The air outside the Alchemist Pavilion was thick with the scent of herbs and the faint, lingering warmth of the setting sun. As Ye Xiaotian and Qin Mei stepped out, a gentle breeze, carrying the whispers of the surrounding forest, brushed against their faces.
Ye Xiaotian glanced down at the two ancient-looking books clutched in his hands, their weight a tangible reminder of the challenge ahead. This marked the first true step on his journey into the world of alchemy.
Qin Mei, walking beside him, her silver-white robe fluttering slightly in the breeze, couldn't help but smile. "You know," she began, her voice light and teasing, "it's rare for warriors to take an interest in alchemy. Most rely on us alchemists to provide them with pills and elixirs. But you… you're different."
Ye Xiaotian glanced at her, his expression calm. "A cultivator should never be completely dependent on others," he replied. "The more I know, the less I'll have to rely on external forces in crucial moments. Besides," he added with a hint of a smile, "understanding the principles of alchemy will deepen my understanding of cultivation itself."
Qin Mei nodded approvingly. "A wise mindset. But alchemy is not just about knowing the herbs. It's about patience, control, and an understanding of balance. It's completely different from wielding a sword. It requires a delicate touch, a keen eye, and an unwavering focus."
She then tapped the top book in his hands. "Still, memorizing these two books in a week… even I had to study for months before I could pass Master Han's test."
Ye Xiaotian smiled. "Then I'll just have to do in a week what others take months to accomplish."
Qin Mei laughed. "Cocky, aren't you?"
"Confident," he corrected a glint of amusement in his eyes.
She shook her head in amusement before stretching her arms. "Well, you've got a lot of reading to do. Where are you planning to study?"
Ye Xiaotian thought for a moment before answering, "I'll return to my pavilion. It's quiet there."
Qin Mei hummed in approval. "A good choice. Just don't get so lost in study that you forget to eat. Big Sister will kill you if you skip dinner at her pavilion tonight."
Ye Xiaotian smirked slightly. "I know."
With that, they parted ways. Qin Mei headed back towards her working area while Ye Xiaotian made his way to his pavilion, his mind already beginning to absorb the weight of the knowledge he was about to acquire. As he walked, the setting sun cast long shadows across the path, painting the landscape in hues of gold and purple.
Back at his pavilion, Ye Xiaotian wasted no time. After placing the two thick books on his wooden desk, he sat down, his fingers lightly tracing the covers. The weight of the books was reassuring, a tangible reminder of the vast knowledge contained within them.
Without hesitation, he picked up the first book, "Fundamentals of Alchemy," and opened it to the first chapter.
The book was dense, filled with complex theories and detailed explanations, but for someone like Ye Xiaotian who had a sharp mind and a near-photographic memory, due to his powerful soul, it was nothing to him, he didn't even need a week to memorize these books. His eyes scanned the pages rapidly, absorbing information at an astonishing speed.
Alchemy was more than just mixing herbs and throwing them into a cauldron. It was a precise and delicate art built upon three foundational pillars:
Control Over Fire
Fire was the soul of alchemy. Without proper control over flames, refining pills was impossible. Different pills required different temperatures. Some herbs needed low heat to extract their essence, while others needed intense flames to awaken their medicinal properties. Too much heat and the ingredients would burn, ruining the entire concoction. Too little, and they wouldn't release their full potential. Advanced alchemists could manipulate fire essence directly, refining pills without relying on external cauldrons.
Understanding of Spiritual Herbs
Every herb contains a unique spiritual essence. Some herbs enhanced a cultivator's spiritual energy, others healed wounds, detoxified poisons, or even boosted physical strength. Certain rare herbs had hidden effects that only skilled alchemists could unlock. Combining herbs incorrectly could result in neutralized effects, wasted ingredients, or even deadly toxins.
Pill Formation
The most difficult aspect of alchemy. Even with the right ingredients and perfect flame control, an alchemist had to coax the ingredients into merging harmoniously. A mistake in merging could cause the pill to fail, resulting in impurities or even cauldron explosions. The higher the grade of the pill, the more unstable the refinement process became. Only those with strong soul power and precise control could successfully form pills of higher tiers.
Ye Xiaotian carefully read through each section, taking mental notes. His background as a martial cultivator gave him an innate understanding of energy control, and he quickly saw the similarities between combat and alchemy.
Fire control was like manipulating Qi in battle.
Understanding herbs was like studying the strengths and weaknesses of opponents.
Pill formation was like executing a perfect martial technique one wrong step, and everything collapsed.
As Ye Xiaotian continued reading, his eyes landed on an important section Alchemy Levels.
Just like cultivation, alchemy had its ranking system, dividing alchemists into different tiers based on their expertise, knowledge, and refining capabilities.
In the True Mortal World, alchemists were classified into five main levels, each representing their proficiency and the types of pills they could refine.
1. Apprentice Alchemist – The First Step into Alchemy
An Apprentice Alchemist was someone who had just begun their journey into the world of pill refinement. This was the foundation of all alchemy, where one learned the basics of herb processing, flame control, and Qi infusion.
- Could refine simple medicinal pastes, powders, and ointments.
- Able to create low-grade healing pills for minor injuries.
- Mostly produced remedies used by mortals and Spirit Sensing Realm cultivators.
An Apprentice Alchemist had very low success rates, and most of their pills contained impurities, making them far less effective than those refined by higher-ranked alchemists.
However, this was a crucial stage where alchemists developed their fundamental skills, learning how to balance the delicate nature of herbs with the volatile nature of fire.
2. Novice Alchemist – The First True Step
After mastering the basics, an alchemist would advance to the Novice Alchemist stage. At this level, they could begin refining Mortal-Grade Pills, which were beneficial for cultivators at the Spirit Sensing Realm and Qi Condensation Realm.
- Pills at this level could enhance Qi circulation, stamina, and minor energy replenishment.
- These pills were the first step toward actual cultivation-based enhancements rather than just healing remedies.
- Still had moderate impurity rates, meaning the pills were not at their full potential.
This was the level where most low-ranking sect alchemists operated, providing basic pills for disciples in the early stages of their cultivation.
3. Adept Alchemist – The Gateway to True Alchemy
A true alchemist's journey began at the Adept Alchemist level.
Adept Alchemists could refine Earth-Grade Pills, which were essential for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
- Pills at this level could enhance breakthroughs, improve meridian expansion, and increase cultivation speed.
- They had a better understanding of herbal synergy, allowing them to create more potent medicinal effects.
- Their success rates were much higher, and their pills contained fewer impurities.
At this level, alchemists were recognized by sects and clans as valuable assets, as their pills could help cultivators advance through critical cultivation bottlenecks.
4. Master Alchemist – The Elite Pill Refiners
Only a handful of alchemists ever reached this stage. Master Alchemists were revered figures capable of refining Profound-Grade Pills, which were essential for Divine Vessel Realm cultivators.
- These pills had far greater potency, directly influencing the cultivation progress of Divine Vessel Realm experts.
- Master Alchemists had nearly perfect fire control and deep knowledge of rare and powerful herbs.
- Their pill success rates exceeded 50%, and their refined pills contained almost no impurities.
These alchemists were considered pill masters, sought after by sects, noble families, and even royal clans for their unmatched skill.
5. Grandmaster Alchemist – The Pinnacle of Alchemy
A Grandmaster Alchemist stood at the very peak of the alchemical world. These legendary figures could refine high-tier pills for Core Formation Realm, Soul Awakening Realm, and even Energy Mastery Realm cultivators.
Their skill was so refined that they could extract the full potential of spiritual herbs, creating pills of near-perfect purity.
At this level, alchemists were further divided into Nine Stars, each representing an increase in mastery and precision.
Even among Grandmaster Alchemists, there were vast differences in skill and expertise. They were ranked into three major tiers:
1st to 3rd Star Grandmaster (Elementary Level) -
They can refine Heaven's Grade Pills used by Formation Realm cultivators. Their pill success rates were around 60%, and the pills contained minimal impurities.
4th to 6th Star Grandmaster (Intermediate Level) -
Just like 1st to 3rd Star Grandmaster Alchemists can refine Heaven's Grade Pills, Alchemists at this level can refine Saint Grade Pills essential for Soul Awakening Realm cultivators.
Pills at this level had potent effects, capable of boosting cultivation by leaps and bounds. These alchemists were highly respected and could dictate market prices for their pills, as they are rare even on the Xuanlong Continent.
7th to 9th Star Grandmaster (Advanced Level) -
These were the true pinnacle of alchemy, capable of refining pills the legendary Divine-Grade Pills coveted by the Energy Mastery Realm Titans. Pills refined by these alchemists were so rare and powerful that even top-tier sects and royal clans fought over them. Only a handful of these alchemists existed in the entire True Mortal World.
Ye Xiaotian leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the aged cover of the book as he absorbed the information.
"Alchemy is deeper than I expected," he mused. The rigid hierarchy of alchemists reminded him of cultivation ranks each level as a gateway to new possibilities, yet requiring painstaking effort to progress.
From Apprentice to Grandmaster Alchemist, the road was long, but Ye Xiaotian had no intention of stopping at the lower tiers. He had already defied expectations in cultivation alchemy would be no different.
A flicker of determination flashed in his eyes as he turned the page.
The next section details the classification of pills themselves. Just as alchemists had ranks, pills were divided into six grades, each more potent than the last.
Mortal-Grade Pills – Used by Spirit Sensing and Qi Condensation Realm cultivators. These were the most common pills, often used for minor recovery and Qi replenishment.
Earth-Grade Pills – Beneficial for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. They could strengthen meridians, stabilize breakthroughs, and purify the body.
Profound-Grade Pills – Required for Divine Vessel Realm cultivators. These pills significantly enhanced cultivation speed and combat potential.
Heaven-Grade Pills – Rare and incredibly powerful, consumed by Core Formation Realm Cultivator. Even a single Heaven-Grade Pill could push a cultivator to new heights.
Saint-Grade Pills – The peak of alchemy, these pills were legendary, capable of extending lifespan, reviving the near-dead, or helping one step into the Soul Awakening Realm.
Divine-Grade Pills – Treasured by Energy Mastery Realm cultivators. These pills contained near-divine properties, capable of reversing age, resurrecting the dying, or bestowing temporary godlike power. They were exceedingly rare, requiring not only profound skill but also extremely rare ingredients found only in forbidden lands and ancient ruins.
Ye Xiaotian's eyes darkened as he read further.
"Divine-Grade Pills…"
Even in the entire True Mortal World, there were perhaps no more than a handful of alchemists capable of refining such pills. These were treasures fought over by the strongest cultivators one Divine-Grade Pill could spark a war between powerful sects and royal clans.
The sheer power hidden in a small pill...
Ye Xiaotian's grip on the book tightened slightly. If he could master alchemy, his influence in the cultivation world would be unparalleled.
"Pills are not just medicine… they are weapons."
A cultivator with access to high-tier pills had an endless advantage over those who relied only on raw talent and effort.
The next section details the importance of flame and the types of Flames.
"A strong alchemist is defined by their fire."
Fire was the soul of alchemy, the force that refined raw herbs into potent elixirs.
Weak fire led to impure pills, while excessive flames could destroy ingredients entirely.
Other than man-made flames, which consume spiritual energy to burn and can be used by any cultivator, there exist special and rare flames in the world. In the True Mortal World, these special flames are divided into two supreme categories:
Earthly Flames – Naturally formed in the mortal world, found in volcanoes, deep magma lakes, and other extreme environments. They possess great power but are weaker than Heavenly Flames.
Heavenly Flames – Born from celestial, chaotic, or divine forces. They are rare, sentient, and possess devastating power beyond mortal comprehension.
The book listed some of the most powerful flames known in the alchemy world:
Earthly Flames (Mortal Flames)
These flames are naturally occurring but still possess extraordinary power. Alchemists, blacksmiths, and cultivators use them to enhance their techniques.
Scarlet Ember Flame – A common flame used by alchemists for basic pill refinement.
Black Magma Fire – Found in underground lava rivers, excellent for body tempering and refining tough metals.
Thunderfire Blaze – Born from areas frequently struck by heavenly lightning, carries both fire and lightning attributes.
Glacial Blue Flame – A cold flame that burns while freezing, used for forging yin-based weapons.
Serpent Venom Fire – A green flame infused with poison, burns the flesh and soul of those affected.
Phoenix Blood Flame – Contains a fragment of phoenix vitality, and grants regeneration, and rebirth properties.
Solar Essence Flame – A flame born from the essence of the sun, emits extreme heat that can vaporize mountains.
Molten Dragon Fire – Found in the bones of ancient lava dragons, said to never extinguish until the user's death.
Heavenly Flames (Celestial Flames)
These flames do not originate from the mortal world and possess immense destructive power. They are sentient and will resist any unworthy cultivator who attempts to control them. Very few Heavenly Flames are currently known in the True Mortal World. Therefore, no Heavenly Flames are mentioned in this book.
Ye Xiaotian's gaze flickered. "Special flames..."
Without one, his alchemy progress would be much slower than that of those who possessed unique fire abilities. However, such flames were incredibly rare. Even the Vermillion Flame Sect, despite its name, did not possess a true Earthly Flame, let alone a Heavenly Flame, which was only known in myths.
He closed the book, deep in thought. Should he search for a special flame in the future?
If he wanted to reach the peak of alchemy, he would need one.