Night of the Broken Gliph

It was a pity that Alchemist Hui’s life came to a peaceful end after refining the Poorest Elixir. The elixir and its recipe were stolen. Despite seeing numerous changes in the owner of the recipe, it was never spread to the world as the Poorest Elixir was a grade four elixir that required countless herbs and a skilled refiner; it was almost a grade five divine elixir. 

The Poorest Elixir was said to be the apex of a grade four elixir, infinitely close to a grade five elixir. Even till today, there had never been any divine master alchemist who could easily refine this elixir. Thus, every Poorest Elixir was a priceless treasure reserved for talents of large clans and organisations. If one were willing to sell it, he’d definitely earn a fortune, with every clan and glipher willing to bid for it. 

Legend had it that the Poorest Elixir was why Alchemist Hui didn’t make any significant contribution in his life. It was said that the Poorest Elixir was created when he became a grade two alchemist, and he spent centuries trying to refine the elixir while personally testing its effects. Eventually, the divine elixir was born. 

That was where the name of the elixir came from. Alchemist Hui led a poverty-ridden life and even put his entire life into creating this divine elixir. Thus, it was dubbed the Poorest Elixir! 

Chui Yim was blown away by the elixir in front of him. He never thought that this unreliable looking old man would have such a legendary treasure. Ping Chi ignored Chui Yim, who was shocked, as he clapped his hands. A hill of herbs Chui Yim’s height appeared in front of Chui Yim; Chui Yim spotted dozens of priceless herbs with just a glance. 

“I used these to refine three Poorest Elixirs,” Ping Chi said. “I gave one to San Yat, I saved another for Little Ching, and the last one is here. In alchemy, separating the wheat from the chaff is the most important. Every time you add an ingredient to a recipe, countless changes will take place. Finally, with the combination of many gliphic plants and herbs, an elixir will be refined from the essences of the herbs.” 

Chui Yim’s eyes lit up brightly as if enlightened by the true meaning of alchemy. He understood why the hill of herbs could only produce three small finger-sized elixirs. 

“Just like how I combine numerous minerals to forge a single weapon. Forging and alchemy are extremely similar!” Chui Yim exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “I might be oddly suitable to learn alchemy!” 

Ping Chi spent the entire day explaining alchemy to Chui Yim. There was no step by step process, and Ping Chi started from the great master level of alchemy. He taught Chui Yim about the combination of herbs and how to control fire as if he was teaching a great master. He was treating Chui Yim, a thirteen-year-old boy, like a great master. At the start, Ping Chi was worried that it might be too difficult for Chui Yim to digest, but as he realised Chui Yim could understand everything, Ping Chi slowly raised the difficulty to grandmaster level secretly. It was exciting, but Ping Chi didn’t show it. 

What Ping Chi didn’t know was that herbal concoctions were necessary knowledge for all doctors as they needed it to write prescriptions. When he was younger, Chui Yim would be mocked sarcastically if he answered Chui Tin incorrectly. He might not even get dinner.

As for the knowledge of fire control, whatever Ping Chi taught him now was considered basic for Chui Yim. He cultivated the Nine Levels Of Heaven’s Flame, which granted him great control over fire and the ability to refine and compress flames with ease. Each increase in level increased his control over fire. Even though he was stuck at the level two bottleneck, he had reached level five in his past life. 

Since alchemy was similar to forging, as the best metalsmith of the Sallow Continent, alchemy was surprisingly easy to him. He absorbed Ping Chi’s teaching and stored the knowledge in his brain together with his forging and fire control skills from his past life. Together with the herbal concoction knowledge from Chui Yim, he established his own understanding of alchemy. He sucked in knowledge like an endless sponge.

Ping Chi might have looked old, but as an alchemist and doctor, he took care of his body well, and he could live for many more decades. With his energliph, Ping Chi could continue for three days and nights without getting tired.  

After twenty-four hours, Chui Yim was reaching his limit. Ping Chi looked out of his courtyard to realise that the sky had turned dark. He felt that Chui Yim was at his limit, but he was left speechless at how Chui Yim lasted this long. Now, he was nearly finished with knowledge at the great master level, and if Chui Yim didn’t stop, he would probably continue teaching him alchemy at the grandmaster level. 

Devil! He’s so talented that he isn’t human! Ping Chi was on cloud nine. Such a genius is perfect to become my direct disciple! But he didn’t show his excitement as he knew that Chui Yim was a person who only worked when it came with benefits. This boy would definitely raise more conditions if he knew how talented he was. 

“Okay, digest all this information first and come clarify your doubts when you’re done. But take your time to digest the information well because the next time I meet you, you’ll be refining elixirs. Take this cushion and go rest.” Ping Chi stuffed a black cushion into his hands before rushing him out, leaving Chui Yim dazed. 

Didn’t he want to take me as his disciple? Why is he chasing me away like a fly? 

However, Chui Yim was so tired that he could barely focus, and his brain was so preoccupied with alchemy that he couldn’t think about anything else. In a daze, he strode back to his residence sluggishly. On his way back, he saw a figure waiting for him. He was no stranger to his person, as he had met her back in the restaurant. It was Ping Ching’s guardian, the First Spring’s Lady. 

“Mister Ping is looking for you,” First Spring’s Lady said with her cold voice. 

Guardians were meant to protect talents from other clans and organisations as they were most likely the future leaders of their clans. Those unable to survive were trash, while those who did were geniuses. 

That explains the appearance of the First Spring’s Lady and Mo-Yung Sai back at the restaurant. Chui Yim thought as he shook his head. Only now could he understand why Ping Chi excelled in both fields as a dual grandmaster since both areas were largely similar.