“Han’er, you’ve returned!” Ling Dong Xing revealed a relieved expression, which quickly transformed into one of shock, and said, “Your cultivation level seems to have improved greatly again!”
“Fourth layer of Element Gathering Tier!” Ling Han said with a smile.
Ling Dong Xing’s expression became very colorful, though he did not gasp in surprise this time round. In the end, he finally settled on a wide smile that was filled with gratification.
His son was freakishly talented–this was something he already knew. In the future, he only needed to feel gratified by Ling Han’s continuous progress and that would be enough.
As a parent, wasn’t this the greatest source of pride?
After this, the only big event remaining was the celebration of the new year.
Yet Ling Han did not relax, and continued to work hard at cultivation every single day. He concocted some “Spirit Gathering Pills” for himself. This pill allowed him to increase the rate of his cultivation, and while the help it gave him was not much, every little bit counted.
Liu Yu Tong also displayed a strong talent in sword arts, and within a short period of more than ten days, actually managed to form another flash of Sword Qi.
Chapter 54
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
Ling Han did not feel this was odd in any way.
From the start, Liu Yu Tong was very talented in the field of martial arts. It was illogical that she had still not yet managed to form Sword Qi. Now that she has made a breakthrough in this area, it seemed as if the potential she had been accumulating gushed out in one go, producing excellent results.
However, the third flash of Sword Qi would not be so easily formed.
For Liu Yu Tong, she was already satisfied with being able to possess two flashes at the mere age of eighteen and stepping into the ranks of young rulers. Moreover, she could be considered to be among the stronger, more powerful young rulers.
…The general level of martial arts in Rain Country was too low. You’d be praised as a ruler once you manage to form Saber or Sword Qi.
When the New Year came, all the branch families of the Ling Clan returned to the Main Clan Residence to greet the coming of spring together.
Normally, these external branch families had their own residences outside the Main Clan Residence and were responsible for managing the clan’s various businesses. Most of them were ordinary people. Only a few have stepped onto the path of cultivation. After all, for every ten people there was only one person that actually possessed a Spirit Base.
“Big Brother Han!” A little girl by the name of Ling Zi Xuan kept following Ling Han around. After the New Year, the little girl would only be eight years old, yet she had already awoken her Spirit Base. Furthermore, it was a low level Earth Grade Spirit Base. According to the rules of the clan, she was qualified to be enrolled in the Gray Cloud Academy, and the clan would provide her school fees as well as cultivation resources.
Everyone knew that you wouldn’t be able to protect your wealth if you didn’t have enough power. As a result, every clan would carefully nurture the clansmen who were found to be gifted with talent to become martial artists. If there appeared a genius amongst these clansmen, it would also be a source of pride for the clan.
Just like the Eight Great Clans of the imperial city–they had all been merely small clans which grew by choosing such a policy.
There had been three members of the Ling Clan that had been enrolled in the Gray Cloud Academy previously. Aside from Ling Han and Ling Mu Yun, there was another named Ling Zhi Dao. However, as he was now getting too old, after the New Year, he would no longer attend the academy. Instead, he would join the Clan Guards. After a few years of gaining experience, he’d be promoted to Assistant Captain and then Captain.
Such an important post naturally had to be handed to a clansman for safety’s sake.
Meanwhile, as Ling Zi Xuan had awakened, after the New Year, she would begin attending the Gray Cloud Academy.
However, Ling Han had other plans.
He could not possibly remain in Ling Clan forever. He desired to climb to the summit of martial arts in the future, so Rain Country was too small for him. As a result, before he left, he needed to nurture as many talented people as possible to help his father relieve some of his worries.
He has decided to bring Ling Zi Xuan to the Imperial City and enroll her in the Hu Yang Academy.
Ling Dong Xing had already obtained a place of enrollment in Hu Yang Academy previously, and Ling Han definitely would be able to rank amongst the top fifty participants in the Da Yuan Tournament. In this manner, their clan would have two places.
Of course, he did not intend to become the babysitter of the girl. He would definitely have her parents follow her to the Imperial City to take care of her daily needs.
“Why are you crying again?” Ling Han smiled, as he picked up the little girl.
“Da Xiong is bullying Xuan Xuan!” The little girl said, full of grievances. “Big Brother Han, you help Xuan Xuan beat him up!”
Ling Han laughed heartily, patted the little girl’s head, and said, “You and Da Xiong are both members of the Ling Clan, so you must help and support one another. Our fists should be aimed at outsiders, and not used to beat our own people up.”
“But he said Xuan Xuan is ugly!” The little girl said, pouting.
“Our family’s Xuan Xuan is so pretty. You’re now a small beauty and in the future, you’d be a great beauty. Da Xiong is only jealous of you!” Ling Han said, smiling.
The little girl was instantly cheered by such compliments, and clapping her hands, she said, “Xuan Xuan is the most beautiful girl in the world!” After a moment of thought, she realized this was a bit too arrogant, so she changed her words and said, “Big Sister Yu Tong is the most beautiful, Xuan Xuan is the second most beautiful.”
Ling Han gave a big laugh, and said to Liu Yu Tong, “She’s praising you!”
“Big Sister Yu Tong, when are you and Big Brother Han getting married?” The little girl asked innocently, her head tilted.
Liu Yu Tong instantly blushed at this. She swiftly turned around and ran off, causing Ling Zi Xuan to feel very puzzled. What was going on?
“Xuan Xuan, you’ve scared off my wife, how are you going to compensate me?” Ling Han deliberately frowned and said.
Ling Zi Yuan bit at her fingernail, thought for a while, and said comfortingly to Ling Han, “Big Brother Han, Xuan Xuan will help you find a prettier Big Sister!” She looked extremely mischievous when she said this.
Ling Han could not hold back his laughter. Kids say what they like, and were innocent and adorable. It was too bad that this purity could not be preserved forever.
After the New Year celebration, Ling Dong Xing, Ling Han and Liu Yu Tong all set off towards the Da Yuan City to participate in the Da Yuan Tournament.
Da Yuan City was more than eight hundred miles away from Gray Cloud Town. The three of them hastened their journey, and two days later, they arrived outside Da Yuan City.
Compared with the small, tiny Gray Cloud Town, Da Yuan City looked very imposing and grand. The city grounds extended over a few tens of miles, and the city walls were about a hundred metres tall. It looked like a creeping colossal beast.
There were four gates of entry into Da Yuan City–North, East, South and West Gates. Every day, there would be travelers coming in from all directions to this most bustling, most lively city within the nearest thousand miles. There were merchants, refugees and wandering martial artists here.
The overall level of martial arts in the city was higher than the surrounding area by a whole new level. The current Da Yuan King was a powerful warrior of Spiritual Ocean Tier, and according to rumors, he was also the only one in Spiritual Ocean Tier, possessing ultimate power and prestige.
Ling Han and his group arrived at the city gate. They did not have to be searched or go through any kind of security check. They only had to pay the city en
trance fees–one silver coin per person. This was not very expensive for them, though for commoners, this would indeed be a very big sum.
Within the city, there were many tall, grand buildings of various heights extending into the distance. It was the epitome of a king’s city, stunning any new visitors to the city.
Ling Dong Xing had come here a long time ago, and had even left the country before, so he naturally would not be shocked. Liu Yu Tong came from the Imperial City, so this was a common sight to her. The two of them had initially thought that Ling Han would be stunned by such a grand sight, yet Ling Han looked completely calm and unperturbed, shocking them.
They went off in search of an inn. However, it seemed as if many had come to the city to participate in the upcoming Da Yuan Tournament, and practically every inn was fully occupied. They walked around for over half a day, yet still had not managed to find a place of accommodation.
“Yi, Grandmaster Ling!” They had been walking around on the main streets when they heard a surprised voice call out. A white-haired old man walked over to them. He was Zhu He Xin.
“So you’re here,” Ling Han said, smiling.
“Grandmaster Ling, I happened to receive an invitation from an old friend during the New Year, asking me to come visit. I hope Grandmaster Ling will forgive me for not paying you a visit during the New Year,” Zhu He Xin bent slightly at the waist, a hint of fear on his face.
He had already considered Ling Han as half his Master, so he would naturally be fearful that he had caused Ling Han’s displeasure.
Ling Han shook his head and smiled, and said, “You don’t need to call me Grandmaster, you can just call me by my name in future.” In this life, he had already decided to start from a minor character and walk firmly and sturdily onwards, battling various so-called geniuses to improve himself.
Otherwise, if he continued to be a Grandmaster Alchemist, then due to the grand, noble status accorded to an alchemist, which genius would dare to spar with him?
“This-” Zhu He Xin shook his head continuously. He was a person who was reverent of his master and his teaching. Ling Han had granted him a kindness in guiding him before, so in his heart, Ling Han was already his teacher. To directly address your teacher by his name without any kind of honorific… this was practically disgraceful!
“Don’t say ‘this’ or ‘that’. It’s decided. If you call me Grandmaster in future, then I’d really be angry,” Ling Han deliberately put on a stern face and said in a half-joking manner.
Chapter 55
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
Zhu He Xin could not help feeling troubled, yet once he saw the determined expression Ling Han had on his face, he could only nod his head and say, “I shall obey Grandmaster’s, no, Young Friend Ling’s words.”
In the end, he still could not bear addressing Ling Han without any honorific. At least the address “Young Friend Ling” sounded more polite.
“Oh, right, is Young Friend Ling here to take part in the Da Yuan Tournament?” Zhu He Xin asked.
Ling Han gave a nod, and said, “We aren’t very fortunate, we still have yet to find a place of accommodation.”
“Then why not come and stay at our Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion?” Zhu He Xin’s eyes immediately lit up and suggested to Ling Han.
“Is that suitable?” Ling Han had walked around for over half a day, so he really didn’t want to tire himself anymore.
“Suitable, of course it’s suitable!” Zhu He Xin said quickly. To be able to stay near to Grandmaster Ling, he’d be able to conveniently ask Grandmaster Ling for guidance in alchemy.
“Then we shall trouble you,” Ling Han said, smiling.
“It’s no trouble, no trouble at all!” Zhu He Xin walked in the lead, guiding them to the branch of Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion in the city.
Unlike the small branch of Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion in Gray Cloud Town, Da Yuan City’s branch of Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion was actually a heavily guarded, gigantic palace, and there were about a hundred alchemists stationed here–these alchemists were in charge of concocting a massive amount of pills every day, which were then delivered to be sold at places like Gray Cloud Town and Guo Rock Town.
Ma Da Jun of the Gray Cloud Town’s branch of Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion was only in charge of overseeing things, and usually, he did not have to concoct any pills. Usually, these characters had lower rate of successfully concocting pills, so if they were given the same medicinal ingredients to be concocted into pills, it would be too much of a waste.
Low level Black Grade alchemists similarly had a very high, noble status in this place. All guards as well as the alchemists made their salutations respectfully when they saw Zhu He Xin approach.
The Branch Master of this branch of Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion was called Zhang Wei Shan. He was also a low level Black Grade alchemist and had been friends with Zhu He Xin for many years. In the past, both had entered Heaven’s Medicine Pavilion at the same time, and through many years of motivating and competing with each other, both managed to become low level Black Grade alchemists.
“Young Friend Ling, I have a presumptuous request,” Zhu He Xin said a bit embarrassedly after he had made arrangements for them to reside there temporarily.
“You’ve encountered some problem in alchemy?” Ling Han said with a smile.
“Hehe!” Zhu He Xin was a bit embarrassed. Although he was already quite old, but in front of Ling Han, it seemed as if he was only a young brat who had just entered the field of alchemy. He did not think this was anything odd though.
He said, “Not me, it’s an old friend of mine. He managed to obtain an old formula. However, because of the long passage of time, there are some words that can no longer be clearly read from the old formula. Thus, he has encountered some trouble when he attempted to concoct the pill.”
Ling Han suddenly understood and said, “You want me to help you write down the complete formula?”
“I hope for Young Friend’s guidance,” Zhu He Xin said. “The name of this pill formula is “Reverse Pill”, and it’s very effective for healing wounds. If this formula is able to see the light again, then many people will be saved.”
So it was Reverse Pill… could it be that even such ordinary medicinal pills have already been lost in the passage of time?
Ling Han felt that this was really strange. Whether martial arts, or alchemy, with accumulated studies and research of every generation, these two fields should have become stronger and stronger. Yet why had so many pill formulas been lost in the passage of time?
He nodded, and said, “Then I’ll go take a look.”
“This way please, Grandmaster!” Zhu He Xin immediately switched back to using honorifics. Only after the words left his mouth did he react and change his words as he said, “Young Friend, this way, please.”
The two of them walked side by side and soon arrived at a residence in the palace courtyard. The door was ajar, and there were three people within–two old men and a young girl. The two old men were both seated and drinking tea while the young girl was standing behind one of the old men.
The young girl appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. She was quite delicate and pretty. However, one corner of her mouth was slightly uplifted, and her big, black eyes looked extremely intelligent, so on the whole, she looked rather crafty.
Seeing Zhu He Xin, the two old men stood and smiled in greeting.
“Old Man Zhu, let me introduce someone to you!” One of the old men hurried over, and pointing at the other old man, said, “This is Duanmu Chang Feng. Brother Duanmu has been praised to excel at both alchemy and sword arts; his Sweeping Cloud Sword Art is the best in the whole of Rain Country. You’ve admired him for a long time, right?”
When Zhu He Xin heard this, there was no way he could introduce Ling Han immediately. He raised his clasped hands in Duanmu Chang Feng’s direction, and said, “Brother Duanmu, it’s an honor to meet you at last.”
“Haha, Brother Zhu, I heard that you had improved the Wind and Fire Pill just recently. I’ve long wanted to come and meet you, and today I’ve finally gotten the chance to,” Duanmu Chang Feng said with a smile.
The other old man was naturally Zhang Wei Shan.
“Brother Duanmu, Old Man Zhang, let me introduce someone to you, this is-” Zhu He Xin intended to introduce Ling Han to the two of them.
“Old Man Zhu, now that I’ve invited Brother Duanmu here, perhaps with the combined efforts of the three of us, we may be able to patch up the pill formula for Reverse Pill within three months,” Zhang Wei Shan said excitedly.
“Let me introduce-”
“Haha, Brother Zhang, you speak too highly of me. My main focus is on sword arts, and I have only lightly studied about alchemy. The main workforce will still be the two of you. I will just suggest ideas from one side,” Duanmu Chang Feng said, once again interrupting Zhu He Xin.
The two old men had naturally thought that Ling Han was a junior of Zhu He Xin, and so did not really pay attention to him.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 34