"I'll register you as a member..."
Though Uncle Huang was confused for a moment, since it was his master's request, he didn't want to refuse. He also had to support her well according to the duties of a first-rate butler like himself.
The old butler proceeded step by step. Registering for this cultivators' community wasn't particularly difficult. It didn't require actual identity verification at all, because only those who received a special password from members could enter this website. It was already somewhat filtered.
Because sometimes when doing transactions or trading here, those conducting business often didn't want to reveal their identities.
"Grandmaster Bai, what name would you like to use?"
When Huang Zihan reached the field where he had to fill in the username, he turned to ask her opinion.
"Can't I use Bai Fanxian?"
The young woman asked back in surprise.
"You can, but in case you want to hide your identity in case people cause trouble..." Uncle Huang was about to fill in the name. Bai Fanxian, hearing his reasoning, stopped the old man first.
"In that case, 'Alchemy Empress' then..."
Huang Zihan paused at this name, then couldn't help but agree, because Grandmaster Bai truly had sublime alchemy abilities. Each type of elixir she brought out was one he had never seen before. The image of her using them to cure Tang Yeye like a miracle still stuck in his mind unforgettably.
"Alright."
Huang Zihan filled in the name, completing the registration. Bai Fanxian took the portable computer back. She looked at the upper right corner that had been empty. Now it had the name "Alchemy Empress" in prominent, magnificent characters displaying her identity.
Uncle Huang watched Bai Fanxian start typing slowly with a click-clack sound and smiled. At least during this time, Grandmaster Bai probably wouldn't be bored for a while. The old butler therefore walked into the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks to serve according to duty, while both little girls had run outside to train since Bai Fanxian started learning to use the computer.
Bai Fanxian, whom Uncle Huang thought was playing around, was now sweeping her gaze reading messages in that Q&A elixir problems thread with displeased eyes.
Comment 118 (Novice Alchemist)
Master Sun, I'm a Tier 2 alchemist. I'm currently stuck on a problem. The Yang Heat Elixir I'm concocting—when it reaches the final step, it can't condense into pills. Can Master Sun help me?
The person who posted this question was studying a certain elixir. Besides the post, he also attached photos and videos to view.
Below the comment, a user with the name "Sun Mingchuan" replied:
Comment 118-1 (Sun Mingchuan)
Your fire isn't strong enough. Increase the fire power during refining by half again. And when it's condensing into pills, increase the fire power to double.
Not long after, the novice alchemist came back to comment again, with great thanks and also imbued with much praise for this Master Sun.
Bai Fanxian frowned. She slowly typed because she still wasn't skilled, but composed it into words:
Comment 118-3 (Alchemy Empress)
Are you foolish? Increasing fire power makes the elixir condense into pills, true, but that's just the shell. How much efficacy does that pill lose from your foolish actions?
In another corner of the country, there was a large building structure standing alone in the middle of a mountain valley. But the environment here was full of convenience. Cars drove in and out of this place incessantly, picking up and dropping off people walking into the ancient-style building. An atmosphere of tranquility, sublimity, and knowledge emanated around this place. At the very front of the great gate was a sign carved from wood with exquisite, elaborate characters:
"Alchemists' Association"
One car drove up and parked before the gate. An old man slowly stepped down. His demeanor was like a prestigious master. He wore ancient-style clothing. His assistant who followed opened a notebook and reported:
"Master has a lecture at the great conference room at two o'clock. Shall we go there directly?"
Hearing this, the old man waved his hand in refusal. "No. I'll go rest in the reception room. There's about an hour. Bring me the portable computer."
"Yes, Master Sun Mingchuan."
His assistant bowed and quickly proceeded as "Master Sun" ordered. Before long, they were resting in a luxurious-looking reception room. Sun Mingchuan opened his computer in a good mood. Lately he had been frequently giving advice on the cultivators' community web forum.
There were always people coming in to ask questions. Sun Mingchuan, who was a highest-level Tier 3 alchemist, was viewed like a god.
Among alchemist beings in this era, the highest was "Grandmaster Lu Qing," who was a Tier 4 alchemist and also the director of this Alchemists' Association.
Next were the highest-level Tier 3 alchemists like Sun Mingchuan, who could occasionally concoct lowest-level Tier 4 elixirs. Because cultivation power wasn't sufficient, they couldn't advance to become sublime Tier 4 alchemists.
The old man opened the web forum to look at his thread topics in a good mood. But then he was surprised because the comment count that used to be only around 200 had skyrocketed to over 500 in a single night.
The old man was stunned. Had he unexpectedly gained popularity?
But when he went in to read, his snow-white beard twitched. The old man scrolled through new comments with feelings that couldn't be described in words.
Comment 118-4 (Novice Alchemist)
Who are you? Here to cause trouble?
Comment 118-5 (Alchemy Empress)
Your fire usage is nonsense. That elixir is called Yang Heat Elixir, so you deliberately use strong fire? Foolish! Reduce the fire by half. Then when it's condensing into pills, turn off the fire and cool it down. Let the excess heat dissipate first. Your elixir will easily coalesce into pills.
Comment 118-6 (Novice Alchemist)
No way! It actually worked. And its efficacy is far superior to ordinary Yang Heat Elixirs—incomparably so!
That novice alchemist, after disappearing for a while, came back with excitement. He posted photos and videos showing test results of the efficacy of the just-refined Yang Heat Elixir compared to other Yang Heat pills.
Suddenly, those interested in elixirs came in to discuss in overwhelming numbers.
Comment 118-7 (Elixirs Are Life)
Crazy! The refining method Master Sun told him is the standard Yang Heat Elixir refining method! Does this mean there's an even better method?
Comment 118-8 (Novice Alchemist)
I'm not sure either, but when comparing efficacy, the new elixir refining method is at least twice as effective.
After that, many comments followed, until reaching comment 118-29, someone asked:
"But who is this Alchemy Empress?"
"You guys go look at other comments! This has become a big deal now!"
Comment 129-2 (Sun Mingchuan)
Your ingredients are complete and good. I think the problem is with the person. Can you try concocting that elixir again for me to see?
Comment 129-3 (Alchemy Empress)
Can't you see that material has problems? Those two soybean roots—because they weren't stored well, putting them in the pot is no different from throwing in ordinary beans.
Comment 135-4 (Sun Mingchuan)
Fire control arts require time to practice. I recommend you read my book "Fire and Medicine" that I wrote many years ago. That will help you advance to Tier 2 alchemist faster.
Comment 135-5 (Alchemy Empress)
You wrote that book? What is that technique that extremely wastes qi power in exchange for minimal results? Do you think you have excess qi to squander playfully on a single pill? At this rate, how many elixirs can you refine in one day?
Comment 140-2 (Sun Mingchuan)
Stay calm. Elixir concocting requires a tranquil mind. Your mind must let go. Connect your mind with the medicine pill. When your mind is tranquil, concocting Tranquil Mind Elixir next time will naturally be easy.
Comment 140-4 (Alchemy Empress)
Tranquil mind, my foot! Are you all blind? Can't you see that first set of materials is wrong?! Using Fire Lotus Root instead of Snow Lotus Root—your elixir pot not exploding is already your good fortune!
The further down, the comments from "Alchemy Empress" seemed to become increasingly intense, as if she was running out of patience explaining what was correct to foolish people with stubbornly wrong beliefs.
Sun Mingchuan trembled with anger. He scrolled through the entire thread and found that over half the answers he had given people were being contradicted by this person calling herself "Alchemy Empress" in almost every sentence. People coming in to watch the fun were increasing. The comment count from around five hundred shot up to six hundred in just minutes.
The old man hoped those who came in to watch would help him argue and counter-attack somewhat. After all, he was a master with quite a few students. But reality was opposite to what he thought.
"It's exactly as Alchemy Empress said! Just by changing one type of material, the problem that always occurred is easily solved."
"Look! I tried using the fire control method Alchemy Empress mentioned. Now I can concoct Tier 2 elixirs!"
"Where is this Alchemy Empress divine being from?"
"That's right. Her advice is more useful and on-point than Master Sun's."
"Her knowledge is truly revolutionary! Some things Master Sun recommended were correct according to principles, but what Alchemy Empress uses is superior—incomparably superior!"
"Who is she?"
"Grandmaster Lu Qing?"
"Is the comment above crazy? She uses the name Empress. Probably a woman."
"Then who is she? There are quite a few female alchemy masters in this country."
"But the language she uses is rather archaic... maybe she's a senior who's been in seclusion for a long time?"
They began endlessly debating about the true identity of this mysterious Empress. Because this was a cultivators' community, rumors about her began spreading widely. Now cultivators across almost the entire country knew that a strange being had been born in the alchemy world!
Uncle Huang, after bringing fine tea to serve Bai Fanxian again in the afternoon, looked in surprise. He found that her face had relaxed extremely. She nodded with satisfaction as if she had successfully corrected something to be right again. The young woman closed the computer screen and sipped tea in a relaxed, comfortable mood.
"Huang Zihan... this internet is quite enjoyable too."
"If Grandmaster Bai likes it, that's good." Uncle Huang smiled and acknowledged politely. Once out of sight, he wondered what she had done. The old butler logged in with his own account through his mobile phone. And when he saw the numerous messages from the account using the name "Alchemy Empress," only then...
The old man was speechless!
The more Huang Zihan read, the more he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Though she answered every comment directly on-point, the language she used in the online world seemed fierce and confrontational in a way he had never seen before.
Different from her usual temperament like a different person. Bai Fanxian, who looked sublime and elegant in the real world, looked like a keyboard warrior harassing people on the web forum!
But the most pitiful one was Master Sun Mingchuan. He was minding his own business—who knows what he did to displease Grandmaster Bai!