Slifer focused his attention on the leaf first, activating the Insight skill.

  Name: Thunderleaf

  Description: A rare herb that grows only in areas frequently struck by lightning. Contains trace amounts of electric energy. Commonly used in pills to strengthen the body's meridians.

  Interesting, Slifer mused. That could be useful for more than just pills.

  He turned his attention to the glowing seed next.

  Name: Starlight Seed

  Description: Seeds from the Celestial Starfruit tree. Absorbs and stores starlight energy. Often used in pills to enhance spiritual perception and connection to celestial energies.

  Celestial energies, huh? I wonder if that has anything to do with those Immortal Realm cultivators I keep hearing about.

  Finally, he examined the piece of bark.

  Name: Ironbark

  Description: Bark from the Iron Oak tree. Extremely durable and resistant to both physical and spiritual attacks. Used in protective pills and talismans.

  Slifer allowed himself a small smile. Not bad, Insight skill. Let's see if we can impress the old man.

  He looked up at Elder Feng, who was watching him with narrowed eyes. "Well?" the old alchemist prompted. "What are they?"

  Slifer pointed to each item in turn. "This leaf is Thunderleaf, often used in pills to strengthen meridians. The seed is a Starlight Seed from the Celestial Starfruit tree, used for enhancing spiritual perception. And this bark is Ironbark from the Iron Oak, used in protective concoctions."

  Elder Feng's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well, well," he muttered. "It seems you're not completely ignorant after all."

  Was that... almost a compliment? Slifer wondered.

  "Now you can teach me, right?" Slifer asked, trying not to sound too eager.

  Elder Feng's eyes narrowed again. "Not so fast, Supreme Elder. That was just a warm-up." He reached into his robes and pulled out another pouch. "Let's see how you fare with these."

  He emptied the pouch onto the table, revealing five more objects: a fiery feather, a small red fruit, a chunk of what looked like crystal, a vial of silvery liquid, and a dried flower.

  Looks like the old man's not giving up so easily, Slifer thought. Fine by me. Let's see how long before he gives up.

  He focused on the feather first.

  Name: Phoenix Plume

  Description: A feather from a lesser phoenix. Contains trace amounts of fire and rebirth energy. Used in pills for cleansing impurities and promoting regeneration.

  Slifer's eyes widened slightly. A phoenix feather? Now that's impressive.

  He moved on to the fruit.

  Name: Blood Apple

  Description: Fruit from the Blood Tree, which grows only in places of great bloodshed. Enhances blood essence and vitality.

  Caution: Addictive if consumed raw.

  Well, that's suitably creepy for a demonic sect, Slifer thought.

  Next, he examined the crystal.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Name: Void Quartz

  Description: Crystal formed in areas of distorted space. Enhances spatial manipulation abilities when used in pills or talismans.

  Spatial manipulation? Now that could be useful.

  He turned his attention to the vial of liquid.

  Name: Moonsilver

  Description: Liquid metal that absorbs and stores moonlight. Used in pills to enhance yin energy and promote calm states of mind.

  Calm states of mind, huh? Maybe I should keep some of that around for when my disciples return.

  Finally, he looked at the dried flower.

  Name: Timeblossom

  Description: A flower that only blooms for one second every hundred years. Rumored to have time-altering properties when used in high-level pills.

  Slifer's eyebrows rose. Time-altering properties? Now that's intriguing.

  He looked up at Elder Feng, who was watching him with growing agitation. Slifer couldn't help but feel a bit smug.

  "Well?" Elder Feng demanded. "What are they?"

  Slifer pointed to each item in turn, reciting their names and primary uses. With each one who got correct, Elder Feng's face grew redder.

  "The Phoenix Plume for cleansing and regeneration, the Blood Apple for enhancing vitality - though I'd be careful with that one, it's addictive when raw. The Void Quartz for spatial manipulation, Moonsilver for enhancing yin energy and promoting calm, and the Timeblossom, which I hear has some interesting temporal properties in high-level pills."

  Elder Feng's mouth opened and closed several times, no sound coming out. Finally, he sputtered, "How... how did you..."

  Slifer shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "I've picked up a few things over the years."

  And by 'picked up,' I mean 'just learned about five seconds ago thanks to this handy Insight skill.'

  Elder Feng slumped onto his stool, looking deflated. "Fine," he grumbled. "Your alchemy knowledge is... adequate. If barely." He straightened up, fixing Slifer with a glare. "But knowing ingredients is just the beginning. Let's see if you can keep up with the real lessons."

  Slifer nodded, suppressing a grin. Challenge accepted, old man.

  "Before we begin," Elder Feng said, stroking his beard, "it's important you understand the different levels of alchemists. There are six main ranks: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster."

  Slifer nodded. This much he remembered from the original Slifer's memories. But as Elder Feng continued, he realized there was much more to learn.

  "Novice alchemists can create simple pills and elixirs, mostly for healing minor injuries or providing small boosts to cultivation. They work with common ingredients and basic equipment."

  Elder Feng paused, eyeing Slifer. "I assume you're at least beyond this level?"

  Slifer coughed, thinking of his earlier disastrous attempt at pill-making. "Of course," he lied smoothly. "Please, continue."

  "Intermediate alchemists," Elder Feng went on, "can create more complex concoctions. They work with rarer ingredients and can produce pills that aid in breakthrough to higher cultivation realms, though the success rate is... variable."

  Variable, huh? Sounds like a polite way of saying 'expect a lot of explosions.'

  "Advanced alchemists," Elder Feng said, puffing up slightly, "can create high-level pills consistently. We work with rare and sometimes dangerous ingredients, crafting pills that can significantly boost cultivation speed or grant temporary special abilities."

  Slifer nodded, impressed despite himself. "And the Expert level?"

  Elder Feng's expression soured slightly. "Experts can create pills that alter the very essence of a cultivator. They work with the rarest of ingredients and can even craft unique, one-of-a-kind pills tailored to specific individuals."

  "Sounds impressive," Slifer said. "But I assume you're past that level, given your reputation in our sect?"

  Elder Feng's face reddened. "As much as I'd like to brag about being a Master, I am merely at the Advanced stage," he admitted grudgingly.

  Slifer blinked in surprise. "But... you're the best alchemist in our sect, aren't you?"

  Elder Feng laughed. "In our sect, yes. But in the entire Mortal Realm? The highest rank you'll find here is Expert. And there's only one of those - Alchemist Xiao of the Heavenly Light Sect."

  Heavenly Light Sect? Slifer thought. Guess they’re not the number 1 sect for nothing.

  "This Alchemist Xiao," Slifer said carefully, "they must be quite powerful."

  Elder Feng nodded grudgingly. "An Ascendant realm cultivator, of course. You see, to become an Expert Alchemist, one must generally be an Ascendant. Alchemy is tied closely to one's cultivation level."

  He paused, a sly look crossing his face. "Of course, there are rare exceptions where one can go beyond their cultivation realm in alchemy. I, for instance, am an Advanced Alchemist despite being only at the Nascent Soul realm."

  Ah, Slifer thought. So that's what's got him all puffed up.

  "Most other Advanced Alchemists are at the Origin Realm," Elder Feng continued, his voice taking on a haughty tone. "But I assure you, they're no better than me despite their higher cultivation."

  Slifer nodded, trying to keep his expression neutral. Someone's got a chip on their shoulder.

  "I see," he said aloud. "And what of the Master and Grandmaster levels?"

  Elder Feng waved a hand dismissively. "Those are beyond the Mortal Realm. Master Alchemists can create pills that fundamentally alter reality itself. And Grandmasters?" He shook his head in wonder. "It's said they can create pills that grant immortality or even ascension to higher realms of existence."

  Slifer's eyes widened. Immortality pills? Now that's something to aim for.

  "Fascinating," he said. "So, where do we begin?"

  Elder Feng grinned, a slightly wicked gleam in his eye. "Oh, I very much doubt your claim to be a Novice Alchemist so we'll start with the basics. Can't have the great Supreme Elder blowing himself up, now can we?"