Dealing with Smart People

Lin Ming stood motionless on the stairs.

Noticing that there had been no movement, Elder Huo turned around and looked at the changed Lin Ming standing there. The last trace of suspicion in his heart vanished, and a smile naturally appeared on his face.

That was because Elder Huo saw an expression on Lin Ming's face that contained many different emotions. He had worn the same expression when he learned that the Academy possessed the formula for the Crystal Vein Pill and discovered the miraculous effects of that pill. Yet, despite knowing for so many years that the Academy had the Fallen Heart Flame, he had never tried to subdue it. Even though he was absolutely certain that subduing the Fallen Heart Flame would allow him to become a 6th Grade Alchemist, he had still never sought to do so. Thus, when Elder Huo saw the same expression on Lin Ming's face, he was truly relieved.

Lin Ming's current expression could only be described as rich. If it were divided into ten parts, two would be joy—the joy of hearing that the Academy truly possessed this pill formula. Seven would be astonishment—the disbelief and wonder he felt upon hearing that the Crystal Vein Pill could condense one's bodily meridians into crystals. The remaining one part was confusion: when would he be able to create such a pill himself?

Of course, that was merely Elder Huo's interpretation of Lin Ming's expression. So Much So That after interpreting all those emotions, Elder Huo completely put his mind at ease, and a smile naturally appeared on his face.

It was already rare enough for a smile to naturally appear on his face. After all, Old Hands like them, who had weathered decades of storms, would not easily reveal obvious expressions and allow others to judge their current thoughts.

When dealing with others, whoever could see through the other person's heart could control the situation and occupy the dominant position. Thus, these experienced Old Hands would not easily make such a mistake. Only genuine affection, the kind that made one lose oneself in it, could lead to such a situation.

And now, Lin Ming had accomplished it. Although he had done nothing, as long as others believed he had, then he had. It was like the kind of cold where your mother thought you were cold. Even if you were not cold, if your mother thought you were, then you had to put on long johns.

"Lin Ming, let's go!" Elder Huo called out.

When Lin Ming heard Elder Huo address him that way, he felt that something was different. It felt warmer, like when Grandpa Liu called his name. Although Elder Huo had also called him Lin Ming before, there had always been a faint barrier between them. The difference was like an old man calling the name of an adopted grandson versus calling the name of his biological grandson.

But his attitude changed just because Lin Ming had spaced out for a moment? He had not done anything! Thinking that, Lin Ming could only assume that he had sensed it wrong. Then he stepped forward and followed.

After following Elder Huo to the place, Lin Ming found a seat after Elder Huo told him to make himself at home. After a while, Lin Ming stood and asked Elder Huo.

"Elder Huo, this student currently wishes to refine a Third-Grade Pill. May I ask what advice you have in this regard?"

With a Tier 5 Alchemist right beside him, if he did not hurry to ask about Pill Refining, then what was he waiting for? It could be said that, relying on the alchemy knowledge accumulated, summarized, and passed down through generations of Jia Nan Academy predecessors, Elder Huo was unmatched when teaching alchemists below his level. Even a 6th Grade Alchemist like Pill King Gu He could not compare to Elder Huo in that regard. Perhaps only a 6th Grade Alchemist like Han Feng, who had been raised and trained by Old Yao since childhood, could claim to surpass Elder Huo with certainty.

The reason Elder Huo had remained a Tier 5 Alchemist for so many years without breaking through to 6th Grade was that his innate Soul Power was weak, preventing him from advancing. That was a hardware limitation he could not change, not a software problem caused by insufficient knowledge. The knowledge Elder Huo had accumulated was already enough to rival that of a Seventh Grade Alchemist.

So, with such a Tier 5 Alchemist rich in theoretical knowledge before him, would it not be foolish not to ask about the finer details of alchemy?

Elder Huo answered every question Lin Ming asked one by one. Lin Ming benefited greatly and gained a much clearer understanding of many details in pill refinement.

Elder Huo's explanations this time were immensely helpful to Lin Ming. Lin Ming had previously studied alchemy under Master Toso, but Master Toso was only a 4th Grade Alchemist. Furthermore, the Mite'er Family had existed for far less time than Jia Nan Academy, and its members had never produced a Tier 5 Alchemist or above. Therefore, there were many limitations that even Master Toso did not understand. Although Master Toso had taught Lin Ming everything he knew about alchemy, he naturally could not teach Lin Ming things he had not figured out himself.

Through Elder Huo's answers to his doubts, Lin Ming knew that he had received enormous help. Once he applied this knowledge to his own Pill Refining, he believed that refining pills would become easier, take less time, and likely produce higher-quality results.

That was already extremely good. Although Lin Ming could now produce Pill Patterns even when refining Second-Grade Pills, Pill Patterns were like exam scores. On a test worth one hundred points, scoring above ninety earned an A. That A was equivalent to a Pill Pattern, while Lin Ming's current pill refinement was roughly equivalent to scoring ninety-two or ninety-three points. After Elder Huo's explanation, Lin Ming felt that he could score ninety-six or ninety-seven points—and in less time.

On a test with a perfect score of one hundred, once someone scored above ninety, the effort required to improve by one point was greater than the effort needed to improve by ten points from a lower score. Yet Lin Ming was improving by three or four points! One could imagine just how great his gains were.

After Elder Huo finished answering Lin Ming's questions, Steward Yang arrived at Elder Huo's place with the Technique of Pill Fire.

Lin Ming greeted him first. "Brother Yang."

Hearing Lin Ming's form of address, Steward Yang smiled and nodded at him. Then, holding a scroll in both hands, he respectfully said to Elder Huo, "Elder Huo, this student has brought the Technique of Pill Fire."

"Give it directly to Lin Ming," Elder Huo said.

Lin Ming accepted the scroll containing the Technique of Pill Fire and said to Steward Yang, "Brother Yang, what is the price of this Technique of Pill Fire in our Alchemy Department? Lin Ming can prepare items of equivalent value as payment."

Before Steward Yang could answer, Elder Huo spoke first. "What payment? This is this Old Man's meeting gift to you, Kid."

Hearing Elder Huo say that, Lin Ming no longer declined. As the saying went, "One dare not refuse what an elder gives." If an elder offered a token of goodwill and you declined, you might instead spoil the relationship between both sides. If you felt that it was truly too valuable or too meaningful, you could later Make Up For it with a gift of similar value in the name of filial respect from a junior. That way, everyone would be happy, and the relationship would grow closer.

Thus, Lin Ming directly replied to Elder Huo, "Since it is a meeting gift from you, this student will not decline it. After I study this Technique of Pill Fire, I would like to invite you, Elder Huo, to watch and guide this student in refining a Third-Grade Pill. Of course, Brother Yang, I also hope you can come and guide Lin Ming then."

"Haha! Good. This Old Man will wait for you to return to the Alchemy Department." Elder Huo laughed heartily. Steward Yang also nodded in satisfaction and said, "I will certainly come then to witness Lin Ming become a Third-Grade Alchemist."

Lin Ming's actions just now fully demonstrated the saying, "One dare not refuse what an elder gives," but he had also sent out a great gift afterward.

Someone might ask, "One dare not refuse what an elder gives"—that much was obvious, since Lin Ming gladly accepted the Technique of Pill Fire. But how had he sent out a great gift afterward? He had not given anything. He had merely said a few words.

Lin Ming only wanted to say that those words were the great gift he had given. No matter which world one was in, the truly precious things were often not physical objects, the things money could buy. Of course, if someone insisted on arguing that they had so much money they could give things away freely, then pretend Lin Ming never said that. Instead, precious things were those invisible yet tangible things one could truly feel—such as achievement, affection, glory, and pride...

What Lin Ming had just said gave Elder Huo plenty of glory and face. Why? Because Lin Ming had said, "After I study this Technique of Pill Fire, I would like to invite you, Elder Huo, to watch and guide this student in refining a Third-Grade Pill."

The implied meaning was that Lin Ming currently did not have the ability to refine a Third-Grade Pill. Elder Huo, with his discerning eye, had understood why Lin Ming could not yet refine one and had given him the Technique of Pill Fire, helping Lin Ming discover his own weakness. Once Lin Ming learned this Technique of Pill Fire, he would be able to refine a Third-Grade Pill.

Did that not mean Elder Huo was the talent scout for Lin Ming, this fine steed?

For Elder Huo, who had reached his current position, this was the best gift. Once Lin Ming refined a Third-Grade Pill, everyone would know that the Academy's youngest Third-Grade Alchemist had been discovered by Elder Huo. Likewise, Lin Ming would have become the Academy's youngest Third-Grade Alchemist with Elder Huo's help.

That would grant Elder Huo immense achievement and glory. He would also be able to show off fiercely before his old friends. Anyone who had shown off before friends knew just how satisfying it was. Especially when others hated it so much their teeth itched, yet they could do nothing about it, all while regretting that they had not discovered such a promising talent first. That feeling truly could not be described. It could only be called absolutely wonderful.

As for Lin Ming inviting Steward Yang to witness him refine a Third-Grade Pill, the principle was the same. Although he was not making Steward Yang the talent scout, it was like being the Follower beside the talent scout, able to witness the talent scout discover a fine steed and then watch that steed race onward.

It was like discovering a promising new star and recommending him to a director. Then, that unknown newcomer gradually became a legendary superstar. As a witness, you too would feel a great sense of accomplishment.

After Lin Ming finished speaking, it was clear from Elder Huo and Steward Yang's expressions that they understood his meaning. Thus, both sides were extremely satisfied.

Lin Ming could also tell from their reactions that Elder Huo and Steward Yang understood what he meant, so he was very satisfied as well. After all, Lin Ming knew that he was a fine steed, yet he had given them the chance to be his talent scouts.

It could be said that Lin Ming, this fine steed, was now choosing people. Whoever he chose would become his talent scout, and that glory would belong to them.

That was how one dealt with experienced, intelligent people. Lin Ming's trip to the Alchemy Department also ended with both sides delighted.