A Genius
Despite the vast disparity in Qi concentration between the primordial realm, akin to an ocean, and this world, more like a mere raindrop, Tang Yun found himself absorbing Qi at an unprecedented rate, surpassing his previous capabilities in the primordial realm.
The extraordinary efficiency of both the Finger of God and the Celestial God Physique techniques became apparent to Tang Yun. Had he cultivated these techniques in the Primordial Realm, the rate of Qi absorption would have been millions of times greater than what he experienced in this world.
Inevitably, he would have surpassed the formidable barrier of the God Qi Realm.
In just a few minutes of cultivation, he advanced to the 5th Stage of the Fundamental Qi Realm.
A broad smile adorned his face as he immersed himself in cultivation.
Thirty minutes later, the doors to the alchemy room opened, and the patriarch, head elder, and matriarch entered after healing Elder Liu.
In this timespan, Tang Yun had reached the peak of the Fundamental Qi Realm. Initially, upon awakening in this world, he assumed it would take months to reach this stage, especially with the limited resources and the minuscule amount of Qi.
Tang Yun ceased his cultivation, rising to his feet and bowing with his fist in his palm, "This disciple greets the patriarch, matriarch, and head elder."
"At ease, disciple," the patriarch said, retrieving a glass ball from his spatial ring and motioning for Tang Yun to place his hands on it.
"This ball will turn red if you lie and green if you speak the truth, and I suggest you choose the truth as punishment for lying will be severe," the patriarch warned, then continued, "What happened to the events leading to Elder Liu's condition?"
Tang Yun observed the lie detector artifact, recognizing it as only an Earth Grade tool that detects abnormal changes in heart rate and the flow of Qi.
'Only Earth Grade. I can easily bypass it if the questions are too personal.' Tang Yun, realizing the lie detector artifact was only Earth Grade and within his ability to handle, decided to lie if faced with overly personal questions.
Tang Yun looked at the Earth Grade lie detector and responded, "I came to awaken my alchemy flame, and Elder Liu witnessed the process. Her shock at my successful awakening caused her to collapse."
The ball turned green. Tang Yun slightly twisted the truth, saying Elder Liu's collapsed due to the surprise of the alchemy flame rather than revealing the true cause. He aimed to keep the details about the nature and strength of his flame concealed, as only exceptionally powerful and high grade flames or artifacts could exert such intense pressure that it can harm a cultivator.
After hearing Tang Yun's claim of awakening a alchemy flame, they all forgot about interrogation, and wondered about his alchemy flame.
"Have you truly awakened an alchemy flame?!" Elder Bai inquired, preceding the Patriarch, who didn't take offense as he was about to pose the same question.
"Yes, I have successfully awakened an alchemy flame," Tang Yun confirmed calmly, maintaining his composure.
He withdrew his hands from the glass ball, which reverted to its original transparent color. Tang Yun then summoned his alchemy flame, ensuring to retract all the aura to prevent a recurrence of the previous incident.
They all gazed with widened eyes at the exquisite white flame, seemingly hypnotized. "Your flame is so beautiful!" the matriarch uttered in a daze. However, as her hands neared the flame, Tang Yun swiftly concealed it.
They were all taken aback by his sudden decision to conceal the flame, especially the matriarch. "Don't worry, disciple. I'm at the 3rd Stage of Heaven Qi Realm; I won't be hurt by the flame. Please bring it back out," she urged with eagerness.
Given its God Grade, the alchemy flame possesses tremendous destructive capabilities. In his prime, Tang Yun would occasionally use the flame in battles, effortlessly obliterating any opponent without leaving a trace, not even ashes.
However, since Tang Yun is not in his prime, the flame would only cause first degree burns on the matriarch. He could control the flame to prevent harm, similar to suppressing its aura. Yet, prolonged exposure might lead to addiction, even if it doesn't cause direct harm.
Weapons, aside from exerting pressure, emit a sensation discernible only to cultivators. This feeling intensifies with the weapon's grade. The alchemy flame is God Grade, a tier unfamiliar to cultivators in this world, making them more drawn to it.
That's why they were entranced the moment Tang Yun revealed the flame, remaining in a daze until he concealed it.
"I wouldn't want any harm to come to your beautiful skin, Matriarch," Tang Yun remarked, eliciting surprised looks from both the Patriarch and the Head Elder.
To flirt openly with the matriarch, the lover of the patriarch, showed a level of fearlessness bordering on audacity.
Tang Yun's audacious act, usually warranting expulsion or worse, death, was overlooked given his one in a lifetime talent in awakening an alchemy flame – a feat not accomplished in a thousand years. Recognizing his potential, the patriarch chose to prioritize the sect's reputation and was willing to provide him with the necessary resources and support, even the matriarch herself if Tang Yun wanted her.
The patriarch stowed the glass ball away in his spatial ring, "This investigation is over. From today onwards, you are my disciple."
The matriarch had no issue with the patriarch accepting Tang Yun as his disciple; if he didn't, she was prepared to take him in. However, the Head Elder couldn't come to terms with it.
"Patriarch, you can't! I didn't notice it at first, but after remembering his hair color, this kid is Tang Yun, the trash of our sect! He's been stuck at the 1st Stage of the Fundamental Realm since he joined! There are core disciples far more suitable to be your disciple!"
Elder Bai urged the patriarch to reconsider accepting Tang Yun. He didn't care who was accepted, but if Tang Yun, who offended and embarrassed him earlier, becomes the patriarch's disciple, it would disrupt his plan for revenge.