Legacy of Hatred-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 appointment.

"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 exclaimed, 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 me 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 environment," The Elder continued. "It’s a soft but sublime 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 immense 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 immediately 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 me."

’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", the cane hit his head. The Alchemy Elder seemed to have expected that reaction and had been ready for it.

"Don’t believe me?" The Alchemy Elder snorted. "When I was in my prime, I could force cores to grow additional spiritual roots, revert aging, and cure illnesses so deadly the mere thought of them could kill you."

That did indeed sound incredible, but so were talking scrolls and barriers that made the whole Sect invisible. Liam’s innocent side wanted to believe the Alchemy Elder, but he had promised himself to be wary of his naivety.

However, an important detail stood out among that apparent boasting.

"Master, what do you mean by your prime?" Liam asked, accepting that the cane would slam on his head again.

And the cane arrived, but the answer took a while to resound. The Elder had to turn, walk toward the balcony’s edge, and wrap his arms around his back before he felt like talking.

"Did the Apothecary Elder show you what the alchemical flame is?" The Alchemy Elder asked. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Yes," Liam confirmed.

"Yes, Master," The Alchemy Elder corrected. "The alchemical flame is the foundation of alchemy. It feeds on Qi and demands different quantities of it depending on the concoction’s rank."

That made sense, but Liam didn’t think much of it. Yet, a stern, almost sad atmosphere descended on the balcony, claiming the entirety of his attention.

"I once failed a high-ranking, dangerous concoction," The Alchemy Elder explained. "The backlash burned my cultivation, leaving me with a handful of branches that will never grow leaves again."

Liam suddenly felt as if he had been arrogant. He had much working in his favor, but proof of the backlashes’ danger stood right in front of him now.

"Even with all my mastery," The Alchemy Elder sighed, "I couldn’t fix myself. I left the Inner Circles in shame, but the Old Ma-, the Sect Leader, welcomed me here and gave me a place to continue practicing alchemy."

The Elder turned at that point, his look at Liam not much of a glare anymore.

"I owe the Sect Leader," The Alchemy Elder declared, "Which is why I agreed to teach you personally."

Liam would have never expected that loud, even arrogant character to have such a sad story. Yet, it served as a cautionary tale while also instilling new doubts.

"Why couldn’t you fix yourself?" Liam questioned, adding something upon recalling the previous scolding. "Master."

"Every alchemical product has impurities," The Elder explained. "In my fear of losing my cultivation forever, I consumed too many pills and elixirs, clogging myself with impurities my body can no longer expel."

Liam truly didn’t know what to say, but the Alchemy Elder handled that part for him. His angry mood even returned now that the sob story was over.

"Which is why," The Elder announced, pointing his cane at a corner behind Liam, "I shall accept nothing but utmost perfection from you. You won’t touch a cauldron until you master the alchemical flame."

Liam followed the cane to the corner, finding a pile of neatly arranged logs there.

"The slightest variable can affect the entire alchemical concoction," The Elder declared. "I chose those logs myself, so get one and bring it here."

Liam did as told, seizing the log on top of the pile before returning to the balcony’s center. The Elder also went there, and merely touching the piece of wood with his cane set it on fire.

Obviously, Qi was involved, but Liam didn’t have the time to study the process since more orders thundered in his ears.

"Pour your Qi into the fire," The Elder ordered, and Liam sat down, crossing his legs and pushing past his exhaustion to feed his Qi to the flame.

Black streaks immediately invaded the red, flickering flame, wanting to take over it completely, only for the Elder to stomp on it before that could happen, suppressing the fire and crushing the log.

Liam lifted his gaze in confusion, only for the cane to hit his head. The Elder pointed it at his face next, his glare more intense than ever.

"You will learn to control your Qi until not a single trace of poison leaks out," The Elder declared, his tone sounding like a threat. "You will breathe, handle, and even dream of logs until you get it right."

Before Liam could wonder how anyone could breathe logs, the cane hit his head again, followed by another angry order. "Again!"