Time passed, and as it did, the reaction continued. Several runic components dissolved and merged into the greater one. With the initial deficiencies resolved, the runic structure evolved as it reacted, until finally, it became one final rune.
Jin Huang increased the temperature and melted it into a small blob. Then, after shock-hardening it, he melted the outer layer and began inscribing runes with the golden power that rushed into the pill from their surroundings. The runic exterior was branded with the character “Mystic,” Jin Huang’s mark.
Their senses exited the cauldron as the pill popped out. Jin Huang caught their joint creation in a small bottle.
“Success!” Jin Huang said, a giddy smile on his face.
“An interesting pill,” Cha Ming said. “How will this differ from a normal effervescence pill?”
“It should be about one grade more powerful compared to a normal effervescence pill,” Jin Huang said, still grinning. “In other words, it can still reinforce my soul despite being at a lower grade than necessary.”
Cha Ming’s brain short-circuited. “Say that again?”
Jin Huang looked at him strangely. “Don’t you know why I was so unpopular in Evergreen City?”
Cha Ming shook his head. “I assumed it was the poison master thing.”
“No, being a poison master was how I managed to stay,” Jin Huang said. “The reason they didn’t like me was because, through my runic alchemy, I could create more powerful pills with the same reagents. Their actual grade didn’t change. This caused normal pills to devalue because I’d tarnished the reputation of normal alchemists.
“Virtually any pill can be made a step stronger if the proper runic formula is incorporated while crafting it. The thing is, it’s difficult, and I refused to teach anyone. Even now, I’ve only been teaching select people, including some from Gold Leaf City who report directly to Uncle Wang Jun.”
Cha Ming’s mind wandered chaotically. He wasn’t sure why, but he suddenly couldn’t focus. “I’m very interested in this runic alchemy of yours. Would you mind if we studied it together?” It was a big ask, especially since he should be the one doing the teaching.
“Would you?” Jin Huang said excitedly. He tossed out dozens of storage jades onto the desk. “Quick, take these and learn as quickly as possible. There’s no time to waste!”
“What do you mean, no time to waste?” Cha Ming asked.
“It’s just been me, trailblazing all alone,” Jin Huang said. “Research is exhausting, so I’ve been delaying my cultivation just to develop the profession. But with you sharing the burden, I’ll be able to advance by leaps and bounds!”
“Oh.” Cha Ming had never thought about it that way. If he could save his disciple time while simultaneously merging runic arts and alchemy, it would be time well spent. Besides, he’d finally have a good reason for the young man to call him master if he worked fast enough. He felt he’d already lost enough face by teaching him nothing. He swept up the jades and nodded. “I’ll get right on it. You can count me in.”
“Great!” Jin Huang said.
“How far have you developed the art?” Cha Ming asked.
“I have a full system to early core formation,” Jin Huang said casually.
Cha Ming almost coughed up blood.
“Yes, I know it’s disappointing. You and teacher Mo probably only spent a few days developing the first few mortal grades, and here I am developing the rest of it so slowly. I’m truly ashamed. Master, are you all right?”
Cha Ming was not all right. In fact, he felt like killing himself on the spot. Despite all the blood, sweat, and tears he and Mo Tianshen, a grandmaster alchemist, had poured into the art, they’d only managed to raise the concept of runic alchemy to the middle mortal grades over the course of a year. They’d thought that was pretty good too. Now, however, his disciple had developed the profession to grandmaster level in only a few years! If Mo Tianshen knew, the older man might just die of shock.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Cha Ming lied. “This day has just been too exhausting. Go on ahead without me, and I’ll come see you soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Master,” Jin Huang said, giving him a thumbs-up. When the young man left, Cha Ming collapsed in a chair. Sun Wukong appeared out of the brush, cackling madly.
“It’s truly a story of the young outdoing the old,” Sun Wukong said.
“I’m not old,” Cha Ming said with his face in his hands. “Just overwhelmed. Tell me, where did I go wrong? When did I err?”
Sun Wukong laughed. “You didn’t. Some people are just talented in certain areas. Given that alchemy concerns your two weakest elements, wood and fire, it’s not surprising at all that you’re so bad at it.” He looked pensive. “Still, you do have the Myriad Truths Diagram, a transcendent soul, and peak skills in two runic arts and alchemy. If you can’t succeed, I don’t think anyone else can. Except that little freak, that is. Now tell me, what’s got you so flustered?”
Cha Ming’s eyes, which had been dull and uncaring earlier that day, were now burning with excitement. “Tell me, Teacher: if it’s possible for us to make a pill more potent by making the ingredients conform to their runic nature, could the opposite be true? Would it be possible to craft a lower-tier pill with the same effects as a higher-tier one through reverse-engineering?”
Sun Wukong thought about it for a while before nodding slowly. “In theory, it’s possible. Though be warned that some ingredients are transcendent grade. We won’t be able to use those.”
“Then we’ll need to find substitutes,” Cha Ming said. “If this
