26 Chapter 26 – First Mission

Zhu Meiying heard her Aunt and was shocked. She couldn't help but ask "Aunt Jia Li, why did you change your mind?"

She knew very well why her Aunt wanted Zhu Xuan to concentrate on his cultivation, and not on alchemy. Even though she was shocked by the level of control Zhu Xuan had in Fire Qi, it just showed how good he is at understanding cultivation techniques, and made her feel even more assured that he should concentrate more on cultivation.

Zhu Jia Li didn't answer Zhu Meiying and simply passed the answer sheets to her.

After checking the answers, Zhu Meiying stuttered in shock "How... How is this possible?"

She realised not only Zhu Xuan's answers were perfect without any mistakes; he even added his own theories about the purification and pills forming methods, their advantages and disadvantages. Even though, he didn't have any practical knowledge, he proposed his theories based on just reading about them and that too within less than half the time it took to finish the test.

Still in shock, Zhu Meiying asked "Eighth brother, how did you come up with the theories about purification and pill formations?"

"I analysed their properties and compared with other materials used for alchemy when I read through them, and came up with my own theory." Zhu Xuan replied it like it was a common thing to do.

Zhu Meiying replied in annoyance "What do you mean you mean you analysed when you were reading it? It's hard to even memorise all those and you are saying you even analysed while reading?"

Zhu Xuan touched his nose in embarrassment and then replied patiently "Tenth sister, I didn't try to memorise them, I tried to understand them. When you try to memorise them, you will eventually forget about the materials that you are not regularly using, but if you compare, analyse and form a chain of properties of them, it will not only help you to remember them but also help you understand them and even change or improve your knowledge on alchemy."

Zhu Meiying thought about it and said "But the knowledge of alchemy we know is a proved one, and understanding and analysing it won't create changes and failures in alchemy. Your theories and evaluation sound logical from theoretical point of view, but when it comes to practice you will be bound to fail and it's better to learn what has been followed since ages past."

Zhu Xuan understood his sister didn't realise the importance of alchemy and she was simply learning them. He said "Tenth sister, if you just memorise and learn only what is just available and already proven, you won't be able to surpass your limits or the limits of other alchemists before you. Alchemy would have become stagnant if everyone who practised it thought of only learning what they know and not to try to improve beyond the available knowledge."

Zhu Meiying was still confused a bit.

Understanding that, Zhu Jia Li standing next to her rubbed her head and said with a smile "Consider this, if everyone thought they should learn available knowledge, then why are there so many alchemy formulas from various alchemy Grand Masters? There would be only one alchemy master who created all the alchemical knowledge we know now."

She paused and continued "What qualifies them to be Grand Masters of alchemy is not just learning alchemy, but they widened their views, understood and tested more about alchemy materials and created new formulas to help humanity. Now you understand why I said Little Xuan is born to be an Alchemy Grand Master."

Zhu Meiying now understood that she only learnt what was given to her and didn't go beyond that point, and also realised why her aunt called her eighth brother is born for alchemy and how she was ignorant about this fact. She replied with a sad tone "Yes Aunt Jia Li, now I understand. I understand I went on a wrong path and I shouldn't have just learnt about what was provided in books and should have tried my best to broaden my horizons and learn more about alchemy."

Zhu Xuan interjected at this point realising Zhu Meiying became sad and said "Tenth sister, you didn't go on a wrong path. Any subject you choose, be it cultivation or alchemy or arrays, you have to have a strong base and basic understanding before you start your own path in the subject. And the available and proven knowledge in the subject will give you that strong base. I'm sure Aunt knew this and hasn't told you because you are still learning basics."

Zhu Meiying was annoyed to hear it, she snorted and said "First you tell me to learn more and now you are saying basics that are available are important. Then why did you write about your theories before learning any basic knowledge?"

Zhu Xuan laughed at her cute outburst and explained "Tenth sister, I wrote those theories because this is how I always think about anything I come across. I analyse everything I find, to understand them better. But that doesn't mean I will ignore the knowledge available and not learn them. I won't work on my theories until I learn the basic knowledge of alchemy, and that is the reason Aunt didn't tell you about your path yet."

Zhu Jia Li also smiled at the siblings conversation and said "He is right Little Meiying. Walking towards your own path in alchemy without basic knowledge is like, finding a light in complete darkness. Learning the basics and have a strong base is like showing a direction towards the light in your path. "

She then turned to Zhu Xuan with a smile and said "I was planning to tell you the importance of the basics of alchemy, but I'm glad you understood that by yourself Little Xuan."

She was very happy with her nephew's understanding of the importance of alchemy. Zhu Meiying standing next to her found she was unable to understand her Eighth brother anymore. In the past, he was just a timid person who hasn't activated his elemental roots. But now, she found him more and more unpredictable and mysterious.

Zhu Jia Li said "Okay, let's start with your lessons Little Xuan. What do you think are the important steps for forming an alchemy pill?"

With that question, Zhu Xuan took his first step in alchemy.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twenty days passed by.

In these twenty days, he mostly concentrated in learning alchemy and his auxiliary techniques. He spent minimum time in improving his cultivation because he realised the auxiliary techniques are more important then he thought previously.

From the books he bought from Qinglu Treasures pavilion about breaking through Qi Gathering stage, he found he had to break the barrier outside his dantian to enter the stage. He also found some knowledge of the people with two or three phases elemental roots have corresponding barriers covering their dantian. So, he should breakthrough seven barriers to reach Qi Gathering stage and one needs to understand their elements well to break the barrier outside the dantian.

And this is where the importance of auxiliary techniques comes in, it helps to improve and understand the cultivators elements. He already realised when he was in the library of Zhu clan that apart from channelling, you also need to know to utilise your Qi, which is the first stage Utilisation. But after reading through the techniques and practising he got in the past twenty days, he understood you need to perceive the elements in the elements first, and not just absorb their Qi, which is the Perception Stage. After perceiving and understand the element completely is the Completion stage. And then the final stage, Perfection stage which is basically making a perfect combination of your utilisation and complete understanding of the element and integrating it into the technique.

Currently, Zhu Xuan is standing outside his courtyard closing his eyes. He is trying to understand the wind surrounding him. He already reached the perception stage of his technique and now trying to understand the wind around him.

He was standing without moving for half a day, and finally opened his eyes. He said to himself "Wind is gentle, it is everywhere around you, pass through you. They are like waves adjusting to their surroundings and pass through interference. I have understood this much so far but I'm far from understanding it completely."

Though he is far from understanding he was happy with the results, his speed increased thrice from his usual speed when he utilised wing elemental Qi.

When he was thinking about it, there was a buzz sound and then he heard a familiar voice inside his head. He couldn't help but smile when he heard the voice.

Shen Long spoke slowly in Zhu Xuan's mind with his usual plain calm voice "Your first mission is ready Kid."