53 – Alchemy

“Whether it’s true or not… you’ll know once I start refining… No need to doubt.”

Wang Ping looked at Zhang Yuan and spoke calmly.

“I do not mean to question you, fellow Daoist, just a normal inquiry… Even if you are not a fourth-rank alchemist… Just your cultivation level alone qualifies you to be an elder in our Sword Spirit Sect.” Zhang Yuan nodded with a smile, making an invitation gesture. “Fellow Daoist, would you accompany me to the alchemy room?”

“Certainly…” Wang Ping nodded.

“Sword Control Technique · Spirit Gathering…”

Immediately, Zhang Yuan raised two fingers, and brilliant waves of true essence appeared on his fingertips.

Next, a massive sword formed from true essence appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Gazing at the white sword, the two mountain-guarding disciples showed expressions of admiration and envy.

Generally, only those at the Spirit Origin Realm can fly in the air… But there are exceptions to everything. The Sword Spirit Sect’s signature martial art, the Sword Control Technique, can control ten thousand swords and also enable flight… Even those in the Innate Realm, or even the Postnatal Realm, can fly using this technique.

In combat, not only is its power unmatched, but it also allows for great flexibility, providing immense advantages.

If they could learn it, not only would their combat power be astonishing, but they could also soar through the sky, which would be incredibly impressive.

At that time, which junior sister wouldn’t they attract?

Then, Zhang Yuan flew away on his sword, disappearing into the sky… Wang Ping also took to the air, chasing after him.

Seeing this scene, the two mountain-guarding disciples were left with their mouths agape, faces full of shock.

They had never expected that Wang Ping, who seemed so young, was actually a Spirit Origin Realm expert.

No wonder even the Sect Master addressed him as a fellow Daoist… Such a term is reserved for those at the same cultivation level.

In the alchemy room, Zhang Yuan brought Wang Ping in, drawing the attention of the alchemists present.

“Greetings, Sect Master…” An old man approached, bowing to Zhang Yuan, then looked curiously at Wang Ping and the others. “Sect Master, who is this?”

“This fellow Daoist is Wang Ping, a fourth-rank alchemist who wishes to join our Sword Spirit Sect…” Zhang Yuan glanced at Wang Ping and then smiled at the old man. “Elder Wu, as a third-rank alchemist, you could learn much from Daoist Wang and perhaps gain some insights.”

“A fourth-rank alchemist?” Elder Wu was stunned, looking at Wang Ping in shock.

“These days, you really see all sorts of people…”

“Hehe, if he’s a fourth-rank alchemist, then I must be a fifth-rank alchemist.”

“I really don’t understand what the Sect Master was thinking, bringing this fraud into our alchemy room to disrupt our work.”

The other people in the alchemy room glanced at Wang Ping with suspicious eyes upon hearing the conversation.

These days, you really see all sorts of people… Even scammers have reached their Sword Spirit Sect.

There are only a handful of fourth-rank alchemists in the entire Great Xia, and all of them reached that level past the age of 100.

Even if Wang Ping has great talent, it’s impossible for him to become a fourth-rank alchemist in his twenties, even if he started refining from the womb.

“You fools, even the Sect Master addresses him as a fellow Daoist, indicating that he is a Spirit Origin Realm expert… How dare you insult him…”

Hearing this, everyone realized the truth and started trembling, quickly apologizing, afraid that Wang Ping would hold it against them.

A Spirit Origin Realm expert… That’s not someone they can afford to offend.

If he’s also a fourth-rank alchemist, his status and position would be incredibly esteemed.

“Do you have the materials to refine a fourth-rank pill, the Spirit Origin Pill? If so, bring them out…”
Wang Ping asked Elder Wu.

“You want to craft the Spirit Origin Pill?” Elder Wu was astonished.

The difficulty of crafting the Spirit Origin Pill isn’t small among fourth-grade pills, and its effect can elevate a Spirit Origin Realm expert by a small realm.

Additionally, due to rare materials and the low success rate of fourth-grade alchemists in Great Xia crafting the Spirit Origin Pill, this pill becomes even more precious.

As a result, many Spirit Origin Realm experts are fervently chasing after it.

Even the eccentric fourth-grade alchemist of the Sword Spirit Sect has a success rate of no more than forty percent when crafting this pill…

“Senior, we naturally have the herbs, but… I wonder if I can assist Master Wang in the alchemy?” Elder Wu’s old face turned red as he awkwardly spoke.

He had been stuck at the third-grade alchemist level for decades.

Moreover, the fourth-grade alchemist of the Sword Spirit Sect had a very peculiar temperament and had no intention of teaching him.

If he had to rely on his own exploration, he might never reach the level of a fourth-grade alchemist in his lifetime.

However, proposing to observe the alchemy process seemed like covertly learning from the master, making even the over-century-old Elder Wu feel very embarrassed.

“Okay.” Wang Ping glanced at Elder Wu, nodding slightly. “I’ve heard Elder Wu has been stuck at the third-grade for many years… If Elder Wu is willing to assist me in alchemy in the future, I can guide you.”

Elder Wu actually had quite a good personality, and was considered his best assistant in his past life experience…

Therefore, Wang Ping had no intention of refusing.

“Master Wang’s generous guidance… Wu is deeply grateful… If Master Wang needs anything in the future… please feel free to call upon me…” Elder Wu was overjoyed and hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

The grace of transmitting knowledge and answering doubts is the heaviest of all.

Elder Wu never imagined that Wang Ping would be so magnanimous, making him admire Wang Ping to the utmost.

At the same time, he firmly imprinted this favor in his heart.

If Wang Ping could help him advance, he would even be willing to follow Wang Ping.

“Quickly bring the precious herbs!”

Then, Elder Wu eagerly instructed his disciple.

“Sect Master, we need to apply for fourth-grade precious herbs… What do you think…”

Following that, Elder Wu looked towards the Sect Master.

“I permit Daoist Wang to use them.” Sect Master Zhang Yuan nodded.

This made Elder Wu overjoyed.

Next, after Elder Wu gathered the precious herbs, Wang Ping and Elder Wu went to a sealed alchemy room to prepare for the crafting of the fourth-grade pill, the Spirit Origin Pill.

For first-grade pills, a high-grade alchemist could craft them even in a noisy environment without any problem… But for crafting higher-grade pills, there must not be any disturbance, for a tiny mistake could lead to a failed crafting…

Zhang Yuan, watching the two enter the sealed alchemy room, couldn’t help but smile: “Hope he succeeds… If he does, our Sword Spirit Sect would truly have struck gold.”

During his tenure as Sect Master, having a Spirit Origin Realm genius, and a fourth-grade alchemist, voluntarily join them… It surely would be a notable achievement, increasing his prestige.

In a transcendent sect like Sword Spirit Sect, each Sect Master didn’t serve until death or voluntary retirement, but rather on a fifty-year term.

After fifty years, if supported by more than half of the Supreme Elders, he could continue as Sect Master; otherwise, he’d have to step down.

Now, with a fourth-grade genius alchemist joining during his tenure, Zhang Yuan believed the Supreme Elders would support him for another term.

Wang Ping really seemed to be his lucky star.

But it remained a mystery where this genius alchemist came from, as no one had ever heard of such a person before.