Primordial Force

An hour later, Wu Bai nodded slightly as he looked at the freshly made Qi Gathering Powder in his hand. It was green throughout.

"This Sixth-Rank Beast Flame has helped me a great deal. Whether I'm refining Magic Cores or extracting the essence of Medicinal Herbs, it's much easier than before. Even the medicines I make are noticeably more potent."

"And that's not all. With this Beast Flame, you'll have a considerable advantage in battle too."

"Speaking of battle, Teacher, shouldn't you teach me a Dou Technique?"

Only then did Wu Bai remember that his highest-tier Dou Technique was still the High Yellow Tier Shattering Stone Kick.

"That's exactly what I was about to say. I saw you working on alchemy day and night before, so I didn't bring it up. Besides, early on, prioritizing alchemy really does bring greater benefits."

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint smiled faintly. He could offer little help with alchemy, but he had long since planned out Wu Bai's training.

"Now you're heading to that academy. I don't know much about it, but I'm sure it's full of hot-blooded young people. The most direct way to communicate with them is through your fists."

"Pay close attention. This is a Low Earth Tier Dou Technique I used when I was young: Primordial Force."

"It may only be Low Earth Tier, but in my view, some Heaven Tier Dou Techniques can't match its usefulness."

"Master Primordial Force, and you can control ten currents of force at once. Its power depends entirely on your understanding of the technique. In my hands, it remained useful all the way to the Dou Sheng realm."

"Those ten currents can be hard and fierce or soft and yielding. You can use them to attack or to protect yourself. How you use them is entirely up to you."

"Primordial Force is called a Dou Technique, but it's really a way to teach you to quickly master your own strength and use it properly..."

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint passed his experience with Primordial Force to Wu Bai bit by bit.

With an experienced teacher guiding him, Wu Bai soon gained a clear understanding of the technique.

To him, it was a textbook—a textbook on how to use Dou Qi in every way.

How could he make his force hard and fierce?

How could he make it soft and yielding?

How could he unleash its greatest power?

How could he make it form a flawless defense?

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint's experience was the accompanying guide, helping Wu Bai grasp the technique quickly.

When should he use hard, fierce force?

When should he use soft, yielding force?

When should he attack?

When should he defend?

How could he balance offense and defense?

Without an experienced teacher to explain these things, Wu Bai feared he would have taken many wrong turns.

After completing the first stage of his teacher's instruction, Wu Bai realized that the technique's value truly could not be measured by its tier.

It was a technique for building a foundation. For someone like him, who had no combat experience, it was priceless.

Over the next few days, Wu Bai spent half his time practicing alchemy. It was the foundation of his livelihood and would be indispensable in many ways later. He could not afford to neglect it.

Practicing alchemy also improved his control over the Sixth-Rank Beast Flame, accomplishing two things at once.

He spent a quarter of his time cultivating and the rest practicing Primordial Force.

That was only a rough estimate, not a strict schedule.

If the mood struck him, he might spend more time on alchemy. If he felt close to a breakthrough, he would devote more time to cultivation. Nothing was set in stone.

Even back home, he had lived almost like a guest dependent on others. Now that he truly was living under someone else's roof, things were even less likely to go entirely his way.

Wu Bai had, after all, accepted Han Yue's invitation to attend Jia Nan Academy with her.

Every few days after that, Han Yue came to share information about Jia Nan Academy with him.

Wu Bai could hardly refuse. He did not want to arrive knowing nothing, either.

There was another reason he did not mind her visits: Han Yue was a genuinely beautiful girl.

Her long silver hair, in particular, kept stirring up his weakness for white hair. Even knowing it was a ploy to win him over, he could not bring himself to dislike it.

More than two months passed as Wu Bai lived this busy, fulfilling life.

One day, Zhu Qian called Wu Bai to the classroom, saying he wanted to test his abilities.

Crimson flames roared beneath the Medicine Cauldron. Wu Bai steadily extracted the essence of the Ink Leaf Lotus and the other Medicinal Herbs, drawing envious looks from the students gathered around him.

As time passed, a faint medicinal fragrance spread through the air.

Everyone knew the Qi Gathering Powder had already been made successfully. Even an alchemy apprentice could complete the remaining step of nurturing it.

Han Yue, who had come along with her clan members to watch, noticed that Zhu Qian's expression kept shifting. He looked troubled.

"Sir, I'm finished."

Wu Bai brought the freshly made Qi Gathering Powder to Zhu Qian and bowed with meticulous respect.

The classroom fell silent. Even the sound of breathing became distinct.

Everyone awaited this Fifth-Rank Alchemist's assessment of the talented young Alchemist.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Qian spoke sternly:

"I can only describe your alchemy as crude. Any Second-Rank Alchemist with a teacher would have better technique than you."

"But..."

Zhu Qian's tone softened slightly, though his eyes remained conflicted.

"Your Soul Power is exceptional. You've nearly caught up with me."

"Regardless, you successfully made Qi Gathering Powder. That makes you a Third-Rank Alchemist."

"Yes. Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Wu Bai understood what Zhu Qian meant. His alchemy skills were mediocre. He had reached this point by brute force...

With Soul Power approaching that of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, a little roughness in his technique hardly mattered when making a third-rank medicine.

But no one else could learn that approach. Only his powerful Soul Power could sustain those amateurish methods of his.

"If you're not in a hurry, I'll help you correct some bad habits over the next few months."

Seeing Wu Bai's sincerity, Zhu Qian's expression warmed. He decided to make an exception and personally guide this extraordinarily gifted young man.

"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, sir."

"Mm. Don't be late."

Zhu Qian nodded slightly, left those words behind, and walked out of the classroom.

A few seconds later, cheers erupted.

The Han Family members felt as though they had witnessed the birth of a great Alchemist—and a Fifth-Rank Alchemist had acknowledged him himself.

Fourteen years old. A Third-Rank Alchemist!

By that evening, almost everyone in the Han Family had heard the news.

Early the next morning, it spread throughout Tianbei City!

While Wu Bai was receiving Zhu Qian's guidance and correcting his mistakes, the Wu Family heard the news too.