In a forest somewhere, a young man is currently leaping across trees, leaving only shadows as well as air pressure powerfully sucking in air behind him.
After running for a few more hours, the young man eventually ran into a city wall, making him stop his movement as he catches his breath while thinking, 'They couldn't have chased me this far right?' he though as he was paranoid of someone following him, making him run all the way through the southernmost city in the Nine Sun Province.
As the young man walk along the road, he wonders how his mother and grandmother is doing, hoping that they are fine despite being inside that sect filled with pretentious pricks.
Approaching the city gate, he saw the name of the city, written in a wooden plaque with a handwriting that emanates a rich and lively feeling, the name Thousand Roads City seems to be the perfect name for the city. Walking further, he was greeted by two armored guard that asks him of his identity, fortunately, his grandmother prepares for this and get him everything he could use that she could ever think of, and one of the things she prepared is a fake identity for him to use, which will help in hiding his trace from the people of the Extreme Martial Sect.
Entering the city, the first thing he does is ask around for an inn, eventually finding his way towards one, he paid for a small room and a meal to be delivered by night, then directly go upstairs to his room.
Inside, he gets a compass out of his system inventory and inspect it for a while, this compass is a product that he bought from the shop, while inspired by some pirate in his past life. As a result, he finds this item that points towards the closest direction to whatever the holder is thinking of.
Inspecting it along the way to confirm its authenticity, he managed to find some treasures buried in the woods, including some spirit stones, a unit of currency commonly used by cultivators in the east continent.
After inspecting it for a bit, he leaves it be and just lay down to laze around. Initially, he plans on cultivating but refrained from doing so when finding out from the system that the Pedestal Establishment Realm is one of the most important breakthroughs in the mortal level and the way one achieves it along with their pedestal's form defines how they will progress from there on.
Now knowing this fact, he steered away from just simply creating a pedestal similar to anyone else as he thinks that his talents might aid in him building something unique only to him.
'How about I explore other things for now?' he said to himself as he held the compass in his hand as he thought, 'Maybe I can learn some auxiliary jobs such as alchemy or blacksmithing somewhere'
Receiving his thoughts, the compass spins around for a few turns before gradually pointing towards the north, the young man wondering what could be there that makes the compass point out there.
'I'll just find out tomorrow' he said as a knock sounds from his door, opening it seeing an average looking guy about 18 years of age smiling at him amiably before handing him the food and leaving.
The meal is unsurprisingly normal, a meat from some kind of wild beast, a bowl of rice and a warm soup. Finishing the meal quickly, he goes back to the bed and decided to sleep in for today.
The morning next day, he decided to leave early to find out what the compass have for him, going north, he keeps his eyes open for things such as a hidden master that can help him enter the path to alchemy or other auxiliary jobs, but unfortunately, the what the compass directs him to is something more… normal.
Staring at the young man standing in front of a shop-like structure shouting "Wanted herb caretaker for the shop no experience needed", Wu Xiaotian couldn't help but stare dully towards the compass, his face as if he would say, 'Seriously? This?' if the compass had sentience.
Still, he took it though as he doesn't know any better way to start the path of alchemy, in fact, he doesn't even know any other way aside from this. So, approaching the young man, he smiled amiable as he asked, "This brother, I wonder if I can qualify for the job".
The young man, seeing Wu Xiaotian approach him with such intent surprises him. After all, despite wearing normal clothing and hiding all his important belongings to a relatively inconspicuous spatial ring, his appearance fails to do a great job of helping him blend with the crowd as he's literally immortal-like. Not to mention his appearance, the way he carries himself invokes such feeling of mystery around him, making not only the ladies but also some guys to look back to him when he comes across them.
Snapping out of his surprise, the young man replies enthusiastically, "Brother, it's your lucky day, we're just lacking one last person before they start the test" as he guides him inside the building.
"Test?" Wu Xiaotian asks as he follow the young man, observing the things for sale in the shop, most of them pills but there are also variety of herbs and other plants here and there, along with assortment of pill refining cauldrons and some scroll labeled as pill formulas.
"Ah that's right, remember how I shout outside that there's no experience needed? Brother…" the young man started speaking in an upbeat tone before pausing as he looks towards Wu Xiaotian, unsure of what to call him.
"The name is Su Tian, brother, and yes, I heard it, that also makes me wonder since I heard that experience is something extremely valued when talking about alchemy" Wu Xiaotian replies in the same tone, introducing his fake identity while trying to match the friendly energy of the young man.
"Well met brother Su, you can call me Ling Feng or also brother Ling or brother Feng, whatever you want. Now, continuing to the main issue, the reason why the alchemy master of the shop decides to take people like that is because they wanted to train someone of their choice to their very foundation, as they have strict preference over the material and herbs they refine, well, they're pretty much a perfectionist, but they think that personally taking care of it is too much of a hassle" the young man, Ling Feng started babbling about all things yet strangely, the way he phrase it is still concise, the information packed while still easily digested.
"Hmmm, so they're looking for an errand boy huh" Wu Xiaotian said as he strokes his chin, now unsure whether he should continue with this or not.
Looking at him with his face surprised, Ling Feng started laughing loudly pulling the workers' attention towards the two of them, seeing that it was only him, the other workers soon ignore the commotion as they go back to their own business.
"HAHAHA…. Haah, that was a good one brother, but well, it sure looks like they're searching for an errand boy but other people in the alchemy circle will kill for the chance to be that person's errand boy you know?" Ling Feng said as he put his arm around Wu Xiaotian's shoulder, already acting like a close friend.
Wu Xiaotian didn't mind it though as he asks, "So who's 'that person'"
Hearing the question, the still laughing young man stops as his face turned serious, seeing this, Wu Xiaotian couldn't help but gulp thinking to himself just what kind of influential person he will meet, before hearing him speak again, "'That person', brother, is apparently the greatest alchemical master in the Nine Sun Province, Master Hua" he paused as if to build suspense before continuing his story.
"Apparently, they entered the realm of a master alchemist at the young age of 10, and eventually become the youngest grandmaster alchemist as a 15 year old youth, mind you brother, even old coots who dabbled with alchemy all their life oftentimes fail to reach grandmaster level. That is not the most terrifying thing about their talent though as it was a confirmed fact that they can refine pills beyond their alchemical realm, making the older generation to crown them as one of the Continent's Ten Rising Stars"
Ling Feng, finishing his story face turned to face Wu Xiaotian with a look as if the next thing he will say is the most important part.
"The most important thing though is…."
Leaning in closer, Wu Xiaotian wait in suspense as he thought about how great of a storyteller the guy is.
"There are rumors that they're a she!!! And an immortal like beauty at that!!! Imagine it brother, if it were to be true, wouldn't it be a dream to a young man like us? Hehehe, getting fed with rare pills by the beauty who refined it, how awesome was that?!"
Hearing the goofy tone Ling Feng used, Wu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with the young man, who would've guessed that he would meet someone of the same feather here? Just his encounter with the young man is enough of a gain in this trip in search of a place to study alchemy.
"Brother… You're a true brother" Wu Xiaotian said as a he nods his head, shaking the other young man's hand as mutual respect emerges from their eyes.
"I believe this is where we part ways for now brother, should you pass the test, we can meet again as that master works here, and my job is also here, being one of the shopkeepers, good luck to you" Ling Feng said before turning back to return to his place, leaving Wu Xiaotian in front of a relatively simple room.