Chapter 57: 57 — Heart of Alchemy

The Old Man walked with fire burning in his eyes and above his palm. Instead of the kind smile I’d come to expect of the Old Man, now burned a strange sense of intensity. It was almost as if he’d suddenly become young again.

“Have you mastered the flame since we last talked, Disciple?” Old Man asked.

I nodded, circulating Qi above my palm as I ignited it, forming a ball of fire. I looked up at Old Man and scratched my cheeks in embarrassment.

“Is this a known technique? I thought… well. I thought I’d come up with something new,” I said out loud.

The Old Man smiled, as the flame leapt from his hand and towards the cauldron igniting the spirit stones underneath it. “Not a rare assumption for a young disciple to make. And it is not a well known ability outside those that walk the Path of Alchemy. Cultivators tend to attune themselves to a singular path within the world, forgetting that all is connected around us.”

I saw a little blob of water flow around the Old Man again, as a realisation hit me. Something that should’ve been obvious from the very start. The Old man could control steam, it made sense that he could control water or fire as well.

“Then… you can control all the elements? Wouldn’t that make alchemists really strong?” I asked, surprised. Being able to control all the elements sounded broken, no matter how you put it.

“There is balance in all things under the Heavens. We attune ourselves to the world around us, but in doing so, push away the path of strength, choosing to pick creation instead. An Alchemist’s abilities are not meant to harm, but to heal, unless dire need calls for it. Even if we can choose to cause harm as well,” the Old Man said and I nodded my head.

Something like the Hippocratic Oath then? Or an agreement among Alchemists to not use their abilities outside of self defence. All of this just made me wonder why? In a world where strength reigned supreme, cultivators choosing to forsake power and use it only as a measure of self defence was an image I struggled to come to terms with.

“I sense your questions, Lu Jie. There are many mysteries in the world of Alchemy. The halls are not so strict purely out of greed, but also, out of necessity. It is not the cultivator with the sword this old man fears the most, but the healer who could kindly put his heart to rest forever with just a touch,” the Old Man said.

I stared, slowly starting to understand. It wasn’t just that people didn’t pick Alchemy for a lack of strength, although there would be that too. But it was also that, Alchemy, Healing, and other paths. They required both cultivation and knowledge to progress upon them, and came with far more danger than the others.

The image of Liuxiang came to mind. His poison healing abilities, and his needles. I wondered if Liuxiang was aware of these details.

“This Old Man sees that you understand. The Path of Alchemy. It is one of refining, purification. Not just within our own bodies with Qi, but outside as well. We draw out that which exists around us, and refine it to its best. But like all things under the heavens, there is both good and bad in this.”

I had a feeling I knew what the Old Man was talking about.

“Forbidden pills?” I asked out loud, getting a nod.

“There are many even in Seventh Peak City, who turn to the strengths within blood, and death to draw their strength upon. Corrupting forces. Everything needs a balance, even pills, something so many young cultivators fail to see, unable to look beyond the faint glimmer of strength that would forever ruin their foundation,” the old man said, his hands sweeping out as Qi rippled all around the chamber.

“Blood and death?” I asked, in surprise.

“The blood of spirits, the life of dying creatures. There are many dark arts in the world, not the least of which come from the Demons themselves. But, now isn’t the time for such talks. Tell me, disciple, why is it that Alchemists must master the flame first and foremost?”

I thought about it for a moment, trying to think of a suitable example. Before, I would said it was because fire was the first factor in trying to form and refine a pill. The first key thing to take note of. But, with my recent talks with Yan Yun, and my own studies, I’d come to learn more about the spiritual aspects tied to things as well.

“Fire is the purest expression of Qi. Fire or heat is what fuels life, it is the simplest form yet also the core aspect in refining a pill. The control of heat and cold is what defines an Alchemist’s ability.”

The Old Man smiled, nodding. “You have learned well on your own it seems, Lu Jie. Fire is the Heavens purest expression of strength. It is power, energy, heat. And it is what an Alchemist must learn to tame first. But do you know what comes before Fire in Alchemy?”

“Wood?” I asked, receiving a nod.

“Indeed, it is wood. For without spirit herbs, pills would be a laughable idea. All elements work in tandem within Alchemy. But those that cultivate wood Qi find themselves in tune with the spirit herbs themselves, an advantage you possess over others. Or a disadvantage if you wish to pick a path of conflict. The Heavens give and take equally,” the old man said and I cycled my Qi, inspecting it.

I wasn’t too surprised to hear that my Qi was Wood aspect. Would be tough not to realise that by now, but I was certainly surprised to hear that there were hierarchical roles in Alchemy. I wondered if the Verdant Pill business and the effectiveness of my pills had anything to do with this.

I would need to measure my spirit stones and time for utilisation of the pills again. I felt a smile come to my face at the thought. It’d been a while since I’d done some proper experiments, and I was starting to crave it anyway.

I turned towards the Old Man, as a thought occurred to me.

“Of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. I see the use of all these elements within Alchemy, besides metal. Or are there any metal pills?” I asked.

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The Old Man shook his head, and tapped the cauldron near him as it rang with a metallic ring. “You forget your tools disciple. An alchemist with no cauldron is no alchemist,” the Old Man said, and I nodded.

“Now, you have acquired the spirit herb, learned to tame the flame. What remains is to understand the equality of Earth. It is Earth that bears the life of the spirit herbs, and it is earth that often binds the wood within a pill. What do you understand of it Lu Jie?” the Old Man asked.

I stared blankly, thinking over a reply, but failed to come up with one. “It’s the… thing that spirits herb grow in?” I said, and the Old Man shook his head.

“You do not listen to the Earth, Disciple. It is a living breathing thing. You understand, but do not comprehend. Listen to the earth, it is what births life. The source of strength for the spirit herbs, and for all Alchemy. Listen to it carefully,” the old man said, his sleeves rustling as his hand went towards a few herbs growing nearby.

I felt his Qi rustle, as I saw the plant shudder. I stared for a few moments as nothing happened, and I was starting to wonder if the Old Man was playing some kind of trick on me, but then I felt it. Hundreds of little roots ran through the earth, and extended beneath the floor. I felt the minute Qi present all around me, mixed in with the life that moved within the earth, as it slowly but surely began to drift towards the plant. That spirit herb was drinking in the essence of the world.

“This old man has the Qi of fire. The tender touch of wood and the calm weight of the earth doesn’t mesh with it well. But that was just a little fragment of what the earth gives. All within the heavens are bound to the earth, even the great dragons,” the Old man said and I stared at him.

“Then beyond Earth, there is Metal. The cauldron is not just a tool, it is an extension of your will and Qi, a third hand that shapes your pills. And then lastly, there is water, to tame the fire, and guide it, and draw out the essence of the pills within itself, before fading, leaving behind the purified result. The balance of all five elements is what true Alchemy is about Lu Jie,” the Old Man said, his kindly smile returning to his face covered in white hair.

I was starting to understand just how many factors I had been missing. It wasn’t just the elements themselves, but also the Qi they represented. I hadn’t been looking beyond just the application of Qi in the factors of what went into making a pill, when I should've been paying attention to everything that contributed to the pill as well.

I bowed my head in gratitude. “This disciple thanks his Master for the lesson.”

The Old Man laughed, a pleasant sounding laugh as he looked at me. “Do not be so hasty, my disciple. This Old Man hasn’t even begun.”

I looked up in confusion as the Old Man walked up to his cauldron and the fire began to blaze around him.

“You have already formed one of the three pills. It is time that I showed you the second one,” the Old man said, and I nodded.

“This is the Seven Earthly Spirits pill. Formed of spirit grass grown in seven different natures of soil, combined to grant a sturdy weight to the cultivator, and bolster their vitality,” the old man said, his hands moving swiftly.

Qi swirled, turning to an inferno as the old man added the herbs and water within his cauldron. I watched carefully, extending my senses as I noted the slow and steady movement of his Qi, gently coaxing the earth Qi out from the herbs.

“Earth is sturdy. It does not give easily. And so, you must gently but surely break it down. Push and pull like the tides of water, and repeatedly break down the Qi,” the Old Man said, as mist and herb tinged smoke swirled all around him.

I sensed the smell of earth soon hit my nose, many kinds all at once, as if I were flying across the vast lands and taking in the world around me all at once.

“Once it breaks, you must be quick to collect it, or else it would solidify, and tangle itself up,” the Old Man said, and I almost jumped back as flames flared all over, rising to a frenzy.

“Then, you tie it together. Slowly, but surely. You must not force it, or the pill would shatter. The act is like handling a young child. You must mould it like clay, or it will all fall apart.”

I watched in silent admiration as the Qi moved in a precise swirl, carefully coaxing the earth Qi within itself. In a moment, the flames went out, as the smell of rich earth took over the chamber. Unwilling, I found myself breathing easier, feeling life flowing through my body.

“And that is how it is done,” the old man said, grabbing the likely scalding hot pill in his hand.

I stared at the brown muddy looking pill, almost like a ball of clay. If shown to a regular person, they would likely think of it as mud, but to any who could sense Qi, the deep layer of Qi present within would be obvious at once.

“Meditate upon this lesson for now Lu Jie, and once you have succeeded, return to me once more. There is much to learn from the nature of earth for you. It would also serve as a method to resolve the conflict within your spirit, and the reason why you still fail to progress, even at the cusp of greater insight,” the Old Man said, and I stared at him blankly for a moment.

A smile returned my way as the Old Man shook his head. “You are still young. And with age comes wisdom and sight. This Old Man isn’t blind after all.”

I stared for a moment longer, before laughing, feeling a bit silly. I bowed my head deeply, as I expressed my gratitude to the Old Man. A sentiment even Lu Jie could agree upon with me.

“Now go, disciple. You have much to learn, and this Old Man must return to his duties. The sect doesn’t stop for us after all,” the old man said, and I nodded, getting up.

Excitement filled my chest as I walked back towards my chamber. Fire bending lessons were done, now it was time to learn how to earth-bend!

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