The Mighty Cauldron: Extreme Alchemist! - Chapter 15
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Chapter 15: Apprenticeship?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Senior Brother Disciple Hao, I truly don’t have the confidence to refine the Energizing Pills. Why don’t you ask for someone to do for you?” said Xu Shangao with a bitter expression.
The red-robed youth named Hou Rulong grunted once. He spoke with an icy cold tone, “I’m asking you to do it today. I’m just going to leave it here. I’ll come and collect it in three days. Don’t blame me for being uncourteous if you fail to refine the pills.” Upon saying that, he turned around and left without even taking a glance at Fang Lin.
Xu Shangao’s expression grew glummer and glummer. He squeezed out a forced smile upon seeing Fang Lin.
“What happened? Who was that?” Fang Lin asked.
Xu Shangao said, “It’s the official disciple, Hou Rulong, from the martial arts sect. He’s here to ask me to refine a cauldron of Energizing Pills for him, but how would I know how to refine it? He is obviously trying to make things difficult for me.”
Fang Lin appeared to be deep in thought. He nodded and said, “So, it turns out to be an official disciple from the martial arts sect. No wonder he has that self-conceited look.”
“The official disciples from the martial arts sect frequently seek our official disciples’ help to refine elixirs for them. This is supposed to be a good thing, yet I’ve only managed to refine elixirs for these martial arts disciples twice since I became an official disciple in the recent few years. Moreover, those were lower grade pills and those weren’t difficult to refine. However, Hou Rulong is requesting for Energizingg Pills. He’s obviously making life difficult for me deliberately,” Xu Shangao said with a sigh to punctuate his explanation.
After listening to his explanation, Fang Lin learned that the martial arts official disciples would frequently seek help from the official disciples of the alchemy sect to refine elixirs for them. Of course, they would compensate for the assistance of the alchemy sect disciples. On the other hand, such a transaction was already considered a tradition between the alchemy sect and the martial arts sect.
The fame of the person that received more requests to refine elixirs would grow higher and higher in the alchemy sect. However, the person would need to have solid alchemy skills in order to refine elixirs for the official disciples of the martial arts sect. A low-grade disciple like Xu Shangao was still capable of refining some simple elixirs, but it was impossible for him to refine the best quality Energizing Pill that was almost close to being a grade-1 pill.
Hou Rulong wanted Xu Shangao to refine the Energizing Pills for him. His intention to make things difficult for Xu Shangao was apparent. When Xu Shangao failed to refine the Energizing Pills in three days, Hou Rulong could seize the opportunity to propagate Xu Shangao’s weakness vigorously. By then, Xu Shangao would not only be despised by the official disciples of the alchemy sect, but he would also be looked down upon by the martial arts official disciples. Even if Xu Shangao did manage to improve himself in the future, no one would seek his help to refine elixirs anymore.
Fang Lin looked at Xu Shangao strangely and said, “Senior Brother Disciple, have you offended someone recently?”
Xu Shangao was stunned for a moment and he soon remembered someone. He immediately said with a furious look on his face, “that must be Lin Xu! He lost a bet to me the other day. He must be harboring hatred in his heart. It must be him that sent Hou Rulong to make things difficult for me. He wants me to embarrass myself for sure!”
Fang Lin nodded. Soon afterward, he smiled and said, “so, how are you going to deal with this situation, Senior Brother Disciple Xu?”
Xu Shangao lowered his head in dejection upon hearing the question. He said, “What else can I do? I’m utterly incapable of refining the Energizing Pills now, so I can only brace the humiliation later.”
Fang Lin pursed his lips and said, “Why haven’t you thought of my identity, Senior Brother Disciple Xu? Would I allow you to humiliate yourself?”
Xu Shangao’s eyes glowed brightly upon hearing Fang Lin’s remarks. He grasped Fang Lin’s shoulders with his hands akin to a drowning man holding on to a life-saving straw. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you’re capable of refining the Energizing Pills. You must help me as your Senior Brother Disciple,” he pleaded.
Fang Lin sniggered and said, “I thought I’ve given you three Energizing Pills, Senior Brother Disciple Xu. Why don’t you just give them to Hou Rulong then?”
“I’ve taken one of the three pills. It’s not enough to just present two pills for him, is it?” Xu Shangao explained with a rather embarrassed expression.
Upon saying that, Xu Shangao looked at Fang Lin piteously. He begged, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you’re the best Junior Brother Disciple ever. Will you pity me and help me to refine a cauldron of Energizing Pills? I will take good care of you if you help me.”
Fang Lin pushed Xu Shangao’s hand away in an unkind manner. He pursed his lips and said, “No one is asking for my help to refine elixirs. The person they seek after is you. It’s best that you refine it yourself.”
“However, I’m incapable of doing that. Junior Brother Disciple, please, please help me. Do it for the sake of us being a well-matched pair of brothers. Please help your Senior Brother Disciple this once,” Xu Shangao said, almost crying.
Upon seeing Xu Shangao’s piteous look, Fang Lin stopped taunting him. “Of course, I can help you, but I’ll be leaving in six months. What if someone comes and tries to make things difficult for you by then? What will you do? I can help you this time, but you must put some effort into studying alchemy skills too. I’m going to strive to elevate your standard in the next six months.”
Upon listening to his words, Xu Shangao was overjoyed. He expressed his gratitude toward Fang Lin repeatedly.
“There’s no need to waste time talking nonsense. It’s time for you to formally acknowledge me as your teacher, my apprentice,” Fang Lin said, waving him off.
Xu Shangao was stunned for a moment. He raised his head to look up just in time to reveal his interesting expression. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, what were you saying again?” Xu Shangao thought he had misheard Fang Lin, so he asked cautiously.
“Formally acknowledge me as your teacher, my apprentice,” said Fang Lin in a short and powerful voice.
Xu Shangao had a strange expression when he said, “Junior Brother Disciple, there’s no need for me to formally acknowledge you as my teacher, is there? I’m your Senior Brother Disciple at the very least.”
Fang Lin took a glance at him. He did not speak and walked straight into the alchemy room and closed the door behind him, leaving Xu Shangao outside.
Xu Shangao waited for two hours anxiously outside. He watched as Fang Lin pushed open the door and exited the room with a jade bottle in his hand. He then tossed it over to Xu Shangao.
“I’ve already refined the pills for you. Think wisely. I’ll be leaving in six months. You’ll have to think for yourself,” Fang Lin drawled lazily. Then, he returned to his room.
Xu Shangao looked at the jade bottle in his hands in a daze. He opened the cork subconsciously and found that there were eight perfectly round pills emitting a faint scent from inside the bottle.
Feeling hesitant, Xu Shangao sealed the bottle cork properly. A moment later, he clenched his teeth and arrived before Fang Lin’s room.
“I’d like to pay my respect to you, Teacher,” said Xu Shangao solemnly. Soon afterward, he knelt down in front of Fang Lin’s room.
The door to the room opened, and Fang Lin cracked a smile when he saw Xu Shangao kneeling on the floor with a solemn expression. “Senior Brother Disciple, why are you being so serious? I was only joking.”
Xu Shangao almost leaped up from the ground in rage. Is there anyone who jokes like you? I’ve actually prepared myself mentally and physically and I’m already kneeling, yet you’re telling me it’s a joke?
Fang Lin realized that Xu Shangao was certainly feeling exceedingly depressed when he noticed his friend’s fury. Waving once, he sent a roll of jade scroll into Xu Shangao’s hand.
“This is the alchemy insights Elder Mu Yan gave me. I’m not using it, so I’m giving it to you. I hope that you will benefit from this, Senior Brother Disciple,” said Fang Lin.
After pondering for a moment, Fang Lin procured a book and also passed it to Xu Shangao. “This was given to me after the old man, Zhao Deming, lost a bet to me during the alchemy altar lesson today. I’m giving it to you too, Senior Brother Disciple.”
Xu Shangao had a jade scroll in his hand and an ancient book in his other hand. His face was constantly contorting into different expressions. “How…h-how can I accept this?” he said while shaking his head.
Fang Lin smiled. “Senior Brother Disciple, please do not refuse me anymore. These items aren’t useful to me, but they are very useful to you. I can only be here for six months after all. I believe that you’ll find these useful to help you break through to become a medium-grade disciple.”
Xu Shangao stopped declining anymore after hearing Fang Lin’s words. He then accepted the two items with a gratified expression. Due to his status as a low-grade disciple, he was never granted the authority to enter the alchemy pavilion to study the alchemy books, let alone receive the alchemy insights of an elder. Therefore, Fang Lin’s two gifts were as precious as the Mount Taishan to him.
“Junior Brother Disciple, you’re truly my lucky star!” Xu Shangao returned to the alchemy room eagerly to learn alchemy skills eagerly after saying that.
Fang Lin closed the door of his room and locked up properly. He was prepared to consume the Energizing Pills now to elevate his realm to level-3 primordial man.
Even though he was in the alchemy sect and his most important focus was refining elixirs, he could not overlook his realm either. He would have the confidence to do anything only when his realm was impressive enough.
The cultivation base of the level-2 primordial man realm was considered very poor amongst the junior alchemy disciples. The best junior alchemy disciple, Kang Lu, was said to have already achieved the level-6 primordial man realm. However, no one really knew Kang Lu’s actual cultivation base except for himself and a few others.
In fact, even Lu Xiaoqing was on the level-4 primordial man realm and would frequently make fun of Fang Lin due to his weak realm.
‘Three Energizing Pills should be enough to elevate me to the level-3 primordial man realm. It’s only more troublesome because I cultivated the Divine Nine Cauldrons Passage, so I must consume alchemy cauldrons to elevate my realm,’ said Fang Lin in his heart as he cultivated.
The Energizing Pills transformed into a clear stream of energy that flowed rapidly in his body, and he felt extremely comfortable.
Sigh. Starting to cultivate from nothing feels horrible. If I were still in the Alchemy Saint Palace, I’d be able to improve my realm immensely just by simply consuming two pills! Fang Lin exclaimed in his heart as he thought about life in the Alchemy Saint Palace.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Fang Lin was still cultivating in the house when Hou Rulong who came three days ago had arrived early in the morning.
“Xu Shangao, have you managed to refine the Energizing Pills that I asked for?” said Hou Rulong coldly.
Hou Rulong was a martial arts sect disciple. Moreover, he was rather powerful amongst the official disciples of the martial arts sect, so he despised low-grade alchemy disciples like Xu Shangao naturally.
Had it not been due to Lin Xu’s promise for precious rewards, Hou Rulong would never have consented to make things difficult for Xu Shangao for no reason.
Xu Shangao, oh, Xu Shangao, you’ve offended Lin Xu recently and it was he who sent me here, so don’t put the blame on me. Hou Rulong snorted coldly in his heart as if he was certain that Xu Shangao would fail to produce the Energizing Pills.
Who would have known that Xu Shangao would remain expressionless as he procured a bottle of pills at once without uttering a word?
“The pills are here. Consume them properly, Senior Brother Disciple Hou,” Xu Shangao said smilingly.
Hou Rulong was astonished as he accepted the pills suspiciously. He opened the bottle and checked them, only to see that it really was a bottle of Energizing Pills.
‘That’s strange. According to Lin Xu, Xu Shangao is absolutely incapable of refining the Energizing Pills. So, where did this bottle of pills come from then? Could it be that there’s more to Xu Shangao than meets the eye?’ Hou Rulong was slightly alarmed. The script that he had prepared originally was rendered completely useless now. His expression looked rather sour.
“What’s going on, Senior Brother Disciple Hou? Are you not satisfied with the pills?” Xu Shangao asked intentionally.
Hou Rulong grunted once. Then, he turned around and was about to leave with the bottle of pills when Xu Shangao stopped him by saying, “Hey, aren’t you going to compensate me, Senior Brother Disciple Hou?”
Hou Rulong turned around and glared at him. He spoke in a slightly embarrassed manner, “I forgot to bring it with me today. I shall compensate you tomorrow.”