Free Web NovelChapter 22: Chapter 22: Three-coin Fire Refining Technique
The beaming Blue-robed Steward departed with the Spirit Stones, leaving Yu Changsheng standing there dumbfounded. He didn’t snap out of it and sit down until another disciple tugged on his robe.
He looked at Gongsun Alchemist on the meditation cushion. ’This guy seems so unreliable,’ he thought.
Just then, a white-robed Outer Disciple—the one who had just pulled on his robe—scooted closer, startling Yu Changsheng.
He whispered, "Which Outer Peak are you a servant disciple from?"
Yu Changsheng gave him a curious look and replied, "Outer Peak number ten, next to Beast Taming Peak."
"Oh, that one. I’ve been there before. My name is Tang Xing, from Jade Cauldron Peak. Listen, let me give you some advice. You haven’t listened to much yet, so hurry and get your Spirit Stones refunded!" Tang Xing shot a furtive glance at Gongsun Alchemist and continued.
"This old Alchemist isn’t all there. He lectures all day long, but it’s all just nonsense. You won’t learn anything truly useful."
"Besides, it’s exhausting listening to him down here. It’s so boring it makes you drowsy. Look, those two disciples over there have already closed their eyes and dozed off!"
Hearing this, Yu Changsheng turned to look. Sure enough, two disciples were already dozing off.
The sight made his heart sink to the floor. ’That son of a bitch Blue-robed Steward!’ he cursed internally. ’That bastard!’
Tang Xing saw the sour look on his face and clearly understood. He decided to strike while the iron was hot. "We senior brothers were tricked into this too. Luckily, we only paid for one month. We’ll just grit our teeth and cut our losses after it’s over. But for you... that’s over three hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones. How long would you have to scrimp and save to get that much back?"
"So go get a refund. Maybe the Blue-robed Steward will see you’re a servant and give you your money back."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Yu Changsheng nodded his thanks to Tang Xing and was just about to get up and leave.
Suddenly, Gongsun Yang, still on his cushion, snapped his eyes open as if he’d heard the whispers from below. He barked, "No talking in my class!"
Yu Changsheng felt a powerful pressure wash over him, nearly suffocating him. He’d just started to rise, but the force slammed him right back onto his butt.
"Oh? You’re the new disciple. What was your name again? Yu... something-sheng?"
Gongsun Yang squinted for a long moment before his face broke into a wide smile. "Ah, I remember now. Yu Changsheng. That’s a truly fine name."
"It seems I haven’t given you the alchemy textbook yet."
With that, the Storage Ring on Gongsun Yang’s finger flashed. A yellow-covered book appeared, which he tossed to Yu Changsheng. It landed neatly on his lap where he sat.
The yellow-covered book was titled "Three-coin Refining Skill." Its binding was crude; it was clearly a mass-produced, ordinary textbook.
But as the textbook landed on Yu Changsheng’s lap, it felt as if it had a special gravity, pinning him to his spot and making it impossible for him to rise.
’At that moment, he understood. This Gongsun Alchemist had seen his intention to leave and was now using this trick to force him to stay...’
’You’re a Tier Three Alchemist, do you have to be so shameless?’
’Just refine a few Tier Three Elixirs! What are a paltry three hundred Spirit Stones to you?’
Yu Changsheng took a deep breath, fighting the urge to point a finger and confront him.
Fortunately, his self-control was excellent, and he quickly calmed himself before he could lash out.
After all, the man was a Tier Three Alchemist. Even if his Realm was only Qi Refining Peak, his status was comparable to a Foundation Establishment Peak or even a Golden Core expert.
Tier One Elixirs were effective for the Qi Refining Realm, Tier Two for Foundation Establishment, and Tier Three for Golden Core.
Realm-Breaking Class elixirs were considered a tier above others. For example, the Foundation Establishment Pill was a top-tier elixir among Tier Two Elixirs, and few even among the sect’s Tier Three Alchemists could refine it.
Therefore, even a newly-minted Tier Three Alchemist like Gongsun Alchemist—no matter how dubious his actual skill—was a treasure to the sect. Forget scamming a few Spirit Stones; he could probably kill Yu Changsheng right here and nothing would happen to him.
The sect’s rules only ever restrained the weak.
’Fine. What’s spent is spent. I might as well listen patiently,’ he thought, clenching his jaw. ’I’d like to see what this Gongsun Yang can possibly come up with!’
Gritting his teeth, Yu Changsheng opened the "Three-coin Fire Refining Technique" on his lap. He started trying to understand the alchemy technique, listening to the droning, intermittent lecture.
The book only covered the very basics of Alchemy, which an ordinary Alchemist wouldn’t need.
But for a complete novice like Yu Changsheng, it was helpful.
Beside him, Tang Xing was shocked to see that Yu Changsheng was actually studying seriously. He then shook his head. freewebnoveℓ.com
’Even with the best material, how could someone with his kind of talent possibly understand it without a guide?’
’Poor kid.’
With that, he followed the example of the other two disciples and began to doze off, making the best of a bad situation.
Only Yu Changsheng remained immersed in the book and Gongsun Yang’s voice, his eyes slowly closing.
’Oh? I’m lecturing so slowly and disjointedly, yet this little fellow is actually taking it in?’
Gongsun Yang secretly cracked open one eye, squinting as he observed Yu Changsheng with amusement.
He then closed his eye, his lecture falling silent. Only after half an hour did he slowly begin to speak again.
"In the Jade Furnace, the Mild Fire glimmers; through the twelve divisions of day and night, guard only the one..."
"When the yellow path aligns with yin and yang, the palace of three natures will be without leak..."
Yu Changsheng didn’t know what to call his current state. He felt a sense of profound emptiness, as if he’d become detached from the world. The words on the page seemed to come alive, arranging themselves into orderly lines and flowing directly into his mind.
And without any need to struggle or ponder their meaning, he understood them completely.
"The Three-coin Fire Refining Technique... Slow Fire, Static Fire, Void Fire..."
’To learn it, one must empty the mind and act intuitively. Don’t try to deliberately control the properties of the Spirit Grass, but allow them to merge together with every effortless gesture.’
’Speed has its advantages, and many Alchemy techniques pursue speed and haste. However, the elixirs they produce are more toxic and less effective. The Sanwen Fire, on the other hand, is a slow brew, melting the properties of the Spirit Grass into the flame itself.’
’So that’s how it is,’ he thought. ’I understand now.’
Yu Changsheng opened his eyes, and a system message appeared before him.
[You have learned the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique. Allocate points?]
’Allocate points.’
As he calmly gave the command, his character panel changed.
[Name: Yu Changsheng]
[Realm: Qi Refining Fourth Heaven]
[Physique: Spirit Beast Affinity]
[Cultivation Technique: Chang Chun Technique Proficient (5/10000), Refining God Technique Proficient (12/10000), Beast Taming Technique Beginner (15/1000), Three-coin Fire Refining Technique Beginner (1/1000)]
[Magic: Fireball Skill Mastery (1/10000), Wind Travel Skill Mastery (5/10000), Wood Shield Skill Mastery (15/10000), Rainwalking Skill Beginner (10/100)]
[Skills: Tier One Spirit Plant (5/1000), Tier One Alchemy Dao (1/1000)]
[Spirit Pet: Red Snake King]
[Remaining Essence: 570]
The "Three-coin Fire Refining Technique Beginner" and "Tier One Alchemy Dao" skills had been added to his panel.
This meant that Yu Changsheng now possessed the ability to refine Tier One Elixirs!
At the same time, a preliminary understanding of the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique’s skills settled into his mind. To master it further, he would either have to allocate points to upgrade it or learn the subsequent techniques from Gongsun Yang himself.
Yu Changsheng looked up, his gaze fixing on Gongsun Yang with a newfound fervor.
’This old man... he’s the real deal.’
Meanwhile, the dozing Gongsun Yang was startled awake for no apparent reason, a sudden chill running down his spine.
