Lin Yun was surprised as he scanned the array of ingredients in front of him.
The quality was exceptional. The Hundred-Year Azure Spirit Grass his clan cultivated had a good, solid green aura. The ones here, labeled with the same name, shone with a vibrant, almost crystalline emerald light, their energy far more concentrated.
The Firebloom Petals weren't just red; they pulsed with a pure, fiery essence that was incredibly stable.
These were indeed superior to the standard ingredients in his clan's medicinal garden. The Association's sourcing and storage methods were clearly on another level.
He glanced at the prices on the small tags below each drawer. They were high, but not exorbitant, especially for this quality. This was where his pocket money from his father would be well-spent.
He decided to invest. He needed to practice, and practicing with superior ingredients would not only yield better pills but also deepen his understanding of the refinement process itself.
He located the ingredients for the Qi Gathering Pill and the Body Tempering Pill. With the help of an attendant, he purchased the best available quality of each component: the pristine Azure Spirit Grass, the potent Firebloom Petals, the dense Spirit Ginseng, and the resilient Ironbone Fungi. It cost him a significant portion of the spirit stones in his pouch, but he didn't hesitate.
The ingredients were carefully packaged in spirit-conserving jade boxes and handed to him. Holding the boxes, he felt a sense of purpose. This was an investment in his future.
"Let's go, Tao'er," he said, turning away from the wall of herbs.
Yu Tao'er, who had been quietly observing everything, simply nodded. "Yes, Young Master."
They exited the serene, herb-scented hall and stepped back out into the noisy, sunlit street. The contrast was stark. Lin Yun boarded the carriage, placing the jade boxes carefully beside him.
As the carriage began moving again, heading towards the academy, Lin Yun's mind was no longer on the assessment or the politics of the city. It was on the ingredients in the boxes beside him and the cauldron waiting for him in his dormitory.
He had a goal now, beyond just increasing his cultivation level. He would obtain that Tier 9 certification. It would be his first step toward building his own strength, independent of, yet still supportive of, his clan.
The path of an alchemist was now open to him, and he was determined to walk it as far as he could…
***
The carriage ride back to the academy felt different. The usual tense anticipation Lin Yun felt upon returning was gone, replaced by a quiet, focused calm.
As he stepped out, with Yu Tao'er following closely behind, he immediately sensed a shift in the atmosphere.
Students milled about the Lakeheart as usual, but as he passed, the whispered conversations didn't carry the same mocking undertone. The glances thrown his way were no longer filled with contempt or pity, but with curiosity, wariness, and even a flicker of respect.
Yu Tao'er, walking beside him, puffed out her chest with evident pride.
She leaned in slightly, her voice a happy whisper. "Young Master, look! They're all looking at you differently! The story must have spread already. How you defeated that Ji Meili, even though she was three whole levels higher than you! I bet none of them dare to look down on you anymore."
Lin Yun followed her gaze. He saw a group of students from the Wang Clan quickly avert their eyes when he looked their way. A few others from neutral backgrounds offered hesitant, almost respectful nods.
He understood. In a place like the academy, where strength was the ultimate currency, his victory had rewritten his social standing overnight. The title of "waste" had been publicly and violently stripped away.
He gave a noncommittal hum in response to Tao'er. "It doesn't matter what they think."
His mind was already elsewhere. The political victories, the shifted perceptions—they were external. His true focus had to remain internal. His cultivation was still weak, and his alchemy skill was his most promising path to rapid advancement.
The public recognition was a side effect, not the goal. It might deter some petty bullying, but it wouldn't stop a real enemy. Only genuine strength could do that.
He didn't linger in the common areas. With purposeful strides, he made his way directly back to his personal courtyard. The familiar, slightly neglected garden and the quiet main building were a welcome refuge.
"Tao'er, I am not to be disturbed unless it's absolutely urgent," he instructed as he reached the door to his training room. "I will be in seclusion, refining pills."
Yu Tao'er bowed immediately, her expression turning serious. "Understood, Young Master. I will guard the door."
Lin Yun entered the training room and closed the heavy door behind him, the latch clicking shut with a sound of finality. The room was spartan, containing only a meditation cushion and his Beginner's Iron Cauldron.
The jade boxes containing his newly purchased, high-quality ingredients were placed carefully on the floor.
He took a deep breath, centering himself. The events of the birthday banquet—the fight, the political revelations, the family meeting—all faded into the background. There was only the cauldron, the ingredients, and the goal.
His next mission was clear: improve his alchemy skill. He needed to grind his proficiency, to turn the theoretical knowledge from the system into instinctual mastery.
He opened the first jade box. The pristine Azure Spirit Grass and the other components for the Qi Gathering Pill lay within, their spiritual aromas mingling into a promising scent.
He knew his limitation. His spiritual energy reserves at the 3rd Level of Qi Gathering were shallow. He could not refine pill after pill without replenishing himself. But he had a solution.
He took out one of the standard-grade Qi Gathering Pills he had brought from the clan. It was a pale imitation of the optimized version he could now produce, but it was serviceable for this purpose. He swallowed it.
A familiar warmth spread through his dantian as the pill dissolved, replenishing a portion of his spent energy. It was inefficient, but it would allow him to continue his practice marathon.
He placed a Fire Crystal into the base of the cauldron and ignited it with a spark of his spiritual energy. The flame roared to life, its heat causing the air in the room to shimmer.
"Begin," he whispered to himself.