Spiritual Energy

Outside the gates of the Imperial Capital, Gu He stepped down from the Misty Cloud Sect's carriage and, with Xiao Yi Xian in tow, boarded a carriage bearing the Alchemist Guild's emblem.

The carriage slowly made its way toward the Alchemist Guild in the center of the city. When it reached the guild entrance, it did not slow down at all and drove straight inside. A cold-faced guard was just about to stop it when another, slightly older guard grabbed him and rebuked him, "Didn't you see that? That's the purple-grade carriage our Alchemist Guild uses to welcome its most distinguished guests! Whoever's inside is either a Fifth-grade Alchemist or a renowned Dou Wang. Even if you want to die, don't drag me down with you."

Hearing the older guard's words, the cold-faced guard's expression changed dramatically. His former stern indifference vanished, replaced by a face full of cold sweat. He gratefully said to the older guard, "Thank you so much, brother. I'm new here, so I don't know much about these things yet. If you hadn't reminded me, I nearly caused a disaster. When we rotate off duty, let's go have a proper drink."

Inside the carriage, Gu He was considering how to propose an exchange of pill formulas to Fama and paid no attention to the outside. Although Fama was only a Peak Fifth-grade Alchemist, he was also the president of the Alchemist Guild and a Dou Emperor. The collection in his Ring was richer than that of an ordinary Sixth-grade Alchemist. Even Gu He, backed by the Misty Cloud Sect, could not compare.

Gu He searched through his memories, wondering if there was anything he could use in exchange. He recalled how, in the original story, Gu He and Fama had been won over by Xiao Yan with a fragmentary scroll on soul cultivation. Though he did not possess a soul cultivation technique, he still remembered the incomplete chant inscribed on the ancient bronze fragment when Xiao Yan broke through to become an Eighth-grade Alchemist. That alone would be enough to pique Fama's interest.

Gu He closed his eyes, his lips moving faintly as he silently recited, "At the utmost limit of the soul, seal and guard the heavenly spirit; take in Naling to temper the soul." A low, indistinct voice gradually echoed within the carriage. Though Xiao Yi Xian was curious, she did not disturb him upon seeing how serious he was. She merely propped up her chin with one hand and watched his profile. Nearly an hour passed like this. The carriage had already entered the Alchemist Guild when the tranquil air within it suddenly rippled with an eerie fluctuation!

The instant that fluctuation arose inside the carriage, Gu He's tightly shut eyes flew open. Xiao Yi Xian was so startled that she quickly turned her gaze aside and asked, "Master, what happened?!"

"Nothing. My soul merely sensed Spiritual Energy, and Spiritual Energy is the key to advancing to Eighth-grade Alchemist," Gu He said, calming his mind as a trace of excitement appeared in his voice.

Seeing the confusion in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, Gu He smiled and continued, "Let me explain the divisions of soul realms to you."

"There are four levels of soul realms: the Mortal Realm, the Spiritual Realm, the Heaven Realm, and the Emperor Realm. Alchemists below Eighth Grade remain at the Mortal Realm. Some especially exceptional Seventh-grade Alchemists can vaguely touch upon the Spiritual Realm. Once one's Soul Power reaches that level, one gains an ability known as Spirit Endowment—the ability to grant a pill spirituality. After all, most Eighth Grade pills possess extraordinary spirituality. Without granting a pill spirituality, it is impossible for it to reach Eighth Grade."

"The Heaven Realm is a necessary condition for refining Ninth-grade Pills. The intelligence of a Ninth-grade Pill is no different from that of an ordinary human. It is practically an act of creation, the creation of an entirely new living being. Creating such a being requires not only granting it spirituality, but also the power of heaven and earth. To accomplish that, one must reach the towering Heaven Realm. As for the Emperor Realm, it exists only in legend. It is a necessary condition for refining Emperor-grade Pills, and Emperor-grade Pills are connected to the legendary Dou Di."

"Wow, then doesn't that mean you'll soon become an Eighth-grade Alchemist, Master?" Xiao Yi Xian asked happily.

Xiao Yi Xian's untainted smile made Gu He feel at ease.

"It's not that simple. I only used an incomplete chant just now to sense Spiritual Energy. My soul must absorb enough Spiritual Energy before it can advance into the Spiritual Realm. Still, the road ahead has opened, so refining pills will become much easier from now on."

"Then Master is still amazing!"

"Haha, you little flatterer. Once you reach Dou Zong, I'll teach you this chant. Otherwise, with your current Soul Power, forget absorbing Spiritual Energy—you can't even sense it."

"Master is underestimating me. Xiao Yi Xian is so smart; I'll definitely be able to sense it." Xiao Yi Xian wrinkled her delicate nose in displeasure.

Gu He flicked Xiao Yi Xian's forehead with a finger. Looking at her covering her forehead with both hands and glaring at him, he laughed. "Without the Soul Power of a Sixth-grade Alchemist, you cannot even begin to grasp this chant. Letting you come into contact with it too early would do more harm than good, so there's no room for discussion."

Seeing the dispirited Xiao Yi Xian after his blow to her confidence, Gu He reached out and patted her head. "All right, all right. You only recently became a Dou Zhe. With so many heavenly treasures, improving your strength will keep you plenty busy. On top of that, you still need to cultivate Dou Techniques. Remember, biting off more than you can chew gets you nowhere. Once your strength is stable and you have successfully cultivated the Water Mandala, Master will teach you something new."

Xiao Yi Xian narrowed her eyes and rubbed against Gu He's large hand like a kitten, though her words remained unforgiving. "Hmph, Master, I'll remember that!"

The carriage proceeded through the guild, swiftly passing several vast areas. Along the way, quite a few alchemists who saw the carriage bowed and stepped aside. The carriage stopped in front of a large building. Someone had long since reported Gu He's arrival, and Fama was already waiting before the building. Once the coachman brought the carriage to a stop, he climbed down, bowed, and called out, "Pill King, we have arrived at the Alchemist Guild headquarters building. The president is waiting to welcome you at the entrance."

Gu He adjusted his clothes slightly and stepped down from the carriage with Xiao Yi Xian. Seeing Fama in the distance, Gu He knew that Fama was most likely doing this because he had promised to let him observe his pill refining. Still, seeing the white-haired Fama waiting for him at the entrance moved him nonetheless.

He hurried forward a few steps and said, "Elder Fa, why be so courteous? You're embarrassing me."

Fama smiled kindly. "Pill King, it has been a long time since you last visited the Alchemist Guild. As the host, it is only natural for me to come welcome a guest."

Seeing that Gu He was about to exchange more pleasantries, Fama said directly, "Let's not stand here being polite to each other and make a spectacle of ourselves. We should go in first."

"I'll follow the host's arrangements. Elder Fa, please."

"Let's go together. Please."

Gu He did not insist and entered the building with Fama.

After the two went upstairs, the alchemists in the hall immediately began whispering among themselves.

"That little girl is Pill King's disciple, right?"

"What a lucky fellow."

"I heard she has no talent for alchemy at all. What's the point of taking her as a disciple?"

"Who cares? We can't fathom the thoughts of people like that. Don't go looking for trouble."

Gu He and Fama walked in front, with Xiao Yi Xian following behind them all the way to the highest floor of the guild. They stopped outside a room. Fama pushed the door open and entered, with Gu He following him inside. The room was extremely spacious, though it had an antique air to it. Several rows of bookshelves stood against the walls, but there were no books left on them. A table made of nanmu wood stood alone in the center of the room, and a Ring rested atop it.