Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
To take or not to take it? It was a question that was dangled right before Fang Lin’s eyes. Every single person was looking at him and awaiting his response.
Although Kang Lu had a friendly expression, he was sneering deep in his heart. ‘Even if you are a genius, Fang Lin, you’ll be my supporter once you’ve taken my Energy-promoting Pill. From then on, you’ll forever be under my control no matter how outstanding your performance is.’ He believed that Fang Lin would not be able to resist the temptation of an Energy-promoting Pill.
Fang Lin took a look at the bottle in Kang Lu’s hand. Then, he was seen shaking his head and saying indifferently, “Senior Brother Disciple Kang, I’m very grateful to you for your kindness. However, I can’t accept the Energy-promoting Pill.”
Upon listening to his words, many people felt that Fang Lin was a fool. ‘That’s an Energy-promoting Pill! How will a junior alchemy disciple ever get such a pill? It’s a free Energy-promoting Pill, yet he doesn’t even want it?’
There were also some people nodding secretly in agreement. ‘Fang Lin isn’t a fool. He will be going along with Kang Lu’s desire if he takes the Energy-promoting Pill.’
Kang Lu’s expression stiffened for a moment when he heard Fang Lin’s rejection. He had yet to speak when a youth by his side lost his self-control and demanded, “Fang Lin, what do you mean? How dare you decline the pill given by Senior Brother Disciple Kang? That’s ungrateful of you!”
Despite his smile, Fang Lin was not infuriated at all. He said, “Dear Senior Brother Disciple, you’ve misjudged me. Not that I, Fang Lin, am ungrateful for your kindness, but your favor is too much. My body is too weak, and I’m afraid that I can’t stand the pill.”
His words were a combination of toughness and tenderness. His tone of rejection was very obvious, so Kang Lu could pick up the tone easily.
The smile kept on Kang Lu’s face all this while finally vanished, and in its place was gloom and cold.
“Fang Lin, do consider properly. Do you wish to accept the Energy-promoting Pill or not?” said Kang Lu coldly. His words had already revealed his intention to threaten Fang Lin.
Fang Lin remained smiling as before as if he was utterly unaffected by the threatening tone of Kang Lu’s words. He said, “Senior Brother Disciple Kang, are you trying to make things difficult for me? I can’t accept the Energy-promoting Pill regardless. I think it’s best for you to keep it for yourself then.”
The corners of Kang Lu’s lip curved into a cold smile. He nodded and kept the bottle.
“Senior brother disciple Kang, this boy is ungrateful for your kindness. Shall we treat him to a round of punishment?” suggested the youth that was speaking earlier. He wanted to put up a positive light for himself before Kang Lu.
Many people immediately distanced themselves away from Fang Lin upon hearing that, in fear that they would be involved. Only Lu Xiaoqing stood by Fang Lin’s side. Despite the fear and nervousness revealed in her expression, she remained with him.
“Senior Brother Disciple Kang, what are you trying to do there? This is the alchemy altar and the four saints of the alchemy sect are here. How dare you act rashly here?” said Xiaoqing in rage.
Fang Lin was touched by Xiaoqing’s words because the little girl was actually trying to defend him.
Kang Lu took a glance at Lu Xiaoqing, and his somber gaze instilled fear in Lu Xiaoqing’s heart.
However, Lu Xiaoqing’s words had proven to be effective. Kang Lu did not have the audacity to behave inappropriately in the alchemy altar anyhow. Someone might be able to use that to get hold of him and land himself in trouble.
Instantly, Kang Lu gave Fang Lin an icy smile. “You have turned me down today. I hope that you don’t regret it in the future.” Upon saying that, he turned around and left. Kang Lu’s supporters glared at Fang Lin ferociously for a moment before they followed their leader to leave.
Those junior alchemy disciples that were planning to get acquainted with Fang Lin originally also left quickly one by one. They refused to talk to Fang Lin and they did not want to be associated with him in the slightest bit.
‘What a joke! Fang Lin has offended Kang Lu today. Who knows how Kang Lu is going to bully Fang Lin in the upcoming days? If I’m acquainted with Fang Lin, doesn’t that mean that I’m opposing Kang Lu?’
Soon, the junior alchemy disciples that were still surrounding Fang Lin all left in an instant, leaving only Lu Xiaoqing.
Lu Xiaoqing made a disdainful face at those people that left in a rush. However, she felt her heart sank as soon as she thought about how she offended Kang Lu today.
Fang Lin rubbed Lu Xiaoqing’s fine nose with a grin. “Stop moping around. The sky is not going to crash down on you.”
Lu Xiaoqing became infuriated once again when she saw Fang Lin’s smile. She said, “How can you still smile? Do you know what the ending is for those that offended Kang Lu?”
Fang Lin asked in curiosity, “What kind of ending is that?”
Lu Xiaoqing rolled her eyes at Fang Lin before saying, “I heard from a senior sister disciple that someone once offended Kang Lu and the person was bullied until he couldn’t even take the examination at last. You’ve just joined the sect and you’ve offended her. I truly don’t know what you are going to do in the upcoming days.”
Fang Lin noticed the anxiousness on Lu Xiaoqing’s face, so he patted her shoulder to console her. He said, “It’s okay. Anyhow, I’m the person that offended him. I’m not worried, so you shouldn’t worry for me either.”
Lu Xiaoqing stamped her foot in rage and pushed Fang Lin’s hand away. She said furiously, “Who’s being worried about you? I’m too lazy to be bothered!” Upon saying that, she left in quick strides.
Fang Lin smiled helplessly. However, there was a tinge of coldness in his smile.
‘It’s really hard for things to stay calm, huh?’ Fang Lin stretched himself lazily before he walked in the direction of his room.
…
In the Sun Great Hall of the alchemy sect.
The Sun Great Hall was unusually grand. It stood aloof the peak of a mountain in a majestic manner.
Currently dressed in green, Elder Mu Yan was standing quietly in the middle of the Sun Great Hall. A middle-aged man with a stern expression was sitting cross-legged on the prime spot in the great hall.
Meng Wuyou was there as well. He stood on the side with a calm expression on his face.
Mu Yan bowed in salutation toward the middle-aged man. She spoke, “First Elder, I met a boy named Fang Lin during the alchemy altar lesson today. He is genuinely a genius and it’s a waste for him to be a junior alchemy disciple. I hope that you can make an exception and elevate Fang Lin to an official disciple.”
Upon listening to her request, Meng Wuyou’s eyes glowed in excitement. He looked at Mu Yan in surprise.
On the other hand, she replied by giving a slight nod to Meng Wuyou.
The middle-aged man did not change his expression after listening to Mu Yan’s request. He spoke indifferently, “Follow the rules of the alchemy sect. We don’t make any exceptions.”
With a frown, Mu Yan said, “Fang Lin’s talents will ensure him to achieve high attainments in life that will certainly surpass mine. It’s best to promote him as soon as possible. After all, it will be good if our alchemy sect can produce a head alchemist who’s able to take charge of the sect soon.”
The middle-aged man looked at Mu Yan and replied with the same indifferent voice, “Mu Yan, I think you’ve exaggerated your description a little too much, haven’t you?”
Mu Yan said with an incomparably serious expression, “My words ring as true as steel. Fang Lin’s value is no less weaker than the alchemy sect’s four excellencies.”
The middle-aged man cracked into a faint smile. He said, “Despite being the alchemy sect’s four excellencies, none of them were promoted by special exception.”
Mu Yan’s expression stiffened for a moment. It made Meng Wuyou heave a sigh to himself by the side.
The middle-aged man continued to speak, “Perhaps it’s true that Fang Lin has excellent qualities. but every genius will need plenty of training. Moreover, we can’t break the alchemy sect rules. It’s better to allow this boy, Fang Lin, to continue training with the rest of his junior alchemy disciple peers.”
Mu Yan pursed her lips, but she did not reply anymore.
…
Meng Wuyou joined Mu Yan as they left the Sun Great Hall together. Their unpleasant expressions were a reflection of their mood.
“How can our alchemy sect ever prosper when the first elder behaves like this?!” Meng Wuyou complained in an angry tone.
Mu Yan pulled a long face as well to express her dissatisfaction toward the first elder.
“There’s nothing much that I can do about this matter. We can only hope that Fang Lin can depend on himself to display his potential that surpasses the alchemy sect’s four excellencies. If he can do that, the first elder won’t be able to demoralize Fang Lin anymore,” said Mu Yan.
Meng Wuyou retorted with a frown, “What if the first elder still wishes to demoralize him by then?”
Upon listening to his words, Mu Yan said with a look of determination in her eyes, “Then, I can only earnestly request for the sect master to make an appearance and resolve this matter.”
Meng Wuyou nodded and said, “I agree that this is the only way to solve it. Sigh, my heart goes out to Fang Lin.”
…
It had already been a month since the previous alchemy altar lesson. Throughout the month, Kang Lu had genuinely taken action against Fang Lin.
He ordered a few people to guard the only passage that led to the Herb Garden. They were ordered to stop Fang Lin from entering the Herb Garden as soon as he made an appearance.
Kang Lu’s idea was superb. Stopping Fang Lin from entering the Herb Garden would stop him from learning herbology. By then, it would be hard for him to pass the examination.
Yet, who would have thought that Kang Lu’s people would have waited for a full month but did not even manage to see Fang Lin’s shadow?
It turned out that Fang Lin had never even thought of visiting the Herb Garden. Other than the two alchemy altar lessons, Fang Lin did not have the slightest intention to leave his room at all if he could. Although Kang Lu’s idea was superb, it was a missed shot that served no purpose.
In the log cabin, Fang Lin sat cross-legged on the floor. His eyes were tightly shut while his forehead was covered in sweat beads. After a long while, he opened his eyes that were filled with lethargy and frustration.
“This isn’t good. The root bone is too weak. Half of the seventy-two meridian channels are blocked. I can’t open it up without the help of an elixir or pill.” Fang Lin smiled bitterly.
In the two months since his initiation, Fang Lin appeared to be a carefree, lazy slob that refused to improve himself on the outside, but in reality, Fang Lin was constantly attempting to open up the 72 meridian channels in his body to improve his root bone quality.
However, the cultivation base of Fang Lin’s current body was way too low at level-2 primordial man. His inner strength was too weak such that he was incapable of opening up these blocked meridians.
Of course, there was a way to solve this for sure. However, he would need to rely on the help of elixirs. On the other hand, Fang Lin was only a junior alchemy disciple now. He was not qualified to make elixirs.
Without elixir, it was utterly impossible to open up these sealed meridians just by relying on himself. It would take another eight to ten years. However, how could Fang Lin possibly spend eight to ten years to open up his meridians?
‘It seems like I’ll still need to figure out a way to refine a pot of elixir,’ said Fang Lin in his heart. He had already come up with the idea to make the elixir.
However, rules in the alchemy sect were strict. Junior alchemy disciples were mainly focused on learning herbology and they were not authorized to make elixirs or use the athanor. Only the official disciples were authorized to make elixirs.
It was a waste that Fang Lin had the capability to make elixirs but not have the opportunity to do so.
One day, Fang Lin, Lu Xiaoqing and a few other newly-initiated disciples that joined the alchemy on the same day as him were gathered together.
There were a total of nine people including Fang Lin. They sat obediently in the alchemy altar.
Right before these nine people stood a short-statured old man had his hands clasped behind his back and an impatient expression on his face.
“Listen to me, nine of you. There will be official disciples coming over to choose their junior alchemy disciples soon. By then, all of you will be tagging along with these official disciples for six months. This is a rare opportunity, so use it to learn and observe, alright?” said the short-statured old man loudly.
These nine people revealed their excitement on their faces upon hearing the news, except for Fang Lin.
Fang Lin appeared to be calm but he was anticipating the opportunity in secret.
“I can finally refine some elixirs when I’m tagging along with the official disciple,” muttered Fang Lin to himself in his heart.