Chapter 125: Chapter 78: Astonishing Potential! The Alchemist of the Giant Whale Gang!_3
The Giant Whale Gang’s headquarters, with its forest of buildings, was so vast it resembled a small city.
What attracted Su Changkong’s attention the most was the center of the Giant Whale Gang, an incredibly gigantic and somewhat exaggerated structure!
It was a ship-shaped building that seemed to sail against the wind, stretching out four to five hundred meters, its total area larger than several basketball courts combined. At the top of the building fluttered wind-catching sails inscribed with wave patterns, beneath which lay hidden images of whales and, conspicuously, the three large characters for “Giant Whale Gang”.
“Although it’s a bit strange… it’s indeed majestic!”
Even Su Changkong couldn’t help but be amazed. There were many magnificent buildings on Blue Planet, but witnessing this behemoth of a ship-like structure was still a shock to him.
“This is a building constructed in the image of the Giant Whale Number, it’s a symbol of our Giant Whale Gang and also the retreat for our Gang Leader,” Cui He said with a hint of pride in his voice.
In the area around Ink Forest Prefecture City, the might of the Giant Whale Gang was unquestionable. The gang had numerous strong members, controlled vital maritime routes in the Blue Rain Sea, and had deep roots!
“I’ll take you to meet Master Gong.”
Cui He then led Su Changkong into the Giant Whale Gang.
Along the way, Su Changkong observed many martial artists in Giant Whale Gang uniforms. Nearly all of them were at the Strength Refinement Realm or above, able to serve as core elites in smaller gangs.
With Cui He guiding the way, the two of them reached a very tranquil pharmacy without any hindrance.
“Master Gong, the person has arrived.”
Soon, Su Changkong met Gong Zheng.
“Greetings, Master Gong,” Su Changkong said very politely to Gong Zheng.
Su Changkong knew that Gong Zheng would instruct him in alchemy, and his own progress needed to satisfy Gong Zheng in order to become an alchemist for the Giant Whale Gang.
“Hmm, a handsome and intelligent-looking young man, you really have the air of my younger days,” Gong Zheng sized up Su Changkong with a somewhat sour tone, “You rest today; we’ll start alchemy tomorrow.”
Su Changkong was somewhat speechless, and Cui He said awkwardly, “That’s just how Master Gong is. I’ll arrange accommodations for you first.”
This Gong Zheng was quite a character, seemingly not someone easy to get along with.
Cui He arranged luxurious accommodations for Su Changkong. Because he might become the new alchemist for the Giant Whale Gang in the future, his living quarters were quite grand, with a private, serene courtyard and even personal servants, all of which Su Changkong declined, preferring quiet.
“Rise early tomorrow and follow Master Gong to learn alchemy.”
Arriving in a new place, busier and more crowded than Black Iron Manor, Su Changkong felt slightly uncomfortable, but he soon calmed down. He entered a meditative state, breathing in and out, practicing the Turtle Breath Technique.
The next morning, after completing the Five Animal Frolics, Su Changkong went to the pharmacy where Gong Zheng lived, finding him already up and about.
Su Changkong watched Gong Zheng exercise, his movements neither hurried nor sluggish, likely a form of Health-preserving Fist similar to the Five Animal Frolics.
So Su Changkong quietly waited until, after a short while, Gong Zheng expelled a breath of turbid air and then he looked at Su Changkong with a smile, “Young man, you’re up early. Come with me; we have many pill medicines to refine today.”
“Hmm.”
Su Changkong nodded and followed Gong Zheng into the Alchemy Room of the Pharmacy.
Inside the Alchemy Room, various alchemy tools were arranged, with not just one Pill Furnace, but many of different sizes. There were four-legged Pill Tripods as well as dragon-patterned Pill Furnaces, a complete set of tools!
“The so-called Alchemy is nothing but the fusion of various medicinal ingredients into pills, combining their properties to bring out their greatest effects. The ultimate goal of Alchemy is to turn decay into something magical, even making the ingredients exceed their limits in medicinal efficacy. There are no shortcuts on this path. Practice more and learn more. Now, you give it a try, refine the Qi Increasing Pill that you have refined before, and I will guide and correct you to the best of my ability,” Gong Zheng said to Su Changkong.
“Alright.” Su Changkong nodded earnestly and began the alchemy process.
“You don’t need to grind the Fuling Powder so finely; keeping it a bit coarse will make it more effective. The raw materials for alchemy are like the ingredients needed for cooking. If the raw materials are not handled properly, no matter how skilled the chef, the dish won’t come out tasty,” Gong Zheng commented from the side as he watched and guided.
Su Changkong couldn’t help but admire Gong Zheng, who truly had decades of experience as an Alchemist and could easily point out Su Changkong’s shortcomings.
Previously, Su Changkong’s few months of alchemy were done solely through book-learning, but having the guidance of an experienced Alchemist like Gong Zheng was a shortcut and doubled the efficiency of his efforts!
After one day, Su Changkong had refined three batches of Qi Increasing Pills and actually produced six finished pills, with quality surpassing his previous attempts. This was undoubtedly a tremendous improvement!
“Not bad, let’s continue tomorrow. At the Giant Whale Gang, the most supplied pills are the Qi Increasing Pills and Body Refinement Succes Pills. Being skilled at refining these two types of Pill Medicine will meet most of the Gang’s needs,” Gong Zheng praised matter-of-factly.
“This young man… is simply a genius! He gets it with a single explanation, no need for extra words at all! I reckon it won’t take two or three months before I have nothing left to teach him!” In reality, Gong Zheng was extremely astonished. Su Changkong’s progress was practically visible to the naked eye, picking up the skills with ease.
This naturally benefited from Su Changkong’s potential value of 20 points, which was absolutely at the level of a top-notch genius!
(3rd realm Complete Understanding 12%)
“My Alchemy proficiency went up by 5% in just one day?” Su Changkong was also very excited, because his progress in Alchemy was rapid, thanks to Gong Zheng’s guidance, with a substantial gain of 5% in just one day!
“With enough materials to practice, in a month or two, my Alchemy could reach the 4th realm Mastering Stage!”
Su Changkong felt exhilarated.
That’s the advantage of cultivation under a major power: not only do you get guidance from a seasoned Alchemist, but you also get an endless supply of rare medicinal materials for direct practice!
“Master Gong, thank you for your guidance.” Su Changkong expressed his gratitude to Gong Zheng, for Gong Zheng was imparting decades of his alchemy experience to him.
“It’s nothing. It’s part of the deal with the Giant Whale Gang. Before I retire, I need to train a successor Alchemist, and besides… I also want you to become a formal Alchemist quickly so that I can retire sooner. In the future, you will do the same,” Gong Zheng said, laughing heartily.
One of the conditions for Gong Zheng’s leaving the Giant Whale Gang was to pass on his Alchemy and train a new Alchemist. If Su Changkong wanted to leave in the future, he would be required to do the same.
Su Changkong thought this was fair. The Giant Whale Gang used so many resources to cultivate an Alchemist, and it would be unreasonable for one to simply leave after achieving success.
Gong Zheng shoved a Qi Increasing Pill into Su Changkong’s hand, winking as he said, “Take good care of this Qi Increasing Pill; it’s one of the perks of being an Alchemist. It doesn’t hurt to take a few pills occasionally.”
As he spoke, Gong Zheng also pocketed a Qi Increasing Pill, implying that those who saw also got their share!
