The Transmigrated Alchemist's Revenge System

Chapter 5

# **Chapter 5: "Modern Chemistry Meets Ancient Arts"**

The pre-dawn hours were Alex's favorite time to work. The family compound lay silent except for the occasional patrol of night guards, and the herb garden was shrouded in mist that would help preserve the delicate spiritual essences he needed to extract. He made his way quietly through the pathways, a cloth bag slung over his shoulder and his enhanced vision active.

"Perfect," he murmured, examining a cluster of Moonbell Flowers that had bloomed overnight. Through his enhanced perception, he could see the spiritual energy was at its peak concentration—exactly what he needed for his next experiment.

Alex had spent the previous day studying his grandfather's notes and cross-referencing them with his own chemical knowledge. The old man had been more skilled than anyone realized, but he'd been working with incomplete understanding of the underlying principles. Every formula was a brute-force approach that wasted enormous amounts of spiritual energy.

"Time to change that," Alex said softly, carefully harvesting the flowers.

He'd managed to acquire most of the materials he needed through Uncle Chen's connections. The ice was stored in a special preservation array in the laboratory, the copper pipes had been fashioned into a crude but functional distillation system, and the glass containers had been sealed with spiritual wax to prevent contamination.

But more importantly, Alex had spent his fifty System Points on something that would revolutionize his approach to alchemy.

"System," he said quietly as he worked, "display the Enhanced Analysis ability I purchased."

The familiar interface appeared in his vision, showing him the ability he'd bought. Unlike the constant notifications from before, the System now operated more like a sophisticated tool that responded to his direct queries.

**[ENHANCED ANALYSIS - ACTIVE]**

**[SPIRITUAL ESSENCE PURITY: REAL-TIME MONITORING]**

**[MOLECULAR INTERACTION PREDICTION: ENABLED]**

**[OPTIMAL PROCESSING CONDITIONS: CALCULATED]**

The ability was worth every point. Instead of working blind like traditional alchemists, Alex could now see exactly how different spiritual essences would interact, what conditions would optimize their combination, and when the process was reaching critical thresholds.

Back in the laboratory, Alex began his most ambitious project yet: creating a pill that would temporarily bypass meridian damage. If he could find a way to deliver spiritual energy directly to the organs and tissues that needed it, he could effectively circumvent his crippled energy pathways.

"The key is delivery mechanism," he muttered, arranging his materials. "In pharmaceuticals, we use targeted drug delivery to get compounds to specific locations in the body. The same principle should apply here."

He started with a base of Silverleaf Extract, which his enhanced analysis showed had an affinity for nervous system tissue. To this, he added processed Crimson Lotus for cardiovascular enhancement, and a carefully prepared tincture of Lightning Grass that would stimulate electrical activity in the body.

But the real innovation was his addition of Phantom Moss—a rare herb that most alchemists avoided because it was difficult to process and potentially dangerous. Alex could see why they struggled with it. The moss contained compounds that existed partially in the spiritual realm, making them incredibly unstable under normal conditions.

"But instability can be controlled," Alex said, beginning his cold extraction process. "It's just a matter of understanding the underlying chemistry."

Using his improvised equipment, Alex created a controlled environment where the Phantom Moss compounds could be stabilized. The process required precise timing and temperature control, but the results were extraordinary. The extracted essence created a carrier compound that could transport other spiritual energies directly through solid matter—including blocked meridians.

"Transdermal spiritual delivery," Alex said with satisfaction. "Why force energy through damaged pathways when you can bypass them entirely?"

The combination process was delicate. Alex had to balance the spiritual resonance of four different essences while maintaining the stability of the Phantom Moss carrier. Traditional alchemists would have used their qi to force the combination, but Alex relied on his understanding of molecular chemistry to create conditions where the compounds would naturally align.

He carefully controlled the temperature, maintained precise atmospheric pressure, and used vibrational frequencies to guide the spiritual essences into their optimal configurations. The process took nearly three hours, but the result was unlike anything he'd seen before.

The pill that emerged from his apparatus was translucent, almost glass-like, with veins of silver energy running through its structure. Through his enhanced vision, Alex could see that it contained a perfect matrix of spiritual compounds that would dissolve slowly in the body, delivering concentrated energy directly to the tissues that needed it most.

"Incredible," he breathed, holding up the pill to examine it more closely. "This should provide temporary cultivation abilities even to someone with completely destroyed meridians."

But as he studied his creation, Alex heard a soft gasp from the doorway. He turned to find Uncle Chen standing there, his eyes wide with amazement.

"Young Master," the gardener whispered, "what have you created?"

Alex smiled, realizing that his work had progressed faster than he'd expected. The sun was rising, and he'd been so focused on his alchemy that he'd lost track of time.

"Something that shouldn't exist," Alex said honestly. "Uncle Chen, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be completely honest with me."

"Of course, Young Master."

"Do you believe the story about my meridians being damaged by qi deviation?"

Uncle Chen was quiet for a long moment, his weathered face troubled. "Young Master, that's not a question I should answer."

"That's an answer in itself," Alex said. "You've always suspected it wasn't an accident, haven't you?"

"I've served this family for thirty years," Uncle Chen said carefully. "I've seen many cultivation accidents, and I've never seen one that created the specific pattern of damage you carry. But suspicion isn't proof."

"What if I told you I could prove it was deliberate sabotage?"

Uncle Chen's eyes widened. "Young Master, that's a very dangerous accusation. If you're wrong—"

"I'm not wrong," Alex said, his voice carrying absolute certainty. "And soon, I'll have the evidence to prove it."

Before Uncle Chen could respond, they heard voices approaching the laboratory. Alex quickly slipped the experimental pill into his sleeve and began organizing his materials to look like a simple cleaning session.

"Is someone in grandfather's laboratory?" came a familiar voice—Xiao Long, accompanied by what sounded like several other family members.

"Young Master Xiao Feng has been working to restore the facility," Uncle Chen called out. "He's been very dedicated to honoring your grandfather's memory."

Alex suppressed a smile. Uncle Chen was more politically astute than he appeared.

Xiao Long entered the laboratory, followed by their father, Xiao Tianming, and two of the family elders. All of them stopped short when they saw the organized equipment and the subtle glow of spiritual energy that lingered in the air.

"What's all this?" Xiao Tianming asked, his voice carrying the authority of the family patriarch.

"I've been studying grandfather's alchemical notes," Alex said respectfully. "I thought it might be worthwhile to see if any of his techniques could be... improved upon."

"Improved upon?" Elder Xiao Kun laughed. "Your grandfather was a master alchemist. What could a crippled boy possibly improve?"

Alex felt the familiar surge of anger at the casual dismissal, but he kept his expression neutral. "Perhaps you're right, Elder. But I've made some interesting discoveries about spiritual essence extraction that might be worth demonstrating."

"Demonstrations are for people who can actually use qi," Xiao Long said mockingly. "What are you going to do, wave your hands around and pretend to be an alchemist?"

"Something like that," Alex said mildly. "Father, would you be willing to observe a small experiment?"

Xiao Tianming studied his youngest son with calculating eyes. The patriarch was many things, but he wasn't stupid. He'd noticed the changes in Alex's behavior and demeanor over the past few days.

"What kind of experiment?" he asked cautiously.

"I'd like to create a basic healing pill using modified processing techniques," Alex said. "Nothing dangerous, just a demonstration of... alternative approaches."

"Alternative approaches to what?"

"To alchemy that doesn't require significant qi manipulation," Alex said, meeting his father's gaze. "Techniques that might be useful for... practitioners with limited spiritual energy."

The implication was clear, even if Alex didn't say it directly. He was claiming he could practice alchemy despite his crippled meridians.

"This is ridiculous," Elder Xiao Kun said dismissively. "Alchemy requires precise qi control. Without it, you're just mixing plants together."

"Perhaps," Alex agreed. "But what if there were other ways to control spiritual essences? Methods that don't rely on the alchemist's personal cultivation?"

"Impossible," Xiao Long declared. "You're just trying to get attention."

"Then you won't mind watching me fail publicly," Alex said with a slight smile.

The challenge was perfectly pitched. If they refused to observe, they'd look like they were afraid of being proven wrong. If they agreed and Alex failed, they could humiliate him thoroughly. It was a win-win situation from their perspective.

"Very well," Xiao Tianming said after a moment. "Show us these alternative approaches."

Alex bowed respectfully, then began gathering materials for a simple healing pill. He selected ingredients that his enhanced analysis showed would work well together: Healing Moss, Soothing Mint, and a small amount of Silverleaf Extract.

"Traditional alchemy begins with heat activation," Alex said, explaining his process as he worked. "But heat destroys many of the delicate spiritual compounds. What if we used cold extraction instead?"

He demonstrated his ice-based extraction method, showing how it preserved the spiritual essences while removing impurities. The watching family members looked skeptical, but Alex could see their expressions change as the spiritual energy in the extracted compounds became visible.

"The purity is remarkable," Elder Xiao Kun admitted grudgingly. "But extraction is only the first step. How do you plan to combine them without qi manipulation?"

"Through vibrational resonance," Alex said, producing his copper pipes. "Every spiritual essence has a natural frequency. If you can match that frequency, the essences will combine spontaneously."

He demonstrated the technique, using carefully controlled sound waves to guide the spiritual essences into alignment. The process was slow but steady, and the results were undeniable. The three essences combined into a stable compound without any direct qi manipulation.

"Impossible," Xiao Long breathed, staring at the forming pill.

"Not impossible," Alex corrected. "Just different."

The final product was a healing pill that glowed with soft green light. Alex could see through his enhanced vision that it was significantly more potent than traditional equivalents, with a cleaner spiritual energy pattern and better stability.

"May I?" Elder Xiao Kun asked, reaching for the pill.

Alex handed it over, watching as the elder examined it with experienced eyes. The old man's expression grew increasingly amazed as he studied the pill's structure.

"This is... this is master-level work," he said finally. "How did you achieve this level of purity and stability?"

"By understanding the underlying principles instead of just following traditional methods," Alex said. "There's so much more we could accomplish if we approached alchemy scientifically."

"Scientifically?" Xiao Tianming asked.

"Systematically," Alex corrected quickly. "With careful observation, precise measurement, and controlled experimentation."

The patriarch looked at his youngest son with new eyes. "Show me more."

Alex spent the next hour demonstrating various techniques, each one producing results that surpassed traditional methods. He showed them how to increase extraction efficiency, how to stabilize volatile compounds, and how to create pills with enhanced potency.

By the end of the demonstration, the entire family was looking at him with a mixture of amazement and speculation.

"This changes everything," Elder Xiao Kun said finally. "If these techniques can be replicated..."

"They can," Alex said confidently. "And they can be improved upon. This is just the beginning."

Xiao Tianming studied his son for a long moment. "You've been keeping this knowledge to yourself?"

"I've been developing it," Alex replied. "I wanted to be certain it worked before making any claims."

"And now?"

Alex smiled, feeling the weight of his hidden pill in his sleeve. "Now I'm ready to show the world what the Xiao family is capable of."

The patriarch nodded slowly. "Very well. You have my support for this research. Whatever resources you need, you'll have them."

As the family members filed out of the laboratory, discussing the implications of what they'd witnessed, Alex felt a surge of satisfaction. He'd established himself as a valuable asset to the family, gained access to better resources, and positioned himself for his next move.

But more importantly, he'd proven that his scientific approach could revolutionize cultivation alchemy. The implications were staggering, and Alex was only just beginning to explore the possibilities.

"Uncle Chen," he said as the gardener prepared to leave, "I'm going to need those expensive materials sooner than expected. And I'll need you to spread word that the Xiao family is taking special commissions for high-quality pills."

"How special?" Uncle Chen asked.

Alex smiled, thinking of Liu Wei and the approaching deadline. "Special enough to change the balance of power in this entire region."

As Uncle Chen hurried away to carry out his instructions, Alex turned his attention to the experimental pill in his sleeve. In five days, he would face Liu Wei in combat. And thanks to his innovations, he would do so with abilities that no one in the cultivation world had ever seen before.

The real test was about to begin.