The Third-Grade Bet

The Rustpeak Sect's alchemy elder was named Qin Bao, and he had given up on teaching sixteen years ago.

This was evident from his lessons, which consisted of: pointing at a jar of herbs, saying "these are the fire-aligned ones," pointing at another jar, saying "don't mix these," and then retiring to his private quarters to drink.

The new outer disciple — assigned name Ye Xuan, formerly the greatest pill emperor in recorded history — sat through this lecture and took careful notes.

"Elder Qin," he said afterward, when Qin was halfway to the door. "If I formulate a third-grade cultivation pill by month's end, may I use the sect furnace?"

Qin Bao turned slowly. "Third-grade pills require a minimum second-rank cultivator to stabilise the flame array."

"Yes."

"You're an outer disciple with a low-grade root."

"Yes."

Qin studied him for a moment. "The bet is: if you formulate a third-grade pill by month's end, you can use the furnace for a year. If you don't, you clean the furnace room for a year."

"Agreed."

Ye Xuan had formulated his first third-grade pill at age nine, in his first life. He had twelve days to spare.