Chapter 54: The Path of Alchemy (1)

Le Kai could only pin his hopes on the last stone house, praying it might yield something valuable. The final stone house did not disappoint him. As soon as he pushed open the door, a rich, ethereal fragrance wafted out, instantly refreshing his mind and dispelling any memory of the acrid sulfur outside. It was as if he had stepped into another world; the air here was so pure it surpassed even that within the vast heavens.

Overjoyed, Le Kai fixed his gaze inside and could not help but break into an uncontrollable smile.

This stone house, larger than the other two combined, contained none of the scattered treasures or strange objects he had found before. Instead, it held an array of peculiar plants. To his astonishment, it was a veritable medicinal garden. Unfamiliar fruits and plants, all exuding that bewitching aroma, filled the entire space.

He could not tell what material the stone door was made of, but when closed, not a hint of its contents escaped. The space within seemed a world unto itself, completely shielded from radiation. The fruits and plants flourished luxuriantly; a single breath here was invigorating, as if one had consumed an elixir.

Le Kai quickly closed the stone door, lest the spiritual energy seep away.

The treasures his teacher had spoken of must surely refer to these wonders. Last time, after eating a single "Three Suns Fruit," he had produced true energy and entered the ranks of martial artists. If he consumed all the hundreds of fruits here, would he not instantly attain the level of a top martial artist?

Le Kai was beside himself with delight. Who knew how many years this medicinal garden had existed? It seemed untouched, thriving in abundance, and all these fruits would now belong to him.

Still a child at heart, Le Kai naturally wanted to gather all these treasures. Only by storing them in the watch's spatial compartment would they be truly safe.

He sent his mind into the watch, taking out all the dried meat—who cared for mundane things when such treasures awaited? But when his mind touched the blank jade slip he had just placed inside, something extraordinary occurred. The jade slip, upon contact with Le Kai's spiritual sense, awakened like a slumbering beast, opening its maw and swallowing him whole.

The suddenness was overwhelming; Le Kai had no time to react. He was swept inside, feeling himself enter a realm of ethereal mist.

Clouds and fog swirled, resembling a celestial paradise. The dense mist was markedly different from the dust outside the basin; breathing it in was like consuming thick fruit jam, filling one's belly with a peculiar sensation. Though startled, Le Kai's strong nerves kept him calm, and he began to survey his surroundings with composure.

It was the first time his consciousness alone had entered such a strange place; the experience was wholly unlike the space within his watch, offering an uncanny sense of reality. Of course, the sensation of a full belly was merely a spiritual effect.

"Your temperament is commendable—you are fit for great responsibility," came a slow, ethereal, and ancient voice. The mist before him gradually cleared, revealing an extraordinary elder, white-haired and bearded, dressed in ancient robes, exuding the aura of an immortal sage. In his profound gaze, there were no eyes, only two swirling vortices, filled with endless attraction. A single glance could ensnare the soul and plunge it into infinite void.

Le Kai's heart trembled; he desperately averted his gaze, breaking out in a cold sweat. For the first time, the fearless youth was gripped by terror.

"Who are you? What is your purpose?"

Le Kai did not waste words asking why he was here, instead going straight to the point. He believed that although this elder was frightening, he harbored no murderous intent, so his safety was not immediately at risk. His awe stemmed from the elder's overwhelming power, akin to humanity facing a deity—no matter how benevolent, the innate majesty inspired respect.

"Do not be afraid. This is but a trace of my spiritual mind. My true body perished long ago. I exist solely to fulfill the task entrusted to me by my principal. Young man, your temperament is admirable, and you possess rare veins, born with the fire attribute—just the sort of talent needed for the Path of Alchemy."

The elder endeavored to restrain his aura, yet even so, Le Kai felt the immense pressure. Had he not been unusually resilient, he might not have been able to speak at all.

"The Path of Alchemy—does that mean refining elixirs?" Le Kai recalled the empty bottles outside and burst out, "Just like those Taoist priests in fantasy novels—refining immortal pills and ascending to immortality with a single dose?"

Even the elder, so like a celestial being, could not help but chuckle at that. "It’s not nearly so easy. The so-called Path of Alchemy is to pursue the Dao through alchemy, achieving supreme magical powers. Since the beginning of heaven and earth, those with wisdom and spirituality have sought to comprehend the Dao, developing themselves so they might connect with the cosmos and chase after immortality. The truly wise created methods of cultivation, honing themselves, transcending life and death, and attaining the Dao—this is internal cultivation. The Path of Alchemy is the opposite; it uses external aids, combining rare treasures and spiritual energy, forging them into pills. A pill is the crystallization of nature’s mysteries and can change fate. This is external alchemy."

Seeing Le Kai still bewildered, the elder continued, "Let me put it this way: all cultivation aims at the ‘pill.’ Most cultivators use their bodies as the furnace, breathing and meditating until a pill forms in their dantian—a cultivator’s very foundation. This method requires suitable physique and profound techniques; progress is slow, and without exceptional talent, a lifetime may yield little. The Path of Alchemy, however, starts with a tangible furnace, relies on spiritual medicines and energy, and condenses pills directly. These pills, though not identical to those formed naturally within the body, share their essence and, most importantly, work far faster. Consuming pills achieves the same results. Thus, the Path of Alchemy is a shortcut."

Le Kai suddenly understood. "So it’s just like Taoists refining pills—what’s the difference? If there were enough spiritual medicines, wouldn’t cultivation soar?"

The elder replied, "Strictly speaking, there’s little difference. Yet the Path of Alchemy, though a shortcut, demands much from the body—not everyone can learn it. In the land of China, over tens of thousands of years, only a handful mastered its essence. In my generation, I could not even find a worthy disciple."

The elder sighed with melancholy. "The Dao changes in mysterious ways; for centuries, there have been no suitable candidates. I knew then I would not fulfill my ancestors’ wishes in this lifetime. Fortunately, I have finally encountered you, boy—we are destined."