BLOODLINE TEMPERING: Transforming From Worm To Dragon

Chapter 40: Sweet Potato

(Why wasn't I the one to be given the Bronze-Titled Plaque! I heard that those with the plaque could enjoy top-level treatment in all business establishments and a further 20% discount on all purchases in businesses related to the Heavenly Alchemist Association!)

Their eyes were burning with jealousy. With that plaque, wouldn't they be allowed to buy a Spiritual Replenishing Pill for eight Spiritual Coins instead of ten? Similarly, the plaque holder can exchange ten pills for eight Contribution Tokens.

Such a discount means it is possible to get more cultivation resources while spending less. And in this world, who would complain about having more resources?

At the same time, it allowed them to look at Chen Tu more seriously. Suppose he is already so well-treated right now. Won't that assure Chen Tu a position of the elder's second official disciple when the timing was correct?

If that happened, they would have to address Chen Tu as their second senior disciple. And if this was something set in stone, it wouldn't be a bad idea to start currying favor from Chen Tu now.

"How is it with the study on medicinal herbs and alchemy?" the elder asked. From his knowledge, both Qin Lei and Chen Tu studied hard for the whole week. This made the elder curious about their level of understanding right now.

"This disciple only understands a third of the book's content." Qin Lei was the first to answer.

The elder nodded at him with a look of satisfaction. After all, understanding a third after studying for a whole week is quite talented. And without this talent, how could Qin Lei catch the elder's attention?

"What about you?" the elder shifted his attention the Chen Tu, who sat beside Qin Lei.

(This brat should be a little slower than Xiao Lei because he can't read and write before this. I wonder how much of the book he had read after a week...)

The elder wildly guessed. But obviously, he had not expected Chen Tu's absurd answer.

"Disciple think... I understand half of the book." Chen Tu answered. His words made everyone else look at him with an unbelieving gaze.

Saying that he understands half of the book after reading it for a week... Why doesn't he simply say he's confident about concocting some pills right now? Chen Tu would have succeeded if his intention was to get people to look up to him.

The elder only met two disciples so far that had such potential. One of them had graduated and had left the Blood Refining Grotto. And the other one was his current Official Disciple, Tang Yun Long.

But even with their talent in alchemy, it still took them close to one month to fully understand the content inside the basic book. And three months after to successfully concocted their first cauldron of Spiritual Replenishing Pills.

To understand half of the book in a week... Indeed sounds impossible.

"Child... Half of the book is quite unbelievable." Elder Wei Xuan chuckled to soothe the awkwardness between him and the disciples.

(Perhaps the child's meaning was that he could read half of the words used in the book?)

The elder convinced himself. After all, Chen Tu could not properly read and write a week ago.

"Teacher, disciple really understands half of them. I can even do this now after reading the book." Chen Tu couldn't understand why they didn't believe his words. Chen Tu raised his index finger and concentrated on assuring them that he didn't lie.

A faint Spiritual Energy gradually gathers around his fingertip while everyone is paying attention to him.

"Is that the [Alchemic Refinement Flame] mentioned in the book of basics?" one of the senior brothers said. Being the eldest among the disciples here, it was natural for him to recognize this. Except for Chen Tu and Qin Lei, the rest had accompanied the elder in his pill concoction and had naturally seen him using it.

It was considered a supplementary technique in alchemy, which helps to increase the intensity of the flames and helps in increasing the medicinal effect in the process. But at the same time, it wasn't widely practiced because the consumption of Spiritual Energy is tremendous.

But before everyone, Chen Tu is attempting something no disciples here could do. A ball of orange flames appeared on his fingertip, but it only lasted for three minutes before it went out.

The appearance of a ball of flame made all their jaw drop, except for the elder. Of course, this doesn't mean the elder wasn't shocked by this sight.

"Alchemic Refinement Flame! It's really the Alchemy Refinement Flame!" the other four speak simultaneously, revealing an unbelieving gaze at Chen Tu.

Even if the flame lasted only three minutes, it was still an undeniable Alchemic Refinement Flame. But there's still a questionable issue here.

"From where this junior brother of ours learned the Alchemic Refinement Flame?" that was the question they had in their mind. Even the elder was curious.

From what he understands so far, the only reading material Chen Tu had access to is the basics of alchemy and the basic understanding of medicinal herbs. And from what he knows, the book related to alchemy did touch a fraction of the Alchemic Refinement Flame in one of the topics. Still, there's no theory or teaching on how to use it.

In that case, where did Chen Tu learn the technique?

"Child... How did you know about the Alchemic Refinement Flame? Perhaps, someone taught you?" Elder Wei Xuan asked.

"Huh? Wasn't it mentioned in the book? Look here..." Chen Tu reached his hand to the Basics of Alchemy and flipped the pages until they stopped at the page about the Alchemic Refinement Flame.

[For the sake of improving the chances of success and the quality of pills, an Alchemist could also consider the application of Alchemic Refinement Flame during pill refinement. By concentrating the Spiritual Energy within a fingertip, the Alchemic Flame can be produced from an Alchemist's body to support the refinement process]

"What? You mean you're using this sentence here as the inspiration in learning the Alchemic Refinement Flame?" Elder Wei Xuan asked. "But how did you know if it's correct?" he added.

"Oh... I used it with my senior brother Qin to cook a sweet potato. But we failed." Chen Tu innocently answered.

**PU!!!**

Everyone spit what they had inside their mouth after hearing Chen Tu's answer.