Exiting Seclusion

Each herb, each fragment of material, seemed to whisper its essence to him.

"What's happening…" Shen Yuan murmured, without pausing his refinement.

His gaze fell on a piece of Star Blossom Leaf. He could see it now—its flow of Qi, its alignment with fire-based energies, and even the faint trace of impurities clinging to its edges.

It was as if the essence of the world had revealed itself to him.

[Yuan'er, are you…?]

Yue Lan's voice was tinged with astonishment.

Shen Yuan's movements were fluid, his focus unshaken even as he murmured, "What is this feeling…"

[This… This is Alchemy Intent. And it's constantly improving at an absurd rate.]

Yue Lan said in an astonished voice as even she had not expected this.

[But this isn't the usual progression. You're… skipping ahead.]