Chapter 3

Before being called Guang Ti, the white-haired woman had some grievances with Guang Xiao. She turned and gave Guang Xiao a cold look. Her long white hair, which had been hanging down to her waist, slowly began to spread out in all directions. This action made the three people beside her change their expressions drastically. Apart from Guang Ren, Guang Xiao and the remaining white-haired man simultaneously took a step back. After standing still, Guang Xiao's expression remained uncertain. It was clear that he was very wary of Guang Ti's actions. After hesitating for a moment, Guang Xiao took a few more steps back, stopping only when he reached behind Guang Ren.

Guang Ren glanced at the cold and icy Guang Ti, then looked at Guang Xiao and the other white-haired man behind him. After a slight sigh, he said, "It's not early anymore. Everyone return to your positions and start the blessing ceremony."

Guang Ren's words helped to ease the tension for Guang Xiao, and the white-haired woman finally moved her gaze away from Guang Xiao. The few white-haired people turned their attention to the closed door of the lecture hall. No one spoke again. After exchanging glances, they almost simultaneously left, heading to where they were supposed to go.

At the same time, inside the lecture hall, an old and a young fangshi (alchemist) were having a different conversation.

After everyone left the lecture hall, Xu Fu refilled two cups of honey wine. After taking one for himself, he handed the other to Wu Mian. This gesture from the great fangshi made Wu Mian feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Wu Mian was born a palace slave. Although he became a court fangshi, his low status meant he usually only did menial tasks. After his parents passed away, almost no one treated him kindly. His harsh nature and poor interpersonal skills meant he had few, if any, friends.

Now, the top fangshi had humbly poured a cup of honey wine for him and handed it to him personally. Wu Mian looked at the full cup of honey wine and hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it. Xu Fu laughed and said, "Honey wine is meant to be drunk, not just looked at."

Wu Mian then took the cup, sipped it lightly, and put it down. Xu Fu didn't mind and instead asked, "This is my own brew. How does it taste?" Wu Mian looked up at Xu Fu and, after a long pause, said coldly, "If the great fangshi's navigation skills are as good as his brewing, there would be no need to sail out to find immortals. You could just go to the Dragon King to seek the elixir of rebirth."

Wu Mian's words made Xu Fu pause. Although he had seen that Wu Mian had a harsh nature, he didn't expect him to be so blunt as to mock him to his face. After a moment of surprise, Xu Fu suddenly laughed and said, "Your temperament is one in ten thousand. Fortunately, you met me..."

After saying this, his smile faded slightly, and he changed his tone, "Do you know why I kept you here alone?"

After a moment of silence, Wu Mian took a deep breath and looked up at Xu Fu, asking, "Did the great fangshi really want to keep me from the beginning?"

Xu Fu looked at Wu Mian with a strange expression, "Continue..."

"The person the great fangshi wanted to keep was Li Si," Wu Mian continued, meeting Xu Fu's gaze. "That's why there were the three tests just now. Unfortunately, Li Si and the great fangshi had a shallow connection, and he failed two out of three. Wu Mian, overestimating himself, revealed the secret of the technique. The great fangshi then changed his mind, abandoning Li Si and choosing Wu Mian."

After Wu Mian finished speaking, Xu Fu only smiled slightly and drank the honey wine in one gulp. He then said casually, "The illusion technique just now wasn't particularly advanced, but only people with a specific constitution could see through it. I originally aimed for Li Si, but unexpectedly, it benefited you." Xu Fu sighed slightly and continued, "In terms of talent, Li Si is even more gifted than you. Unfortunately, his mind has been clouded by the title of Grand Chancellor. Even if he saw through the illusion, his mind was still confused, and he couldn't be sure if what he saw was real."

After hearing Xu Fu's words, Wu Mian still had something he couldn't understand. He asked again, "What about the great fangshi's other white-haired disciples? They couldn't have failed to see through it, right?"

When it came to Xu Fu's disciples, the great fangshi's face showed a strange expression. After a pause, he muttered, "None of them had the fortune." After saying this, Xu Fu deliberately changed the subject, looking at Wu Mian and saying, "Since fate has it that you saw through the illusion, let's go all the way. What was originally meant for Li Si will now be passed on to you."

As Xu Fu said this, Wu Mian's breathing became slightly rapid. When Xu Fu dismissed the other disciples and kept him alone, Wu Mian had guessed this outcome. But when the great fangshi made it clear, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. After hesitating for a moment, Wu Mian suppressed his racing heart and looked at Xu Fu, saying, "Great fangshi, you're not planning to pass on the tradition of the fangshi school to me, are you?"

Xu Fu looked at Wu Mian with a strange expression for a long time, his lips curling up in a half-mocking smile. "You have a high opinion of yourself. Unfortunately, although you bear the name of a fangshi, you haven't learned a single skill from my school. It's quite a feat that you can even think about the tradition of the fangshi school." Xu Fu's smile faded slightly, and he continued, "Although you have no connection to the tradition, you do have some connection to me. I have a few small items to pass on to you..."

As he spoke, Xu Fu pulled out a pigeon-egg-sized wax pill from his sleeve and said, "This is a secret of our fangshi school." He then pinched the wax skin with his fingers, revealing a black pill inside. Looking at the black pill, Xu Fu continued, "This is an elixir of immortality created by the previous great fangshi based on ancient immortal formulas. Unfortunately, the elixir's properties are unique, and only a few people with a specific constitution can withstand it..."

Before Xu Fu finished speaking, Wu Mian's expression had already changed. His gaze shifted from the pill to Xu Fu, and he asked, "What about the First Emperor? Can his constitution withstand the elixir?"

Xu Fu didn't seem angry at Wu Mian's sudden question. His lips curled up slightly, and he looked at Wu Mian with a half-smile, "Oh, it seems you understand something..." He paused and then flicked his right index finger, sending a black shadow flying toward Wu Mian's face. Wu Mian reflexively raised his palm to block it, and he felt something strange in his palm. When he opened his hand, it was the immortality pill that had been in Xu Fu's hand.

Seeing the pill in Wu Mian's hand, Xu Fu smiled slightly and said, "You guessed right. The First Emperor has the same constitution as you and Li Si, and he is even more suitable for the elixir..."

Wu Mian didn't wait for Xu Fu to finish and interrupted with his usual somewhat harsh tone, "If you already have the elixir of immortality, why are you sailing out to sea?" Wu Mian had intended to add, "To find the elixir of rebirth?" but he held back out of respect for Xu Fu's status.

Even so, the change in Wu Mian's expression didn't escape Xu Fu's notice. The great fangshi looked at Wu Mian with a half-smile and said, "With your once-in-a-thousand temperament, even if you have the elixir, it won't do you much good."

Xu Fu glanced at Wu Mian's hand holding the pill, paused, and then continued, "Since you want to know, I'll tell you. I am avoiding trouble. The First Emperor's time is running out. If I don't leave, I will be urgently summoned to his side when the time comes. Whether I can save him or not, it will be a disaster for our fangshi school. Do you understand?"

Wu Mian nodded slightly and replied, "If I can't save the First Emperor, it will give Zhao Gao a reason to attack the great fangshi, and it will implicate our fangshi school. If I save the First Emperor, it will mean the elixir of immortality is effective. With such a divine elixir, sailing out to sea to find the immortal mountains will make Zhao Gao and his people suspect that the great fangshi is planning a rebellion."

Xu Fu smiled slightly and said, "You're not far off. However, there's one more thing about the elixir of immortality I need to tell you. Even with your constitution, you might not pass the final test. Have you met my disciple Guang Ren? His constitution is the same as yours, but after taking the pill, he still had a reaction. I had to use some external force to save his life. There was another small item I intended for him to inherit, but now he dares not hope for it. It seems it will benefit you."