The Equal King

“A hundred years ago, although the Dan King Qiu Yulong was a master of alchemy, there were several others who were equally renowned, if not more so. Back then, he couldn’t even claim the title of number one. It wasn’t until he spent over a decade tirelessly researching and eventually created the Divine Alchemy Technique that he rose to fame. With this technique, he successfully crafted the Ageless Pill, which shook the world and earned him the title of the greatest alchemist of all time!”

“Divine Alchemy Technique? That name sounds a bit arrogant, doesn’t it? Is he comparing himself to a god?”

“Creating the Ageless Pill is an act that defies the heavens, a taboo even for gods. Hence, the name Divine Alchemy Technique is fitting. Arrogance is expected in such a context.”

Gu Qingfeng nodded. This sentiment reminded him of the poet Li Bai. Li Bai’s poems were known for their boldness, one bolder than the next, yet people simply accepted it as his nature. Why? Because he had the talent to back it up. Qiu Yulong seemed to embody a similar spirit in the realm of alchemy.

“Lord Li, you’ve told me so much. What exactly do you want me to do?”

Li Qianren stopped beating around the bush and came straight to the point. “While Qiu Yulong had disciples during his lifetime, none of them were able to inherit the Divine Alchemy Technique. Not wanting this method to be lost, he left behind the Jade Dragon Secret Realm, which contains his entire legacy of alchemical knowledge, including the Divine Alchemy Technique, and possibly even the Ageless Pill itself!

The Jade Dragon Secret Realm opens once every five years. It’s protected by arrays and layers of pill refinement tests, and only those below the True Qi Realm are allowed to enter. The purpose is to select young alchemists with potential to carry on his legacy.

The next opening of the Jade Dragon Secret Realm is a year away. Your mission is to enter it, inherit the Divine Alchemy Technique, and retrieve the Ageless Pill!”

“Wait... I have a few questions.”

“Ask.”

“First question: If Dan King Qiu Yulong could create the Ageless Pill, why did he still die?”

“Do you think the Ageless Pill is something you can just whip up anytime? Qiu Yulong spent his entire life crafting only a few of them. Moreover, rejuvenation is an act that defies the heavens. Repeatedly consuming the Ageless Pill diminishes its effects over time.”

“Second question: He set up the Jade Dragon Secret Realm a hundred years ago, and it opens every five years. That’s twenty openings in a century. Hasn’t anyone managed to claim the inheritance yet?”

Li Qianren shook his head. “In a hundred years, not a single person has passed the trials.”

“What?” Gu Qingfeng was dumbfounded. “Then how can you be sure I can do it?”

He had a good grasp of his own abilities. While he could handle demons and monsters, alchemy was a different story. Just because he had strong spiritual energy didn’t necessarily mean he could become a master alchemist.

“I’m not certain, but you at least have a chance. Achieving the spiritual energy of a grandmaster at just the fourth level of gathering energy is unprecedented in history. This shows your innate talent for spiritual energy is extraordinary. And in alchemy, talent is everything! Everything else can be learned and improved upon, but talent is something you’re born with.”

“Final question, Lord Li: You’re still so young. Why do you want the Ageless Pill?”

“It’s not for me, but for the Emperor.”

“The Emperor!?” Gu Qingfeng was shocked. How did this involve the Emperor?

“The current Emperor is nearing the end of his life. Over the past decade, he has issued three imperial edicts, stating that whoever presents him with the Ageless Pill will receive unimaginable rewards.

The first edict promised the title of a marquis and a high position in court.

The second edict offered the title of a non-royal prince.

The third edict promised the title of "the One-Character King."

"One Character Shoulder King!?" Gu Qingfeng was truly stunned. What did One Character Shoulder King mean?

It literally meant standing shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor, sharing equal status. It was the highest honor one could achieve without challenging the Emperor’s throne. If one wanted more, the only option left was rebellion.

From these three edicts, Gu Qingfeng could sense the Emperor’s desperation. It seemed the Emperor truly didn’t have much time left.

“So, you understand now, right? If you can obtain the Ageless Pill, even if you don’t become a grandmaster, you’ll achieve a status far higher than that of a grandmaster! Think carefully about it.” Li Qianren’s eyes burned with intensity as he looked at Gu Qingfeng.

Gu Qingfeng finally grasped Li Qianren’s intentions. His motives were clear.

If Gu Qingfeng succeeded, as his superior and sponsor, Li Qianren would undoubtedly receive a reward. This was far more appealing than hunting a few innate realm demons.

Maybe... becoming a prince wouldn’t be so bad?

Truth be told, Gu Qingfeng was a bit tempted. The best part was that there was no risk—failure had no consequences, but success would grant him a princely title. Plus, since the Jade Dragon Secret Realm was designed to select an heir and restricted entry to those below the True Qi Realm, it was unlikely to be dangerous for him.

Why not just treat it as a vacation?

With that thought, Gu Qingfeng made up his mind. He decided to take on the mission and experience the life of a prince. After all, this was his one chance to enjoy life to the fullest. Why waste it just by constantly training?

He had read countless web novels in his previous life, where many protagonists spent their days leveling up, fighting monsters, and repeating the cycle. But what was the point of leveling up? To become immortal, of course. And what was the point of immortality? To enjoy life, right?

So, since he had the opportunity to enjoy life now, why not seize it?

With the system he had, achieving immortality was just a matter of time anyway.

“I’ll take the mission.” Gu Qingfeng replied.

Li Qianren nodded with satisfaction. “Very well. In a few days, I’ll arrange for you to start learning alchemy. Your spiritual energy talent is your greatest strength, so there’s no need for special spiritual energy training. Instead, focus on learning alchemical knowledge and enhancing your fire affinity.”

“Fire affinity? What do you mean?”

“In alchemy, besides spiritual energy talent, controlling fire is crucial. Enhancing your fire affinity will allow you to better manipulate flames. Don’t worry if your fire affinity is weak; I’ll prepare some pills to boost it. While they won’t make a huge difference, your spiritual energy advantage will more than make up for it. So, your primary focus should be on learning alchemical knowledge.”

Gu Qingfeng was stunned. He suddenly remembered his fire control talent and his eidetic memory...

Wait a minute! Was he actually a natural-born alchemy prodigy?

If that was the case... then this "One Word, Side by Side King" title was as good as his!

“Lord Li, you don’t need to prepare any pills to boost my fire affinity.”

“Huh? Why not?” Li Qianren asked, puzzled.

“Because...” Gu Qingfeng drew the Yama Demon from his waist. The metallic scrape echoed as the blade ignited, transforming into a blazing sword.

Then, with a wave of his hand, his fire control talent activated. The flames on the Yama Demon instantly took the form of a massive fire serpent, coiling and writhing around the blade with lifelike precision.

“My fire affinity... is already maxed out.”

Although Li Qianren didn’t understand the term “MAX,” the meaning was clear. The fire serpent on Gu Qingfeng’s blade spoke for itself. He stared at the vividly animated fire serpent, speechless for a long moment...