Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Level two Alchemist? (NEW!)
“Ah! Master Zhi, welcome, welcome!” Hua Hua greeted warmly, his face lighting up as he stepped forward, arms outstretched in an eager embrace.

Ace, sensing the sincerity yet hoping to avoid any lingering awkwardness, accepted the gesture with a brief but firm pat on the elder’s back before stepping away.

With pleasantries exchanged, they settled into their seats. A servant swiftly arrived, carefully pouring tea into delicate porcelain cups.

The rich aroma of freshly brewed leaves filled the air, weaving a sense of calm into the room.

Hua Hua leaned forward slightly, his usual warmth still present, though a hint of seriousness settled in his expression. “Master Zhi, we are truly grateful that you decided to assist us in our times of trouble.”

Ace set his cup down gently, fingers tapping idly against the wooden table. His gaze was steady, unreadable. “We made a deal after all. I intend to honour it.”

Hua Hua nodded, then turned to Elder Lesy. “Good, good. Lesy, give us an update on the current state of our shops.”

“Yes, Patriarch.” Lesy stood up, straightened her posture, and began her report.

“The current situation is… less than ideal,” she admitted with a sigh.

“In the past few months, our profits have plummeted. Nearly sixty percent of our total earnings have already been lost ever since the Xiao family made their move.”

Ace’s expression remained calm, but his gaze sharpened as he listened.

“They suddenly injected a significant amount of funds into their operations, offering extravagant prices to recruit alchemists—even those under our employ. Many of our own were poached, tempted away by lucrative offers we couldn’t compete with.”

Lesy’s tone held a trace of frustration, though she kept it professional. “Our shops are struggling to keep up. Without enough skilled alchemists, production has slowed, and our reputation is taking a hit. Customers are beginning to favor the Xiao family’s supply instead.”

Ace nodded slightly, absorbing the information in silence. His fingers tapped against the table once more—a rhythmic, thoughtful motion.

Hua Hua exhaled, his brows furrowing. “It’s clear the Xiao family has been planning this for some time.”

Lesy crossed her arms. “And the worst part? They’re not even focused on quality. They’re flooding the market with quantity, pushing us further into a corner.”

A heavy pause settled in the room.

Ace finally broke the silence, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

“So they’re forcing you into a battle of resources.”

Lesy and Hua Hua exchanged glances before nodding.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Ace’s lips as he leaned back slightly, fingers tapping idly against the wooden armrest.

His voice was calm, yet there was an undeniable edge of confidence in it.

“Then let’s push them as well. I have just the plan.”

Hua Hua and Elder Lesy exchanged glances, a mix of curiosity and confusion flickering across their faces.

Ace leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. “Gather some of this ingredients for me.”

As Ace narrate out the herbs he wanted, Hua Lesy muttered in a low voice.

“Aren’t all this herbs for a level two pill?”

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then—shock.

Level two?

They had assumed Ace was at most a Level one Alchemist. That alone would have been impressive, given his young age and the rarity of skilled alchemists.

But Level two? That was an entirely different level of mastery.

Elder Lesy’s mouth opened slightly before she caught herself, while Hua Hua’s brows furrowed in deep thought.

Ace, however, didn’t correct their assumption. He merely smiled—calm, unreadable.

Without further hesitation, they rushed to prepare the herbs he requested, excitement evident in their movements.

Once the preparations were made and the last servant left, Ace found himself alone in the quiet of the chamber.

_______

Inside the dimly lit room, Ace settled himself before the alchemy furnace, his eyes reflecting the flickering glow of the small flames beneath it.

The scent of herbs filled the air—earthy, floral, and slightly bitter—mingling with the faint traces of smoke that curled toward the ceiling.

Before him lay an assortment of carefully selected ingredients, each one carrying a distinct potency, each one essential in crafting the Level two Soul Enhancement Pill.

Taking a deep breath, Ace steadied his focus. This wasn’t just any pill—it was a refinement that required precision, control, and an innate understanding of the alchemical process.

He reached for the first ingredient, the Lunar Bell Flower.

The petals of the flower shimmered faintly, carrying traces of moonlight energy, a rare trait that made it invaluable for strengthening one’s soul foundation.

With practiced ease, Ace crushed the petals lightly between his fingers before dropping them into the furnace.

As they touched the heated base, a soft hiss sounded, and a gentle swirl of silver mist rose into the air.

Watching the reaction carefully, Ace adjusted the flame with a small flick of his fingers.

Too high, and the essence would burn away; too low, and it wouldn’t dissolve properly into the mixture.

Minutes ticked by, stretching the silence as Ace remained focused.

Once the petals had fully disintegrated into the bubbling liquid, he moved on to the next ingredient—Yin Tulip .

Unlike the Lunar Bell Flower, yin tulips were delicate yet deceptively powerful, carrying traces of spiritual resonance.

Their translucent petals almost looked like tiny shards of polished gemstone, reflecting the firelight in mesmerizing hues.

Ace plucked three petals, rolling them lightly between his fingers before releasing them into the furnace.

The reaction was immediate.

A soft pulse of energy rippled through the room as the petals dissolved, turning the previously silvery mist into a deeper, richer blue.

A faint, melodic hum echoed from the furnace, a clear sign that the ingredients were merging well.

Ace exhaled slowly, keeping his senses attuned to every minor change in the mixture.

Alchemy wasn’t just about following steps—it was an art, one that demanded harmony between flame, ingredient, and intent.

(A/N: With Alchemy you can rule the world!)

Now came the delicate part.

He reached for a Spirit Weave Root, a tricky herb that required precise timing.

Too early, and it would clash with the Yim Tulip’s essence, destabilizing the refinement.

Too late, and its full potential would be wasted.

Waiting until the bubbling liquid settled into a steady rhythm, Ace finally added the root, watching as it curled upon contact, its deep crimson hue bleeding into the mixture.

A faint, almost inaudible vibration filled the air.

The room grew quieter, the energy in the furnace shifting, intensifying.

Ace’s eyes narrowed slightly. This was the crucial moment. If he lost control now, all the previous effort would be for nothing.

Holding his breath, he adjusted the flame ever so slightly, ensuring a slow and steady refinement.

The furnace trembled once, then stilled, the colors within swirling together in a mesmerizing dance of silver, blue, and red.

Almost there.

Ace’s hands hovered over the furnace as he murmured a quiet incantation, channeling his energy to guide the final merging process.

The last wisps of mist spiraled upward before vanishing, leaving behind a soft glow within the furnace depths.

Then—silence.

Ace peered inside.

Resting at the bottom of the furnace were three Soul Enhancement Pills, their surfaces smooth and flawless, exuding a faint spiritual aura.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Success!