Power surged through my veins like liquid fire. I sat cross-legged on the stone floor, basking in the newfound strength that the shadow entity had granted . The Grandmasters Realm power felt intoxicating, making even the air around seem to bend to my will.
"With this power, I can do anything," I whispered to myself.
My thoughts turned imdiately to crafting. If I was going to save Isabelle, I needed every advantage possible. The Nine Transformation Pill was legendary—capable of completely rebuilding one's foundation and multiplying their potential. Few alchemists could even attempt it, but with my current power level, it was within reach.
I gathered my tools thodically—jade mortar, spirit-infused pestle, and rare ingredients I'd been saving for a special occasion. The most precious was a millennium-old spirit fruit that pulsed with ethereal light. Its juice alone could sustain a cultivator for months.
"Six days," I murmured, calculating. "That's what it'll take."
I sealed my chambers with energy barriers and began. The process required absolute concentration—one slip could waste ingredients worth fortunes. Hours lted into days as I manipulated spiritual energies with precision impossible at my previous level.
On the third day, the effects of my work began to manifest beyond my chamber walls. Golden mist leaked through my barriers, creating a shimring cloud that hung over White City. Citizens stopped in the streets, pointing skyward at the phenonon.
Inside my chamber, I remained focused, my fingers dancing through complex patterns as I guided the pill's formation. Sweat beaded on my forehead, evaporating instantly in the spiritual heat generated by the process.
---
"Look at that! Above the Knight residence!" a rchant called out, pointing at the golden cloud that had been growing for days.
Caleb Thorne, master alchemist of White City, narrowed his eyes at the sight. "Impossible," he muttered, stroking his long beard. "That pattern of energy dispersion... soone's attempting to craft an Earth Rank pill."
His apprentices gathered around him, eyes wide with wonder.
"Master Thorne, could it really be?" asked the youngest. "Earth Rank pills are beyond even most Grandmasters!"
Caleb's expression darkened. "We shall see. Very few have the skill, regardless of their power level."
---
On the sixth day, I completed the final refinent. The chamber had beco a maelstrom of energy—furniture floating, windows vibrating with resonant power. The pill floated before , absorbing the last streams of concentrated essence.
When it finally stabilized, I nearly laughed at the irony. After all that spectacular energy and effort, the Nine Transformation Pill looked utterly ordinary—a small, gray sphere with faint lines running across its surface.
"Appearances truly are deceiving," I mused, carefully placing it in a jade box.
Exhaustion hit like a physical blow. Even with Grandmaster-level energy, crafting such a pill had drained significantly. I collapsed onto my bed, slipping imdiately into deep ditation to recover.
The next morning, I awoke feeling refreshed but purposeful. I dressed carefully in simple but elegant robes and placed the pill box in my inner pocket. It was ti to fulfill my end of another bargain.
No.1 Winery was bustling when I arrived. The establishnt served as both a high-class wine retailer and the unofficial headquarters of Caleb Thorne, White City's most respected alchemist. I'd arranged to et him days ago, promising paynt for information about ancient pill formulations.
The proprietor recognized imdiately. "Master Knight! Master Thorne is expecting you. Please, follow ."
He led through the main hall to a private room in the back. The space was elegantly furnished, with shelves of rare wines and alchemical texts lining the walls.
Caleb Thorne sat at a large table, flanked by three apprentices. He was older than I expected—perhaps in his seventies—with keen eyes that betrayed his sharp mind.
"So, you're the famous Liam Knight," he said, not bothering to stand. "I've heard interesting rumors about you. A nobody who sohow gained the backing of powerful forces."
I smiled politely, ignoring the barb. "Master Thorne, thank you for eting . Your reputation as an alchemist is unparalleled in White City." Chapter provided via *.
He nodded, accepting the flattery as his due. "You ntioned paynt for my knowledge. I'm a busy man, so let's proceed."
"Of course." I reached into my robe and withdrew the jade box. "As agreed, I've brought sothing of value."
When I opened the box and placed the small gray pill on the table, confusion flickered across Thorne's face. One of his apprentices leaned forward, frowning.
"What is this supposed to be?" Thorne asked, voice already tinged with disappointnt.
"The Nine Transformation Pill," I replied calmly. "I crafted it myself."
There was a mont of stunned silence before the oldest apprentice burst into laughter. The others quickly joined in.
"The Nine Transformation Pill? That legendary Earth Rank pill?" Thorne picked it up, rolling it between his fingers. "This is nothing but a common dicinal ball. Do you take for a fool?"
I kept my expression neutral. "I understand your skepticism. The pill's appearance is deceptively simple."
"Simple? It's worthless!" Thorne placed it back in the box with distaste. "The Nine Transformation Pill would emanate spiritual light, have nine distinct layers visible beneath its surface, and resonate with pure elental energy."
"True Earth Rank pills often conceal their nature," I countered. "Their power is contained within, not flaunted externally."
Thorne's face darkened. "Young man, I've been an alchemist for fifty years. I know every grade of pill from the most common to the rarest artifacts. This," he pushed the box back toward , "is not what you claim."
His apprentices exchanged smirks, clearly enjoying my humiliation. The youngest one whispered sothing that made the others chuckle.
"Perhaps a demonstration—" I began.
"We're done here," Thorne cut off. "I don't appreciate having my ti wasted with cheap tricks and false claims."
I felt anger rising in my chest but kept it contained. "Master Thorne, with respect, you're making a significant error in judgnt."
"Am I?" His eyebrows rose. "Let educate you, since you seem to need it. Creating an Earth Rank pill requires decades of experience, rare materials that most people will never even see in their lifeti, and an innate talent that appears once in generations."
He stood up, looking down at with disdain. "You might have gained so power recently—yes, we all felt the energy disturbance—but power alone doesn't make an alchemist. It requires understanding, finesse, and humility."
"I understand more than you realize," I said quietly.
"Then understand this," Thorne retorted. "You can't fake true ability. Whatever ga you're playing, whatever shortcuts you think you've found, they won't sustain you. Without real talent and skill, your path won't be long!"
His words stung more than I wanted to admit. I'd poured everything into crafting that pill—my knowledge, the ancient techniques from my father's legacy, and the new power I'd temporarily gained.
The apprentices were watching with barely concealed amusent, clearly enjoying seeing soone brought low by their master.
I slowly picked up the jade box and closed it. "Thank you for your ti, Master Thorne."
"So friendly advice," he called as I turned to leave. "Focus on what you're actually capable of. Not everyone is destined for greatness, and pretending otherwise only leads to embarrassnt."
I paused at the doorway, looking back at him. "You're right about one thing, Master Thorne. Not everyone is destined for greatness."
I slipped the box back into my robe and walked out, ignoring the laughter that followed . As I stepped into the bright sunlight outside, I weighed my options. The Nine Transformation Pill was incredibly valuable—perhaps too valuable to waste on soone who couldn't recognize its worth.
Caleb Thorne's words echoed in my mind: "Without real talent and skill, your path won't be long!"
If only he knew how far I'd already co, and how much farther I intended to go. One day, I'd make sure he rembered this mont—not with amusent, but with regret.
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