Chapter 38:- let the reader understand
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Lucian walked through the bustling streets of the city, his steps quick and purposeful. He had a mission - to heal his sisters.
His sisters, Quinn and violet, had been suffering from a mysterious soul sucking demonic flower that sapped their energy and strength. The alchemy pill shop owner a fraud whom Lucian had stolen from.
Then, he had heard of a powerful pill that could restore a person's Qi, the vital energy that flowed through the body.
Lucian had risked everything to steal the pills, and now he was determined to use them to save his sisters.
He reached the...end of the street and found himself in front of a pill building,.
This was the place where the pill shop is, and Lucian knew he would have to sneak inside to find the right pill for his sisters.
He took a deep breath and steeled himself, then slipped into the shadows and made his way into the building.
He was surprised to find that the inside was not what he had expected - it was filled with stacks of books and scrolls, and the air was heavy with the scent of incense.
As he moved deeper into the building, he heard footstep_
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'A poster request.'
'Join the major sect, there are always benefits, you know?'
'Maybe you are right.'
'Hurry, you don't want to miss this chance.'
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'Ew!,no.86 hehe.'
'i got it.'
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The days passed slowly for Lucian as he waited for the day of the test.
He practiced his meditation every day, and slowly began to feel a new qi power welling up within him.
He could sense the energy of the world around him, and could feel his connection to it growing stronger.
'2nd rank grandmaster domain.'
Finally, the day of the test arrived. Lucian made his way to the gates of the Azure Flower Sect, his heart pounding in his chest.
He stood in line with the other applicants, feeling their nervous energy filling the air.
At last, it was his turn.
He stepped forward, and a tall, imposing man with a...long white beard looked down at him.
The man's eyes were as deep and dark as the night sky, and Lucian felt as if he were being judged by some ancient, mysterious power.
"What is your name, young one?" the man asked, his voice deep and resonant.
"I am Lucian, of the Vail family," Lucian replied, his voice strong and clear.
The man's eyes narrowed. "I have heard of the Vail family," he said.
"They are known for their cunning and their ambition. Why should we trust that you have come here with good intentions?"
'There's already a family named Vail. damn!'
Lucian took a deep breath. He knew that he had to be honest,or try to appear as one, or he would never be accepted into the sect. "I know that my family has a reputation for being devious and manipulative," he said.
"But I am not like them. I have come here with only one goal - to learn the ways of the sect and to become a better person. I want to be a force for good in the world, not for selfish gain."
The man studied Lucian's face for a long moment, as if searching for any sign of deception.
But Lucian met his gaze with open sincerity, and at last ...the man nodded.
"I believe you," he said.
"But I must test you, to be sure."
"I understand," Lucian said. "I will do whatever is required of me."
"Good," the man said.
"The first test is one of endurance. You must meditate for twelve hours without moving or falling asleep. If you succeed, you will be allowed to enter the sect as an outer disciple. Do you accept the challenge?"
Lucian hesitated for only a moment. "Yes," he said. "I accept."
The man smiled, and motioned for Lucian to sit ...on the cold, stone floor.
Lucian sat down, his legs crossed, and closed his eyes.
The man began to chant a low, droning sound that seemed to vibrate in Lucian's bones. He began to focus on his breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly and steadily.
At first, it was easy.
Lucian's body was warm and comfortable, and his mind was calm. But as the hours passed, he began to feel a slight ache in his legs.
'How dare you trick me!'
'It part of the procedure, not a trick.'
The chanting seemed to grow louder, and he struggled to focus on his breath.
Then, he felt a drop of water ...land on his head. He opened his eyes and saw that it was raining, and the water was dripping through a hole in the roof. He looked up at the man, who was still chanting, unfazed by the rain. Lucian closed his eyes again and tried to focus on his breath, but the water kept falling on him, cold and relentless.
Lucian's body began to shiver, and his teeth chattered. But still, he sat and meditated. The pain in his legs grew worse, and his stomach rumbled with hunger. But he kept going, determined to pass the test.
Then,...the chanting stopped. Lucian opened his eyes, and the man was standing over him.
"Well done," he said. "You have passed the first test. But there is one more test for you to pass before you can become an outer disciple."
Lucian's heart sank. "What is it?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"You must walk barefoot through a bed of hot coals," the man said, gesturing to a pile of glowing embers in the corner of the room.
"If you succeed, you will become an outer disciple....But if you fail, you will be banished from the sect, and you will never be allowed to return."
Lucian's mouth went dry. He was no stranger to pain, but the thought of walking on hot coals made him feel sick to his stomach. But he had come this far, and he wasn't about to give up.
He stood up and took a deep breath. "I'll do it," he said.
"Very well," the man said, and he gestured for Lucian to approach the coals. Lucian took another deep breath and stepped forward, trying to keep his focus on his ...breathing. He lifted his foot and placed it on the first coal.
Instantly, a searing pain shot through his body, and he cried out in agony.
But he gritted his teeth and kept going, placing one foot in front of the other. The pain was unbearable, but he forced himself to keep moving.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he reached the end of the bed of coals. He collapsed to the ground, his entire body shaking.
He looked up at the man, who was smiling down at him.
"Well done," he said. "You have passed the test....You are now an outer disciple of the Azure Flower Sect. Congratulations."
Lucian could barely speak, his body still wracked with pain. But as the man helped him to his feet, he felt a surge of pride. He had passed the test, and he was one step closer to his goal.
The man led Lucian to a small room, where there was a basin of cool water and a clean set of robes. "Clean yourself and change your clothes," he said.
"Then, come to the courtyard, and we will begin your training."
Lucian did as he was told. He scrubbed the sweat and soot from his body, and put on the fresh robes.
He felt like a new person, and a small smile crept onto his face. He left the room and entered the courtyard, where the man was waiting for him.
"Now that you are a disciple, you must learn our ways," the man said. "The first lesson is humility. You must learn to serve others before yourself."
"How do I do that?" Lucian asked.
The man nodded. "You will serve as a ...kitchen hand for the next week. You will help to prepare the meals for the other disciples, and you will clean up after they have eaten. Do you understand?"
Lucian's heart sank. He had not been expecting to be a kitchen hand, and he was not sure that he was up for the task. But he nodded and said, "I understand."
"Good," the man said. "Now, follow me to the kitchen."
Lucian followed the man to a large kitchen, where he was given a pair of wooden clogs and a bucket of water.
The man pointed to a large pile of ...dirty dishes, and said, "You will start by washing those.
When they are clean, you will begin to prepare the vegetables for the evening meal."
Lucian took the clogs and the bucket and went to work. The dishes were covered in dried food and grease, and the water in the bucket was filthy after just a few dishes.
'Just for now!'
'Mynus are all these necessary?'
'He went easy on you. Get to work.'
'Can't you be helpful.'
But Lucian kept at it, scrubbing each dish until it was spotless.
As he worked, he thought about what the man had said. He had to learn to serve others before himself.
This was a foreign concept to him, but he was determined to do his best...to learn. As he washed the dishes, he thought about how the other disciples must feel, having clean dishes to eat from. He imagined them sitting around the table, enjoying their food. It gave him a sense of satisfaction to know that he was doing something to help them. 'Help? Hell no! You are all paying for this when I'm done'
By the time he had finished washing the dishes, his hands were raw and his arms ached.
But he took a deep breath and picked up the first carrot, ready to begin peeling.
The next week was long and hard. Lucian worked tirelessly in the kitchen, cleaning, peeling, chopping, and cooking.
He was exhausted by ...the end of each day, but he felt a sense of accomplishment as he saw the results of his labor. The other disciples seemed to appreciate his efforts, and he felt a new sense of purpose in his life.
The man would stop by from time to time, to check on Lucian's progress.
He never said a word, but he always gave Lucian a small nod, which was enough to make Lucian feel proud of his work.
As the days passed, Lucian's hands became calloused and strong, and he became more and more efficient in the kitchen.
By the end of the week, he was ...able to prepare a full meal for the other disciples, all by himself. He was surprised and pleased by his progress.
On the last day of his kitchen service, the man approached him and said, "You have done well, Lucian. You have learned the value of hard work and the importance of serving others. These are valuable lessons, and they will serve you well in your future studies."
Lucian felt a rush of pride and gratitude. He had come a long way in the past week, and he was grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow.
"Thank you, master," he said, bowing deeply...in respect. The man nodded, and then said, "Tomorrow, you will begin your studies in the art of alchemy. Come to my chambers at dawn, and we will begin."
Lucian's heart leaped. This was what he had been waiting for - the chance to learn the secrets of alchemy. He could hardly wait for the next day to come.
When the sun rose the next morning, Lucian was already waiting outside the man's chambers. He was nervous, but also excited.
The door opened, and the man stepped out. "Come inside," he said, and Lucian followed him into ...the room. Inside, there was a table, covered with a variety of strange-looking tools and ingredients. The man gestured to a chair, and Lucian sat down. "We will begin with the basics of alchemy," the man said. "Tell me, what do you think alchemy is?"
'Alchemy? I can put alchemy into good use.'
Lucian thought for a moment. "It's the art of transforming matter, isn't it?" he asked. "Changing one thing into another?"
The man nodded. "That is part of it. But there is more to alchemy than just changing one thing into another. It is about understanding the nature ...of the world around us, and using that understanding to create something new. It is about using the raw materials of the world to create something that did not exist before. Do you understand?"
Lucian nodded, feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the scope of what the man was describing.
"I think so," he said. "But it seems like a lot to take in."
The man smiled. "It is indeed a lot to take in. But you have time to learn. And we will start with the simplest things, and build up from there. Are you ready?"
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Hope_bringer.