Chapter One Hundred: Turning Their Own Plan Against Them, Part Three

The speaker was someone Bai Qi did not know, but from that formidable spiritual force, he guessed the man was also an alchemist, and an exceptionally high-ranking one at that—certainly among the very best in the Alchemy Hall.

Bai Qi quietly stirred his own spiritual force, forming a barrier around himself to keep the incoming voice and its waves from reaching him.

Though those sound waves carried no real physical harm, they could nonetheless unsettle a person’s mind and, in a confrontation, give the other side an invisible advantage before the contest had even begun.

Soon, the deep crimson gate opened, and a group of people emerged from within.

At the front was an elderly man with a long beard, white hair, and even a set of silvery robes unique to high-ranking alchemists. The attire was the special official garb of the profession, distinct from the clothing of the other halls in the sect.

Behind him stood two rows of people, all gazing intently at Bai Qi in the distance. Their expressions already carried a faint trace of displeasure toward this unexpected visitor.

That white-haired elder was the second-in-command of the Alchemy Hall, a fourth-rank alchemist revered by all as Master Yao. His name was Yuan Hua. To Bai Qi, the title of “Master” meant a teacher of the people, one under whom disciples should flourish across the world; anyone worthy of such respect must surely be extraordinary.

Bai Qi, though confident in his own alchemical skill, knew that toward someone who had long immersed himself in the art of pills, he still had to show proper respect for his senior. This was not only courtesy toward an elder, but also reverence for the craft itself. Moreover, within the sect, given Bai Qi’s temperament, he was determined to win hearts through virtue. Only then could the people be united.

Bai Qi bowed slightly and cupped his hands. “Disciple greets Master Yuan. I had only heard that your alchemy was peerless, but seeing you in person today proves the rumors true. And you look so hale and vigorous, truly growing more spirited with age!”

As soon as those words were spoken, Yuan Hua could not help but laugh. His long white beard trembled with the motion, and his expression grew even kinder. Stroking his beard, he leaned on his plain wooden cane and said unhurriedly, “You boy, you certainly know how to talk. When did you become a disciple of the Alchemy Hall?”

Bai Qi straightened, withdrew his hands, and looked at Yuan Hua with steady eyes. “Master Yuan, you may not know this, but a few days ago I was refining pills and happened to hit a bottleneck. I became extremely restless and, with no other choice, went out for a walk to clear my head. Coincidentally, I ran into people from the Alchemy Hall.”

As he spoke, Bai Qi turned toward Yuan Hua’s left and saw Huo Yuan standing there.

It was indeed the same Huo Yuan who had suffered a loss in their contest a few days earlier. It seemed the other party had either not told anyone about that match, or the Alchemy Hall had temporarily suppressed the matter.

Bai Qi continued, addressing him loudly. “Brother Huo Yuan, long time no see! I, Bai, have been thinking of you these past few days. Ever since our little exchange the other day, I’ve realized just how much I still lack in alchemy. I’ll have to trouble you for more guidance in the future!”

At those words, Huo Yuan, who had been lowering his head and trying to avoid Bai Qi’s gaze, was instantly exposed.

When Huo Yuan heard Bai Qi calling him out, the other disciples on both sides all turned to look at him. Their status was insufficient for them to know exactly what had happened between Huo Yuan and Bai Qi, and very few understood the reason behind it.

Yuan Hua, standing at the front, already knew that Bai Qi had managed to resolve the dark poison in the Artifact Hall to a certain extent. He could not help but admire the young man before him, so young yet already possessing such astonishing talent in alchemy.

In truth, Yuan Hua had also heard about recent events in the Artifact Hall. From his perspective, those matters were not something the Alchemy Hall needed to interfere with too much. However, the younger generation had been indignant, claiming that Bai Qi had unknowingly cut off their source of wealth, and they could not swallow the loss. So they ran to complain to the hall master and sought grievances from the elders of the other alchemy branches. After much embellishment, the elders found it difficult to tolerate such constant noise, and in the end allowed the youths to make a scene.

Later, it became known that Huo Yuan, a senior second-rank alchemist, had been utterly defeated by Bai Qi without the slightest suspense. Naturally, the Alchemy Hall began to take Bai Qi very seriously. At the same time, Huo Yuan was punished for his actions and was forbidden to leave the hall for the time being.

Yuan Hua looked at Bai Qi in the distance and extended his spiritual force to probe him.

Bai Qi, standing in place, seemed to sense a spiritual power scanning him. He did not hesitate and immediately released his own spiritual force, blocking that power outside.

Yuan Hua, whose eyes had been only half-lidded, also sensed Bai Qi’s response. He let out a sound of surprise, the tone shifting from confusion to shock. “Eh? Wait... this is actually the Restoration Realm!”

It seemed Yuan Hua could not quite believe what his eyes and senses were telling him. His slightly hunched body straightened at once, and with his cane in hand, he strode quickly toward Bai Qi.

Stopping before him, he examined Bai Qi from head to toe and from side to side, his gaze sweeping over the young man’s entire figure. Then he extended his left hand and slowly rested it on Bai Qi’s right shoulder, feeling it over carefully.

A bright gleam flashed in his eyes once more, and his voice was filled with astonishment. “At such an age, and already in the Restoration Realm? Remarkable, truly remarkable. Could it be... a stroke of fortune for my Alchemy Hall? No, for our Black Sand Sect?”

Seeing Yuan Hua, who had been perfectly normal a moment ago, suddenly mutter to himself as if possessed, speaking of the “Restoration Realm” and a “blessing of the sect,” Bai Qi was left utterly bewildered. Meanwhile, the disciples standing off to the side, including Huo Yuan, saw their grandmaster “Master Yao” behave like a man gone mad. They hurried down the steps toward Bai Qi’s side, only for Yuan Hua to stop them.

“You lot don’t need to come over. Go back at once and focus on your alchemy properly. I’ll handle this here.”

The group froze in place, equally baffled by Yuan Hua’s strange words. Though they could make neither head nor tail of it, the command of the elder of the hall could not be defied. So after a few reluctant acknowledgments, they each took their leave.

Yuan Hua did not give Bai Qi much explanation regarding his confusion. He only said, as if speaking casually, “Above the ordinary stage lies cultivation; within it is restoration; and beyond harmony, there is still the abyss.”

The two lines had no clear connection to one another, and Bai Qi asked again, but Yuan Hua only shook his head and said, “The path of alchemy depends on both fate and effort. What I can understand is limited. For you to reach the Restoration Realm of the soul, I have not seen an alchemist like that for sixteen years. Perhaps I am the one who has been shallow.”

“Restoration Realm? What does that have to do with the soul?” Bai Qi asked quickly.

Yuan Hua paused, then looked up toward the peak of the mountain before turning back to Bai Qi. “You may think of it as a great path of soul cultivation. It cannot be described in words, but it certainly exists.”

“Restoration... abyss...” Bai Qi’s head swam a little. These terms were so obscure and difficult to grasp. From Yuan Hua’s words, it seemed the other man had once reached that same realm himself. Could it be that the state in which his soul had left his body a few days ago was the so-called Restoration Realm of the soul?

Yuan Hua appeared to have no further interest in pursuing the topic. Turning, he headed toward the Alchemy Hall and casually tossed out a sentence over his shoulder. “Come with me. As for what you and the Great Elder—ah, your master now—have discussed regarding the sect, I already know a little of it.”

Bai Qi was startled. How could his master have told him?

As if sensing Bai Qi’s thoughts, Yuan Hua stopped in his tracks and said softly, “Your master and I are old friends. There is no need to doubt so much. Come along.”

With that, Yuan Hua resumed his unhurried walk on his cane, while Bai Qi followed close behind, taking in the scenery within the Alchemy Hall.