Chapter 9

"Alchemist?"

Xiaoyan was taken aback by the words, and his brows furrowed. "In the continent of Dou Qi, anyone would want to become an alchemist, but can just anyone become one? Those stringent conditions..." His voice suddenly paused, and Xiaoyan abruptly lifted his head, his mouth agape. "I’ve met the requirements?"

The old man stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then sized Xiaoyan up and down, seemingly with some difficulty, before sighing, "Although you barely meet the criteria, who am I to deny you when I owe you a favor? Ah, well, consider it repaying a debt..."

Glancing at the old man’s reluctant face, Xiaoyan felt that the claim of barely meeting the criteria seemed a bit fake, but he didn’t bother to ask further. Amidst his joy, there was still a hint of doubt. "Even if I meet the conditions, alchemists are usually taught personally by a master. Are you, by any chance, an alchemist?"

Looking at Xiaoyan’s doubtful face, the old man chuckled, puffed out his chest slightly, and his voice carried a hint of pride, "That’s right, I am an alchemist!"

Xiaoyan’s eyes lit up as he looked at the old man. Alchemists, after all, are rare beings...

"Sir, may I ask, what rank of alchemist were you in the past?" Xiaoyan licked his lips, and his young voice became more polite.

In the continent of Dou Qi, although alchemists are rare, they have a clear ranking system, from the lowest to the highest, ranging from first to ninth rank. The owner of the Qi Gathering Powder in the hall, Dan Wang Gu He, was a sixth-rank alchemist, considered the top in the alchemy field of the Jia Ma Empire.

"What rank? Heh, I can’t remember... Hey, kid, are you going to learn or not?" The old man shook his head, suddenly seeming a bit impatient.

"Learn, learn!"

Xiaoyan no longer hesitated, and his little head nodded quickly. Alchemists are precious figures, even the vast Yun Lam Sect would treat them as honored guests.

"Heh, willing? If you’re willing, then let’s go through the formalities." The old man crossed his legs on a green stone, and with a cunning smile, said.

"Do I have to go through the formalities?"

"Rubbish, you want me to teach you everything without going through the formalities? Dream on!" The old man rolled his eyes, clearly a man who valued the master-disciple relationship.

Xiaoyan pouted, but to become a prestigious alchemist, he had no choice but to respectfully perform the formalities of becoming a disciple.

After watching Xiaoyan complete the formalities, the old man nodded in satisfaction, his voice becoming more affectionate, "My name is Medicine Elder. As for my background, I’ll keep it to myself for now to avoid distracting you. Just know that someone like Dan Wang is... well, just a nobody."

Xiaoyan’s mouth twitched, and he looked at the old man’s casual demeanor, swallowing his words. "What’s this old man’s background? Dan Wang, who is renowned in the Jia Ma Empire, is a nobody...? If these words were to get out, I’d probably be laughed at as a lunatic by the entire Jia Ma Empire."

Taking a deep breath, suppressing his shock, Xiaoyan’s eyes darted, and he said with a grin, "Teacher, how do you plan to help me reach the seventh level of Dou Qi within a year?"

"Although your Dou Qi has been regressing over the past three years, it’s precisely because of this that your foundation is stronger than most. A solid foundation is crucial in Dou Qi cultivation! In the future, you’ll realize the benefits of your regression over these three years!" Medicine Elder’s smile slowly faded, and he spoke seriously.

Xiaoyan was taken aback; he had no idea that regression could bring any benefits.

"When will you teach me alchemy?"

Xiaoyan’s eyes darted, focusing on the most important thing.

"To become an alchemist, you need the support of Flame Dou Qi. Therefore, before learning alchemy, you must first become a Douzhe and cultivate a fire attribute Dou Qi technique!"

"Fire attribute technique? Heh, Teacher, since I’m your disciple, can you give me a Heaven Rank fire attribute technique to cultivate?" Xiaoyan extended his hand, smiling and asking.

"Rubbish, do you think Heaven Rank techniques are wild potatoes on the ground? How can you even ask for it!" Medicine Elder’s face twitched, and he scolded, unable to hold back a laugh.

"Old man, since I’m your disciple, you can’t make me find a technique from my clan, can you? The best fire attribute technique in our clan is only High Yellow Rank, which is too disappointing, right?" Xiaoyan’s face was filled with frustration.

"Brat, it’s Teacher, not old man!"

Medicine Elder’s eyes rolled at Xiaoyan’s address, not expecting that right after the formalities, this kid would start getting cheeky.

"Hmph, since I’m your disciple, you won’t disappoint me. I don’t have a Heaven Rank technique, but I do have a technique that’s even more peculiar. Do you want to learn it?" Medicine Elder’s old eyes suddenly gleamed with mischief.

"More peculiar than a Heaven Rank technique?"

Xiaoyan’s heart skipped a beat, and he swallowed, his black eyes secretly glowing with excitement. "What level is this technique?"

"Low Yellow Rank." Medicine Elder’s smile made Xiaoyan’s face stiffen.

"Old man, are you messing with me?"

A moment later, the mountain top echoed with the young boy’s angry roar.

Looking at the kid’s face twisted with anger, Medicine Elder laughed triumphantly. Being able to make the calm and composed Xiaoyan this angry gave him a great sense of accomplishment.

"What’s so peculiar about this technique?" Staring at Medicine Elder’s teasing face, Xiaoyan suddenly calmed down, frowning and asking.

"It can evolve!" Medicine Elder smiled after a brief silence.

Xiaoyan’s pupils dilated, and he stared at Medicine Elder without blinking. After a long pause, he shook his head. "Impossible! I’ve never heard of any technique that can evolve!"

"Tch, what do you know, kid? The continent of Dou Qi is vast, and strange people and events are countless. In your eyes, which have never left the Jia Ma Empire, there are many things that seem impossible." Medicine Elder sneered.

Xiaoyan was taken aback, then retorted, "Have you ever heard of any other technique that can evolve?"

Medicine Elder’s smile froze, and after a moment, he laughed dryly and shook his head, "It’s precisely because there isn’t one that makes my technique unique!"

"Can it really evolve?" Looking at Medicine Elder’s serious face, Xiaoyan couldn’t help but ask again.

"It can really evolve!" Medicine Elder nodded firmly.

"Have you cultivated it?" Xiaoyan asked again.

"Uh... no." Medicine Elder laughed dryly and shook his head.

"Has anyone else cultivated it?"

"Uh... no."

Veins bulged on Xiaoyan’s forehead, and he clenched his fists, barely restraining the urge to punch. His voice was laced with suppressed anger, "No one has cultivated it, so how do you know it can evolve?"

"It’s described that way in the technique." Medicine Elder smiled sheepishly.

"Is there really such a technique?" Xiaoyan’s brows furrowed, and after a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Can I see it?"

"Heh..." Medicine Elder’s grin widened as he looked at the curious Xiaoyan, but then he changed his tone, "Forget it, it won’t do you any good now. I’ll teach it to you when you become a Douzhe."

Xiaoyan’s outstretched hand froze, and his mouth twitched for a moment before he forced out two words, "You’re ruthless!"

Medicine Elder laughed heartily, ignoring Xiaoyan’s black eyes filled with anger, and said, "Your current task is to cultivate your Dou Qi to the seventh level within a year."

"Do you have a method?" Xiaoyan suppressed his curiosity about the mysterious technique and asked through gritted teeth.

"The cultivation of Initial Dou Qi mainly involves expanding and strengthening the body, reinforcing the meridians to lay the foundation for future Dou Qi accumulation. Since the human body is most fragile and malleable at this age, this cultivation process must be gradual and cannot involve any external force, or else the meridians will not withstand the increasingly powerful Dou Qi, leading to a fatal outcome!" Medicine Elder said with a serious expression.

Xiaoyan understood this; during the three years he was considered a failure, his father, out of concern, had several times considered forcibly injecting Dou Qi into his body, but always stopped at the last moment. Xiaoyan was well aware of the risks involved.

Medicine Elder glanced at Xiaoyan’s calm face, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "For others, that’s true, but not for you. Your foundation was already solid three years ago, and your determination has never wavered, and you’ve never missed a day of cultivation. So, I can confidently say that your foundation is excellent!"

"Are you planning to use external force to boost my strength, like taking a pill?" Xiaoyan’s eyes darted.

"Something like that, but with your current meridian strength, you can’t withstand the energy of any pill, not even the lowest-level Qi Gathering Powder!" Medicine Elder said with a light smile.

"The lowest-level Qi Gathering Powder..." Xiaoyan’s fingers trembled, and he almost rolled his eyes. The miraculous drug that was sold at sky-high prices in the Jia Ma Empire was considered the lowest-level by his mysterious teacher, a stark contrast that left Xiaoyan somewhat stunned.

"What’s your method?" Taking a deep breath, Xiaoyan calmed down and asked with a frown.

"Heh, pills are too potent and can damage the meridians, so we need a gentler approach!" Medicine Elder smiled and said, "Tomorrow, prepare three complete Purple Leaf Grass, the older the better, and two Bone Washing Flowers, any age will do. Oh, and a first-level Wood Attribute Magic Core. These are low-level materials, so I assume you can get them... Someone is coming up, I’ll go back into the ring! Also, don’t let anyone know about my existence, not even your closest people."

Without waiting for Xiaoyan’s reaction, Medicine Elder dove into the black ring, which trembled slightly and settled on Xiaoyan’s finger.

"Three complete Purple Leaf Grass? Two Bone Washing Flowers? A first-level Wood Attribute Magic Core? Old man, are you kidding? Do you think I’m a prince of some royal family? These items together cost at least a thousand gold coins! I’ve saved for so many years and only have four hundred gold coins, which is barely enough to buy a first-level Magic Core!"

Xiaoyan clutched the ring, his eyes wide with anger.

"That’s your problem, heh, the Nourishing Spirit Liquid I prepare is something even the rich can’t buy. You’re already complaining about the cost of materials..." Medicine Elder’s teasing laughter echoed in Xiaoyan’s mind.

"Damn, alchemists’ creations are indeed only for the rich." Xiaoyan sighed, his monthly allowance from the Xiao family was not small, twenty gold coins, which could support a common family for a year. But using this money to buy the materials Medicine Elder mentioned was just a drop in the bucket. This was the difference.

"Ah, I can only borrow...” Sighing, Xiaoyan slowly calmed down, his face returning to its usual calm. He turned to look at the mountain path, where a purple figure, like a fairy, was gracefully leaping towards him.

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