A Novice at Alchemy

In half a quarter of an hour, the two youths arrived at the Spirit Herb Garden.

The garden is quite expansive, with various sections scattered throughout the clan’s territory. Different spirit herbs thrive in different environments; their growth requires careful attention to sunlight, spiritual energy density, the flow of natural energy, and the elemental attributes of the environment. Furthermore, herbs can have symbiotic or antagonistic relationships. For instance, the Ghost-Wither Vine and Fire-Ganoderma cannot be planted together; one is yin in nature while the other is fiery, and their proximity would lead to a loss of medicinal potency during growth.

Conversely, planting Crimson Blood Ginseng alongside Blood-Essence Flowers can effectively promote their mutual development. The Blood-Essence Flower draws a portion of vitality from the Crimson Blood Ginseng during growth, and the Ginseng, sensing this depletion, absorbs spiritual energy from the heavens and earth at an accelerated rate to compensate.

The cultivation of these spirit herbs is subject to one primary prerequisite: the sufficiency of the environmental spiritual energy. When it is insufficient, one must either artificially supplement the energy or reduce the density of the planting. Other auxiliary methods include the use of formations, spirit liquids, and medicinal powders to nourish the soil.

One must also mention the soil, which is crucial for cultivation. It is classified into Spirit Soil, Breathing Earth, Black Profound Soil, and other rare varieties. Spirit Soil is the most common; it is created by grinding spirit crystals into powder and sealing it away to mature for a period ranging from five to ten years, or sometimes even a millennium. According to the Canon of Spirit Herbs, some sentient plants in this world can feed spiritual energy back into the soil, making the earth where they grow even more fertile. However, this sentience is determined by the herb’s species and the natural forces of the world; high-grade spirit herbs are notoriously difficult to grow in common, lifeless soil. My great-grandfather once said that the "natural forces" of the world refer to the legendary formation that emerged after the Tao gave birth to the One, the Two, the Three, and eventually all things.

Today was time for class, taught by the Second Elder.

After a brief exchange with the young attendant at the gate, the two youths entered the garden. A faint, refreshing scent of herbs greeted them, clearing their minds. This is one of the largest gardens in Qingning City, and few are permitted entry. The youth held a special permit from the Second Elder, allowing him to bring Zhao Sansheng inside. Zhao Sansheng, a cousin from the main branch of the family, was tall and sturdy with a sallow complexion. His talent was decent, possessing a three-element spiritual root: seven parts gold, three parts water, and two parts wood.

As they walked toward the main hall in the center, they encountered several other cousins from the main branch. These were all disciples selected to serve as herb attendants or apprentices in spirit cultivation. Various deacons assisted in managing the different sections. Currently, the Zhao Clan has only six elders, and the burden of clan affairs is heavy, so over twenty deacons—composed of uncles and talented outsiders absorbed by the clan—assist in the management.

Work in the garden is a serious matter; it is one of the clan's vital hubs, providing many of the materials and resources required for its operations. It is also a coveted position, as the saying goes: alchemy and spirit cultivation are inseparable.

Most of the clan’s alchemy chambers are located within this garden. If one cultivates spirit herbs with excellence, the most common reward is medicinal pills—valuable treasures indeed. The disciples one sees here regularly tend to the herbs, removing pests, applying nutrients as needed, recording growth trends, calculating yields, and reporting findings. The managing deacons, who are highly experienced, share their wisdom with the apprentices and attendants, helping them evaluate the growth of the herbs. The elders, however, are usually elusive.

Entering the inner building, Jin Ming knocked softly on the door of the Elder’s chamber.

"Enter."

Jin Ming and Zhao Sansheng stepped inside. The room was vast, almost like a grand hall. It was sparsely decorated, filled only with books, herbs, and a massive alchemy cauldron, its flames burning perennially.

Looking ahead, Zhao Ningjin was already there, along with Zhao Feiling, Zhao Caijie—my cousin, seventh cousin, and a cousin of a different surname, respectively.

Three hundred years ago, my great-grandfather, Zhao Juyun, a second-rank official of the Great Qian Dynasty, resigned from office for reasons unknown and settled in Qingning City. The four established families of Qingning City, having taken root for a thousand years, were naturally displeased. Yet, despite the difficulties of settling in a new place, he chose to stay.

At the time, the four families, led by the Xu clan, united to drive out the Nascent Soul cultivator. There were sixteen Golden Core masters, including the peak-stage Golden Core masters Xu Song and Li Shibai. Though a Nascent Soul cultivator is powerful, it is difficult to withstand the combined force of sixteen masters. During the battle for survival, Zhao Juyun killed four masters, leaving both sides severely weakened. Li Shibai proposed a truce to prevent outside families from profiting from their conflict. Xu Song, the strongest of the militant faction, refused; seeing the losses of the family elders, he sought to unite the others to eliminate the Nascent Soul cultivator and divide his treasures. Hearing this, the severely wounded Juyun sacrificed his own longevity to cast a Heavenly Thunder Strike, reducing Xu Song to ashes.

Ultimately, driven by self-interest, the two sides negotiated a peace. The Xu family lost three masters, falling from the head of the four families to the very bottom. Zhao Juyun seized three of the twelve towns previously held by the Xu family. He later married, had children, and established the Zhao Clan, which has since flourished. The Zhao family actively absorbs talented outsiders, bestowing upon them the Zhao surname. Over the centuries, knowing he was the aggressor, Juyun never interfered further.

The friction between the five families has continued to this day. To mortals, three hundred years spans several generations, but for high-level cultivators, it is but four. Although Zhao Caijie is a cousin of a different surname and a collateral branch member, these distinctions only affect a small amount of authority and resources; collateral disciples with sufficient talent are just as highly valued by the clan.

I steadied my focus and looked toward the teacher for this lesson: Zhao Jinshang, dressed in a thin, dark-white robe, his face pale and tinged with violet.

The Second Elder is quite ruthless; he often tests unknown pills he has concocted on himself. With his white beard and lean frame, at over two hundred years of age, he has refined over one hundred thousand pills for the Zhao clan. He is the only Golden Core alchemist in the clan capable of refining sixth-grade pills. The best alchemists in the Great Qian Dynasty can reach the seventh grade—those are Nascent Soul cultivators.

Medicinal pills are divided into nine grades: first and second are mortal pills; third and fourth are spirit pills; fifth and sixth are dharma pills; seventh are king pills; eighth are heavenly pills; and ninth are immortal pills. These correspond to the cultivation stages of Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, Void Refinement, and the legendary "Immortal."

My thoughts were interrupted.

"Zhao Ningjin, answer me: how much does a single Purple Crystal Flower cost?" the Elder asked, stepping forward.

"In the 8831st year of the Qianyuan era, a Purple Crystal Flower costs sixteen spirit stones. If the four crystal petals are damaged, the price is adjusted per petal."

He asked again, "Zhao Sansheng, what can be refined from Spirit-Gathering Grass?"

Zhao Sansheng stood up immediately.

"Six stalks of Spirit-Gathering Grass can refine six Spirit-Gathering Pills. Two stalks of Spirit-Gathering Grass combined with half a piece of Jade Thorn can refine six Beauty-Preserving Pills. Four stalks of Spirit-Gathering Grass and two stalks of Crimson Blood Ginseng can refine six Vitality-Replenishing Pills. One stalk of Spirit-Gathering Grass and one stalk of Snake Grass with a small piece of Thorny Skin can refine one second-grade Heart-Nourishing Pill."

"Which is the most cost-effective to refine? Zhao Jin Ming, you answer."

Jin Ming smiled and replied, "Spirit-Gathering Grass is easier to absorb when refined into pills than when consumed raw, providing three times the spiritual energy; it is a necessity for low-level cultivators, making this a balanced choice. Beauty-Preserving Pills are expensive and difficult to refine, suitable for gifts. Vitality-Replenishing Pills are excellent and essential for practitioners; if there is war on the dynasty's borders, the price can skyrocket. Heart-Nourishing Pills also have miraculous effects and, being second-grade, are beneficial for breakthroughs. First, it depends on one's alchemy strength. As the Elder says, refining spirit pills has a cost-benefit ratio; the aforementioned options are all losses, as high-grade pills are superior to low-grade ones. In times of war, it is uncertain—it depends on the level of conflict, whether it is a duel between high-level cultivators or a total war. The Spirit-Gathering Pill is the best choice."

The Second Elder said nothing and moved to the next question.

"When refining high-grade pills, if the Spirit-Gathering Grass lacks sufficient energy, what can be used as a substitute? Zhao Feiling."

Zhao Feiling bowed his hands. "In reply to the Elder, one may use spirit stones, Condensation Dew Grass, spirit crystals, Spirit-Gathering Pills, or Vitality-Condensing Pills."

The Elder’s examinations were always random, never beating around the bush. He paused for a moment.

"Today, I see that some of you have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so I have decided to teach you something more practical. Follow me."

He walked straight out of the chamber, and the five of us followed. We arrived at a side room, where the Elder pushed open the door and activated the room's formation. This was one of the alchemy rooms, housing two cauldrons.

"Today, we shall learn the art of alchemy."