Chapter 4: Breakthrough

Chapter 4: Breakthrough

Having officially become a 1st grade alchemist, Xiao Hong was very happy. But her cause for happiness was slightly different: she would finally not be poor!

From today, please call me Xiao Fu!

She would cry tears of joy if she was not in front of Elders: she didn't want to embarrass herself.

The elders also watched her with a smile on their faces, misunderstanding the reason for her joy.

Elder Lu thought in his heart: 'This is a good seedling. Rarely have I seen such pure joy at becoming a 1st-grade alchemist.'

Then he frowned, remembering what Elder Fang told him. 'Mo Tong...'

Unlike the disciples, elders like him understood the situation very well: this fellow was a total scumbag that ought to be crippled. Under his polite and gentlemanly demeanour, he was a total beast. Many young girls were ruined by him and a few even took their own lives out of shame. But they could not do anything. After all, he had the backing of an Inner Elder.

'Perhaps I should contact Teacher... He will definitely be interested in such a talented alchemist.'

Making up his mind, he took out a token from his storage bag and activated it, sending a message.

'This should be enough to suppress Inner Elder Mo; the rest can be dealt with by us. Hmm. Perhaps I should ask Elder Meng for help? That old bat would have a field day cursing the Three Aspects' Elder Lu smirked.

He looked forward to Elder Meng screaming his lungs out, while spraying his opponents with spittle. As long as you were not on the opposite side of Elder Meng, you would get to watch a great show.

'Though it's unlikely to come to that.' he thought regretfully.

[The 'Three Aspects' referred to Heaven, Earth and Man or a combination of them.]

***

Mo Tong leaned against a wall with his eyes closed in an empty room, waiting for his newest target. Xiao Hong.

When he first heard of the 'No.1 beauty of the outer sect', he'd scoffed. He had lost count of the number of girls he had played around with, many of them were devastating beauties who were much more beautiful than the Outer Sect's girls. Thus when he heard about her, he was just a little curious but stopped paying attention soon after.

What turned that impression around was the image captured by a lackey of his - whose name he didn't even remember before this. One look and he realised that there wasn't the slightest exaggeration in the rumours.

And now, a few hours ago, he saw her in real life. Those so-called beauties seemed to completely lose their light in front of her, like the stars before the moon, like the moon in the sun's light: there was simply no need for comparison. Even those Lunar Jade Sect's beauties he knew of thanks to his 2nd Uncle felt lacklustre.

As he remembered her polite yet cold attitude, it lit a fire underneath him like no other. He wanted her in his bed, helpless and without clothes as he took her innocence for his own-

"Senior Brother Mo! Senior Brother Mo!"

Taking a deep breath to calm himself down before he screwed the little shit's head off, he asked, "What is it, Junior Brother?" He didn't remember his name.

"She's here." Mo Tong's anger dissipated and he decided not to torture this junior brother.

Turning towards the hall, he smiled as he saw that goddess-like face, But soon, the smile on his face froze as looked downwards at her ample chest.

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Then the next moment his face became ugly, as he saw a tall old man next to her. An old man he knew all too well. It was Elder Meng. It became even uglier when he saw Elder Fang next to him.

Elder Meng spotted him and walked over.

"Boy Mo, I heard you have some business with my Alchemist Hall's genius disciple? If so, get it done fast. We don't have time and I have some business to discuss with Alchemist Xiao."

Basically, it meant: She is under our protection. You shouldn't mess with her. Do your job and get lost.

He could only grit his teeth and smile, "Elder Meng, this relates to the death of -"

"Did I stutter?" Elder Meng cut him off.

"But-"

"Boy Mo, this is the Alchemy Hall, not your playground," he said bluntly.

Mo Tong clenched his teeth and said, "Very well. I have to ask Junior Sister some questions, so I need to bring her to-"

"You will question her here."

"But-"

"Here."

Xiao Hong looked at Elder Meng with admiration as he behaved like a total chad. If Elder Meng were a woman, she felt she might have fallen in love right there.

In the end, Mo Tong could only step back, ask a few questions and go away.

***

"Thank you, Elder Meng. Thank you, Elder Fang. I will-"

She was directly cut off by Elder Meng, who was still overflowing with chad energy: "If you want to thank me, then study Alchemy properly and become a Grade 2 Alchemist as fast as possible."

He handed over a space bag while Elder Fang also nodded, "Indeed. Study well. Elder Lu and I have great expectations for you.

"Also should you become a Grade 2 Alchemist within two years, you will receive a surprise."

She didn't forget to throw out incentives.

Xiao Hong nodded heavily, "I will try my best to live up to the Elders' expectations."

"Haha! Don't worry about it too much. Take your time and learn. Alchemy without passion is dry. Forcing yourself is not conducive to growth."

Bidding the two Elders farewell, she flew back to her home.

***

On a certain peak, which was closer to the centre of the outer sect, stood a large villa like an immortal abode, much grander and majestic than Xiao Hong's.

This was a villa granted to those on the Outer Sect Roll's top 10. This villa corresponded to the current 6th position on the Roll, which was currently occupied by Mo Tong.

Boom!

The entire villa shook heavily and cracked as if about to fall apart, but soon a large number of runic patterns lit up and the cracks were fixed.

Inside.

[Ding! Discovered Profession Guide Book: Alchemy (Grade 2). Use 1 remaining slot for learning?][Done! Set Slot 4: Profession Guide Book: Alchemy][Using default energy source...][Done! Estimated learning time: 71 Days 22 hours][To speed up please find better energy sources]NameXiao HongAge16Lifespan400 yearsPrimary professionCultivatorSecondary Profession(s)Alchemist (Grade 2)Inventory (3.375m3)EmptyCultivation Base

Soul: 3rd stage Red Soul (Peak Divine Sea Equivalent)

Cultivation Method

Celestial God Essence Cultivation Method

Ancient God's Physique Scripture

Spirit God's Soul Cultivation Method

Skills

Soaring Crane Sword (Lowest-Grade) - Small Accomplishment

Flash Step (Lowest-Grade) - Small Accomplishment

Battle Prowess

High (Peak Divine Sea Equivalent.)

Automatic Cultivation Slots: 5

Slot 1: Celestial God Essence Cultivation Method

Slot 2: Ancient God's Physique Scripture

Slot 3: Spirit God's Soul Cultivation Method

Slot 4: Empty

Details: Speed is 2.125x per Method

Dismissing the status screen she took out her storage bag and poured out her spirit stones.

Looking at the almost 4,000 spirit stones that were about to disappear, she almost burst into tears again! Her heart ached! It really, really ached!

"Dammit, I'll go take the Grade 2 Alchemy exam as soon as I breakthrough!" Xiao Hong was determined!

Xiao Hong closed her eyes and fell into a meditative state.

Inside her Dantian, massive quantities of red-gold-coloured mist churned and writhed. They were so dense that they looked more like smog than mist.

As Xiao Hong circulated the Celestial God Method at full force, the mist started to gather towards the centre of her Dantian forming a massive whirlpool, compressing over and over, until finally...

It formed a drop of red-gold liquid!

*Woom!*

The moment it formed, a strange ripple originated from it and swept throughout her whole being causing an indescribable sense of comfort, that felt like a combination of taking off a straitjacket, muscles relaxing and professional massage only much more intense and all at the same time!

Right after, the remaining mist surged as the drop of red-gold liquid generated an immense suction force that dragged in every last drop of Qi in her body towards it! The speed at which it devoured the mist was so incredible that in a few breaths, all of the Qi in her body disappeared.

Xiao Hong realised that if she waited for too long, the drop of liquid would devour her life force instead! Instantly, her Divine Sense moved and grabbed multiple spirit stones in each hand.

Yet again, in just a few breaths the spirit stones collapsed. And she grabbed more spirit stones. This cycle repeated over and over as the small mountain of spirit stones started to rapidly shrink.

Normally, she would be able to cultivate for 2 hours with a single spirit stone, but the tyrannical suction force devoured and completely refined the massive amounts of raw spiritual energy, turning it into her power.

Finally, after an unknown period of time, the suction force ebbed away, leaving less than a dozen spirit stones out of the thousands.

In her Dantian, the mist-like red-gold Zhenqi had disappeared and in its place was a small red-gold pool of liquid Zhenqi.

The pool of liquid Zhenqi which had just calmed down, churned again! This time though, it divided into many thin tendrils, some of which drilled themselves into the walls of her Dantian, nourishing, strengthening and expanding it. The remaining ones extended further and pushed themselves into her meridians nourishing, strengthening and expanding them just like her Dantian.

This process continued for a while and Xiao Hong spent the rest of her spirit stones replenishing the spent Zhenqi before finally completing.

Xiao Hong slowly opened her eyes revealing two beautiful eyes that glowed in the dark like twin red stars.

Feeling the massive upgrade of her strength, Xiao Hong felt euphoric! She was one step closer to having enough strength to stand tall among giants! One step closer to surpassing them! One step closer to grasping her fate in her hands and moulding it as she pleased!

Her physique was also strengthened so much that she was sure she could fight late-stage Divine Sea experts with her body alone.

Her Divine Sense also had strengthened immensely. If before she could extend her Divine Sense to 10 metres, now it was 126 metres! It was more than 10 times! Which was more than twice that of cultivators of her level. Even the most monstrous of geniuses had a maximum of 81 metres at the same stage. At the same time, the clarity was much greater; it went from ultra-HD to ultra-ultra-ultra-ultra-HD. She was also sure that she could crush a Sky Spirit with just her Divine Sense alone!

"STATUS"

[Ding!]

NameXiao HongAge16Lifespan750 yearsPrimary professionCultivatorSecondary Profession(s)Alchemist (Grade 2)Inventory (27m3)EmptyCultivation Base

Essence: Initial Divine Sea

Physique: 3-star Ancient Godling (1st Disaster Equivalent)

Soul: 3rd stage Red Soul (1st Disaster Equivalent)

Cultivation Method

Celestial God Essence Cultivation Method

Ancient God's Physique Scripture

Spirit God's Soul Cultivation Method

Skills

Soaring Crane Sword (Lowest-Grade) - Small Accomplishment

Flash Step (Lowest-Grade) - Small Accomplishment

Battle Prowess: High (2nd Disaster Equivalent)

Automatic Cultivation Slots: 5

Slot 1: Celestial God Essence Cultivation Method

Slot 2: Ancient God's Physique Scripture

Slot 3: Spirit God's Soul Cultivation Method

Slot 4: Empty

Slot 5: Empty

Details: Speed is 2.125x per Method

"As expected! Every Major realm opens up a new slot!"

Her mouth split into a huge grin that would probably cause multiple sectmates to fall: both in love and on the ground. Even female ones!

Still grinning, she decided to reward herself with a bath. A very long one!