Chapter 7: The Alchemist's Secret
Dawnriver City was a maze of stone towers and bustling markets, alive with the vibrant energy of cultivators. Lin Xuan found a private courtyard with ivy-covered walls, a perfect hideout. Liu Yue, Luo Shuang, and Liu Yang settled in, weary but hopeful.
In his room, hidden from view, Lin Xuan's silver-blue flame danced. He refined a series of pills. One was a nourishing pill for Liu Yang, whose pale cheeks soon flushed with health. Another was a concentrated qi pill, which he gave to Liu Yue, pushing her to the 5th Layer of Qi Gathering. Her Celestial Unity Crest glowed faintly.
He then handed her the full Scriptures of Severed Unity. "Practice this," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "It's your birthright."
Liu Yue's eyes widened, trembling as she took the scroll. "The entire art? Why trust me?"
"Your father believed in you," Lin Xuan said, his tone softening further. "So do I." Her gaze stirred that ache, and he turned away, his focus shifting back to his relentless pursuit of power.
Later, in the market, he visited an alchemy shop. Master Huo, the owner, a wizened old man with a long beard, eyed him. "You know herbs, kid. There's an Alchemist's Guild competition soon. The prize is rare herbs, spirit stones, and maybe even a Space Crystal. All you need to do is refine a 3rd-grade pill."
Lin Xuan feigned interest, hiding his true skills. "I'll think about it," he said, buying Starlight Petals and Moonshade Root. Master Huo watched, a flicker of intrigue in his eyes.
Returning to the courtyard, Lin Xuan trained Liu Yue. She quickly mastered the basics of the Scriptures, her Crest resonating with the art. "It's alive," she said in awe. "Respect its power," he replied. The Scriptures revealed a basic technique called Illusion Diversion, which created a qi clone. Lin Xuan practiced it, his clone flickering into existence, a hazy replica of himself.
His sharp senses then caught a disturbance outside. A small group of Zhi Clan cultivators, ranging from the 5th to 7th Layer of Qi Gathering, lurked in the shadows. Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed, and he gripped the jade hairpin he still carried. "They never learn," he muttered, stepping into the night.