Chapter 302: Ranked Among the True Disciples

In the pond, Xiao Bai was playfully splashing with two translucent crocodiles.

These two crocodiles resembled Xiao Bai in form, but each body was clearly composed of pond water, slightly pale green in hue, yet every movement was vivid and lifelike, indistinguishable from real crocodiles.

"Splash!"

Xiao Bai climbed out of the pond; the two translucent crocodiles followed, and the moment they left the water, they dissolved into two puddles of clear liquid.

"To control water to this extent—this talent should resemble the Golden Touch, one manipulating water, the other metal, yet the Golden Touch could never achieve such precision. And why do I feel your intellect has grown sharper than before?" Wang Yu bent down, stroking the white crocodile's chin a few times, watching it close its eyes in pleasure, and murmured in confusion.

The previous inspection by the old man in the brown robe had revealed little beyond the fact that Xiao Bai's water control was exceptionally refined, even capable of shaping water into forms; nothing else had been detected.

It seemed Xiao Bai's mutation had awakened only its water affinity.

In the end, this Li Shu had hurriedly departed with a small vial of Xiao Bai's blood and a scale, returning to his cave to conduct deeper research.

Xiao Bai opened its pink eyes, licked Wang Yu's wrist with its tongue, then flipped over and darted back into the pond, splashing contentedly.

"Regardless, Xiao Bai survived its second mutation without major issues—that's certainly good." Wang Yu stood up again, squinting slightly as he murmured.

He returned to his cave, released Da Lv again, letting it play with Xiao Bai, then retreated to his inner chamber, pulled out a pale green Bishui Pill, swallowed it whole, and began meditating to refine it.

…

The next morning.

Wang Yu followed a guiding talisman, stepping upon a white cloud as he flew to a quiet cliff on the upper half of Tianzhu Mountain.

On the smooth, steep cliff face stood a massive, pitch-black iron door.

As Wang Yu pondered whether to send a message talisman, the guiding talisman flashed and vanished into the iron door.

Seeing this, Wang Yu calmly waited.

Indeed, within moments, the black iron door opened silently, and a young man dressed in brocade, seemingly eighteen or nineteen, flew out.

"Are you Senior Brother Wang? I'll guide you into the estate—Uncle has been waiting for you." The youth bowed to Wang Yu.

"Are you a relative of Fan Shu?" Wang Yu asked in surprise.

"Yes, I am Fan Yin, an inner sect disciple of the White Tiger Line. Fan Tian is my uncle." The brocade-clad youth replied.

"Then I'm in your debt, Junior Brother Fan." After a moment's thought, Wang Yu returned the bow.

"Not at all, not at all—I've long heard of Senior Brother Wang's name." Fan Yin smiled broadly, then turned and led Wang Yu into the cave.

To Wang Yu's surprise, beyond the black iron door lay an entirely separate world.

Along the winding path, they passed six or seven herb gardens, each several mu in size, and even a miniature waterfall of unknown origin.

Wang Yu silently inhaled, feeling his spirit lift slightly—the air was unusually fresh.

Fan Shu's cave estate was not only vast in area but also possessed noticeably stronger spiritual energy than Wang Yu's own, and faint magical fluctuations could be sensed near both the gate and the herb gardens—clearly, this Fan Brother had laid numerous talismanic seals throughout his domain.

No wonder this was the cave of a second-rank alchemist!

Wang Yu's expression remained calm, but his heart was filled with envy.

After passing a lush garden brimming with colorful flowers, the brocade-clad youth led Wang Yu into a small hall.

At the main seat, Fan Tian was examining a pale white pill, eyes half-closed; upon seeing Wang Yu enter, he casually tucked the pill into his sleeve.

"Uncle, Senior Brother Wang has come to pay his respects."

The brocade-clad youth stepped forward respectfully.

"I know. You may leave. Senior Nephew Wang, it seems you truly intend to learn alchemy from me." Fan Tian waved dismissively, then gave Wang Yu a half-smile.

Hearing this, the brocade-clad youth's expression flickered slightly, but he said nothing, bowed slightly, and withdrew from the hall.

"Fan Shu, here is the supreme Water Cloud Pill."

Wang Yu said nothing more, simply pulled a white pill bottle from his robe and offered it with both hands.

The original purple bottle, tied to the soul-silver material, had been replaced with an ordinary one.

"Good. Since you've truly decided, Fan will formally accept this exchange."

"From today, I will teach you the basics of alchemy. If you master it within three years, I will take you as a formal apprentice. But if you cannot produce even one classed pill after three years, you need not continue studying under me." Fan Tian took the bottle, glanced inside, smiled faintly, yet spoke coolly to Wang Yu.

"Three years?"

Wang Yu paused, startled.

"The criteria for alchemists differ from those for artifact crafters—you must master the crafting of at least three classed pills to qualify as a first-rank alchemist. If after three years under me you still cannot produce a single classed pill, it proves you lack the talent. I haven't even set any conditions on success rate or pill quality." Fan Tian spoke calmly.

"Fan Shu speaks wisely. Then it's settled." Wang Yu thought for a moment, then agreed without hesitation.

"Good. Take this jade slip containing 'Brief Treatise on Alchemy' and 'Foundations of Alchemy' back and study it thoroughly. Return when you feel you've fully understood it."

"Also, have Fan Yin show you the alchemy chamber. Once you become a True Disciple, build one in your own cave." Fan Tian nodded, tucked away the pill bottle, then pulled out a pale yellow jade slip from his sleeve and tossed it to Wang Yu, murmuring softly to summon the youth outside.

"Then I'll take the liberty of touring your alchemy chamber, Shu." Wang Yu caught the jade slip, bowed with a smile, and followed the brocade-clad youth out.

After Wang Yu and Fan Yin left, Fan Tian eagerly pulled the pill bottle from his robe, placed it on a white jade tray, poured out the supreme pill, and began studying it with urgent fascination.

Soon after, Wang Yu flew out from the cliffside cave and headed straight for his residence.

Several days later, the General Affairs Hall announced Wang Yu's official promotion to True Disciple of Xuanwu.

The news sent shockwaves through the sect, even drawing special attention from several other True Disciples.

Half a month later, Wang Yu moved into an empty True Disciple cave on the upper half of Tianzhu Mountain, had the General Affairs Hall construct a new alchemy chamber, hired an apprentice arrayist to set up a Minor Spirit Gathering Array in his meditation room, and thereafter rarely showed himself in public.

Years passed!

As new disciples arrived in batches, the legend of Wang Yu, who had become a True Disciple at late Qi Refining, was mentioned less and less in the Four Symbols Sect.