31. Schemes that Got Together I
When Clay woke up, his attention was drawn by the interior design of the wooden house he was in. The weather outside was gloomy and the bed he was lying only had bed sheet and it was not comfortable at all. His last memory was meditating after ingesting the pill his master gave him.
When he got up looked around, he saw his master seeping tea on the table close to the door.
"You tolerance is weak so we have to delay the Essence Flame from integrating with your cultivation. It is currently sealed in your dantian. Come, I have prepared a meal to help you recover your strength."
Clay indeed felt weak as if he had not moved in a long time. Upon taking his seat, he grabbed a spoon and tasted the soup. To his surprise, his body felt revitalized even with one sip.
"This pill will strengthen and boost your body's resistance to essence flame. Eat this and I will help personally assist you fuse with the flame latter."
Clay has yet to finish his meal yet his master as handed him a pill. He has questions but he refrained from talking and obediently took the pill and sat in the middle of the room to meditate. He just woke up and would like to object but this might enrage his master. He can only endure for now and slowly build their relationship.
As he circulated the energy from the pill, Clay felt every fiber of his muscles being reinforced. He does not know if this is what improving body constitution is and while he is grateful, it is still not enough for him to lower his guard.
"Follow me. I will bring you to a spot help us refine your essence flame."
“Mhmm” Clay happily nodded.
As soon as Clay stepped outside, he was surprised by the environment. He could not tell if it was morning or afternoon due to the gloomy weather but from afar, he could see a mountain emitting smoke. It appears they are within a valley with a volcano in range.
“Hop in.”
Clay was busy observing the environment when his master called and when he looked, his master summoned an artifact which looked like a floating raft.
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Clay had no choice and as soon as he stepped on the boat, it levitated and headed closer to the volcano.
“Amazing!” Clay exclaimed inwardly as he thought about having his own magic flying tool in the future.
As they got farther, Clay continued to observe his surroundings.
From his understanding, the range surrounding volcanoes should not be suitable for plantation but he could see trees with red leaves on them. The valley was no different from a lush forest except the color of the plants.
After around three minutes, they started to descend on a barren spot near a huge boulder.
Before landing, Clay noticed two cultivators around two hundred meters from them. It appears to be his master's companion at the inn, Chung Har'an. He did not mind them and got off the flying boat.
"Eat this pill and meditate.”
Clay felt something is amiss and his suspicion had grown to a point he wanted to decline but for some reason, he could not muster his courage and say no. The place is eerie and he would like to know how a dreadful place conducive to integrating with essence flame.
“When I unseal the essence flame, do not panic and listen to my instructions."
Clay clenched his fist and decided to ask some questions when all is done.
As soon as he swallowed the pill and started to meditate, a burst of uncontrollable energy spread all over his body.
Clay gritted his teeth as he controlled the surging energy however before he could concentrate, he heard a cry of agony.
(Arhhhg!)
(Please, No!)
(Help!)
Clay instinctively got to his feet and looked towards the direction where the voice came from and started to panic. The cry for help was abnormally perplexing and very similar to the struggling voices he heard when Buaki Gang was besieged.
"Master, what is going on?" Clay could barely speak.
Dal In did not respond and instead slowly pointed his finger towards Clay’s dantian.
Clay is already trembling and when he saw his master’s eyes, it evoked the same feeling when he first met Elder Chung Har’an. Those unsympathetic expressions that looked down on him like a useless rag. Clay wanted to step back and avoid the finger however an inexplicable pressure suddenly surrounded his body completely immobilizing him.
“Please master. I can refine High Tier Pills.” Clay immediately bargained and revealed his ability but it did not stop his master and the moment the finger touched his navel, Clay felt another burst of energy as the other Essence Flame got unsealed doubling the amount of uncontrollable surging energy within his body.
Arhhhg!
Arhhhg!
Pain surrounded his body it felt like his inside is being burned from within causing him to feel groggy and even his surroundings started to blur. Clay refused to pass out and tried releasing the energy from his body.
Meanwhile, not far from Clay, Chung Har'an was floating mid air observing the other Alchemy apprentice who is currently suffering the same fate.
Similar to what they did to Clay, they planted an Earth Class Essence Flame and fed him a pill to temporarily boost his body constitution and increase his heat and flame resistance then later forced him to eat a Foundation Reinforcement Pill to awaken the Essence Flame they unsealed.