Chapter 296

"You can take it, but this Shuiyun Pill is of supreme quality—only someone with at least a top-grade Water Spirit Root won't waste it; if below that, you'll absorb less than one or two percent of its potency."

"Thank you, Master Shu, I understand—I won't rashly take it myself."

"I've heard how you shone in the Jialan Secret Realm, your strength unmatched among Qi Condensation disciples—but sadly, you're still only at the late Qi Condensation stage with a four-element root. Even if you become a true disciple of this sect, you'll still need plenty of pills in the future."

"Master Shu knows these things—but what exactly are you suggesting?"

"I am Fan Tian, the only second-rank alchemist in the sect."

"Second-rank alchemist"

Wang Yu was genuinely startled and studied the "Master Shu" before him again with renewed attention.

He knew the man was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but he never imagined he was also an alchemist—yet why would someone of his status be in the Spirit Goods Pavilion? Even if on duty, he should be in the Pill Hall.

Fan Tian seemed to sense what Wang Yu was thinking and said calmly: "I'm only here temporarily, filling in for a junior brother for a couple of days—I won't be here after that."

"So you're Master Fan—I apologize for my rudeness." Wang Yu knew the high status of a second-rank alchemist and immediately bowed respectfully to the man.

"Wang Shixiong, this supreme pill is extremely important to me. After thorough study, it might help me advance my alchemical art. If you're willing to sell it to me, Fan Mou will owe you a favor—you may come directly to me for any pills you need in the future."

Wang Yu fell silent for a long moment, then, eyes flickering, bowed slightly to Fan Tian.

"Master Fan, I don't need any spirit stones for this supreme pill—I'll give it to you freely, but I ask one thing in return."

"What is it?"

Fan Tian's expression darkened; he didn't smile, but frowned slightly.

"I won't hide it from you, Master Shu—I've long aspired to learn alchemy. I hope you'll teach me even a little."

Fan Tian blinked in surprise. "You want me to teach you alchemy? If I recall correctly, Wang Shixiong, you're already a certified first-rank artificer."

"Yes, I am a first-rank artificer—but that shouldn't hinder learning alchemy, should it?"

This time, Fan Tian was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he said to Wang Yu: "Are you certain you'll trade this supreme pill for the chance to learn alchemy from me?"

"Let me be clear: if you sold this supreme pill, you could get at least tens of thousands of spirit stones. But if you learn from me, I'll only guide you in basic techniques—whether you succeed depends entirely on your insight. Alchemy is notoriously difficult among the hundred arts of cultivation, even harder than artifice and far more dependent on innate talent."

"Yes. As long as Master Fan is willing to teach, I'm ready. If I can't even enter the path, then I simply lack the talent—and I'll withdraw without hesitation."

"Very well. Since Wang Shixiong insists, it's settled. Three days from now, bring this pill to my cave. I'll accept you as an alchemy apprentice."

Wang Yu's face lit up with joy.

Fan Tian then gave Wang Yu a guidance talisman and settled the account for the items he'd sold—nearly twenty thousand spirit stones, paid in a large pile of mid-grade spirit stones.

As for the two gourds of Greenback Scorpion venom, Wang Yu kept them for himself and didn't sell them to the Spirit Goods Pavilion. He then took his leave and departed.

Fan Tian watched Wang Yu's retreating figure, stroked the few short hairs on his chin, and murmured:

"I never expected this Wang Shixiong, so renowned right now, to be someone with ambitions higher than the heavens. He's already mastered artifice—and now he wants to learn alchemy too? Is he overconfident, thinking he can master both?"

"Still, this supreme pill—no one knows which alchemical master crafted it. With it as a reference, I can solve several long-standing alchemical problems. Trading just one apprentice slot for it is a tremendous bargain."

After leaving the Spirit Goods Pavilion, Wang Yu went to the General Affairs Hall.

When the senior steward on duty heard Wang Yu's request to apply for the True Disciple examination, his expression turned peculiar—but he said nothing more and immediately registered him on the spot.

Wang Yu thanked him, then returned to his cave and plunged straight into the inner chamber.

He sat cross-legged on the mat in the center, a purple vial placed before him on the floor. He stared at it in silence.

After a long while, a soft sigh echoed through the chamber.

"Pity—it's a second-rank supreme pill, not a first-rank supreme pill, and certainly not a Fire-element pill."

"Though excellent, only a Foundation Establishment cultivator can take it. My Water Spirit Root's grade can't even unlock its potency."

"A pill that greatly boosts Foundation Establishment cultivation falling into the hands of a Qi Condensation disciple is too conspicuous. Right now, securing True Disciple status is paramount—I must avoid drawing attention. Trading this pill for a chance to learn alchemy isn't unacceptable."

"With my talent, I'll need pills in abundance in the future. If I truly learn alchemy, I'll never have to worry again. I wonder if the Overclock Sync Mode can assist me in alchemy too."

"The Zengyuan Pill is already useless—I'll have to rely on rarer, more specialized pills now."

Wang Yu muttered a few words, shook his sleeve, and the purple vial vanished.

In its place, a jade box and a pale yellow pill vial appeared on the floor.

Wang Yu first picked up the yellow vial, gently upending it into his palm. Three emerald-green pills rolled out, each the size of a peanut, each marked with a faint silver streak.

"This is the Bishui Pill."

Wang Yu stared intently at the pills in his hand.

According to Tianchan Laozu, one Bishui Pill grants several years of cultivation—but does "several" mean three or four, or five or six?

For now, let's assume three Bishui Pills can save me ten years of hard cultivation.

Wang Yu pondered, returned the pills to the vial, then opened the jade box and took out a fruit, translucent and glowing with a red aura.

It was the Jade Flame Fruit he had obtained from the Jialan Secret Realm.

According to the spirit-plant disciple who secretly whispered to him in the herb garden, this is the main ingredient for the Jade Flame Pill. One Jade Flame Fruit can yield three to five Jade Flame Pills: a low-grade pill saves five years, mid-grade eight, and high-grade twelve. The effect seems even stronger than the Bishui Pill.

But after leaving the Jialan Secret Realm, he hadn't seen that spirit-plant disciple among the returning disciples—he must have perished inside.

Thus, he didn't know why the disciple had whispered to him: was it pure goodwill, or did he also hope to claim a share of the Jade Flame Pills?

Now that the man was gone, there was no need to dwell on it.

He had previously worried about finding an alchemist to craft the Jade Flame Pills—yet today he met a second-rank alchemist. This was another reason he had given the supreme Shuiyun Pill to Fan Tian without hesitation.

No matter how excellent a second-rank supreme pill is, it's useless until Foundation Establishment—far less valuable than a pill that can boost cultivation right now.