The alchemist was, without question, the most revered profession on the Dou Qi Continent, their status so noble it bordered on the abnormal.
A high-level alchemist possessed a terrifying ability to rally support; they were honored guests in any faction they chose to visit.
The Pill-King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire, for example, was only a sixth-tier alchemist, yet he was held in the highest esteem by the Misty Cloud Sect. Even the great elder Yun Leng and the Dou Huang realm Sect Leader, Yun Yun, treated him with the utmost courtesy.
And then there was the Son of Destiny, Xiao Yan. Without Yao Lao as his master to guide him down the path of alchemy, his meteoric rise would have been impossible.
In short, Chen Guan was deeply moved.
It was always good to have more than one skill. Who would turn down a chance to acquire a profession that was so universally sought after?
But even as his heart pounded with excitement, he forced himself to consider the practical realities. He didn't even know if he possessed the requisite wood-attribute affinity, or if his spiritual strength met the demanding standards. Furthermore, the initial investment to become an alchemist was staggering, requiring a mountain of resources.
Relying on my relationship with Yao Ye, the royal family might be willing to support me if I meet the requirements… but if that happens, the favor I owe them will be truly difficult to repay.
After carefully weighing his thoughts, Chen Guan temporarily suppressed the urge to immediately pursue alchemy. He would revisit the idea later when an opportunity arose. He had to be clear about his priorities, and for now, that was improving his strength.
My extraordinary talent is my greatest advantage. If I don't use it to improve my strength, I'll have no hope of competing with Xiao Yan in the future. All my foreknowledge would be for naught. We are both transmigrators; who would be willing to just be a background character for someone else?
"Hey! Are you daydreaming? Are you even listening to me?"
Yao Yue's dissatisfied voice pulled him from his thoughts. She didn't even realize that in the process of venting, most of her frustration had already vanished.
Chen Guan snapped back to reality, instantly transforming into a caring older brother with a warm smile. "Of course, I was listening. And actually, I think your problem is very simple. You failed the test today not because you lack ability—on the contrary, I believe you are a true genius in alchemy. You just had a bad performance, maybe you were nervous."
"As for not knowing how to tell your sister and great-grandfather… why don't you just not tell them for now? Your sister is incredibly busy; who knows if she even remembers? Just go take the test again in a couple of days. Once you pass, everything will be fine, right?"
It felt a bit like leading a child astray, but Yao Yue bought it completely. No one knew better than she how busy Yao Ye was.
What an innocent child, Chen Guan thought. In a place as small as the imperial capital, the moment she walked out of the Alchemist Guild, Yao Ye probably already received a full report. But he didn't burst her bubble.
"But… can I really pass next time?"
"Definitely! You have to have confidence in yourself. You are the princess of the royal family; you must be confident! Failing once or twice isn't terrible, and it's certainly not shameful. The real failure is not daring to face it, being afraid of it!"
He leaned in slightly. "I once heard a saying that I like very much, and I'll give it to you today. Life is like a star fruit, full of sharp edges and corners. But we shouldn't just look at its imperfections. If you change your angle, you'll see the shining star. Do you understand?"
Feeling the need to guide the little pufferfish toward a proper outlook on life, he had served her two bowls of chicken soup for the soul. The effect was remarkable. Yao Yue was no longer depressed; her big eyes shone with renewed energy, and she clenched her little fists with enthusiasm.
"I understand! Thank you, Chu Yuxuan! I'm going to go practice refining medicine right now. I'll come play with you next time!"
With that, she turned and ran out of the gate, full of vigor.
Chen Guan just found it amusing. As he stood up to head back, Yao Yue's little head popped back around the corner.
"I have one more question."
"Oh?"
"What is a star fruit?"
"…"
The next day, Chen Guan emerged from his cultivation state and went out early, heading straight for the entrance of the training area. He showed a token from his ring and walked toward Yao Ye's palace. As a special individual who could call her 'sister,' he had certain privileges.
In fact, Yao Ye had initially wanted him to live in his own residence and had even offered to assign an eight-star Dou Shi to guide his cultivation. Chen Guan had declined, not wanting to attract too much attention. Captain Yan Hongtao was also a Da Dou Shi and could solve most minor problems. He had also asked Yao Ye to keep his affairs confidential. She had readily agreed, even exempting him from the upcoming assessment. The royal family was happy to see his low-key attitude; it reduced the chances of him being poached by other factions.
When he arrived at Yao Ye's palace, the guards at the door recognized him before he even showed his token.
"Young Master Chen, there is no need. The princess has instructed that if you come, you may enter directly. Treat it as your own home. I will inform the princess of your arrival."
Treat it as your own home? Chen Guan sighed. When he first arrived on this continent, he didn't even have a roof over his head. Now he could treat the palace as his home.
"Thank you for your trouble."
He responded politely and stepped into the magnificent palace. After admiring a rockery for a moment, he heard footsteps behind him. It was Yao Ye.
"Tsk tsk, I haven't seen a certain brat since we last parted. I thought you had forgotten you even had a sister."
Seeing the playful smile on Yao Ye's face, Chen Guan felt a little embarrassed. "Sister Yao Ye, please don't tease me. I've been practicing very hard. I just broke through to the Dou Zhe realm last night. I came here first thing in the morning to share the good news with you."
"Hmph, who knows if… wait. Did you say you broke through?" Yao Ye had been joking, but her expression froze, her eyes widening in shock.
Chen Guan nodded, circulating the Dou Qi in his body to release his aura. "Of course, I wouldn't lie to you, Sister."
The proof was right in front of her. After taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, Yao Ye finally accepted it. "You little monster," she sighed. "You really scared me."
A nine-year-old Dou Zhe! She now truly believed what Jia Xing Tian had said, and she was immensely glad that this talent had been brought into the palace and that their relationship was a good one.
Leading Chen Guan for a stroll, Yao Ye pondered for a moment and quickly made a decision.
"Now that you have reached the Dou Zhe realm, you can officially begin practicing Dou Skills. The road to becoming a true powerhouse starts here. With your talent, you can't keep practicing the Soul-Guiding Art. If others found out, they would think I was misleading you and burying your talent."
"You have a fire affinity, and the royal family has a large collection of fire-attribute Qi Methods and Dou Skills. Wait here for a moment. I will go prepare a gift for you."
After settling Chen Guan in a pavilion, Yao Ye left in a hurry. She returned in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, taking three booklets from her ring and handing them to him.
"These three volumes contain introductions to nearly all the techniques in the royal family's collection. One is for Qi Methods, one for offensive Dou Skills, and one for Agility Dou Skills. You may choose one from each."
She added, "It's not that I'm being stingy, but practicing Dou Skills requires a great deal of energy. It's easy to become unfocused and master of none. After you have thoroughly mastered these, I will give you the rest."
The three booklets weren't heavy, but in Chen Guan's hands, they felt like mountains.
"Sister Yao Ye…"
"Hm?"
"How about I just call you mom?"
***********
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