Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

After the passing of the Evil Cloud Saint, endless sorrow filled Yang Ling's heart. But he also understood that life is inherently impermanent, and even a powerful figure like the Evil Cloud Saint could not escape it. Therefore, he became even more determined to cultivate, vowing to carry on the Evil Cloud Saint's legacy and make it flourish.

Thus, Yang Ling bid farewell to his homeland and embarked on a journey of exploration. He traversed mountains and rivers, enduring countless hardships and dangers, constantly honing his cultivation and spiritual realm. Gradually, his fame spread throughout the lands, making him a legend.

On this day, Yang Ling arrived in Xianyang, the capital of the Qin Empire. Xianyang was bustling and prosperous. However, beneath this prosperous facade lurked a deep sense of unease.

After settling into an inn, Yang Ling heard the news that the First Emperor was seriously ill. The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, unified the six kingdoms and established the powerful Qin Empire, hailed as the "First Emperor of All Time." But now, this great emperor was gravely ill and on the verge of death.

A thought struck Yang Ling: he was skilled in alchemy. Perhaps he could concoct a life-saving elixir to save the First Emperor's life.

So he went to the palace to see the First Emperor. The guards at the gate, seeing his extraordinary bearing, dared not neglect him and hurriedly went in to report.

Soon after, a palace attendant hurried out of the palace gate and said to Yang Ling, "Master Yang Ling, His Majesty requests your presence."

Yang Ling followed the eunuch into the depths of the palace. Along the way, he saw many magnificent palaces and exquisite buildings, and couldn't help but secretly admire the wealth of the Qin Dynasty.

Finally, he arrived at the First Emperor's palace. There lay the First Emperor on his bed, his face ashen, his breath faint. Yang Ling stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, Yang Ling is late."

The First Emperor barely opened his eyes and looked at Yang Ling, asking, "Are you the legendary alchemy master Yang Ling?"

“Indeed.” Yang Ling nodded and said, “Hearing that His Majesty was seriously ill, I came here specifically to refine elixirs to cure His Majesty.”

The First Emperor gave a bitter smile: "My illness is incurable. Even if a god came, I'm afraid he would be unable to save me."

Yang Ling smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, now that I am here, I am confident that I can save Your Majesty's life."

After saying that, he took out the alchemy furnace and medicinal herbs and began to refine pills. His technique was skillful and swift, and in no time, a batch of pills was refined.

The moment the alchemy furnace was opened, everyone's eyes were focused on the slowly rising white mist. The fragrance of medicine filled the air, refreshing and invigorating, as if one were in a fairyland.

Yang Ling stood beside the alchemy furnace, calmly watching the contents. After a long period of refining, his spiritual energy was almost exhausted, but seeing the pill take shape, all his fatigue vanished.

"It's done." He murmured to himself, a relieved smile on his face.

Upon hearing this, Fusu, Meng Tian, ​​and the others excitedly took a few steps forward. Gazing at the faintly glowing pills within the alchemy furnace, their eyes were filled with anticipation and awe.

"This...this is the elixir of immortality?" Fusu asked, his voice trembling.

Yang Ling nodded: "That's right. This pill is called the 'Longevity Pill,' and it has the effects of prolonging life and curing all diseases."

"Prolong life and cure all diseases?" Meng Tian's eyes widened. "Then...then His Majesty can be saved?"

Yang Ling smiled slightly: "Although this pill is not a cure-all, it will certainly have a significant effect on Your Majesty's condition."

Upon hearing this, the crowd cheered and jumped for joy. They hugged and high-fived each other in celebration, as if they had already seen hope for the First Emperor's recovery.

Xu Fu and the other alchemists exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with shock and resentment. They considered themselves highly skilled alchemists, yet they had never witnessed such miraculous alchemical techniques. Faced with Yang Ling's achievements, they could only pale in comparison.

"Mr. Yang Ling is truly a remarkable person!" Xu Fu couldn't help but exclaim. "If I have offended you in any way before, please forgive me."

Yang Ling glanced at Xu Fu indifferently: "Mr. Xu Fu, you flatter me. The art of alchemy is profound and complex, and I only know a little about it. As for any offense I may have caused..." He paused, "As long as you stop doing evil and harming the people, I will naturally not hold it against you."

Xu Fu and the others nodded in agreement, their respect for Yang Ling growing even stronger.

At this moment, Fusu stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Yang Ling: "I will never forget Mr. Yang Ling's great kindness and virtue. May I ask what your plans are next?"

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Ling said, "This matter is settled, and I should leave now. The world is vast, and there are still many places waiting for me to explore."

"Sir, are you leaving?" Fusu was startled. "Could...could you leave behind some immortal connection so that we may meet again in the future?"

Yang Ling smiled slightly: "Immortal destiny is predetermined and cannot be forced by human power. However..." He paused, "If you are truly devoted to the Dao, you will have your own opportunities in the future."

After speaking, Yang Ling turned and bowed to the First Emperor: "Your Majesty, the elixir is ready. Please take it."

The First Emperor gazed at the elixir before him, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He knew, of course, that this elixir represented Yang Ling's superb alchemy skills, and also the continuation of his own life.

"Master Yang Ling, can you really save me?" The First Emperor's voice trembled slightly.

Yang Ling nodded firmly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost."

The First Emperor took a deep breath and slowly reached out his hand. His fingers gently touched the elixir, as if he could feel a glimmer of hope for life. Then, he put the elixir in his mouth and slowly swallowed it.

As the elixir entered his body, the First Emperor immediately felt a warm current flow throughout his entire being. His previously weak body seemed to be infused with boundless power, and all his ailments vanished in that instant.

"I...I'm all better?" The First Emperor sat up in surprise, feeling the changes within his body.

Yang Ling smiled slightly: "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and will naturally be able to turn misfortune into good fortune."

The First Emperor excitedly grasped Yang Ling's hand: "Master Yang Ling, you are truly my savior! How can I ever repay you?"

Yang Ling shook his head: "Your Majesty is too kind. It is my duty to refine pills to save lives, and there is no need for repayment."

The First Emperor insisted, "No! You saved my life, which means you saved the entire Qin Empire. I will reward you handsomely!" Yang Ling could not refuse, so he said, "If Your Majesty really wants to reward me, please give me some rare medicinal herbs. I need these materials to refine elixirs."

Upon hearing this, the First Emperor was overjoyed: "What's so difficult about that? I will immediately order people to bring all the precious medicinal herbs from the palace, so you can choose whatever you like!"

Soon, batches of rare medicinal herbs were delivered to the palace. After selecting some herbs that he needed, Yang Ling bid farewell to the First Emperor.

The First Emperor personally saw Yang Ling off at the palace gate, holding his hand with reluctance: "Master Yang Ling, are you really leaving? I would like to keep you for a few more days and treat you well."

Yang Ling smiled and said, "I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness. But the world is vast, and there are still many places waiting for me to explore. There will be plenty of time in the future, and we will meet again."

After saying that, he turned and drifted away, leaving the First Emperor and the crowd staring at his departing figure.

After leaving Xianyang, Yang Ling continued his travels. He traversed famous mountains and rivers, seeking out extraordinary people and individuals, constantly improving his cultivation and alchemy skills.

After taking the elixir concocted by Yang Ling, the First Emperor recovered completely and resumed his rule over the Qin Empire. He never forgot Yang Ling's life-saving grace and sent people everywhere to search for Yang Ling's whereabouts, wanting to repay him once again.

However, Yang Ling vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air. Some say he has attained immortality, others say he lives in seclusion in the mountains, indifferent to worldly affairs, and still others say he is searching for some mysterious treasure…

Regardless, Yang Ling's name and legendary stories have continued to circulate in the martial arts world. Whenever someone talks about him, they can't help but exclaim, "He was truly a master alchemist!"

Yang Ling, however, paid no attention to these empty titles. He only knew that his path of cultivation was still very long, and he wanted to continue forward, exploring unknown realms and mysteries...

Ying Zheng stood by the window of his bedchamber, gazing intently at the bustling city of Xianyang. His fingers gently caressed the jade pendant at his waist, a treasure he usually used to calm his mind. Yet, at this moment, his heart was far from at peace.

Xu Fu stood to the side, his eyes lowered, his heart filled with unease. He considered himself a master alchemist, but after witnessing Yang Ling's alchemy skills today, he realized that his knowledge was merely superficial. He knew the First Emperor's desire for immortality and understood the heavy responsibility he bore.

"Xu Fu," Ying Zheng suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

Xu Fu was startled and quickly looked up to reply, "Your subject is here."

Ying Zheng turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Xu Fu: "Did you understand Yang Ling's alchemy techniques today?"

Xu Fu's heart tightened. After hesitating for a moment, he answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, I...I didn't understand."

Ying Zheng frowned slightly: "Didn't understand? You mean you didn't even understand the alchemy technique?"

Xu Fu lowered his head, not daring to meet Ying Zheng's gaze: "Yes. Master Yang Ling's alchemy skills are divine, and I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."

Ying Zheng sneered: "Ashamed of your own inferiority? I have raised you sorcerers for many years, hoping that you could concoct an elixir of immortality for me. Now it seems that you are nothing but a bunch of charlatans!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu was filled with fear. He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Although we are not talented, we have always tried our best to refine elixirs for Your Majesty. It is just that Master Yang Ling is a celestial being descended to earth, and he is not comparable to us mortals."

Seeing Xu Fu's trembling and fearful appearance, Ying Zheng's anger subsided slightly. He sighed and said slowly, "So be it. I know I can't force things. Since Yang Ling is a celestial being descended to earth, he naturally has his unique abilities. It's normal that you can't learn them."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders and immediately kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty!"

Ying Zheng waved his hand: "Get up. I ask you, did you pay attention to the materials and heat used by Yang Ling when he was refining the elixir?"

Xu Fu recalled the scene at the time, and then cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, I have taken note of it. The materials used by Master Yang Ling were all rare and precious, and his control of the heat was exquisite. Although we also know some alchemy, we are far inferior to him."

Ying Zheng nodded: "Hmm, it seems that Yang Ling is indeed as good as his reputation suggests. If I want the elixir of immortality, I'm afraid I'll have to rely on him."

Xu Fu's heart stirred: "Your Majesty, since Master Yang Ling has already refined the elixir of immortality to save your life, he may have even more miraculous medicines in his possession. Why don't we send someone to secretly follow him and look for an opportunity..."

Ying Zheng's eyes lit up: "Oh? You mean send someone to follow Yang Ling? That's a good idea! But since Yang Ling is a celestial being descended to earth, his cultivation must be unfathomable. If the people we send don't have real skills, we might just alert him."

Xu Fu quickly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will select the most capable people to handle this matter."

Ying Zheng nodded: "Alright! Then I'll leave it to you. Remember to be careful and don't give anything away." With that, he turned and walked back to his dragon bed, lying down and closing his eyes to rest, saying nothing more. Xu Fu respectfully withdrew and began to make the arrangements in earnest…

After Xu Fu withdrew, he immediately began preparations in earnest. He knew that Ying Zheng's desire for immortality had reached a near-madness, and if he couldn't find the elixir of immortality for him, his life would likely be in danger. However, how could ordinary people like them easily find someone as extraordinary as Yang Ling?
After much deliberation, Xu Fu decided to take a risk—he found some swindlers from the martial arts world to impersonate immortals and concoct some elixirs to deal with Ying Zheng. Although these elixirs could not truly grant immortality, if they could temporarily make Ying Zheng feel physically strong and mentally refreshed, it would be enough to fool him.

So Xu Fu secretly sent people to search everywhere, and finally found a group of charlatans who claimed to be able to refine elixirs. These charlatans were originally just swindlers who traveled around deceiving people, but Xu Fu could not care about that at this point, so he could only bring them into the palace to secretly refine the elixirs.

Soon after, the pills were successfully refined. Xu Fu looked at the few glossy black pills in his hand, his heart filled with unease. He knew these pills wouldn't be very effective, but since things had come to this, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go see Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng was lying on his dragon bed, resting with his eyes closed. Since taking the elixir of immortality concocted by Yang Ling, his health had improved considerably. But Xu Fu knew this was only temporary. Ying Zheng's desire for immortality had not diminished in the slightest; on the contrary, it had grown even stronger.

"Your Majesty, your subject Xu Fu requests an audience," Xu Fu reported in a low voice outside the palace.

Ying Zheng slowly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Come in."

Xu Fu carefully carried the elixir into the palace and knelt before Ying Zheng's bed: "Long live Your Majesty! Your subject has come to present this miraculous elixir."

Ying Zheng looked at the pills in Xu Fu's hand, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Oh? A miraculous elixir? You found Master Yang Ling?"

Xu Fu's heart tightened, but he showed no sign of distress on his face and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, although I was unable to find Master Yang Ling, I unexpectedly encountered a highly accomplished person who was like a deity. He bestowed upon me these elixirs and taught me the method of alchemy."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's lips curled into a cold smile: "Oh? Is that so? Then I'd like to see what's so magical about these elixirs." With that, he gestured for Xu Fu to present the elixirs. (End of Chapter)