30: Chapter 30 The Dao of Alchemy is One, Without Separation

Zhou Tianchen trembled all over, his breathing rapid, his eyes filled with shock and ecstasy.

He suddenly felt that the knowledge of Alchemy he had learned in the past, those Alchemy skills he had prided himself on, were simply not worth mentioning in the face of his Revered Master's words.

No, not just not worth mentioning. Rather—he had never even stepped across the threshold of Alchemy before!

He had only been wandering outside the door of Alchemy for over a decade, thinking he had already entered the hall, yet he did not know how vast and profound the true Alchemy was.

"Revered Master!" Zhou Tianchen's voice trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, barely managing to calm the shock in his heart.

"Disciple... what Disciple learned in the past was nothing more than a frog in a well, watching the sky from the bottom of the well."

"Today, having received Revered Master's guidance, I finally realize the vastness of Alchemy, far beyond what Disciple could have imagined."

Jiang Changge turned around, watching Zhou Tianchen's expression of extreme shock, and secretly found it amusing.

The words he had just spoken were merely a casual quote from his past life, slightly modified.

Things like 'Heaven and Earth as the furnace, Creation as the craftsman' were old clichés that the ancients had talked to death. In this world, however, they had become an unheard-of supreme Profound Truth.

As expected, he was still very good at bluffing people.

Jiang Changge's expression was calm as he sat back down and took a gentle sip from his teacup.

"Whether it is Cultivating the Dao or Alchemy, you must broaden your horizons." He set down the teacup, his gaze distant.

"Do not just fixate on the small plot of land before your eyes, thinking that Heaven Rank Advanced is the end. Above Heaven Rank, there are Immortal Grades; above Immortal Grades, there are even higher levels."

"Using the universe as a furnace, the Great Dao as medicine, and the river of time as fire—refining the heavens."

Zhou Tianchen shuddered violently, as if struck by lightning.

Refining the heavens!

This must be the ultimate of Alchemy, right?

No, perhaps even the word 'ultimate' is not enough to describe it. This is treating the entire universe, the entire Great Dao, and the entire space-time as Materials for Alchemy!

What kind of magnanimity is this? What kind of Realm?

Zhou Tianchen knelt on both knees, his forehead striking the jade floor heavily.

"Disciple is dull-witted; today I finally know the true meaning of Alchemy. Thank you, Revered Master, for your enlightenment; Disciple will never forget this!"

Jiang Changge raised his hand in a gesture to help him up.

"Rise. The path of Alchemy emphasizes Comprehension Ability. This Revered Master can only teach you this much; the rest depends on your own fortune."

Zhou Tianchen stood up and retreated to the side, his expression still somewhat dazed, clearly still digesting those words.

Jiang Changge watched him and calculated inwardly.

It was about time to give this newly accepted Disciple some tangible benefits.

He couldn't just rely on empty talk; he had to bring out some real things.

He waved his hand, and dozens of streaks of light flew out from his sleeves, hovering in front of Zhou Tianchen.

They were dozens of Cultivation Techniques, some glowing with golden light, some surrounded by faint spiritual light, some simple and unadorned, others magnificent and exquisite.

"Since you have joined Kunlun, it is only right to pass on Kunlun's Daoist techniques to you." Jiang Changge's tone was calm.

"Choose one of these Cultivation Techniques to Cultivate."

Zhou Tianchen looked up at the dozens of Cultivation Techniques before him, stunned in place.

He was the Crown Prince of Zhao, having grown up in the Imperial Dynasty since childhood, and had seen many treasured Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals.

But even so, he had never seen so many Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques appear before him at once.

And among these Cultivation Techniques, most were Heaven Rank Advanced!

There was only one Heaven Rank Advanced Cultivation Technique in the entire Zhouwu Dynasty, and it was incomplete. Yet Revered Master casually produced dozens of them, and every single one was complete and intact.

Is this the foundation of Kunlun?

Zhou Tianchen took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and began to carefully examine those Cultivation Techniques.

Although he was obsessed with Alchemy, he understood that the choice of Cultivation Technique concerned his future path, so he could not be careless.

He looked through them one by one until his gaze fell upon an extremely tattered Cultivation Technique.

That Cultivation Technique was different from the others; it had no golden light, no spiritual light, and not even any decoration. On the cover, only one character was written—'Alchemy'.

The brushwork was vigorous, as if formed by the Dao itself, yet it exuded an indescribable sense of antiquity and vicissitudes.

Zhou Tianchen's heart stirred, and he reached out to take the Cultivation Technique.

It felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet heavy as a mountain, as if what he held in his hands was not a book, but a mountain.

He opened the first page; there were only a few words on it.

"Alchemy is Dao. Dao is Alchemy. Alchemy and Dao are one, indistinguishable from each other."

Zhou Tianchen shuddered, an expression of disbelief appearing in his eyes.

Alchemy and Dao are one, indistinguishable from each other?

He had always thought that Alchemy was Alchemy, and Cultivating the Dao was Cultivating the Dao; although they had similarities, they were two different paths.

Yet this Cultivation Technique said—Alchemy and Dao are one, indistinguishable from each other.

Alchemy is Cultivating the Dao, and Cultivating the Dao is Alchemy.

It is not that they are connected, not that they are similar, but rather—they are originally one!

Zhou Tianchen took a deep breath and continued reading.

"Those who perform Alchemy refine Heaven and Earth. Those who Cultivate the Dao Cultivate Heaven and Earth. Different paths lead to the same destination; ten thousand techniques return to one."

The more he read, the more shocked and stunned he became.

This Cultivation Technique completely overturned his previous understanding of Alchemy and Cultivating the Dao.

It was not teaching people how to perform Alchemy, nor was it teaching people how to Cultivate the Dao.

It was teaching people—how to Cultivate the Dao using the methods of Alchemy, and how to perform Alchemy using the methods of Cultivating the Dao.

Combining the two into one, merging them completely.

Zhou Tianchen closed the Cultivation Technique, shut his eyes, and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with determination.

"Revered Master, Disciple has made his choice."

He held the tattered Cultivation Technique with both hands and respectfully presented it to Jiang Changge.

"Disciple chooses this one."

Jiang Changge looked at the Cultivation Technique with only the character 'Alchemy' on its cover and nodded slightly.

This Cultivation Technique, like the other ancient ones, did not display a grade, yet it exuded an indescribable mystery.

He had long known from the System that each of these ancient Cultivation Techniques was a supreme method tailored for a specific Physique or a specific path of the Dao.

The 'Creation Sutra' he himself cultivated was one of them, and Lu Jinghan's 'Time-Space Derivation Sutra' was also one of them.

Now that Zhou Tianchen had chosen this 'Scripture of Alchemy', it must be the most suitable one for him.

"This Cultivation Technique is called 'Scripture of Alchemy', and it is a secret of Kunlun that is not passed on to outsiders." Jiang Changge's tone was calm.

"Since you have chosen it, Cultivate it well; do not let this Cultivation Technique down."

Zhou Tianchen nodded respectfully.

"Disciple will certainly do my utmost and not disappoint Revered Master's great expectations!"

Jiang Changge nodded slightly, waved his hand, and retrieved the other Cultivation Techniques.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a few more items from the System storage.

A Medicinal Pill emitting a faint spiritual light, a bronze Pill Furnace the size of a palm, and a yellowed ancient book.

"This pill is called the Spirit-Condensing Pill; it can help you refine your Divine Soul and improve your Comprehension Ability." Jiang Changge pointed at the Medicinal Pill and then toward the bronze Pill Furnace.

"This furnace is called the qiankun furnace; although it is only a Heaven Rank Elementary Magical Artifact, it is several times stronger than ordinary Pill Furnaces when used for Alchemy."