[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-168":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Mountains and Rivers of the Imperial Granary",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2231584,4184,"Chapter 168: The Alchemy Lesson","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>Today's lesson was taught personally by Qin Zhiyu. It was a practical alchemy class, and also the one the alchemists valued most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the other students, Qin Zhiyu’s class was the most worth attending because he was the only First-Grade Alchemist in the Alchemy Academy—Lady Ye was rumored to be First-Grade, but no one was certain; after asking around, no one had ever heard of this Lady Ye’s achievements. Never mind the Alchemy Academy, even in the entire capital, few had heard of her, as if she had entered through the back door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one were to choose a mentor, Qin Zhiyu was absolutely the most popular in the world; the threshold was practically being trampled down. There weren't nearly as many wanting to find Lady Ye, and the vast majority probably weren't aiming for her knowledge—the possibility that they were aiming for her beauty was much greater...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Lu Xingzhou would absolutely not admit to being the latter; he was naturally admiring her because of Lady Ye’s high level of skill. What beauty? Wearing a veil, no one knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Qin Zhiyu, his popularity was high, but few were fortunate enough to be chosen, and it was also a bit more political.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without Lady Ye, it was likely that Qin Zhiyu wouldn't necessarily choose the Lu master and disciple; it was too much trouble... Not to mention that the people cultivated by the various princes and nobles weren't enough for him to divide up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, if that Chen Yu hadn't had that incident during the trial, he would mostly likely have followed Qin Zhiyu, but now Qin Zhiyu was very resistant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was understandable that Prince Jin’s hand reached far, but one could not break the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of thing was it to directly have someone kill a student? If you have the ability, kill them outside!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, judging solely by Chen Yu’s quality, it was truly commendable. Knowing full well that he had great objections to him, watching him perform practical alchemy, he was actually still so steady, without a hint of panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu watched from the side for a while and shook his head: \"A pity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yu’s expression remained unchanged: \"Please, Dean, give me some guidance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Inner elixir and outer elixir, seemingly different, are actually one. The elixir originates from within and manifests without, born without and promoted within. If the heart-fire is unstable, how can the elixir-fire be at peace?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yu was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu patted his shoulder: \"If the zither-heart is not settled, how can one ride the clouds? Be cautious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, he left Chen Yu’s alchemy furnace and walked over to Lu Xingzhou and his disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo was roasting a sweet potato.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although today was a practical class for Fourth-Grade elixirs, which was useful for most students, it really had no meaning for you two... But you two have the ability to skip grades; what is the meaning of roasting sweet potatoes in my class?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, Mr. Qin.\" A Nuo smiled apologetically: \"My breakfast was snatched by someone, and I'm a bit hungry. You don't mind if I eat a sweet potato, do you, sir? I will finish the alchemy assignment on time...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Who snatched your breakfast?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was the bad guys from the Imperial Academy! They ran to our Alchemy Academy to provoke us! Dean, you must stand up for our Alchemy Academy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu held an expression of \"Are you kidding me?\" The upright old man had no idea how to deal with such messy things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just like his little granddaughter adding trouble at home, his stomach full of both anger and amusement, and in the end, he could only blurt out, \"If you provoke me again, I'll go beat your father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he really went to lecture A Nuo’s father: \"How are you acting as a master, letting your disciple go to school hungry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo needed to eat elixirs; she couldn't fill her stomach with food at all, it was just gluttony...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu sniffed: \"What kind of elixir are you refining again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Practical classes are of course arranged to refine unified elixirs; why is the smell of your whole class wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou smiled apologetically: \"Just, just messing around on my own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu looked at it with a straight face: \"This effect... hair growth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes, how many people are troubled by their hairline? We alchemists should solve the urgent needs of the people, Dean, you agree, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu’s lips moved, but in the end, he didn't make a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still talking about hairlines, is your hairline quite sinister?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, this guy could even refine it to promote hair growth in specific places, so of course, it could be refined for the head. For the vast number of people troubled by their hairlines, this was truly a merit. Qin Zhiyu looked at it with a straight face for a while and finally said: \"The materials can be even cheaper and more universal. Keep pondering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou hurriedly said: \"Certainly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu said: \"The marrow-changing method you proposed has been under study by the Alchemy Academy for these days. Currently, the first case has begun testing. Do you want to go see it yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou said: \"I only have a bit of theory; my practical skills are not as good as you gentlemen, so I don't need to see it... Just tell me when the first case is truly successful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu stared at Lu Xingzhou: \"If so, your name might not be included in this matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou laughed freely: \"There was no credit for me to begin with. You gentlemen who have been studying it are the ones with the primary credit. What does it count for me to just run my mouth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu’s eyes became a bit complex: \"I hope you are truly so indifferent to fame and fortune.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I still want fame...\" Lu Xingzhou smiled: \"The fame in the Dean’s heart is also fame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu was silent for a moment and changed to sound transmission: \"Your mentor has been set as Lady Ye, not me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not important. The Dean is ultimately our teacher as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Zhiyu nodded: \"Lady Ye is also observing the marrow-changing experiment at the academy today. She wants you to find her after class.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood, thank you, Dean.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After school, he arrived at Lady Ye’s office. Lady Ye was leaning back in her chair, closing her eyes to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou hesitated a bit. Why did she look so tired... Speaking of which, if this were a male teacher, he could go up and flatter him, help him with a massage or something, but this was a female teacher...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou gave A Nuo a wink. A Nuo stepped forward reluctantly, her little fists tapping Lady Ye’s shoulders lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan did not open her eyes, her tone sounding amused: \"Why, so reluctant... Lu Nuonuo, are you not my disciple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo said: \"I have a lot of strength! I’m afraid if it’s too heavy, you’ll be in pain, sir.\" \"Hehe.\" Ye Tinglan was very unhappy: \"Forget it, you don't need to tap.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo immediately let go and stopped, still wanting to say: \"My master’s technique is very good, do you want him to come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan: \"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo looked at Lu Xingzhou with contempt. What was that expression? Both cowardly and weak, A Nuo was truly worried to death for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she heard Ye Tinglan say: \"Today’s marrow-changing method was very successful. If it reaches His Majesty, I don't know what thoughts he will have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou deliberated: \"Does sir mean you don't hope His Majesty tries this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His condition is useless. I’m afraid he will mess around and order the common people to match for him, which would be a waste of money and labor.\" Ye Tinglan paused here: \"However, if such a situation truly arises, you don't need to blame yourself. This matter has nothing to do with you; your method is good and can save many people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou roughly knew why Lady Ye, with such strong cultivation, still looked so exhausted; it was actually mental fatigue. The Emperor made many people of insight feel uneasy, and she wasn't the only one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So why bother, sir? You are just a teacher in the academy... Even the sect is a reclusive one. The ups and downs of the secular world, what does it have to do with you, sir?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since I have stepped into the academy, I naturally have the idea of exploring the path for the sect’s comeback.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So sir is observing the current Son of Heaven to see if he is suitable for the sect’s comeback?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More or less.\" Ye Tinglan opened her eyes and smiled: \"Do you think he is suitable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou said directly: \"It is not the time. You can continue to observe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan asked with great interest: \"You are slandering the Son of Heaven right in front of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir is important. Since sir asked, then regardless of who the Son of Heaven is, the answer should be what it is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So honest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is natural.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then can you tell me why, after not seeing you for two days, your primordial yang is gone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou widened his eyes: \"You can even see this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am an alchemist, and a top-tier one at that.\" Ye Tinglan was disappointed: \"You are also an alchemist yourself; you should know clearly that preserving primordial yang has great benefits for many types of cultivation! To be unable to keep it at such a young age, do you still want a future?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But my cultivation has increased, hasn't it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan looked at him with contempt: \"It’s nothing more than evil dual cultivation; what is there to be proud of? How is this different from those people taking elixirs to practice?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this is orthodox dual cultivation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible, absolutely impossible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of orthodox dual cultivation can increase so much in one night! Although Ye Tinglan had never eaten pork, could she not have even this bit of knowledge?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That...\" Lu Xingzhou deliberated for a long time before saying: \"Knowledge from books is ultimately shallow; one must practice to truly understand...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo widened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master, A Nuo wronged you. Just now I said you were cowardly; it turns out you weren't cowardly at all. You even grew hair on your guts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang!\" An invisible large hand slapped Lu Xingzhou to the ground, and he twitched a few times and stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan acted as if she had done nothing, leisurely picking up the cup on the table and taking a sip of spiritual tea: \"The poem is not bad, but the strength is not good. I don't know what kind of messy things you learned in the Yama Hall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough, cough.\" Lu Xingzhou climbed up from the ground with difficulty: \"Is sir familiar with the Yama Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not familiar, I just know two or three.\" Ye Tinglan glanced at him: \"Since you said that when sir asks you a question, the answer should be what it is... then what if I ask you about the Yama Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou thought to himself, it’s coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Lady Ye looked at him differently and wanted to take him as a disciple was at least half due to the intention of monitoring the \"Yama Hall Judge\" up close. It was rare that she held back until now to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment and laughed: \"Except for privacy that might endanger the Yama Hall which cannot be spoken of directly, there is nothing else that cannot be said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan nodded: \"Then what is your relationship with the Yama King?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As everyone knows, superior and subordinate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan was clearly not satisfied with this answer. Looking at Lu Xingzhou’s calm eyes, she finally didn't pursue it, only saying: \"As you know, is the Yama King’s cultivation really only First-Grade?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou smiled: \"The first question stumped me, because I really don't know the Yama King’s specific cultivation... if she intends to hide it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She hides it even from you? Even if you are just a subordinate, you are her right-hand man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Yama King ascended to First-Grade, famous throughout the Great Qian, yet she wouldn't even treat a mere broken leg for her subordinate... Does this treatment look like a right-hand man?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it was precisely for this reason that many outsiders believed the Judge had already become a marginalized person in the Yama Hall. If he really had power, he could personally order subordinates to find medicine to treat his leg; why must it be the Yama King?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So some people who guessed Lu Xingzhou’s identity would feel that capturing him had no value for the Yama Hall, but Ye Tinglan instinctively didn't think so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she heard Lu Xingzhou continue: \"She hides many things from me... I still don't know what her background is. Does sir think she trusts me, the former Judge, very much? Actually, the degree of intimacy between her and me really doesn't compare to sir and your disciple... If sir wouldn't tell me your secrets, then she wouldn't either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Tinglan smiled. Lu Xingzhou’s words were also a counter-attack, equivalent to asking if Yuan Muyu’s background was related to her \"Cloud Hidden Immortal Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finally spoke leisurely: \"Alright, I’ll change the question... The Yama King’s strength is rare in the world, and there are many plans for founding a sect. Why did she choose to be a killer organization? Is there any reason for this? — The Yama Hall was built with your assistance from beginning to end. You should know the ins and outs. Is it convenient to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou was originally standing in front of her. Hearing this, he pulled up a chair and sat down: \"That’s a long story. I need to drink water.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Nuo glanced at Lady Ye carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one water cup on the table, and it was the one Lady Ye had just drunk from. Besides that, where else was there water?\u003C\u002Fp>",2387,"2026-06-18T01:46:09.112Z","2026-06-18T03:18:02.290Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","d35f06160eaac53c89658673566e7400b3f996833b3c0b59214a19721d7685ef","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-169","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-167",325,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmountains-and-rivers-of-the-imperial-granary-cover.jpg"]