Chapter 7 – The Alchemist without chemistry
After half a month of rigorous cultivation, I had successfully opened ten meridians.
Progress was slow, but considering that I had to develop my own techniques and work around this world's primitive understanding of energy, it was decent.
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A Strange Scent
One evening, after completing my custom exercise routine, I wiped the sweat off my brow and started heading back home for a bath.
But then, something caught my attention.
A strange, refreshing fragrance drifted through the air, different from the usual scent of nature.
It was thick yet delicate, a fusion of different herbal essences, layered upon one another.
My body felt slightly energized just by inhaling it.
Instinctively, I followed the scent, weaving through the sect's pathways until I found myself inside a secluded courtyard.
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The Alchemist at Work
In the middle of the courtyard, a fellow disciple, Meghna, was busy at work.
She was refining medicine.
She stood before a large, rotating furnace, carefully feeding it with medicinal ingredients while controlling the dancing flames beneath it.
The entire process was mesmerizing.
The fire roared and twisted, shifting in color and intensity as it wrapped around the furnace like a living beast.
The herbs boiled and condensed, their impurities being burned away, leaving only the purest essence behind.
A strong medicinal scent filled the courtyard, and I could tell—
She was good at this.
She wasn't just following steps mechanically; she was refining with intuition and control, as if she understood the essence of what she was creating.
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Aman's Observation
I watched silently, taking in every movement.
How the flames curved and shifted, how the medicine gradually formed, how the temperature was subtly adjusted at key moments.
This wasn't just alchemy—it was an art.
When she finally finished, her forehead was covered in sweat.
I clapped.
"Beautiful work."
Meghna flinched in surprise, turning toward me with wide eyes. "W-When did you—?!"
I smirked. "From the beginning."
She frowned. "And you just stood there and watched?"
"Of course. Wouldn't want to interrupt a masterpiece in progress."
Her frown deepened for a second before she sighed. "Whatever."
I stepped closer, glancing at the medicine she had just refined.
"Your flame…" I said, narrowing my eyes. "That wasn't an ordinary flame, was it?"
She tensed.
I continued, "And this medicine—it's not the final product, is it? It's a preparation for something else."
Meghna's gaze turned sharp. "How did you know that?"
I grinned. "Let's just say… I have an eye for these things."
A Flame Unlike Any Other
I narrowed my eyes at the flame flickering beneath Meghna's furnace.
It was different.
Unlike regular fire, which burned wildly and consumed everything indiscriminately, this flame was… controlled. Precise.
It didn't just destroy—it refined.
The way it moved wasn't chaotic, but elegant, wrapping around the furnace as if it had a mind of its own.
Each time Meghna adjusted her hand, the flame responded instantly, increasing or decreasing in intensity with absolute precision.
I could tell—this wasn't just fire. It was an alchemy flame.
A flame specifically nurtured and refined for alchemy, capable of burning away impurities while preserving the essence of ingredients.
A flame that didn't consume—only purified.
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Aman's Awakening to Alchemy
After chatting with Meghna for a while, I managed to piece together a basic understanding of alchemy in this world.
Turns out, alchemists in this world refine pills, elixirs, and other concoctions using their specialized flames and a mix of spirit herbs, ores, and mystical ingredients.
Everything sounded fine—until she started listing the materials.
"Spirit Grass, Heavenly Jade Iron, Dark Forest Mushroom..."
What the actual fuck.
I felt my brain short-circuit.
Where's the chemical composition?!
Where's the atomic structure, the molecular bonds, the reaction process?!
How the hell do people know which herbs mix well together without any concept of chemistry?!
Are they just guessing until something works??
How is that even possible?!
Even ancient civilizations on Earth understood basic chemical interactions! They knew about metals, salts, acids, fermentation!
And yet…
These so-called "advanced cultivators" who live for thousands of years have no fucking clue?!
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Lost in thought, I started muttering under my breath.
Meghna, hearing my frustrated whispers, raised an eyebrow.
"Aman… how high are you?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You're making faces like you just discovered the meaning of life."
I ignored her comment and instead asked directly:
"Do you know what elements, compounds, and atoms are?"
Meghna blinked. Then squinted at me like I had grown a second head.
Then, slowly…
She made a monkey face.
Pure confusion.
Embarrassment.
Like a kid who got caught pretending to know something but had no fucking clue.
"Ehem." She coughed, avoiding eye contact. "Of course, I know what those are. Who doesn't?"
I smirked. "Oh? Then explain it to me."
Meghna: "…"
Silence.
Awkward silence.
She was completely lost.
I sighed. "You don't know, do you?"
She turned red. "Tch! Stop making things up! You're just trying to recover your lost aura after being awed by my alchemy, aren't you?"
I nearly facepalmed.
This world is so fucking primitive.
Meghna's face twisted in rage.
"What do you mean, primitive?! You are primitive! Your whole family is primitive!"
I barely had time to react before she stomped off, fuming with anger.
I sighed. Well, that escalated quickly.
Shaking my head, I decided to leave too. There was no point in arguing with someone who believed alchemy was pure instinct and luck.
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The Monster Tide & The Decision
Walking through the sect's hallways, I heard a crowd gathered, buzzing with excitement.
Listening in, I caught bits of conversation--
"The sect is organizing a hunting expedition."
"Yeah, to fight off the upcoming monster tide!"
"It's a huge opportunity to gain battle experience and prove ourselves!"
I frowned. A monster tide?
Apparently, the sect was organizing a defense mission in the nearby forest to prevent monsters from flooding the border.
For many disciples, this was a chance to hone their skills, gain merit, and prove their worth.
For me?
It was a death sentence.
With my crippled body, I wouldn't last five seconds in a real battle. No thanks.
I turned away. Better to focus on cultivation first.
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An Unexpected Invitation
Returning to my courtyard, I spotted Ishita looking around, as if searching for someone.
I raised an eyebrow and approached her. "Looking for me?"
She turned, relief flashing across her face. "Yeah, I found you. You free?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"There's an auction happening in Kaalguda Town. I want to check it out."
An auction?
Kaalguda Town was a bustling settlement near the sect, famous for its traders, mercenaries, and underground dealings.
It was also a hotspot for rare treasures and secret transactions.
I wasn't particularly interested in buying anything, but…
I had nothing better to do.
"Alright," I shrugged. "Let's go."
As we stood at the sect's entrance, I raised an eyebrow. "So… how exactly are we getting there?"
Ishita shot me a look of pure disbelief. "By walking? How else?"
Then, with a smirk, she added, "Do you need a heavenly chariot, my lord?"
I chuckled. "Of course. Preferably one pulled by ten-winged spirit beasts with golden flames."
She rolled her eyes. "Let's just go."
And so, we began our journey.
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The Path to Kaalguda Town
The sect was deep within a mountain range, its terrain rugged and filled with towering peaks. Leaving through the stone-paved path, the sect's towering gates disappeared behind us.
Further ahead, the landscape opened up, revealing vast plains and a dense forest covering the valley below.
In the distance, to the south, we could see Kaalguda Town--a settlement fairly decent in size, with stone buildings, wooden houses, and bustling streets even visible from afar.
It wasn't a huge city, but it had the kind of lively energy that suggested trade, adventure, and maybe even a few shady dealings in dark corners.
The road ahead was long, but with Ishita beside me, at least I had someone to entertain on the way.
—
End of chapter 7