The Supreme Being Against Heaven
Chapter Summary
His aged voice, filled with “unmatched confidence,” said— “Initially, I thought you were merely an Alchemy Master.” “Never did I expect… you have reached the level of a ‘Revered Alchemy Master’.” … “This pill—pale blue in color, with a faint medicinal aroma—” “is a top-tier initial-level pill: ‘Youth Preservation Pill’.” … “However—your technique is still too ‘rough’!” “Whether controlling the fire… or merging medicinal properties,” “everything seems slow and rigid!” “If this is not the first ti...
As Tan Yun reached out to take the pill—
a flash of astonishment lit up Shen Subing’s beautiful eyes!
Yet her gaze swept to Tan Yun’s left hand—
skin smooth and flawless, like solidified cream!
In her mind, she wondered—
was he truly an old man… or someone who had lived for centuries, using alchemy to maintain his youth?
Though… his voice was undeniably aged…
…
At that moment—
Tan Yun held the pill in his hand,
raised it to his nose through the Turtle Breath veil, and inhaled lightly.
Yet he didn’t comment on the pill itself—
instead, he spoke as if he could “read” Shen Subing’s mind:
“Alchemists can use pills to maintain youth.”
“This is nothing unusual.”
“You yourself appear to be only 20 years old.”
“But if you don’t speak, who would know your true age?”
…
Shen Subing smiled gracefully.
“Senior, you are entirely correct.”
“In that case… may I see your ‘true face’?”
…
“Very well.”
Tan Yun chuckled lightly.
“But once you see my face—”
“From then on, we will be merely ‘strangers’.”
“I will no longer inspect your pills.”
“And I will not reveal the 6 substitute herbs for Jade Revival Herb, Cold Breath Orchid, Yin Death Lotus, and Flame Spirit Grass.”
“How about that?”
…
Shen Subing quickly replied,
“In that case… I will not look!”
…
“Hmm.”
Tan Yun nodded, still keeping his gaze on the pill.
His aged voice, filled with “unmatched confidence,” said—
“Initially, I thought you were merely an Alchemy Master.”
“Never did I expect… you have reached the level of a ‘Revered Alchemy Master’.”
…
“This pill—pale blue in color, with a faint medicinal aroma—”
“is a top-tier initial-level pill: ‘Youth Preservation Pill’.”
…
“However—your technique is still too ‘rough’!”
“Whether controlling the fire… or merging medicinal properties,”
“everything seems slow and rigid!”
“If this is not the first time you refined a Revered-level pill…”
“Then you have only just reached the level of ‘entry-level Revere Alchemy Master’!”
“Am I wrong?”
…
Shen Subing’s delicate body trembled!
She immediately rose—
bowing deeply!
Her eyes shone with “intense anticipation”!
“Senior… using this pill, I truly advanced to entry-level Revered Alchemy Master!”
“But during refinement… there were still many points I did not understand.”
“How can I elevate it further?”
“I humbly ask for your guidance!”
…
Tan Yun smiled faintly.
“Child… if you wish to reach ‘mid-level Revere’ as quickly as possible,”
“There is only one way—”
“Refine more pills!”
“Improve your technique!”
“There are no shortcuts!”
…
“But during refinement—”
“Do not be impatient, do not be flustered.”
“Enter a state of ‘complete tranquility’.”
“This is what you should focus on now!”
…
“For this Youth Preservation Pill of yours…”
“Besides being the first attempt—your skill was not yet proficient,”
“There is also a ‘serious flaw’!”
…
“Serious flaw?”
Shen Subing lifted her head slightly—
eyes filled with eager curiosity!
…
“Mm.”
Tan Yun spoke candidly,
“First—your choice of herbs.”
“From the aroma and color of the pill, I estimate”
“it was refined from at least 13 herbs.”
“All are level 6 or above.”
“Including—Spirit Fragrant Grass, Broken Thread Mushroom, and Mysterious Evolution Fruit.”
…
“Among them—‘Mysterious Evolution Fruit’ is a water element according to the Five Elements theory.”
“Water is Yin.”
“Although it has properties that slow bodily degeneration,”
“it is also a ‘highly toxic substance’!”
“When refining—”
“there is no other herb that can completely ‘detoxify’ it.”
“The resulting Youth Preservation Pill—at most—will only reach ‘high level’.”
“There is no way it can reach ‘supreme level’!”
…
“Child—when you refined it,”
“the detoxifying herbs used were 2 level 8 herbs—‘Yin-Yang Longevity Grass,’ correct?”
…
“This herb—belongs to the Fire element.”
“But fire itself fluctuates between Yin and Yang.”
“For your current level—too difficult to control!”
…
“Therefore—”
“until your technique deepens enough,”
“you should ‘stop using the Mysterious Evolution Fruit’”
“and instead use another level 8 herb—‘Heavenly Blaze Core Grass’.”
…
“This herb is Water element.”
“Water is Yin—gentle.”
“Using it instead of Mysterious Evolution Fruit,”
“and reducing Yin-Yang Longevity Grass from 2 to 1,”
…
“In this way—the refined Youth Preservation Pill”
“will emit a fresh, uplifting aroma—clearing the mind!”
…
“As for flaws in your refining—there are 3 points.”
“First—”
“When you merged the properties of Mysterious Evolution Fruit with the 2 Yin-Yang Longevity Grass…”
“The fire temperature… was ‘too high’!”
“Second—merging the properties of those herbs took slightly too long.”
“Furthermore, using a level 6 herb like ‘Sky Spirit Ginseng Vine’ as the guiding herb… was not the best choice. You should have used ‘Mysterious Origin Ginseng Grass’ level 6, which would have been perfect for refining this pill.”
Before Shen Subing could speak further, under Tan Yun’s surprised gaze, she immediately dropped to her knees and bowed.
“I humbly beseech you, Senior, please accept Subing as your disciple! Subing aspires to become an Alchemy Master like you!”
The moment Tan Yun heard those words—
he recalled the only female disciple he had when he was a ‘Primordial Sun Alchemy Master’—who had now become the famous ‘Lingxia Tian Venerable’ in the Celestial Realm—but who had once betrayed him!
Tan Yun looked at Shen Subing kneeling before him, gritted his teeth, and said with a deep breath,
“Rise. I no longer wish to take on any more disciples.”
Shen Subing, perceptive and clever, sensed the deep resentment in Tan Yun’s voice.
She remained kneeling but cautiously asked, with a hint of fear,
“Senior… did your former disciple… disappoint you?”
She was smart enough to know now was not the time to formally request discipleship.
“Only disappoint…?”
Tan Yun gritted his teeth.
Shen Subing immediately understood.
She knelt once more, bending deeply.
“Senior… please calm your anger! The cruelest thing is not merely betrayal, but lack of virtue. Please accept Subing as your disciple! I swear… I will never betray you. If I do… I will die in disgrace, never to reincarnate!”
Tan Yun did not expect Shen Subing to be so resolute.
He was silent for a long moment before speaking firmly:
“Accepting you… is not impossible, but there are 5 conditions you must meet.”
“Please state them, Senior.”
Excitement shone clearly in Shen Subing’s eyes.
Tan Yun said in a firm voice:
“First—those without exceptional talent will not be accepted as disciples.”
“Second—those who practice alchemy for fame or profit will not be accepted.”
“Third—those who claim to uphold justice or save lives will not be accepted.”
“Fourth—in the future, any matters of marriage must have my consent first.”
Tan Yun’s aim was clear—even if he accepted a disciple, the disciple must be exceptionally talented. The fourth condition… was because his only past disciple had once betrayed him after marrying a deity in the Celestial Realm.
“I will not make that mistake again!”
Shen Subing knelt, lifting her head. Her eyes shone 70% joy and 30% sorrow.
“Senior… first, I possess high-level talent in both Space and Time elements. I believe I am most suitable for studying alchemy.”
“Second, my family has been harmed to this day. I refine alchemy not for fame or profit, but for vengeance.”
“Third, I have been determined since childhood to master alchemy to the highest level. If I encounter someone worthy of help… I will help, but I will not become a disciple to claim justice or save lives.”
“Fourth, I have never met anyone I like, and if I do… I will always heed your guidance.”
Shen Subing raised her right index finger, her gaze sincere.
“I swear… if you accept me as your disciple, I will not disappoint you, will not betray you, and one day… I will surpass the disciple who betrayed you in both power and alchemy. If I encounter them… I will show no mercy!”
Tan Yun was slightly surprised. He did not expect Shen Subing’s talent to be high in two aspects.
Someone with such talent… would be a shame to let go.
He thought to himself, then said:
“I accept you as my disciple… in name only. If you do not disappoint me in the future, I will truly cultivate you.”
“Ah… excellent!” Shen Subing was so overjoyed she almost forgot to breathe, kneeling three times in succession.
“Disciple Subing pays respects, Master!”
Tan Yun smiled slyly,
“Do not rush to become my disciple… first, I must have you agree to three more conditions.”
--Translated by likesnovel--