Shi Lang sat outside the volcano garden the entire night, he had realized that the flow of time in this place was different than the normal. He meditated on the swirl of flame inside his dantian. He tired to manipulate it but that did not work. His brows were furrowed, and in the middle of the night he opened his eyes.
He was not gaining anything by mindlessly approaching the situation. A figure appeared before him, it was Master Barre who was the alchemy expert of this world. Shi Lang clasped his hands and said, "Greetings, Senior."
The old man shook his head and said, "You embarrass me by this respect, Young Master Shi Lang."
Tsuu Ching had told them his name, so they all knew about him. Shi Lang was taken aback when the person in the Immortal God realm told him not to greeting him as a senior. Master Barre smiled faintly and continued, "In the field of alchemy, only the one with a superior skill is worthy to be respected as senior.
You, young master have created a pill that passed the tribulation, and so your skill is above mine."
Shi Lang was surprised and asked, "Elder, do you mean to say that you have not made any pill that could pass the tribulation?"
Master Barre shook his head and said, "I have not yet, although it is my biggest obsession but I lack the finesse for it. Perhaps some of my disciples in the future may achieve it but I cannot."
Shi Lang frowned and said, "Elder, you sound very pessimistic to me. I am guessing that you still have three thousand years as your life time. Or perhaps even more. Why do you give up?"
Master Barre said, "All my life, I have made pills, and potions. However, I have always missed the perfect pill level concoction by an inch. My master passed away when I was quite young, and ever since then, in my duties to support our people I could not master the foundation skills. That is the reason I fail."
Shi Lang smiled and said, "Then why don't you start from the scratch?"
Master Barre was surprised and Shi Lang continued, "You are so strong and so wise, if you start making basic level potions again, you will be able to grasp the key."
The old man asked in doubt, "Is that not shameful?"
Shi Lang realized that the old man was doubting himself, thinking it was shameful for him to dwell on the foundation skills. The Terran took a deep breath and said, "Master Barre, who needs to know what you are doing? Does the matter of other people matter so much over you that it can bar your Dao Path?"
His words sent Master Barre in a daze. He woke up after a few moments and took a deep breath as he bowed and said, "I thank you for your guidance."
Shi Lang took a step to the side and said, "Elder, please do not tie me in the bounds of Karma."
Master Barre smiled as he raised his head and said, "I came here to help you, but did not expect you to return the favor is such a manner."
Shi Lang raised his brow and the old man took out a notebook. The Terran was surprised to see such a delicate book, Master Barre said, "This book contains the records of a technique that allows an alchemist to manipulate the fire in their Dantian."
Shi Lang stretched his body and asked, "What do you want from me?"
Tsuu Ching waved his hand and they all vanished from this place, and then they quickly appeared next to a huge reservoir. Tsuu Ching said, "This place is cold, as you can feel, and under there is your next trial."
Shi Lang asked, "Cut to the chase."
Tsuu Ching said, "Elder Marina, you are in charge of this."
A lady appeared beside him and said, "Yes, Your Excellency."
Shi Lang looked at the lady and the lady said, "Young Master, inside the pond is a pearl that you need to retrieve. The pearl is very delicate so please mind that you cannot use your spiritual energy to handle it."
The Terran raised his brow and said, "Oh lords, you guys are going really hard on this, aren't you?"
Elder Marina smiled at him, and Tsuu Ching said, "I have to handle a few more things so I will get going."
Shi Lang shook his head and remarked, "As unreliable as ever."
Elder Marina said, "Young Master, you should get going, the higher the sun, the colder it is inside the pond."
Shi Lang thought of something and asked, "May I use an armor?"
Marina shook his head and replied, "You cannot, the principle of these trials is to test you and your soul. The people who wish to acquire the heavenly herbs they have to stand fast in the trail of the elements. Only then the heavenly herbs surrender."
Shi Lang raised his brows and Marina said, "You should worry about that later."
Then she pointed at the sky, and Shi Lang jumped inside the pond directly. Hou Bing did not go along with him because cold and water were not her elements. Marina looked at the blue bird who said, "What are you looking at? I did not go in because cold is not my element."
Marina furrowed her brows and said, "Is that true? You do give off the cold energy."
Hou Bing sighed as she rolled eyes and said, "Even the readers know that when heat reaches extreme it gives birth to cold. This is why you are just an elder."
Hou Bing did not hold back the sword like beak, and Shi Lang dived deep under the pond that was chilling his soul and he was cursing Tsuu Ching leading back to his nine generations.