The Next Day
The sun had barely lifted its head above the distant ridgelines when Li Qingyun once again made his way toward the Alchemical Hall. A fine morning mist curled around the lower gardens, where spirit herbs glistened like dew-laced jade. The air here always felt warmer than the rest of the sect—a blend of sunlight, pill fragrance, and faint heat rising from deep underground forges.
Today, however, his steps carried a deliberate weight.
He was no longer here to simply browse records.
As he stepped beneath the stone arch of the Alchemical Hall, familiar traces of medicinal incense curled into his nose. Alchemists moved briskly through the courtyard—apprentices balancing herb baskets, disciples wiping cauldrons clean, elders barking measurements. It was a world of fire, formulae, and the delicate balance between destruction and creation.
Li Qingyun crossed the tiled courtyard with steady steps and stopped before the same silver-robed elder he'd spoken to days prior, seated behind the Records Hall's counter.
The elder raised an eyebrow as he noticed him approach.
"You again? Found what you needed in the archives?"
"I did," Li Qingyun said with a polite bow. "And I've made a decision."
The elder gave a grunt, pushing aside a clay tablet. "Oh? What decision?"
"I wish to undergo the assessment to become an official Alchemist," Li Qingyun said calmly. "I'm ready."
The elder blinked, eyes sharpening just slightly. "Are you now?"
There was no ridicule in his voice—only a kind of mild interest, like a teacher unsure if a new student was bold or simply foolish.
"You're a sword cultivator, aren't you?" the elder said, crossing his arms. "Most like you burn through herbs, pots, and patience within a week."
"I don't plan to be 'most,'" Li Qingyun replied, tone steady.
A moment passed. The elder's eyes lingered on him before he nodded once.
"Follow me."
---
They crossed into a quieter wing of the Alchemical Hall, deeper than before. Here, the stone walls absorbed the heat of the dozens of furnaces within. The floors were darker, the air tinged faintly red from the ever-glowing alchemical flames. Each doorway they passed revealed disciples hunched over pill furnaces, frowning as they measured spiritual flame intensity or adjusted herb portions.
Eventually, they arrived at a chamber with a single cauldron in its center. It was old but clean, etched with stabilizing runes. Shelves of raw herbs lined the walls—standard ingredients, nothing rare.
The elder turned. "This is the Basic Assessment Hall."
He gestured toward the center.
"If you want to earn your right to study alchemy here, you'll need to prove three things: your flame control, your understanding of spiritual herbs, and your ability to complete a basic rank 1 pill without failure."
He held up three fingers. "You fail two, you walk."
Li Qingyun nodded silently.
A younger disciple appeared, setting down a tray of prepared materials on a side table. The elder picked up a thin jade slip and placed it before Li Qingyun.
"Read it. You'll be refining a Qi Nourishing Pill. Standard formulation. Rank 1 low-grade. Basic entry point."
Li Qingyun pressed two fingers to the slip and absorbed the formula. It wasn't complicated—he'd seen the recipe in the Basic Archive. But theory was one thing. Refinement was another.
"Your first test," elder said calmly, "is flamecontrol."
He gestured at the cauldron.
"You must ignite the alchemical flame using only your spiritual energy—no tools. Then, hold the flame steady for the time it takes one incense stick to burn. It must neither flare too wildly nor flicker out. If it goes out or becomes unstable, you fail."
He showed Li Qingyun a thin stick of green incense and placed it upright into a small holder at the side of the room.
"The stick starts burning when your flame lights. Ready?"
Li Qingyun nodded once, stepping forward.
He took a breath and placed both hands in front of the cauldron, fingers forming a simple guiding seal. He didn't need anything complex—just steady spiritual energy and a calm heart.
The moment he directed a thin thread of his spiritual power into the cauldron's ignition rune, a spark flared.
A pale blue flame danced to life, floating above the inner core of the cauldron.
The room grew warmer.
Li Qingyun narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing not just on maintaining the flame, but shaping it. He didn't force his energy. Instead, he adjusted it gently, like feeding air to a candle. He let it rise smoothly, not too fast, not too high.
The incense at the side lit up.
Elder watched quietly, arms behind his back. He'd seen many disciples panic here—pouring in too much energy, letting their emotions drive the flame wild. But Li Qingyun's control was calm. Measured.
The blue fire pulsed gently, steady and warm. Occasionally, it dipped slightly—but Li Qingyun would breathe in, adjust his spirit flow, and let it even out again.
Minutes passed. The incense burned halfway.
A thin bead of sweat formed near his temple. Not from effort, but from focus. The flame responded to his will, dancing like it understood what was asked of it.
By the time the incense stick burned down completely, the fire still hovered in perfect balance.
Elder stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Not bad," he said after a pause. "No flaring. No spiritual drift. And your rhythm was solid from start to finish."
He tapped the floor once with his steps. The flame faded as if it had never existed.
"Many fail this part," the elder added. "They try too hard to control the fire and forget that alchemy isn't about force. It's about patience and trust in your own flow."
Li Qingyun didn't smile, but his eyes showed quiet understanding.
"I've practiced sword intent," he said. "Balancing inner strength and stillness… it's not so different."
"Hmph. You might just be suited for this, after all," Elder said, half to himself.
"Follow me. It's time for the next test."
Elder led Li Qingyun to an adjoining room through a side corridor. This chamber was slightly darker, lit by sunlight spilling through an open lattice window. A long stone table stood in the center, and on it rested a series of wooden trays. Each tray was covered with cloth.
At the far end, a young attendant disciple stood with a record slip in hand.
"This is your second test," Elder said, walking over to the table. "Herbidentification."
He tapped the top of the first tray.
"There are ten trays here. Each contains a single herb—either raw, dried, or powdered. Some are common, some are rare, some might be similar in appearance. Your job is to name each one accurately and state its primary alchemical property."
Li Qingyun nodded calmly.
The elder continued, "You will be given two incense sticks' worth of time. No spirit sense. No manuals. Only your eyes, nose, and knowledge."
He waved to the attendant, who lit the incense and stepped back.
Li Qingyun stepped forward.
Tray One — He lifted the cloth.
A cluster of pale-green, spear-shaped leaves curled slightly at the tips, with faint silver veins running through the center. He brought it close to his nose and sniffed.
"JadeleafMint," he said. "Used for clarity elixirs. Cools the body and stabilizes qi flow."
He moved on.
Tray Two — A dried, spongy brown root that smelled faintly of rain-soaked earth.
"Mudspore Root. Used in detoxifying pills and base neutralizers."
Tray Three — Powder form. Pale gold in color, slightly grainy.
Li Qingyun dipped a finger lightly, brought it close, then blew gently on the powder. A faint herbal fragrance spread.
"Crushed Flame Petal. Boosts fire-aligned pill efficiency."
Elder's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes gleamed faintly with interest.
Tray Four through Seven followed quickly.
He named them: "Moonroot Bulb," "AshvineStem," "Cloud Mushroom," and "RockspikeGinseng." Each with a calm explanation, noting whether they were used in body reinforcement, mental clarity, or foundation-stabilizing pills.
TrayEight slowed him slightly.
It contained thin, crimson strips that looked like dried bark. He narrowed his gaze. The scent was faint—but sharp. Not quite bitter, not quite spicy.
He closed his eyes for a moment… then opened them.
"Firethread Bark," he said. "Often mistaken for RedscaleRoot, but this one's inner veins are more fibrous. Used to strengthen lower dantian fire during early pill ignition."
Elder gave the faintest nod.
Tray Nine — A purple-streaked bulb the size of a thumb. Very fragrant.
"Dreammist Bulb. Rare, used in sleep and meditation pills."
Tray Ten — He hesitated.
A deep green powder. It didn't carry a scent. No texture stood out. But when he brushed it slightly, a silvery shimmer pulsed beneath the top layer.
Li Qingyun's eyes sharpened. He recognized it—not by sight, but from a description he'd read the day before in the Basic Formulations archive.
"Ground Starvine… after drying under moonlight. Used to stimulate mental clarity and assist in calming pill reactions. Must be handled with care. Sensitive to fire-based components."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Elder finally walked to the table and tapped the list in the attendant's hand.
"All ten correct," he said, not hiding the slight lift in his brow. "And you even caught the Starvine powder at the end."
He looked at Li Qingyun again, this time with more weight behind his gaze.
"You've either read a lot… or you pay more attention than most."
Li Qingyun simply bowed.
"I try not to waste what I learn."
Elder gave a quiet chuckle. "Good. You're doing well. Now…"
He turned and began walking toward another corridor. "Time for the third and final test."
Elder led Li Qingyun into the largest room of the assessment hall. Unlike the previous two chambers, this one was warm—faint waves of heat rolled through the air. Dozens of small pill furnaces lined the walls, their bronze bodies carved with rune channels that glowed softly.
The room smelled of scorched herbs, medicinal smoke, and metal—rich and layered, but not unpleasant.
"This is the final test," Elder said, stopping beside a waist-high pill furnace. "Refine a basic Rank 1 pill under timed conditions. I will observe your process and end result."
He snapped his fingers.
An attendant appeared and placed a small tray on the stone table beside the furnace. On it were a set of herbs, pre-measured and neatly arranged in compartments.
"You are to refine a QiNourishing Pill. Simple in name—but don't be fooled. Refining it requires precision. Burn the herbs, and it turns bitter. Mix them too early, and the pill crumbles."
He looked at Li Qingyun with the same sharp gaze as before.
"No shortcuts. No assistance." he added.
Li Qingyun nodded without complaint.
"I understand."
A moment later, he stepped in front of the bronze furnace.
The attendant lit the formation array underneath, and a low thrum resonated from within. A soft orange glow flickered under the cauldron's base as the fire came to life.
Elder crossed his arms and stood a few paces back.
"Begin."
Li Qingyun took a calm breath and closed his eyes for a second.
Alchemy… is not just about flame. It's about rhythm. Harmony.
He opened his eyes and got to work.
First, he examined the herbs one last time. Azureroot Leaf. Qi Stone Powder. Dew Plum Pulp. Three ingredients, simple enough—but timing and heat would determine success.
He picked up the Azureroot Leaf and slowly fed it into the furnace.
At the same time, he began channeling spiritual energy—not too forcefully, just enough to sustain the flame. The fire danced gently, and inside the furnace, the leaf curled and released its essence in pale-blue smoke.
He adjusted the flame—lowered it slightly.
Next came the Qi Stone Powder. He waited until the smoke faded to a dull blue—just as described in the archive scrolls—then sprinkled in the powder while rotating the furnace lid slowly.
Ssssss...
A faint steam hissed out. The mixture inside began to bubble.
So far, so good.
He added the last ingredient—the Dew Plum Pulp—using a long-handled spoon carved with spirit wood. The moment it touched the heat, a soft fragrant mist rose up.
This part was crucial.
He had to condense the essence without allowing the moisture to overpower the structure. He stabilized his breath, funneled spiritual energy with both hands, and began controlling the flame intensity with his right palm and guiding the pill embryo's rotation with his left hand over the lid.
Minutes passed.
Sweat beaded slightly on his forehead—not from stress, but from the heat of the flame. His face remained composed.
The mixture inside coalesced.
A subtle glow emerged within the cauldron—soft golden, steady.
"Condense," he murmured.
A quiet thump echoed within the furnace. The flame dimmed.
He stepped back and opened the furnace lid.
Inside, resting within the curved heart of the cauldron, was a single round pill. Smooth, slightly translucent, with a golden sheen. It gave off a gentle medicinal aroma—warm and slightly sweet.
Elder stepped forward.
He looked into the cauldron, then picked up the pill using a pair of tongs. He turned it in the light.
"No charring. No cracks. Glow is steady. Core essence… intact."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're sure this is your first refinement?"
Li Qingyun simply gave a respectful bow. "First time using a real furnace. I practiced with herbal steaming pots at home for sometimes."
Elder let out a quiet hum.
"Well… you've passed."
Li Qingyun lowered his head respectfully. A soft, brief smile touched his lips.
"Thank you, Elder."
Elder placed the pill on a tray and gestured for the attendant to record the results.
Then, without another word, he walked to a nearby shelf and opened a dark wooden drawer. From within, he took out a small item sealed in a pale-blue velvet pouch.
Returning to Li Qingyun, the elder opened the pouch and revealed a token—polished black iron edged with golden trim. It fit neatly in the palm, shaped like a slender oval medallion.
One side bore the intricate engraving of a sword—the unmistakable symbol of Sky-Reaching Sword Sect. The reverse held a depiction of a cauldron framed by a ring of fire runes.
Elder brought the token to the work table and picked up a thin calligraphy brush inscribed with formation lines. Dipping it into a basin of pale golden spiritual ink, he began to write carefully.
First, beneath the sword emblem:
LiQingyun
Then, he flipped the token over to the cauldron side. With practiced precision, he brushed in a single word in clear, powerful script:
Rank 1 Alchemist.
The moment the last stroke landed, both inscriptions flashed once with faint light—binding permanently into the token's surface through the spiritual ink.
He let the token dry for a few seconds before handing it over.
"Here," Elder said. "This is your official Alchemical Hall token. Keep it with you at all times. It grants you access to the first floor of the pill storage wing and the basic flame chambers. When you've contributed enough or demonstrated further mastery, the mark may be upgraded."
Li Qingyun took the token respectfully with both hands. The cool weight in his palm felt… grounding. It wasn't just proof of success—it was the beginning of a new path.
"Thank you, Elder."
"You've earned it. Don't lose it. And don't let it gather dust either—alchemy is not patient with idleness."
Li Qingyun gave a light nod.
He looked at Li Qingyun one last time, voice a touch more serious.
"But remember, boy. Sword or cauldron—whichever path you tread—treat it with reverence. No path will respect you if you don't first respect it."
"I understand," Li Qingyun replied quietly.
---
As he stepped out of the Alchemical Hall beneath the noonday sun, his robe faintly brushed by the warm breeze, Li Qingyun looked at his palm, where the faint warmth of the fire still lingered.
He had only just begun.
Suddenly his system opened before his eyes with a ding...
[Secondary Profession Detected— Alchemist (Rank 1)]
When Li Qingyun saw this he was also surprised because he did not know that system will unlock a Tab just because of a secondary profession. He also realized that maybe there are other functions of system that had not been revealed yet.