Chapter 4

As Xu Fu spoke, Wu Mian's expression became complicated. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "So, the few white-haired people outside all took this immortality pill, which changed their physical constitution and turned their hair white, right?"

Xu Fu nodded slightly and said, "Including myself, anyone who has taken the immortality pill and changed their constitution will have their physical functions remain at the moment they took the pill. Their ability to recover from external injuries far exceeds that of ordinary people, but their hair will turn white. This is a common trait after taking the pill."

After hearing Xu Fu's words, Wu Mian sighed slightly and hid the pill in his sleeve. This action was unexpected by the Great Alchemist, and Xu Fu said, "I thought you would take the pill while I was here. Even if the effects were incompatible, I wouldn't just stand by and let you die. I would at least save your life."

After putting the pill away, Wu Mian looked at Xu Fu with a somewhat helpless expression and said in his characteristic slightly sarcastic tone, "Great Alchemist, you're setting sail tomorrow, and you probably won't take me with you. After you leave, I doubt your white-haired disciples will treat me well. Not to mention that Chief Alchemist, who will surely take out his frustrations on me for the humiliation he suffered today. If my hair turns white tomorrow, even if he's not very capable, he'll figure out what happened by comparing me to your white-haired disciples. At that time, his resentment towards me will only grow. Great Alchemist, taking this pill will grant immortality, but it won't make me invincible, right?"

Xu Fu smiled and said, "I underestimated you a bit. It turns out you're not just a sharp-tongued person; you can also think things through."

At this point, the Great Alchemist's brows furrowed slightly, and he looked at Wu Mian without speaking. After a while, he said softly, "It's still a bit early to give you this seed..." As Xu Fu spoke, an object emitting a rainbow glow appeared in his palm. With Wu Mian's ability to see through illusions, he couldn't even tell if it was solid or liquid.

Xu Fu handed the glowing object to Wu Mian, who hurriedly stepped forward to receive it. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to take it, the Great Alchemist's hand changed direction and reached towards Wu Mian's chest. The moment the glowing object touched Wu Mian's chest, it instantly disappeared from Xu Fu's hand. At the same time, Wu Mian felt a cool sensation on his chest and a sense of something foreign in his body.

Seeing Wu Mian's surprised expression, Xu Fu smiled slightly and said, "This seed is the source of my power, originally meant for Guangren. Unfortunately, his constitution is incompatible with the immortality pill, making him unsuitable to receive the seed. So, I'll be a good person today and let you get a lucky break. I've temporarily sealed the seed. It will only become active after you take the immortality pill. As for how far it will grow, that depends on your fortune."

By this time, Wu Mian's surprised expression had gradually returned to normal. He took a deep breath and, feeling no discomfort from the foreign sensation in his body, looked up at Xu Fu and said directly, "How do you know that I won't have the same reaction to the immortality pill as Guangren? He had you to protect him, but what about me? If I have bad luck and die from the pill's effects, won't your seed be lost?"

"That depends on your fortune," Xu Fu said, looking at Wu Mian with a smile. "To be honest, even if your luck is bad and you can't pass the final test, the seed in your body won't disappear. Do you think Guangren and the others would let the seed be lost?"

After saying this, Xu Fu led Wu Mian to the end of the lecture hall, where there was a small inner room. From the outside, it looked like a place for the Great Alchemist to rest, but inside, there were only four stone walls. The room was empty except for a few bamboo scrolls and ink on the ground.

Xu Fu walked to where the bamboo scrolls were placed, sat cross-legged on the ground, and looked up at Wu Mian, saying, "You are the only one who has ever entered this room besides me. The last thing I have to give you is here."

Wu Mian glanced at the bamboo scrolls on the ground. Seeing that Xu Fu didn't stop him, he bent down to pick up one of the scrolls. When he opened it, there wasn't a single ink mark on it.

After a moment of confusion, Wu Mian opened several more scrolls, but still found no writing. Xu Fu laughed and said, "This is called the wordless heavenly book. If I don't write anything, what can you see?"

After saying this, the Great Alchemist ignored Wu Mian. He opened a bamboo scroll, laid it flat on his lap, and without using a brush, used his finger dipped in ink to write and draw on the scroll. After a short while, he handed the scroll to Wu Mian and said, "Memorize it." As he spoke, Xu Fu took another scroll and continued to write and draw with his finger.

Wu Mian took the scroll and saw a map drawn on it. At the top of the map, five crooked characters were written: Liaodong Commandery, Yanshan. Before Wu Mian could ask what the map was for, the Great Alchemist handed him another scroll, saying, "Memorize them all. You only have this one night." He then took another scroll and began to draw a third map.

In this way, the Great Alchemist drew nine maps, all of which he gave to Wu Mian. After shaking off the ink from his hands, he said to Wu Mian, who was frowning at the scrolls, "The nine locations on these maps are the last things I leave for you. Memorize the maps in order. If you pass the final test of the immortality pill, follow the locations in order. Remember, the order cannot be changed, or even if you achieve immortality, you may not be able to leave."

Wu Mian's gaze shifted from the scrolls to Xu Fu, and he asked suspiciously, "What is in the places marked on the maps?"

Xu Fu chuckled and said, "You'll know when you get there. There's one more thing for you to do. If you meet an old man named Gui Bu Gui, don't say anything. Just give him a slap and then tell him that I sent you."

The last sentence left Wu Mian puzzled. At this moment, Xu Fu's smile faded, and he changed his tone, saying, "If you have good luck and can safely overcome the effects of the immortality pill and follow the locations in order, the seed in your body might grow into a towering tree that even I would look up to. At that time, remember my words: don't try to change the course of history. The rise and fall of nations and the extinction of ethnic groups are all the will of heaven. We, who transcend birth, aging, sickness, and death, are already defying heaven. If we try to change the will of heaven, we will invite heavenly punishment, and it will be the time for our alchemist sect to be destroyed."

Xu Fu's sudden change left Wu Mian momentarily stunned. After a moment, he said to the Great Alchemist, "These words should be said to Guangren and the others, right?"

At this point, the Great Alchemist gave a helpless smile and said, "If Guangren and the others could understand, I wouldn't have to entrust everything to you. Don't overthink it; you'll understand when the time comes."

After saying this, Xu Fu left Wu Mian in the inner room to memorize the maps. The night passed without incident. The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight appeared, Wu Mian, with a headache, had memorized the nine maps. At the moment the sunlight touched the bamboo scrolls, the writing and maps disappeared, leaving only nine blank scrolls.

At this moment, Xu Fu's voice echoed in the inner room, "The time has come. What you have memorized is your fortune. Come out now. There have been changes with the First Emperor. You and the Chief Alchemist will go together."

Wu Mian turned around but saw only the sound of Xu Fu's voice and not the Great Alchemist himself. Realizing this was Xu Fu's supernatural ability, and knowing it involved the First Emperor, he didn't dare delay. When he left the lecture hall, he saw the Chief Alchemist pacing back and forth, looking anxious.

Seeing Wu Mian finally emerge from the lecture hall, the Chief Alchemist sneered and pointed at him, shouting, "Brat! You finally decided to come out? Come here!"

Wu Mian walked over, and the Chief Alchemist slapped him. Wu Mian couldn't dodge in time and was knocked to the ground. The Chief Alchemist continued to kick and beat him, shouting, "Wu Mian... Bah! You, a lowly palace slave, what right do you have to have a surname? Brat, are you so capable? Can you see through the Great Alchemist's tricks? I was humiliated, and you laughed at it? You scoundrel, don't think anyone will speak up for you. Let me tell you, before dawn, the Great Alchemist will set sail. Bah! What Great Alchemist? Xu has already passed the tradition to Lord Guangren."

Wu Mian, who was used to being beaten by the Chief Alchemist, didn't fight back. He just covered his head to protect his vital areas. As the Chief Alchemist was in the middle of his beating, a person suddenly ran over from a distance, heading straight for the Chief Alchemist.

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