"We make potions, tinctures, powders, oils, solvents, and elixirs. We research, improvise, and enhance known formulas. And most importantly, we work to understand the tenants of Heavenly will as it applies to the alchemical arts," I said.

"An alchemist might be needed to create fertilizer tailored for a specific spirit plant. Asked to discover an ingredient that modifies how mortar or cement is created using local resources for a remote town or village. Or devise a lotion to soothe chapped skin or ward off biting insects."

As I spoke, I began manipulating the paraphernalia scattered around the room. A fire started heating the pill cauldron. A mortar began grinding herbs that had been placed in a pestle. An Alembic began distilling a potato mash vodka I had created earlier into highly concentrated alcohol. A dozen retorts were working to refine different liquids.

The students watched as more and more alchemical processes and tools seemed to begin working on their own. Once I had dozens of projects working, I began creating a basic mortal grade pill.

"Any idea on how I can perform so many procedures simultaneously?" I asked as I began stirring and controlling the released spirit energy within the cauldron of each ingredient I added.

The entire purpose of pill creation was to fuse ingredients' spiritual energies and characteristics. Each pill was formed as those energies condensed into one final burst of energy as the spiritual essence of the ingredients combined.

The number of paraphernalia I was using and the processes I was conducting simultaneously had transformed the room. What seemed like frenzied chaos was instead ordered precision. Although the slightest misstep on my part or one of the students might have a cascading effect and bring everything crashing down, there was little chance of that happening. And if it did, the beakers, retorts, and Alembic were all created using glass or jade that had been enchanted against breakage, even if that didn't protect the contents.

"Because you have reached the Qi Condensing Realm, Sensei," Jade answered tentatively.

I was happy that she had answered. I had noticed that she was shy. It was good to know her shyness wasn't debilitating. I thought it likely she had settled on alchemy, not because of any genuine interest, but because of the solitary nature of the craft. I would have to have someone keep an eye on her. I saw too much of myself in her, and I didn't want her to follow my path of isolation and loneliness.

"The Qi Condensing Realm does help," I replied. "The Dharmic magics that you will gain control over also will help you when refining resources as well as give you a more refined, more detailed control of your ability. The precision you will gain at that level will allow you to create pills beyond the mortal tier level. But you will be able to perform multiple tasks like I am doing before reaching that Realm.

"I was able to do much as you see at the Body Refinement Realm.

"Any other ideas?" I asked.

"You can compartmentalize your mind?" Xu suggested. "Something like what Beast Tamers do for each bonded?"

"Great guess, but no," I said, smiling with something close to satisfaction. It was nice to spend time without the pressures of politics, Sect, or battle. To have discussions and interactions that were bereft of hidden motives.

"You will need to learn how to multi-task, of course, but that can be done without compartmentalizing or splitting your inner sea. No, the reason I can work on so many different processes at once is one of the reasons why the Empire and Sects place so much importance on Spirit Roots.

"Each Spirit Root can be trained to control a network of meridian channels. The number of meridian channels you can prepare depends on the corresponding number of electrons found in metals. Those meridians can be used as an extension of your Qi and body. A network of focused energy that you can harness and imprint simple operations and commands.

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"The more meridian channels you have, the more you can do. As you progress along your path of cultivation, you will find that you can imprint structure and pattern to your meridians. This allows you to increase the efficiency of your martial techniques. A way to help automate those techniques so that with the slightest thought, an elemental attack becomes second nature.

“You are creating ‘programs or scripts’ with your meridians. Very similar to how runes and arrays are made.

"That same method of training meridian channels for martial techniques works with alchemy. I have assigned certain meridians to perform certain functions. And through painstaking practice and trial and error, I have created an alchemical technique that works exactly as a martial technique would."

"Will I be able to advance as an alchemist?" Jade asked. "My Spirit Root is only at the Cobalt level."

"Spirit Roots are important," I informed the three students, "but what is more important is the effort you put into perfecting your technique and cultivation.

"Too much importance is placed on a person's Spirit Root and not enough on how each person is only limited in how far they advance by their will and belief. There have been instances of cultivators advancing to the highest Realm that had what was considered trash Spirit Roots.

"Wan Xan is the most well-known. He was born with an Iron Spirit Root, but he refused to believe that made him lesser. He worked diligently every day. He challenged himself more than any of his fellow cultivators blessed with higher-tier spirit roots. And although his advancement wasn't as fast, his efforts paid off.

"His methodology was slow and steady. He ignored speed and focused on incremental advances. He relied on a cultivation technique structured around layered progressions until he reached the Immortal Venerable Realm.

"No one is sure if he moved beyond that Realm. There are as many people who are confident that he passed that stage and gained a place within the Heavenly Realms as there are sure he failed.

"I have no idea what became of him. What I do know is that he was an accomplished cultivator that advanced far beyond what those people who had been blessed with a better spirit root had managed.

"Your future is yours to decide," I reminded them.

"Alchemy requires the same tenacity. The same drive to improve and advance. You will have failures. There will be setbacks. But if you persist. If you refuse to believe that you are only capable of advancing so far and no further, then you can become Master level alchemists."

I wasn't sure if my words would motivate them long, but their eyes were filled with that spark of determination that would serve them well for their first step. I felt a sense of pride, knowing that I had given them hope.

"Aki, the House scribe, has copied and created a set of alchemy resource tokens. These tokens include training information, a few pill formulas, and guided lessons on the alchemical process that will see you firmly grounded and familiar with the profession," I said as I passed out a set of jade tokens to each student.

"These are yours, a gift from House Myche and will serve you well until you reach the apprentice rank. If you want to move past that stage, you will need to purchase the higher-level resources with contribution points.

"The Dojo has a library that contains a complete set of secondary profession manuals up to master level," I informed them.

Aki had been a happy discovery when I recruited people in the Sect. She served in the Sect's library and had become disgruntled at how the Head of Library used her. She was talented at transcription and duplication, able to copy a jade token into another. That would have been an asset on its own, but her abilities included the copying of those mental projections some cultivators infused within a token.

A jade token cultivation technique that included enough of a person's will and intent to demonstrate what they were teaching was a real treasure. Her skill was rare, and her ability elevated her talent to something coveted.

The Sect had taken advantage of her talents, forcing her to copy token after token with no respite and no other duties. I had offered her the chance to head the library I would be creating. She would spend time sourcing tokens and scrolls, building the library of her dreams. I would rely on her expertise to test the providence of all techniques and resource material collected and edit or destroy the truly damaging information.

But just as important, and what finally convinced her to accept my offer, she would be given the authority to help guide new cultivators. To help them match their interests and affinities with cultivation and martial techniques that suited them.

The real bonus came with the number of martial tokens and resource information she had donated to the newly formed library. She had made a habit of making an extra copy of everything the Sect asked her to replicate. A copy she stored and kept for her own purposes.

The amount of information she had squirreled away was tremendous. Her collection dwarfed the collection of professional tokens I had purchased, giving real substance to a library now overflowing with rare and powerful information.

A library of cultivation techniques and martial scriptures that would see my Dojo the envy of most Houses and Clans.