Chapter 29: Third-Rank Alchemist, Beg Me to Become Your Disciple!

Yu Zhangsheng did not immediately help the Iron Feather Eagle undergo transformation.

Because his essence was not enough.

Perhaps because of the Iron Feather Eagle's bloodline defect, or perhaps because its racial potential exceeded that of Chi She, the first transformation required 2680 essence!

You must know that whether it was Chi She or the Spirit Chicken, one transformation took only a few hundred essence! So this month it could not transform, and could only wait until next month. Besides this, Yu Zhangsheng's spirit stone reserves were also running low. For Chi She Wang and them, as well as his own cultivation speed, he had to ensure the pill supply.

Previously, for the three batches of materials, the first batch produced six, the second and third batches produced eight each, already reaching the pill formula's standard. To reach Ten Complete Ten Perfect or Two-Path Pill Pattern would require more alchemy; essence point allocation alone could not achieve it in one leap.

"Essence point allocation is not omnipotent either. Although comprehended, one still needs to execute it oneself. A tiny error in variation would make it impossible to refine ten pills."

"However, my current level already exceeds most First-Rank Alchemists."

"The rest is merely a matter of time."

Yu Zhangsheng closed his eyes, sat on the bed, and began cultivating.

The next day, after feeding the Spirit Chicken, he brought alchemy materials to the Alchemy Hall, just about to rent an Alchemy Furnace Room from the Blue Robe Steward.

"You finally came, hurry over, come with me to see Alchemist Gongsun!" Seeing him, the Blue Robe Steward was overjoyed and pulled him inside.

"Alchemist Gongsun, the person has come, has come!"

Yu Zhangsheng looked completely bewildered. When he arrived at Gongsun Yang's classroom, the three Outer Sect Disciples who were still learning alchemy all looked over.

Gongsun Yang, who had been dozing, heard the sound and immediately opened his eyes, rising from the futon in surprise and joy.

"Today's lesson ends here. You disciples may leave on your own."

After speaking, he impatiently came before Yu Zhangsheng.

"Come, come with this old man."

"Alchemist Gongsun, what do you want me for?"

Yu Zhangsheng had not finished speaking before he was pulled by Gongsun Yang to the small room behind, leaving him utterly confused.

And those Outer Sect Disciples left in the classroom were even more shocked beyond measure.

"Isn't that the Outer Disciple from a month ago?"

"How did he come back again?"

"What does Alchemist Gongsun want him for, not even attending class? I've never heard of such a thing!"

"This old alchemist is truly unreliable. Tomorrow I'll switch to another alchemist. Damn it!"

Amidst the clamor, only Tang Xing silently stared at the departing back, his complexion extremely ugly.

In the past few days, he had pestered Gongsun Yang asking about becoming a Personal Transmitted Disciple. Gongsun Yang, originally sincere in attitude, began to be evasive.

Because he had promised to accept him as a disciple, Gongsun Yang could not easily go back on his word. So after several inquiries, he finally gave him the title of Inner Chamber Disciple.

But what he wanted was a Personal Disciple. What was an Inner Chamber Disciple? At most he could obtain the subsequent techniques of Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy, but could not make Gongsun Yang wholeheartedly teach him alchemy! And all these changes were because of that Outer Disciple.

Yu! Zhang! Sheng! Tang Xing clenched his palm, sensing something amiss. Perhaps Gongsun Yang had delayed until now just to accept that Outer Disciple as a Personal Disciple.

But why? Why him? Tang Xing couldn't figure it out, but could infer from details of the past few days that it should be related to what happened in the Alchemy Furnace Room that day. The greatest possibility was that the other person had also learned Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy like him, and had higher talent than him.

"Clearly I came first, I came first." Tang Xing shouted somewhat resentfully in his heart.

And he could not yet show hostility toward Yu Zhangsheng, because once the other was truly accepted by Gongsun Yang as a Personal Transmitted Disciple, in status he would be higher than him, and in identity he would still have to call him Senior Brother.

Thinking of this, Tang Xing felt miserable as if he had eaten shit. On the other side, Yu Zhangsheng, pulled into the small room, secretly became vigilant.

"Sit, sit in front of me."

"Rest assured, this old man finding you will not harm you. It is only to confirm some things."

Gongsun Yang had a smile full of face, kindly and approachable sitting on the wooden chair.

"What does Alchemist Gongsun want to ask? Disciple will speak without reservation." Yu Zhangsheng sat properly beside him, looking at him, and asked softly.

"Hmm, the Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy this old man taught a month ago, have you already entered the threshold?"

"No, it should be more than just entering the threshold. Can you tell this old man which stage you have cultivated to?"

Gongsun Yang stared at him with scorching gaze, as if unwilling to let any expression pass.

Yu Zhangsheng's heart was startled, almost frightened by him, but fortunately his mental fortitude was strong enough, not showing a single flaw. He forced a smile and said.

"Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy is so difficult. How could disciple enter the threshold in just one month? Alchemist Gongsun must have some misunderstanding."

"No need to be perfunctory with this old man. The day you left the Alchemy Furnace Room, not long after, this old man went in to look. I am very certain your alchemy has already entered the threshold."

"Perhaps you don't believe it, but this old man's Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy refined for nearly a hundred years—how could I misjudge? Later if you want to conceal your level, you must remember to clean the alchemy furnace and fire ash cleanly. A Third-Rank Alchemist's eyesight is more vicious than you imagine."

Gongsun Yang raised his palm, interrupting Yu Zhangsheng's action of wanting to continue weaving lies, and continued: "This old man said, will not harm you. On the contrary, the faster you learn, the happier this old man will be."

"So can you tell the truth?"

Hearing this, Yu Zhangsheng secretly regretted his carelessness. He didn't expect that just forgetting to clean the alchemy furnace and fire ash could be seen through.

Then what he told the Blue Robe Steward about alchemy failure—couldn't the other also see through it? No, the other was not a Third-Rank Alchemist. Now the only one who knew his level should be this Gongsun Yang!

Yu Zhangsheng stared at Gongsun Yang, not seeing malice in his eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he could no longer conceal it, and thus said.

"It is not that disciple deliberately concealed it, but rather did not want to attract too many people's attention."

"Now already cultivated to the Second Layer, comprehended the essence of Slow Fire."

The sharp light in Gongsun Yang's eyes blazed. His face full of excited color, he said: "Is this true?"

Yu Zhangsheng nodded.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Did not expect that in the world there truly exists such an odd talent, able to learn one of the essences of Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy in just one month!"

"I wish to accept you as a Personal Transmitted Disciple. Are you willing to take this old man as Teacher?"

Gongsun Yang had already stood up, came before Yu Zhangsheng, and took his hand, his face full of expectation and joy.

"This old man will surely pour out all his heart blood to transmit Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy to you, only hoping you can carry this method forward, making all alchemists under heaven feel ashamed and amazed by it!"

Hearing these words, Yu Zhangsheng's whole body trembled violently, almost losing his balance and falling to the ground.

A Third-Rank Alchemist wanting to accept him as a Personal Transmitted Disciple? Such good fortune was something others would beg for, but he felt he had no blessing to enjoy it. From Gongsun Yang's words, once becoming his Personal Disciple, he would probably have to inherit Three-Fire Refinement Alchemy and the Dao of Pill struggles among other alchemists.

And most importantly, for Yu Zhangsheng, the Way of Alchemy was merely his auxiliary, while the Way of Beast Taming was the root of his survival!

Thus, Yu Zhangsheng wore a constipated expression, lowered his head with effort, and cupped his hands, saying, "Huan Qing, please forgive me, Gongsun Dan Shi; my heart is not in the Way of Alchemy."

(Chapter End)