't tell her that using a pill furnace might turn out to be my greatest strength. Alchemists fail because they need to first isolate the materials in a pill furnace to avoid any impurities, then control their fire or wind qi to refine and compact the materials at high temperatures.

The fluctuations in their own Qi as they are willing it into the pill furnace is what lets them detect the positioning of the materials, which is incredibly difficult. Compared to that nightmare, the Essence Cultivation Art will let me see directly into the pill furnace, an ability only powerhouse cultivators that had reached the fourth stage, Nascent Soul, should have.

"Lianhua, can I ask you a question?" Xiao Feng asked, his tone practically radiating curiosity as he moved to address a doubt that had been plaguing him for a while. 

"That is why I agreed to teach you. Ask, ask." 

"I understand how fire qi attuned cultivators make good alchemists. However, what about wind qi cultivators? I know that the wind element is one of the two major schools of alchemy, but I do not see how."

"That, Xiao Feng, is one of the first questions I get asked," Lianhua answered, her lips curling up into a smile. "You see, I happen to be a wind element alchemist like you," She said, her expression betraying her anticipation before she clicked her index finger and thumb together. 

Xiao Feng took a startled step back as blue flames flared out of Lianhua's now open palm, their slow dance a sight to behold. 

Lianhua giggled before explaining, "I guess you haven't seen that party trick before."

"Party trick?" Xiao Feng asked, his heart hammering in his chest. Memories were one thing, but the current Xiao Feng was not exactly used to people conjuring flames out of his bare hands. 

Thankfully, Lianhua seemed to mistake his fear for his combat instinct. 

With a flourish of her hand, the blue flames disappeared. She resumed her walk and Xiao Feng forced himself to walk by her side, knowing that hesitating any further could lend cause to suspicion. 

"I am a Wind Qi cultivator, Xiao Feng. Tell me, what does that statement mean," Lianhua asked him, her expression still looking rather amused. 

"It means that your dantian is attuned to the Wind Element and unless you are one of those prodigies, it means that it is the only element you are attuned to," Xiao Feng explained, drawing from the well of memories his predecessor had left behind. 

"Partially correct," Lianhua said. 

Xiao Feng blinked. 

"I would say that my dantian, nine parts out of ten, is attuned to the wind element. The last part, however, is divided amongst other elements like water, earth, flame and shadow. You, of the Martial Division, believe that one part out of ten, to be worthless. And indeed, the power we are capable of producing with that fraction of a fraction is insignificant. But at the same time, it means that our dantian will not reject that element."

"I don't understand," Xiao Feng blurted out reflexively, as the complicated cultivation jargon sailed over his head. Had he been given more time with the memories he had inherited, he probably would have been able to puzzle it out— if there was one thing Xiao Feng didn't pull any punches on, it was acquiring knowledge relating to cultivation, after all. 

"To put it simply, we are not martial cultivators. We do not need to care about how quickly we can call upon our qi or how deadly it is in battle. This is an alchemist's flame cultivated by my father and passed down onto me, its properties attuned to medicinal uses," Lianhua explained, once again allowing the flames to bloom on her open palm. 

"That is… ingenious," Xiao Feng muttered, his tone sounding awed. Once again, he felt like Xiao Feng had been wasting his time in the Martial Division, when there was so much he could accomplish here.

"I am grateful to my father for sharing such a valuable alchemist's flame with me. Without it, it would have taken me far longer to reach the Senior Alchemist designation," Lianhua explained. 

"What use does Wind Qi have in the process, then? Do alchemists borrow Wind Qi from each other as well, then?" Xiao Feng asked, hungry to know more about the process. 

"Do not misunderstand. Wind Qi is still the primary driver in Wind Alchemy. An alchemist's flame is employed to heat the various materials down to it's essence, after which I use my Wind Qi to refine and compact across many stages depending upon the difficulty of the pill I am seeking to make." 

"So, this flame you have received from, err, Grand Alchemist Xin Wu, it has further medicinal properties that can augment the effect of the final pill along with the heating part. I doubt you can do the same with Wind Qi, is that why Flame Alchemists do not borrow it?" 

"Wind Qi is also quite capricious in nature. We can manipulate it with ease because we have grown up with it, but it would be a nightmare for Flame Cultivators if they try to undertake such a challenge later in life. And as you said, you cannot imbue properties into Wind Qi like you can with Fire Qi". 

"This whole thing is rather fascinating," Xiao Feng admitted.

"I'm glad you think so," Lianhua replied with a smile. 

A few moments passed as they continued to walk towards their destination. It couldn't be far now, so Xiao Feng decided to ask the awkward question before they got to the shop, "Can you buy alchemist's flames?"

Lianhua's expression turned peculiar as she considered his question. 

"Not from your father, of course," He hurriedly blurted out. "Like from a shop or some such establishment." 

"You know, Xiao Feng," Lianhua said, her tone tinged with humor. "If you weren't new to the Alchemy Division, I would take that as you flirting with me." 

Oh, He thought. Buying an alchemist's flame. When she's right next to me with Alchemist's Flame. Right. Riiiiight, He didn't blame himself for not seeing through the innuendo, but that didn't stop a blush from coloring his cheeks. 

"Oh, we're here," She said, saving him from further embarrassment. "And yes, Xiao Feng. You can buy an Alchemist's Flame, though you may find them prohibitively expensive."

Xiao Feng nodded, unsure if he had just been flirted with or if that statement was simply true.

Then, they stepped into the store.

Chapter 14: Old Man Jian

Daoist Jian's Pill Furnace Shop left an impression on Xiao Feng from the moment he stepped onto its hardwood floor. 

A potbellied man sat cross legged on a wide diwan, two large cushions supporting his wide back against the wall. Arrayed before him were two story wooden shelves that supported the weight of over two dozen cast-metal pill furnaces, but that wasn't all. As Xiao Feng allowed his gaze to sweep across the rectangular room, he noticed the numerous wooden storage shelves with glass displays lining the wall. 

Contained within were a plethora of goods that ranged from sealed glass bottles that contained pills to robes, armor and even ceremonial clothing. 

Lianhua continued walking towards the potbellied man, coming to a stop before the U-shaped arrangement of wooden shelves containing the pill furnaces that boxed him in. 

Xiao Feng came to a stop at her side. 

"Old man jian," Lianhua acknowledged. 

"Little brat," Cultivator Jian replied, his tone carrying an air of casual disregard for the Senior Alchemist. 

A disregard that prompted Xiao Feng to study the potbellied man more closely. His robes were plain white, his appearance that of a middle-aged man with a salt and pepper beard and brown eyes that seemed to conceal a silent wisdom. 

What status did this alchemist have? 

Xiao Feng could not tell. 

"I have come here because one of my students wishes to purchase a pill furnace," Lianhua explained, not bothered by the man's brazenness. 

"This kid?" Cultivator Jian all but exclaimed out loud, his expression scandalized. "Since when did the stone-faced princess of our Alchemy Division take students?" 

Lianhua's brows visibly twitched in annoyance, before she retorted, "I am not a stone-faced princess, cultivator Jian." 

Cultivator Jian seemed equally annoyed by Lianhua's response, "How many times do I have to tell you, princess. You may address me as Daoist Jian, Grandmaster Jian, Greatest Blacksmith Under the Heavens Jian or—" 

"Blacksmith?" Xiao Feng sputtered out, the confusion in his tone audible. 

"I see that both of you lack manners. Well, they do say that the master and disciple should be like minded," Cultivator Jian jabbed at both of them. "Yes, I am a blacksmith, kid. Who else do you think is capable of making all of this?" He asked, gesturing at the dozens of pill furnaces arrayed before him. 

Lianhua's annoyance had clearly increased at the collective insult, though Xiao Feng could tell that it was just an exchange of friendly jibes. 

Before Lianhua could speak, Xiao Feng took the initiative, "That's pretty amazing." 

Lianhua froze. 

Cultivator Jian studied him, with surprise reflected in his gaze. Then he replied, "Well, I guess I have to eat my words now. You're pretty alright, kid. But can you even afford my wares?" 

"Depends," Xiao Feng replied, determining that it was time to buy some respect or 'face' back for his mentor. "How much does your most expensive pill furnace go for?" 

The smile left Cultivator Jian's visage as his gaze locked onto his own. 

"Joking around amongst friends is fine, kid. But Daoist Jian does not mix humor and business," He warned.

If I take my time to research every pill furnace until I can zero in on the one most suited to my needs, I'll probably save some money. But that's not something Xiao Feng, cultivator of the Martial Division would do. This world respects boldness and looks down upon indecisiveness. More than that though, I'm kinda just tired of being broke all the time.

Instead of replying with words, Xiao Feng pulled out a small spatial pouch from his robe pocket, opened it's mouth by tugging at the clasp and then turned it towards the wooden shelves' surface. 

The sound of coins clinking against a wooden surface echoed out as both Lianhua and Cultivator Jian watched in complete astonishment at the scene unfolding before them. Xiao Feng stopped only after there were three dozen glimmering gold taels resting unguarded on Cultivator Jian's shelf. 

Without speaking a word, he retracted the pouch, sealed it's clasp and placed it within the safety of the robe pocket again. 

The silence that Xiao Feng had deliberately caused stretched on for a few moments, before Cultivator Jian broke into a bout of belly laughter. 

"Fellow Daoist, forgive me, forgive me. It seems that this old cultivator's eyes have gotten hazy with age, to witness a dragon amongst men and yet not recognize thy grandeur. Let me fetch you the most potent amongst all my pill furnaces suited for your level!" Cultivator Jian declared in a cheerful, upbeat voice, his boastful, imposing personality doing a complete about-turn in a matter of seconds. 

Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow at the shameless behavior. 

He caught Lianhua staring at him, her gaze seeming concerned.

Is she worried that I'm overextending my finances because I'm tired of being underestimated by all these people? Well, that is kinda true, but I've got enough money to burn, Xiao Feng thought, meeting her gaze and then nodding reassuringly. 

Accepting the reassurance, Lianhua turned her gaze to Old Man Jian and said, "Don't try to pull a fast one on my student while I'm around, you hear." 

"Fast one? Hmph," Cultivator Jian snorted as he flipped through a small, leather-bound diary. "I would not dare do anything that risks turning away such a windfall. Now, sir, what is your name?" 

"Xiao Feng," He replied. 

"Hm, haven't heard that one before. Very well then, Xiao Feng, what method do you follow?" Cultivator Jian asked. 

"Wind Alchemy." 

"I see. Makes sense, with the stone-faced princess as your master. Now, since you are a foundation establishment cultivator, that rules out the Moonstone furnaces. Your Qi will have too difficult of a time trying to overcome it's natural resistance. That makes it ideal for refining pills that require high temperatures or excessive wind refinement, but without Core Formation level Qi reserves, it will just be a waste of your money." 

"How much is one Moonstone Furnace worth?" Xiao Feng asked, unable to hold back his curiosity. 

"Around forty gold taels. Though I won't sell you one, even if you do have the reserves to buy it." 

"I see," Xiao Feng replied, already having caught onto the fact that Cultivator Jian was a prideful man. 

"That leaves Golden Sunstone furnaces and Spiritual Silver ones. Normally, I would recommend a Golden Sunstone furnace to you, given that you seem like you're just starting out. Spiritual Silver is way more conductive than the alternative, but a problem for new recruits can be that it is a bit too conductive— if you're not paying attention, you won't just burn your pill, you'll also singe off your fingerprints." 

"But you're not," Xiao Feng pointed out. "Why?" 

Cultivator Jian's lips curled upwards into a sly smile. 

"Do you really think that I wouldn't notice that the artifact you carry on you is made out of Spiritual Silver?" 

It is? Oh… Shit. I really need to read up on this stuff,Xiao Feng thought, his expression stoic as he considered the rhetorical question. 

"Astute," Xiao Feng replied with an approving nod, as if he was the grandmaster blacksmith amongst the two of them. 

"May I see it?" Cultivator Jian inquired, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. Gone was the shopkeeper who had stumbled upon a golden goose and wanted to make a sale, in favor of a blacksmith who sought the pinnacle of his craft. 

"Sure," Xiao Feng replied, taking a step back to create distance before unsheathing his sword in the way his memories told him to. 

Holding the sword in cupped palms, he offered it to Elder Jian. 

He accepted it gingerly, grabbing a hold of the hilt first and then running his free hand along the length of the blade. 

His expression turned solemn. 

"This quality of spiritual silver— wrong,, the techniques employed in forging this blade… they eclipse my own. This is not a weapon made in our current era. It has to be three, maybe four hundred years old and yet, it is in perfect condition. For the foundation establishment stage, it might as well be called the perfect weapon." 

"It was given to me by the sect," Xiao Feng replied, as he accepted his blade and returned it to its sheathe. 

"By the sect….," Cultivator Jian trailed off, before his eyes flashed with realization. "You're not an alchemist, are you?" He asked. 

"I am one now," Xiao Feng replied with a smile. 

"Well," Cultivator Jian shrugged. "None of my business, really. No, my business is to sell you a pill furnace. I can't offer you something of that quality, but unlike Martial Cultivation, where the sharpness of your blade might very well decide whether you live or die, in the Dao of Alchemy your skill eclipses all other parameters— you can have the best spiritual silver furnace I have, if you want." 

"How much will that cost?" Xiao Feng asked, his tone calm even as he found himself incredibly grateful for the knowledge that had been offered to him for free. 

"Thirty four gold taels," Cultivator Jian stated. 

"That's way too much, Old Man!" Lianhua protested, startling Xiao Feng. 

"Bah thirty three gold taels and sixty silver taels, just because he's your disciple," Cultivator Jian relented, but only by a bit. 

"Thirty two gold taels, or we leave," Lianhua counter-offered, her tone carrying a hint of finality. 

"Leave and where, little girl. Where else will you find a blacksmith who specializes in forging pill furnaces? Across the border?" Cultivator Jian playfully mocked. 

"Wait till I tell my father, who happens to be one of two Grand Alchemists in the entire Alchemy Division, about your brazen words," Lianhua fired back, her cheeks colored red from the exertion. 

She's enjoying this, Xiao Feng thought, a bit flummoxed by the back and forth. 

"Fine, fine," Cultivator Jian threw his arms up in surrender. "Thirty two gold taels and fifty silver. That's the lowest I can do. Any less and you might as well use that sword, cut me down and take it." 

Before Lianhua could beat down Cultivator Jian any further, Xiao Feng spoke, "That's fine by me." 

The words that were on the verge of spilling out of Lianhua's mouth froze, before she flashed Xiao Feng a scandalized look. 

"Deal," Cultivator Jian hurriedly accepted, letting Xiao Feng know that he had just gotten scammed. 

That was fine. 

Leaving a positive impression on Cultivator Jian would be good for him in the long-term. For all his eccentricities, the man seemed to be the real deal when it came to blacksmithing. 

And Xiao Feng could use a man like that.

Grunting from the exertion, Cultivator Jian hoisted the undoubtedly heavy pill furnace on top of the wooden shelf. 

Xiao Feng took in the construct of luminescent silver. He studied the structure, a spiritual cauldron balanced by three, stubby legs that curled upwards and capped off by a sturdy lid. He found himself awed by the craftsmanship that went in shaping the cauldron's handles like outstretched wings, undoubtedly symbolizing the mythical skywing. The skywing's physical body was engraved near the center of the cauldron, with a part of it's wings depicted to expand outwards and join the handle. 

He reached for it, hoisting it with ease and placing it next to him on the wooden floor. 

Hopefully, that wasn't disrespectful, He thought, realizing that he had no idea what the protocol was for dealing with pill furnaces. 

"You're pretty strong," Cultivator Jian acknowledged, his tone sounding impressed but not surprised. "Well, here's your change," He said, pushing forward the balance of gold taels that included the extra amount he had dramatically poured onto the table, along with fifty silver taels that were stacked in rows of ten. 

Xiao Feng pocketed the gold taels, before turning his attention to the wares that were lined along the shop's walls. 

His lips slowly curled up as he found something that would do for his purpose.

Xiao Feng pushed the silver taels back towards the shopkeeper before he pointed towards a slender, particularly eye-catching item.

Initially, confusion clouded Cultivator Jian's visage. Then, realization struck and he offered Xiao Feng an understanding nod. 

"Pleasure doing business," He said. "You can take the hairpin." 

"Thank you," Xiao Feng replied, before walking over towards the storage shelf, slid the glass panel inwards and retrieved a delicate, blue jade hairpin that had an amethyst colored crystal inlaid on one end. 

Underneath the blue jade hairpin, a paper price tag was stuck to the stand it had been kept on. 

'50 silver taels.' 

"That's a pretty hairpin. For a friend back in the Martial Division?" Lianhua asked him, her expression betraying her inquisitiveness. 

"No," Xiao Feng replied. "For you," He said and gingerly offered it to her. This time, Xiao Feng had scoured his memories and confirmed that hairpins were a perfectly innocuous gift, given to friends, family or a significant other. Naturally, his predecessor had offered no such precious gifts and Xiao Feng couldn't really blame him— fifty silver taels was what Xiao Feng used to make in three months, after all. 

Despite what the original Xiao Feng thought about the Frontier Sect, they were pretty generous once you shed blood for them. 

"I…," Lianhua trailed off, her expression blank as Xiao Feng caught her completely off guard. "I can't accept this. It's too precious," She said, even as a fire blazed across her cheeks. 

"Please," Xiao Feng replied. "You have already done too much for me. I would feel terribly guilty if I could not show at least a token of appreciation," He pleaded his cause, his tone soothingly earnest. 

"Fine," Lianhua hurriedly replied. "Fine, I'll accept it. Er, so I have to assist my father with his administrative duties now so," She paused, reaching into her robe pocket and pulling out a key that was tethered to a tag with a small metal ringlet, "Here's the key to your room. Now you get yourself settled and I'll check in on you tomorrow. Oh, ask uh, the old man if you need directions." 

Xiao Feng watched Lianhua walk off rather hurriedly, her right hand clutching onto the hairpin he had given her. 

Did I just make a mistake, Xiao Feng wondered. 

After she had left the shop, Cultivator Jian addressed him, "You are a member of the Martial Division, aren't you?" He asked.

"Why?" Xiao Feng questioned, not following. 

Cultivator Jian broke out into a boisterous laughter, requiring the greater part of a minute to finally answer him, "You Martial Division folks really have a penchant for making enemies."

I wonder what he meant by that, Xiao Feng thought as he stepped outside the Treasury sector of the Alchemy Division. 

Lianhua was blushing, sure. But that was probably because she wasn't used to getting gifts from her students. Cultivator Jian had implied as much himself. 

She didn't take on a different meaning to the gift, right? No, no, I'm being preposterous. She's a forty year old woman. Maybe older. I'm a twenty year old college student— no way she doesn't see right through me. 

Wait, she isn't married, is she? Are those the enemies he was talking about? 

Xiao Feng shrugged and then kept moving forward. One step at a time. If an angry husband shows up, I'll deal with it then. For now, I want to get my hands on some herbs.

Standing nearby to the Verdant Harmony Tree, Xiao Feng allowed himself to stand still and take in the soothing, gentle Qi ensconcing him from all directions. It was all so peaceful, so serene, that he didn't feel like moving. 

Unfortunately, cultivating under the Verdant Harmony Tree was not allowed. The Qi it was condensing would not be able to sustain more than a few foundation establishment cultivators drawing in Qi at the same time and Xiao Feng could not even begin to imagine the complexity in designing a functional ecosystem for spritual plants underground. Come to think of it, Grand Alchemist Xin Wu had been quite defensive when it came to the Verdant Harmony Tree- was he perhaps the architect behind the arrangement? 

Putting the consideration out of his mind for now, Xiao Feng's gaze swept across the eight pathways, noting that he had already gone down four of them. Namely, the entrance to the sect, the treasury, the junior division and finally, the residences. 

He had gotten his fair share of stupefied looks from alchemist designates as he stepped out of the treasury with a pill furnace that was more expensive than their entire class' furnaces combined. The rumors would spread, naturally. However, Xiao Feng was of the hope that the maturer alchemist designates would prefer to do the talking behind their back. 

Thankfully, the recruits were still preoccupied by their classes in the Junior Division, which made his way through the residential area rather peaceful. Xiao Feng was still in the process of wrapping his head around the manner in which the various alchemist designations worked, but his conversation with Cultivator Jian had given him quite enough knowledge to work with. 

Recruits, who were the lowest rung of social strata within the alchemy division and Alchemist Designates, that is, recruits who passed the test and were officially certified so by the Azure Lotus sect's standards, lived in different areas down the passageway labeled 'Residences'. 

Senior Alchemists and the two Grand Alchemists lived in the Administrative Sector, where their offices also were. That made sense to Xiao Feng, because there was definitely knowledge they were privy to and could not share with the lower ranked alchemists. Having their residences side by side would only offer temptation.

Thus, Lianhua could not get him a residence with the other Senior Alchemists even if she wanted to. 

Xiao Feng had been granted a room with the other recruits, because it was the only arrangement that could be made in short notice. Or atleast, that was what the warden of the recruit's living quarters, an alchemist designate, had told him. 

The ninth layer Qi Gathering stage cultivator could not stop gazing at him intently, even though he had been informed that Xiao Feng would be moving in today. 

Lianhua had pulled strings for him even here though, for whilst all the other recruits had to share a room with two others, Xiao Feng got an entire room for himself. 

Following the directions the warden had given him, Xiao Feng opened his dorm room equivalent, finding a single occupancy bed, one wardrobe, an attached washing area, a side-table and enough crystal lighting that he could turn on and off at a tap of his finger. 

He dumped the heavy cauldron on the floor, locked the door behind him and now, found his gaze fixated on the pathway that led to the botanical storage. 

Finally, Xiao Feng thought, as he felt the build-up of anticipation in his gut. It's unlikely that I'll find anything too miraculous, but scanning dozens upon dozens of herbs with my Essence Cultivation Art will be good practice. The seedbeds aren't great because I can't approach them without attracting suspicion and while I'd love to examine the Verdant Harmony tree in greater detail, the Essence Cultivation Art isn't invincible. 

Even Xiao Feng never dared to use it on any of the Nascent Soul Elders, the monsters they were. He feared that they would detect his intrusion. The Divine Sense of a Nascent Soul is a terrifying ability. Projecting their soul outwards into strands they can use to sense enemies and allies alike across a sizable area means that there's no hiding secrets from them. 

I'm really glad I got out of the Martial Division. Sorry Elder Haoyun, but I really like my privacy when I'm taking a bath.

Chapter 15: To learn, sir

As Xiao Feng approached the pathway that led to the botanical storage, he noticed that the complexity of the melange of aromas assailing his senses only increased instead of decreasing as he distanced himself from the seedbed and the Verdant Harmony Tree.

I guess an alchemist can't really rely on his sense of smell. It's too easily disoriented, Xiao Feng thought as he strode into the passageway, his expression thoughtful. As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, each and every one of Xiao Feng's senses far surpassed a mortal. Breathing was not only a biological requirement for him, but it was also a way to interact with his environment, take in what information it was willing to offer. 

However, Xiao Feng's sense of smell was attuned to danger. The pungent smell of coagulating blood. Or perhaps, the oppressive stench of certain spiritual beasts that lurked within the Mistveil Bamboo Grove, a heavily forested region that blocked the Frontier Sect from retreating westward. 

Of course, such a threat would not be able to stand within the territory of the Azure Lotus Sect unless the benefits it offered far outweighed the risks of keeping it around. The Mistveil Bamboo Grove served as a training ground for cultivators that were either approaching or at the pinnacle of the Qi Gathering realm. Exposing Martial Cultivators to the very real threat of spiritual beasts under conditions of poor visibility meant that they had to rely on their other senses to supplement their sight.

Oh, Xiao Feng thought, as realization struck him. It's not an alchemist problem. My predecessor was trained to ignore the myriad scents and smells of the forest in favor of aberrations and irregularities. It's a me problem, damn it.

It made too much sense to ignore. As a cultivator of the Martial Division, he had instinctively learned to pick up on scents he associated with danger. It was only natural that an Alchemist trained from birth would receive a completely different style of education and training.

Well, not much I can do about it. For now, Xiao Feng thought, as he took the second right down the passageway. Gently pushing open the door, he found himself taken aback by the scene unfolding before him. 

The first thing that stood out to him was the fact that The Alchemist's Haven was far larger, almost three times larger than Daoist Jian's Pill Furnace shop. 

The shelves lining the wall were a sight to behold, as Xiao Feng noticed the sheer variety of stocked vials that contained various liquid plant extracts, dried plants that were tied in tied in sheafs of five to ten and sealed jars that seemed to contain desiccated spiritual beast parts— each and every item within the store meticulously labeled. 

Before he dove into the treasure hoard, Xiao Feng's gaze turned to the far corner of the room, where he had noticed a bored looking Alchemist Designate half-heartedly flipping through the pages of a book. It was the paraphernalia arrayed behind him, hanging from hooks on the wall. From a variety of sharp knives that ranged from very small to almost a sword to mortars and pestles, cutting boards and metal rulers. 

There was also a weighing scale placed on the table the alchemist designate was seated behind, one of those old school ones that used a variety of actual weights. There was no pill furnace in sight, which Xiao Feng shouldn't have been surprised about— using fire near a hoard of valuable materials was a bad idea. 

Xiao Feng allowed his gaze to sweep over the entire shop, noticing three more alchemist designates that seemed to be employees of the store along with a dozen or so regular customers. 

Well, it's about time I get this show started, Xiao Feng thought, as he walked over to one of the many shelves housing sheafs of spiritual plants. 

He activated the Essence Cultivation Art.

Holy crap, Xiao Feng thought, as he took in the sheaf of silver-leaved ferns, seeing right through their physical structure. Their structure appeared to him in the form of a tiny, branching tree, its stem resembling a tree trunk. He noticed the tiny core bobbing up and down its stem, observing it with curiosity. 

However, Xiao Feng's fascination originated from an entirely different aspect. 

I can tell, He thought. The one that shines the brightest, possesses the greatest amount of Qi, Xiao Feng's expression was focused as he picked out one silver-leafed fern from the sheaf, holding it before him with fascination in his gaze.

One of the reasons why Alchemists fail a pill refinement is because it's difficult to keep their materials' potency consistent across attempts. On the other hand, I can simply pick out the most potent materials each time while making sure they're consistent, He concluded, before putting the silver-leafed fern back. 

As he walked towards the alchemist designate that was manning the weighing scale, he cut off the Essence Cultivation Art. There was no backlash to his cultivation base, but Xiao Feng found it too disorienting to take in that much visual input at one time, especially when there was no need for it. 

He came to a stop before the alchemist designate, just as he flipped to the next page of the book he was reading. 

Then, the next. 

After realizing that the alchemist designate was entirely content to ignore him if he did not make a request, Xiao Feng spoke up, "Excuse me." 

"Yes?" The alchemist designate tersely replied. 

"I want these items, please," Xiao Feng said, as he offered him a slip of paper he had written his request onto. 

Thankfully, the alchemist designate was not boorish enough to ignore his request entirely. The slip of paper was plucked away from his hands, even as the alchemist designate continued reading his book with the other. 

"Hm," He hummed in thought. Then he closed the book was reading and kept on the desk, as he considered Xiao Feng's note again. "Uh, you're a new recruit, right?" He asked.

"Yes, sir," Xiao Feng replied with humility in his tone. 

"What's your name?" He asked. 

"Xiao Feng, sir." 

"Well Xiao Feng," He addressed him with bafflement in his tone. "Is this your idea of playing a joke on me?" 

"No, sir." 

"Xiao Feng, pray tell me what you require two sets of every edible, non-toxic spiritual herb in the entire shop for?" He asked, as annoyance seeped into his tone. 

"To learn, sir." 

"Look recruit," The Alchemist Designate snapped. "Can you even pay for a tenth of all this?"

Xiao Feng chose to reply with his actions, as he pulled a gold tael out of his pocket and placed it on the counter. 

"I would also require any spices you have, along with as many vials of edible spiritual beast milk you have on hand. Well, as long as it lasts at least a month before expiring," Xiao Feng decided to strike while he had the upper hand and his metaphorical opponent was too dazed to protest.