Chapter 9: Pharmacist Elder!

“Alchemist?” Hearing this, Xiao Yan was startled, then frowned deeply: “In the Dou Qi Continent, everyone wants to become an alchemist, but can just anyone become one? Those strict conditions…” His voice paused abruptly, and Xiao Yan looked up, his mouth wide open: “Have I reached it?”

The old man, who greatly enjoyed Xiao Yan’s expression of shock mixed with hope and joy, stroked his beard and thought for a moment. After looking Xiao Yan up and down, he sighed reluctantly: “Although you barely qualify, I owe you a favor, sigh… Well, consider this as repaying that debt…”

Staring at the old man’s reluctant expression, Xiao Yan felt something was off about the old guy’s words, but he didn’t bother to ask further. Instead, he was overjoyed, albeit with some doubt: “Even if I meet the conditions, becoming an alchemist usually requires a master to teach them personally. Are you also an alchemist?”

Seeing the skeptical look on Xiao Yan’s face, the old man chuckled, his chest puffed out slightly, and a hint of pride crept into his voice: “Yes, I am an alchemist!”

Xiao Yan’s eyes lit up as he gazed at the old man. An alchemist, what a rare being…

“Sir, may I ask, what rank were you as an alchemist before?” Xiao Yan licked his lips, his voice more polite.

On the Dou Qi Continent, although alchemists are rare, due to their noble status, there is a clear ranking system from Rank One to Nine. The owner of the Gather Qi Powder in Nalan Yanran’s hands, the Dan King Gu He, was a Rank Six Alchemist, the first in the Jia Ma Empire.

“Rank? Hehe, I can’t remember… Hey, little guy, do you want to learn or not?” Shaking his head, the old man suddenly asked impatiently.

“Learn, learn!” Without hesitation, Xiao Yan eagerly nodded. Even a powerful force like the Yun Lan Sect would treat an alchemist as a highly esteemed guest.

“Hehe, willing? If you’re willing, then bow and become my disciple.”

The old man sat cross-legged on a green stone, grinning slyly.

“Still need to become a disciple?”

“Of course! You think I’ll impart all my knowledge without you becoming my disciple? In your dreams!” The old man rolled his eyes, clearly valuing the master-disciple relationship.

Sighing, Xiao Yan respectfully bowed to the old man, determined to become a noble alchemist.

After carefully observing Xiao Yan’s etiquette, the old man nodded in satisfaction, his voice now more affectionate: “My name is Pharmacist Elder. As for my origins, I won’t tell you yet to avoid distractions. You only need to know that people like the so-called ‘Dan King’ are… well, just farts.”

Xiao Yan’s mouth twitched. Seeing the old man’s casual demeanor, he swallowed his words: “What is this old man’s background? The famous Dan King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire, just a fart…? If I say this, the entire Jia Ma Empire might laugh me off as a madman.”

Taking a deep breath to calm his shock, Xiao Yan’s eyes turned, and he smiled, “Master, how do you plan to make me reach the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi in one year?”

“Although your Dou Qi has been declining for three years, it has also made your foundation stronger than others. In Dou Qi cultivation, the foundation is the most important. You will soon see the benefits of this decline in strength over the past three years!” The old man said seriously, his smile fading.

Xiao Yan was taken aback; he had no idea that a decline in strength could be beneficial.

“When will you teach me alchemy?” Xiao Yan, eager to get to the crux, asked.

“To become an alchemist, you need to have flame Dou Qi. So, before learning alchemy, you must at least become a Dou Zhe and practice a fire attribute Dou Qi technique!”

“Fire attribute technique? Hehe, Master, since I’m your disciple, give me a Heavenly Tier fire attribute technique to practice.” Xiao Yan extended his hand, smiling.

“Nonsense! Do you think Heavenly Tier techniques grow on trees? How could you even ask for that?” The old man’s face twitched, and he scolded him with a mix of laughter and tears.

“Old man, since I’ve joined your sect, you can’t expect me to find a technique from my clan. Our best fire attribute technique is only at the Yellow Tier, which is really embarrassing,” Xiao Yan said, his face gloomy.

“Little brat, it’s Master, not Old Man!” Flipping his eyelids, the old man was furious at Xiao Yan’s disrespectful address, especially since he had just become his disciple.

“Hmph, now that you’re my disciple, I won’t embarrass you. I don’t have a Heavenly Tier technique, but I do have a technique more bizarre than any Heavenly Tier one. Do you want to learn it?” The old man huffed, his eyes filled with conspiracy.

“More bizarre than a Heavenly Tier technique?” Xiao Yan’s heart raced, and he swallowed, his black eyes flickering with interest, “What rank is it?”

“Low Yellow Tier.”

Xiao Yan’s face froze at the old man’s answer.

“Old man, are you kidding me?” Soon, the mountain top echoed with the angry roar of the young man.

Seeing the furious Xiao Yan, the old man laughed triumphantly, proud of making the usually calm Xiao Yan lose his composure.

“What’s so bizarre about that technique?” Staring at the old man’s teasing face, Xiao Yan calmed down and asked, frowning.

“It can evolve!” After a brief silence, the old man smiled.

Xiao Yan’s pupils constricted, staring at the old man. After a while, he shook his head, “Impossible! I’ve never heard of a technique that can evolve!”

“Tsk, what do you know? The Dou Qi Continent is vast, full of wonders. To a small fry like you who has never left the Jia Ma Empire, the impossible is just a drop in the ocean.”

Xiao Yan hesitated, then retorted, “Have you ever heard of another technique that can evolve?”

The old man’s smile stiffened, and after a moment, he forced a laugh, “That’s exactly why my technique is unique!”

“Really can evolve?” Seeing the old man’s serious face, Xiao Yan asked again.

“Really can evolve!” The old man nodded firmly.

“Have you practiced it?”

“Er… No.” The old man shook his head, smiling awkwardly.

“Has anyone else practiced it?”

“Er… No.”

Xiao Yan’s forehead pulsed with a vein, and he clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to punch the old man. With anger in his voice, he asked, “If no one has practiced it, how do you know it can evolve?”

“The technique itself says so,” the old man grinned.

“Is there really such a technique?” Xiao Yan frowned, hesitating, then turned his black eyes, “Can I see it?”

“Hehe…” The old man glanced at the curious Xiao Yan, then changed his tone, “No point in showing you now. Wait until you become a Dou Zhe, and I’ll pass it to you.”

Xiao Yan’s hand stiffened, and his mouth twitched. After a while, he squeezed out, “You’re ruthless!”

The old man laughed heartily, ignoring Xiao Yan’s burning black eyes, and said, “Your current task is to reach the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi within a year.”

“How?” Xiao Yan bit his lip, suppressing his curiosity about the mysterious technique.

“Training initial Dou Qi involves expanding the meridians and strengthening the body. At this age, the meridians are the most vulnerable and malleable, so this training must be gradual, without any external assistance. Otherwise, when your Dou Qi grows stronger, the meridians will rupture, leading to death!”

Xiao Yan understood this, remembering how his father, in his desperation, had tried to force Dou Qi into him during his wasted years. Each time, he had stopped just in time, so Xiao Yan knew the risks.

The old man glanced at the calm Xiao Yan, nodding approvingly, “For others, yes, but you are different. Your foundation is already solid, and your will is strong. You’ve never missed a day of practice. So, your foundation is excellent!”

“Are you going to use external methods to boost my strength? Like pills?” Xiao Yan’s eyes twinkled.

“Something like that, but your meridians can’t withstand the energy from any pill, even the lowest Gather Qi Powder!” The old man smiled faintly.

“Lowest Gather Qi Powder…” Xiao Yan’s fingers trembled, and he almost rolled his eyes. The pill, sold at a high price in the Jia Ma Empire, was now the lowest in the old man’s view. The gap left him stunned.

“What’s your plan, then?” Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan calmed down, frowning.

“Pills are too potent and can damage the meridians. We need a gentler approach!” The old man smiled, “Tomorrow, prepare three complete Purple Leaf Orchids, the older the better, and two Cleansing Bone Flowers. The age doesn’t matter. Oh, and a Wood-Attribute Level One Magic Core. These are low-level materials, so you should be able to get them… Someone’s coming, I’ll go back to the ring. And don’t let anyone know about me, including your closest ones.”

Ignoring the increasingly gaping Xiao Yan, the old man jumped into the black ring, which trembled and settled on Xiao Yan’s finger.

“Three complete Purple Leaf Orchids? Two Cleansing Bone Flowers? A Wood-Attribute Level One Magic Core? Old man, are you joking? Do you think I’m a prince? These things together cost at least a thousand gold coins! I’ve saved for years and only have four hundred gold coins, enough for just one Level One Magic Core!” Xiao Yan cursed, holding the ring.

“That’s your problem. Hehe, the nourishing solution I make can’t be bought with money. I only asked for material costs, and you’re already complaining…” The old man’s teasing voice echoed in Xiao Yan’s mind.

“Damn, only the rich can afford alchemists’ products.” Xiao Yan laughed bitterly. His monthly allowance was twenty gold coins, enough for a family to live comfortably for a year, but just a fraction of the cost of the materials the old man mentioned. This was the gap!

“Guess I have to borrow some…” Sighing, Xiao Yan regained his composure, his face returning to its usual calm. Turning to the mountain path, he saw a purple figure, like an elf, bounding lightly towards him.