BTTH : Emperor Yang

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Alchemy and Guidance

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**

In the vast desert, a magnificent and imposing city stood tall.

Amidst the monotonous yellow sands surrounding the city, many enormous rocks had begun to emerge.

This was the true core of the Snake-People Clan—and also the location of Medusa’s temple.

In the eastern district of the city, within a grand and majestic palace—

This was where Wei Yang and Xiao Yan currently resided during their stay with the Snake-People Clan.

They had now transformed into honored guests of the clan.

Near the palace, along the corridors and open squares, patrol squads moved with stern expressions, carefully inspecting the area to ensure no one disturbed the guests.

Elegant and seductive female Snake-People maids, dressed in thin veils that barely concealed their alluring figures, stood waiting by the palace entrance, ready to serve at any moment.

Inside the hall, faint black flames flickered, making the air significantly warmer than outside.

At the center of the palace stood a bronze cauldron, half as tall as a person.

In front of the cauldron sat three figures, legs crossed on woven mats, facing the cauldron.

A handsome young man in black robes rapidly formed hand seals, his movements as graceful as plucking flowers or threading leaves, producing afterimages like a Thousand-Handed Guan Yin dancing through the void.

Beside him, another youth in black watched attentively, focused and earnest.

At their side, an aged and phantom-like figure stroked his long beard, occasionally offering guidance and commentary.

They were Wei Yang, Xiao Yan, and Yao Lao.

—

Time passed.

Within the cauldron, black flames blazed fiercely.

More than a dozen tendrils of flame extended outward, each enveloping a different medicinal ingredient, refining it at a unique temperature.

Each flame operated independently, without interfering with the others.

Within the flames, the original forms of the herbs had long since vanished, leaving only dense or thin streams of pure glowing medicinal essence, being nurtured and refined by the fire.

At this point, the first phase of alchemy—refining and purifying the medicinal properties—was complete.

Next came the most critical step—

Pill Condensation!

Wei Yang’s hand seals shifted.

”Wait,” Yao Lao calmly interjected. ”Don’t rush—continue warming them for a bit longer.”

Wei Yang paused his changing seals, halting just before beginning the next step, and glanced at Yao Lao with slight confusion.

”Lower the temperature a little,” Yao Lao instructed again.

Wei Yang complied.

”A bit lower... alright, that’s good. Keep it at this temperature and let it warm for another quarter hour. Pay attention to the changes in the medicinal properties inside—adjust the temperature slightly as needed,” Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction, stroking his beard.

Then, he scolded lightly, ”Young people are always too impatient and lack composure. You just finished purifying the ingredients and are already eager to condense the pill—what’s the rush?”

”Refining and purifying—this step can’t be hurried even the slightest. You must be patient. Don’t rely on the power of your Heavenly Flame and think the high temperature will save time. That bad habit has to be corrected—otherwise, you’ll suffer for it later.”

”You two better remember this—temperature control during refining is crucial. It directly affects the final pill quality and even the success rate.”

”You ever cooked soup? If the heat’s not right, how can you boil up a tasty broth? Alchemy is the same—it’s all about heat control. This point is very important!”

Yao Lao continued his lecture, ”Alchemy is an art—and each pill is like a finely crafted piece of artwork made by your own hands. You must treat it with full devotion and care. That’s the proper attitude!”

”Yes, Master!” Wei Yang and Xiao Yan both nodded seriously, accepting the lesson with respect.

While Wei Yang usually addressed Yao Lao as ”Senior,” when receiving his direct instruction, he referred to him as ”Master.”

Regardless of the transactional nature of their relationship, when someone earnestly guides you, addressing them as ”Master” is a mark of respect and gratitude.

After the journey through the desert, Wei Yang could be considered half an unofficial disciple of Yao Lao.

After all, someone who imparts knowledge is worthy of honor—and there is a kind of karmic bond in that.

Yao Lao not only answered questions but also corrected many small habits and subtle issues in Wei Yang’s techniques that he hadn’t noticed before.

During this period, Wei Yang was like a young sapling growing in a desert—suddenly encountering rain after a long drought, frantically absorbing nutrients and rapidly flourishing.

”This isn’t your fault. After all, you started halfway and didn’t learn from a young age. You also lacked a good Master and systematic guidance.”

Yao Lao stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, ”To have reached this point through self-study alone, relying entirely on your extraordinary talent, is already quite impressive. However, some small bad habits still need to be corrected.”

”These minor flaws are lessons distilled from the experiences of your predecessors—mistakes they made, sufferings they endured. There’s no need for you, the next generation, to go through the same trials.”

”Yes, I will remember that,” Wei Yang nodded gratefully.

”Mm, humble, eager to learn, willing to admit and correct mistakes—truly a teachable student!” Yao Lao smiled and nodded in approval, a trace of satisfaction and relief flickering in his eyes.

As a senior, being able to mentor such a promising and talented seedling, even if not formally accepted as his last disciple, was a great pleasure for Yao Lao.

To put it bluntly, the world of alchemists wasn’t that large—and it was relatively united.

Just like the Alchemist Association in various regions and the Pill Tower in Central Plains, these were all loosely formed organizations composed purely of alchemists.

They understood that their identity was a treasured one, a sweet pastry eyed by many powerful individuals, so they naturally banded together and formed a mighty collective force.

And alchemists would often take the initiative to safeguard the interests of their own group.

Of course, internal competition was inevitable.

But when it came to facing the outside world, they stood remarkably united.

The vast majority of alchemists would actively pass down and promote alchemy.

Many well-known pill formulas circulating in the outside world were the results of predecessors’ painstaking research and generations of refinement—then generously made public.

When encountering a talented junior, most alchemists wouldn’t mind offering some pointers or guidance, often even feeling quite pleased to do so.

Alchemists, at times, could be extremely protective of their own things.

But at other times, they were surprisingly open-minded. All in all, they were a rather contradictory group.

...

”Mm, the timing’s about right—condense the pill,” Yao Lao reminded.

At once—

Wei Yang changed his hand seals and gave a low shout, ”Condense!”

Within the cauldron, black flames began to gather, converging toward the center, finally condensing into a large flame. It resembled a palm-sized black sun, suspended in the middle of the cauldron.

Inside the black sun, all the medicinal essences began their first contact!

Boom!

As the different medicinal liquids collided, their varied medicinal properties began to clash violently, forming a mass of multicolored fluids, clearly distinct from each other.

A ripple of energy burst out from within, causing the black sun to tremble slightly—but it remained stable.

The energy ripples, weakened by the black sun, spread out and slammed into the inner walls of the bronze cauldron.

Weng weng—

The waist-high bronze cauldron quivered slightly under the impact.

But Wei Yang remained perfectly calm, completely unbothered by any concerns regarding the cauldron.

Because this bronze cauldron had been given to him by Yao Lao—one of his treasured possessions. Its quality needed no further comment.

At the very least, refining a peak-grade Tier 5 Dou Spirit Pill was well within its capacity.

The price? Yao Lao had paid off a debt for Xiao Yan—the one owed for the Furious Lion Roar, a High-Level Xuan Grade Dou Technique.

In the end, it was Wei Yang who profited.

In the eyes of an alchemist, the value of a high-quality cauldron far surpassed that of a High-Level Xuan Grade Dou Technique.

”One day, I’ll kill Han Feng and take his Myriad Beast Cauldron,” Wei Yang thought to himself.

He lacked for nothing—except a good cauldron!

And he had always lacked it!

Given his soul talent and strength, stepping into Tier 7—or even reaching the peak of Tier 7—might not take too long.

”The Myriad Beast Cauldron, one of the Heavenly Cauldrons, will be mine eventually.”

So Han Feng... I’ve got you in my sights.

No one can save you—not even the Hall of Souls. I said it!

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Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced Chapters :

/YaoIk