Arc 3: Part 35
Many years later, the independent practitioners still vividly recalled the sting of that day when they were shocked to such a degree that they figuratively slapped themselves in the face.
Forget about the Elder Xuan who was nothing like the rumors, but the other senior cultivators, who had eagerly torn each other's clothes just to be the first to enter the Communication Hall and get that person's contact information, had also stunned them thoroughly.
Were they the same individuals who had displayed such noble arrogance and pride just a moment ago?
The high and mighty, solemn and calm demeanor...
Oh, pssssh!
These supposedly legendary figures were real crazies, not at all uptight!
Just a moment ago, they had been admiring these figures for standing unfazed even as Mount Tai tumbled before them...
Now, it felt like their faces were tingling with awkwardness and shock.
Whether the crowd of independent practitioners were dumbfounded was of no concern to the seniors of the Alchemy Tower and Artifact Forge. It wasn’t that they did not mind their personas crumbling, it's just that more important matters were at hand.
Barely restraining his excitement, Elder Xuan ordered fervently, "You, hurry to the Communication Hall and wait there. I'm going to change my clothes and wash my face. The moment she responds, you must come and notify me immediately!"
"Yes!"
The excitement of the prominent figures from the Alchemy Tower and Artifact Forge wasn't without reason.
As previously mentioned, the special flames, known as "Li Huo" play a crucial role in purifying essences and removing impurities during the process of pill refining and tool forging. This task can only be accomplished with a naturally-occurring Li Huo.
Otherwise, no matter how advanced a practitioner's cultivation or how skilled they are in refining pills or forging tools.
If they can't create high-grade pills or high-grade magical artifacts, then it's simply impossible.
This dilemma has long plagued monks who follow the path of alchemy and artifact refinement.
What to do if one lacks the innate gift of Li Huo?
— Find a talented individual who possesses Li Huo and collaborate with them in the refining process.
Either take them as your master, or make them your disciple. If neither option appeals to you, then become partners. One person can manage the pill furnace or forging cauldron, while the other can handle the herbs and minerals, casting the necessary spells.
Some complain, voicing that this hardly seems fair. Why can't individuals solely rely on their own abilities to progress in the art of alchemy and artifact refinement?
All the cultivators in the central continent would give them a dead-fish eye.
Who ever told you that the path of cultivation was meant to be fair?
Without a natural Li Huo, one can reluctantly make do with earth fire.
However, the result will be that pills or magical artifacts that could potentially be of extremely high quality would only be refined to a higher grade; those that could be high-grade would only be medium-grade; those that could be medium-grade would only be low-grade; and as for the ones that could refine low-grade...
Sorry, there were too many impurities. The refining cauldron and pill furnace have exploded.
Alchemy and artifact refiners truly feel wronged.
Even Elder Xuan, an Alchemy Ancestor at the God Transformation stage, has no choice but to resort to using the earth fire drawn from underground because he lacks a natural Li Huo.
He does possess extraordinary talents in the way of pill refining, which allowed him to reach the God Transformation stage. However, when faced with peers and competitors who possess natural Li Huo, he puts on a facade, smiling and claiming that he doesn't care about the earth fire's inferiority.
But behind closed doors, who knows how long he has been biting his handkerchief in frustration!
Feeling wronged, the Alchemy Ancestor becomes even more critical and harsh towards his disciples who also lack strange fires.
So, when the students in charge of appraisal hesitantly approached with a box of pills, submitted by someone with no strange fire, Elder Xuan, the Pill Ancestor, wasn't pleased.
"Without Li Huo and lacking the talents of this old man, you apprentices and students don't even put in effort! Have your brains grown wild grass, thinking you can follow the path of alchemy?"
The disciple has matured, learning to maintain a composed and dignified demeanor of a noble pill cultivator under the tirades of Elder Xuan. Without changing expressions, the disciple presents the box with both hands.
"Elder, please look at this... This pill has so few impurities, could it be refined with a Li Huo?"
And then?
Then, Elder Xuan went mad with excitement.
"I want to take on a student! No one is allowed to compete with me! Whoever tries, I will fight them! If she doesn't want to be my student, she can be my disciple-in-law or even a dear friend, whatever she prefers! Right, you few good-looking disciples, tidy yourselves up and come with me. We'll use your charms if needed to persuade her to join us. Did you hear me?!"
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