Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Celestial Family (Part Two)

Yet the requirements to become an alchemist were extremely harsh. Anyone could become an apothecary, so long as they had enough perseverance and support. But to become an alchemist—only a precious few ever succeeded. According to ancient records, one must possess an exceptionally pure Fire Spirit Constitution to qualify as an alchemist. Even among those with this constitution, there were significant differences in purity; naturally, the purer the body, the greater the possibility of advancing to the ranks of the most elite alchemists in the future. Furthermore, one needed a cultivation manual uniquely tailored to that constitution. Such exclusive techniques were only found in the hands of alchemists themselves or certain powerful factions.

Out of millions, perhaps only one might be born with a Fire Spirit Constitution. To also acquire a dedicated cultivation manual suited to it was even rarer, which explained why alchemists were so scarce. Not to mention a small place like Luoyang Town—even across the entire Nanyang Prefecture, having a single alchemist was already a remarkable feat.

“The Heavenly Clan?” Upon hearing Mu mention this, Ye Cheng caught the key words and asked in astonishment.

A look of reminiscence flickered in the old man's weathered eyes as he continued slowly, “In the world your father traveled to, sects abound and experts are countless. The Heavenly Clan is the most illustrious of all the pill-making families. Each member of the Heavenly Clan is born with a flame mark, a sign of their bloodline inheritance. Most of them possess the Fire Spirit Constitution, so the majority of the clan members are alchemists. Ordinary members bear the mark of Earthly Fire, while a few exceptionally gifted ones are born with the mark of Heavenly Fire. Those with the Heavenly Fire mark have extraordinary potential, whether in martial arts or alchemy, and are the focus of the clan’s cultivation and attention.”

“If that’s the case... then Ling’er, she must...” Ye Cheng’s mouth went dry as shock flickered in his eyes. He had never imagined that Ye Ling, the girl who had depended on him for survival, would have such an origin.

Mu nodded affirmatively. “Exactly. That girl is undoubtedly from the Heavenly Clan. By rights, it’s extremely rare for any member of the Heavenly Clan to come to this world, let alone leave behind their bloodline in such a low-level realm. That would only ruin the child’s future. But this girl’s identity is beyond doubt. And yet, she was adopted by your father, who then left for the other world. It’s hard to believe there’s no connection between these events. It seems your father’s departure was not simply for the sake of pursuing martial arts.”

“Could it be that Father left to seek out the Heavenly Clan for Ling’er’s sake?” Ye Cheng speculated.

Mu stroked his white beard and nodded. “That possibility cannot be excluded.”

At this, Ye Cheng’s expression grew heavy. After a moment of silence, he calmed his emotions. Suddenly, his eyes brightened as he looked at Mu hopefully, hand outstretched with a sheepish grin. “Teacher, since you’re so powerful, surely you have a cultivation method suitable for Ling’er’s constitution?”

Mu swatted Ye Cheng’s hand aside and gave him a helpless look. “I don’t have any exclusive methods tailored to that girl’s constitution. Alchemists require specialized cultivation techniques compatible with their unique bodies. Practicing other, incompatible methods would only waste her potential and hinder her future progress on the path of alchemy.”

“What’s more, that girl’s background is anything but simple. How could she lack for a cultivation method? Just wait—the Heavenly Clan will soon come looking for her. When that happens, she’ll have her pick of cultivation techniques. If you don’t work harder yourself, you’ll be left far behind.” Mu brushed off Ye Cheng’s hopeful hands and dealt him a blow without a trace of politeness.

Ye Cheng was left speechless. Though his Devouring Constitution had great potential, that would only manifest in the later stages; early cultivation was a real struggle. Still, he found comfort in the thought that, with enough blood cores to assist his cultivation, his training speed would rapidly increase.

“Teacher, let’s head to the Demon Forest tomorrow,” Ye Cheng said. Now that he had a preliminary grasp of the Thousand Shadows Spear Technique, it was time to venture into the Demon Forest.

“Very well, as you wish,” Mu replied. His figure faded, transforming into a stream of light that vanished into the jade pendant hanging from the youth’s neck.

Ye Cheng nodded quietly. Gazing at Ye Ling, already fast asleep in his arms, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Ling’er. As soon as I get enough blood cores for cultivation, I’ll come straight back.”

He gently hoisted her frail form onto his back. With a leap, Ye Cheng bounded down the hillside and disappeared into the distance.

...

After settling Ye Ling, Ye Cheng returned to his tiny hut, sat cross-legged on the bed, and formed a strange hand seal in front of his abdomen. A faint, nearly invisible stream of primal energy began to flow slowly toward him, absorbed from the world around him. As the energy entered his body, his meridians glimmered with dim white light. Yet, with such a slow absorption rate, it could take eight or ten years to awaken the spiritual veins hidden deep within his meridians—unless he found another way.

The thought drew a wry smile from Ye Cheng’s lips. Ever since his Devouring Constitution was awakened, he practiced martial arts by day and sat in meditation absorbing energy by night. Though the energy gained each night was meager, it sufficed to replace sleep and relieve fatigue. Ye Cheng found this benefit well worth the effort. Even if the gains were small, he believed that persistence would eventually pay off—grain by grain, a mountain is formed, and even a morsel is still meat.

Calming his mind, Ye Cheng stopped his wandering thoughts and slipped into a deep state of cultivation. As the hours passed, his breathing grew steadily more regular.

Night enveloped the whole of Luoyang Town. Lamps glowed in every household, and some had already gone to sleep. Pale moonlight streamed through the hut’s window, falling across the youth’s body. A slender crescent moon hung in the pitch-black sky, surrounded by scattered starlight, while the night remained utterly still.

...

By the time dawn arrived, Ye Cheng slowly emerged from meditation. Sensing the blood energy in his body, he noticed that although there was no dramatic change, his blood essence had increased a little overnight. However, if he continued to cultivate at such a pace, the time needed to break through to the greater mastery of the Blood Qi Realm would be far too long. He could not afford to wait.

“It seems only by entering the Demon Forest can I speed up my cultivation and reach the peak of the Blood Qi Realm sooner...” Ye Cheng murmured to himself. With this thought, he called out to Mu in his mind.

After a long wait, Mu’s slightly lazy voice finally echoed from within the jade pendant. “What is it? Eager to set out for the Demon Forest already?”