I Can Become an Alchemist Too?

Hua She'er brought Su Tian straight to a dilapidated courtyard at the westernmost edge of Temple City without stopping.

"Creeeak..."

The door opened, and a cloud of dust carrying the stench of decay immediately drifted through the air.

Glancing at Su Tian, who still seemed unconscious, Hua She'er sneered and casually hurled him onto the cold, hard floor.

Thud!

At the dull impact, a sharp pain shot through Su Tian's entire body. He hurriedly opened his eyes and clambered up from the floor, grimacing.

"Fuck! Are you trying to kill me? Couldn't you be a little gentler?"

"I thought you could keep pretending forever."

Hua She'er scoffed at Su Tian's complaint. An icy gleam flickered in her beautiful eyes as she leaned against the doorframe and sneered.

She had known Su Tian had regained consciousness as early as when they left Queen Medusa's palace.

Su Tian had merely been pretending to be unconscious the entire way here.

Naturally, Hua She'er knew that perfectly well. If not for Queen Medusa's orders, she would have seized the opportunity to kill Su Tian on the spot.

Only then could she vent the hatred in her heart.

This woman isn't just ruthless; she's crafty as hell, too. Looks like I'll have to shelve my escape plans for now.

Su Tian shot Hua She'er an irritated look and sighed helplessly to himself.

Then Su Tian turned his attention to his surroundings.

"This place..."

Surveying the room, Su Tian realized Hua She'er had brought him to an utterly dilapidated house.

Looking up, he could even see the clear sky outside through the holes in the roof.

The room contained nothing but a filthy stone bed and a dust-covered wooden table, both giving off an air of decay.

"Is this even fit for someone to live in?"

Su Tian sighed and smiled bitterly, but he had no choice but to accept reality.

After all, as a human, being given somewhere to stay in Temple City was already a rare privilege.

Anyone else would not even receive this treatment. Losing their head at a moment's notice was commonplace.

Hua She'er naturally could not be bothered with Su Tian's feelings. Her pretty face remained cold as she said sternly,

"You'll stay here until Her Majesty gives further orders. But let me give you a word of advice: you'd better not wander around Temple City. Otherwise, if you end up dying here one day, don't blame me for not warning you."

Her tone grew sharper toward the end.

Clearly, Queen Medusa had instructed her to say this. Otherwise, given Hua She'er's temper, she would have slapped Su Tian to death long ago.

"All right, all right. If there's nothing else, hurry up and withdraw. I need to rest."

Su Tian shrugged noncommittally, then nodded and waved her away.

He did not want to spend too much time alone with Hua She'er.

Who knew when this crazy woman might suddenly fly into a rage?

Queen Medusa was not here now. If Su Tian courted death by provoking Hua She'er again, he would only be asking for trouble.

Boom!

The moment his words fell, a powerful aura surged out of Hua She'er.

Su Tian's expression instantly changed. Dou Qi Armor formed around him as he warily watched her every move.

Fortunately, the aura carried no murderous intent. Su Tian merely staggered back a few steps before quickly steadying himself.

"If you want to die, keep talking."

Hua She'er stared coldly at Su Tian, her full chest heaving as she visibly struggled to suppress her anger.

Following the principle that a wise man did not court an immediate beating, Su Tian merely curled his lip and said nothing more to test her patience.

"Sooner or later, your life will be mine."

Hua She'er snorted coldly and gave Su Tian a long look, then walked out of the room and left the dilapidated courtyard under his gaze.

"I've only just arrived on the Dou Qi Continent, and already two women can't stop thinking about me."

Su Tian rubbed his nose in amusement, poking fun at himself.

"Maybe before long, Her Majesty will join them."

Recalling the rumors about Queen Medusa, Su Tian was well aware of her ruthlessness.

Once she decided he was no longer useful, she would probably take his life immediately.

"Escaping from here is harder than climbing to heaven."

Thinking again about his current predicament, Su Tian could only sigh helplessly. "That breakthrough was pure luck. Relying on breakthroughs to improve my strength obviously isn't a workable plan."

"Although I have the Flame Mantra now, it's only yellow tier low grade until I devour heavenly flames. It probably won't help my cultivation speed much."

Su Tian rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

Su Tian's current predicament could only be described as a dead end.

Trying to escape right under Queen Medusa's nose with the strength of a One-Star Great Dou Master would be harder than ending his own life on the spot.

Moreover, Su Tian had yet to master even a single combat technique. He could only fight on instinct, which put him at a considerable disadvantage.

"Goddamn it, I'm so jealous of Xiao Yan!"

Thinking of Xiao Yan, Su Tian let out a long sigh filled with envy.

Just then, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Su Tian.

"That's right! There's another power I can use!"

Su Tian's eyes flashed. He closed them slightly, took a deep breath, and focused his mind before abruptly opening them again.

In that instant, a powerful, invisible force burst out from Su Tian's mind.

"This is... soul power!"

Sensing the immense soul power gathering before him, Su Tian could not help murmuring to himself.

At the final moment of his breakthrough, if not for this soul power, Su Tian's newly formed Dou Crystal might have shattered and dispersed under the impact of that lingering energy.

Even Su Tian had never imagined his soul power would be so strong.

"Strange. Xiao Yan's soul power is strong because his two lifetimes overlapped, but I wasn't reincarnated. Why is mine so powerful?"

This question puzzled Su Tian.

After pondering it at length without finding an answer, Su Tian could only set the question aside for now.

After all, his most pressing concern was how to stay alive and escape Temple City.

"But then again, since my soul power is so strong, could I become an alchemist?"

Su Tian's thoughts shifted as this possibility suddenly occurred to him.

Su Tian was naturally familiar with the exalted status alchemists enjoyed on the Dou Qi Continent.

If Su Tian could become an alchemist, perhaps he could gain a little say in his own fate.

Although a First-Rank Alchemist would hold little appeal for Queen Medusa,

this was the only solution Su Tian could currently think of.

The status of alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent was exalted to an almost grotesque degree.

Yet because of their race, members of the Snake-People Tribe were destined never to become alchemists.

As long as Su Tian could prove he had the potential to become an Alchemist, perhaps he could gain another chance at survival.

If he had no value, he would create some.

If Su Tian could become an alchemist, he would have some value to Queen Medusa.

Becoming a First-Rank Alchemist would merely be Su Tian's proof.

If he reached the first tier at such a young age, who could guarantee he would not become a higher-tier alchemist in the future?

Then, as long as Su Tian seized the opportunity to pledge his loyalty and declare himself willing to serve as the Snake-People Tribe's exclusive alchemist, Queen Medusa probably would not kill him lightly.

After all, Queen Medusa understood perfectly well how important an alchemist would be to the Snake-People Tribe.

Su Tian's breathing quickened. The more he thought about this plan, the more feasible it seemed.

"Maybe this will be my crucial chance to survive!"

At this thought, Su Tian took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his excitement, his eyes flickering.

"But soul power is only one requirement for becoming an alchemist. My body also needs to possess both fire and wood attributes."

After calming himself somewhat, Su Tian continued thoughtfully.

Neither of these two requirements could be missing if he wanted to become an alchemist.

However, Su Tian did not know how to sense that trace of wood attribute within his body.

Just as Su Tian was struggling with this problem, a soft cough suddenly came from the courtyard outside, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Who's out there?"

Su Tian's eyes flashed with a cold, sharp light, and his Dou Qi Armor instantly formed.

Then Su Tian moved, bursting out of the room with his right hand clenched into a fist. Fiery-red Dou Qi surged forth, forming a fist of flame.

Boom!

As soon as Su Tian rushed outside, he saw a hunched figure standing in the courtyard with his back to him. Without hesitation, he drove his scorching right fist toward that figure's back.

"Hehe, quite a temper you have, little fellow. That's not good."

Only when Su Tian was about to reach him did the figure slowly turn around, revealing a kindly smile on his aged face.

He's not one of the Snake-People!

Su Tian narrowed his eyes. The man before him had no snake tail; he was clearly human.

Yet Su Tian could not sense even the slightest fluctuation of aura from the old man.

To Su Tian's senses, he seemed like an ordinary elderly man.

But could an old man who appeared in Temple City really be ordinary?

Su Tian certainly did not believe so.

Clearly, this old man's strength far surpassed Su Tian's own.

Thud!

Thoughts raced through Su Tian's mind. Finally, he abruptly planted his foot, withdrew his attack, and swiftly retreated.

Faced with a mysterious old man whose strength might far exceed his own, Su Tian was neither a fool nor inclined toward self-abuse. Naturally, he would not charge in blindly.

After all, getting beaten was no pleasant experience.

"My name is Su Tian, Senior. I acted rashly just now. Please forgive me."

Su Tian adopted a respectful demeanor and hurriedly cupped his hands, speaking solemnly.

In secret, however, Su Tian quietly gathered his strength and remained highly vigilant, ready to react if the old man attacked.

Hearing this, the old man merely watched Su Tian in silence, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"Senior, have you come here for something?"

Under that smile, Su Tian felt as though needles were pricking his back. Thoroughly uncomfortable, he could only laugh awkwardly and speak again.

"Wood within fire, and such substantial innate soul power as well. A fine seedling indeed."

The old man seemed not to have heard Su Tian's question. He simply looked at him and spoke to himself.

Su Tian frowned at the old man's attitude, feeling somewhat displeased. But once he registered what the old man had said, his eyes immediately lit up, and a delighted smile appeared on his face.

"Senior, are you... talking about me? I can become an alchemist?"

"Hehe, is there anyone else here?"

The old man gave Su Tian a long look before chuckling.

"Uh..."

Su Tian instinctively glanced around, then scratched his head with an embarrassed laugh.

What he had just said was practically a masterpiece of pointless words.

"With the strength of a One-Star Great Dou Master at your age, your talent is quite good."

The old man paid no mind to this. His deep gaze continued to scrutinize Su Tian, seeing through every detail of him.

"But there's one thing I'm curious about. Given how much those fellows from the Snake-People Tribe hate humans, how have you survived until now?"

"Perhaps they don't see me as a threat, and since I seem pretty honest, they're in no hurry to kill me."

Su Tian's eyes flickered at the question, but quickly returned to normal. He gave a guileless laugh and casually offered an excuse to brush it aside.

Naturally, Su Tian was not foolish enough to tell this mysterious old man who had suddenly appeared everything.

After all, in a place like this, he could not afford to let down his guard.

Who knew whether the man might develop some ulterior motive after learning the truth and suddenly try to kill Su Tian?

Anything that attracted the attention of both Queen Medusa and the Great Elder would surely arouse other people's curiosity as well.

"Hehe, you're an interesting little fellow. Perhaps it is as you say."

The old man did not dispute Su Tian's answer. He merely gave him a meaningful look, then chuckled.

Everyone has their own secrets. That's only natural. Still, people sent here are rarely simple. Perhaps this little fellow is hiding something important.

The old man did not voice this thought. Only a faint, peculiar gleam seemed to flash in his eyes.

Clearly, he had not taken Su Tian's excuse seriously.

However, the old man had no intention of pressing further. He watched Su Tian in silence for a moment, seemingly reaching a decision. A solemn expression emerged on his aged face, and he asked gravely,

"Little fellow, would you like to become an alchemist?"