My side has always been missing talent like you

This Master Is Short of Talents Like You

The atmosphere inside the cave abode had turned cold to the extreme, nearly frozen solid.

At that moment, Qin Yang could even clearly hear his own heart pounding wildly in his chest.

The pressure this alchemist exuded was simply too terrifying!

"Disciple greets Master."

"I beg Master to impart Immortal Arts to me."

Qin Yang spoke. These were also the words he had said before dying in his first life—except back then, he had been utterly clueless, truly believing that this alchemist before him intended to teach him Immortal Arts.

Even though this was already his second time starting over, doubt still gnawed at his heart, thoughts racing madly through his mind.

"Mm."

"Very good. A fine seedling."

"Don't worry. This master will surely make you feel like floating among immortals!"

With that, the gloomy-faced Xuan Chengzi rose from his meditation cushion and strolled over to Qin Yang.

The next instant, he struck without warning, clamping a hand around Qin Yang's throat with lightning speed.

The terrifying force in that grip nearly made even the prepared Qin Yang pass out. He struggled frantically.

"M-Master!"

"Hehehe, you're nothing more than a Medicinal Seed. Today, I'll make sure you're put to full use!" Xuan Chengzi sneered as he held Qin Yang aloft.

Then, taking three steps as two, he carried him straight to the blazing-red Alchemy Furnace.

With a clang.

The furnace lid was lifted, and a searing wave of heat surged out, making Qin Yang's scalp go numb!

Seeing that he was about to be thrown into the Alchemy Furnace just as he had been in his previous life, Qin Yang hurriedly cried, "M-Master, this disciple has something to say!"

"This disciple possesses a Fire Spirit Root, which is incompatible with the medicinal ingredients in this furnace."

"If Master throws this disciple in, you will surely ruin this furnace of Great Elixir!"

This was Qin Yang's only lifeline. Now, he could only give it a try!

Sure enough.

The moment the words left his mouth, Xuan Chengzi let out a startled cry. A wicked gleam shone in his reddened eyes as he scrutinized Qin Yang from head to toe.

His intuition told him that the little child in his hand was right.

"Hehehe. If this old man discovers that you have lied, you know the consequences. When the time comes, you'll jump in yourself!"

With that, Xuan Chengzi casually tossed Qin Yang aside and began inspecting the furnace closely.

Qin Yang hit the ground and rolled across it, his face utterly bloodless. He had nearly been strangled to death just now!

"Success or failure rests on this attempt."

Qin Yang coughed dryly, clinging to a shred of hope as he stared fixedly at Xuan Chengzi's hunched back.

Fortunately, he had made the right call.

After inspecting the furnace, Xuan Chengzi came over and examined Qin Yang's spirit root as well. Then he slapped his forehead in sudden realization.

"That's right, that's right."

"This old man was actually careless. I put in the wrong ingredient and nearly ruined an entire furnace of medicinal materials!"

He let out a breath of relief.

But soon, his tone turned cold again. With an eerie air about him, he lifted Qin Yang and bared his fangs!

"Boy, how did you spot the problem?" Xuan Chengzi asked.

After confirming that Qin Yang's words had been true, he found himself rather impressed.

On the path of pill refinement, talent was valued above all else. Yet Qin Yang was merely a child without the slightest cultivation, and shortly after entering the Pill Refining Room, he had spotted the problem at a glance. There had to be something unusual about him!

"This disciple's family are Barefoot Doctors. Since childhood, this disciple often accompanied his father on house calls and has some understanding of medicinal herbs."

"Just now, with life and death hanging by a thread, inspiration struck, and the words simply slipped out."

"I beg Master to spare this disciple's life!"

Qin Yang casually came up with an excuse.

Of course, he knew this excuse was laughable. No matter how skilled a Barefoot Doctor might be, the art of pill refinement on the path of cultivation was separated from ordinary medicine by heaven and earth. The two could not be linked at all.

No one who was not an idiot would believe such nonsense!

Yet this time, Qin Yang had gambled correctly again.

Xuan Chengzi did not truly care about his explanation. He had merely keenly sensed that this "talent" before him might prove greatly useful, capable of helping him refine pills and cultivate!

"Good, good, good. What a flash of inspiration."

"Since you want to live so badly, this old man will give you a chance."

"You were just able to see that your affinity conflicted with the medicinal ingredients inside the alchemy furnace. Then tell me—what kind of Medicinal Seed should be added for pill refinement?"

At those words, Qin Yang immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Damn it.

He did not know the first thing about the art of alchemy. The only reason he knew about the affinity conflict was because he had heard of it just before his death in his previous life.

Now he was being asked to name the kind of Medicinal Seed that should be put in. How was he supposed to know that?

Qin Yang clenched his teeth as thoughts raced through his mind. Since his Fire Spirit Root conflicted with the medicinal ingredients in that alchemy furnace, why not switch to a Medicinal Seed with a Water Spirit Root?

If he was right, it meant this path could work, and he could slowly plot out a way to survive.

If he was wrong, then he would just start over!

Thus, Qin Yang hurriedly said, "Reporting to Master, this disciple believes that a Medicinal Seed with a Water Spirit Root should be used for pill refinement. That way, there will be no affinity conflict!"

The moment his words fell, the entire Pill Refining Room became terrifyingly silent.

Just as Qin Yang felt that there was little hope left, he suddenly heard Xuan Chengzi burst into laughter.

"Good, good, good. You truly do have talent."

"That's right. This furnace before us is indeed only missing one final water-aspected medicinal ingredient."

"For the sake of your potential, this old man will spare your life for now and keep you by my side to study alchemy."

Xuan Chengzi said in a hearty voice.

The relief Qin Yang had just begun to feel immediately tightened into a knot again, and inwardly, he cried bitterly.

He had finally found an opportunity to stay alive, only to end up having to remain beside this Old Devil and study alchemy.

They said serving a ruler was like serving a tiger. But he was serving a devil.

One careless misstep, and he could be killed!

"Forget it. The most dangerous place is the safest place."

"Staying beside this Old Devil should also give me more chances to improve my cultivation. Besides, I can start over and inherit the cultivation of my previous life. If I keep accumulating it over time, one day I'll be able to slap this old devil to death with a single palm!"

Qin Yang pondered inwardly, but his face showed an expression of tears of overwhelming gratitude as he thanked him for sparing his life.

"Thank you, Master, for giving this disciple a chance. This disciple will serve you like a horse before the saddle and an ox after the cart, laboring without complaint!"

"Very good. I happen to be lacking someone as capable as you by my side. Since you have such devotion, this old man is very pleased."

With his hands behind his back, Xuan Chengzi spoke as he took a thumb-sized brown pill from his sleeve and handed it to Qin Yang.

"This is a Qi Condensing Pill. Only this old man's true disciples may receive such a reward."

"Swallow this Qi Condensing Pill, and it will help you initially clear the meridians within your body and open your dantian, allowing you to begin cultivation!"

A Qi Condensing Pill?

Qin Yang was no fool. No matter how wonderfully the Old Devil before him described it, he did not believe a word of it.

But with the other man staring at him so intently, he had no choice but to take the pill and swallow it in one gulp.