Gu Changhuan froze.
He swept the entire Hundred Arts Office with his Divine Sense, confirmed that only one person was inside, and then stepped outside to look at the plaque above the door, falling into deep thought.
He had pictured a room full of enthusiasts, busily refining pills, making artifacts, and drawing talismans.
Where was everyone?
Gu Changhuan had good reason to believe that if not for the deafening snores echoing from within, the trees outside the Hundred Arts Office would have been weighed down with sparrows.
He approached.
“Hello, Uncle.
Is this the Hundred Arts Office?” “Ah?
Who is it?
This is the Hundred Arts Office.
What do you need?” The cultivator slumped over the counter jolted awake, letting out a heavy yawn.
“Greetings, Clan Uncle.
This junior is Gu Changhuan, and I have come to the Hundred Arts Office to learn alchemy.” Gu Changhuan looked at the bearded, disheveled elder before him, finding the scene rather surreal.
The Gu Clan was renowned for its alchemy, yet the place where alchemy was taught was desolate beyond belief.
It simply made no sense.
The man looked old enough to be an uncle of the Shi generation, he supposed.
“Learn alchemy?
You’ve come on the wrong day,” the bearded man said after a long stretch.
“The wrong day?” Gu Changhuan blinked.
“Alchemy lessons are held only on days ending in four and five, such as the fourth, fifth, fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-fourth, and twenty-fifth of the month.
Today is the twentieth.
Come back on the twenty-fourth,” the bearded cultivator replied.
“The teaching schedule for the Hundred Cultivation Arts in the Gu Clan is strictly fixed: days ending in one and two are for artifact refining and formations, days ending in four and five are for alchemy, and days ending in seven and eight are for talisman drawing.” Gu Changhuan had never imagined that simply coming to study would require adhering to such a rigid calendar.
Just as he wondered what to say, the bearded man reached into his Storage Bag and produced a thick stack of books.
“Take these back and study them thoroughly.
The elders who teach alchemy are extremely strict,” the man instructed.
Gu Changhuan accepted the texts, surprised by his clan uncle’s unexpected warmth.
When he glanced at the covers, however, he realized he had already committed every single one of those books to memory.
He kept the books.
“May I ask your name, Uncle?” “This old man is Gu Shiwen,” the bearded cultivator answered.
Gu Changhuan’s mouth twitched.
Shiwen—such a scholarly-sounding name hardly suited the man’s scruffy appearance.
Gu Shiwen paid no mind to the boy’s complicated expression.
“Do you have anything else to ask?” Sensing that he was being dismissed, Gu Changhuan sensibly took his leave.
He left the Hundred Arts Office and went to see Patriarch Gu Wanchang.
He missed his grandfather.
Gu Wanhao had been away for half a year now, and it was nearly time for him to return.
“Twelfth Brother will be back tomorrow!” Upon hearing this, the corners of Gu Changhuan’s lips curled upward in delight.
A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he decided to seek clarification from the Clan Leader.
“Patriarch, Great-grandfather taught me for half a year, and I know how much he cares about the clan.
But he seemed sad when I told him Changcheng had dual spiritual roots.
Why was that?” Gu Wanchang let out a quiet sigh at the question.
“Changhuan, do you know what your Great-Grandfather’s spirit root aptitude is?” he asked.
“Great-Grandfather never mentioned it, but since he was able to reach the Late Foundation Establishment realm, his aptitude shouldn’t be lacking,” Gu Changhuan replied.
Gu Wanchang smiled bitterly.
“More than that.
Your great-grandfather is a genius with dual spiritual roots.
He has the talent to reach Purple Mansion.” Dual Spirit Roots!
“However, his are Water-Fire Dual Spirit Roots, and water and fire are inherently incompatible.
When he doesn’t exert himself fully, it is manageable.
But if he were to fight at full strength, the two elements would clash, causing his Spiritual Power to reverse.
The lightest consequence would be the complete destruction of his meridians, while the worst would be instant death.
“That is why he has never used his full strength, yet he is still the strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Nine Perches Mountains.
But reaching Purple Mansion would take everything he has, even for him, so…” Gu Wanchang trailed off with a heavy sigh.
If Gu Xuanzhan’s spirit root attributes had not conflicted, the Gu Clan would have produced a Purple Mansion expert long ago.
Gu Changhuan could not help asking, “Is there truly no way?” With Great-Grandfather possessing the potential for the Purple Mansion, must he simply wait out his days and perish at the Foundation Establishment stage because of his spirit roots?
That would be entirely too unjust!
“There is a way,” Gu Wanchang replied.
“If a fourth-tier earth-attribute spiritual object can be found to mediate and balance the water and fire, your Great-Grandfather would have a chance to breach the Purple Mansion Realm.
At the very least, it would require a Third-Tier High Grade earth-attribute spiritual object.” “Its spiritual qi must also be gentle, and its inner essence rich and substantial.” Gu Changhuan’s heart sank.
A fourth-tier spiritual object was entirely beyond the means of a small Foundation Establishment clan like theirs, and a Third-Tier High Grade earth-attribute object was practically priceless.
Without an unexpected miracle, Gu Xuanzhan’s path of cultivation was destined to halt at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Learning that his great-grandfather’s breakthrough was nearly impossible left Gu Changhuan thoroughly dispirited.
Even the joy he had felt upon hearing of Gu Wanhao’s impending return vanished completely.
When Gu Wanhao returned, he found his grandson thoroughly crestfallen.
Learning the cause of the boy’s gloom, Gu Wanhao could only respond with helpless resignation.
He was well aware of Gu Xuanzhan’s condition and often lamented the cruelty of fate.
For years, the clan had searched for a third-tier, high-grade earth-attribute spiritual object.
They had even asked the Fang and Zhang ancestors for help, but received no news.
“Grandfather, I went to the clan’s Hundred Arts Office yesterday, but the elder who teaches alchemy was not there.
Now that you’ve returned, might you teach me alchemy?” Gu Changhuan deliberately changed the subject.
Teaching the boy alchemy presented no real difficulty, but…
Gu Wanhao stroked his beard.
He could stay only a few days before returning to his post at Nine Perches Market.
Teaching Changhuan here would be difficult.
Why not bring the boy along to the market instead?
Gu Wanhao decided the idea was sound.
Gu Changhuan had already mastered the foundational knowledge of the cultivation world and did not require constant, daily supervision.
The market possessed abundant Spiritual Qi that would not hinder his progress, and the experience would broaden his horizons.
“Grandfather intends to take you to the market to cultivate.
Would you be willing?” “Really?
Yes!” Gu Changhuan had long wanted to visit after hearing Gu Shiyuan describe the bustling market.
“As for alchemy, there is no need to rush.
It will not be too late to begin once your cultivation reaches the Middle Qi Condensation stage.
For now, you need only finish reading and memorizing the books I gave you earlier.” Gu Wanchang did not object.
Nine Perches Market was the largest market in the Nine Perches Mountains, with the Zhang Clan ancestor stationed there.
It was even a little safer than Emerald Maple Mountain, so he need not worry about Changhuan.
He and Gu Wanhua, the General Affairs Hall elder, were taking stock of the supplies Gu Wanhao had brought back.
Used well, they could make a crucial difference during the coming demon beast unrest.
Within a few days, Gu Wanhao set out for the Nine Perches Market once more, accompanied by his grandson and two alchemy apprentices from the Hundred Arts Office.
One was Gu Shiyou, while the other was a member of the ‘Shi’ generation named Gu Shizhuo.
Gu Shizhuo already knew a little alchemy and was going to gain experience.
A chance to learn from Gu Wanhao would be a welcome bonus.
The Gu Clan maintained four shops within the market.
Three dealt in spirit pills, spirit grain, spirit wine, talismans, and formation disks, while the fourth was a tavern.
Gu Wanhao naturally oversaw the pill shop, the Wanbao Pill Pavilion.
No sooner had they stepped inside than a young man hurried forward to greet them.
“The Grand Elder is back!
This must be your grandson, Changhuan?
I’m your Fourth Brother, Gu Changde.
I hope you’ll look out for me, Changhuan.
Grand Elder, a late Qi Condensation cultivator came yesterday to ask you to refine pills.
Would you have time?
He’s very generous—hundreds of spirit stones at a stroke…” Gu Changde rattled on without pause, as though he had an endless supply of words.
“Enough, Changde,” Gu Wanhao interrupted, cutting off the torrent of speech.