Li Mengze’s successful refinement of the Nine-Pattern Pill not only earned him the top spot in the prefectural trial but also led Elder Zhao to immediately appoint him as the chief alchemist disciple of the royal family’s pill division.
News spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Songling Prefecture within a single day.
For a time, the name “Li Mengze” became the hottest topic in every street and alley, every teahouse and tavern throughout the prefecture.
From commoners to immortals alike, everyone spoke of him with awe, weaving tales that made him seem like the prophesied Literary Star of the future of alchemy.
Inside Su Qingxue’s small alchemy courtyard.
The master and disciple sat facing each other, a pot of clear tea placed on the stone table, its fragrance wafting through the air.
“Teacher, this cup is to your honor.”
Li Mengze stood up and respectfully poured tea for Su Qingxue.
“You child...” Su Qingxue looked at the increasingly steady and handsome disciple before her, her heart flooded with mixed emotions.
Joy, of course, was foremost.Her own disciple soaring to fame, renowned throughout the capital, was the greatest pride she could feel as a teacher.
Yet along with that came a deep reluctance to part.
It was like a bird she had carefully nurtured for a long time, now fully feathered and ready to fly into a broader, more dangerous sky.
“Going to the capital is not the same as staying in the prefecture.”
Su Qingxue set down her teacup and gently advised, “The capital is the emperor’s doorstep, full of powerful nobles and rain of geniuses. Though you have talent, your nature is calm and reserved, not one to scheme. You must be vigilant in all matters—trust no one easily, and especially avoid offending that county lord of Qingyang County. Her mother is the emperor’s own younger sister, a person of high status. You...”
“I understand completely,” Li Mengze nodded, warmth rising in his heart. His teacher truly cared about him.
At that moment, several hurried footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.
Elder Zhao rushed in like a gust of wind, his usually stern face brimming with a rare smile.
Behind him followed a few eunuchs carrying exquisite brocade boxes and jade caskets—obviously here to deliver rewards.
“Elder Zhao.” Su Qingxue immediately stood and bowed.
“No need for formalities!”
Elder Zhao waved his hand and looked at Li Mengze. “Your foundation is solid, your spirit and energy are complete—you were born to be an alchemist! Mengze, I am decades older than you and have never taken a disciple. Will you accept becoming my final disciple, Zhao Wuji’s last student?”
This sudden offer stunned Su Qingxue.
Elder Zhao held a lofty position in the royal pill division and was known for his high standards; many sons of noble families had been rejected by him. Now, he was actively seeking a disciple?
Li Mengze was also shocked but, indebted to Teacher Su for enlightenment and guidance, was about to politely refuse.
“Your kindness overwhelms me, but...”
“Mengze, no!”
Before he could finish, Su Qingxue interrupted sternly.
She looked at her disciple and gently said, “Elder Zhao is a revered senior in alchemy, a leading figure throughout the Great Yu Dynasty. His willingness to humble himself to accept you is a blessing earned over generations and a rare opportunity for your future path. You must not lose this chance because of my limited role as your initial teacher.”
Then she turned to Dan Daiyi and respectfully bowed with a sincere smile: “Dan Daiyi, it is also an honor for Qingxue that Mengze has earned your favor. Though you have been his initial guide, I know my knowledge is shallow. I am but a rough jade—if he stays with me, it will only hold him back. If you accept him as your disciple, please carefully refine him. If he becomes great, Qingxue will share in that honor and be forever grateful.”
Elder Zhao was momentarily speechless, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily, eyes full of approval as he looked at Su Qingxue. “Ha! Well said! Master Dan’s broad mind and farsighted vision truly impress me!”
Li Mengze looked at his teacher, deeply moved beyond words.
He took a deep breath, no longer hesitating, and knelt properly before Elder Zhao, performing the formal disciple acceptance ceremony.
“Disciple Li Mengze pays respects to Master!”
“Well done, good disciple! Rise quickly!”
Elder Zhao hastily helped him up, officially establishing their master-disciple relationship, leaving behind several boxes of rewards. After a few more words of advice, he hurried back to the capital—clearly to pave the way for Li Mengze.
.............
After spending several more days at the academy to handle handover matters, Li Mengze set out for home before departing for the capital.
When the carriage entered Yunshui County, it was nearly deserted; the streets emptied as tens of thousands eagerly awaited.
The commoners all wore joyous expressions, eager to witness in person the “Immortal of Alchemy” favored by the royal family. They held their heads high, feeling proud and honored.
Even the county magistrate of Yunshui, who had reportedly secluded himself for years and ignored worldly affairs, arranged a banquet to personally welcome him!
Usually aloof and arrogant, looking down on others with disdain, the magistrate’s eyes now shone with unprecedented warmth as he looked at Li Mengze.
“This must be the worthy nephew. Indeed a rare talent, truly extraordinary!” The magistrate stroked his beard and greeted him with a broad smile.
He secretly thought, ‘It’s fate and timing! Li Pingcan is just an ordinary man, yet he has produced such a prodigy! This Li family will surely rise to become one of the leading immortal families in Yunshui County—no, the entire Songling Prefecture!’
With this thought, he resolved to build a strong relationship with this promising rising star.
“Nephew, after your long journey, I have prepared some humble wine at the prefectural office to welcome you back...”
Li Mengze politely declined the excessive hospitality, inwardly amused.
Is this what his second uncle meant by “When one achieves success, his entire household rises with him”?
After declining the banquet, the caravan returned to Peach Blossom Village.
The Li Family Mansion was already decorated with red banners and festive colors.
Grandfather Li Rongzhou smiled warmly, Lady Qin fussed over him, and his mother’s eyes were moist as she kept repeating, “You’ve lost weight, you’ve lost weight.”
Younger brother Li Mengjin still wore that cool, confident look, openly showing closeness with respect and a competitive spirit in his gaze.
What surprised Li Mengze most was meeting his younger sister Li Mengyue for the first time.
The little girl was exquisitely delicate, like a porcelain doll, with big, glossy black eyes full of curiosity.
Li Mengze thought the little girl might be shy on first meeting, but unexpectedly, Li Mengyue showed no hesitation. Instead, she exclaimed “Ah!” and ran over on her short legs to hug his thigh.
“Brother!”
She lifted her little face, her voice soft and sweet, her face radiant with a bright smile.
“The scent on you is so nice and comfortable!”
She was referring to the natural, harmonious herbal aura emanating from Li Mengze.
Moved, Li Mengze crouched down and gently stroked her head. A pure, gentle moonlight healing energy radiated from his sister, filling him with calm and delight.
“Such pure healing power...” Li Mengze was secretly amazed. “This little girl is truly gifted!”
The siblings quickly bonded. Li Mengyue clung to her brother like a little tail, asking questions all day and begging to sleep beside him at night, leaving Li Mengze both laughing and crying.
Late at night, in Li Pingcan’s study.
Li Mengze told his father every detail about his upcoming journey to the capital.
“The capital...”
Li Pingcan’s eyes flickered with complicated emotion.
It was the heart of the Great Yu Dynasty, a whirlpool of power, a place where opportunity and danger coexisted.
“It’s good you go,” he nodded. “A greenhouse can’t grow towering trees. It’s time for you to go out and make your mark.”
He stood and walked over to his son, his tone full of fatherly care and advice: “The capital is full of all kinds of people, with shifting loyalties. Remember, never wish harm on others, but always be wary. Use the spirit stones I gave you without hesitation—whether to build connections or acquire resources. Life is the most important.”
“Also, that county lord Wei Linger—avoid provoking her if you can. But if she pushes too far, don’t be afraid. Fear won’t help. With Master Zhao protecting you, she can’t stir up trouble.”
“Be vigilant about the spirit materials you were told to investigate—the Blood Maple Forest. This is critical; keep it secret.”
Li Mengze nodded heavily. “I’ve noted everything, father.”
“Bring out your pill furnace,” Li Pingcan said.
Following his father’s instructions, Li Mengze took out the bronze pill furnace.
Li Pingcan took it, flicked his fingers, and several materials shimmering with different hues appeared out of thin air—crystal-clear jade stones, ink-black metals—all radiating extraordinary spiritual energy.
Mysterious runes flew from his fingertips, merging into the materials. The materials melted rapidly, transforming into streams of light that inscribed a complex and exquisite formation pattern on the surface of the bronze pill furnace.
“Hum!”
A soft hum sounded as the furnace’s surface shimmered, emitting a denser, more profound aura.
“I have imbued a formation onto your furnace,” Li Pingcan said lightly, handing the upgraded furnace to his son. “This will help you better gather fire spirit energy during pill refinement and prevent accidental explosions. It’s a little gadget—use it for now.”
Li Mengze took the furnace, feeling the profound formation’s energy ripple through it, his heart awash with shock and awe.
This was no small gadget!
Such effortless formation crafting and equipment forging—probably even the royal formation masters couldn’t match this!
How many secrets was his father still hiding?
............
“Bang!”
A precious colored glaze cup was smashed violently on the floor, shattering into pieces.
Wei Linger’s pretty face was full of fury, her chest heaving violently, her eyes blazing with dark anger.
“Li Mengze!”
She spat the name through clenched teeth as if trying to devour it alive. “Who does a country bumpkin like you think you are? How dare you trample on this county lord’s authority!”
Her innate pride was completely crushed by Li Mengze.
What infuriated her most was his calm, unfazed demeanor, as if he held all the power in his hands.
It wasn’t fear, nor flattery, but a deep, bone-deep calm—a complete disregard for her as the county lord!
This disregard cut deeper than any direct confrontation, fueling her rage and humiliation.
A fiercely obsessive thought sprouted wildly in her mind.
Since she couldn’t win against him in alchemy, she would make sure he was trapped and helpless in the capital!
She coldly ordered, “Spread my words! All monthly resource allocations from the pill division assigned to Li Mengze are to be cut off—every spirit stone, every herb, none shall reach him!”
“Also, spread rumors outside! Say that Li Mengze is of low birth and bad character, that he used some dark, forbidden sorcery during the trial to luck into his pill, a fraud deceiving the world!”
..........
Life at the royal pill division in the capital was indeed harsh for Li Mengze.
Though Wei Linger’s methods were underhanded and unbecoming, with Elder Zhao there, his monthly resources were secure.
Still, the rumors caused many colleagues who were initially curious or friendly to keep their distance and watch cautiously.
Li Mengze didn’t mind.
The innocent remain innocent—arguing too much only muddles the truth.
True wise people would not believe such baseless rumors, or they would be calling Elder Zhao blind.
The best approach was to quietly wait for the storm to pass or to create a bigger event to dispel such baseless talk.
He chose the former.
Each day, Li Mengze quietly stayed in his alchemy room, reading or meditating, as if the outside world had nothing to do with him.
To others, his “lying flat” attitude seemed weakness, which only made Wei Linger more agitated.
When one plan failed, she devised another.
One day, the pill division issued a task.
Wei Linger covertly maneuvered to assign a highly dangerous, dreaded task—one all other alchemists avoided—to Li Mengze.
The mission was to refine an antidote pill for an aging royal prince.
This old prince had once won great military honors for the dynasty but had been poisoned by a mysterious toxin called “Seven Absolute Corrupting Divine Miasma” during an exploration of an ancient cultivator’s cave.
The toxin was bizarre and insidious—not purely poison nor curse—it relentlessly corroded the cultivator’s spirit and vitality. Renowned doctors and alchemists had all been helpless.
Now the old prince was at death’s door, and the pill division, desperate, issued this mission.
This was an impossible task.
“He’s doomed—who else but the county lord of Qingyang County to offend?”
“That ‘Seven Absolute Corrupting Divine Miasma’ even the pill division elders can’t cure. What can a greenhorn like him do?”
Wei Linger gleefully awaited Li Mengze’s inevitable failure.
Li Mengze frowned slightly as he studied the jade slip recording the old prince’s symptoms and toxin.
He had indeed seen similar records in the Hundred Herbs Spiritual Realm.
This poison was tyrannical, and conventional antidotes were useless.
To cure it, one had to take an unconventional approach.
He locked himself in the alchemy chamber for three days without emerging.
Through the pill division’s channels, he purchased a vast amount of spirit materials that seemed unrelated to antidotes.
On the fourth day, just as everyone thought he had given up, the pill division’s door opened.
Li Mengze held a jade bottle and approached Elder Zhao.
Inside was a pill shimmering with seven-colored glow, radiating a strong life energy.
Once the pill appeared, the room filled with a unique fragrance that instantly invigorated the spirit.
He said calmly, “This pill is called the Seven Treasures Soul-Firming Pill. It uses poison to fight poison, then fortifies the foundation with seven kinds of spirit materials rich in life force. It may be worth trying.”