Chapter 34: Alchemist Peak
The Alchemist Peak Master, Elder Ye Tan, moved with astonishing speed, a blur of motion that left the onlookers gaping. In the blink of an eye, Sanjeev and Aarav found themselves whisked away from the competition grounds, the sounds of the stunned crowd fading behind them.
They arrived at their destination in what felt like a teleportation. Sanjeev had a moment to observe their surroundings. They were on a floating island, wreathed in clouds, with pavilions and gardens suspended in the air. This was Alchemy Peak.
Alchemy Peak was a place of serene beauty and potent spiritual energy. Rare herbs grew in abundance, their vibrant colors and intoxicating scents filling the air. Waterfalls cascaded down the floating mountains, their mist nourishing the alchemical gardens. The architecture was elegant and refined, with pagodas and temples that seemed to blend seamlessly with the natural landscape. The entire peak hummed with a subtle, powerful energy, a testament to the concentration of alchemists and their constant manipulation of spiritual forces.
Elder Ye Tan led them into a grand hall, its interior filled with shelves upon shelves of rare herbs, medicinal ingredients, and alchemical texts. The air within was thick with the aroma of potent concoctions and the subtle fragrance of countless refined pills. This was the Medicine Hall, the heart of Alchemy Peak.
"Wait here," Elder Ye Tan instructed, his voice echoing in the vast hall. He turned and strode deeper into the hall, his robes billowing behind him. Sanjeev and Aarav exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what was to come.
A few minutes later, Elder Ye Tan returned, carrying a crystal ball. The ball pulsed with a soft, inner light, its surface swirling with intricate patterns of energy. It was an artifact of considerable power, likely used to assess talent and potential.
Elder Ye Tan placed the crystal ball on a nearby table and turned to face Sanjeev and Aarav. His expression was serious, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
"Let me introduce myself properly," he began, his voice resonant and commanding. "My name is Ye Tan, and I am the Peak Master of Alchemy Peak. I am also an 8th-rank pill master."
Sanjeev and Aarav gasped. They were both well aware of the significance of pill ranks. An 8th-rank pill master was a figure of immense prestige and power, a master alchemist capable of refining pills with extraordinary effects. He was just one step away from becoming a 9th-rank pill refiner, a level of mastery that would earn him the title of "Heavenly Pill Master."
Sanjeev, his mind racing, couldn't help but ask the question burning in his mind. "Elder Ye Tan," he said, his voice respectful, "why did you bring us here? Why did you take us from the competition?"
Elder Ye Tan's gaze softened slightly. "I brought you here," he explained, "because I wish to offer you both a chance to become my personal disciples. I witnessed your extraordinary talent during the alchemy competition. Your skills are exceptional, far beyond your years. I believe that with proper guidance, you could both achieve greatness in the field of alchemy."
He paused, his eyes sweeping over Sanjeev and Aarav. "So," he continued, "do you accept my offer? Will you become my disciples?"
Sanjeev and Aarav were stunned. To become the personal disciple of an 8th-rank pill master was an incredible opportunity, a chance to learn from one of the greatest alchemists in the world. Aarav's eyes gleamed with excitement. He was ready to accept without hesitation. Sanjeev, however, hesitated. He had a complicated past, and he was not sure if he was ready to commit himself to a master, even one as renowned as Elder Ye Tan.
Elder Ye Tan, sensing their hesitation, decided to sweeten the deal. "If you accept," he said, "I will provide you with access to my vast collection of alchemical knowledge, including rare and precious resources. I will also teach you advanced pill refinement techniques, and I will even share with you some powerful armor and martial arts techniques that I have acquired over the centuries."
Aarav's eyes widened. The offer was too good to refuse. Precious resources, advanced techniques, powerful armor, and martial arts – it was everything an aspiring alchemist could dream of. He was about to accept when Sanjeev spoke.
"Thank you for your generous offer, Elder Ye Tan," Sanjeev said, his voice calm and respectful. "But I must decline."
Elder Ye Tan's expression changed. His eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a sharper edge. "Decline?" he asked, his tone laced with anger. "Why would you decline such an opportunity?"
Sanjeev met the elder's gaze steadily, his own eyes unwavering. "I appreciate your offer," he replied, his voice firm but respectful, "but I already have a master."
Elder Ye Tan was taken aback. He had not expected Sanjeev to reject his offer, especially not for another master. "You already have a master?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "Who is this master of yours?"
Sanjeev hesitated for a moment, then decided to reveal a part of his past. "My master," he said, "is a mysterious man, a formation master of immense power. I met him some time ago, and he accepted me as his personal disciple."
Elder Ye Tan was shocked. A formation master? Formation masters were even rarer than alchemists, their skills shrouded in mystery and legend. And to have a mysterious formation master as a teacher was even more unusual. "A formation master?" he repeated, his voice filled with astonishment. "What did you say?"
Sanjeev repeated his statement, his voice clear and concise. Elder Ye Tan stared at him, his mind reeling. He had to know more about this mysterious master. "What is your master's rank in formation?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Sanjeev shook his head. "I do not know his exact rank," he replied. "But he possesses abilities that defy comprehension. He can create entire worlds with his formations, and he can even manipulate space and time."
Elder Ye Tan gasped. His face paled. Even a 9th-rank formation master, a Grandmaster, could not manipulate space and time. Such power was unheard of, legendary. A shiver ran down his spine as he contemplated the implications. If Sanjeev's master could truly control space and time, then he was no ordinary mortal. He could be an immortal, or perhaps something even greater, a being beyond the realm of this world.
Elder Ye Tan stared at Sanjeev, his mind filled with awe and a hint of fear. He began to laugh, a dry, humorless sound. "Okay," he said, his voice strained. "I will not force you to become my disciple. It seems you are already in good hands."
He paused, then turned his attention back to Sanjeev. "But tell me," he asked, his curiosity overriding his shock, "what is your rank in formation? How far have you progressed under such a powerful master?"
Sanjeev replied, "I have achieved the 4th rank in formation mastery."
Elder Ye Tan's eyes widened. His jaw dropped. The crystal ball he was holding slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor, its light extinguished. A 4th-rank formation master at the age of eighteen? It was inconceivable. Formation masters were incredibly rare, even more so than alchemists. It took most cultivators decades, even centuries, to reach such a level of proficiency.
Elder Ye Tan stared at Sanjeev, his mind struggling to process the information. He had never encountered anyone with such extraordinary talent in both alchemy and formations. It was as if Sanjeev was a prodigy of a caliber he had never witnessed before.
He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "How did you come to learn alchemy?" he asked, his voice still slightly shaky. "Do you come from an alchemical family?"
Sanjeev hesitated. He had kept his true identity a secret, but he sensed that Elder Ye Tan was someone he could trust. He decided to reveal a part of his past, but not all of it. Not yet.
"Yes, Elder," he replied. "I do come from an alchemical family." But before he could elaborate, he added, "But before I tell you more, I need your promise. You must swear that you will not reveal my true identity to anyone."
Aarav, sensing the gravity of the situation, also spoke up. "I would also ask for the same promise, Master Ye Tan," he said.
Elder Ye Tan looked at the two young men, his expression serious. He could sense that they were about to reveal something of great importance, something that they had kept hidden from the world. He nodded slowly. "I swear," he said, his voice solemn, "I will not reveal your true identities to anyone. You have my word."
Aarav went first. "My grandfather," he said, "is the leader of the Alchemy Association."
Elder Ye Tan was surprised, but not overly so. The Alchemy Association was a well-known organization throughout the continent, and it was not entirely unexpected that Aarav would have a connection to it.
Then, Sanjeev spoke. "My real name," he said, his voice clear and steady, "is Sanjeev Xue."
Elder Ye Tan froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at Sanjeev, his mind reeling from the revelation. He remained motionless for several minutes, his expression blank.
Aarav, concerned by the elder's reaction, nudged Sanjeev. "Sanjeev," he whispered, "I think he's having a heart attack."
Elder Ye Tan blinked, snapping out of his stupor. "No, no," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm fine. I'm just... surprised." He looked at Sanjeev, his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "You belong to that legendary alchemist family?"
He paused, then asked the question that had been forming in his mind. "What is your relationship to Master Xue Rong?"
Sanjeev replied, "He is my grandfather."
Elder Ye Tan gasped. He was stunned. Master Xue Rong was a legendary figure in the world of alchemy, a 9th-rank alchemist, also known as a Heavenly Alchemist. He was a myth, a legend, a name whispered with reverence and awe.
Sanjeev was equally surprised. He had always known that his grandfather was a skilled alchemist, but he had never realized the extent of his fame and power. He had assumed that his grandfather was only a 5th or 6th-rank alchemist, not a Heavenly Alchemist.
"A 9th-rank alchemist..." Sanjeev murmured, his voice filled with disbelief.
Elder Ye Tan chuckled, a mixture of amusement and admiration in his voice. "Yes," he said. "Your grandfather is a 9th-rank alchemist, a Heavenly Alchemist. Now I understand why you both are so talented in the alchemical arts. It runs in your blood."
Sanjeev, still processing the revelation about his grandfather, turned to Elder Ye Tan. "Elder," he asked, "does this mean I can join your peak?"
Elder Ye Tan burst into laughter. "Of course, you can join my peak!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy. "With your talent, you don't even need to undergo the outer disciple tests. From this day forward, you are a core disciple of Alchemy Peak!"
Sanjeev bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Master Ye Tan," he said, his heart filled with a mixture of relief and excitement.
Sanjeev and Aarav then left Alchemy Peak, returning to the competition grounds. Xiner, who had been waiting anxiously for Sanjeev's return, rushed to his side.
"Sanjeev! What happened?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "Where did Elder Ye Tan take you?"
Sanjeev smiled, recounting the events that had transpired on Alchemy Peak. He told her about Elder Ye Tan's offer, his own initial refusal, and the eventual revelation of his and Aarav's backgrounds. He also shared the shocking news about his grandfather's true rank as a Heavenly Alchemist.
Xiner listened intently, her eyes widening with each new revelation. When Sanjeev finished his story, she was speechless, her mind reeling from the sheer magnitude of the events.
Finally, she found her voice. "That's incredible, Sanjeev!" she exclaimed. "You're a core disciple of Alchemy Peak now! And your grandfather is a Heavenly Alchemist! This is amazing!"
Sanjeev nodded, a smile playing on his lips. He was still trying to process everything that had happened, but he knew that this was a turning point in his life. He had been accepted into Alchemy Peak, and his true identity, though still a secret to most, was now known to a powerful figure in the Lotus Blade Sect. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time since arriving in this world, Sanjeev felt a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose.
As the day drew to a close, Sanjeev, Xiner, and Aarav watched the remaining competitions, their minds filled with the extraordinary events of the day. The world was changing around them, and they were at the center of it all, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.