Chapter 7: The Alchemist's Secret
Dawnriver City was a maze of stone towers and markets, alive with cultivators. Lin Xuan secured a courtyard, its ivy walls offering privacy. Liu Yue, Luo Shuang, and Liu Yang settled in, weary but hopeful.
In his room, Lin Xuan's silver-blue flame, hidden from view, refined pills glowing with qi. One strengthened Liu Yang, another pushed Liu Yue to the 5th Layer of Qi Gathering, her Celestial Unity Crest glowing. He handed her the full Scriptures of Severed Unity. "Practice this," he said. "It's your birthright."
Liu Yue's eyes widened, trembling as she took it. "The entire art? Why trust me?"
"Your father believed in you," Lin Xuan said, his tone soft. "So do I." Her gaze stirred that ache, and he turned away.
In the market, he visited an alchemy shop. Master Huo, the owner, eyed him. "You know herbs, kid. Join the Alchemist's Guild competition—refine a 3rd-grade pill for rare herbs, spirit stones, maybe a Space Crystal."
Lin Xuan hid his alchemy skills, feigning interest. "I'll think about it," he said, buying Starlight Petals. Master Huo watched, intrigued.
Training Liu Yue, Lin Xuan saw her master the Scriptures' basics, her Crest resonating. "It's alive," she said. He nodded. "Respect its power." The Scriptures revealed Illusion Diversion, a basic art creating a qi clone. Lin Xuan practiced it, his clone flickering.
A disturbance—Zhi Clan cultivators, 5th to 7th Layer of Qi Gathering—lurked outside. Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed, gripping the jade hairpin. "They never learn," he muttered, stepping into the night.