Reversing the Milky Way

After hearing Bai Cheng's question, Zheng Wensheng pondered for a while, then took out a wooden box, put the pill inside, and explained, "It depends on how well the cultivator controls the flame. Even cultivators without a fire attribute physique can use spiritual power to control the flame, but their control is not as good as that of cultivators with a fire attribute physique."

After speaking, Zheng Wensheng stretched out his palm, and a ball of flame appeared in his palm. As the flame changed, it slowly transformed into the shape of a bird standing on Zheng Wensheng's hand. As Zheng Wensheng continued to manipulate it with his spiritual power, the bird formed from the flame seemed to come alive. Except for its color, it moved exactly like a normal bird, and even its expression was the same.

At this moment, Yue Ling also stepped forward to watch: "Wow, this is amazing!"

As Yue Ling finished speaking, the bird in Zheng Wensheng's hand suddenly flew up, circling the three of them with movements just like a real bird. Then, the bird formed of fire flew to Yue Ling's front. Zheng Wensheng stretched out his hand, gesturing for Yue Ling to catch it. Yue Ling also stretched out her palm, and the bird formed of fire landed in her hand.

Upon seeing this, Bai Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Ling'er, aren't you hot?"

After hearing Bai Cheng's words, Yue Ling shook her head and said, "It just feels warm, not hot."

At this moment, Zheng Wensheng explained, "This is the level of control that people with fire-attribute cultivation physiques have over flames. If it were someone without a fire-attribute cultivation physique, they couldn't do this; they couldn't achieve such precise control. Similarly, every cultivator has their own preferred physique, but they don't control other attributes as easily as they control their own."

After listening, Bai Cheng also benefited greatly, and then slowly said, "So that's how it is. So, even people without fire attribute physiques can refine pills?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Wensheng replied, "Yes and no."

Bai Cheng didn't understand after hearing this, and then asked, "What do you mean by 'yes' and 'no'?"

Zheng Wensheng then continued his explanation: "Yes, it's because people without a fire-attribute physique, while able to control flames simply, can only refine first-grade and second-grade pills. The reason it's not fire-attribute is that refining third-grade pills requires extremely high control over flames, which is very difficult for those without fire-attribute talent. Even if they could refine them, their cultivation level would need to be at least at the Opening Meridian Realm, and even then, success isn't guaranteed. Even a powerful expert at the Tonghai Realm, without a fire-attribute physique, can only refine fourth-grade pills at most, let alone fifth, sixth, or even seventh-grade pills. Although I'm currently at the early stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, I can already refine second-grade pills, and I have an 80% chance of succeeding with third-grade pills."

After listening, Bai Cheng understood. Simply put, it means that everyone has their own expertise, and those with a fire-attribute physique are good at alchemy. Then, Bai Cheng put his hands together and bowed to Zheng Wensheng, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Zheng, for clearing up my doubts today. I have benefited greatly."

After listening, Zheng Wensheng waved his hand and said, "Oh, there's no need for that. It's rare to see a student as eager to learn as you here."

After saying goodbye to Zheng Wensheng, Bai Cheng left the school.

It was dusk when the two returned home. Yu Qing'an asked them, "Why are you so late today?" Bai Cheng immediately replied, "After school today, Yue Ling and I observed how Mr. Zheng refines pills in the classroom."

After listening, Yu Qing'an stroked his chin and said, "Alchemy, huh? I didn't realize you were so eager to learn. By the way, the end of this month is the assessment for body refinement students, and I want you to get the first place reward in the beginner class."

After hearing this, Bai Cheng immediately remembered what Zheng Wensheng had said: the reward for the first place in the beginner class was five Body Tempering Pills and ten Rejuvenation Pills.

Looking at Bai Cheng, who was deep in thought, Yu Qing'an asked again, "Why can't you do it?"

After hearing this, Bai Cheng immediately replied, "It's not that we can't do it, but if we're going to take first place, why not take first place in the intermediate class?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Qing'an was slightly surprised and then said, "The intermediate class requires the middle stage of the Body Refinement Realm to enter. Could it be that you have already reached the middle stage of the Body Refinement Realm?"

After listening to Yu Qing'an's words, Bai Cheng clenched his fist. He could feel a noticeable increase in strength after a week of training in the cave. He could now skillfully perform a set of movements from the second level of the Body Refining Technique.

Bai Cheng was now certain that he had reached the mid-stage of the Body Refinement Realm. He then turned to Yu Qing'an and said, "Uncle Yu, would you like to test my strength?"

After hearing this, Yu Qing'an raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh? I'm usually the one who brings this up first to test your abilities. This time you actually took the initiative. Fine, let's give it a try."

After speaking, Yu Qing'an approached Bai Cheng and made a familiar gesture. Bai Cheng, seeing this, held his breath and focused. He knew that Yu Qing'an was at the Great Perfection of the Body Refinement Realm, and he himself had set a goal at some point: his attack must be able to shake Yu Qing'an. With this in mind, Bai Cheng assumed a fighting stance, his right fist swinging back to gather power before he suddenly punched Yu Qing'an in the chest.

Bai Cheng's fists were fierce and powerful, like a beast. Yu Qing'an was shocked to see this. He had thought that Bai Cheng would need at least another week to reach the middle stage of Body Refinement, but he could tell from Bai Cheng's attack that Bai Cheng had already reached the middle stage of Body Refinement.

With a dull thud, Bai Cheng clearly felt that his punch had caused the wall-like sensation to vibrate; it was no longer the feeling of punching a leather-covered wall.

Then he looked closely and saw that Yu Qing'an's left foot had actually taken a step back, and even the stone slab in the courtyard beneath his feet had cracked. Then, Bai Cheng smiled and said, "How about that, Uncle Yu?"

Yu Qing'an also said with an incredulous expression, "You have actually reached the power of the Ten Cauldrons, which is indeed beyond my expectations."

Then, he turned to Yue Ling and said, "Ling'er, how are your preparations going? You'll be graduating from Wensheng in a couple of days."

Upon hearing her father's question, Yue Ling immediately replied, "Don't worry, Father."

At this moment, Bai Cheng, who was standing to the side, also asked, "Ling'er, do you students take the same exams?"

Upon hearing this, Yueling explained, "That's right. We scholars basically take the same exams. After the exams, the school will give out rewards based on our scores. The top three students can get recommendation letters and take up clerical positions in various government offices. The first-place student can even enter the Censorate."

Hearing this, Bai Cheng felt a pang of envy. The Censorate was an institution personally established by the royal family; getting into it was like having the most secure job in the world. Just as Bai Cheng was thinking this, Yue Ling said, "But I've already decided. No matter what ranking I get, I will choose to enter the Body Refining Student Training Program."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng organized what he knew. First of all, everyone in this world can cultivate their bodies, but only a few can cultivate spiritual energy. Most of these body cultivators are recruited by the state. However, because there are too many body cultivators, the emperor of the Fire Cloud Kingdom personally established a department called the Supervisory Office. Eighty percent of the personnel in the Supervisory Office are cultivators, and the remaining twenty percent are civil servants.

The primary function of the Overwatch Council is to protect the security of a region, which includes dealing with rampaging spirit beasts within its jurisdiction and dangerous demonic beasts in the surrounding area. The Overwatch Council has extremely high requirements for its clerical staff, who must be proficient in all aspects of geography and culture, official document drafting, and all office affairs within the Council. Of course, a very few cultivators may also hold clerical positions.

Most of the supervisory offices are located in towns. Although there are supervisory offices in large cities, they are basically replaced by cultivation families. The children of these families all cultivate. Some of their family heads are even more powerful than the cultivators in the supervisory offices of the main city. Even the highest-ranking governor of the supervisory office in the city does not dare to provoke them easily. As for the various cultivation academies, they have no way to deal with them.

Therefore, the Censorate only holds some prestige in towns. The Censorate within cities exists because of an imperial decree requiring each second-tier city to have at least one early-stage Opening Meridian Realm cultivator stationed there. This presents a significant challenge, as some family heads within second-tier cities possess cultivation levels far exceeding that. For instance, Bai Zhenhai, the current city lord of Baifeng City, is a mid-stage Opening Meridian Realm cultivator.

Bai Cheng sorted out his thoughts. Since Yu Qing'an insisted that Yue Ling enter the Body Refining Class for cultivation, she probably had the talent to cultivate. However, Yue Ling had already reached the late stage of the Body Refining Realm. Even if she transferred to the Body Refining Class, she probably wouldn't stay for long. Was it also in preparation for entering a cultivation academy or sect? Thinking of this, Bai Cheng looked at Yu Qing'an beside him.

After feeling Bai Cheng's gaze, Yu Qing'an asked in surprise, "What's wrong, Bai Cheng?"

Bai Cheng lowered his head and thought for a while before asking, "Uncle Yu, what kind of cultivation physique does Yue Ling have? According to Yue Ling's talent, if she has it, she should have shown some signs of it by now. But if she doesn't, then why let her cultivate? I remember you said before that Yue Ling's physique was very special. Can't you tell me now?"

After listening to Bai Cheng's words, Yu Qing'an was slightly surprised. He didn't expect Bai Cheng to ask such a question so directly. Then he said, "Let's go inside first."

Afterwards, the three entered the main hall of the house. After closing the door, Yu Qing'an said to Yue Ling, "Ling'er, since Bai Cheng has said so, what are you going to do? I know that you can definitely sense the spiritual energy now, and you can't hide it from me."

Then, Yue Ling pouted and said, "Oh dear, I was hoping to give you a surprise, Father."

After speaking, Yue Ling focused her mind. Her dress fluttered even without wind. Then, she raised her right hand, and a whirlwind of wind pressure slowly formed around her, enveloping her completely. As the wind pressure increased, Bai Cheng was astonished to find that Yue Ling was actually floating. Upon seeing this, he exclaimed, "Holy crap, she actually has a wind-attribute spiritual power constitution! I didn't expect she could fly without using a sword! That's amazing!"

Hearing Bai Cheng's praise, Yue Ling looked down at him and said, "How about that? Aren't I amazing?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng turned to look at Yu Qing'an beside him. He expected Yu Qing'an to be surprised, but found no surprise on his face, as if he had long been used to it.

Upon seeing this, Bai Cheng asked, "Uncle Yu, you..." Yu Qing'an, after hearing this, extended his palm, and as time passed, beads of sweat appeared on his face. Seeing this, Yue Ling withdrew her spiritual energy and flew down to Yu Qing'an's side.

Then, Bai Cheng saw a small whirlwind, almost like a spinning top, spinning in Yu Qing'an's palm. Upon seeing this, Bai Cheng went forward to take a look.

"I see. Uncle Yu, you are indeed a wind-attribute cultivator. But why are you only at the Body Refinement Realm?" Yu Qing'an sighed after hearing this. "Alas, because of some accidents in my early years, I didn't have much cultivation left. I thought I would never be unable to use my spiritual power again in this life, but after cultivating in that cave, my spiritual power began to recover slowly."

After listening, Bai Cheng gradually understood. It turned out that the reason Yu Qing'an knew that he had defeated Zhao Bo with spiritual power was because Yu Qing'an himself could cultivate spiritual energy, so he could see through his use of spiritual energy at a glance.

Thinking of this, Bai Cheng excitedly asked, "Then can I learn from you without entering a cultivation academy or sect?" Yu Qing'an shook his head and said, "You haven't even scratched the surface yet. The reason you go to a specialized cultivation academy or sect is because these places have cultivation techniques that suit the cultivator's own attributes. Not only the techniques, but the resources in these places are beyond your imagination. Don't you think there are a lot of spiritual plants and spiritual energy in that cave?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng quickly replied, "Yes, that's right. I can feel that the spiritual energy inside is more than ten times that outside, and there are all kinds of spiritual plants. It can be described as a blessed land."

After hearing Bai Cheng say this, Yu Qing'an shook his head and continued, "Hehe, if it's just spiritual energy, spirit stones are enough. As for the spiritual plants you mentioned, the highest grade in that cave is only third grade, while specialized academies or sects have spiritual plants of no less than sixth grade. That cave does have a large number of first and second grade spiritual plants, but that's all."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng lowered his head and pondered, "Spirit stone? Is this it?" After saying that, Bai Cheng took out the stone he had obtained in the cave.