I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 604: The Alchemist’s Tea

Chapter 604: The Alchemist’s Tea

Despite his eagerness, the emperor’s goal appeared as limpid as water to him: to get help for whatever plagued him. If not, he wouldn’t have stationed such powerful guardians to protect his treasures. In fact, no one in his right mind would challenge them, and something told him they were more powerful than Tianlong.

’The other disciples will scramble to the projections to get clues. I can’t waste time thinking!’

Without wasting a second, he rushed to the closest individual, a woman wearing a silk robe glistening a warm vermillion. He observed the delicate petal of the lotus tattooed on her forehead as he cupped his fist and smiled.

"Hello. I’m here to take your test, miss."

The woman observed him, her expression unreadable as all the projections turned in unison.

He frowned at their reactions and instant glares. ’Is it the wrong approach?’

Fortunately, they all cupped their fists and bowed slightly before the woman spoke.

"Welcome to the void palace’s tea room." She gestured to one of the wooden tables, jade cups, and porcelain pots with a soft smile. "This room shall test your mastery over sophistication and energy control."

Adam scratched his head. Where was the bloody test he had expected? Well... there was a time when he wished for simpler trials.

However, the woman shook her head, the intricate golden diadem tying her hair clinking with the movement.

"You might die if you underestimate this test." She walked to the table and retrieved three neatly tied stacks of dried herbs and an hourglass from her sleeves. "You have an hour to brew a tea with enough potency to strengthen void refinement realm experts."

Before Adam could laugh at the ridiculous test, she clapped her hands.

The door flung open in response, revealing a humanoid shining a golden hue and holding a blade in each of its six hands.

Somehow, seeing it killed his desire to laugh, especially when the blades’ intricacies and flourishes made him gasp in horror. The humanoid himself was something he knew more than most, with its joints and mechanical steps: a puppet.

’No, it’s automated, so a golem?’

Scared, yet his crafter’s soul fascinated by the craftsmanship, he observed the golem as the woman introduced it.

"That’s one of the palace’s many guardians. It can kill most spiritual ascension realm experts and will supervise the test." She paused, a soul-chilling smile curving her lips. "Oh, it’ll also kill you if you fail."

He paled at the stupid development. Would they kill someone because of an unsatisfactory cup of tea? What a shameful way to die. No, he’d give his utmost and brew the best tea they had ever tasted!

A steely glint flashing in his eyes, he approached the woman and asked.

"Will you interfere if I use techniques or energy you don’t know about?"

"Mhh. No. Only the result matters. However, if you try to escape or ruin the room, the guardian will stop you."

He nodded and sat behind the table. "I won’t need an hour, then. You can start the timer."

The woman frowned as she upturned the hourglass, the pale sand grains drifting down. She had brewed the most exquisite teas for the void emperor in person. So was his confidence mere arrogance, or did his question hide something more?

Intrigued, she sat behind him and scrutinised his movements.

A smirk splitting his face, Adam’s mana roared in his magic circuits as he gripped the dried herbs. Through their cracking leaves, he felt their well-kept life force and incredible quality. But he could do better.

With a thought, he used his bone’s natural dominance to increase their properties. Then, his multiple affinities burst in condensed streams of mana and qi that delicately swirled around them in a myriad of bright colors. With each second crawling by, they infused his powers into each branch.

He heard the woman gasp behind him.

’Shocked? I’m just starting.’ He chuckled. After all, he was an alchemist, and tea was no different than potions in this case.

Yet, his eyes narrowed in focus. He didn’t know about these plants aside from their tier seven level. Therefore, he spent ten minutes scanning and tasting them. Some filled his mouth with a sour taste, while others were bitter, sweet, or even poisonous.

A pensive frown creased his brows. The woman probably wanted him to make the best possible blend by removing the problematic parts. But nothing gave him any problems.

’Who says less is more? It’s just a question of balance.’

He started to have fun as he detoxified the poisonous herbs with his poison affinity, causing another shocked gasp to echo behind him as the liquid dripped into a jade cup.

Satisfied, he pondered the ratio for a moment before he divided and threw the quantity he estimated would be the best in an ancient stone bowl.

He felt the characters etched on its smooth surface as he picked it up and condensed two soft mana hammers.

With delicate blows, he stimulated their properties and extracted their concentrated essence. The process took another ten minutes as he didn’t leave anything to luck and proceeded methodically.

’I can still do better.’ He frowned, unsatisfied. It wasn’t for the test’s sake anymore—it was for himself and the satisfaction of delivering perfection and nothing less.

To achieve it, he ran his hand over the wooden table, symbols made from mana sticking to the surface. He placed the bowl at the center of the magic circle before lightning sparked on each of their nods.

The liquid evaporated, leaving only a few drops and confusing the woman. Yet, his eyes sparkled as it turned cleaner, and the scent intensified so much that it almost became aggressive.

’You’ll tell me what you think about this transmutation. I’m sure you’ll fall to the ground.’

Chuckling, he finally gripped the teapot and boiled the water prepared for the test. Qi danced at his fingertips as he infused it like a potion as soft flames erupted from his palm. When the water began to simmer, he cut the heat off, poured two drops of liquid inside, and placed it back on the table.

Three minutes later, he poured the steaming tea into a jade cup and handed it to the woman with a bright smile.

"Please taste it. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this tea as much as I enjoyed brewing it."