The Mighty Cauldron: Extreme Alchemist! - Chapter 44

Fang Lin turned around to look and found that Meng Wuyou looked enraged, so he explained, “The alchemy prescription is wrong. There’s simply no need to add the Serpent Hemp Vine in this. On the contrary, it’s missing the utmost important ingredient, the Nightshade Grass. This is way too far from just being wrong. This is simply worse than trash.”

Meng Wuyou looked at Fang Lin in a daze. He was constantly under the assumption that the kid was just being boisterous and careful, yet he noticed that Fang Lin’s expression was especially stern at this very moment. It made him feel like he had lost his authority as an elder before Fang Lin.

Fang Lin seemed to realize his attitude problem, so he returned to his normal self at once. With a snigger, he said, “Elder Meng, I’m not just saying this blindly. The alchemy prescription is truly wrong.”

Meng Wuyou looked at the alchemy prescription and found that the Serpent Hemp Vine was really listed but not the Nightshade Grass Fang Lin mentioned.

“Fang Lin, the alchemy prescription is studied intensively and left behind by a few generations of the predecessors of our alchemy sect. It can’t possibly be wrong.” Meng Wuyou still refused to believe it. After all, the alchemy prescription had been reviewed over and over again by the predecessors, yet Fang Lin pointed out that it was wrong. How could he be convinced?

Moreover, it was a serious matter. If the news were to spread, Fang Lin would be convicted as being disrespectful to the predecessors which was a serious crime.

After all, the alchemy prescription left behind by the predecessors represented authority. Fang Lin was just a descendant disciple, yet he had criticized the prescription. If another elder with a bad temper was in his place, the elder would have certainly taken action and punished Fang Lin directly.

Even though Meng Wuyou valued Fang Lin very much and recognized his attainments and natural talent, Fang Lin was still attempting to dispute the alchemy prescription left behind by the predecessors in vain. Meng Wuyou did not dare to believe him that easily either.

“Fang Lin, you must consider it properly. Even though it’s only an alchemy prescription, the consequences are extremely serious if you were to dispute this,” said Meng Wuyou in all apparent seriousness.

Fang Lin responded with his usual expression, “I’m well aware that these alchemy prescriptions are the result of repeated reviews by our alchemy sect predecessors. However, it is wrong. I’ll never change my mind just because this alchemy prescription was written by a predecessor. Otherwise, I don’t deserve the identity of an alchemist.”

Meng Wuyou’s expression changed as well upon realizing that Fang Lin was taking this matter so seriously. “You said that it is wrong, but why is that so?”

“When I was young, I was taught by a nameless elder. I have countless alchemy prescriptions memorized in my mind, and I’m absolutely certain that there’s no Serpent Hemp Vine in the Purple Heart Vine but there is the Nightshade Grass,” Fang Lin spoke calmly.

Meng Wuyou looked even more surprised upon hearing that. He said to himself in his heart, ‘No wonder Fang Lin has such an impressive performance at a very young age. So, it turns out that he received guidance from a master when he was young.’

However, he did not trust Fang Lin’s words fully either. After all, the kid’s words sounded too absurd. There was no telling if what he was saying was real or fake. However, Meng Wuyou did not choose to pursue this matter anymore.

Fang Lin continued to scrutinize the alchemy prescriptions now that Meng Wuyou had stopped speaking. Soon, he tossed out another alchemy prescription again.

“The ratio of ingredients in the Nine Wonders Pill isn’t right,” he commented briefly. Then, he continued to examine the other alchemy prescriptions.

“This alchemy prescription has an extra portion of a useless medicinal herb.”

“This portion of herb in this alchemy prescription can be switched with another one that is more easily acquired.”

“This alchemy prescription is showy but insubstantial. Three types of medicinal herbs can be removed from the list.”

…

Fang Lin tossed the alchemy prescriptions onto the ground one by one while Meng Wuyou picked them up continuously from behind.

Soon, Fang Lin browsed through all the alchemy prescriptions on the first floor. He picked out a dozen alchemy prescriptions at last.

Meanwhile, Meng Wuyou grasped a handful of alchemy prescriptions in his hand. He was speechless because these were the fine products of the alchemy sect predecessors, yet they had just become worthless from Fang Lin’s lips.

Fang Lin scrutinized the final alchemy prescription and ensured that it had no mistake before he placed it back in its original spot. He turned around to take a glance at Meng Wuyou only to find the old man staring at him with wide eyes.

“Elder Meng, why are you holding the waste papers?” asked Fang Lin in confusion.

Meng Wuyou wished that he could throw the alchemy prescriptions in his hand into Fang Lin’s face ferociously. Did you just call these prescriptions waste papers? I’m going to beat you up until you’re crippled.

Meng Wuyou inhaled a deep breath to suppress his impulse to scold Fang Lin. He attempted to calm down before he asked, “Are all these wrong?”

Fang Lin nodded. His foresight was perfect. Not many people from the Alchemy Saint Palace could match his sensitivity when it came to alchemy prescriptions back in those days. Needless to say, he could verify these rather low-grade alchemy prescriptions easily.

Meng Wuyou looked at the 17 alchemy prescriptions in his hand. These were not 17 useless pieces of papers but were fine results that contained the intelligence of their predecessors. Even though each of these alchemy prescriptions produced one type of elixir, the prescriptions were extremely valuable. In fact, a few of the yellowing alchemy prescriptions had been personally written by the alchemy sect predecessors.

The alchemy sect had always regarded these alchemy prescriptions like precious treasure. On usual days, they handled it with extreme care, yet Fang Lin had tossed them to the ground like trash. In fact, he called them useless waste papers. If one of the other alchemy sect elders was in place of Meng Wuyou now, Fang Lin would have already been beaten up ferociously.

“Fang Lin, you picked these out. What are you going to do with these?” asked Meng Wuyou in frustration.

Fang Lin frowned and said, “If we keep these alchemy prescriptions here, it’s going to mislead the others. We should make amendments as soon as possible.”

The first elder of the alchemy sect would need to be notified if someone were to make amendments to these alchemy prescriptions. By then, it would certainly cause a great stir amongst the sect and Fang Lin could possibly end up in deep trouble.

After all, Fang Lin’s behavior could be regarded as treason to the sect, and it would be very difficult for him to free himself of such a conviction. In fact, even Meng Wuyou could be affected too.

However, Meng Wuyou trusted Fang Lin very much. Perhaps, Fang Lin was right that these dozen alchemy prescriptions had truly been misrepresented. Otherwise, he never would have picked them out for no reason unless he was looking for trouble.

Meng Wuyou considered this matter thoroughly. It was possible that these dozen alchemy prescriptions would be fine for the time being if they were left alone. However, Meng Wuyou knew that he would be the alchemy sect’s sinner if it resulted in any severe consequences.

“Alright. I shall join your madness, boy. Since you said that these alchemy prescriptions are wrong, then we shall examine and verify them first. Let’s see if you’re actually right. If it is as you said, then I shall request permission from the first elder to amend these alchemy prescriptions,” Meng Wuyou said in a solemn tone.

Fang Lin smiled as he admired the old man’s decisiveness. Even though he did pick out the problematic alchemy prescriptions, it was Meng Wuyou’s choice to decide whether to interfere or not.

If Meng Wuyou refused to trust him and chose to disregard this matter, Fang Lin would not criticize his choice. At the very least, Fang Lin had done what he should and had no regrets.

On the other hand, Fang Lin admired Meng Wuyou for his decisiveness and was ultimately touched by his trust in him.

Nevertheless, they were both well aware that amending these alchemy prescriptions would take the entire alchemy sect by shock. It could only have one of two results: it would either be beneficial to the alchemy sect or both of them would be utterly discredited and eternally doomed.