I stared at the Old man, trying to keep my expression as sincere as I could.
“Why so suddenly, Lu Jie? What about your dream of rising in your cultivation?”
I took in a breath, trying to emulate a dejected Lu Jie as best as I could. “The spar has opened my eyes Elder. I had been trying to deny it all this time, hoping that effort would be enough, but the heavens do not grant blessings equally. I have been stuck at the third realm for months now, unable to break through to the second circle.” I sniffed once.
“I have seen the truth. I am talentless. And this is as far as I will ever go. I had despaired thinking there was no path in life that I could take. But, the pill you granted me made me feel a sense of purpose.”
I paused for a moment, realising that I was almost being genuine here. Having the memories of Lu Jie, even though I could tell the memories were not mine, I still felt affected by them. His frustration and his defeat, and the realisation had all been true. He may have died, but I had lived through his memories, and I’d felt those emotions. I continued speaking, trying not to stop suddenly.
“I wish to be of some use. And I wish to repay you for all the kindness you have shown me one day.” I turned around, pulling my knees together, as I bowed my head.
“Please take me as an apprentice.”
Silence descended for a few moments, as I kept my head bent. The sound of footsteps sounded out as the old man walked closer.
“I am a bit disheartened to hear you give up on your dream Lu Jie. You may have had troubles, but I'd seen the resolve in your eyes. But the heavens have different plans for everyone. And it is the mark of youth to try and find your own path, and Dao. If you think it lies in this craft, then I would be glad to teach it to you.”
I looked up at the old man, a frown sat on his wrinkly old face as he walked over to inspect his cauldron. “It has been decades since anyone has asked this old man to teach them. Know that I am no talented master, but just a humble man who has been working his craft for a long time.” A pause descended as I sat for a moment.
“Think carefully, Lu Jie. The relationship of a Master and apprentice runs deeper than all but family. If this is truly the path you wish to take, then kowtow thrice and agree to take me as your master, and I will agree to teach what I know of Alchemy.”
I exhaled, feeling partially relieved as I looked up. “I agree, Master.” I replied, kowtowing thrice.
“I agree as well, apprentice, may the heavens be my witness.”I felt a pulse of Qi travel through the room at his words as the apprenticeship was made official.
It had been partially a gamble to ask the old man, he really had no reason to accept me as a disciple. Officially I would still be a disciple of the sect. I would help him with his job, and do some chores, but outside of that, the old man was doing me a favour. I was a good deal nervous at being thrust in this position so randomly, but a part of me was also relieved as well.
Step 1 of plan ‘Escape dumb cultivation sect’ was a success.
I bowed my head once more, as the old man stood in front of me.
“What do you know about alchemy Lu Jie?” the old man asked.
I frowned for a moment, trying to dreg up a reply from Lu Jie’s memories. “Alchemy is the craft of refining. To refine various herbs and resources to form Elixirs and Pills that can help purify the dantian and bolster one’s cultivation. As well as cure ailments and heal injuries.” I frowned at my reply. The Alchemy in this world may be primitive but it was still a field of study. The answer I’d given had completely ignored the nature of alchemy to instead put it as a tool. I felt a different reply bubbling in me, and I spoke up.
“Alchemy is the study of nature. It's the craft of understanding the body and the spirit, to create that which can heal and enhance both. It is the craft of medicine, and one of healing and conversion. A method to understand how the various herbs and essences work, and by extension, how everything under heaven does. It's a Path of understanding.” I replied, and this time, the answer rang true, as my Qi swirled in my Dantian. This was my Path.
“My Dao will differ from yours. But all of them reside under the heavens as one, guided by its will. I had never felt it before Lu Jie, but now, I feel that the path of Alchemy may indeed be the one for you. That choice is not mine to make. All this old man can do is guide you along your Path.”
I nodded in reply and the old man turned around. “Let us start with the very first thing. The ranks by which an Alchemist is known. You have taken your first steps in Alchemy as an Alchemy apprentice. The next step for you would be one of a Junior Alchemist, capable of refining the simplest of pills and elixirs. The next would be a Senior Alchemist. The rank this old man had been for the majority of his life. You can call yourself a true Alchemist at this rank. At the end of my life, I have taken my last steps to be a Grand Alchemist.
After Grand Alchemist, your path will take you to be a Master, a Grandmaster, a Saint, and at last an Alchemy Emperor. Such is the path in front of you.”
I stared at the old man, seeing his passion as he spoke his words. The realisation of his old appearance dawned on me as well, and the time he had spent honing his craft. Few men looked old, the Qi in them keeping their appearances youthful even beyond a century. And the higher you cultivated, the slower you aged. Yet, Old Man looked older than any person I had ever encountered, he may not have a high cultivation, yet his skills and experience would be invaluable nonetheless.
“The first step in alchemy is the study of its ingredients. Which ingredient does what, and the potency of the herbs, the purity of the essence, and the time and technique involved in refining them.” Smoke rose from the cauldron, twirling around the old man’s hand as his hands moved to an unseen rhythm. Seeing things straight out of a kung fu movie left me awed as I gaped, watching with bated breaths as the minty smell of herbs filled the chamber.
“Your first lesson will be on how to use the cauldron, and refine a pill” the old man said, as a fire lit up under the iron cauldron on its own. The old man picked several books from his shelves, as he laid them out on the ground in front of me.
‘The Fundamentals of Alchemy Part 1’ the book read. A jade slip also rested next to it and I stared at the old man for an answer.
“That contains the recipe for three basic pills. When you can brew all three, is when you can call yourself an Alchemist. They are not rare recipes, but all alchemists have their own details and touches, and they are all passed from master to apprentice.”
I looked down at the jade slip, a slight pulse of Qi showing me all three pills and their recipes. I felt my heart beat with excitement at the prospective of learning the first magic since arriving here.
It was time to make some cultivation drugs.