Later that day, in an underground chamber near the very peak of the mountain on which the Pale Moon Sect was built, two stone doors slowly swung open, releasing a torrent of dense grey smoke.
The chamber in front of the stone doors was small, but the smoke didn't fill it. Instead, it was syphoned away by channels among the rocks on the ceiling.
Meanwhile, a silhouette appeared among the still-blowing smoke, leaning on the partially open door while dragging his feet, only to stumble on the next step.
The silhouette fell hard on the floor, the smoke no longer hiding its features. It belonged to a man no older than forty, but his sweaty, beardless face featured a few wrinkles near the eyes, while long, oily, grey hair fell from his head.
The man remained on all fours on the floor for a while, catching his breath, until he gathered enough strength to support himself on his knees, his cold, icy-blue eyes glaring at the figure standing on the other side of the small chamber.
"Apothecary Elder," The man called, his greeting more of a scoff.
"Alchemy Elder," The Apothecary Elder also greeted, performing a customary bow. "The Sect is grateful for your efforts."
The Alchemy Elder scoffed again but drew something out of his stained, loose robe. A circular item wrapped in what looked like thick paper appeared in his hand, claiming the Apothecary Elder's undivided attention.
"Is that?" The Apothecary Elder gasped.
"Rank 3 Qi igniting pill," The Alchemy Elder declared, his face expressionless. "I told the Old Man I could still make them."
"That's …," The Apothecary Elder gasped again, only to reaffirm his customary bow with newfound respect. "Alchemy Elder, your mastery is astonishing."
"This little thing wasn't worthy of warming up my cauldrons when I was in the Inner Circles," The Alchemy Elder mocked, storing the pill back in his robe and sitting down, knowing that something was off. "Why were you waiting for me?"
"Yes, Alchemy Elder," The Apothecary Elder exclaimed, straightening himself. "The Pale Moon Sect has recently welcomed a new disciple possessing a poison core."
"And?" The Alchemy Elder asked, diverting his gaze in disinterest. He could guess where that conversation was going, but his mind was already set.
"This disciple has nine spiritual roots," The Apothecary Elder stated.
The Alchemy Elder's gaze snapped back at the Apothecary Elder, his mouth opening in surprise.
"Nine spiritual roots," The Alchemy Elder muttered, unable to hide his astonishment. "What cruel mockery for the Heavens to create such things …"
The Apothecary Elder responded with a bitter smile. There was talent, and then there were nine spiritual roots. The sole existence of such a genius could fill anyone with a sense of inferiority.
Still, the Alchemy Elder's astonishment was short-lived. He knew exactly what the Sect wanted from him, but the task was simply pointless.
"Forget it," The Alchemy Elder exclaimed. "He is dead. There's nothing that can be done about it."
"Alchemy Elder, please," The Apothecary Elder pleaded, but to no avail.
"What would you have me do?" The Alchemy Elder snorted. "Do you have any idea how many high-quality nutrients nine spiritual roots demand? Can you even imagine what overcoming their bottlenecks implies?"
The Apothecary Elder didn't reply. He knew those issues quite well. The entire Sect did. It was one of the reasons why it was taking so long to make a decision.
"If he doesn't die in the second breakthrough," The Alchemy Elder continued, "The third is sure to kill him."
"Alchemy Elder," The Apothecary Elder called, but nothing worked.
"It's already done!" The Alchemy Elder cried. "I know the Old Man wants to groom him for leadership, but it's impossible. See if he survives the second breakthrough, and make him stop cultivating. He'll have to settle for being an Elder if he wants to live."
The Apothecary Elder could only lower his head. The nature of Liam's core fell under the alchemical field, and the Alchemy Elder was the Sect's greatest authority there.
If the Alchemy Elder said that it couldn't be done, then it had to be true.
"Being born with nine spiritual roots only to have a poison core," The Alchemy Elder chuckled, his laugh lacking any trace of happiness. "The Heavens mocked this kid, too."
The Apothecary Elder sighed, only to recall something. He drew an item from his robe and approached his fellow Elder, handing it to him.
"Disciple Liam made this," The Apothecary Elder explained while the Alchemy Elder seized the flask with the slimy substance. "He barely interacted with the alchemical flame for a few seconds, but that was enough to ruin the concoction."
The Alchemy Elder studied the flask, tilting it and lifting it above his head so that the faint grey light from the other room could shine on it. For someone like him, that simple inspection was enough to tell him everything he needed to know.
"What was the concoction about?" The Alchemy Elder questioned, mostly for scientific reasons.
"Nothing," The Apothecary Elder revealed, "A refreshing beverage. I used one dead stem, one silver shard, and a flask of rainwater."
The Alchemy Elder's icy-blue eyes snapped down, glaring at the Apothecary Elder.
"It would take immense quantities of those ingredients to isolate and refine anything remotely toxic," The Alchemy Elder pointed out.
"Disciple Liam only fueled the alchemic flame for a few seconds," The Apothecary Elder repeated, nodding. "The concoction hadn't shown any sign of instability or failure until then."
"Yellow flame?" The Alchemy Elder asked. "Colorless smoke?"
"And light rumbling," The Apothecary Elder nodded again. "The alchemical flame turned black as soon as Disciple Liam's Qi interacted with it."
The Alchemy Elder lowered his gaze at that point, unsealing the flask to sniff it. A terrible stench assaulted his nostrils, but he didn't retract his head, even closing his eyes to appreciate all the disgusting features that substance carried.
"This isn't simple affinity to poison," The Alchemy Elder eventually concluded, sealing the flask. "This is unnatural compulsion."
"Alchemy Elder?" The Apothecary Elder called since the issue escaped his understanding.
"I must see this kid," The Alchemy Elder ordered, "This Liam. Bring him to me."
"Is there hope?" The Apothecary Elder questioned.
"How would I know without seeing him?" The Alchemy Elder snorted. "So, where is he?"
"About that," The Apothecary Elder coughed, his tone instantly growing politer. "I wasn't sure how much longer your seclusion would have lasted."
The Alchemy Elder glared at the Apothecary Elder again, that look forcing the truth out of him.
"Disciple Liam is out on a Sect's mission," The Apothecary Elder explained. "He left this morning."