The Geared Immortal

Chapter 1331

…

Xin Ja did not want to bother with the people watching. For him, the most important task is to refine the medicinal herbs and complete his mission.

As he focused his senses on the cauldron, he could soon sense the aroma of the medicinal herb. And as soon as it reaches about 80% he quickly waved his hand and the flame gradually stopped. Then the liquid slowly formed and was scooped by Xin Ja from the cauldron.

This time, those that wanted to mock him were dumbstruck as they did not know what just happened. They are sure that the refinement should have been a failure judging from the way he refined the herbs, but who would have known that it would not fail.

Xin Ja did not bother and quickly presented the vial to the young miss of the Manor.

When the young miss opened the vial, everyone could smell the thick aroma of the herb from it.

"This scent! It can't be… This… 80%... purity… but how?" Master Yo muttered incoherently.

Disbelief could be seen in his eyes.

How could he believe such a thing when the one refining is a mere boy in his eyes? He believes that for one to be able to refine herbs successfully one needed age and experience, just like himself.

As an alchemist, he is able to refine around 75% and that is when he is in his best condition.

But to refine up to 80% is something unheard of.

Xin Ja did not stop and refined the rest.

For the 1st tier herbs, he refines them to 90% and above purity which also dumbfounded the old man. This time he knew that he is far inferior to the young man before him.

After Xin Ja presented the vials to the young miss of the Manor, she showed elation in her eyes.

"Young man… I am in awe of your ability… This old man truly appreciates the talent before me…" he said while cupping his hand.

His previous arrogant gaze and sneer now turned into respect towards the youth.

Master Yo might be a haughty man, but he is also aware of his own weaknesses. He just hated pretentious people.

While Xin Ja is being showered with praises, a pair of eyes are glued on him like a viper waiting to strike.

Lou Tong grits his teeth in annoyance as he did not expect that this youth is the real deal.

According to the young master, Master Yo is a mediocre alchemist and would not be able to help the Ao Manor rise up. So he is not worried about that old man.

But this young man before him right now is not so simple. He is someone who is hiding his own talent and seems more complicated.

He now decided to tell this news to the young master so that he could get another instruction on what to do next.

…

Inside the refining room, after everyone has gone out, Ao Meixi and another elder of the family stayed.

"Alchemist Xin… how high is the tier of herbs can you refine?" asked Ao Meixi.

Xin Ja thought for a bit then showed an awkward smile.

"Before, when my dantian wasn't cracked, I can refine up to the 7th tier…" Xin Ja explained.

When they heard his words, the two showed astonishment in their eyes.

"Alright… I will let you practice here with Master Yo. If there is anything you needed you can tell him." Ao Meixin said as she turns around and walks to the door.

"Oh, by the way… The reason why I'm looking for alchemists is that… I want my Ai family to enter the Alchemy Association of the Radong kingdom… Within one month, the cities in the Radong kingdom will hold an alchemy contest… And the two of you will represent the Ao family in Sebas City…" she said as she walks out of the room.

The elder following her showed a satisfied smile on his face as he walked behind the young miss.

Xin Ja was a bit taken aback because, when he used his absolute sense to detect the Ki fluctuations in the young woman's body, his unique visions showed him the number 30. This means that the young miss of the Ao family is actually a late-stage Ki-Master.

And the old man following behind her is someone who has the strength that rivals that of a Ki-Champion early stage.

As he looks at the two, Xin Ja showed a slightly complicated feeling. He did not know if he could survive in this place with his cracked dantian along with those strong people. But of course, adapting to circumstances is something he is really good at.

Soon, he put everything at the back of his mind as he looks at the cauldron in front of him. He began to pour his concentration into the cauldron and clear his mind of any thoughts.

He did not notice the old man looking at him with rapt attention in his every move.

Xin Ja began by controlling the fire and then hearing up the cauldron. He then put a 3rd tier herb on the cauldron and then began refining it.

50%... 60%... 80%...

Fizzle!!!

Right when he reached 80%, his refining failed as he was not able to balance the head and his mixing pattern of the herb.

Then he closed his eyes as he directed his concentration once again to the cauldron.

50%... 60%... 80%...

Fizzle!!!

The same thing happened and he was not able to refine it past 80%.

"Damn it! Why did I fail? Am I really not able to refine unless I recover my Ki?" he thought in dejection.

But one month is far too short for him to recover his Ki. Even if he feed that small flame with all the Ki in the air, it would still be for naught. That little flame could only eat so much before falling asleep.

Without a choice, Xin Ja continue refining and soon, he was able to refine ten sets of herbs, but it all ended in failure.

He decided to stop while shaking his head and feeling a bit down.

When he looks out the window, it is actually already nighttime. He did not even notice the time.

"Maybe I'm just hungry that's why I failed…" he muttered as he walks out of the room.

Unknown to him, an old man is already trembling on the side while looking at the dregs he has thrown on the side.

Master Yo could not help but grab one of the dregs and then take a whiff of it.

"I knew it… I knew it… That kid… that kid… monster… he… he is a monster in alchemy." He muttered incoherently.

He had seen the process of refinement and knew that he could not do such a thing. Although the herbs were wasted, seeing such a refinement feat is something that he would not regret in his entire life.

"This is… 90%... 90%..." he mumbled in a daze.

Then he quickly grabs those dregs and began to separate the failed product and those residues that are still good.

Although Master Yo is not really an expert when it comes to alchemists, he is able to learn alchemy with his commoner background because he has learned to scavenge refined materials.

When he was young, someone taught him that those refined dregs could still be of use. It only needed the skill and the meticulousness of the alchemist.

But of course, most alchemists would not want such skill as they considered scavenging a lowly task for an alchemist.

But for Master Yo this skill is the one that has pushed him to be a tier 3 alchemist.

As he began to gather the dregs, he used a strainer to separate the dregs from the good ones. Soon, he was able to gather half a vial of 85 to 90% purity of a tier 3 healing herb.

When he gathered them in the vial a satisfied smile appears on his face.

"That young man did not know what kind of gift he has… With his skill, he could already be an elder of the alchemist association… But… since he is struggling to do this, then maybe he has his reasons… Maybe… just maybe we can use each other…" Master Yo thought as a bold idea came to his mind.

He happily walked out of the room.

But as soon as he opens the door of the alchemist's room, he was met with a person he did not want to see.

"Lou Tong…" he muttered with a frown.

But Lou Tong did not reply and just suddenly kicked his chest sending Master Yo flying towards the alchemy table.

With that single kick from Lou Tong, Master Yo felt that some of his ribs were broken.

He glared at the haughty man in front of him but did not hesitate to quickly drink the medicinal herb that he has scavenged from Xin Ja's dregs.

As soon as he did, he could immediately feel changes in his body as the pain in his chest slowly lessened.

"High purity potions are really something else…" he muttered as he slowly stands up vigilantly.