Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 372 - 229: Alchemy Candidate

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you’ve arrived?" Xiao Feng and the others greeted him.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded and stepped to the side.

In alchemy, there is little distinction from the healing arts. An elder skilled enough to become a senior grade-B Alchemist would, of course, easily be capable of treating injuries.

The reason they had Lu Chang’sheng come was, on one hand, that he had just become an elder of White Cloud Pavilion. Even if the news was not made public, they still needed to show proper respect internally to avoid making Lu Chang’sheng overthink things.

On the other hand, Elder He’s injuries were somewhat tricky; one more person meant a bit more assurance.

The group then circled Elder He, examining his wounds and devising responses together.

Elder He himself understood the nature of such procedures, so he felt no embarrassment.

Instead, during their analysis, Lu Chang’sheng occasionally offered remarks which brought new insights to the others, surprising Elder He profoundly.

His injury was inflicted by Red Cloud Daoist. If it had just been a regular external wound, it would have been simple to handle.

But within the wound was a massive quantity of filth, and no one seemed to know what that murky light was. It rendered the healing elixirs provided by the elders all but useless.

"It’s said that many people wounded by Red Cloud Daoist will eventually perish, for he possesses a certain technique that causes magical power to adhere within the wounds. If that magical power cannot be fully cleared, one’s vitality will be slowly drained."

"But—"

Xiao Feng and the others frowned.

Lu Chang’sheng asked and found out that Red Cloud Daoist’s methods weren’t exactly a secret, but in most people’s understanding, the magical power left behind was still relatively pure—not so disorderly and filthy as now.

In researching injuries, naturally one must get to the root and draw inferences from similar cases.

Lu Chang’sheng’s performance left the group even more surprised. They knew his background well, and logically, he shouldn’t be so familiar with such troublesome wounds. This could only mean that Lu Chang’sheng’s attainments in the healing arts surpassed their own.

"Fellow Daoist Lu’s talent in alchemy far exceeds what we imagined," remarked Elder Guo with a sigh.

Alchemy encompasses medicine; mastery in medicine is proof of mastery in alchemy.

"Fellow Daoist Guo flatters me—Chang’sheng was merely lucky, that’s all," Lu Chang’sheng replied modestly.

The elders chuckled and did not mind further.

With Lu Chang’sheng now involved, their understanding of Elder He’s injury grew increasingly clear.

After more than an hour, they all let out a breath of relief. They finally had some ideas for treatment, but one challenge remained.

Elder He’s wounds required a pill called the Purifying Pill.

This type of pill was considered quite obscure and rarely ever appeared on the market.

Even if they rushed to several Immortal Cities, time would likely run out.

In the end, all they could do was send people to make inquiries while also collecting materials so someone could refine the pill.

"Purifying Pill is extremely rare—there’s no such formula in the sect. However, I know there’s a copy in the Treasure Pavilion at the marketplace. It’s just, as for who can refine the pill—"

Xiao Feng did not finish his sentence.

With such a niche pill, most places only keep a spare one or two in case of emergencies; no one stockpiles them, and supplies are always limited.

Refining a new pill based on an unfamiliar formula usually has a lower success rate, and the materials required are usually even harder to handle than for common pills.

’How about having Fellow Daoist Lu handle this?’ someone suggested.

Yet, after only a brief silence, Xiao Feng spoke up with just that.

Elder Li and Elder Guo nodded, showing little hesitation.

"All of you are seniors with many years in the Alchemy Dao; how could you let me take on this task?" Lu Chang’sheng replied politely.

"If even you can’t do it, the rest of us have little hope," they all urged him in return.

Seeing that the timing was right, Lu Chang’sheng finally agreed.

He was quite interested in the new formula. Although his alchemical attainments hadn’t improved dramatically these past years, he had gradually grasped some core principles. The more formulas he learned, the greater benefit to his foundation.

Besides, assisting with this type of alchemy wasn’t entirely without compensation; he could receive some rewards as well.

"Sorry to trouble Fellow Daoist Lu."

Lying on the side, Elder He spoke weakly.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded, thinking to himself: I’ll be earning a favor from a senior alchemist with this.

With the treatment plan now set, people were sent to oversee each part so as not to delay the optimal treatment window.

Once all was arranged, a hint of uncertainty appeared on Xiao Feng’s face. He said, "Regarding Elder He’s injuries this time, do you all have any opinions?"

"You feel something’s off too?" Elder Guo asked.

"That’s right—it’s hard not to overthink things. By rights, for a sect like Supreme Profound Sect, they wouldn’t send people specifically for a late-stage Qi Cultivator evil cultivator."

Sects have their pride; a late-stage Qi Cultivator is at best a grasshopper to them—at most it’d be a posted mission for their disciples to handle.

Of course, an evil cultivator as notorious as Red Cloud Daoist would usually draw intervention by Immortal City authorities.

Given the Gu Family’s strength in Platinum Immortal City, they could easily suppress Red Cloud Daoist.

"This Red Cloud Daoist may be hiding an enormous secret!"

Everyone sighed in agreement.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t dwell on it—Red Cloud Daoist’s failed Foundation Establishment might not have left him empty-handed; or perhaps he stumbled upon some sort of opportunity.

Still, now that Supreme Profound Sect had caught wind of it, ordinary cultivators really had no hope of interfering anymore.

To be honest, for just a second, Lu Chang’sheng was tempted.

But looking at Elder He’s miserable state, he snuffed that idea out instantly.

"The risks are too high, the rewards unknown. Better to wait quietly for Heaven-Burning Valley’s people to arrive."

From what he knew, Elder He and Elder Guo had been jointly guarding Baiqi Medicine Garden that day. Fortunately, the Gu Family was already searching for Red Cloud Daoist nearby. Just as the garden was under attack, the Gu Family’s Foundation Establishment ancestor appeared, sparing them disaster.

Even two experienced late-stage Qi Cultivators had been so badly handled—Lu Chang’sheng, who only had Qi seventh-layer battle power thanks to the Black Water Profound Snake puppet beast, had no business getting involved in that mess.

In the days that followed, Lu Chang’sheng continuously received materials sent from White Cloud Pavilion.

To avoid exposure of this prodigy, Xiao Feng and the others personally assisted Lu Chang’sheng, ensuring no one else found out.

If not, with so many elders around, yet Lu Chang’sheng was the one refining the Purifying Pill—combined with previous incidents, it would raise questions easily.

Half a month later, Lu Chang’sheng looked at the pills before him.

The Purifying Pill—completed.

This batch was high-grade, and Lu Chang’sheng had even produced an excellent grade specimen; regrettably, it wasn’t a Perfect Pill.

Perfect Pills always required a bit of luck. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Out of a single furnace, five pills had formed—a decent average. He sealed them in a jade bottle, then glanced aside.

The sect had sent materials sufficient for ten batches; he’d only needed six to succeed, so the remainder naturally became his.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t stop. Refining a new, high-grade formula in half a month was already stunning—especially since those days included the time spent gathering materials.

Subtract that, and his actual pill-refining time was less than twenty days total.

Continuing in the Alchemy Room, he used up the remaining materials over two more batches.

One batch went to Elder He as required; the other, he stowed away in his Treasure Vault Immortal Insect—just in case.