Fenlock's heart raced as he and Lenvari approached Slifer's courtyard. The Black Rose Sect's grounds were always beautiful, but today they seemed especially vibrant. Perhaps it was just his heightened emotions coloring everything.

"Are you sure about this, Senior Brother?" Lenvari asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Fenlock squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Of course. Master Slifer may be... unique, but he's fair. I'm sure he'll approve of us."

As they neared the entrance to Slifer's private courtyard, a familiar figure came into view. Morvran, Slifer's right-hand man, stood guard with his arms crossed.

Oh no, Fenlock thought. This might complicate things.

"Boss Morvran," Fenlock called out, bowing respectfully. "We're looking for an audience with Master Slifer."

Morvran's eyes narrowed as he looked them over. "Master Slifer is not to be disturbed. He's in the middle of an important breakthrough."

Fenlock blinked in surprise. "Breakthrough? To what realm?"

A hint of pride crept into Morvran's voice. "To the Immortal Realm, of course. Did you expect anything less from our master?"

Lenvari gasped beside him. Fenlock felt his own jaw drop. "The... Immortal Realm? Are you certain?"

Morvran nodded sagely. "Master Slifer himself told me. He's not to be disturbed under any circumstances."

Fenlock's mind raced. The Immortal Realm? But that's... that's impossible, isn't it? Even for Master Slifer...

"How long will this take?" Lenvari asked, her curiosity overcoming her shyness.

Morvran shrugged. "Who can say? The journey to immortality is not a simple one. It could be days, weeks, months or even years."

Fenlock's brow furrowed as he processed Morvran's words. A thought struck him, and he couldn't help but ask, "Boss Morvran, do you intend to stand guard here the entire time? Even if it takes... years?"

Morvran nodded, as if Fenlock had just asked him if the sky was blue. "Of course. It is my duty to protect Master Slifer during this crucial time. I will remain here, unwavering, for as long as it takes."

Lenvari's eyes widened in amazement. "But... what about food? Or rest?"

"Such mortal concerns are beneath me," Morvran declared proudly. "My cultivation method has prepared me for just such trials."

Fenlock's heart sank as the reality of the situation set in. He had been so excited to introduce Lenvari to his master, to seek his blessing for their relationship. Now it seemed they might be waiting for a very, very long time.

Years of Morvran standing guard? Fenlock thought incredulously. Surely Master Slifer's breakthrough can't take that long... can it?

"Is there no way we could speak with him, even for a moment?" Fenlock pleaded. "It's quite important."

Morvran's expression softened slightly. "I understand, young Fenlock. But Master Slifer's orders were clear. No disturbances, no matter what. The process of becoming an Immortal is very delicate."

Lenvari tugged gently on Fenlock's sleeve. "It's alright, Senior Brother. We can wait. Your master's breakthrough is far more important."

Fenlock nodded reluctantly. "You're right, of course. Boss Morvran, could you at least let Master Slifer know we came by? When he's... finished?"

Morvran stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose I could do that. What is this about?"

Fenlock felt his face heat up. He glanced at Lenvari, who gave him an encouraging nod.

"Well, you see..." Fenlock began, his voice slightly shaky. "Junior Sister Lenvari and I... we've developed feelings for each other. We wanted to seek Master Slifer's blessing for our relationship."

Morvran's eyebrows shot up. He looked between Fenlock and Lenvari, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Ah, young love," he said, his voice uncharacteristically wistful. "It reminds me of my own youth, before I dedicated myself to the Way of the Cock."

Fenlock and Lenvari exchanged a confused glance. The Way of the What now? Fenlock thought.

"That's... nice?" Lenvari said hesitantly.

Morvran nodded, lost in his memories. "Indeed it was. But such worldly attachments can be a distraction from true cultivation. Are you sure this is the path you wish to take?"

Fenlock straightened his shoulders. "Yes. My feelings for Junior Sister Lenvari only strengthen my resolve to become a better cultivator."

"And I feel the same," Lenvari added, squeezing Fenlock's hand.

Morvran studied them for a long moment, then sighed. "Very well. I will inform Master Slifer of your visit and your... situation... once his breakthrough is complete. In the meantime, I suggest you focus on your cultivation. The path of dual cultivation can be treacherous for the unprepared."

Fenlock's face burned even hotter. "D-dual cultivation? We haven't... I mean, we're not..."

Lenvari giggled beside him, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

Morvran waved a hand dismissively. "No need to explain. Just be careful. And perhaps consult some manuals before attempting anything... strenuous."

I think I'm going to die of embarrassment right here, Fenlock thought.

"Thank you for your... advice," Lenvari said, barely containing her laughter. "We'll be sure to study diligently."

Morvran nodded approvingly. "See that you do. Now, if there's nothing else..."

Fenlock bowed quickly. "No, nothing else. Thank you for your time, Boss Morvran."

As they turned to leave, Morvran called out, "Oh, and Fenlock?"

Fenlock looked back nervously. "Yes, Boss?"

A hint of a smile played at Morvran's lips. "Congratulations. Master Slifer will be pleased to see you growing up."

With that, he turned and resumed his guard position, leaving Fenlock and Lenvari to make their way back through the courtyard.

Once they were out of earshot, Lenvari burst into giggles. "Oh, Senior Brother, your face! I thought you were going to burst into flames!"

Fenlock groaned. "Was it that obvious?"

Lenvari nodded, still laughing. "You looked like a tomato with hair!"

Despite his embarrassment, Fenlock found himself chuckling along with her. Her laughter was infectious, and he couldn't help but feel lighter.

"Well, I'm glad my discomfort amuses you so much, Junior Sister.”

Lenvari's laughter died down, but her eyes still sparkled. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. But you have to admit, it was pretty funny. The Way of the Cock? What kind of cultivation technique is that?"

Fenlock shook his head. "I have no idea, and I'm not sure I want to know. Sometimes it's best not to question Boss Morvran's... eccentricities."

They walked in silence for a moment, hand in hand. Despite the setback, Fenlock felt content. Being with Lenvari just felt right.

"So," Lenvari said after a while, "what do we do now? It could be a long time before your master finishes his breakthrough."

Fenlock considered this. "Well, we could follow Boss Morvran's advice and focus on our cultivation. Or..."

"Or?" Lenvari prompted, a hint of mischief in her voice.

Fenlock grinned. "Or we could go for a walk in the Black Rose Garden. I hear the night-blooming roses are particularly beautiful this time of year."

Lenvari's face lit up. "That sounds wonderful! I've always wanted to see them up close."

As they changed direction, heading towards the famous garden, Fenlock felt a surge of happiness. Things might not have gone exactly as planned, but he was with the girl he loved, in a place of beauty and wonder. For now, that was enough.

Master Slifer, he thought, I hope your breakthrough goes well. And I hope you'll approve of us when you return.

Little did Fenlock know, his master's "breakthrough" was taking a very different form than he imagined.

***

Inside his private chambers, Slifer stared at the green cauldron before him, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursing through him. The ingredients for the Core Formation Celestial Lotus Pill were arranged neatly around the cauldron.

Alright, he thought, time to see if I've got what it takes to be an alchemist.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Slifer picked up the Celestial Lotus Petal, marveling at its beauty, it was otherwordly. It seemed to shimmer with an inner light, pulsing in time with his own heartbeat.

"Okay," he muttered to himself, "according to the recipe, I need to infuse this with my spiritual energy before adding it to the cauldron."

He closed his eyes, concentrating on channeling his qi into the delicate petal. It was harder than he expected – the spiritual energy of the petal seemed to resist his efforts, slipping away like water through his fingers.

After several frustrating minutes, Slifer finally felt the petal accept his qi. He opened his eyes to find the petal glowing brightly, its color deepened to a rich, vibrant hue.

"One down, four to go," he sighed, reaching for the vial of Nine-Tailed Fox Essence.

As he worked his way through the ingredients, Slifer found himself gaining a new appreciation for the art of alchemy. Each component required a different approach, a unique touch. The Thunderbolt Fruit crackled with electricity as he infused it, sending little shocks through his fingers. The Dragon's Breath Crystal nearly burned his hand with its intense heat.

By the time he reached the Void Lotus Root, Slifer was sweating profusely, his concentration pushed to its limits.

No wonder alchemists are so respected, he thought as he struggled to imbue the root with his qi. This is harder than any cultivation technique I've tried.

Finally, after what felt like hours, all five ingredients were prepared. Slifer took a deep breath, steeling himself for the next step.

"Alright," he said aloud, his voice echoing in the empty chamber. "Time to put it all together and hope I don't blow myself up."

He carefully added each ingredient to the cauldron, following the precise order specified in the recipe. As the last component – the Void Lotus Root – fell into the mixture, the contents of the cauldron began to swirl of their own accord, colors blending and separating in a hypnotic dance.

Slifer watched in fascination as the mixture began to glow, first a soft blue, then a vibrant green, and finally a deep, pulsing red. The air around the cauldron shimmered with heat and spiritual energy.

So far, so good, he thought cautiously. Now for the tricky part.

According to the recipe, he needed to carefully regulate the spiritual fire beneath the cauldron while simultaneously stirring the mixture with his qi. It was a delicate balance – too much heat would ruin the pill, too little would fail to properly combine the ingredients.

Slifer took another deep breath, centering himself. He extended his hands over the cauldron, channeling his spiritual energy to create a steady flame beneath it. With his other hand, he began to stir the mixture using a tendril of pure qi.

At first, things seemed to be going well. The contents of the cauldron bubbled gently, the colors swirling together in a mesmerizing pattern. Slifer allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction.

Maybe I've got a talent for this after all, he thought.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than things started to go wrong. The mixture suddenly began to churn more violently, the colors separating instead of blending. Slifer frantically tried to adjust the heat and his stirring technique, but it was like trying to control a wild horse with dental floss.

"No, no, no," he muttered, sweat beading on his forehead. "Come on, work with me here!"

But the alchemical mixture seemed to have a mind of its own. It bubbled and frothed, rising higher and higher in the cauldron. Slifer could feel the spiritual energy within it growing unstable, pulsing erratically.

This is bad, he thought, a hint of panic creeping into his mind. Really bad. I need to—

Before he could finish the thought, the mixture exploded. There was a blinding flash of light, a deafening boom, and Slifer found himself thrown backward, slamming into the wall of his chamber.

For a moment, he sat there, dazed and disoriented. His ears rang, and his vision swam with afterimages of the explosion. As his senses slowly returned, he became aware of a peculiar sensation all over his skin.

Slifer looked down at himself and groaned. The System didn’t seem to categorise that as an attack and activate the Critical Block Card, so he was now covered from head to toe in a sticky, multicolored substance that sparkled faintly with residual spiritual energy.

"Well," he said aloud, his voice hoarse, "I guess that's what they call a critical failure."

As if in response to his words, a system message appeared before his eyes:

Ding!

Your Alchemy skill has increased

Alchemy Level 1 (30%)

Slifer blinked in surprise. "Wait, I actually gained experience from that disaster? Huh. I guess there's something to be said for learning from your mistakes."

He struggled to his feet, wincing at the various aches and pains making themselves known. The chamber looked like a technicolor tornado had torn through it. The cauldron was miraculously intact, but everything else – including Slifer himself – was coated in the failed alchemical mixture.

At least the protective barriers held, he thought, noting with relief that the chaos seemed to be contained within his personal space. I'd hate to have to explain this mess to the rest of the sect.

As he surveyed the damage, Slifer couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Here he was, supposedly a powerful Sect Elder, covered in magical goop like a child who had gotten into the finger paints.

"I don't think I'm cut out to be one of those genius alchemists who get it right on the first try," he mused, trying to wipe some of the sticky substance from his face. "Maybe I should start with something simpler. Like... boiling water."

A thought struck him, and he groaned. "The ingredients... all those expensive materials, wasted on this mess. At this rate, I'll probably would bankrupt myself before I ever make a successful pill."

Slifer sighed, running a hand through his goopy hair. "I hate to admit it, but I think I need help. There's got to be an alchemist in the sect who can teach me the basics. It'll probably be embarrassing, but it's better than blowing myself up again."

Decision made, Slifer began the arduous process of cleaning himself and his chamber. It took far longer than he expected – the failed alchemical mixture seemed resistant to both mundane and spiritual cleaning methods.

By the time he had made himself and his surroundings somewhat presentable, Slifer was exhausted. But he knew he couldn't put off facing the world any longer. Morvran would be wondering what had happened, and there were probably sect matters that needed his attention.

"Alright," he said to his reflection in a newly-cleaned mirror. "Time to go out there and pretend I'm a competent Sect Elder who definitely wasn't just defeated by a cauldron."

Slifer took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and opened the door to his chamber. He stepped out into the courtyard, blinking in the bright sunlight.

As his eyes adjusted, he became aware of a strange scene before him. Morvran, his trusted right-hand man, was... sitting on someone? And not just anyone – it appeared to be Fenlock, Slifer's disciple. Beside them stood a young woman Slifer didn't recognize, shaking her head in what looked like a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Slifer blinked, wondering if perhaps he had hit his head harder than he thought during the explosion. But no, the scene remained unchanged.

Well, he thought, at least I'm not the only one having an interesting day.

"Morvran," Slifer called out, keeping his voice steady despite his confusion. "Care to explain why you're using my disciple as a chair?"

Morvran looked up, his expression brightening. "Ah, Master Slifer! You've emerged from your breakthrough! How did it go? Are you now an Immortal?"

"Not... exactly," Slifer said, barely managing to keep a straight face. "But never mind that for now. Why are you sitting on Fenlock?"