Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

Alex heard faint words from the ongoing interview as he made his way through the street. If he focused on it, he could hear the Puppet God talking with someone, asking them questions about their past.

The street got a lot less dense as they moved away from where the stadium was, taking in a much more festive environment. This was the one time when so many people from so many worlds could be together, so they were doing what they could in the little time there was.

There were auctions being set up, vendors selling their wares, and people providing various services. There were also many that were trying to get recruited into different sects, cults, and guilds.

The tournament was not just a way to find great alchemists but also a way for various people to connect with other people or items.

Windborn took various turns successively throughout the road heading east. About five minutes later, they arrived in a section of the city that seemed to hold the moderately rich individuals.

“This is my place,” Windborn said, standing before the gate.

Alex nodded, but before he could walk in, the Divinity stopped him.

“Let me make sure there are no dangers here first.” The Divinity walked in before either of the two could and spread his Divine senses to search throughout the courtyard.

Alex waited for the man to be done. He didn’t distrust Windborn, but it was better to be safe anyway. Even without the man acting on his own, Alex had planned on asking him to check for danger when they were inside.

“I hope you aren’t offended, brother Windborn.”

“Offended?” Windborn asked with a chuckle. “As I said before, I’ve been through this a dozen times already. I’m used to such actions from other finalists’ guardians.”

Alex smiled. “You must have spent quite a bit to get yourself this courtyard. Most others, I hear, only purchase rooms in large residential buildings.”

“Well, if there is one thing good about being an alchemist, then it’s the fact that you’re never really poor,” the man said. “Especially good alchemists like us.”

Alex walked in behind Windborn, looking around the place. The courtyard was small by comparison to his own courtyard, but it looked quite nice. There was a small pond with fish on the inside, giving everything a calming sense.

The space inside of the courtyard was also quite cool and relaxing, almost making the outside feel as though it had been in blistering heat.

Alex just smiled and turned to the Divinity, who returned.

“You can enter.”

Alex walked in behind Windborn, looking around the place. The courtyard was small by comparison to his own courtyard, but it looked quite nice. There was a small pond with fish on the inside, giving everything a calming sense.

The space inside of the courtyard was also quite cool and relaxing, almost making the outside feel as though it had been in blistering heat.

“Please, sit down,” Windborn said, showing the two to some seats that had been prepared beforehand.

Alex sat down on the porch with the Divinity some distance behind him, leaning against the wall.

“I’m curious about something,” Alex said. “Were you not given your own courtyard when you came?”

“My own? No, they offered it, but it required me to use my pin and have my disciple take part in the competition. Since my disciple is dead, I chose to not bother with that.”

Windborn seemed saddened by that. Alex wondered what he was sad about: the tournament or the disciple.

“Anyway, let us get this over with,” Alex said. “Ask me whatever you wish to know. I will answer.”

Windborn smiled. “I’m afraid I have a lot of questions to ask you. The War God didn’t ask anything of you at all,” he said.

Alex nodded. “I too wasn’t expecting to not have to answer many questions when I prepared for my interview today.”

Windborn chuckled a little and brought out a pill bottle. He handed it over to Alex. “Do you know what this is?”

Alex grew curious and looked inside the bottle. In it was a single light purple pill with some specks of red and blue scattered around. His eyes narrowed for a moment as his mind raced through all the pills he had made before. He took one sniff of the aroma coming from the pill, and that helped him recognize exactly what pill that was.

“This is a dangerous pill, brother Windborn,” Alex said. “Surely you aren’t asking me to eat it.”

Windborn nodded. “Unfortunately, I must ask you to eat that pill before I ask my questions. I do not want you to speak any lies during my questions.”

“But a pill like this…” Alex looked into the bottle again. “A single lie will make me puke blood. Do you really wish for me to eat it?”

“I must insist,” Windborn said. “You don’t have to worry, however, as you can simply choose to not answer the question if you believe I’ve delved into territories that you do not wish me to know about. You should know the pill doesn’t compel you to answer any questions I have.”

Alex nodded. “I will ask that you do not try to delve into anything personal,” he said.

Windborn shook his head. “I cannot guarantee that. I must ask all the questions I feel necessary to make my decision.”

Alex sighed. “Very well. Then let’s be done with it.” He poured the single pill out onto his palm and ate it.

Windborn simply nodded as he did so.

Alex took in a deep breath and looked at Windborn. “I’ve eaten the pill, so we can begin.”

“Okay. What is your real name?” Windborn asked.

“Yu Ming,” Alex answered.

Windborn smiled. “What is your master’s name?”

“Silvermist.”

Windborn straightened up. “It seems the pill is working, so we can begin,” he said. “You can relax; the questions won’t be that serious. To start with, do tell me how long it’s been since you became an alchemist.”

Alex thought for a moment on whether to answer that question or not. He had already burned the pill inside of his body, so he had no reason to tell the truth completely, but choosing to not answer could be a good way of showing Windborn that he had something important to hide.

‘I can’t not answer the very first question though,’ Alex thought. ‘I should reserve my silence for later.’

“I started practicing Alchemy when I was 18, and I am close to a millennium now. While I do consider it as being a long time, I don’t think many would,” Alex answered.

Windborn seemed surprised by the answer. “At 18? That is quite young. When did you make your first pill then?”

“A month after I started learning it, I think. It’s been a long time, so my memories of that time are a little foggy right now,” Alex said. He had indeed made his pill before he unlocked his Spiritual sense, so the memories from back then weren’t as firm as the others were.

Windborn seemed surprised. “That is quite fast. Just a month? Really?” he asked.

“Yes,” Alex said. “Although, I should explain that my sect was in a truly poor location, so even pills with 10% harmony were considered successful. It must’ve taken me at least a few more months to make a pill that would be acceptable around here.”

“Ah! That certainly explains it,” Windborn said. “I would call you a monster if you really did make proper pills in just a month.”

“I would too,” Alex said and smiled, waiting for the man to ask more of his questions.