Chapter 58: Logs
"Didn’t I tell you not to take your injuries lightly?" The Alchemy Elder snorted, already angry before the lesson could even begin, wielding a cane that rested on his shoulder.
Another day had passed, and the sunset had arrived, so Liam had gone through the mountain to reach the balcony where he had to attend the private lessons.
Still, Liam’s appearance loudly described how he had spent that day and the previous night, so loudly that the Alchemy Elder had noticed it as soon as he crossed the balcony’s doors.
Liam’s dark eye bags had returned. His eyes weren’t bloodshot now, but his disheveled, dirty hair vouched for quite a sweaty training session.
Truth be told, Liam felt lucky he had recalled the lesson. Between the circulation technique and the study and testing of the Seismic Palm, he had almost failed to change into a clean robe, afraid of being late to the appointnt.
"No matter," The Alchemy Elder snorted again, not waiting for Liam to reply. "I shall still expect your undivided attention. Sit now."
The Elder swung the cane to point it at the balcony’s center, and Liam sat there.
"Now!" The Elder exclaid, pacing around Liam. "Alchemy is one of the three noble arts that cultivators can have the privilege of learning, alongside Inscriptions and Formations."
"Alchemy Eld-," Liam began to call, only for the cane to hit his head. It hardly hurt, but that slight pain was enough to silence him.
"What did I say you should address
as?" The Alchemy Elder scolded.
"I’m sorry, Master," Liam apologized, only for the cane to hit his head again.
"I haven’t given you permission to speak," The Alchemy Elder scolded again. "You will only listen for now."
Liam opened his mouth, but the Elder’s glare was already fixed on him, making him close it and keep it shut.
"Formations is the art of infusing shapeless Qi in the environnt," The Elder continued. "It’s a soft but subli practice that can give any land terrifying effects."
Liam had heard about that. Apparently, the Sect had a formation that kept mortals away and other layers of protection against unwanted trespassers.
"Inscription is the art of carving specific, intense Qi into an item," The Elder explained. "It takes imnse will and precision to perform it, and its products shape the entire cultivation world, from its most barren caves to its mightiest magical weapons."
’The Divine Cult’s scroll,’ Liam imdiately connected, finally explaining that strange item, and anything else magical around the Sect, apparently.
"Instead," The Elder stated, "Alchemy is the art of harnessing, rearranging, and enhancing the properties the Heavens’ creations possess."
Liam had heard those exact words from the Apothecary Elder, but the cane hit his head, distracting him from those thoughts.
"Even if the Apothecary Elder already explained it," The Alchemy Elder declared, "You shall hear it again from ."
’Is he reading my mind?’ Liam cursed but remained silent, not even daring to nod.
"Among the three noble arts," The Alchemy Elder continued, "Alchemy is the only one that can defy the Heavens. Inscriptions and Formations can bend and stretch their rules, but are more limited nonetheless."
Before Liam could think the word "biased
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