123. Starting Over

*Cock-a-doodle-do

*Cock-a-doodle-do

Clay woke up to the sound of annoying roosters. The poultry farm is located at least half a kilometer away yet it sounded like those roosters are crowing right in his backyard.

Eight months had passed since he came to this unknown town and this Elven colony had been nothing but kind. Since he is a cultivation trash in their eyes, he was given a task of a gardener or in particular, his job is to remove weeds at the herb mountain of the colony.

Every morning, he would wake up and start through rows and rows of exotic herbs he has no clue of their uses. Since he is missing an arm, he can only rely on materializing his Qi and they created him a special basket on his back. The truth is, he is not really needed as the herb garden has sufficient manpower but having an extra hand is always appreciated.

Clay did not complain once and this routine had become normal to him. Similar to his life at Arizan Conservatory, it is peaceful and better as no nosy neighbors asking why he still hasn’t gotten married.

For eight months, he had been patiently learning the dialect of the colony and thanks to this old Elf who took him in, he now have a basic understanding of the alphabets both written and conversation.

He inhaled the morning breeze and as soon as he stepped outside, he saw Granny having tea on table on a courtyard in front of the house.

“You don’t need to work for today. You should go watch the tournament and enjoy like everyone else.”

Granny threw a small pouch towards Clay.

“And next time when you need money, just ask for it and don’t go causing trouble.”

Clay bowed in respect then left his basket and ran down the mountain.

Two days ago, delegates from three nearby sects came to recruit and since this town can accommodate congregations of neighboring villages, this town became the venue for a tournament. The three sects have their own way of selection but for cultivators who were unlucky, they can only hope of getting a placing within the top fifteen and today is the final day of the tournament.

Clay’s objective during his stay on this colony is to learn the dialect and having achieved his goal, he wants to travel north and join human settlements instead. He is satisfied with the living conditions here but living with fellow humans is another thing.

Two days ago during the first day of the tournament, Clay encountered a human and that man is part of the delegates. He wanted to approach the man and ask questions but he was stopped as only participating candidates can approach the masters and to become a participant, one must pay 1 silver coin which he did not have.

Clay tried to sneak out a few herbs and arranged a stall but he was caught and reprimanded.

He is grateful for everyone’s kindness but he must leave sooner or later. He will find the perfect time to leave the town permanently however today, granny gave him three silvers which he can use to participate on a separate testing and selection.

He has learned his lesson about wandering aimlessly and if given a chance to join a sect where humans are welcome, he would rather enlist rather than travelling alone. This way as well, he can gather better gather information about growing back his missing arm.

The three sects have stringent rules in selecting disciples that even Ilya, the Elven girl who rescued him and the daughter of this town’s mayor had to participate in the tournament. Too bad for her, she lost and was disqualified yesterday.

Clay indeed has no Spiritual Elemental Affinity and given his missing right arm, he is surely going to fail without even being tested however there is one thing that is giving him confidence.

Four months ago, a wandering Alchemist passed through this town by accident and the town’s mayor had to kneel to beg the expert’s favor. It was at that time that he learned that this specie of Elves is Dual Affinities of water and wood making them incompatible to majority of Essence Flames. Only then did he understand that the granny who took him in is a herbalist who would concoct medicines that has similar effects to pills. This world’s civilization has yet to enter its technological advancement that pills concocted via Alchemy is vastly superior when compared to potions but one day, their status will be reversed. Clay had a taste of these potion on his previous life so he knew how effective those medicines in the future.

However for now, the existence of Alchemist is like a god to them. At first, he wanted to flaunt his ability to wield Essence Flame but later changed his mind as he knew he will be tied and attached to this town once that happens. He is indebted to their kindness but he plans on repaying them with something else.

Clay walked towards the town square and approached the registration booth of Rising Cloud Sect. People have yet to wake up and this is exactly what he wanted- no audience.

“I want to buy a token for my qualifications to be tested.”

A Late Qi Condensation disciple looked at him and by his looks, he already wants to decline and shoo Clay away.

“Even if you give me a gold coin, I will still not give you a token. If I were you, …”

Clay anticipated the response so he created a flame on his palm. He controlled it to become larger then smaller again and dispersed it away.

*Whish

“I am an Alchemist and I would like to join your sect.”

The disciple was stupefied and immediately apologized.

“Please follow me, respected young sir.”

Clay had never felt proud and thought to himself, “That’s right you retarded monkey. Bow towards your god!”

Clay silently followed the disciple. From where they are going, it is one of the secluded areas in town where important guests are accommodated. Upon the sight of a luxurious building, the two of them walked towards a courtyard where an elder Elf wearing lavish robes is having a morning tea. The elf looked as old as the granny who took him in and Clay estimates that his old man is a Peak Late Foundation Establishment Expert.

“I greet the elder Nuu. This young boy is an alchemist and would like to join our sect. I ask senior to test him personally.” The disciple respectfully greeted and Clay slight bowed as well.

Before the elder Elf could speak first, Clay already started to conjure little flames around him that in a blink of an eye, fifty candle-like flames floated then Clay controlled each one of them to form in the middle before dispersing it.

*Whish

Clay was surprised with the old Elf’s reaction. He was hoping for someone’s jaw to drop or a simple clap of admiration but the elder elf looked at him like he had seen that kind of display a thousand times a already.

“What is your name human?” The old Elf calmly and slowly said.

“People call me Clay. It was through coincidence that I was brought here.” Clay only wanted to say his name but the discerning eyes of the elder before him looks like it wants to ask where he hails from as well so he responded directly.

*Sips

Elder Nuu sipped a cupped of tea then said, “Our sect believes that everything can be mastered so they would rather invest in innate talents. What I’m saying is that, once you join our sect, you will waste your life pointlessly fighting for resources but if you stay here and expose your abilities, you will live a comfortable life.”

Clay started to feel wary. “Elder is wise but I have made up my mind to join the sect. I implore this senior to give me a fair test.” Clay slightly bowed and kowtowed with his fist.

Elder Nuu stared at Clay and after half a minute, he summon a black ring then took out boxes out herbs from his own spatial ring then stored them all into the black ring then controlled it to float in front of Clay.

“That will be your spatial ring and consider them my gifts to you. There is a token within that ring to prove your acceptance. Say your goodbyes then return here before sun set so we can depart.”

“Thank you Senior for your time. I’ll be back later.” Clay took the ring then walked away. He was glad his guess was right and he immediately passed without going through a test. He has yet to learn how to concoct pills on this world and he was worried he will be exposed. He thought he will be forced to show a bit of his Dao Powers but he was relieved it did not come to that point.

Moments after Clay left, a middle-aged elf revealed herself and sat opposite Elder Nuu.

“If you pick even the weakest participant on the tournament, it would still be many times better than that human. Has elder gone senile he wants to become a laughing stock when we go back?”

“You look down on humans so much. Besides, I will be the laughing stock not you.”

Meanwhile, Clay went back to his temporary residence. Since he is leaving tonight, he wants to see if he could concoct pills to make up with the inconvenience he has caused and to thank everyone as well. Moments ago upon confirming the contents of the ring, he found sets of pill ingredients and eight books.

He did a cursory reading while climbing up the hill and it was exactly what he was looking for. The pill concoction and refinement he knew is almost the same with the exception of what the ingredients are called. Currently he has thirteen sets of ingredients for Qi Enhancement Pills, five for Body Forging and three ingredient sets for Qi Reinforcement Pills.

Clay sat on a space at the center of the living room. Since Granny went to her workshop, Clay was left alone. He was confident no one will be disturbed when he starts refining pills as the residence has basic Isolation Formation build around it.

Clay estimate that he can continuously use his Qi with minimum usage within an hour and calculating how much time a batch of pills is formed, he will need three days to refine all the ingredients. He doesn’t have three days so he is thinking if which pill should he refine for a gift.

“Screw it. I’ll just refine what I can.”

Having said that, Clay unboxed the 2 sets of ingredients for Qi Reinforcement, 3 sets for Body Forging and 5 sets of Qi Enhancement pills.

He closed his eyes and concentrated. At the same, every ingredient floated across the room then Clay summoned flames towards each of them to extract their essences. Following which, he combined all those similar ingredients and extracted a portion whenever needed.

Clay has already mastered concocting lower level pills that he can concoct 3 different pills at the same time. Unfortunately though, if he were to suggest simultaneous essence extraction and pill concoction to an Alchemy Master, he probably will be the subject of laughter and a lifetime of ridicule but if they see him in action now, they will be silenced in awe and reverence. Unfortunately the closest someone has witnessed Clay’s talent were the pills he had concocted.

Clay at times would want to show off but having learned other better and more convenient ways to produce pills like the methods back at Akwii Colony during his first life, and those superior vials of medicines he drank during his previous life, he felt that his skill is worthless.

After a few minutes, Clay’s Qi reservoir is reaching its limits however he did not stop. He stored the already finished 15 Qi Enhancement and 9 Body Forging pills into different bottles at the same time, he is on the final step of coagulating the six Qi Reinforcement Pills.

Beads of sweat formed and run down his face. The upper portion of his shirt is already soaked and he could feel his strength on the verge of exhaustion.

Clay persevered until the pills finally solidified then placed them in two bottles.

*Pant *Pant

He lay on the floor with his arms wide open. Before closing his eyes, he stored all the bottles of pills then took a nap.

When Clay opened his eyes, it was already late afternoon. He looked outside to make sure he is not late. He guessed that another two more hours before the sun sets.

He spread his Qi around house to confirm if Granny had already come home and from the looks of it, that old Elf is probably still cooped up on the workshop. He can’t help but sympathize on that old elf. For the past eight months, he had never seen any grand kids drop by. As if this woman had kept her chastity and devoted all her life to concocting medicine.

Clay stepped outside then walked towards the workshop not far from the residence. The workshop is a restricted area for him but this time he is deliberately breaking the rule.

After a soft knock, he entered without permission.

After a few step, he heard a voice. “Did I not tell you not to cause trouble?”

Clay was speechless upon seeing the interior of the workshop for the first time. It looks like a chemistry laboratory back on earth. Flasks and Vials spread all throughout the room.

The only issue is that at the center is a large boiling pot and an old elf on a rocking chair beside it. Add a broom stick to the side and Granny will look like an evil witch.

“It’s incredibly hard to believe but I have been accepted by Rising Cloud Sect. I have come to say my farewell.”

Granny stopped rocking the chair then said, “Ok. Close the door when you leave.” then start rocking the chair again.

Clay was stupefied his jaw dropped upon hearing Granny’s response.

He wanted to say “excuse me?” but he was sure Granny did not stutter when she said that.

Clay’s thought was distracted and thought to himself, “That’s it huh? No take care or be careful on your journey? Just close the door upon leaving? You senile old elf I’ll cook you on that pot. At least pretend we had some meaningful connection the past eight months.”

*Sigh

“I have nothing but gratitude for your kindness and care during my stay. These pills are not much and I am forever indebted to this colony especially you and Ilya and I hope to repay the favor when we meet again.” Clay sincerely expressed his thanks then took out all the bottles of pills he concocted this morning and placed them on a table. He had all adjusted them to Mid Tier Pills as he was afraid it would cause troubles if he made them flawless.

Since Granny did not speak afterwards, he silently walked out and closed the door.