Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time-Chapter 316: Elemental Affinity

Li Mei leaned against her workbench, her expression calming.

"Refining a Spirit Flame is a very personal, very dangerous process. You’re essentially merging your Qi with a flame—something inherently unstable—and transforming it into something alive. Something that responds to your will."

Han Yu leaned forward, now completely focused.

"There are many kinds of Spirit Flames. Some refined internally, some obtained externally." she continued. "The Internal one is hard to refine as one needs to compress and ignite their spirit qi to create it. Without great control and resilience, this can easily cause a backlash. Plus, if you don’t have Fire Elemental affinity, this process is a lot harder, or simply impossible for many." Li Mei explained before taking a pause.

"In the case of external ones, some are born from rare spirit herbs. Others are harvested from deep volcanic veins or ancient beast cores. But no matter the source, you need one thing above all: compatibility."

"That’s where elemental affinity comes in?"

"Exactly," she nodded. "If your elemental affinity is Fire, then flame-type materials will resonate with you more naturally. Your Qi will stabilize the flame faster, and your spiritual channels will be less likely to suffer backlash. It’s like trying to raise a wild beast—Fire users already speak the same ’language’ as the flame."

Han Yu nodded slowly. "And if your affinity is something else?"

"It’s harder," she said bluntly. "Not impossible, but harder. If your affinity is Wood, then you’ll be better at understanding herb reactions, balance, and energy resonance during pill formation. That’s invaluable, especially for high-grade concoctions."

She lifted another finger.

"Water affinity, on the other hand, helps during purification. Washing away impurities, drawing out medicinal essences, cooling volatile reactions... it gives you more control over dangerous blends."

"There are hybrid elemental Spirit flames, but they are very hard to find and even harder to refine." Li Mei added at the end. "You best give up on these."

"But those with Fire affinity have the easiest time refining the Spirit Flame?"

"Yes. The process of creating and taming a Spirit Flame often involves enduring high temperatures and redirecting wild flame Qi through your own meridians. If you’re not innately attuned to fire... your chances of exploding rise sharply."

Han Yu winced. "That’s not very encouraging."

"It’s the truth." She crossed her arms. "Now, back to you. What’s your elemental affinity?"

Han Yu blinked again. "...I told you. I don’t know."

There was a pause.

A long pause.

"...Unbelievable," Li Mei muttered. "You’ve done this much while operating in the dark?"

"I make do," Han Yu replied, deadpan. "Adapt, improvise, explode less than necessary."

Li Mei rubbed her temples again. "I need to take you to the Hall of Guidance myself before you decide to blow yourself up by trying to bond with a fireseed."

"Wait, I was actually thinking of trying that—"

"NO."

"Got it," Han Yu quickly nodded. "No trying random fireseeds without knowing my affinity."

Li Mei shot him a dry look.

"Please go find out. If you’re Fire, we can actually talk about finding a spirit fire source. If you’re not... we’ll have to take the scenic route."

Han Yu tilted his head. "What if I’m something rare? Like Lightning or Wind or—"

"Then alchemy is going to be an uphill climb," she said. "Not impossible, but you’ll need custom techniques to work around your lack of innate resonance."

"Well, at least now I know." He stood, stretching his arms. "I’ll head to the Hall of Guidance tomorrow."

Li Mei pointed a ladle at him. "Good. And don’t you dare try to refine anything explosive until then."

"Who, me? Never," Han Yu replied with the most unconvincing smile.

Li Mei sighed, but her lips curled ever so slightly.

"...You really are a menace," she said.

"A charming one, though."

"Barely."

As Han Yu left her hut, the thought of discovering his elemental affinity stirred something in his chest.

A new path—one he’d meant to walk long ago—was opening again.

And this time, he had both the skill and the fire to walk it properly.

A while later...

The sun hung low in the sky as Han Yu followed Li Mei toward the Hall of Guidance—one of the oldest structures in the Twin Leaf Peak Sect. Located near the central plateau that connected the Inner and Outer Courtyards, it was built partially into the side of the mountain, its slate-black roof gleaming with runic tiles that shimmered faintly under daylight.

Groves of immortal bamboo spiraled around its carved stone pillars, and a pair of jade guardian statues stood at either side of its entrance—silent watchers etched with ancient symbols of clarity and attunement.

It wasn’t a large hall, but it had a gravity to it—both metaphorical and spiritual. The sect’s crest loomed overhead on a massive wooden plaque: Two leaves, leaf bisected by a ripple of light and dark, symbolizing balance through duality.

As they approached, a young inner court disciple guarding the entrance looked up, frowning at first—until he recognized Li Mei.

"Alchemist Li Mei," he said, straightening. "Do you require access to the Spirit Attunement Stone?"

"I do," she replied coolly. "The disciple with me needs to have his elemental affinity tested."

"Permission granted," the disciple said immediately, stepping aside with a respectful nod. "The stone is ready."

They passed through the stone archway and into the Hall.

Inside, the air was calm and quiet, imbued with spiritual stillness. The wooden floor beneath their feet gleamed with a waxed polish, and strips of paper talismans hung from the beams, each inscribed with ancient characters and faded qi. Low-placed lanterns burned with blue fire, casting the surroundings in a gentle glow.

At the center of the hall sat the Spirit Attunement Stone—a large crystalline monolith standing nearly two meters tall, pulsing gently with a soft, neutral hue. The stone was translucent, shot through with veins of silver and gold, like spiritual rivers sealed within. It rested atop a pedestal of polished granite, surrounded by shallow steps that formed a circle around it.