"Oh, so the lady is now part of a first-class family," Tirta said calmly, though her tone carried a subtle sting of mockery.
The woman was Mella—originally from a second-class family, and once Tirta's peer at the University of Specialized Pill Crafting. She was known for her ambition and obsession with social status. From a young age, she was determined to elevate her family's standing, and she finally succeeded in marrying into a first-class family—a feat not to be taken lightly, though still short of noble status.
However, that success was never enough to erase Tirta's shadow from her heart. Tirta's talent, calm demeanor, and beauty always made her feel small—even during their university years. Now, seeing Tirta with her child in the middle of a shopping center, her jealousy surged again.
"Well? That disabled child you once carried... can he run now?" Mella sneered, grinning. "Or does he still need help walking? Hahaha…"
"Watch your mouth, Mella. Don't insult my child," Tirta replied coldly, yet with firm resolve.
"Oh, this is your son?" Mella looked down on Baskara with a belittling gaze. "My son now works in Capital City's central security—destined to become a general. And your child? Hmm, still clinging to his mother. Don't tell me he hasn't even entered a martial school?"
Hearing this, Baskara stepped forward.
"Shut up, you noisy old hag. Your pride lies in serving greedy officials? A uniformed servant? Pathetic," Baskara said sharply, his tone cold but pressing.
"You! You little brat! Such insolence—go back and suckle your mother!" Mella snapped, caught off guard by his bold response.
As the tension escalated, Teguh arrived, standing beside Tirta and Baskara.
"That's enough. Let's not waste time with old poison that no longer matters," Teguh said coldly as he glanced at Mella. "Let's go."
They left, leaving Mella frozen in place, her face flushed with anger and shame. Baskara's insult had torn at her pride.
"Hmph… just you wait. We'll see who ends up greater—your child or mine," she muttered bitterly before turning and walking away in frustration.
Meanwhile, the little family continued their stroll, enjoying the city's atmosphere. After shopping and browsing a few more stores, they decided to head home. On the way back, Baskara looked truly content and cheerful.
He admired his new shoes—durable, flexible, and extremely comfortable, especially for martial arts practice. He also got some new clothes and protective gear. Although they couldn't compare to the ancestral gifts he'd received, they still made him happy because they came directly from his mother and father.
That night passed peacefully.
---
The next morning, Baskara was ready to return to his meditation site in the ancestral land. Eyang Pradipa personally escorted him through a secret route known only to the family elders.
Upon reaching the ancient temple where he meditated, Baskara immediately checked the supplies prepared according to his request: an alchemy furnace, a mixing pot, and neatly wrapped spiritual ingredients. Several books on alchemy were also arranged, including one titled "Fundamentals of Alchemy: Spiritual Healing."
Calmly, he sat and opened the book. He knew that reading and understanding was a crucial first step not to be overlooked.
---
Written on the first page:
> "Healing alchemy is the art of combining elements with spiritual energy to create remedies that heal both body and soul. Every tool used—the furnace, pot, spoon, even filters—must be made of materials strong enough to channel spiritual energy."
> "The fire source must be consistent, whether it's a fire-element treasure, a heat crystal, or spiritual energy directly from a practitioner who has reached the Soulbirth Stage."
> "Ingredients must be added in sequence based on type: base purifier, energy binder, body balancer, and finally the core ingredient. The final form—pill or liquid—is determined by the compression or liquefaction technique used."
Baskara sat cross-legged in his quiet, cool meditation chamber within the old temple, deep in the ancestral land. In front of him was a spiritual-metal alchemy pot, surrounded by herbs, alchemy books, and basic tools. The glow from a lightstone in the corner cast a silhouette of his focused figure.
He took a deep breath, then began circulating energy within his body. Now that he had reached the Soulbirth Realm, he could produce spiritual heat—though not yet stable. Slowly, he channeled the heat to warm the alchemy pot.
The pot started to heat up. Baskara nodded in satisfaction and took a basic spiritual herb, placing it into the pot.
But…
"Huh?" he murmured. "Why isn't it melting?"
He increased the intensity of the heat, but the herb remained unchanged—not even its color shifted.
"Still not hot enough…" he muttered. "The heat from Soulbirth isn't enough to reach this herb's boiling point."
Suddenly, a sly smile formed on his lips. He looked at his hands and softly said:
"In that case, the fourth layer of Tapak Geni… let's try it."
He formed the mudra of the technique. In a flash, a fiery virtual hand appeared above him, radiating intense heat. The fire enveloped the alchemy pot, raising the temperature drastically.
"Now you'll melt for sure…"
But the fire was too strong. The herb instantly burned to ash within seconds.
Baskara sighed—but didn't give up. He kept adjusting:
The distance between the fiery hand and the pot,
The duration of heat exposure,
The amount of energy channeled.
After several failures, he finally found the right balance. The next herb slowly melted, releasing a distinct spiritual herbal scent.
Baskara quickly added the next ingredients in the proper order, stirring gently as the mixture changed color. Soon, the liquid began to thicken, glowing green and releasing a soft aura.
"Finally…" he whispered, a proud smile on his face. "My first spiritual remedy."
He transferred the liquid into a small, clear bottle.
Baskara had read everything thoroughly. Even with just one reading, his sharp mind quickly grasped the entire basic process. He took a deep breath.
"All right. Time to begin..." he murmured, then stood and began lighting his alchemy furnace.
Before him now lay a small bottle filled with an energy restoration potion. Though it was a basic concoction, Baskara looked at it with deep satisfaction. This was the fruit of his own perseverance and diligence.
"Even if it's just a basic potion... it's mine," he murmured proudly.
He gently placed the bottle in front of his knees, then began organizing the remaining ingredients. Sitting cross-legged once again, he regulated his breath and started to rebrew the energy potion—not merely for the result, but to deepen his understanding of alchemical fundamentals.
Hours passed. The temple remained quiet, the only sounds being faint pops from the alchemy pan and the soft aroma of herbs lingering in the air. Until finally—
"Haahhh... finally done." He stretched and yawned.
Beside him were now 20 bottles of potion neatly lined up, though 8 of them were complete failures and had to be discarded. Still, to him, it was a meaningful achievement.
After cleaning his tools, Baskara leaned back and started reading his alchemy book again. He wanted to deepen his understanding and see what he had missed before.
Soon, his eyes landed on a paragraph on the next page. The more he read, the more his brows furrowed.
> "In advanced brewing, a semediwan must use the power of their soul to control the alchemical ingredients. Not hands or tools. In this realm, the soul has the power to touch and move objects, even to stabilize the fusion process."
Baskara stared at his hands, then continued reading:
> "The same goes for fire. True spiritual fire does not come from manipulating energy, but from a natural source that possesses the fire element. Like Cobra Flame, which can be extracted from the soul core of a Fire Cobra, or even legendary flames… said to come from celestial beings. Though, of course… such tales are still considered myths by many."
Baskara gently smacked his forehead.
"Haissshhh… why didn't I read this far earlier?"
He shook his head and placed the book to his right.
"Next time, if I want to learn a new technique or field… I really need to ask the elders who know about it. Can't keep trying everything on my own," he chuckled, realizing how much he still had to learn.
As night deepened, inside the temple, Baskara began to reflect on his learning journey—not just as a semediwan, but as an individual slowly beginning to understand his own strength, weaknesses, and potential.
After two full months of intense meditation and foundational alchemy studies, Baskara finally decided to leave his temple chamber. He had managed to stabilize his flow within the Soul Birth Realm and felt it was time to meet his grandfather again.
In a simple yet dignified study room sat an elderly man with long white hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Spread across his desk were several name lists, complete with notes and the family seal. The old man was reviewing the names of young members of their family—those studying abroad and those attending the family's own school.
Knock knock.
A soft but clear tapping sound echoed.
"Hello, Grandpa," Baskara greeted with a smile.
The old man turned and chuckled lightly. "Oh, so you do remember the outside world exists?" he teased.
Baskara laughed. "Hehe, of course I remember… though the world inside is quite fascinating too."
"Hmm, I'm sure. But don't get too lost in it," his grandfather replied, setting aside the documents.
"By the way, Grandpa, what were you reading?" Baskara asked, approaching.
"I was reviewing reports on our family's children who have turned ten. Usually, we begin physical training at eight, and by ten, they're introduced to meditation. After that comes a talent assessment—just like the one you took. The result determines whether they stay in our family's training circle or join a formal padepokan."
Grandfather Pradipa then looked deeply into Baskara's eyes, as if weighing something. "Speaking of which… you've just turned ten too, haven't you?"
Baskara nodded gently.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to test you again," his grandfather laughed softly. "But I do want to ask: are you interested in entering a padepokan?"
"Forget it, Grandpa… I'm not interested in joining a padepokan for now," Baskara replied, stretching lazily. "Besides, those places have too many rules, and it's often a hassle. I'm more comfortable like this—free to manage my own time."
Grandfather Pradipa paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "Alright, if that's your choice… I won't force you. What matters is that you stay committed to the path you've chosen."
Baskara nodded lightly, then stepped closer to his grandfather's desk. "By the way, Grandpa… do you have a list of true spiritual flames?"
Grandfather Pradipa's brow furrowed slightly. "True flames? Hm… what do you need that for?"
"I read in an alchemy book that true flames can be used to craft high-grade potions… even able to burn through the hardest spiritual materials. And honestly… I can't keep relying on Tapak Geni just to heat my alchemy pan," Baskara said, a bit embarrassed but sincere.