Chapter 134: Su Tianhao's Strategy
The library remained silent—not a single sound echoing through the vast archive save for the soft rhythm of Su Tianhao's own breathing.
It was the perfect place to think.
He settled into the study chair, fingers interlocked, eyes closed, expression tranquil. But within his mind, a tireless search was already underway—a deep dive through the countless memories of alchemy knowledge engraved into his very soul.
He had unlocked the ability for his inherited memories to respond directly to his will, but that only worked when he knew exactly what he was searching for. This was the first time he was attempting to navigate one of those immense knowledge troves in depth—and worse still, he had no clear idea what he needed. Only that the answers were somewhere within.
It made the process all the more demanding.
After several minutes of focused meditation, his eyes snapped open—flickering with profound clarity.
Everything was falling into place. His understanding of alchemy surged to a level that would have taken others years, or even decades, of study and practical experience to reach. Pill refinement, advanced production techniques, rare ingredients and their properties, secret recipes, cauldron types and their subtle importance—concepts that had once felt distant now crystallized into perfect clarity.
At this moment, Su Tianhao wouldn't lose to a Peak-level grade two alchemist in terms of knowledge alone. In truth, he surpassed them. But knowledge and capability weren't the same thing. Crafting real pills still required hands-on practice and consistent dedication. The difference was that what might take others months to master, he could achieve in days—less like learning, and more like remembering something long forgotten.
With his alchemy knowledge now up to the task, Su Tianhao didn't waste time assimilating the rest of the alchemical insights within his inherited memories. He didn't doubt he could reach the comprehension level of a grade four alchemist after absorbing everything available—but that required time, and time was a luxury he didn't have.
"Now it's time to find a solution," he muttered. "Since we're dealing with a Peak-level grade two alchemist, the best response is to have one of our own."
Naturally, he wasn't thinking of hiring one. The Patriarch had already tried that route—and failed. Alchemists of that caliber preferred to remain where deeper alchemy circles existed, where they could grow rather than stagnate.
No. Su Tianhao's strategy was different.
He wasn't going to hire a Peak-level grade two alchemist.
He was going to make one.
"The First Elder has been a high-level grade two alchemist for years... probably an entire decade," Su Tianhao murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Su Qingfeng had already been a high-level grade two alchemist when Su Tianhao first joined the Su family—and that was seven years ago. It was entirely possible he had been stuck at that level even longer, trapped in a bottleneck with no clear path forward.
"He's likely hit a wall. No guidance, no peers to help him push past it," Su Tianhao said quietly, fitting the pieces together.
It was a perfect example of why lower-tier alchemists preferred large cities. There, expert guidance was available and limits could be broken. Here in Oakwood, the opportunities for growth were scarce.
And yet Su Qingfeng had chosen to remain.
Not just because he was a direct descendant of the Su family—but because he had chosen to keep the family's alchemy business alive, even at the cost of his own potential.
'For him to selflessly shoulder such a heavy responsibility while forfeiting his own future... he is indeed worthy of being the First Elder.'
Su Tianhao's impression of Su Qingfeng rose several degrees—and so did his resolve.
"With his years of experience in pill production, if I can provide the right insight and a proper technique to practice with, he'll achieve a breakthrough to Peak-level within weeks," he said, voice low and steady. "And if everything aligns, reaching grade three not long after isn't impossible."
His golden eyes gleamed with quiet purpose.
"What I need now is the right insight to help him push through that bottleneck—then the right technique to match it."
With that, Su Tianhao closed his eyes again and dove deeper into the alchemy section of his inherited memories.
But desire alone wasn't enough to make things go smoothly.
The moment his mind opened, countless streams of alchemical knowledge surged forth—threatening to drown him. The flood of information was overwhelming. His soul endured only because of his tempered willpower, strengthened through his techniques and the beast essence he had absorbed over time.
Still, finding the right insight among thousands felt nearly impossible.
Sweat gathered at his temples. His back was soaked with cold perspiration.
'It would've helped if I knew the exact challenge that caused his progress to stall,' he grumbled inwardly.
But complaints weren't going to get him what he needed. He had given the Patriarch his word—and Su Tianhao wasn't the type to break a promise.
'I have to do this. I will do it.'
Ignoring the growing headache and the strain tearing at the edges of his mind, he kept searching—thoughts spinning in relentless motion, sifting through knowledge, reaching for the one insight that could ignite Su Qingfeng's long-dormant potential.
Minutes dragged by like hours.
Then—finally, as if answering his resolve—the knowledge he had been searching for began to reveal itself.
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Su Tianhao's consciousness hovered deep in the sea of inherited memories—and then a sudden pulse echoed from within his soul, like the toll of an ancient bell.
Something shifted.
A sealed compartment stirred in the depths of the alchemy section—a domain rarely touched. As it unraveled, seven radiant glyphs emerged in his mind, each one containing a Profound Truth of the Alchemy Dao. Truths said to be comprehended only by those destined to reach the apex of alchemy.
The Seven Profound Truths of the Alchemy Dao.
The first revealed itself:
The Doctrine of Elemental Subjugation.
'A cauldron must not dominate the flame, nor must the flame dominate the ingredient. All three must submit to the alchemist's will—not as tools, but as allies.'
Su Tianhao's heart trembled at the profundity contained within those simple words.
'This is it.'
He didn't bother looking into the remaining six. Not because he was dismissing them—far from it. He simply had no time to explore them now, nor any intention of passing them to Su Qingfeng or the Su family. He owed them a favor—but not to the extent of sharing the inheritance prepared for his own path toward the apex of alchemy.
The first truth was already more than enough.
With that settled, Su Tianhao turned his focus deeper into the alchemy archives—this time not seeking insight, but technique. Something that complemented the Doctrine of Elemental Subjugation. A method simple yet profound, capable of helping Su Qingfeng internalize the truth and use it as a springboard to shatter his long-standing bottleneck.
He didn't need to search long.
His mind flickered through a multitude of techniques—some ancient, others obscure.
The Blazing Cauldron Incantation. Too forceful—it emphasized domination of the flame, the very opposite of what he needed.
The Verdant Root Method. Stable and elegant, but far too gentle. It lacked the dynamic balance required between flame, ingredient, and cauldron.
Flame-Warding Circulation. Protective, designed to shield ingredients from unstable heat—not bad, but insufficient for a breakthrough.
Then one technique stirred something within him. A subtle hum resonated from the depths of his soul as its name surfaced—
The Trinity Harmonization Method.
It focused not on control, but harmony. The synchronization of will between flame, cauldron, and material. It emphasized meditative preparation before each refinement, specific breathing techniques during flame infusion, and a unique rhythm in channeling spiritual energy—all designed to help the alchemist treat each element as a partner rather than a pawn.
'Perfect,' Su Tianhao thought.
It wasn't flashy. It wasn't exaggerated. But paired with the Doctrine of Elemental Subjugation, it became the ideal key to Su Qingfeng's bottleneck.
With both the insight and the method secured, Su Tianhao opened his eyes. A subtle gleam flickered in their golden depths.
Everything was in place.
He rose from his seat and moved deeper into the library, arriving at the far end of the archive. His steps were calm and precise—almost like someone walking through their own home. And in truth, that wasn't far from reality. At one point in his life, this library had been his sanctuary.
An entire year had passed since he last set foot here. Yet he still remembered every corner, every shelf, every section.
Before long, he arrived at an old shelf tucked away at the extreme end—dusty, covered in cobwebs, a testament to years of neglect. Su Tianhao was entirely indifferent to the state of it. He had expected as much. The shelf held nothing of obvious value—only blank scrolls.
Blank scrolls were exactly what they sounded—completely empty, typically used for documenting insights, techniques, or sending messages across distant lands.
After gathering several blank scrolls—more than he required, he retrieved ink and ribbons from another shelf, then returned to his study table.
He wasted no time. His brush moved fluidly, capturing everything with precision.
First, he transcribed the Doctrine of Elemental Subjugation. Then, on a separate scroll, he documented the Trinity Harmonization Method. He wrote using his mother's handwriting—something he could replicate perfectly. Having inherited her knowledge, her handwriting was among the least of what he could imitate.
He was about to fold the scrolls and conclude when a thought flashed through his mind.
'Most of the pill recipes in Mother's alchemy knowledge are different from those used in the Su family. They use half the resources—yet achieve identical results.'
His eyes widened.
'If I write down some of these recipes—grade two ones that the First Elder can easily refine—I can sell them for a promising sum. Enough to resolve my financial needs. And perhaps even persuade the family into granting Xie Ling her freedom.'
His expression brightened—like sunlight breaking through clouds after a long storm.
He pulled out a third blank scroll and dipped his brush once more. His strokes were swift and confident, flowing with the ease of someone not merely replicating, but innovating. He selected five grade two pill recipes—each efficient, resource-saving, yet potent. Each one a quiet testament to the brilliance of his mother's alchemy legacy.
By the time the third scroll was complete, he set the brush down and leaned back.
He folded all three scrolls carefully, binding each with ribbon, and held them in hand.
His expression was calm. But beneath that calm was fire.
'Three scrolls. One to spark a breakthrough. One to guide the process. And one to achieve financial balance—and buy freedom.'