Morning sunlight filtered through the mist as Li Ming stretched outside the alchemy hall.
The faint smell of herbs still hung in the air — and also a bit of burnt wood.
"Smells like progress," he said proudly.
Bai Guo sniffed. "Smells like you failed another batch."
Before Li Ming could argue, the heavy door creaked open.
An old man stepped out, his long gray beard swaying with each step. His robes were plain, but the pressure from his Qi made even the air tighten.
"Li Ming," the elder said. "You dare to call this mess ’alchemy’?"
Li Ming’s smile froze. "...Elder Han! You’re awake early!"
"I couldn’t sleep with your cauldron howling like a demon dog."
Elder Han’s sharp eyes scanned the shattered cauldron, the half-burnt herbs, and Bai Guo trying to look invisible.
He sighed deeply. "Do you even know what medicine refining means?"
Li Ming straightened. "Of course! You put herbs in, stir with Qi, and—"
"—explode the sect?" Elder Han cut in. "Impressive talent."
Bai Guo nodded. "He’s very consistent."
Elder Han glared. "You too, stop encouraging him!"
Lan Yue appeared, arms folded. "Elder Han, you did promise to test Li Ming’s alchemy skills."
The old man groaned. "I promised to see if he had potential, not if he’d destroy my courtyard."
"Same thing," Bai Guo said cheerfully.
Han’s eyebrow twitched. "Fine. We’ll test him."
He turned to Li Ming. "You have one chance. Refine a simple Spirit Rejuvenation Pill. Fail, and you’re banned from touching a cauldron for a month."
Li Ming saluted. "Understood!"
Bai Guo whispered, "You’re doomed."
Inside the hall, the air buzzed with spiritual energy. Rows of jars and herbs filled the shelves — each glowing faintly.
Li Ming stood before a new cauldron, focused.
Elder Han watched silently from behind, arms crossed.
Li Ming took a deep breath. Alright... time to prove I’m not a walking disaster.
He guided his Qi through the ingredients — ginseng root, moon lotus, dew pearls.
The cauldron glowed gently. Steam curled upward in perfect rhythm.
For a moment, everything looked... peaceful.
Outside, Bai Guo counted under his breath. "Three... two..."
The cauldron jumped, flames burst, and white smoke flooded the hall.
Lan Yue sighed. "Every time."
Elder Han coughed as the smoke cleared — but to his surprise, a faint golden pill rolled onto the table, perfectly round, gleaming softly.
Li Ming blinked. "Wait, it didn’t explode completely?"
Han picked up the pill, inspecting it. His expression froze.
"This... is actually usable," he said slowly. "Slightly unstable... but potent."
Bai Guo’s jaw dropped. "He did it! Accidentally, but still!"
Elder Han grunted. "You barely passed. But fine — I’ll let you continue under supervision."
Li Ming grinned. "So I’m officially your disciple now?"
"Don’t push your luck."
But as the elder turned away, a small smile tugged at his lips.
Later that day, Li Ming practiced again — under Han’s sharp gaze.
"Balance your Qi, fool," the elder barked. "Alchemy is patience! Precision! Not blind luck!"
Li Ming focused. "Got it! More precision, less explosion."
The next batch shimmered steadily, no fire, no smoke.
When the lid lifted — two smooth pills floated out. The most update n0vels are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Han blinked. "Hmm. Not bad."
Bai Guo clapped. "You’re evolving!"
Lan Yue smiled slightly. "Maybe he’ll survive this training after all."
Outside, Yun Rou arrived with a basket of herbs.
"I heard there was another explosion," she said softly.
Li Ming rubbed the back of his neck. "Just a small one. Controlled, I swear."
Elder Han eyed her basket. "Hmm. Excellent quality. Where did you find these?"
"I grew them," Yun Rou replied.
Han’s eyes lit up. "You... cultivate spiritual herbs yourself?"
She nodded. "It helps me stabilize my Qi."
Han turned to Li Ming. "You’re staying close to her. She’s ten times more reliable than you."
Li Ming sighed. "Figures."
As the sun set, Elder Han dismissed them.
Li Ming sat on the steps, the newly made pills resting in his palm. They glowed faintly — warm, steady, alive.
Lan Yue joined him quietly. "You did well today."
He smiled. "Guess even explosions can lead somewhere."
Bai Guo stretched. "At this rate, we’ll be rich in pills."
Yun Rou laughed softly. "Or buried under a pile of them."
Li Ming grinned. "We’ll find out soon enough."
Above them, the last rays of sunlight shimmered across the sect — a peaceful glow before whatever chaos tomorrow would bring.
The next morning, the whole sect was buzzing.
Rumors spread faster than Qi sparks.
"Did you hear? That thunder freak burned down half the alchemy hall—"
"No, no, he passed the test!"
"What?! Elder Han actually took a disciple?!"
"Yeah, and it’s that Li Ming guy!"
Li Ming sighed as he walked through the courtyard, every passing disciple staring like he’d grown a second head.
Bai Guo perched on his shoulder, smirking. "Congratulations, you’re famous again. For not blowing up everything this time."
Elder Han was already waiting in the hall, stirring something thick and purple in a cauldron. The air smelled faintly like flowers—and smoke.
"You’re late," the elder said without looking up.
Li Ming bowed. "I was—uh—cleaning the ashes from yesterday’s experiment."
Han grunted. "Good. You’ll be doing that every morning."
"Discipline builds mastery. And judging by your explosions, you’ll need a lot of discipline."
Lan Yue entered behind him, holding a scroll. "Elder Han, the Sect Master approved your request. Li Ming is now officially listed under the Medicine Hall as your direct disciple."
Han nodded. "Good. That means when he messes up, it’s my responsibility. Wonderful."
Li Ming smiled weakly. "I’ll try not to blow anything up."
Bai Guo muttered, "That’s what you said last time before we all had singed eyebrows."
Han gestured toward the shelves lining the walls. "You’ll start by memorizing every herb in this hall. Their names, their Qi nature, their cycle compatibility, and their reaction to fire-type spiritual energy."
Li Ming blinked. "All of them?"
"There are only three thousand two hundred and twelve varieties. You’ll manage."
"Right," Li Ming said, deadpan. "No problem. I’ll just never sleep again."
Yun Rou entered quietly, holding fresh herbs. "If you need help, I can—"
Han interrupted. "Good. You’ll assist him. He’ll learn more if he studies with someone who doesn’t explode things."
Li Ming groaned. "Great, my punishment comes with supervision."
Hours passed as Li Ming worked through rows of herbs — sniffing, studying, occasionally sneezing when the dust got too strong.
Bai Guo lay upside down on a shelf, snoring loudly.
Yun Rou giggled. "You know, you’re actually focused when you stop talking."
Li Ming smiled faintly. "And here I thought you only came to laugh at me."
"Maybe a little," she teased, handing him a glowing green leaf. "Try channeling Qi into this — gently."
He obeyed, and the leaf shimmered, releasing a sweet aroma.
"See? Controlled Qi creates life, not fire."
Li Ming nodded, realization dawning. "Alchemy isn’t power... it’s balance."
Han, standing quietly in the doorway, smiled to himself. "Maybe you’re not hopeless after all."
The medicine hall glowed softly from the lanterns, and Li Ming sat cross-legged beside the cauldron, meditating with the faint scent of herbs around him.
Lan Yue stopped by, arms crossed. "So? How does it feel, being Elder Han’s student?"
Li Ming opened one eye. "Like I’ve joined a sect inside a sect."
She chuckled. "At least you’re learning something useful."
He nodded, looking at the glowing herbs. "Yeah... something about patience."
Bai Guo yawned. "And fire resistance."
They laughed — the kind that came easy after a long day.
As the moonlight filtered through the window, Li Ming gazed at the cauldron, its surface still warm.
A soft determination flickered in his eyes.
"Next time," he murmured, "I’ll make a pill worthy of Elder Han’s name."
Outside, Elder Han stood beneath the lantern light, listening.
He smiled faintly. "Let’s see how far you can go, boy."
The flames inside the cauldron flared slightly — as if responding to that challenge.