Soul Emperor Martial God

"Alchemy?" Xiao Yi was stunned.

"Otherwise?" Elder Yi gave him a look and said, "Without the help of Elixirs to speed up your advancement, relying solely on your Fire Control Beast Martial Soul, you might not even achieve Breaking Core and Melt Veins."

Seeing his shocked expression at that moment, Elder Yi thought he might have been too harsh and hurt his pride and self-esteem.

So he softened his tone and said, "Although your Martial Soul's talent is poor, fortunately, your comprehension is extremely strong, and the Fire Control Beast is precisely the Martial Soul capable of manipulating flames."

"Therefore, it shouldn't be a problem for you to become an Alchemist."

"Remember this and later go to the Inner Sect Treasure Vault to exchange for a few Alchemy books." Elder Yi said as he listed the titles of several Alchemy books.

"The points you scored in the first assessment are enough to exchange for these Alchemy Manuals."

"Also, don't go to the Outer Sect Treasury anymore; the items there won't be of much help to you."

At that moment, Xiao Yi didn't move; he was contemplating.

Seeing this, Elder Yi spoke again, "What are you still standing there for? Let's go. Oh, and don't worry about your status as an Outer Disciple. This is my Token, with it you can enter the Inner Sect Treasure Vault to exchange for treasures."

With that, Elder Yi handed Xiao Yi a Token.

Xiao Yi didn't take it and said awkwardly, "That... Elder Yi, the Alchemy books you just listed, I already know them, so there's no need to exchange."

With Xiao Yi's current skills in Alchemy, just by hearing the titles of the books, he could roughly judge the level of content in those books.

They covered knowledge that was at best Fourth-grade Alchemist level.

And the reason he hadn't moved before was that he was considering whether to inform Elder Yi of his Alchemy skills.

After thinking it over, he weighed his options and felt it didn't matter, so he chose to speak now.

"You know them all?" Elder Yi was surprised, "Kid, are you already an Alchemist by chance?"

"Hmm." Xiao Yi nodded.

"What grade?"

"Third-grade."

"Third-grade?" Elder Yi asked again, "Have you ever refined higher-level Elixirs?"

Xiao Yi was about to speak, but Elder Yi interrupted, "I remind you, it's best to tell the truth. This relates to your future Cultivation. Otherwise, my remaining half-day of teaching might go wrong."

"Eh." Xiao Yi frowned, remembering Elder Yi's methods from the earlier part of the day, which allowed him to learn so much in a short period, and he dared not speak carelessly.

"I have refined the Mysterious Profundity Pill, which is a Fourth-grade Elixir."

Xiao Yi didn't mention refining the Snow Soul Pill, which was a Peak Fourth-grade Elixir. He wasn't sure if bringing that up would cause problems.

The Mysterious Profundity Pill, after all, was a basic Fourth-grade Elixir.

Since both were Fourth-grade, it shouldn't pose a big issue.

"You've also refined the Mysterious Profundity Pill, good, very good." Elder Yi's face suddenly filled with satisfaction and an inexplicable joy.

"That's a basic Fourth-grade Elixir, which means you're essentially a Quasi Fourth-grade Alchemist."

"Tsk, tsk, a Quasi Fourth-grade Alchemist would be more than enough to dominate most of the Disciples, even in the Inner Sect Medicine Hall." Elder Yi said with a chuckle. This chapter first appeared on M|V|L^EMPYR.

In the entire Inner Sect Medicine Hall, there were only three Fourth-grade Alchemists, and those were the Medicine Hall Elders' Direct Disciples.

And there were only a handful of Quasi Fourth-grade Alchemists.

"Who did you learn Alchemy Technique from, and how long did you study?" Elder Yi suddenly asked solemnly.

Xiao Yi said, "I studied with the strongest Third-grade Alchemist in my clan; he's the most impressive Alchemist in our clan. Hmm, it's been a few months."

"A few months?" Elder Yi's eyes widened; from his interaction with Xiao Yi, he was sure Xiao Yi was very arrogant and wouldn't lie about such a thing.

"I get it now, why you have the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul." Elder Yi shook his head.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi was surprised, wondering if one's Martial Soul was related to these factors.

However, what Elder Yi said next nearly infuriated Xiao Yi.

Elder Yi spoke with great importance, "Martial Arts Talent, strength, comprehension—you've demonstrated them all in the three assessments. You've been first in every test, which shows how outstanding you are."

"Now, you are such a genius in Alchemy as well."

"If you also had a powerful Martial Soul, wouldn't that turn you into a monster? Heaven is fair; it wouldn't give you all the advantages."

"This..." Xiao Yi was speechless.

Then Elder Yi continued, "The strongest Alchemist in your clan is only Third-grade, which suggests it's just a minor clan."

"However, it's also fortunate that your clan elder only taught you for a few months, so it hasn't reached the point of misleading the younger generation."

"Moreover, given your age, even if you were put in the Inner Sect Medicine Hall, you'd still be the youngest. Your potential in Alchemy is truly unlimited."

"You flatter me," Xiao Yi bowed.

Elder Yi waved his hand and said, "Since you're already a Quasi Fourth-grade Alchemist, that makes things easier."

"I'll guide you in Alchemy knowledge for this half day."

"Considering your outstanding talent in Alchemy, I'll give you another opportunity. In the future, you can still seek me out for guidance. I'll help you."

"The same goes for before; you and I have no obligations, and I won't care whether you come or not. Today's guidance is the compensation from the Sword Sect; any future guidance will be due to my personal interest, whether you come or not."

"Once you break through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm, I will recommend you to join the Inner Sect Medicine Hall. Your talent should not be buried. The Sky-splitting Sword Sect should not lose such an outstanding Disciple," Elder Yi said in one breath and then shifted to imparting knowledge on Alchemy Technique without addressing other matters.

Xiao Yi also noticed that although Elder Yi did not involve himself in the sect's affairs, he was very concerned about the next generation of Disciples in the sect.

The two were in high spirits discussing Alchemy Technique, one asking questions while the other answered.

The more intriguing the topic, the faster time seemed to fly by.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye.

As night fell and the sky darkened, Elder Yi ceased his guidance.

"You are extremely familiar with Third-grade Alchemy Technique, even perfect, but when it comes to fourth-grade, you only understand the surface."

"This proves that you are an incredible Third-grade Alchemist, but at the fourth-grade, you're nothing," Elder Yi chided.

Xiao Yi pouted and saw through the Alchemy insights that the Great Elder had given him, which were naturally exceptional in Third-grade Alchemy Technique, even perfect.

But at fourth-grade, he had only ever refined the Snow Soul Pill and had gleaned a little knowledge from that pill recipe. Naturally, his skill at this level was poor.

With a whoosh...

Elder Yi left without a farewell.

Xiao Yi inwardly criticized him for his quirky personality and shook his head before sitting down cross-legged to begin his daily Cultivation with strict discipline.

The following morning, as the daybreak was barely lighting the sky, Xiao Yi awoke from his Cultivation feeling refreshed.

For a Martial Artist, Cultivation was more restorative than sleep for replenishing strength and vitality.

The next second, without hesitation, he headed to the Outer Sect Treasury to seek Elder Yi's guidance in Alchemy Technique.

The previous day's guidance from Elder Yi, albeit a small effort, was of great help to him.

Thus, he didn't mind continuing to owe him a favor.

Now, he no longer needed guidance in Martial Arts knowledge; he was only close to a breakthrough into the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

Yet, the process of Breaking Core and Meridian Melting required immense power and was currently unachievable.

His only option was to raise his Alchemy skills to refine more High-level Elixirs in preparation for his breakthrough into the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

Inside the Outer Sect Treasury, Elder Yi was, as always, reading at his desk.

"Kid, you've come," Elder Yi said with an indifferent smile, as if expecting him.

"Come back this afternoon; I'm busy this morning," Elder Yi turned Xiao Yi away without hesitation.

Clearly, he was 'getting back' at Xiao Yi.

That afternoon, Xiao Yi came again, and Elder Yi didn't make things difficult for him. Just like the day before, he seriously continued to guide Xiao Yi.

...

The second day... The third day...

Xiao Yi visited the Outer Sect Treasury nearly every day to seek Elder Yi.

It seemed Elder Yi had a way to help Xiao Yi break through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm faster; a method that required a certain level of skill in fourth-grade Alchemy Technique.

Xiao Yi had no choice but to keep consulting to improve his Alchemy skills.

...

Time passed in this regular pattern.

In the mornings, he would look for Elder Yi; in the evenings, he would return to the back mountain to Cultivate.

A month later.

With Xiao Yi's talent, his level of Alchemy naturally improved considerably.

His Cultivation increased to a certain extent as well; he felt it wouldn't take long for him to reach the Half-step Cave Profound.

Half-step Cave Profound is a level where one's True Qi exceeds the Innate Ninth Layer, but has not yet completed the Breaking Core and Qi Condensation Spring process.

Today, Xiao Yi went to the Outer Sect Treasury again.

Elder Yi said, "Kid, you don't need to come for guidance today."

Saying this, he looked at Xiao Yi with satisfaction and commented, "A month ago, you had just stabilized at the Innate Ninth Layer Cultivation; now, you are close to Half-step Mysterious Profundity. Your Martial Arts Talent is truly exceptional."

"Now, it's time for you to go out and gain experience."

"Gain experience?" Xiao Yi looked puzzled.

Elder Yi spoke concisely, "You need to exchange for something in the Inner Sect Treasure Vault, but this item requires five thousand sword points, which you currently don't have."

"The sect has various experiential missions that award sword points upon completion. Once you accumulate enough sword points, come back to me."

"Go now."

After Elder Yi spoke, his figure had already vanished from the spot.