Chapter 236: Flame On

Yang saw the flutter of white from the corner of his eye and turned his head to spot a folded paper sword floating towards him. He raised his hand and caught the little sword in his hand. Watching as it automatically unfurled into his palm, showing a short message written on it.

Word has arrived from the Sect. Come to the main courtyard.

The main courtyard served as Senior Brother Lu Feng's own residence in the tent. Yang set the fire technique manual that he had been reading at the corner of the jade bed as he stood up. 

The message could not have come at a better time. 

He had just been considering which of the flame techniques would be best to start with. 

There was the Flame Ignite Technique that was in the beginner manual he had started out with. The fire-specific manual also had a few flame techniques, but he was leaning towards the very basic Spirit Fire Technique.

Since he was being summoned, he may as well take full advantage of the opportunity and consult with Senior Brother Fan Xiao on which one to learn first.

He hooked his finger into the collar of his outer robe where it hung on the back of a chair and flung it over his shoulders, slipping his arms through the sleeve holes as he walked out of the door.

The sky overhead was bright with artificial daylight as he set off towards the main courtyard.

In the past few days he had been here, another thing Yang had noticed was that no matter how bright the daylight was, it never felt hot. The weather inside the tent always remained pleasantly cool.

Nearing the main courtyard, he noticed Senior Brother Yuan Shen approaching from the other side and greeted him.

“Senior Brother.”

“Chen Yang.” Senior Brother Yuan Shen smiled at him pleasantly. “Summoned by little Zhen Hao as well?”

Yang nodded. “I got his little paper flying sword.”

Senior Brother Yuan Shen let out a chuckle. “Ah. That is a signature trick of Zhen Hao.”

They walked in together to find Senior Brother Lu Feng sitting at the head of the table with Senior Brother Fan Xiao and Qing An on either side of him, and Senior Brother Zhen Hao leaning on the table next to Senior Brother Qing An.

Yang bowed as he greeted all of them and walked to take a seat next to Senior Brother Fan Xiao.

“Yuan Shen, Chen Yang,” Senior Brother Lu Feng said as they took their seats. “I hope I didn’t disturb you when I had you summoned.”

Senior Brother Yuan Shen waved off the concern, as Yang said. “The message actually came at a good time.” He cast a glance at Senior Brother Fan Xiao. “I was considering looking for you. I had a question for you.”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao turned to him with a calm expression. “What is it? You may as well ask now since we are already waiting for Weilong.” 

Yang beamed. “I have been learning the Purging Technique and its variations and have just started going through the flame techniques today. I was wondering which one I should learn first. I was considering the Flame Ignite Technique or the Spirit Fire Technique."

“Hmm. I had almost forgotten about the Flame Ignite Technique.” Senior Brother Fan Xiao frowned. “Leave that one. It's quite useless; focus on the Spirit Fire Technique instead."

“Really?” Yang looked surprised. “I thought it important, considering the manual mentioned its temperature could be scaled up for even higher-grade pills.”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao turned fully towards Yang. “That is true. You will find most alchemists using it. But it is not because it is superior or even the easiest to use.” Senior Brother Fan Xiao gave a sardonic smile. “You should have gathered that much from the accompanying Heat Regulation Technique.”

Yang nodded. He did realize that after looking into the details of the technique.

“The thing is, most alchemists don’t have a plethora of techniques to choose from. So this technique has become somewhat of a standard for cultivators because they can use this one to refine up to mid-grade pills. It works well enough but requires an absurd amount of constant manual control.”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao lifted his cupped palm, and a red flame ignited in it.

“This is the flame from the Spirit Fire Technique. It is stable, requiring only minor adjustments to create a temperature suitable enough to refine almost all basic pills. 

“But it is only restricted to the beginner pills, right?” Yang questioned. “One would need to learn another flame technique anyway, if they plan to create more complex pills.”

“It is better to learn a few types of flame techniques to get a more stable fire for different pills than constantly having to manage a fire while refining because you are stuck with the Flame Ignite technique," Senior Brother Fan Xiao explained.

“Ultimately, any flame technique you learn can never compare to having one of the true fires or a high-grade cauldron.” Senior Brother Fan Xiao added, dispersing the flames.

“You are a Core Disciple of the Soaring Cloud Peak,” Senior Brother Fan Xiao said. “You will have access to the finest ingredients to practice with. You already have a cauldron that most sects would fight to death for, and once you learn enough alchemy, it is inevitable that you will get a true fire as well. There is no need to make alchemy more complicated than needed when you have such advantages already. Anyone with a true fire would not choose something like Flame Ignite Technique to refine a pill when they can do so on a true fire.”

“Feels a bit like cheating,” Yang frowned. He loved learning, but the idea of skipping steps just because he was handed a massive advantage didn’t sit well with him.

“You are thinking too much, Junior Brother,” Senior Brother Lu Feng interjected firmly. “Leveraging the resources and status afforded to you to better yourself is not 'cheating.' It would be the height of foolishness to cast aside your advantages merely to soothe some romanticized notion of a difficult path you feel you ought to share with all the alchemists in the world,” Senior Brother Lu Feng admonished. “You are a disciple of a major sect. The Core Disciple of a Peak Master. Your whole existence is privileged. Would you rather be a mortal as opposed to a cultivator? A struggling loose cultivator as opposed to a Major sect's disciple?”

“Where is this coming from, Yang?” Senior Brother Qing An asked more kindly. “This is not the first time you have been given the benefit of being in your position.”

And Yang had to admit they were right. Just a few days ago, he was crowing about his delight at the idea of being a nepo baby. It took him a few seconds to admit to himself that he was an academic snob. To his mind, so far all he had learned was a result of his hard work, and the stark mention of hearing that he already had a leg up when it came to learning alchemy made him uncomfortable. 

As if any achievement he would have would be halved by this. 

As if he was taking the easy way.

“I have always prided myself on my skills,” Yang admitted. “Hearing that I was already getting an edge just because of my position made me feel like it took away from anything I would or could accomplish in alchemy.”

“Would you rather not use the Rainbow Lotus Cauldron? The herbs I gave you?” Senior Brother Fan Xiao simply asked, and Yang went quiet because he was not willing to give them up.

Senior Brother Fan Xiao let out a gentle smile. “The world isn’t fair. Fortune and misfortune are a part of life. The privilege you are given is for you to use for good or ill. If one has no favor with fate, even the most brilliant of cultivators could do nothing but bow down to the pressure of life.”

Yang bowed his head. “I was shortsighted, Senior Brother.”

“No need to be so apologetic.” The Senior Brother dismissed everything with a wave of his hand. “As a cultivator, talent doesn’t matter; having a clear mind is best.”

“It indeed is.” Senior Brother Lu Feng turned to Yang. “You will be journeying towards the Starry Sea and meet many cultivators along the way. Most have this disease of thinking too much. Don’t be like them. Everything is fine as long as you are alive and you have a clear conscience.”

Senior Brother Lu Feng’s lips widened in a smile. “The best you can do is be happy and make our Master and Sect proud.”

Yang inclined his head.

“Junior Brother,” Senior Brother Fan Xiao called out next to him. “I still would not teach you alchemy, even if you learn these techniques, not until you have started on a combat technique."

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