Lin Family Garden…
The sun was just beginning to rise beyond the misty trees of the palace when Kent arrived for his first alchemy lesson. The gentle fragrance of morning dew mixed with spirit blossoms created a calm atmosphere, but his heart pounded like a war drum after seeing Lin Lin.
Lin Lin sat beneath a jade pavilion in the garden, her lap filled with scrolls and a cup of warm spirit tea beside her. Dressed in a lavender robe embroidered with silver vines, she looked like a spirit fairy untouched by worldly matters.
She looked up as Kent approached.
“You’re early,” she said softly, voice as delicate as the breeze.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Kent admitted with a smile. “Too excited.”
Lin Lin’s lips curled ever so slightly. “Very well. Let us begin. As a first class… ask me any doubts you have.”
Kent didn’t even pause.
His eyes lit up as he stepped forward. “Then I won’t waste a breath!”
He took out a small note he had prepared, surprising her.
“Firstly,” Kent began, “can you explain the classification of alchemy masters in this continent? I’ve heard of 3-star, 5-star, 7-star… what distinguishes them?”
Lin Lin blinked. “Ah. Yes. That’s a good place to start. Alchemists are ranked from 1-star to 9-star, each denoting not just their refining power, but their control, spirit fire mastery, and mental strength. 7-star masters like my teacher can concoct spiritual transformation pills that revive meridians or extend life.”
Kent nodded eagerly. “Then, what about ingredient classifications? Are they separated by rank or property?”
“They’re classified by both,” she replied, warming up to his pace. “Spiritual energy level, elemental affinity, and age—like century roots or millennium herbs—play a role.”
“What about the fire types?” Kent continued. “Are there differences in using natural flame, beast flame, or soul flame for concoction? I read somewhere that soul flames don’t harm the cauldron…”
Lin Lin’s eyes widened slightly.
Mei Lin, who had been sipping juice nearby, raised a brow. “This is going to be a long class…”
Kent wasn’t done.
“What about concoction processes? Some say slow fire and cooling enhances medicinal integrity. Others believe sudden bursting heat shocks the ingredients to awaken their spirit. Which is correct?”
Lin Lin actually had to pause. “That… depends on the herb and the cauldron. There are five primary refining approaches: simmering, shocking, rotating, soul syncing, and compression. Each suits a different type of potion.”
Kent nodded furiously, absorbing every word.
Mei Lin groaned. “Ugh! I thought he’d ask a few things, not conduct a symposium!” She stood, stretched, and waved. “Sister, I’m going. This is your madness now.”
Lin Lin chuckled faintly. “Go, Mei Lin. I’ll handle this.”
As Mei Lin left muttering, Kent leaned forward again.
“How do you control flame precision at micro-level? Is it done through spiritual sense or willpower? Also, I once heard that using beast bone cauldrons allows elemental merge—is that true?”
Lin Lin blinked.
She stared at him, genuinely impressed now.
“You are… not a beginner,” she said slowly. “Even among academy disciples, few know of beast bone cauldrons.”
Kent smiled sheepishly. “I… read a lot.”
She tilted her head, her pink dimple appearing. “Even I… don’t know the exact answer to the elemental merge question. I will ask my master.”
Kent bowed lightly. “Thank you.”
And so, the questions continued—herbal compatibility, flame synchronization, cauldron memory, cooling phase alteration, and even soul imprinting during final condensation.
By the time the sun reached high noon, the scrolls on Lin Lin’s lap had been set aside, and a small pile of notes she took for herself sat beside her.
Kent rubbed his temples. “Sorry, I didn’t realize we went on so long.”
Lin Lin smiled, genuinely this time.
“You are… insatiable,” she whispered. “Like a hungry spirit for knowledge.”
“I just… want to catch up. I don’t have years,” Kent said honestly.
She looked at him, her eyes softening. “That kind of urgency… can either forge a great man or break him.”
“Then let’s hope I become the first,” he said with a grin.
But Lin Lin finally stood up, brushing off her floral skirt.
“I have to go,” she said, almost regretfully. “I have a teaching session at the academy for Alchemy Peak disciples.”
“Wait,” he called.
She stopped, glancing over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“I want to take the assessment for a 1-star alchemist,” Kent said, eyes resolute. “I want to make it official.”
Lin Lin blinked. For a moment, her delicate brows furrowed. “Are you sure?”
Kent nodded without hesitation. “I’ve already decided. If I want to afford that arrow and stand tall in this academy, I need to start now.”
She let out a long sigh, then turned back toward him. “You’re rushing. But… I can see your resolve.”
With a soft flick of her slender fingers, a shimmer of light emerged from her storage ring. A slim jade book appeared, engraved with tiny gold runes and a fire cauldron insignia on its cover.
“This is a beginner’s alchemy manual used for 1-star assessments,” Lin Lin explained, handing it to him. “It contains the formulae and steps for five basic spiritual potions—one of them is of superior grade. If you can concoct even one of those successfully, you’ll qualify as a certified 1-star alchemist.”
Kent held the manual with both hands, his fingers tingling from the warm spiritual energy it radiated. “I’ll study it carefully.”
“That’s not all,” Lin Lin added. She reached again into her storage ring and drew out a small, gleaming jade token. The token had the emblem of the Purple Cloud Peak carved into it, surrounded by the image of a blooming spirit lotus and a flickering flame at its center.
“Take this token to the exam hall of Purple Cloud Peak,” she instructed. “Show it to any elder there. It bears my master’s seal. They’ll allow you to sit for the assessment without the usual waiting period.”
Kent took the token with awe. “Lin Lin, this…”
“Don’t misunderstand,” she cut him off softly but firmly, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. “I’m not helping you because you’re special. I’m only giving you a path. Whether you walk it or not… depends entirely on you.”
Kent bowed low. “Still, I am grateful.”
Lin Lin gave a final nod. “Just don’t embarrass me. If you fail miserably, Mei Lin will never stop mocking me.”
Kent chuckled. “That’s enough motivation to succeed.”
She let out a rare laugh, light and fleeting. “Then go. Study well. Remember, it’s not just about concocting the potion—it’s about understanding the dance of fire and spirit. You’ll need calm… control… and clarity.”
With that, she turned once again toward the gate. This time, Kent didn’t stop her.
–
Few Days later…
The early morning mist still clung to the ridges of the Royal Academy like lazy spirits. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, and the towering peaks of the academy shimmered beneath the gentle dawn. Among them, one peak stood adorned in shades of violet and blue—Purple Cloud Peak, the sacred mountain of alchemy.
On the seventh day of his relentless routine, Kent King finally arrived at its foot.
His steps were steady, but his body carried signs of exertion. The past six days had been a blur of sweat, flame, and discipline. From brutal sparring sessions under Master Lao’s piercing gaze on Combat Peak in the mornings… to delicate poison refinement in the specialized cauldrons of Poison Peak in the afternoons… and then deep into the night, Kent bent over the alchemy manual given by Lin Lin, tracing each line with care, memorizing every herb, understanding every flame variation.
He was tired. But his eyes burned with clarity.
Clutching the jade token Lin Lin had given him, Kent climbed the final marble steps toward the enormous archway of Purple Cloud Peak. An elegant plaque hung above the gate, carved in flowing script:
“In flame, truth. In spirit, mastery.”
Two elder disciples in long violet robes glanced at him with casual disinterest. One of them, tall and with drooping eyes, stepped forward. “Outsiders are not allowed past this point. Return to your peak.”
Kent didn’t reply. He simply lifted the jade token, the engraved spirit lotus and master seal catching the morning light.
The disciple’s eyes widened. “This is…”
Kent calmly said, “Lin Lin’s personal recommendation. I’ve come for the 1-star alchemist assessment.”
“Wait here,” the disciple said with a tone that now carried respect.
Within moments, a senior elder in luxurious purple robes stepped out. His hair was silver, but his eyes were bright and sharp. “Who wishes to test under my peak’s flame?”
Kent bowed slightly. “Kent King. Personal disciple of Master Lao of Combat Peak and practitioner of Poison Peak.”
The elder raised an eyebrow. “Two peaks already? And now you wish to walk the path of alchemy?”
“Yes,” Kent said without hesitation.
A brief chuckle escaped the elder. “Greedy or ambitious, I cannot say yet. But I respect flame when I see it.” He extended a hand, and the token floated into his grasp. “Lin Lin recommended you herself. That girl is quiet, but she doesn’t speak lightly of anyone.”
He turned. “Follow me.”
Kent stepped through the ancient gates and into the heart of Purple Cloud Peak.