Chapter 1493 Antidote 1493 Antidote "Here are the ingredients you have requested, Healer Wang." The worker placed the ingredients on the table before them. "Thank you." Wang Xiuying tossed all of the ingredients into her spatial ring. "Are you returning to your residence now?" Elder Mu asked her. "Yes, then I will be leaving again after I concoct the antidote." "I will come with you since it's been a while since I last saw you working." "Okay." The two of them left the Medicine Hall and made their way back to Wang Xiuying's residence. Once they arrived, Wang Xiuying retrieved a cauldron and immediately began concocting the antidote. "Elder Mu, I've told you this before, but I do not plan on staying in the Spirit Healing Academy forever," she spoke as she concocted the pill, something most alchemists don't dare to do since it takes away their focus. Elder Mu nodded, "Yes, you have. The Sect Master may be upset by your decision, but she also understands it. This place is simply too small for someone as talented as you, Disciple Wang. You're destined to climb higher than all of us and achieve great things as an Alchemist." "Since you're bringing this up now… do you plan on leaving soon?" Elder Mu looked at her with a calm gaze. "Yes, it's about time I climb the Stairway to Heaven." "Why would you willingly put yourself through that ordeal when we can have someone from the Third Heaven guide you there?" Elder Mu asked. Unbeknownst to Elder Mu, all players had access to the Stairway to Heaven and could ascend without needing to partake in the trial because of Yuan. However, players could still willingly partake in the trials. The majority of players ascended without participating in the trials, but a minority willingly did so just to train themselves. After all, even if they failed the trials, it wouldn't affect their ability to ascend. In fact, Yuan had advised everyone in the Demon Sealing Faction to ascend the Nine Heavens through their own effort instead of solely relying on him, as it would greatly benefit them. While it was possible to die during trials with countless people perishing to it since its establishment, as the master of the Stairway to Heaven, Yuan made it so that nobody from the Demon Sealing Faction would die during a trial. He also adjusted their difficulty, making it much harder than usual. This made the Stairway to Heaven a perfect training device for the Demon Sealing Faction. "I don't want to accept every handout coming my way. I have my own pride, you know? Once I ascend to the Third Heaven, I will join a sect through my own powers, not because of some recommendation!" "W-wait a second! Does that mean you won't be joining the Jade Cauldron Sect?! Their Sect Master is already expecting you to join them!" Elder Mu panicked a little after hearing her words. Wang Xiuying shook her head and said, "I didn't say that I wouldn't join them, Elder Mu. I am saying that I will join them through the disciple examination by proving my qualifications, just like how I had to prove my qualifications before joining the Spirit Healing Academy." "B-but you have already proven your qualifications in the last two years. Nobody will dare to question your qualifications now." "Perhaps not their Sect Master and Sect Elders, but my fellow disciples will definitely question my qualifications. I know how the others will look at me if I joined through the backdoor, regardless of my qualifications." "You… are truly something." Elder Mu showed a defeated smile on her face. "No, this is the bare minimum. If I don't do this much, I will never be able to catch up to him, much less walk beside him…" Wang Xiuying muttered with a somewhat dazed face. "Him…? Who are you talking about?" Elder Mu inquired in a curious tone. "My friend and idol. You should've heard of him before. If he hadn't refused to ascend after the Mystic Realm, I would've never had the chance to come here so soon." "You mean that arrogant bas—Ahem. Of course, I remember him. He'd caused quite the scene before, after all." Elder Mu coughed mid-sentence. Wang Xiuying sighed, "I wouldn't badmouth him if I were you, even if he's not here. You might receive bad luck." "Why are you even trying to surpass him? I know he's a cultivation genius, but is he also an alchemy genius?" Elder Mu inquired. "Not as far as I am aware. And who said anything about surpassing him? That's literally impossible. I just want to be useful enough to stand by his side." "What are you saying? You have the potential to become an Alchemy Emperor, at the very least. Who knows, you might even become an Alchemy God. There's no way you wouldn't be useful with such talents." "You wouldn't understand it even if I spent an entire day explaining it to you, Elder Mu. Anyways, my pill is about to be completed." Wang Xiuying stopped talking and poured all of her focus into the cauldron. A few minutes later, Wang Xiuying removed the lid and retrieved the pill from the cauldron, quickly sealing it inside a pill bottle. "I am finished here, so I will be leaving soon." Elder Mu nodded and said, "Then I will speak to the Sect Master, your Master, about your inevitable departure." "Thank you, Elder Mu. I will also speak with my Master the next time I return." Wang Xiuying logged off Cultivation Online shortly after. When she woke up, she found Yuan cultivating beside her. "You have the antidote?" Yuan opened his eyes and spoke before she could even disturb him. "Yes." Wang Xiuying retrieved the pill she'd just created. "Great. Then let's return." Sebastian was waiting for them outside and guided them back to Chu Shijian's room. "You're back already? It's only been a little over an hour." Chu Shijian wasn't expecting the antidote so soon. "Yes, and I have your antidote here." Wang Xiuying showed the pill on her palm.