Chapter 43 Becoming an Apprentice 2 Would you be willing to become my apprentice?
"No elixir poison! The elixirs she refined contained no elixir poison!!!"
In the alchemy hall, a chubby old man with a white beard was wandering around aimlessly, holding a second-grade antidote pill in his hand like a precious treasure, licking it every now and then, shaking his head and looking completely absorbed.
"Such an unparalleled alchemy genius, how could she have been buried in the Immortal Dao Academy for so long! No way! I'm going to fetch her right now!"
Gu Hongguang carefully put away the poison-removing pill, summoned his mount and was about to rush out when he bumped into Shui Huazhi, who was walking in in a hurry.
"Hey Lao Gu, you're so old and still so reckless. Since that young girl is intentionally hiding her identity, she doesn't want anyone to know who she is. If you go over there now, won't you ruin her efforts to conceal it?"
In front of certain high-ranking experts of the Jade Cloud Sect, low-ranking disciples have no secrets whatsoever. Xu Xing went to great lengths to conceal her identity, but as long as the experts were willing to investigate, they would naturally be able to find out that she was a disciple of the Five Elemental Roots from the Yao Guang Academy of the Immortal Dao Academy.
However, nowadays, the "everything shop" only sells low-grade pills. This may have an impact on pill shops with similarly shallow foundations, but it cannot shake the transcendent existence of the Pill Pavilion, which gathers most of the alchemists of the Jade Cloud Sect.
The reason why nothing has happened for so long is simply because these minor incidents are not worth the attention of these high-level alchemists.
However, if someone can refine a pill without any poison, that would be a different story.
Not only Gu Hongguang, but any alchemist, no, any cultivator, would probably go crazy upon hearing about this.
For thousands of years, only two alchemists on the Lingwu Continent have been able to refine this kind of pill. They both eventually reached the level of ninth-order alchemy grandmaster. Unfortunately, one of them died long ago, and the other disappeared four hundred years ago.
Moreover, they are all demons. The demon realm in the southern continent is extremely rich in vegetation. Compared to other races, demons are naturally close to spiritual plants and have extraordinary talent in alchemy. Such geniuses have never been heard of among human alchemists.
"I can't wait any longer!" Gu Hongguang exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Do you even know what it means to be free of elixirs?!"
"How could I not know? Do you think my status as a seventh-level alchemist is fake?" Shui Huazhi rolled her eyes at Gu Hongguang, seeing right through his thoughts. "You're in such a hurry because you want to take this disciple before the dean returns, right?"
Gu Hongguang said matter-of-factly, "So what if I want to take on a disciple? Who told Zhu Fangyun to be away from the sect right now? I found out first, and he's my disciple!"
At this point, he looked at Shui Huazhi suspiciously, "You've told me so much, you wouldn't be trying to steal my apprentice, would you? Let me tell you, impossible! I'm going to have this child!"
"Can't you even think about it? Where would a Qi Refining stage disciple get the formula for the Detoxification Pill? She must have a master guiding her, and she probably already has a sect. Why are you..."
Shui Huazhi sighed in exasperation. He could develop such an exquisite elixir as the Detoxifying Pill, but the person behind that disciple was probably unfathomable. Only Gu Hongguang was so clueless.
"I don't think so. If there really is a master, why would that girl need to work so hard to open a shop and earn money? Besides, even if she has a master, what can I do if I take this apprentice away?"
Gu Hongguang had been immersed in alchemy for many years and was more experienced than Shui Huazhi, who had just been promoted to the seventh level. He was highly respected not only in the Yuxiao Sect but also throughout the entire Eastern Pole, and cultivators from other sects often came to him seeking medicine.
He was confident in taking on disciples, not out of arrogance, but because he had the confidence. Low-level disciples would be overjoyed to hear that a seventh-level alchemist wanted to take them on as disciples!
"Alright! Go! You head straight to Xuanjian Peak and let everyone in the Jade Cloud Sect know that a disciple with five spiritual roots can refine pills without any poison. Let's see if she can even see the sun rise the next day!"
Shui Huazhi was also very curious about the person who refined the Detoxification Pill, but she was eager to help the young girl and didn't want her to get into trouble for no reason, so she said a few words. However, her well-intentioned advice was met with suspicion from Gu Hongguang, which made her furious.
That old geezer, he's only getting older but not wiser!
Upon hearing this, Gu Hongguang realized what was happening and subconsciously glanced outside the door. He remembered that this was a forbidden area of the Alchemy Academy, and usually only Dean Zhu Fangyun and the two seventh-level alchemists would come here. No one else could enter. Only then did he feel relieved.
Although he was eager to meet the young alchemist, he didn't want to harm him. After all, if he missed this genius, who knew when the next one would be born?
Seeing that Gu Hongguang's emotions had calmed down, Shui Huazhi said seriously, "Don't worry, I've investigated. Her little shop has recently attracted the attention of some people. You're like this..."
Gu Hongguang leaned in and listened attentively as Shui Huazhi explained the method. To his surprise, he nodded repeatedly, his eyes wide with astonishment. "How could this be possible?!"
"Good!" After hearing this, he waved his hand with a radiant smile. "If it works out, I will get you the formula for the Detoxification Pill!"
"..."
Before anything was even started, they were already eyeing the elixir formula.
Shui Huazhi watched with a heavy heart as Gu Hongguang flew onto the flying elephant and headed towards Liujin Street. What was the use of being in such a hurry? His wish to take on a disciple was definitely going to be dashed.
After a moment, she looked up at the sky and said calmly, "Although Master Gu is impulsive, he is shrewd despite his rough exterior. He is not a brainless person. This time, her identity will not be exposed. I have done what I promised you, so I owe you nothing in the future."
Silence fell, and no one answered.
Only a single, light feather drifted down from the sky, landing in Shui Huazhi's palm. It quickly disappeared, leaving only a barely visible damp mark.
It turns out that the white feathers, as light as cicada wings, were actually formed from frost.
Shui Huazhi stared blankly at her palm for a long time, then sighed softly, "Fu Shuang, after all these years, are you finally willing to come out of the mountains?"
But it was all for a disciple with such inferior spiritual roots...
Gu Hongguang was blinded by the fact that the poison-removing pill had no toxicity, and overlooked the disciple's aptitude.
Alchemy is extremely energy-consuming. It is indeed a great talent for a Qi Refining disciple to be able to refine second-tier spiritual pills, but what about third-tier and fourth-tier pills?
Even reaching the Foundation Establishment stage is extremely difficult for someone with five spiritual roots. After consuming a fifth-tier Hundred-Turn Spirit-Stabilizing Pill, they only reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. Their cultivation aptitude is simply unheard of!
What use is it for a second-tier alchemist who cannot even reach the Foundation Establishment stage to refine pills without poison?
...
On Liujin Street, the cultivators who had been crowding outside the shops dispersed. Gu Hongguang stood at the door with his hands behind his back, glancing casually at the people around him. In recent years, the disciples of Jihuo Peak had become increasingly outrageous.
"What's going on here? Is someone causing trouble?" Gu Hongguang glanced at the damaged shop door and said with a half-smile, "Is this someone smashing up the shop in front of everyone?"
If Shui Huazhi were here, she would definitely think that this old man, who is usually obsessed with alchemy, can be quite intimidating when he gets serious.
The disciples of Extreme Fire Peak exchanged glances, and the leading Golden Core cultivator swept his gaze over them. They immediately put down what they were holding and quickly left the shop.
"Disciple greets Master Gu!" The Golden Core cultivator cupped his hands and smiled apologetically, "Master Gu, you misunderstand. One of our junior brothers was poisoned by miasma, and we were all in a hurry to buy the antidote. We were a bit reckless and accidentally broke some things..."
The Golden Core cultivator turned and bowed slightly to Tong Yuanbai and the others, saying, "Thank you for your fright, managers. We will definitely compensate you double for any damage to the shop."
His attitude appeared upright, but with his back to Gu Hongguang, his eyes held a hidden threat.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone stepped forward and handed him a considerable amount of spirit stones, enough to buy everything in the shop.
They've already returned the items, and they're inner disciples, so these spirit stones...
Tong Yuanbai hesitated for a moment, but Wang Lianhua glanced quietly at the corner, composed herself, and took the spirit stone.
Having run the shop for two years, she had become much more worldly-wise. Now that the alchemy master had come to her rescue, she should go with the flow. If she kept pestering him, it would only invite retaliation from the Extreme Fire Peak.
"The seniors are also eager to save lives. Please accept this Detoxification Pill. Although it is only of the second rank, it would be even better if it could cure the miasma poison."
Wang Lianhua's words were appropriate. At this moment, accepting the spirit stones in front of Gu Hongguang meant that the matter was over. Even if the disciples of Jihuo Peak were angry, they would not dare to vent their anger at this time. It would be better for everyone to back down gracefully.
Even though everyone present knew that there was no junior brother who had been poisoned by miasma...
With the matter of smashing the shop over, the Golden Core cultivator from Extreme Fire Peak felt relieved and turned to say, "Since Master Gu wants to find the person who refined the Poison-Clearing Pill, why don't you hurry up and let that alchemist come out to pay his respects?"
In the crowd, Xu Xing pulled his cloak tighter and slowly backed away, intending to go around to the back to enter the shop.
Gu Hongguang caught a glimpse of someone walking out of the corner of his eye, and a sudden thought flashed through his mind. The information he had found said that the female disciple named Xu Xing had been hiding behind the scenes for the past two years and had never shown herself. Even her shop was registered under the name of a Golden Core sword cultivator, which showed that she was extremely reluctant to reveal her identity.
What a coincidence that she happened to be here today!
Gu Hongguang couldn't help but feel a little proud. He had helped him, so it wasn't too much to ask him to become his disciple in gratitude.
Thinking about this, he felt even more that his heroic act of saving his disciple should have been even more thorough. He raised his white eyebrows and sternly rebuked, "Shut up! Do you know how exquisite this Poison-Clearing Pill is? Anyone who can refine such a pill must be extraordinary. How can you let her come out to see me? I should be the one to see her!"
The Golden Core cultivator tried to curry favor, but Gu Hongguang didn't appreciate it and instead gave him a cold shoulder.
He thought to himself, no matter how different the reaction was, this was still a second-tier pill. This shop had never sold third-tier pills before, so the alchemist behind it could not possibly be a third-tier alchemist. What kind of ability did he have that could make a seventh-tier alchemy master come to visit him?
When facing the shop's managers, Gu Hongguang was much more amiable. He stroked his beard and smiled, "I wonder if I could invite that alchemist to meet me? If we could discuss things together, I would surely benefit greatly."
These words were said intentionally. Second-tier pills are of too low a grade to ask for guidance. It was just to put on a show. Presumably, after today, those people who want to make a move against this little shop will have to think twice about whether they can afford to offend a seventh-tier alchemy master.
A slight commotion arose in the crowd. The outer disciples, who had initially been unaware of Gu Hongguang's identity, quickly realized after overhearing a bit that this alchemy master was no ordinary person. However, what they cared about most at that moment wasn't alchemy or anything like that, but rather...
"Are you... still selling anything today?"
"Looking for someone won't interfere with doing business, right?"
"We waited in line for ages..."
No one noticed that Wang Lianhua, who had taken the spirit stones, had already quietly retreated back into the shop. When she came out again, she smiled and invited Gu Hongguang into the inner room, and then let Tong Yuanbai and Shu Wenshi continue to operate the business.
"Queue up! Queue up again!"
"I was right in front of you! Don't push me!"
"I must buy this medicine that even a seventh-level alchemy master says is good! I need the Detoxification Pill!"
"I want one too!"
A group of cultivators who had been waiting eagerly rushed to buy things, creating a somewhat noisy scene. Several disciples of Extreme Fire Peak cautiously asked the Golden Core cultivator, "Senior Brother, we..."
The Golden Core cultivator's chest heaved, and he said coldly, "What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear we have to queue? Hurry up and get in line!"
If they don't get the items, how will they explain it when they go back?
The shopkeeper of the neighboring Tianyi shop watched with great interest as several troublemaking disciples lined up at the back of the queue, looking aggrieved. Watching a show was much more interesting than tending to a shop with little business every day.
Suddenly, she seemed to sense something and looked up into the sky.
Inside the shop, Tong and Shu realized that Wang Lianhua had taken Gu Hongguang to the back, and that the alchemist had actually come to the shop today!
Shu Wenshi had never seen this mysterious alchemist before. When settling the price, he kept turning back, looking extremely anxious.
Business is always good on the first day of the month, and the newly launched spirit items sell out quickly. Tong Yuanbai quickly regains his composure and becomes methodical, while Shu Wenshi is absent-minded and even makes a mistake with the price twice.
Tong Yuanbai glanced at Shu Wenshi a few times, his brow furrowing. He felt that Shu had been somewhat restless lately...
Gu Hongguang followed Wang Lianhua into the inner room, expecting to see someone concealing their identity. However, the young woman standing outside the window revealed her true face, and the cloak she was wearing was the same one worn by the person who had left the crowd earlier.
Seeing that Xu Xing hadn't even used the Illusion Pill, Wang Lianhua glanced at her with some concern. After receiving a reassuring look, she silently closed the door and left.
"This junior greets Master Gu."
Xu Xing bowed respectfully.
"You little girl..."
Gu Hongguang looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her strange golden eyes for a moment. Suddenly, he moved with lightning speed, grabbing Xu Xing's hand and asking in a stern voice, "Do you have demon blood?"
Xu Xing neither dodged nor avoided, letting Gu Hongguang grab her wrist and examine her, her expression calm.
"Indeed, you are a human. Your eyes are quite rare."
Gu Hongguang lowered his hand and was even more surprised when he realized that Xu Xing was a human. He never thought that he would see a human refine a pill without poison in his lifetime.
At this moment, Gu Hongguang noticed that the girl in front of him had remained completely calm throughout, showing neither fear nor flattery.
He suddenly realized, "You knew I was coming?"
Xu Xing smiled slightly and said softly, "This junior dares not show off. When I planned to sell the Detoxification Pill, I did think that it might attract the attention of some alchemists, but I did not expect that it would be a senior with such profound experience as you who came. I must thank you for saving me from a disaster."
Chen Du, Wen Lu, Wang Lianhua...
If they really investigated, they would quickly find out that these people had intricate connections with her. Xu Xing didn't think she had concealed it very cleverly. Moreover, knowing that the effects of the Detoxification Pill were too amazing, she still put it on the market for sale. Besides making money, the main reason was indeed to attract people from the Alchemy Academy.
"what you up to?"
Gu Hongguang's expression changed slightly. He thought that his help had lowered the other party's guard, but he did not expect that it was Xu Xing's intention.
Could the investigation have gone wrong? Is she not a carefree disciple with no interest in cultivation, but rather quite shrewd and calculating? Was today's event not an accident?
Cultivators often avoid those who play mind games. People like Gu Hongguang, who are focused on alchemy and do not care about external affairs, pay great attention to the character of their disciples. If it weren't for Shui Huazhi's guidance today, which allowed him to use the trouble at Jihuo Peak to get close to Xu Xing, he would have flown directly to Xuanjian Peak long ago, given his personality.
but……
Thinking of that exquisitely crafted detoxifying pill, and how all the other pills I bought from here were completely free of poison...
Gu Hongguang thought to himself, so what if he's cunning? With such talent, even if Xu Xing had a thousand or a hundred schemes, he was determined to take him as his disciple!
“Master Gu, I am willing to offer the formula for the Detoxification Pill, but I have one condition…”
Does this mean he wants to become an apprentice?
Gu Hongguang coughed lightly, trying hard not to laugh out loud, and said in a serious tone, "Tell me about it."
"I hope that after obtaining the pill formula, the Alchemy Academy can provide two hundred third-tier Poison-Clearing Pills..."
"Disciple...cough! What do you need so many detoxifying pills for? Are you poisoned?"
Gu Hongguang's expression became tense. He hadn't noticed anything unusual when he checked the breath earlier. What kind of poison was there that even a seventh-level alchemist like him couldn't detect?
Xu Xing was taken aback. This alchemy master seemed to be overly concerned about her.
She explained, "It wasn't for my own use. I wonder if the master knows about the incident two years ago when half of the disciples of the Immortal Academy were infected with demonic blood?"
Gu Hongguang nodded. The incident back then wasn't a big deal, since it involved only a group of Qi Refining stage disciples, but it wasn't insignificant either, since there were many single-spiritual-root geniuses among them.
In the past two years, the Alchemy Institute has done its best to treat the patient, but how easy is it to remove demonic blood? If there were high-grade spiritual herbs, it might be possible to eradicate it completely, but who would be willing to waste rare and precious materials on a low-level cultivator in the Qi Refining stage?
"I have already tried it, and the third-tier Detoxification Pill can cure the residual poison of the demonic blood. Therefore, I would like to exchange the pill formula for two hundred third-tier Detoxification Pills for the disciples who have been poisoned by the demonic blood."
Xu Xing had tried it on Xi Feng, and the third-tier poison-removing pill could indeed completely remove the demonic blood.
In Xu Xing's heart, the disciples of the Immortal Dao Academy were her "classmates". They went to school together. She had clearly noticed Zhai Yuzhi's abnormality in advance, but she was unable to help others avoid disaster. This matter had been weighing on Xu Xing's heart. For the past two years, she had often visited Xi Feng at the Alchemy Academy. With the consent of Xi Feng and Xi Yun, she tested medicines and finally discovered that the third-order detoxification pill could cure the poison.
Perhaps the possessing demon felt it unnecessary to use a purer form of demonic blood against a Qi Refining stage disciple, which gave them a glimmer of hope...
However, Xu Xing's cultivation level was too low. In order to refine a third-order detoxification pill, she not only used a spirit gathering array, but also kept taking pills to replenish her spiritual power throughout the process. However, after refining it, she still greatly overdrawn her spiritual power, causing her dantian to dry up. She fell into a coma for three days, which frightened several contracted beasts.
Refining even one pill is this difficult, and there are nearly two hundred disciples of the Immortal Academy who have been poisoned. It is impossible for her to refine them all by herself. The longer the demonic blood remains in the body, the more difficult it is to remove. If it hadn't been discovered that if the poison hadn't been detoxified sooner, the spiritual roots of those disciples would have been completely corroded and there would have been no chance of recovery, Xu Xing would not have taken out the Detoxification Pill so early.
After explaining, seeing that Gu Hongguang remained silent for a long time, Xu Xing gradually became uneasy. Was her demand too high?
That shouldn't be the case. The recipe for the Detoxifying Pill isn't limited by grade. As long as you have the corresponding grade of pills, even sixth and seventh grade pills can be refined. The effect is naturally excellent. Faced with such a good thing, the requirement of two hundred third-grade Detoxifying Pills isn't particularly difficult. Although it requires quite a few spiritual herbs, it's not a problem for the Alchemy Academy...
Xu Xing thought to herself that if it didn't work, she could reduce it to one hundred and fifty pills. She could just work hard to refine the rest herself. But when she looked up, she saw the white-bearded old man in front of her staring intently at her, seemingly mesmerized.
"You said you tried, which means... you've successfully refined a third-tier pill?!"
He had already discovered when he checked Xu Xing's breath that Xu Xing was indeed a disciple at the seventh level of Qi Refining. To refine third-grade pills during the Qi Refining stage was something that had never been heard of in thousands of years!
Even those two ninth-level alchemists back then couldn't achieve such results when they were in the Qi Refining stage!
"If you really have the formula for a high-grade detoxifying pill, then these two hundred pills will be no problem at all!"
“However, I did not come here for the pill formula.” Gu Hongguang’s eyes grew increasingly fervent, and he looked at Xu Xing as if he were looking at a huge, undiscovered treasure.
Unable to contain his joy any longer, he took a deep breath and asked, "Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
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Author's Note: Thank you to catle, My Favorite Card Game Writer, Xixi, and Chenchen for the nutrient solution! [Rose]
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