The little black ball showed off for quite a while before finally saying, "All those jade slips are pages from the same book. Otherwise, they wouldn't have entered your sea of consciousness at the same time. I just don't know why it fell apart."
Seeing that the little black ball didn't know much either, Feng Xi temporarily put the matter aside. Right now, cultivation was the priority.
For the next few days, Feng Xi attended lectures at the Transmission Hall during the day and cultivated at night.
She slept at most two hours a day.
Even the little black ball had to admit that this brat was really pushing herself hard!
That day, Feng Xi bounced over to class and was surprised to find that aside from her and Jun Wen, the two permanent squatters, there were only a handful of people.
"Fifth Senior Brother, why are there so few people attending today? Did something happen in the sect?"
Jun Wen yawned. He had also been cultivating at night these past few days, so he was a bit low energy during the day.
"Little junior sister, the reason hardly anyone came is because today's lesson is alchemy."
Feng Xi immediately understood.
Sword dao, alchemy, beast taming, artifact refining, formations, and talisman crafting are collectively known as the Six Cultivation Arts.
Among Xiao Baidao's five personal disciples, only the second disciple, Pei Zhou, was a talisman master. The other four all cultivated the sword dao.
Unlike the other three sects, where personal disciples would cover at least three of the Six Arts.
This was also one of the reasons Xuantian Sect always ranked last in the Four Sects Competition.
In plain terms, Xuantian Sect's personal disciples were severely lopsided in their skills.
And now there's Feng Xi with her damaged dantian, she had directly… failed the course.
Not only were the personal disciples, but ninety-nine percent of Xuantian Sect's inner and outer disciples also specialized in the sword dao.
It wasn't that Xuantian Sect's disciples weren't interested in alchemy and the like, it was just too expensive!
Take alchemists for example, to achieve anything, they needed countless practice runs. Xuantian Sect was too poor to provide free medicinal herbs for practice.
The same went for talisman paper and ink, refining materials, formation discs…
Over time, no one chose those five paths anymore. Everyone focused on the sword dao.
That's why hardly anyone came to class.
While Feng Xi was thinking, Elder Ji, the one teaching alchemy, arrived.
Elder Ji was clearly used to the deserted classroom and didn't bother with opening remarks, going straight into teaching how to refine a Hemostasis Pill.
Jun Wen listened until he was drowsy and soon fell asleep.
Feng Xi wasn't very interested either. Her most urgent task was cultivating the remaining spiritual roots, she didn't have the energy for alchemy.
Just as she was about to nod off, Elder Ji sighed, "It seems none of you are interested in alchemy. Then there's no need for us to waste each other's time. Just cultivate on your own!
Hah… If Xuantian Sect had a few more alchemists, especially Earth-rank alchemists, would we still have to worry about spirit stones?!
Just open a few furnaces a month and we'd have piles of spirit stones coming in. The sect would've been prosperous long ago!
Forget it, saying any more is useless…."
Feng Xi: (✧◡✧)
How is that useless? It's extremely useful!
Right now, aside from lacking spiritual roots, she only lacked money!
In her consciousness, the little black ball weakly said, "You're also lacking in virtue!"
Feng Xi didn't have time to deal with it. After Elder Ji turned to leave, she hurried after him.
"Elder Ji! I'm very interested in alchemy, extremely interested!
I dream about alchemy every day!
Can I learn alchemy from you in the future?"
Elder Ji's impression of Feng Xi was quite good. To be precise, everyone in Xuantian Sect liked her.
Hearing her words, he chuckled, "Xiao Xi, wanting to learn alchemy is a good thing, but you'll have to wait until your dantian injury heals."
This was really just an excuse, he actually didn't think highly of Feng Xi.
Alchemists were best suited with fire spiritual roots, followed by fire-wood dual roots.
Someone like Feng Xi with water, wood, and fire roots, especially with water and fire being opposing elements, was very unsuitable for alchemy.
Not to mention her injured dantian.
Naturally, Feng Xi refused to give up, but Elder Ji wouldn't budge.
In the end, Feng Xi left with her head drooping.
Elder Ji thought she had given up. But the next morning, as soon as he arrived at the alchemy hall, he saw Feng Xi. "Elder Ji, today the Transmission Hall has a rest day. I came to visit you."
Elder Ji knew full well she had ulterior motives, but he didn't chase her away and instead began teaching the disciples alchemy.
These disciples were all alchemists of Xuantian Sect, but their talent was mediocre, the best among them was only a second-grade Xuan-rank alchemist.
Alchemists are divided into Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow ranks, each further split into nine grades.
Elder Ji was a fifth-grade Earth-rank alchemist, considered quite top-tier in the Northern Region.
Today, Elder Ji explained the Qingling Pill. It used more than thirty medicinal herbs, and the refining process was extremely complex.
There were five different pill seals alone.
Most of the disciples frowned, clearly not understanding.
Elder Ji repeated it several times before letting them attempt refinement.
Feng Xi curiously asked, "Elder Ji, are you only teaching the Qingling Pill today? Nothing else?"
Elder Ji: "…The Qingling Pill alone is enough for them to digest for a month, or even several months, and they still might not master it."
Feng Xi said "oh" and didn't say anything else.
She chatted with Elder Ji for a bit longer, then ran off in a rush.
Elder Ji shook his head. The girl is young, thinking of one thing today and another tomorrow.
Feng Xi went to find Jun Wen.
"Fifth Senior Brother, where can I get an alchemy furnace? I'm starting alchemy!"
Jun Wen: "..."
She was calm for a few days, how is she spouting nonsense again?
You want to start alchemy?
Do you even know how?
Besides, alchemy constantly consumes divine sense and spiritual power, can you handle it?
But no matter how he tried to persuade her, Feng Xi insisted on refining pills.
Jun Wen thought about it and gave up. If you want to refine pills, then go refine pills. Once you suffer enough, you'll quit!
So he said, "There's a small market on North Peak where sect disciples sell idle items. I'll go with you and see if anyone's selling a used alchemy furnace."
They went to North Peak immediately. And surprisingly, they really did bought one, though it was missing a leg.
Feng Xi didn't really mind. She could just prop it up with something underneath.
It's only for practice anyway, no need for anything fancy.
She also bought many auxiliary herbs needed for refining Qingling Pills.
She already had several main ingredients in her storage ring, saving quite a few spirit stones.
Then she excitedly returned to her courtyard.
Jun Wen was worried and followed her back as well.
Feng Xi followed Elder Ji's steps and began refining pills.
It actually looked pretty convincing, even the pill seals were successfully formed.
Just as Jun Wen was about to praise her, thick black smoke suddenly poured out of the furnace, shooting straight into the sky!
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Jun Wen nearly choked to death!
Not just Jun Wen, violent coughing sounds came from several nearby courtyards as well.
Feng Xi panicked and tried to destroy the evidence, but Xiao Baidao caught her red-handed.
"Little Five! This must be you causing trouble again! I knew it, you never stay quiet!"
Jun Wen, choking with red eyes: "..."
Master, did you forget? I'm a metal spiritual root!
I'd love to refine pills, but do I even have the qualifications?!
Feng Xi dryly laughed, "Master, you've wronged Fifth Senior Brother. This was my doing.
I heard Elder Ji say alchemists can make money, so I wanted to try. If I really became an alchemist, I could help relieve the sect's burdens, right?
I just didn't expect that a moment of carelessness would turn into this.
Punish me however you like, I'll accept it. Just don't be angry and harm your body."
Hearing this, Xiao Baidao looked deeply moved, "Xiao Xi, you're just too sensible!"
Jun Wen: "..."
If I do it, it's causing trouble. If little junior sister does it, it's being sensible?
Do you really think that's appropriate?
People talk about stepfathers and stepmothers…..I've got a step-master!