He humphed, and said, “Don’t think that you can act all arrogant just because you’ve become a little famous recently. Don’t forget that this is the Imperial Capital. We live right under the empress’ throne where there are countless prodigies and supreme elites!”
Ling Han laughed loudly, and said, “Is that so? Then are you a prodigy, or are you a supreme elite?”
“Humph! I’m only 30,000 years old, yet I’m already a Level Two Alchemist! Moreover, I’ll be able to become a Level Three Alchemist in no time at all!” Jiu Wuqi wore a proud expression as he spoke.
‘Is this person a stupid pig?’
Ling Han couldn’t help but feel puzzled. He had started from scratch, but could already refine Level Three Divine Pills now. Although he could only refine one type, one’s alchemy level was simply based on the highest level pill one could refine. This was a publicly recognized system.
‘This person is still a Level Two Alchemist even though he’s already practiced alchemy for 30,000 years? And he still needs some time to reach Level Three? How can he be considered a genius?
‘But he doesn’t look like a dumb c*nt…
‘So, it turns out that my talent in alchemy is actually this amazing?!’
Ling Han could only conclude that his talent was too impressive.
A smug smile appeared on Jiu Wuqi’s face as he thought that it was him who had caused Ling Han to become speechless.
In the alchemy world on the Joint Peace Planet, those who became Level One Alchemists before turning 3,000 years old and those who became Level Two Alchemists before being 10,000 years old could all be considered geniuses. Meanwhile, Jiu Wuqi was about to become a Level Three Alchemist, and doing so at the age of only 30,000 years was even more stunning than the previous two feats.
In addition, his talent in cultivation was also outstanding—he had already reached the high extreme of the Mountain River Tier.
These were the foundations of his pride and arrogance.
Jiu Wuqi humphed, and said, “So, don’t think that you can act all high and mighty just because you’ve achieved a small feat. Compared to me, you’re absolutely nothing!”
Ling Han finally came to a realization. This person was the type who was extremely conceited and narrow-minded, and couldn’t tolerate anyone being more talented than them.
He shook his head, not wanting to speak any more nonsense with this sort of person. He turned to Gu Lingyu, and said, “Let’s not make your master wait for too long.”
“Mm-hm!” Gu Lingyu nodded, and they immediately left.
Jiu Wuqi almost collapsed in anger. ‘Why are both of these people looking down on me?’
He hurriedly caught up to them, and said, “Brat, you’re only at the medium extreme of the Mountain River Tier! You should know how expensive and scarce alchemical pills are, right? However, if you can become my friend, you’ll never need to worry about obtaining alchemical pills in the future!”
Ling Han chuckled in his mind, and said, “Then how can I become your friend?”
“Hehehe!” Jiu Wuqi instantly started laughing, thinking that Ling Han had finally bowed down to him. “It’s easy. Just call me big brother in the future. Also, Junior Sister Gu is mine, so don’t even think about trying to get together with her!”
He lowered his voice on his last sentence so that only Ling Han could hear him.
‘What a narrow-minded person. He can’t bear seeing others more talented and impressive than him?’
Ling Han chuckled, and said, “Someone who’s truly talented doesn’t need to boast to others. You’re far from being talented, so stop embarrassing yourself before others. Also, I don’t think that you’re worthy of Lady Gu.”
“Damn it!” Jiu Wuqi’s embarrassment turned into anger, and he said, “Brat, don’t be too full of yourself! You’ve successfully angered me, so I can guarantee that no pharmacy in the Imperial Capital will sell you any alchemical pills! Not even a single pill!”
Ling Han’s expression became quite strange. Jiu Wuqi was still completely unaware that he had opened his own pharmacy.
‘Oh, Jiu Wuqi isn’t wrong, either. It’s my own pharmacy anyway, so that doesn’t count as “selling”.’
“Heh, I’m so terrified!” Ling Han said with a smile.
Although Jiu Wuqi was conceited, he could still read others’ expressions just fine. He knew that Ling Han was teasing him, and his expression became even darker.
‘Humph! This brat will understand how extremely stupid it is to offend an alchemist when he walks around with True Origin Stones yet fails to buy any alchemical pill!’
He decided to follow Ling Han and Gu Lingyu, a cold smirk on his face.
Gu Lingyu was an absolute idiot when it came to worldly matters, and she still hadn’t realized that Ling Han and Jiu Wuqi were already completely at odds with each other. She continued to lead the way, and it wasn’t long before they arrived in a small garden.
“Master,” she called respectfully.
She had said master and not teacher—these were two completely different concepts.
However, Ling Han was a little stumped. ‘Where’s her master?’
The garden wasn’t big, and he could see everything at a glance. However, he couldn’t see a fourth person anywhere.
A delicate shout traveled over. “Kid, where are you looking?”
‘Hmm?’
Ling Han lowered his head, only to see a woman sitting cross-legged on the petal of a flower.
How large was the petal of a flower?
She was as small as a thumb, with her body only being an inch or so tall. Strangely, there was also a pair of extremely thin wings on her back. They were almost transparent, yet they were still adorned with golden thread-like patterns that were incredibly thin.
‘Is this Yan Xiaoxuan, Gu Lingyu’s master and the Deputy Head of the Alchemy Institution?’
Ling Han could barely believe his eyes. “Senior, are you…”
“What, are you looking down on me because of my small stature?” Yan Xiaoxuan was displeased, and she instantly unleashed an aura that was unique to elites.
She was definitely at the Sun Moon Tier, though it was impossible for Ling Han to judge her exact cultivation as she hadn’t summoned her Sun or Moon.
“No, I would never dare to!” Ling Han replied hurriedly. “I’m just a bit surprised.” He spoke exactly what he thought.
It was best to remain honest before such elites.
Sure enough, Yan Xiaoxuan laughed heartily, and said, “I’m half-human and half-Dream Spirit Tribe.”
Half-humans were the offspring between humans and Demonic Beasts who could shapeshift. They possessed characteristics of both humans and Demonic Beasts, and they would also inherit the bloodline of both of their parents. Generally speaking, they were more adaptable than their parents.
Ling Han bowed, and said, “Ling Han pays his respects to Senior Yan!” This was an act of respect toward elites.
Yan Xiaoxuan accepted his greeting, then raised her hand, and said, “No need for the formalities! I called you over to ask whether you want to join our Alchemy Institution or not.”
Pu!
Jiu Wuqi instantly choked and spluttered. ‘What on earth is happening?’
If the Alchemy Institution wanted to recruit people, they could simply make an announcement in the Imperial Capital. People would definitely apply in droves.
Alchemy was a transcendent occupation, and the status of an alchemist was a level above that of cultivators at the same level. This was a publicly acknowledged fact.
It was because of this that Jiu Wuqi acted so conceited and felt so good about himself.
But what now? Yan Xiaoxuan had actually called Ling Han over and personally asked him whether he wanted to join the Alchemy Institution. This naturally scared Jiu Wuqi to death.
The Alchemy Institution was extremely strict when it came to recruiting students. In fact, it was tens or even hundreds of times more strict than t
he four major institutions! The four major institutions could recruit several hundred students every 20 years, but what about the Alchemy Institution? It would be considered decent if they could recruit one student every 100 years.
This was because students recruited into the Alchemy Institution would generally form traditional master and disciple relationships. Thus, the alchemy grandmasters would all be extremely careful when selecting students. They would rather have fewer disciples than have untalented or immoral disciples.
Since when had the Alchemy Institution become this unreserved?
Chapter 1055 - Heavy Blow
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Ling Han pondered for a moment, and said, “I’m simply a little interested in alchemy. However, I still want to place my primary focus on cultivation.”
This was a polite refusal.
Pu!
Jiu Wuqi’s eyes almost popped out in astonishment. ‘The Deputy Head of the Alchemy Institution personally invited you, yet you actually rejected her offer?! Do you know how lofty the status of Alchemy Institution disciples is?
‘Even cultivators of an equivalent tier have to show them utmost respect. In fact, even cultivators of a higher tier have to be polite before them. They’re pretty much a rank above everyone! How impressive and mighty is this?
‘Do you know how hard it is for cultivators to advance a minor level? It takes tens of thousands years even in the Mountain River Tier. In fact, many people can’t advance any further after reaching the cultivation level of the low extreme, medium extreme, or high extreme.
‘This being the case, how incredibly precious is the fact that alchemists are a level above cultivators of an equivalent rank?
‘Yet you actually rejected her offer? Are you stupid, or are you retarded?!’
Meanwhile, Yan Xiaoxuan laughed heartily, and said, “The pharmacy to the east of the Imperial City is owned by you, am I correct?”
Ling Han’s heart jolted. However, this was no secret, and Yan Xiaoxuan would naturally investigate him since she wanted to take him in as her disciple. Ling Han nodded, and answered, “Yes.”
An awkward expression instantly appeared on Jiu Wuqi’s face. Just then, he had still said that no pharmacy would sell pills to Ling Han if he were to give the word. Who knew that Ling Han had his own pharmacy? It was as if he had been smacked across the face!
Yan Xiaoxuan continued, “I’ve heard that your pharmacy only sells three types of pills?”
Jiu Wuqi almost burst into laughter.
‘You can only refine three types of pills, yet you still have the face to open a store? Aren’t you afraid of causing others to laugh to death?’
He instantly regained his confidence, an air of arrogance reappearing on his face.
Ling Han chuckled, and said, “Correct.”
“Are these three types of pills all refined by you?” Yan Xiaoxuan asked. Her eyes suddenly became piercing, and they exuded a hint of a domineering aura unique to Sun Moon Tier elites.
Ling Han’s divine sense had always been resilient and powerful. Now that he had absorbed the essence of a Demon Master, almost no one could suppress him through his divine sense—unless his opponent was a supreme elite at the Genesis Tier.
He thought for a moment, and replied, “My talents are thin and my skills are shallow, so I’ve only been able to learn these three pill recipes.”
Jiu Wuqi’s feeling of superiority became even more intense. Ling Han had only learnt three pill recipes, while he had learnt 176 Level One pill recipes and 74 Level Two pill recipes!
It was precisely because he had refined a large number and a wide variety of pills that he had accumulated enough experience and tempered his divine sense enough. As such, he had finally reached a state where he could see the door to becoming a Level Three Alchemist. This was what he was most proud of.
Yan Xiaoxuan smiled as she clicked her tongue, and said, “The three pills are the Heavenly Qi Pill, the Heavenly Pearl Pill, and the Jade Heaven Pill. Ling Han, you started from zero yet were able to become a Level Three Alchemist in the short span of one year. If such a feat is merely the result of your interest, I can’t begin to fathom what kind of results you can achieve if you were to focus all of your attention on alchemy.”
Pa!
Jiu Wuqi instantly stumbled back and sat on the ground, his face twitching and his expression as pale as dying embers.
He had genuinely suffered a heavy blow.
‘This brat can actually refine Level Three Divine Pills? Even if he can only refine one type, he’s still a Level Three Alchemist!’
Yet he had still been glorifying himself before Ling Han… How laughable! How embarrassing! Ling Han had probably been laughing on the inside when he had boasted about becoming a Level Three Alchemist soon, right?
‘Damn it! F*cking damn it!’
Hatred welled up in his heart. Someone like him would never seek to reflect on themselves. It was clearly him who had provoked Ling Han first, yet now that he had been humiliated, he piled all of the blame onto Ling Han.
Yan Xiaoxuan glanced at her disciple in slight displeasure. ‘How can one become so emotional over such trifles and show all of their emotions on their face? How can one reach the summit of alchemy with such an attitude and mentality?’
Having a heart like a capering monkey and a mind like a galloping horse were great taboos of alchemy. Such capriciousness couldn’t be tolerated.
Ling Han clasped his hands and politely refused again, saying, “Senior, to tell you the truth, I’m more interested in cultivation even though I do hold a strong interest in alchemy.”
This was a world of cultivation, after all. Even though alchemists were esteemed and revered, this kind of lofty status was given by none other than cultivators.
This signified that… cultivators could confiscate their status at any time!
Yan Xiaoxuan also smiled, and said, “Don’t worry. You won’t be refining pills all day long even if you do join the Alchemy Institution. A prodigy like you—who was able to become a Level Three Alchemist in merely a year—can probably become a Level Four or Level Five Alchemist with no problem at all.”
However, Ling Han knew that he could only refine a Level Three Divine Pill so soon because the resilience and strength of his divine sense was far beyond that of ordinary cultivators at the medium extreme. Otherwise, how could it have been so easy to refine a Level Three Divine Pill, which was equivalent to the rank of the high extreme?
Moreover, he didn’t need to worry about controlling the cauldron fire in the Black Tower, which made refining Level Three Divine Pills even easier. Although he was confident that he could refine the Jade Heaven Pill even if he were placed in the outside word, he definitely wouldn’t be able to obtain a perfect 10 pills with each cauldron that he refined.
The strength of his divine sense could only sustain him in refining Level Four Divine Pills. If he wanted to refine Level Five Divine Pills, his cultivation level would have to reach the high extreme of the Mountain River Tier at minimum.
“If you join the Alchemy Institution, you’ll be able to access all of the pill recipes kept by the Alchemy Institution!” Yan Xiaoxuan made an irrefutable offer upon seeing that Ling Han was still hesitant.
Ling Han was instantly moved.
Pill recipes were extremely precious, and like secret techniques, they remained concealed and were kept secret by those who owned them. Even money couldn’t necessarily buy them.
Yet right now, the Alchemy Institution was actually willing to give him free access to their pill recipes!
“Moreover, there’s no need for you to forfeit your identity of a student of the Northern Institution. You can simply practice both cultivation and alchemy.” Yan Xiaoxuan opened a backdoor for him, and asked, “What do you say?”
Seeing the Deputy Head’s sincerity, Ling Han nodded, and said, “I’m willing to listen to Senior’s arrangements!”
“Brilliant,
brilliant!” Yan Xiaoxuan was also extremely happy. He was a prodigy, a genuine prodigy! It was the Alchemy Institution’s fortune to recruit him!
Perhaps a giant of alchemy who could influence the entire alchemy world would one day walk out from this Alchemy Institution.
Now that Yan Xiaoxuan had spoken, there was no doubt that Ling Han would be able to enter the Alchemy Institution. He didn’t need worry about it, as there would naturally be someone to take care of the process.
In reality, alchemists didn’t refine pills all day long. They also needed to cultivate.
There was no way around this. How could one control their cauldron fire or extract and intertwine the divine patterns from ingredients without a sufficient cultivation level?
Thus, Ling Han’s being both a cultivator and an alchemist at the same time wasn’t rare, nor would anyone denounce him because of this. Anyhow, the Deputy Head of the Alchemy Institution was personally taking him in as her disciple, so who would dare to? Would they not be afraid of having no pills to eat for the rest of their lives?
After only three days, Ling Han was bestowed three pill recipes by Yan Xiaoxuan, all of them for Level Three Divine Pills.
In the future, Ling Han would receive more and higher-ranked pill recipes the stronger his alchemy ability became.
Ling Han put the three pill recipes aside for the moment. Right now, his focus was to refine the Mysterious Azure Pill, a pill that could be taken by cultivators at the consummate level of the Mountain River Tier. This pill could instantly replenish a large amount of one’s Origin Power, and it could be said that it was one of the most useful pills.
“Blockhead! Blockhead!” Li Weiwei rushed over to disturb him and shatter his peaceful cultivation. “There’s bad news! Your little comrades have been beaten!”
Chapter 1056 - Coming of War
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“What little comrades?” Ling Han was at a loss.
“Like Lin You, Ma Xing…” Li Weiwei counted on her fingers. “Of those who entered into the Shattering Void Tier Division with you, all men were collectively challenged yesterday, and are all now black and blue.”
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 541