Apprenticeship~

Ning walked out of the registration hall. He was already wearing the inner sect robe and held a jade stone in his hand. Normally, he would have stood beside Elder Ze Xuan, as every other disciple did, but he was a man on a mission.

"Excuse me, Elder Ze Xuan," Ning politely drew the attention of the elder in charge.

"Hmm? What is it?" Elder Ze Xuan seemed surprised by the sudden call.

"Elder Xu asked me to go and visit Elder Ling," Ning got straight to the point.

Elder Ze Xuan seemed surprised to hear an unexpected name before giving Ning a second look. Then, seemingly understanding something, he said cryptically, "I see. This is your good fortune, go. Don't keep the elder waiting, lest he becomes angry."

Elder Ze Xuan shivered as he said the last part.

It seems that Elder Ling is quite influential.

Ning noted this and then cupped his hand, wanting to go away, before feeling a strong gaze upon him. He had been attracting attention from the start, the moment he had talked to the Elder.

Ning was particularly concerned about this gaze because it was none other than the 'protagonist,' but he didn't have time or the mind to deal with him. He quickly left the registration hall.

...

Each inner sect elder was provided with a mountain peak, which served as their main residence. As long as their developments adhered to the sect's rules, they had the freedom to shape it according to their desires.

It had already been more than fifteen minutes since Ning had been following the spiritual line.

Along the way, he met several other disciples, some wielding axes, others carrying halberds, but he did not pay them any mind.

With his low profile, Ning safely arrived at the entrance of a peak. A wooden sign proudly displayed the name "Spirit Flower Peak."

Ning walked inside, and to say he was surprised would be an understatement.

Countless varieties of vibrant flowers adorned the landscape, each brimming with a remarkable aura of spiritual energy. Even in comparison to his own collection of flowers, which he had carefully nurtured over the past few months, these magnificent blooms surpassed anything he had ever seen.

Amidst the beautiful scenery, an extravagantly decorated building with a jade roof tile appeared in his view.

Ning sighed sadly; it was sad to say that all this time, he had lived in a small cave that was only built with rocks.

Even just a few minutes prior, Ning was quite happy since he was going to live in a small house from now onwards. But here, he witnessed people living in a magnificent building and owning a mountain peak.

"And I thought I already got an upgrade to my lifestyle. Truly, there is no harm done until comparison," Ning couldn't help but silently lampoon himself.

As soon as he arrived near the palace, the spiritual line disintegrated, leaving Ning outside.

Ning was speechless, yet he did not immediately knock on the door. He took a deep breath to compose himself and waited patiently.

After a moment, a middle-aged man's voice came from inside, "Ji Ning, huh? Enter!"

"Yes!" Ning pushed the huge door and entered the palace.

A sweet and spicy aroma filled the palace, mingling with the odor of poisonous fumes and liquids, which Ning was very familiar with and that left him quite concerned.

Within the palace, several massive cauldrons stood tall, each emanating a spiritual aura. The room was adorned with an array of materials, carefully arranged yet seemingly scattered.

Ning quickly noticed the presence of a white-haired, middle-aged man who wore white robes. His collar was embroidered with golden patterns, and his eyes emitted a golden light like two golden gems. He seemed stern and disciplined.

"Disciple Ning pays his respect to Elder." Ning quickly saluted the unknown elder.

"I'm Ling Huang. I am in charge of all things alchemy related to the sect." The middle-aged man spoke slowly, then suddenly his heavy gaze bore upon Ning, "I already know the details. So then, Ning, are you willing to become my apprentice?"

"Eh?" Ning was surprised by the sudden proposal, his brain was filled with thoughts, before he forced himself to calm down.

Seeing Ning regain his composure quickly, Elder Ling nodded once before he spoke, "It seems that the request was too sudden. It has been a while since I had taken on another apprentice."

Elder Ling coughed, drawing Ning's attention, then asked, "Do you know what an alchemist is?"

I have a feeling where this was going...

Ning narrowed his eyes and answered the anticipating Elder, "Alchemy is the process of fabricating different medical pills and elixirs, which have various uses and strengths."

Ning noticed the slight frown on Elder Ling's face and took note of it. He changed his tone, "That is the common consensus of what alchemy is like in the outer sect. Personally, I feel like it's the process of creating something new, unknown, and miraculous. Something that has never existed upon heaven and earth, it is the way of creation itself."

Since the elder didn't seem to like the normal answer, Ning exaggerated. Thankfully, he was well versed in the Dao of Bullshitting.

He exaggerated, added some flowery words, and made it seem more important than it was.

Overall, Ning felt he did quite well.

So, He waited for a comment. But nothing came, he was met with silence.

..

.

Had he overdone it?

But it seems not, as soon Elder Ling began to laugh. It was not the usual elegant laugh but full-blown laughter.

"Hahahaha!" Elder Ling then spoke, "You are right. I didn't think that a disciple would have such a deep vision."

"Alchemy is the path to Dao itself, a Great Dao. It is the process of creation and usage of the numerous materials beneath heaven and earth. Alchemy is a never-ending pursuit of creating, using, and refining."

Elder Ling explained everything in a grand manner. His sternness from before was nowhere to be seen. He stretched his arms and spoke wholeheartedly. He was only missing some holy light bathing him to appear as a legitimate preacher.

It seems that Elder was the type to get particularly excited about anything alchemy.

Ning made a mental note of that.

After finishing his grand speech, Elder Ling looked at Ning expectantly.

And Ning was not the one to disappoint either. He showed an 'appropriate' amount of surprise and amazement.

"I see, Elder Ling. Alchemy is truly... Grand."

"Eh? You finally get it. Also, why are you calling me Elder? You should call me Master?" Elder Ling seemed surprised, seeing the way the young disciple addressed him.

Ning's lips twitched, seeing the "why are you not immediately worshipping me as your master look?" on Elder Ling's face.

Ning was not opposed to the idea of becoming an Alchemist; rather, he had already decided to tread this path long before.

Yes, Ning had already decided to become a d̶r̶u̶g̶l̶o̶r̶d̶ alchemist.

The quintessential cultivation experience was taking drugs/pills, chowing down on 'herbs', and consuming dubious materials in general in order to reach a new 'high'/stage.

Especially, since everyone in this world consumed 'pills,' no one could avoid it. To break through, take pills; to heal, take pills; to live longer, take pills; to stop being bald, take pills; to calm down your temper, take a chill pill.

Ning even wondered if the reason all cultivators were either batshit insane or incredibly stupid or both is that they were all a bunch of druggies and alcoholics. Since they started cultivation as children, they're never sober for a single moment afterward.

So, since this was a path with great prospects, Ning was naturally drawn to it. Plus, making new pills (drugs) and selling them to help others reach a high state without repercussions was just too funny to pass up.

But even though the path to success was right there, Ning just had one question.

"Elder, but why me?"

Ning was worried that the elder had already seen some of his anomalous features. He was not exactly normal by any means, be it either his transmigration or the panel within him.

"Eh? Just that. It's because you have the required soul attributes for alchemy. You possess Fire and Wood attributes, right?" Elder Ling replied casually.

"Yes. But that's it?!" Ning's lips couldn't help but twitch a second time.

"En! You have the necessary attributes and aptitude, why would the sect not nurture you?" Elder Ling became concerned about the thought process of his new disciple.

Ning's eyes became blank at that. He had already thought of the worst-case scenario, but in the end, the answer was just that.

He was not fully at fault for becoming suspicious. Ning's worldview was built upon the countless cultivation novels he had devoured in his past life.

The protagonists in those novels had to struggle, fight, and overcome everything in their lives. Even gaining someone to teach you was something to toil hard for, but if one thinks about it, that kind of lifestyle is quite wrong.

Protagonists had to struggle so much because of their "hate" halo hindering them so much. If they want to get support, they need to cross a hundred enemies first.

Ning had no such enemies nor the halo. He was just a 'normal' extra in this world.

Since he had the necessary aptitude and attributes, why would the sect not nurture him? The meaning of the sect was to nurture disciples. It was a simple concept, but something he had missed entirely.

"I see." Ning collected his thoughts and reorganized them before sighing.

I have been sighing a lot since coming here.

In the end, Ning finally replied, "I am willing to become your disciple, Master."

"Heh? Is that so?" Elder Ling smiled, and then spoke, "Then, from now on you are my Ling Huang's fourth disciple."

...

Thanks for reading~