Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 153 - 120: Exchanging Alchemy Dao, Terror Beyond Compare

Chapter 153: Chapter 120: Exchanging Alchemy Dao, Terror Beyond Compare

"I hadn’t expected—Great Yuan truly does have Innate Martial Artists."

Lu Chang’sheng felt a surge of emotion in his heart.

Before this, Hong Yuan hadn’t known about it—likely because these Innate Martial Artists of Great Yuan kept to themselves, rarely showing their faces in public.

Just like Yan Yun, who, deep within the Saint Institute, spent nearly all his days on alchemy, with only a few alchemy boys assisting him.

That says it all.

Yan Yun glanced at the Empress’ decree, his face expressionless, and asked, "So, what is it you wish to ask me?"

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t mind his demeanor one bit.

After all, he was the supplicant here; being a bit humble was only fitting.

"I have here a book—notes I’ve made over the years during my alchemy practice. If Master Yan would kindly take a look."

Lu Chang’sheng knew the atmosphere wasn’t quite right; to save trouble, he simply handed over what he’d prepared.

It was the section he’d added to the Anshi Book over these past years, focusing on alchemy.

To Lu Chang’sheng, alchemy and medicine go hand in hand.

Alchemy, in fact, is a higher path established atop the foundation of the medical arts. So, recording it in the Anshi Book was perfectly appropriate.

And Yan Yun’s current attitude toward him was that of teacher to student, believing himself to be giving without return—which made a bit of reluctance only natural.

But clearly, that wasn’t the state Lu Chang’sheng wanted.

What he needed was genuine exchange.

If they began like this, even if Yan Yun recognized his prowess in alchemy, he might hold back secret techniques.

So, sincerity had to come first.

Yan Yun frowned slightly. Lu Chang’sheng’s revised Anshi Book was now a thick tome—under his current mindset, wasting time on this wasn’t his idea of productive.

However—

Given the Empress’ decree, he still picked it up.

"Medicine? Medicine is the very basis of alchemy. I can see you have talent in the medical arts!"

Yan Yun flipped through carelessly at first—but soon, his outlook changed.

"I take that back—your ability in medicine is greater than I’d expected."

Yan Yun’s expression grew more serious.

As Jinghua Prefecture’s hidden ace in the Alchemy Department, of course he’d mastered the medical foundations of the alchemy dao.

In fact, beyond being the department’s secret weapon, he was a master physician.

Harnessing the imperial family’s medical library, he’d amassed an ocean of medical knowledge.

But Lu Chang’sheng clearly hadn’t had access to those royal archives.

For him to accumulate such profound experience was nothing short of shocking.

With this mastery of medicine, all that’s missing is one art of alchemy—then the dao of alchemy would be his for the taking!

By now, Yan Yun’s mentality had shifted; he studied the text with newfound focus.

Soon, he’d reached the alchemy Chapter.

After a long while, Yan Yun closed the Anshi Book in silence.

"Sir, your talent is extraordinary!"

"Flattery," Lu Chang’sheng replied.

"Your Anshi Book is a rare treasure for us—I never imagined you’d share it so freely."

Yan Yun was thoroughly impressed.

People like him treated their personal notes as priceless; only the true inheritors ever got to see them.

But Lu Chang’sheng seemed free of such prejudice.

Yan Yun admired him all the more.

"Whether it’s martial dao or alchemy dao, I believe only by comparing notes can we truly progress,"

Lu Chang’sheng explained.

His attitude wasn’t without reason.

Lu Chang’sheng believed his talent was always improving, so he didn’t put so much weight on technique itself.

However strong others were—could they surpass me?

They may be strong now, but will they surpass me later?

When it comes to martial techniques, he’d be a little more careful—only sharing when the time was right.

But medicine and alchemy—those he had no qualms about.

As expected, goodwill returned goodwill.

Yan Yun got up and walked inside; not long after, he returned with a hefty book and handed it to Lu Chang’sheng.

"This is my own work—the Alchemy Book. I invite you to read it, and then let us exchange experience!"

Lu Chang’sheng took the book with a nod.

The two of them settled in, quietly reading at their seats.

Decades of experience—in no way could it be absorbed quickly.

While reading, not only did they read—they pondered.

Whenever they came across methods they’d never seen before, they’d consider how to refine, how to analyze them.

Reading is not just about the words; it’s about thinking, probing, innovating—that’s the way to truly read.

Those who bury themselves in books daily, counting each read as learned, gather little; how could that way bring deep understanding?

Let time pass a bit, and it all vanishes.

During this, an alchemy boy brought in a meal.

Even after the dishes had gone cold, neither had moved. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Fortunately, both were Innate Martial Artists; without food or drink, they could easily last half a month. Four or five days was no problem.

"Whew—"

Five days later, Yan Yun exhaled deeply and looked up, seeing Lu Chang’sheng begin to eat; noticing Yan Yun had finished the Anshi Book, he smiled: "Master Yan, finished? Eat something. The boy just brought it."

Yan Yun nodded, reaching for the food—then suddenly thought of something and asked, "When did you finish reading?"

"Just a bit before you did."

Lu Chang’sheng replied.

Yan Yun nodded again, "Looks like Master Lu’s aptitude in alchemy is better than I anticipated."

He didn’t think Lu Chang’sheng simply skimmed the book.

At their level, reading such texts, they’d naturally enter a deep, focused state.

If anyone, just for pride’s sake, skimmed and skipped thinking—it’d be a grave loss.

And his Alchemy Book was much thicker than the Anshi Book.

For Lu Chang’sheng to finish first, it had to be talent.

Yan Yun was sure of it after this.

Because after their meal, when they began to discuss, the questions Lu Chang’sheng asked—or answered—were uniquely insightful, connecting dots with ease.

That was something Yan Yun himself couldn’t do.

By the tenth day of their exchange, Yan Yun was shocked to realize he’d subtly shifted from participant to mere listener.

It was—downright terrifying!