Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 309 - 194: Mirage Demon

The words of the storage cultivator bore little attempt at concealment, yet to Lu Chang’sheng’s ears, they weren’t particularly grating.

These past few years, Zhou Lin had basked in the limelight—he was taken in as a direct disciple by Master Baiyun last time, and rumor had it his alchemy skills had improved at a dazzling pace, already showing the promise Master Baiyun himself possessed in his youth.

But as for how far he’d actually gotten, Lu Chang’sheng had no way of knowing.

Zhou Lin had immersed himself in cultivation, rarely appearing in public; precious few knew the true extent of his progress.

"What a shame—if that Turtle Shell Map from the Profound Turtle Alchemist were actually a complete Jade Scroll of the Alchemy Dao, maybe I could’ve glimpsed the threshold of becoming a rank-two alchemist by now."

The Turtle Shell Map wasn’t unique, and the alchemy knowledge inscribed there was fragmented—naturally it couldn’t compare to a complete Jade Scroll of the Dao.

He took the Jade Scroll, entered a cultivation chamber at the side, and pressed it to his forehead; by dusk, he had memorized its contents in full.

Then he returned to his residence at the mountain gate, entered seclusion, and began circulating his surplus magical power, merging it smoothly with the immortal technique within him.

After a month or so, his magical power had diminished slightly, but it was now entirely transformed into Cyan Essence Immortal Technique power.

The properties of this technique rendered his spiritual sense both stronger and tinged with a fiery vitality.

This spark lent remarkable ease and dexterity to his alchemy efforts.

Once cultivation ended, Lu Chang’sheng decided to test his hand at alchemy.

A mass of deep azure flame danced nimbly between his fingers and palm.

His improved cultivation had further accelerated progress in the Cyan Wood Fire Technique, pushing him now into the realm of Great Success.

······

The results of his pill refining were outstanding—even without employing the Elixir Ascension Technique, he now had a slim chance of producing high-grade Rejuvenation Pills.

When he used the technique, the Rejuvenation Pills he crafted even possessed a hint of a supreme-grade pill’s resonance.

Indeed, the Ascension Technique was a potent weapon in alchemy.

"Soon enough, my cultivation path can finally return to its proper course."

Rejuvenation Pills were for sale in the market as well, but supreme-grade pills were exorbitantly expensive; even with all Lu Chang’sheng’s possessions, he couldn’t possibly afford to rely on them for daily cultivation.

But refining them himself was different—the cost would drop dramatically.

Even if only a few suppliers of resources remained, he could still ensure the Lu Mansion would not be dragged into ruin over it.

This was the greatest boon of being an alchemist: self-sufficiency in both production and sales.

Thinking thus, Lu Chang’sheng found his mood much lifted; treading atop his flying sword, he drifted leisurely toward the White Cloud Pharmacy.

He had barely landed in the courtyard when Steward Yang came walking over.

Whenever he saw Lu Chang’sheng nowadays, Steward Yang felt a little uneasy; after all, when it came to assigning tasks, he had favored a few of the more experienced rank-B alchemists.

In his mind, perhaps Alchemist Lu hadn’t noticed yet, but before long he was bound to figure it out.

Still, as long as the other alchemists could cover for him, he expected nothing major would come of it.

For people in his role, nothing mattered more than keeping his position.

To remove him, at least half the rank-B alchemists would need to agree.

That was why, when forced to choose sides, he had opted for the veteran alchemists.

He could hardly be blamed.

Steward Yang’s visit today was simply to notify Lu Chang’sheng of the upcoming alchemist assessment.

As a rank-B alchemist, he had been selected to serve as one of the examiners for the test.

This was a direct assignment from above—he could not refuse. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Lu Chang’sheng accepted.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Lu Chang’sheng ushered in the New Year with his family, and soon enough, the day of the alchemist assessment arrived.

There were noticeably more cultivators in alchemist robes roaming the streets.

Lu Chang’sheng sat atop a high platform, overlooking the alchemists in the assessment room below. Once a candidate finished refining a pill, he would mark down his evaluation in the book before him.

His presence drew complicated expressions from many of the other alchemists.

Not a few of them watched with bittersweet emotions; ten years prior, during the alchemist assessment, many had kept a close eye on Lu Chang’sheng. Later, when issues with bone age arose, some felt pity for him, others even a touch of schadenfreude. But now, the man they once discussed sat aloft as a rank-B alchemist, while they remained mired in the C and D grade courtyards.

"Gold will always shine. Alchemist Lu was a treasure once cloaked in dust."

Some believed that Lu Chang’sheng had only grown stronger with age, never losing sight of his aspirations.

"All these people claiming Alchemist Lu was lacking probably had their reasons. Yet he toiled away at alchemy, ten years straight without wavering, and that’s how he achieved what he has now."

"You’re right. Word has it Alchemist Lu came from the Mayfly World."

All this gossip below could not escape Lu Chang’sheng’s ears. He smiled faintly in his heart and let it go without a second thought.

A few days later, as the alchemy assessment neared its end, Lu Chang’sheng suddenly spotted a familiar face.

It was Niu Xi!

Though a rift had opened between them over the matter with the Zhu Family, none of it had truly been Niu Xi’s fault. Thus, Lu Chang’sheng walked over to greet him.

Niu Xi’s face lit up in delight.

"Lu Dao—Alchemist Lu!"

Compared to last time, Niu Xi now looked visibly more tired and aged.

When facing Lu Chang’sheng, the casual manner of old was gone, replaced by true respect.

"There’s no need to be so formal, Fellow Daoist Niu. Just call me Daoist."

Niu Xi nodded repeatedly, though his mood hardly changed.

Seeing this, Lu Chang’sheng let the matter rest.

"By the way, this is Elder Guan’s son, Guan Ming."

Niu Xi pulled the youth by his side forward.

The boy stepped up and called out crisply, "Uncle Lu."

He still remembered how, a few years ago, his older brother Yu Hai had brought him to visit Lu Chang’sheng at his residence.