Chapter 16 Alchemy 1 Selling pills can be a successful business!
"...Use spiritual power to ignite your natal flame and place it in the alchemy furnace..."
Inside the cave, Xu Xing flipped through the "Essentials of Alchemy" that she had bought from the Sutra Repository. After thinking for a moment, she held her breath and calmed her mind, and a cluster of pale golden flames slowly appeared at her fingertips.
The four from Xiahe Village have been at the Immortal Dao Academy for over a month now, and all have successfully guided Qi into their bodies. Zhao Linglan even grasped the secret on her very first day of learning cultivation. That very night, she guided Qi into her body in the courtyard, cleansing her tendons and marrow for four days before emerging from seclusion.
The time it takes for different disciples to draw in Qi varies. Most single-spiritual-root disciples comprehend it faster and for a longer period of time. Those like Zhao Linglan, who had an epiphany on the spot and whose enlightenment lasted for four days, are already comparable to geniuses with single-spiritual-roots abilities.
For a time, disciples who discovered the relationship between Zhao Linglan and Wang Lianhua began to approach them. Wang Lianhua was greatly bothered by them. Even Xu Xing initially received many indirect inquiries. After learning that they were just ordinary villagers, the number of people secretly paying attention to them gradually decreased.
Compared to the much-discussed Zhao Linglan, Xu Xing, who spent half a month "drawing qi into his body" and possessed five spiritual roots, was quickly forgotten among the disciples of Yaoguang Academy. Xu Xing was happy to see this happen, and he spent a very peaceful month.
No one knew that she hadn't actually drawn any qi into her body at all.
Normally, after a mortal successfully draws in Qi, the spiritual energy entering the body will first cleanse the marrow and expel dirt and impurities. However, Xu Xing had never experienced any of these. After catching the five-colored light spot that day, the only thing she could feel was a faint flow of the five elements spiritual energy within her body.
Something unusual must be going on. After much consideration, Xu Xing decided to forgo asking other cultivators what was going on and instead try to find the reason herself. Just like her possession of a life skills panel, only she herself knew the truth.
Xu Xing optimistically thought that perhaps it was because this body was too "clean" that it hadn't undergone the marrow cleansing process.
Nowadays, in the eyes of everyone at Yaoguang Academy, Xu Xing is a Qi Refining Level 1 disciple who mainly cultivates fire-type spiritual power.
After successfully generating the spiritual fire, Xu Xing couldn't wait to try refining pills.
The Jade Cloud Sect's Scripture Pavilion holds thousands of books, but disciples of the Immortal Dao Academy can only go to the first floor. Originally, she was worried that she couldn't afford it, but fortunately, this "Essentials of Alchemy" was only an introductory book and was of a very low grade, so it only cost thirty low-grade spirit stones.
Although the pill formulas inside are all of the lowest level, they are more than enough for Xu Xing at his current level.
The book says that most beginners in alchemy use their own spiritual fire to refine pills for easier control. Now she has the spiritual fire, but no alchemy furnace.
Xu Xing had inquired and found out that even the cheapest alchemy furnace cost two hundred low-grade spirit stones, which she simply couldn't afford.
Putting down his book, Xu Xing paced back and forth in the cave, pondering whether he should try to solicit sponsorship.
She first thought of Zuo Qiuxu and the others, but who would believe a Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator who came to her and said she could refine pills? Even if Zuo Qiuxu was willing, Xu Xing's cultivation level was too low at the moment, and exposing himself too early would easily bring hidden dangers.
Let's forget about it.
Xu Xing's gaze inadvertently fell upon the medicine stove on the corner of the table, and a thought struck him.
Back in Xiahe Village, she made many pills for mortals using the medicine furnace. But aren't elixirs, frankly speaking, pills for cultivators? Why not try using the medicine furnace?
Xu Xing had some hemostatic herbs in her backpack. When she bought the book, she also bought some first-tier spirit-gathering herbs, which cost her twenty spirit stones.
Now she only has forty low-grade spirit stones left. Originally, she should have had fifty, but Xu Xing was always hungry in the dining hall. It was difficult for him to concentrate on his cultivation if he wasn't full, so she had to spend spirit stones to buy food every few days.
After counting her savings, Xu Xing sighed, feeling both relieved and grateful. She should be thankful for Chen Du; if he hadn't spoken up, she probably wouldn't have been able to save up even a hundred low-grade spirit stones as initial capital in ages.
However, she couldn't just sit around and do nothing; she had to earn spirit stones herself.
Thinking this, Xu Xing took out the hemostatic herbs, intending to refine a first-order hemostatic pill first. These hemostatic herbs were of very low quality, and the hemostatic pill would have limited effect. It was just right for her to practice. If she succeeded, she would start trying to refine a first-order spirit gathering pill.
Spirit Gathering Pills are the most commonly used pills for cultivators to replenish their spiritual power. Disciples of the Immortal Dao Academy can receive two bottles of high-grade Spirit Gathering Pills after successfully guiding Qi into their bodies.
Xu Xing hadn't used the Spirit Gathering Pill yet, but if she could really refine it herself, that would be a different story. You know, a first-grade high-quality Spirit Gathering Pill can sell for twenty low-grade spirit stones.
Having memorized the steps in "The Essentials of Alchemy," Xu began to operate cautiously, placing the hemostatic herb into the medicine furnace. She first separated a wisp of spiritual fire and put it into the furnace, quietly observing the changes in the herb after it was burned by the spiritual fire.
If there were a pill furnace, the spiritual herbs would turn into perfectly round pills, but the hemostatic herb, after being refined by the spiritual fire in the furnace, would only turn into liquid medicine.
After cooling, Xu Xing followed the instructions for making pills and rolled the liquid into several pills. However, without a mold, they were all crooked and looked quite shabby.
"Well……"
Xu Xing looked at the dark, round pill that was gradually taking shape in his hand with a complicated expression. He then opened the Spirit Gathering Pill and took a look. After comparing it, he couldn't bear to look at it.
Can this thing be considered a magic pill?
Fortunately, Xu Xing had a life skills panel, but when faced with this horribly ugly dumpling, the skill panel seemed to have a problem and it took a while to recognize it.
[Tier 1 Mid-Grade Hemostatic Pill: Restores 10 points of Qi and Blood, lasting for 1 hour]
At the same time, Xu Xing's medical skill experience points increased; refining a hemostatic pill once actually added a full 10 experience points! This successfully raised her medical skill from level nine to level ten!
The medicines she had previously devised only added 1 point of experience. Xu Xing was overjoyed; cultivating immortality really had its benefits!
After refining three bottles of first-tier hemostatic pills, Xu Xing ran out of hemostatic herbs in her backpack, so she decided to turn to Spirit Gathering Pills.
Although both are of the same rank, the Spirit Gathering Pill is much more difficult to make and takes much longer than the Hemostatic Pill. Xu Xing had just made one batch when his spiritual energy was exhausted, and the familiar feeling of hunger followed.
[Tier 1 Mid-Grade Spirit Gathering Pill: Restores 70 points of spiritual power]
Xu Xing slumped weakly on the table, thinking to himself that alchemy was indeed difficult. After most of the day had passed, his spiritual energy and physical strength were exhausted, and he had only obtained three bottles of hemostatic pills and one bottle of spirit-gathering pills.
Little did she know that she had successfully refined elixirs using a mortal's medicine furnace, and that she had succeeded on her first attempt with no waste pills, and that the pills were even of medium grade. To other alchemists, this was an astonishing and impossible feat!
After thinking for a moment, Xu Xing ate a Spirit Gathering Pill that she had refined herself. She quickly felt that her spiritual power had been restored to a considerable extent. At the same time, she noticed a line of words flashing before her eyes: "Spiritual power +70".
Xu Xing was stunned. Wasn't this familiar text the kind of healing prompts often seen in games?
But Xu Xing had never noticed that she could see these things before. Could this be an additional skill after her medical skills were upgraded to level 10?
To verify this, Xu Xing ate another Spirit Gathering Pill issued by the Immortal Academy, and sure enough, the text appeared again: "Spiritual Power +90".
"Great!" Xu Xing was overjoyed; she could actually see the effects of the pill!
etc……
Spiritual power +90?
Both are first-tier Spirit Gathering Pills, but the effects are quite different. Could it be because she used a medicine furnace instead of a pill furnace?
However, the one she refined was only of medium grade. Although the Spirit Gathering Pill issued by the Immortal Academy was also of first grade, its quality was high grade. Perhaps it was the difference in quality.
Xu Xing began to calculate the accounts.
One batch of medicinal liquid used three Spirit Gathering Grasses to refine five Spirit Gathering Pills. She could try to sell a mid-grade Spirit Gathering Pill for ten low-grade spirit stones, which means that the materials bought with three low-grade spirit stones could be sold for ten spirit stones!
We made a net profit of seven spirit stones! Things are looking promising!
After deducting the cost of filling her stomach and the loss of spiritual energy, she could still earn four or five spirit stones. Xu Xing thought happily to himself, "This business of selling pills can be successful!"
As long as she can sell them, she will never have to worry about going hungry again!
Since she had already recovered her spiritual power by taking pills, she couldn't waste it. Xu Xing was just about to refine another batch of Spirit Gathering Pills when she suddenly felt the restrictions in the cave change. Someone was calling her.
As Xu Xing left the cave, he indeed saw a pretty young girl squatting next to the teleportation array of the Washing Dust Courtyard.
As soon as she came out, Wen Yao, who had been waiting eagerly, rushed over, her eyes sparkling, "Xu... Xu Xu..."
Xu Xing had been eating Wen Yao's pastries for several days, and Wen Yao seemed to have decided on her. Now, instead of foolishly standing at the entrance of Yaoguang Courtyard asking everyone, she waited for Xu Xing to come over and gave him the pastries alone.
After spending some time with her, Xu Xing realized that Wen Yao was just slow to react and a little clumsy, but she could speak, and if others patiently communicated with her, she could gradually understand, so she wasn't stupid.
It was only when Wen Yao casually mentioned that her mother often went to the Scripture Pavilion to read books that Xu Xing realized he could try his luck at the Scripture Pavilion if he wanted to learn alchemy.
Xu Xing smiled and said, "What brings you here?"
Wen Yao usually lives with Wen Lu. The living quarters of the instructors are quite far from here, so it's unclear how she found her way here.
Wen Yao wrinkled her nose smugly, "I smell... your scent..."
What smell do I have on me?
Xu Xing smiled. She always thought Wen Yao smelled nice, but today's scent seemed a little different.
"Mother...is not here, I...want to see you..."
People rarely talk to Wen Yao, so she speaks rather slowly. Xu Xing listens to her muttering with a smile and slowly leads her outside.
Senior Wen Lu keeps a close eye on Wen Yao and usually doesn't allow her to come out alone. Perhaps something came up this time that she couldn't attend to, so Xu Xing plans to send Wen Yao back to avoid Wen Lu worrying about her missing daughter.
But when Xu Xing led her in a familiar direction, Wen Yao pouted and refused to go any further.
"Take me to Yao Yao's house to play together, okay?"
Xu Xing patiently persuaded him.
Wen Yao, who was usually easy to coax, stubbornly shook her head this time, saying each word clearly, "No, I'm not going, home..."
Could it be that he had a fight with Wen Lu? Xu Xing couldn't help but wonder.
Wen Yao looked down at the ground, tears slowly welling up in her eyes. "Mother... went to find bad people. I don't want to..."
Xu Xing raised her hand to wipe away Wen Yao's tears, but just as her hand touched Wen Yao's skin, a line of text that only she could see appeared above Wen Yao's head.
"Soul Erosion: Spirit -3, Spiritual Power -1, lasts 147 days"
"Wu Xiang Yin: A scent that spirit beasts find repulsive, lasting for 1 day."
That's a debuff that gamers are very familiar with, also known as a negative effect.
Xu Xing's expression changed; he hadn't expected that her newly developed skill would be used on Wen Yao so quickly.
Wen Yao was actually poisoned? What kind of poison could last for so long?
What exactly is Wuxiangyin?
"Yaoyao, you..."
Xu Xing grabbed Wen Yao's hand and was about to take her to find Wen Lu when, not far from the entrance of Xichen Courtyard, something enormous suddenly fell from the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust.
As the earth trembled, Xu Xing heard a chilling roar of a beast.
"Run! The Azure Flame Beast has gone out of control!"
A disciple from the Beast Taming Arena, who was ordered to deliver the Azure Flame Beast to a certain peak, fell off the beast. He scrambled to avoid it and quickly sent a message to the Beast Taming Arena for help.
The Azure Flame Beast has a violent temper, but this one was raised from a young age at the Beast Taming Grounds and is quite intelligent. However, just now when he was leading the Azure Flame Beast past the Immortal Academy, it suddenly went berserk and charged down.
The Immortal Academy is full of disciples in the Qi Refining stage; how could they possibly fight back? This is terrible!
The disciples panicked and scattered in all directions. After the dust settled, Xu Xing saw a spirit beast that was engulfed in blue flames and was taller than an adult man!
With his pupils constricting, Xu Xing hurriedly pulled Wen Yao away to escape, but for some reason, the spirit beast ignored everyone else and charged straight towards them!
I've heard that the Jade Cloud Sect's Beast Taming Grounds have many spirit beasts, but I've never heard of any spirit beasts running out and hurting people!
wrong!
Xu Xing subconsciously looked at Wen Yao, who had a blank expression. Even though he was holding her arm, he could still see the debuffs on Wen Yao.
So that's what happened!
Not knowing who wanted to harm Wen Yao, Xu Xing didn't have time to think. She tightly gripped the waist token. At this moment, teleporting back to her cave might still save her!
Just as Xu Xing was about to run to the entrance of Xichen Courtyard, he saw the Azure Flame Beast spew out a mouthful of flame, which landed right at the entrance, blocking their way.
No way? Am I really going to be devoured by beasts?
Xu Xing felt a sense of despair. He should have eaten the last few pieces of fried fish that he had been reluctant to eat. He had heard that if you die hungry, you will be hungry in your next life too!
"Get out of the way!"
Suddenly, three disciples of the Tian Shu Academy, dressed in crimson robes, rushed out. They unleashed several beams of spiritual light, forming a net-like barrier in front of the Azure Flame Beast.
Before Xu Xing could even catch his breath, he saw the spiritual net quickly disintegrate under the scorching blue flames.
Despite being disciples of the Tian Shu Academy, they only possessed the cultivation level of the early Qi Refining stage, making them no match for the second-tier Azure Flame Beast, who was at the early Foundation Establishment stage.
"Quickly, go find the instructor for help!"
The Azure Flame Beast sent several disciples blocking its path flying with a single claw, its eyes fixed on Wen Yao as it approached step by step.
Stay calm! There must be another way!
Xu Xing shielded Wen Yao behind him; after all, she was at least at the first level of Qi Refining, while Wen Yao had no spiritual power at all. Although abandoning Wen Yao and escaping alone might offer a sliver of hope, Xu Xing simply couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.
Perhaps water magic could deal with the blue flames. Xu Xing's hand, hidden in her sleeve, gradually condensed into a ball of water. She suddenly threw the water ball at the blue flame beast. She threw it very accurately, hitting the beast's face!
However, the Azure Flame Beast only tilted its head slightly, and the water ball instantly evaporated into water vapor.
"..."
The Azure Flame Beast shifted its gaze from Wen Yao to Xu Xing. It exhaled a puff of hot air, slowly arching its body, ready to pounce.
The water droplets were like a tickle, completely useless. Seeing the Azure Flame Beast about to pounce, Xu Xing's mind raced. Beast, beast…
Animal taming!
With the same intensity she used to communicate with the big yellow dog in Xiahe Village, Xu Xing stared into the eyes of the Azure Flame Beast, her face covered in cold sweat, but her golden eyes remained exceptionally resolute. In her heart, she kept calling out, "Azure! Stop...stop now!"
The Azure Flame Beast paused, its gaze filled with confusion. It seemed puzzled as to why it could hear this little creature speaking inside its head. Could it be one of its own kind?
However, it was only in a daze for a moment before it was overwhelmed by the aura of Wu Xiangyin. It opened its mouth wide and spewed a burst of flames at the aura that it loathed!
"roar--"
A note from the author:
----------------------
[Mini-Theater 1]
Buyer: How did you calculate the cost of these pills?
Xu Xu: Hmm... food expenses, mental exertion expenses, physical exertion expenses, material costs...
Buyer: You're including food expenses too? Are you sure you're not a shady dealer?
[Mini Theater 2]
Azure Flame Beast: How do you know my name?
Watching the blue flames slowly spread: Uh...
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