Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 170: Excellence

"Nonsense!" The Alchemy Elder scoffed. "Alchemists pursue nobler heights far beyond such crude weapons!"

Night had arrived, and the lesson with the Alchemy Elder with it. Liam had mentioned the Disciplinary Elder’s opinion as soon as his cave closed, and that grumpy response had perfectly matched his expectations.

"A greatsword!" The Elder continued, cursing, even half-turning to highlight his disdain. "How would you apply poison with such a cumbersome thing? You’d have already cleaved people in half by then!"

That was indeed a graphic and accurate example of a greatsword’s unsuitability for Liam. However, the topic could have a counterpoint.

Ample preparations could make the difference between life and death. Liam had seen that for himself both in the cultivation world and on Krosstoen’s mountain.

Alchemy was also a broad field, especially in the way Liam’s Master taught it. He emphasized complete mastery over narrow specializations.

Liam could apply that theory to life, too, seeing the seemingly superfluous skill as something better known than ignored since it might save him one day.

Hence, Liam uttered a question he couldn’t help but find obvious. "Master, can’t I just learn both?"

There was no rule against learning the greatsword and the knife simultaneously. It might take more training, but Liam didn’t lack the resolve. He would put in the effort as long as it led to greater strength and better preparations for life’s dangers.

"Disciple," The Elder called, lowering his voice, using that opportunity to start one of his usual interrogations. "Why have you avoided concocting healing pills?"

"Their recipes require alchemical flames in direct opposition to my Qi’s nature," Liam responded, ready for that question. "Master suggested I get better at alchemy before focusing on them."

Liam knew the theory and had even performed a few attempts, but the results had been quite disappointing.

It wasn’t that Liam couldn’t make healing pills. The alchemical flames for those concoctions simply demanded Qi that he needed more mental filters to release.

The additional filters limited the amount of Qi Liam could release, often leading to an alchemical flame too weak for the concoctions.

Of course, training would solve the issue. The Alchemy Elder had simply decided it was better for Liam to amass that experience working on something he was suited for.

Liam would have gained that experience no matter what, but the strategy prevented him from wasting valuable ingredients and created precious tools like the Cloud Pills in the meantime.

"We all have natural inclinations," The Elder declared, nodding in approval. "Alchemy is so broad that it forces us to go against them at times. However, it isn’t the only art that demands a level of Qi manipulation."

Liam could only trust his Master there. His Qi had never been a problem with his martial arts, circulation technique, and magical items. Only Alchemy had featured that issue, but it stood to reason that other fields would.

"Swordsmen develop something akin to the flexibility the alchemical flame demands," The Alchemy Elder stated, pacing around. "It’s commonly known as Sword Qi, a sharpened version of the Qi that can aid both blades and unarmed attacks."

Liam thought about Maxwell. He had seen his flying sword’s sharpness and had even witnessed him pierce a defensive technique with his bare hand.

’He said his expertise lay elsewhere,’ Liam recalled. ’Was he talking about Sword Qi?’

"These specializations aren’t mere techniques," The Elder continued. "They become part of who we are, no different from tastes or sleeping habits."

Liam could guess where his Master was going now, emboldening him to interrupt him.

"Master," Liam called, "If my work with the alchemical flame strives for flexibility, can’t I include Sword Qi in it?"

Naturally, the cane landed on Liam’s head, but he didn’t think much about it. His Master didn’t, either, since he immediately resumed pacing around.

"Both Sword Qi and the flexibility you are developing are forms of excellence," The Alchemy Elder announced, "Excellence that has no upper limit. You could learn both, but doing so will ensure that you won’t become great at either."

The Elder stopped at that point, lifting his gaze. He knew Liam still couldn’t fathom those points, but he had to warn him somehow.

"You’ll see, disciple," The Elder exclaimed. "There are levels of greatness that no amount of practice, study, or imitation can achieve. Only complete immersion and abandonment in an art can bring you there."

The Elder was right. Liam was simply too young and inexperienced to imagine that. Yet, he had a valuable example. Liam had seen that immersion and abandonment when his Master concocted.

"It’s eerie," The Elder said, "Like drowning. Your consciousness and very being slip away, replaced by boundless notions that fuse with your sense of self, forever becoming part of you."

Liam lost himself in the tale. He couldn’t understand it. He lacked the mastery to do so, but instinctive parts of himself recognized the echoes of true greatness in those words.

It was as if the Alchemy Elder was an opaque surface reflecting hints of the mightiest brilliance only he could point and look at. Liam couldn’t see the exact path through him. He could only understand that it existed.

"There is no end to the notions," The Elder stated, looking down at his sitting disciple. "There is no final goal. It’s a merciless climb that demands everything you have, not something that you can leave as a side aspect of your skillset."

The grandiose speech conveyed its basic premise. If Liam wanted to become great at alchemy, he had to focus solely on it and disregard training that would sidetrack him.

"And, disciple," The Elder called, pointing his cane at Liam’s face. "I was great, so much so that I could see even greater heights. That’s the least you have to achieve. If you plan on wasting your life trying to master anything that excites you, I might as well end it now."

"No, Master," Liam promptly responded. "I promised to pursue alchemy and bring honor to your name."

"Good," The Elder scoffed. "Now, I can see you haven’t taken my advice about resting, but that won’t excuse you from more concoctions."

"But, Master," Liam said, showing his hands. "You said I had to focus on healing. I’m healed."

"That’s not all I said," The Elder scoffed, hiding that mistakenly spoken revealing word behind a swing of the cane, "Is it?"

"You saw Sister Melissa leaving," Liam complained, expecting the cane to hit again, only for nothing to land on his head.

"Foolish disciple," The Alchemy Elder sighed. "Is concocting nonstop with an audience what you consider spending time with someone?"

Liam honestly didn’t have an answer for that. He sensed the implication that he had done something wrong, but he had an embarrassing counterpoint to that, too.

"We kissed first," Liam revealed, his shyness unable to suppress his voice, making him tilt his head in confusion. "But now I want to kiss her on the mouth, too."

Strength suddenly abandoned the Alchemy Elder. He didn’t know what he had expected from such a unique disciple, but had hoped that Liam’s fiery girlfriend would have snatched a proper kiss at the very least.

"And?" The Elder asked, feeling the need to provide some much-needed assistance to his protege. The Master-disciple relationship involved that, too.

"Isn’t that something only lovers do?" Liam asked, vaguely recalling that rule from Adrian’s nonsensical talks.

"Your Senior Sister would have it much easier if you were the boar," The Elder sighed, giving up on the matter. He had warmed up to the idea of being someone’s Master, but one question was his limit in those topics.

Besides, as long as Liam knew what lovers were, he would eventually make the connection. The Elder hoped as much for his and Disciple Melissa’s sanity.

"What?" Liam gasped, only for the cane to hit his head, pointing at the item behind him afterward.

"Cauldron," The Alchemy Elder ordered. "Now."