Chapter 69

By the time Lin Mo reached Zhu Weiwan’s courtyard, he realized he had overthought things.

As soon as he unlocked the password lock at the gate and stepped inside, he saw a half-person-tall ancient tripod standing in the courtyard.

The tripod had a majestic shape with smooth lines, its surface engraved with intricate patterns and runes brimming with Daoic essence, drawing the eye to linger.

Most crucially, the three-legged tripod was blazing hot, with occasional wisps of flame and steam spewing from its openings, raising the courtyard’s temperature by at least ten degrees.

Above the tripod, mist swirled, as if miniature thunderclouds floated in midair.

Zhu Weiwan wore her Qing Shan Daoist robe, sleeves rolled up to her shoulders, revealing a pair of pale, strong arms as she continuously formed Dao seals.

Wisps of flame drifted from her fingertips, slowly entering the tripod’s openings.

Each wisp of flame triggered a rise of mist and vapor.

Seeing Lin Mo enter, Zhu Weiwan, with dark circles under her eyes, turned to look at him:

“Lin Shi-di, you’re here? Just find a spot to sit—I’ll be done in another fifteen minutes.”

Lin Mo murmured an acknowledgment while curiously observing Zhu Weiwan’s actions.

So this was alchemy?

Alchemy, elixir consumption, attaining immortality.

Since ancient times, alchemy on Diyuan Star had always been both mysterious and widespread.

In the Age of Great Cultivation, even ordinary pharmacies could prescribe basic healing elixirs—but strictly speaking, those were all “fake elixirs.”

The reason was simple: true alchemy required Foundation Establishment, followed by formal apprenticeship at a Dao Academy and successful transition into the Alchemist profession.

Alchemy in the mortal realm involved special techniques for processing herbs, somewhat similar to Lin Mo’s past-life Chinese medicine.

But this world was rich in spiritual energy, with an extraordinary variety of herbs possessing potent effects—even “fake elixirs” worked well.

For a cold or fever, two or three fake elixirs would cure it instantly.

Even serious injuries like ruptured organs or broken ribs could be treated.

Of course, these “fake elixirs” could not be compared to true elixirs.

For example, the Level 1 Qi Refining Powder Lin Mo had only ever obtained once was a rare item mortal Qi Refiners could never replicate.

Zhu Shijie is an Alchemist!?

Lin Mo stared at Zhu Weiwan, drenched in sweat, his curiosity growing sharper.

If, aside from Sword Cultivators, there was any other cultivation profession he found interesting, it was surely the Alchemist.

The reason was simple: even ordinary fake elixirs in the mortal realm were extremely valuable—how much more so the real ones crafted by Alchemists?

If I just brew a single Yang-Boosting Elixir and sell it in the mortal realm, I’d make a fortune!

Half an hour passed quickly as Lin Mo drifted into daydreams.

Zhu Shijie sent the final wisp of Daoic flame into the tripod, then formed a seal with both hands—the steaming openings seemed covered by an invisible barrier, halting further steam and flame.

Only after she finished did Lin Mo speak:

“Zhu Shijie is an Alchemist!”

Qing Shan Sect’s primary focus was Sword Cultivation, like the previous Feng Shi-xiong, so Lin Mo had unconsciously assumed all team leaders were Sword Cultivators.

Zhu Weiwan wiped sweat from her brow and smiled: “I have a Fire elemental root—I couldn’t choose Sword Cultivation. That’s why I was admitted to Qing Shan Sect in the first place.”

Again, early admission?

Lin Mo exclaimed: “Zhu Shijie, you’re not ordinary at all.”

Entering the Nine Great Dao Academies was already difficult; being directly admitted was even harder.

Only geniuses like Chu Wange, Chen Xuanzhi, or Long A qualified for early admission.

Zhu Weiwan smiled modestly:

“I got lucky and ranked second on the Immortal List—but our cohort wasn’t nearly as strong as yours. If it were this year, I might not even make the top five.”

Still, she made the top ten?

Lin Mo silently assessed Zhu Weiwan’s talent—someone in the top ten must have at least a Heavenly Elemental Root.

He suddenly remembered something and asked curiously: “What about He Shi-xiong? What was his rank back then?”

Zhu Weiwan shook her head:

“I think he was two cohorts behind me. I don’t recall his exact rank, but he definitely didn’t make the top ten—I’d remember if he had.”

Lin Mo’s expression turned strange: so Zhu Weiwan was not only more talented than He Shi-xiong, but also entered earlier.

If you’re his senior, why do you let him boss you around? Aren’t you too nice?

He thought to himself.

Zhu Weiwan seemed to sense his thoughts and sighed:

“It’s unavoidable—every Sword Academy is like this, let alone Qing Shan Sect.”

Lin Mo unconsciously thought of Chu Wange, then of Feng Shi-xiong…

Compared to those two, He Shi-xiong’s attitude didn’t seem so bad?

Lin Mo paused, then asked: “Zhu Shijie, what conditions are needed to switch to Alchemist in Qing Shan Sect and join the Alchemy Academy?”

“Do you want to become an Alchemist, Lin Shi-di?”

“I’ve been considering it.”

Seeing him nod, Zhu Weiwan hesitated, then said:

“First, your Fire elemental root purity must be no lower than 69%.”

“If you have a dual elemental root, Fire-Wood is best, and neither can be below 65%.”

Lin Mo: “...”

He had calculated the increase from the Heaven-grade elemental substance [True Ultimate Flame]—even after full assimilation, his Fire root might reach only around fifty-some percent.

It definitely wouldn’t exceed 60%!

That level couldn’t even meet the minimum requirement for dual roots.

Still unwilling to give up, Lin Mo asked: “What if I have a five-element root? Would the requirements be lower?”

As team leader, Zhu Weiwan knew well his mediocre talent; she gave him an apologetic look:

“Qing Shan Sect is one of the Nine Great Dao Academies—its inheritance standards are higher than ordinary academies.”

Sigh. Alchemy’s out again… Lin Mo sighed inwardly—then Zhu Weiwan suddenly remembered something and added:

“Oh, if you possess an Alien Flame, you can still become an Alchemist by completing a hidden transition quest tied to Alien Flames.”

“Alien Flame?”

“Yes. Alchemists with Alien Flames gain bonuses in alchemy—even with lower elemental root quality, they can still achieve great success.”

That was Zhu Weiwan’s reply.

Lin Mo thought for a moment, then slowly extended his index finger before her—and snapped.

*Snap!* A small flame leapt from his fingertip.

The warm fire illuminated Lin Mo’s face in the courtyard’s dim light as he asked:

“Zhu Shijie—is this an Alien Flame?”