“This is the key point I wanted to share with everyone in today’s lecture,” Xu Qi An, well-versed in the art of cliffhangers, deliberately paused here, smiling at the eager gazes of the white-robed alchemists.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the doorway, seeing Wei Yuan watching him, and beside Wei Yuan, a stunningly beautiful woman also observing him.
Who is she? How can someone be so beautiful… Xu Qi An coughed and continued, “Within all things, there exist extremely minute substances that make up the myriad worlds we see. These substances are interconnected and follow certain patterns. To explain with the simplest example, an elixir requires dozens of medicinal ingredients to refine, but each ingredient has different effects.”
“Why is this? It’s because certain medicinal ingredients have similar microscopic material properties, so they can react and fuse. The same principle applies to refining metals.”
Xu Qi An tried to express these concepts in the most straightforward terms possible, avoiding chemical terms like “atom” that would only increase the difficulty for the alchemists to understand.
The eyes of the alchemists present sparkled with excitement, as they clearly understood the value of this knowledge.
Not only them, but Princess Long and Wei Yuan outside, both highly educated individuals, were also intrigued. The more profound and esoteric the knowledge, the more interested they became. They realized that what Xu Qi An was teaching was extremely advanced secret knowledge in the field of alchemy.
The noble princess and the high-ranking eunuch stood there patiently listening.
Xu Qi An continued, “In that incomplete alchemy manual, there was a mnemonic for the similar microscopic material properties. I call this mnemonic: the Periodic Table of Elements.”
Instantly, rapid breathing echoed through the hall as the white-robed members of the Astronomical Bureau tightly clenched their fists in excitement and joy.
“I understand now, I understand!” Song Qing had a sudden realization. He stood up excitedly, staring at Xu Qi An as if seeking confirmation:
“The reason my living alchemy failed was that there were no similar properties between them. Of course, how could a cat and a tree possibly have similar properties? They’re completely different things.”
…Your understanding is somewhat reasonable! Xu Qi An smiled and said, “Senior Brother Song is indeed a genius in alchemy, with outstanding comprehension abilities.”
This was the truth!
Song Qing frowned slightly: “Although I understand your reasoning, how can we verify the similar properties between living things, and what is the correct direction for living alchemy?”
Good question, I’ve been waiting for the right moment to straighten you out.
Xu Qi An clasped his hands behind his back, standing straight as a pine tree, like a great Confucian scholar founding a school of thought, and said leisurely, “The direction for living alchemy is cells.”
“Cells?” Song Qing was stunned, encountering yet another unfamiliar term.
Yes, cells, but before that, you might want to consider making something like a microscope. I don’t understand it either, but it’s not my problem… If you succeed, it’s because of my good teaching; if you fail, it’s because of your poor attitude.
Xu Qi An took out a booklet from his pocket, “This is the second blue book I’m giving to the Astronomical Bureau. It contains the mnemonic for the Periodic Table of Elements, my annotations, and the correct direction for Senior Brother Song’s living alchemy. It’s all in here.”
Song Qing rushed over eagerly, snatched the booklet, and began flipping through it hungrily.
The first line read: The cell is the beginning of life!
“Ha, haha, hahaha…”
As he read, Song Qing gripped the booklet tightly and burst into laughter, throwing his head back.
What’s written in that booklet… I want to know so badly… The intense gazes of over forty white-robed alchemists were fixed on the booklet in Song Qing’s hand, their hearts itching like cats scratching.
Song Qing composed himself and said in a steady tone, “As Xu Ning’yan said earlier, the field of living things is too profound, and your levels aren’t there yet. When I fully comprehend it, I’ll naturally pass on the teachings on behalf of the master.”
The “master” he referred to was not Xu Qi An, but the Supervisor.
Everyone noticed that Song Qing’s knuckles were turning white as he gripped the booklet tightly.
His inner excitement was far more intense than what he showed outwardly.
Chemistry encompasses various fields, such as electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, quantum chemistry…
Xu Qi An himself only had a vague understanding and didn’t plan to continue lecturing. It wouldn’t be good to empty all his knowledge at once, and they weren’t Fufu Xiang, not worth imparting everything to.
Equivalent exchange should be a gradual process.
Whoosh~~
The white-robed alchemists stood up in unison and bowed to Xu Qi An: “Thank you, Young Master Xu, for imparting your knowledge.”
Outside the door, Princess Long witnessed everything, her expression slightly dazed.
The alchemists of the Astronomical Bureau bowing to martial artists as disciples—this was probably unprecedented since the establishment of the Astronomical Bureau.
Based on this alone, Xu Qi An was worthy of a brief mention in the history books.
Song Qing let out a breath and patted Chu Caiwei’s arm beside him: “Junior Sister, Princess Long has come to see you.”
Song Qing had long noticed Wei Yuan and his group’s arrival, as he was the one with the highest cultivation level present.
But even though they had arrived, Song Qing wouldn’t disrupt the rhythm of the class just because of Princess Long’s noble birth or Wei Yuan’s immense power.
Because no matter how noble and beautiful Princess Long was, or how powerful Wei Yuan was, they were still worldly matters.
Chu Caiwei turned her head in surprise and indeed saw the peerlessly beautiful Princess Long.
Xu Qi An stepped forward quickly and cupped his hands, saying, “Lord Wei.”
Wei Yuan smiled and gestured to the woman in the gorgeous long dress beside him: “This is Princess Long.”
Seeing her up close, Xu Qi An was momentarily stunned by the beauty of this peerless princess. He cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, Princess Long, for your recommendation.”
Li Yuchun had told him that his entry into the Night Watchmen was due to Princess Long’s recommendation.
Xu Qi An could have not mentioned this, but by doing so, he gave Princess Long a good impression of someone who remembers and repays kindness.
Princess Long nodded with a smile, her voice melodious: “An alchemy secret manual?”
“It was a secret alchemy manual passed down to me by a great master I encountered in my youth,” Xu Qi An replied. If Princess Long or Wei Yuan asked to see it, he would say he had unfortunately lost it, but the contents were all memorized in his mind.
Using the same knowledge, he could exploit the Astronomical Bureau’s white-robed alchemists and then exploit Princess Long and Wei Yuan again.
Unexpectedly, Princess Long just smiled and didn’t ask further.
Ci Jiu was right, this princess has substance, at least she’s a very, very intelligent woman… She’s so beautiful… And has a great figure… Xu Qi An kept his gaze straight ahead.
A woman with fragrant charm gracefully stepped to the east wing. Her eyebrows were like split kingfisher feathers, bright eyes radiated clarity. Her voice crowns the white clouds, resonating in all directions. How wonderful her virtuous talents, well-matched with Xu Qi An.
After the lecture just now, Wei Yuan was even more impressed with this young Night Watchman. He said, “Come with me to see the Supervisor.”
See the Supervisor… the pinnacle of alchemists… Xu Qi An’s breathing quickened involuntarily.
…
The top floor of the Star-Plucking Tower was a spacious octagonal platform, pieced together with heavy bluestone slabs.
Xu Qi An followed Wei Yuan to the octagonal platform and saw the white-robed Supervisor sitting at a desk, his back to them.
His hair was as white as frost, his robes as white as snow. At first glance, the old man’s back view seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one would find him as distant as the horizon, visible yet unreachable.
“You’ve come,” came the old voice.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Xu Qi An had a vague sense that the Supervisor was speaking to him.
“I have arrived,” replied Wei Yuan, his temples frosted with white hair, as he walked to the edge of the octagonal platform, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Supervisor.
Xu Qi An, not unfamiliar with official etiquette, was shocked by this scene.
Wei Yuan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Supervisor without hesitation.
“It’s been a while since we’ve played chess, Supervisor. Would you care for a game with me?” Wei Yuan asked.
The Supervisor didn’t speak but waved his hand.
A chessboard and two boxes of chess pieces appeared on the table out of thin air.
Wei Yuan smiled, swept aside the hem of his blue robe, and sat down opposite the Supervisor.
“Has the Supervisor been observing the mortal world lately?” Wei Yuan placed a piece, casually opening the conversation.
“My eyes are old and dim, I can’t see anymore,” the Supervisor said, placing a piece in response.
The two didn’t speak for a while, focusing on the game.
“The Earth Sect’s leader has fallen into demonic cultivation,” Wei Yuan said.
“All things taken to extremes will reverse. How could becoming an immortal through merit be so simple?” the Supervisor replied.
“I’ve received news that remnants of the Myriad Beast Kingdom are hiding in the capital.”
“They’re all minor characters.”
Hearing this, Wei Yuan nodded with relief.
After playing for a while longer, Wei Yuan casually mentioned, “If I remember correctly, the Human Sect moved to the imperial city nineteen years ago. Before that, His Majesty sought the Dao of immortality, but the Heaven, Earth, and Human Sects ignored him.”
The Supervisor remained silent.
“Recently, remnants of the Myriad Beast Kingdom have been active around the capital. In three days, it will be His Majesty’s ancestral worship day. Supervisor, please keep a close eye on the capital.”
…
“The bandit problem in Yun Province is getting worse. His Majesty has no interest in suppressing them, which is worrying.”
…
“Does the Supervisor have any thoughts on the alchemist behind the tax silver case?”
The two placed their pieces faster and faster until they almost didn’t need time to think until black and white pieces covered the entire board.
A draw.
The Supervisor waved his hand, making the chessboard disappear, and raised his wrinkled, aged face to gaze at Wei Yuan:
“Back when you practiced martial arts, I predicted that Great Feng would produce a second-rank expert, but you ended up abandoning your cultivation.”
“It was uninteresting,” Wei Yuan shook his head.
“Why didn’t you pursue the scholarly path?”
“I couldn’t get along with the scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy. It was boring.”
“Twenty-five years ago, I asked if you were willing to be my disciple.”
“I had no interest in becoming an alchemist.”
The Supervisor was silent for a moment, then said, “Brilliant performance. Young friend, you’ve taught my students for me, so I’ll give you a gift in return.”