Wu Tian's breath steadied as the voice of Grand Alchemist Shen Mu faded into the air. The ground beneath him pulsed, ancient formations activating, locking him within the ruined alchemical chamber. The air thickened with medicinal fragrance, carrying an overwhelming weight of history and expectation.
This was no simple inheritance. It was a trial.
Wu Tian scanned the surroundings, his instincts sharp. Pill furnaces of varying sizes lined the walls, each marked with inscriptions that radiated an ancient authority. This was once a place of immense alchemical mastery.
Ahead of him, the grand furnace trembled. Then, a shadow coalesced above it—an ethereal figure, its features obscured but its presence suffocating.
"Alchemy is not for the weak. If you wish to inherit my legacy, you must first understand the path of the pill maker."
The air shifted as glowing symbols materialized around him, forming an intricate array. The challenge had begun.
The First Trial: Refinement of EssenceWithout warning, a collection of herbs appeared before him—some wilted, some rotten, and some teeming with volatile energy.
"Refine the perfect medicinal essence from these raw materials."
Wu Tian narrowed his eyes. This wasn't a battle of strength, but of control. He had seen alchemists work before, but he had never attempted the art himself.
He extended his hand, guiding his Qi into the first herb. Immediately, the plant resisted, its innate essence unstable. If he applied too much pressure, it would burn away; too little, and it would remain useless.
Precision. This was a test of patience and focus.
He slowed his breathing and recalled the foundational principles of Qi manipulation. The book in his mind flickered, offering fragments of insight. Flow with the energy, not against it.
His control sharpened, and he began extracting the purest medicinal essence from each herb, discarding imperfections while keeping their core properties intact. One by one, the volatile plants transformed into pristine liquid orbs of raw essence.
As the final orb settled into the air, the ethereal figure nodded.
"Acceptable. But alchemy is not merely refinement. It is the art of transformation."
The ground trembled again.
The Second Trial: Forging the PillA cauldron appeared before him, its surface adorned with golden engravings. The orbs of essence he had refined hovered around him, awaiting fusion.
"Form the perfect pill."
Wu Tian's lips curled. He had seen the process before but never performed it himself. No instructions. No guidance. Only raw instinct and observation.
His hands moved, placing the essences into the cauldron. The moment he channeled his Qi into it, the heat surged. The golden inscriptions flared to life, controlling the intensity, but the concoction inside rebelled.
Boom!
A minor explosion shook the chamber, forcing Wu Tian back. Failure.
But he did not flinch. Failure was just another step forward.
Adjusting his stance, he tried again. This time, he shifted his Qi manipulation, controlling the heat more subtly, allowing the pill to form gradually instead of forcing the process.
Minutes turned to hours, and sweat beaded on his brow. Then—success.
A single pill, glowing faintly with a golden aura, hovered in the air.
The spirit of Shen Mu observed in silence, then spoke, his voice filled with something akin to amusement.
"Few have completed the second trial. But now comes the true test."
The Final Trial: The Pill of Life and DeathThe walls of the chamber shifted, revealing a towering brazier, its flames black as the void itself.
Before Wu Tian, two ingredients appeared—one radiating vibrant life energy, the other exuding an aura of decay and destruction.
"Life and Death—two forces that govern the very balance of alchemy. A true alchemist must master both."
Wu Tian understood immediately. He was to forge a pill that balanced life and death itself.
The difficulty was astronomical. The slightest imbalance would destroy everything.
The flames roared as he placed the two opposing essences within the furnace. The moment they entered, they clashed, their energies warring within the cauldron.
The pressure was overwhelming. This was no longer just an alchemical challenge. This was a battle of will.
Wu Tian gritted his teeth, reaching deep into his own understanding of Qi. Everything in the world existed in harmony—creation and destruction, light and darkness. The key was not to control them, but to allow them to coexist.
He adjusted his Qi flow, circulating both energies in tandem, maintaining perfect equilibrium.
Seconds passed like hours. The chamber trembled as the final fusion completed.
Then—
A single, perfect pill floated before him, black and gold intertwining like twin dragons.
The trial was complete.
The Grand Alchemist's LegacyThe spirit of Shen Mu stared at the pill in silence. Then, he chuckled, his ethereal form becoming clearer.
"To master such a creation on your first attempt… You are not ordinary."
Wu Tian remained composed. "I never intended to be."
The spirit's laughter echoed. "Then my legacy is yours to claim."
A golden light erupted from the furnace, surging into Wu Tian's body. Centuries of alchemical knowledge flooded his mind—formulas, techniques, secrets lost to time.
He clenched his fists as the transformation settled. He was no longer just a warrior. He was now an alchemist of unparalleled skill.
The Grand Alchemist's Valley would remain hidden, its inheritance now residing in him alone.
As he stepped beyond the ancient halls, the Mortal Realm awaited. And Wu Tian would rise, not just as a cultivator—but as a master of life and death itself.