Chapter 160: The backstory

"The Pill Valley is a colossal power in the true martial world. What you know until now is limited to these backward regions. In Pill valley, geniuses like you are crowded like bees. You can showcase your real talent in that region."

"What are the criteria for entering the Pill valley? ".

"I want you to hear a story before that. It's a story related to my history in the pill valley.". Lu Ming was alerted by this remark. His master was a genuine mysterious figure in these regions. Even after being so powerful, he was living as an inner elder of the pill hall.

"I was a student in one of the pill halls, just like you. My master was the one who scouted me from my native village. He saw that I had great talents in alchemy due to my affinity with wood and fire elements."

"He began to train me in the path of pill making. I was fortunate enough to exceed his expectations and got a chance to enter the pill valley as a student. I had pride in my abilities in the path of alchemy, but when I finally appeared in the entrance test, a harsh reality brought me back from my delusions."

"I wasn't even the top seed. I got admitted as an inner disciple within the valley. This failure managed to catapult my speed of growth and I started training at a much intensive level. I took part in every challenge and competition thrown towards me and my efforts began to pay back."

"I won a multitude of competitions and finally managed to elevate my position to a core disciple. I was taken in by an elder of the academy, who supported me in my path of cultivation. I didn't stop there and continued to improve."

"Fate was fair with me and showered me with a heavenly chance.". The first elder raised his hands as an emerald-colored fire began to appear. The environment with the dwelling changed instantly. Lu Ming found it hard to even breathe in this situation. He couldn't believe there was something this powerful in the first elder's possession.

"Do you know what this thing is?"

"Its an earth flame. As expected, he did possess one." The Keeper's voice sounded in Lu Ming's head.

......................................................….

"I didn't expect the master to be the possession of an earthen flame." Lu Ming's casual tone surprised both the elders present in the room. The first elder expected Long Tao to have a highly shocked reaction.

"You have a precise knowledge of this world. It is an earthen flame that I was fortunate to get my hands on. It not only helped me improve my cultivation realm but also catapulted me to the upper echelon of elders within the pill valley."

To be the part of the upper echelon of pill valley, just what was his master's previous cultivation level. Lu Ming's expression was noticed by the first elder.

"You must have doubts regarding my cultivation level, to be a part of the upper echelon."

"If my predictions are correct, the least requirement should be an advanced king level cultivation." The first elder laughed out loud. 

"King level cultivators are at most outer elders of the academy, to be an inner elder you need the cultivation of peak king level."

"Then Is master insisting that." Ming was about to speak up when the first elder interrupted him.

"I was a Qi emperor. To be precise, at the 6th level of Qi emperor." Lu Ming's mind was blown away. His master was a peak intermediate level Qi emperor.

...................................................…

"were you not able to gauge his true strength before?". Long to asked the keeper.

"The artifact confirmed it. He had the cultivation of an intermediate king."

"The only other explanation is that he is suffering from some sort of injury.". Lu Ming agreed with this explanation. He decided to confirm it with the first elder.

................................................….

"What is master doing in this pill hall then."

"I remember the day when I took you in as a disciple. When asked the reason behind choosing me, you replied that I was the strongest with a king level cultivation.". Lu Ming decided to maintain his silence.

"During my time as a core member, our pill valley went through tribulation, at the hands of one of the enemies. I was gravely injured in that fight, which resulted in me losing my cultivation and degrading to Qi general level. I retreated to recover from my injuries in this pill hall."

"Did you manage to recover your injuries buy now?"

"I am not at my peak, but am not too far from it." The first elder released his Qi. Lu Ming could feel the difference between the Qi he felt last time.

"I still have a doubt. Wouldn't it be more feasible if you remained at the valley and recuperate from your injuries, why come here?"

.........................................................…

"There is a multiple of reason s for me to come here. My enemies were not only from other forces but within the pill valley too. I needed to escape from their grasp."

"But why this place in particular? There must be better places one could hide in. a cultivator at your level must have tons of friends too."

"There is no eternal friendship or enmity, just eternal benefits. Once your strength doesn't fulfill the criteria, your friends seem to disappear one after another."

"It still doesn't explain your presence in this place, which you literally termed as being backward."

"It was because of me." The sect leader spoke before the first elder could get a chance to reply.

.............................................................

"Besides being the sect leader of this place, I have another identity. He came here to protect and assist me.". 

Lu Ming was thrown into even more of a confusion. Just what sort of identity did she have to get the assistance of a Qi emperor. He decided to keep his doubts to himself.

"Keeping the story aside, I would clarify all your questions after you meet certa8in conditions laid by me."

"Since you managed to achieve the pre-decided goal of our agreement, I wouldn't be interfering in the path you follow. I have three tasks for you."

"The first task requires you to practice alchemy exclusively for the next half year. The reason behind the request is the upcoming vent in the pill valley. It conducts an entrance examination for all the aspirants. You need to be an advanced second-level alchemist and below the age of twenty to participate. You satisfied both the conditions."

"The second task is to win a place in the top 10. Given your speed of cultivation and alchemy, I think you could win a place in the top 10 easily. I would be even happier if you could get a seat in the top 3."

"If you manage to fulfill the task, I would clarify all your doubts regarding our past. I would even reward you in addition to what you will receive from the competition."

"What is the third task, master?'

"I heard that your martial brother, general Long ta from the Jiao country is residing in the forest regions between Chu and Jiao country."

"he recently asked for an appointment as the controller of the place. He seems to be interested in developing the terrain and training his troops in those harsh conditions. I expect him to soon attack the Chu country once more and annex all the land."

The suspicion of the first elder was cleared out. " I want you to ask for his help regarding a matter."

"I want him to survey the whole area for possible regions where fire energy is incredibly abundant. It's fine if he didn't manage to find a place, but ask him to do his best.'

Long Tao's expression changed on hearing it. So the first elder was interested in the fire vein too. Seems the words of the Keeper were certainly true.

"I will master."

"If he did manage to find a place, he will be rewarded abundantly."