If Daoism Has a Shape

The sky was a deep blue, and who knew if there were any paper cranes flying in it.

Chen Xia turned a corner and brought Emperor Capital to the outermost frontline of the logistics department.

As expected, there were two women there, none other than Li Yang and Li Yue.

"Why did you two decide to come as well?" Chen Xia frowned and asked.

"Now that we've become Great Saints, we naturally want to test our mettle in battle and see how strong we really are!" Li Yue snorted coldly, responding with pride.

"You'd better be talking about your cultivation and combat prowess," Chen Xia warned, then added, "Great Saints aren't that impressive. Over the years, so many Great Saints have died on the frontlines that they could fill three thousand spots for enrollment at the Blue Sky Sword Sea."

"Then why can Emperor Capital come?" Li Yue retorted.

"Because I'm Chen Xia's second brain, his number one lackey, and I help him solve problems, play music, and do everything else!" Emperor Capital said with a proud smile, listing his roles like a pro.

Chen Xia shook his head in helplessness, "You're comparing yourself to the Emperor Capital now? What can I even say? If you want to come, then come. Let me show you what war is really like. The frontlines aren't like the star domains where you treat battles like a game."

"What's the big deal? We've fought before, too," Li Yue said dismissively, crossing her arms.

Li Yang also showed her arrogance. "Bring it on. Fighting is nothing new. I've never been afraid."

"Neither am I!" Emperor Capital shouted loudly.

Chen Xia shook his head, feeling powerless against them. So, he decided, "Fine, all of you can come and watch from the city walls."

The arrival of two more Great Saints at the frontline wasn't a big deal, but the fact that they knew Chen Xia made it a noteworthy event.

Emperor Tianhe came by personally to confirm that Li Yang and Li Yue were acquainted with Chen Xia, and after doing so, he didn't ask any further questions. As long as they were connected to Chen Xia, there was no need to investigate further. Trust was the name of the game.

He also mentioned something to Chen Xia.

"The Emperor Council wants you to help out and make some top-grade pills for the upcoming battles."

Chen Xia frowned. "You want me to fight, explore the star domains, and now you want me to make pills too? What the hell are you Emperors even doing?"

"Well, you can't say it like that. The more capable, the more work," Emperor Tianhe said with a rare chuckle, perhaps realizing how unreasonable it was.

Emperor Capital was stunned hearing Chen Xia curse at an Emperor, and the Emperor had to laugh it off. It was like opening a new world for him, and his eyes sparkled with admiration.

Chen Xia and Emperor Tianhe argued for a while, with Chen Xia threatening to beat all the Emperor's horses, showing just how unrestrained he was.

Emperor Tianhe even agreed, "Fine, start with mine!"

This left Emperor Capital in awe, thinking, "As expected of Chen Xia."

With that settled, Chen Xia went to the logistics department to start making pills.

The cultivators there were more excited to see Chen Xia than they would be to see their own fathers. They rushed over, carrying their spatulas, the sound of metal clanging filling the air.

They didn't look like alchemists; they looked like chefs.

"Chen Xia, you've finally come! I've had some doubts about alchemy that I've been unable to solve. I want you to guide me!"

As he spoke, the Saint of Alchemy took out his spatula and asked Chen Xia directly.

"When we try to learn from you, we can never get the pills right. We've been pondering over it but didn't dare to disturb you. Today, since you're here, I'll dare to ask."

Chen Xia tilted his head, unsure how to respond.

Of course, you can't learn it. He relies on luck to make pills, and if everyone could learn it, then their luck would be catching up to his.

The alchemists kept asking questions, so Chen Xia waved his hand and said, "This technique can only be understood, not explained. Later, I'll demonstrate it again. Watch carefully and learn."

He added, "But if you can't learn it, that's fine. This technique isn't something everyone can master. I'm already in a class of my own; it's hard to have a second."

After saying that, he took out his alchemy tool, a spatula, and slid it across the pot, making a sizzling sound. Then, he lit a small fire spell and tossed in the ingredients.

He started stir-frying!

The alchemists watched breathlessly, their expressions serious to the extreme.

A peculiar aroma suddenly filled the air, forcefully invading everyone's nostrils.

The Saint of Alchemy's eyes widened in shock.

It was seasoning!

Chen Xia had added seasoning to the mix!

The flames exploded, the aroma spread, and the sound of the spatula hitting the pot stopped.

Chen Xia's eyes sparkled with lightning as he placed his hand over the pot, pressing down. The world formed within, and so did the heavenly lightning.

A bright, heavenly lightning struck down, hitting the pot and condensing the pills, creating pill patterns.

The fragrance of the pills spread, the patterns appeared, and the visions materialized.

A top-grade medicinal pill was born!

Chen Xia put away his spatula, his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering, giving him the appearance of an immortal sage.

The alchemists looked at him like worshippers at a divine being, their eyes filled with fervor. They wanted to touch the sacred pill but were afraid of tainting it, of sullying this supreme alchemy technique.

"Chen Xia!" The Saint of Alchemy knelt down fervently before Chen Xia.

"Chen Xia!" The alchemists all knelt down together.

Chen Xia stood in the middle of them, not responding, as he looked at his palm.

There was still some lightning left in his palm, the bright heavenly lightning, but there was something different—a streak of pure, blue lightning.

The lightning originated from his hand, forming its own world, giving the pill "life," which was akin to creation. Was this another understanding of the Thunder Dao?

Chen Xia was excited. He thought about it and acted immediately. He added all his thousands of years of points to his luck and continued stir-frying with his spatula.

The alchemists widened their eyes, not wanting to miss a single step of the process, continuing to watch.

Top-grade medicinal pill, complete!

Another pill completed!

Complete!

Days went by without rest, and a total of seven top-grade medicinal pills were produced, leaving Chen Xia pale-faced, looking like he had been drained dry.

The lightning in his palm had gained more of the blue lightning's essence, so it seemed to be working, but at this rate, breaking through was still a long way off.

Chen Xia exhaled and decided to take a break.

Below him, the alchemists had watched for days, their expressions changing from fervor to reverence. They clasped their hands together, bowed to Chen Xia, and said in unison, "Chen Xia!"

In their eyes, if alchemy had a form, it would look like Chen Xia.