(Xia Dongyi's POV)
We walked several minutes in silence and reached in front of the stairs that are at the foot of a mountain, with the fresh aroma of medicinal herbs and other things lingering in the air.
What a fresh aroma~
The aroma of the medical herbs here was way too strong, I already felt refreshed just from staying here for just some seconds...
And the mountain...there was some smoke coming from the peak but the rest looked completely normal except the freshness that the plants growing around the mountain showed
I turned towards Yang Ruiya who glanced at this with a calm look and instantly realized.
'Right, she should be here before with Grand Elder..' I thought and started to walk towards the gate.
This mountain, the Alchemy Hall, is the place where everything related to Alchemy happened, but only the main things.
The Alchemy hall is a place where the students with a special affinity with wood and fire go to and also those who have an interest in making pills. Both the disciples and elders could request the Alchemy hall for making pills for them but the former had to pay with the spirit stones or the contribution points while the Elders could request a pill by paying the Alchemy hall with the Spirit stones or doing the task given by the alchemy hall to them in exchange of the pill.
Many disciples are trying to learn here every year but only a few get the chance to join it. In the Alchemy Hall, you are not only learning how to create pills but also increasing your strength. The Alchemist Hall peak is one of the peaks having many strong disciples from the whole sect as the resources that the Alchemist Peak has are more than others.
The pills are divided into ranks, with Rank 1 as the lowest and Rank 9 as the highest.
The Price of the pills varies according to the Rank. Most disciples purchase the Pills using the contribution point as the Spirit stones are valued for their cultivation
We reached the front where two guards wearing Outer Disciple uniforms, a white robe with a green outline, came in front of us.
"Senior Sisters, what business you have with the Alchemy Hall?" One of the guards asked politely seeing I am wearing the Inner Disciple Uniform and Yang Ruiya is wearing the Core Disciple Uniform.
It's natural that they don't want to get in the bad terms of someone from the Inner or the Core sect as it would just make their life worse.
"We are here to apply to learn alchemy. Elder Lin knows about us, and he should have informed you." I responded.
I had already talked with an Elder from the Alchemy Hall before who accepted me to learn Alchemy from him.
"I see! Then you must be Senior Sister Xia! Elder Lin had said us to let you in his courtyard when you reach here." The other guard said in a respectful tone.
I nodded and followed the guard along with Yang Ruiya who kept quiet most of the path and just followed behind me.
After climbing the stairs, we soon reached the top where a building which was vastly similar to the government buildings that I had seen in my last life situated here. But there are many other places like the small courtyards made for the Elders or the Main Disciples living in the peak.
I sniffed the air, making my lungs feel relieved from the spiritual energy that is being mixed with the Medical Herbs aroma.
No! I will become intoxicated like this..control yourself!
After some minutes, we reached in front of one of the best-looking courtyards and the guard started to knock on the door.
"Elder Lin, Senior Sister Xia is here!" The guard screamed while knocking on the door.
"Let them come in." A calm voice of a middle-aged man answered.
'It's fascinating how strong cultivators send their voice at a faraway place...' I marveled at the capabilities of the strong cultivators.
The guard left after the door opened as he wasn't called in and I along with Yang Ruiya entered the courtyard.
We walked for less than a minute and reached a garden-like area where a middle-aged man wearing a white robe with black linings sat on a chair and looked towards the sky.
"Ohhh... so you are also sent here by your master, Junior Yang?" The old man asked in a calm tone.
Yang Ruiya stepped forward and along with her, I did the same, and both bowed our heads a little while cupping our fists.
""Greetings, Elder Lin."" Both of us said at the same time in a respectful tone.
Elder Lin looked in our direction and smiled a little.
"Looks like you both had some problems before coming here.'" Elder Lin said with a smile.
I and Yang Ruiya immediately grimaced hearing that, '...of course...Divine Sense...really strong cultivators had it easy...' I thought bitterly.
Divine Sense, something that a cultivator awakened at the Soul Purification Realm. A person with the Divine Sense could sense many things out of their scope. The more cultivator is talented and strong, the stronger their Divine Sense would be.
"It's nothing major, Elder Lin," I said while trying to keep my expression stay normal, which has no point as I am wearing a mask right now.
"Yes Elder Lin, That Senior Brother is way too annoying..." Yang Ruiya said with annoyance on her face. It's not the first time she should be meeting Elder Lin as he should have come to her master before many times so she doesn't have much problem talking about that.
I mentally sighed at Yang Ruiya's act. I also know Elder Lin from before as he had helped me with my Yang Physique before with some pills made of Yin Energy.
"Elder Lin, don't worry. Senior Brother Murong had been like this for three years..." I said quickly as I know Senior Brother Murong and he had helped me before even if I didn't like his nature and the way he talks.
Yang Ruiya frowned at my words and Elder Lin who saw that released a chuckle.
Yang Ruiya hearing that chuckle immediately returned to her normal face while a questioning look appeared on my face, 'what happened?'
I wasn't able to comprehend what happened now as I was busy thinking of other stuff.
"Don't think too much, Junior Xia." Elder Lin said seeing the questioning look on my face.
'Maybe thought of something or saw something funny through the divine sense...' I thought while nodding.
Maybe he spied on someone and saw something funny happening, can't trust the old foggies especially considering the rumour that made Elder Lin quite famous in the sect.
Elder Lin then stood up from the chair and indicated both of us to follow him.
I and Yang Ruiya following Elder Lin went into the wooden house, in the room which was filled with the strong refreshing smell of medical ingredients all over and a golden furnace having inscription patterns on it was placed in the centre of the room.
Wow, the inside of this place feels way too fresh and relaxing....
I and Yang Ruiya entering the room felt refreshed all over our body from the strong medical aroma coming from the drawers and the ingredients placed in the room.
"Come here." Elder Lin said after sitting in front of the furnace.
The furnace looked quite good considering that the owner is a Core Elder, so it will be a rare treasure.
I came out of my thoughts and it looked like Yang Ruiya was the same and both of us sat in front of Elder Lin and looked at the Furnace with a curious expression.
'I wonder why did I not start learning alchemy early on...wait right! Elder said that I could use Yang Fire to help in the alchemy but I need to grow my Yang Qi in the body before sustaining the Yang fire else it would be harmful to me.... but the Yang Qi increased way too much now...' I thought as I remembered my past conversation with Elder Lin.
------------
(Third Person POV)
Flashback,
"Junior Xia, you need to wait for some time before you start learning alchemy." Elder Lin said calmly looking at Xia Dongyi who looks to be around 15 years old.
"But it will help me become stronger quickly. Elder Lin....." Xia Dongyi said in a low voice.
Elder Lin shook his head, 'she is really sincere on the path of cultivation...I wish I could have a disciple like her...'
"Junior Xia, it's not that I don't want to teach you, but it will be more beneficial if you earn it later on as the Yang Qi in your body will increase even more and you will be able to use Yang fire making it more beneficial for you to take the pills." Elder Lin said in instructing tone.
Xia Dongyi nodded her head, 'Then I guess I could just wait...but I wonder if the Senior Sister will teach me...but she still acts cold towards me even after we did that....why?'
------------------------------
Flashback End.
(Xia Dongyi's POV)
"The Alchemy is the process of using the already existing medical materials to create pills which will help you and others. But, not all pills are good or all medical herbs are good so you need to know how to discern then which Junior Xia should have already studied right?" Elder Lin instructed both of us about Alchemy.
"Yes, Elder Lin, I already studied about them," I answered.
Yang Ruiya grimaced knowing the number of books that I had read before.
"Don't make that face Junior Yang. Alchemy may seem simple but it is the second most major thing in this world and the profession of an alchemist is the most respectful in the whole world." Elder Lin said as he saw the expression on Yang Ruiya's face.
I smiled a little under the mask, 'Even if it is the most respectable profession, the work to progress a single level would leave many disheartened to continue....'
I know how hard it is to advance on the path of alchemy, especially to continue progressing as it required way too much time and talent which not everyone could have and it made many people disheartened to continue.