Rank 6 Alchemist (Seeking recommendations, seeking follows)

The sun slanted westward, and the sky dimmed!

Xu Haoyu had spent most of the day advancing to the Dou Zhe realm, then another half day cultivating his technique. Just like that, the entire day had slipped by.

At dinner, Xu Haoyu wolfed down his food. Once he had filled his stomach, he set down his bowl and chopsticks, then looked at Xu Tianlong and said:

"Grandfather, I want to learn alchemy!"

Hearing this, Xu Tianlong set down his own bowl and chopsticks. He raised his head and glanced at Xu Haoyu, but did not refuse. Instead, he nodded.

"Alright. Tomorrow, I'll take you to see Mister Li. For my sake, he'll teach you some alchemy."

"However, Haoyu, while alchemists are incomparably revered, with your talent, you could become an expert beyond even me. Dividing too much of your attention toward alchemy would be more loss than gain."

"This is ultimately a world where the strong are respected. As long as your fist is hard enough, alchemists will serve you."

Warmth filled Xu Haoyu's heart. His grandfather truly was the best. Even though he believed Xu Haoyu should devote more attention to cultivation, he did not directly refuse his desire to study alchemy.

However, Xu Haoyu had his own considerations. Li Fufeng, the Xu Family's chief alchemist—whom Xu Tianlong called Mister Li—was only a Rank 6 Alchemist.

Yet in the future, with the Guiyi True Art, Xu Haoyu had the hope of breaking through to Dou Zun, perhaps even Dou Saint. By then, the pills he needed would be at least eighth-rank, perhaps even Rank 9 Pills.

Rather than rely on others, he might as well learn it himself. Besides, turning the embryonic Emperor Pill within Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion into a true Emperor Pill would also require superb alchemy.

Since he had already transmigrated here, why couldn't he contend for those two opportunities to break through to Dou Emperor?

Xu Haoyu's lips curled upward as he said confidently:

"Grandfather, I won't delay my cultivation. Besides, I might be an alchemy genius. In the future, I may surpass Mister Li and become an alchemist above the seventh rank."

Xu Tianlong smiled and shook his head. Alchemy was no easy matter. Many people could not even enter its gates in their entire lives. The Xu Family had paid an enormous price to support Li Fufeng.

Of course, the returns had been considerable as well. Not only did the Xu Family have a Rank 6 Alchemist like Li Fufeng, but Li Fufeng's disciples and descendants also held down the fort across three provinces for the Xu Family, providing vast quantities of pills for sale every year and earning them countless riches.

Xu Tianlong narrowed his eyes and said:

"Wait until you've entered the field before making such boasts. If you can't even get started, then focus your mind on cultivation."

After dinner, Xu Haoyu strolled around the clan with Xu Tianlong. Everywhere they went, greetings rang out without end—things like, "Greetings, Grand Elder," and "Greetings, Young Master Haoyu."

Their status was there for all to see. Every clansman Xu Haoyu met was gentle, friendly, and warm. He never saw a disdainful look, nor did he ever hear a mocking word.

Nothing unpleasant would ever appear around him. Moreover, he was a renowned genius within the clan, so naturally, all he received was praise.

Fortunately, as a transmigrator, Xu Haoyu was relatively mature in temperament. He had not become spoiled, overbearing, or arrogant beyond measure. At most, he was somewhat frivolous.

But then again, he had often endured indignities before transmigrating. If he still had to suffer them constantly after transmigrating, then wouldn't the whole thing have been for nothing?

Not running wild or bullying men and women was already his greatest kindness, because he truly had the ability to do such things.

Night fell. After returning to his room and washing up, Xu Haoyu sat on his bed and eagerly took out the gifts Xu Tianlong had given him: the Mystic High-Rank Skill Thousandfold Strike and the Mystic High-Rank Movement Skill Sky-Stepping Gait.

Filled with excitement, Xu Haoyu first tore open the Thousandfold Strike scroll and pressed it against his forehead, using his soul perception to study it.

A moment later, Xu Haoyu lowered the scroll. His eyes gleamed as he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, then grinned. He already understood Thousandfold Strike's Dou Qi circulation route and the technique for stacking force.

Xu Haoyu immediately analyzed it.

"I've cultivated the Heaven Splitting Palm since childhood and have long since mastered it. Within thirty meters, I can strike wherever I point. From now on, as my Dou Qi improves, its attack range will increase as well."

"This Thousandfold Strike came at exactly the right time. With two palm techniques, one for ranged attacks and one for close combat, I'll be able to handle future battles with ease."

"Thousandfold Strike's strength lies in accumulating force through stacking. To continuously stack that force, one must possess abundant Dou Qi. I cultivate seven kinds of Dou Qi, so the amount of Dou Qi I possess is seven times that of someone in the same realm. In other words, I can fully unleash the powerful might of an Earth-Rank Dou Technique with this Mysterious-Rank Dou Technique, Thousandfold Strike."

"The other key point is precise control over the charging time. In the midst of fierce combat, every second counts. If the charging time is too long, the enemy may interrupt me."

"It seems this will be the focus of my training. If I can stack my force hundreds or thousands of times in a short period, then release all that accumulated power in an instant, its impact will surely be earth-shattering."

Xu Haoyu could already imagine how terrifying Thousandfold Strike would become once he cultivated it to mastery.

Next, he repeated the process, tearing open the Sky-Stepping Gait scroll and pressing it to his forehead to study it with his soul perception.

Very quickly, he understood the cultivation method of Sky-Stepping Gait. It shared the same origin as Earth Treading Steps, but Sky-Stepping Gait required finer and more intense control over Dou Qi.

A look of sudden realization appeared on Xu Haoyu's face.

"So that's how it is. The eruption of Dou Qi is like rocket propulsion. It really does require precise control to ensure that such intense force doesn't damage the legs. The senior who created Earth Treading Steps and Sky-Stepping Gait was truly a great talent."

"At lower realms, these two movement Dou Techniques can grant someone a tremendous advantage. Once my realm rises, I can seek out movement Dou Techniques at Earth-Rank or above to replace them."

After pondering for a long while, Xu Haoyu lay down and pulled the blanket over himself, preparing to rest. He had advanced to a 1-Star Dou Zhe today, raised his cultivation technique to a 2-Star Dou Zhe, and learned so many techniques and Dou Skills. Mentally, he was somewhat exhausted, so he would not circulate his energy to cultivate tonight.

Yet after closing his eyes, he did not fall asleep right away. His mind repeatedly simulated the ways to use the two Mystic High-Rank Dou Skills.

Until he finally fell into a deep sleep...

The next day, the morning sunlight brightly illuminated the room!

Xu Haoyu rose from bed full of energy. A night of rest had restored his spirit to its peak condition.

After washing up, he went to breakfast with Xu Tianlong. Once he had filled his stomach, he looked at Xu Tianlong with an expectant expression.

Xu Tianlong shook his head with a laugh. With a sweep of his sleeves, he stood. His tall frame exuded the majesty of a mountain as he grinned.

"Let's go. My grandson is already impatient. As his grandfather, of course I have to satisfy him."

Xu Haoyu rose with him and said eagerly:

"Grandfather, once I become an alchemist above the seventh rank, I'll refine a whole pile of seventh-rank pills for you, so you can break through to Dou Zun."

Xu Tianlong laughed heartily, deeply gratified.

"Good, good. I'll wait for your pills."