Chapter 42 Apprenticeship 1: Alchemy Master
In a cave halfway up Xuanjian Peak, Xu Xing, with his hair disheveled, had just woken up from his sleep. His eyes were still not quite clear, and he was staring blankly at an unidentified object that had emerged from the edge of the bed.
After staring blankly for a while, Xu Xing suddenly raised his hand and rubbed his eyes. Was he still dreaming?
Otherwise, how would she have seen "mushrooms" growing on her bed?
This thing was enveloped in a faint spiritual light, and several layers of curled leaves gathered together to form something resembling a mushroom cap, making it look like some kind of plant that had just begun to grow.
Xu Xing dared not reach out to touch it, fearing it might be poisonous. This wooden bed was made of jade wood; could it have sprouted?
That shouldn't be the case...
"Fairy Xu, are you awake? Manager Wang has brought the shop's profits from last month..."
Kang Cheng's voice rang out from outside. Xu Xing responded, quickly tidied himself up, and folded the quilt in a few quick movements. But then he saw a white, fingernail-sized object on the bed.
Xu Xing picked it up and glanced at it, not understanding why, then casually placed it on the edge of the bed without paying any attention.
After she left the cave, the "mushroom" that had been motionless on the edge of the bed suddenly trembled twice. Invisible threads spread from the leaves, slowly extending towards the white scales, eventually completely enveloping them...
Meanwhile, deep within the Jade Cloud Sect, on the isolated Frost Peak, untouched by any other mountain, a woman in white, who was playing the zither with delicate hands, suddenly sensed something and stopped what she was doing.
Beneath the plain silk, those perpetually closed eyes opened, and a faint golden glint flashed within their empty depths.
"Aunt Lian, you've arrived."
Every time the spirit stones were delivered, it was Wang Lianhua who knew that Xu Xing had another large batch of spirit stones in his hands. However, Tong Yuanbai and the others who worked in the shop were unaware that the "mysterious" alchemist lived on Xuanjian Peak.
Wang Lianhua was sitting at the stone table with a storage bag beside her. She had a smile on her face and was clearly in a good mood.
She was naturally happy that the shop's profits were higher each month than the previous month.
Seeing Xu Xing yawn as soon as he came out of the cave, Wang Lianhua quickly stood up to greet him, smiling, "Didn't you sleep well? I was planning to leave as soon as I put my things down..."
The shop is doing well now, and all kinds of elixirs and magical artifacts are in short supply. Xu Xu has to refine them all by himself, which inevitably makes him tired.
Xu Xing smiled and shook his head. "I slept very well. The shop isn't open yet, is it? I'll go with you to check it out today."
She took the storage bag from Wang Lianhua without opening it to check the contents. She knew exactly how much she supplied to the shop each month, and now the shop's income depended entirely on how much she could refine. It wasn't that Xu Xing didn't want to earn more money, but she couldn't stand having to refine pills and weapons all day long just to earn spirit stones.
Life skills are entertainment. In his past life, he accidentally died from staying up all night to level up. Although it's not so easy to die after cultivating immortality, Xu Xing doesn't want to turn his hobby into "work" yet.
The real owner of Xu Xing's shop was actually a hands-off manager who only provided goods to sell and never cared about the business, not even bothering to look at the account books they submitted.
At first, Wang Lianhua and Tong Yuanbai saw that the shop was in a remote location and they had no experience in running a shop. Although they didn't say it, they were worried about whether they could run the shop well. But after selling the first bottle of pills, they realized that as long as the quality was good, no matter how remote the location was, it could not stop the enthusiasm of these cultivators!
Two years have passed, and more and more people are coming to the shop to buy pills. They are all repeat customers. Once they buy from the shop, they will definitely come back a second or third time. Sometimes, if customers arrive late and find that the second-tier pills are sold out, they will even settle for the first-tier Spirit Gathering Pills.
Low-level cultivators are not very good at distinguishing the subtle differences between pills of the same quality, but they just feel that the pills in this shop are better than any pills they have ever taken!
As for magical artifacts, they are sold in limited quantities each month, and they are always sold out as soon as they are put on the shelves. The rarest artifact, the spirit-enchanted one, is in short supply.
Wang Lianhua couldn't count how many cultivators had thrown tantrums in the shop because they couldn't get the magic weapon, only to leave in disgrace.
Xu Xing asked Kang Cheng to stay and feed the three contracted beasts, while he and Wang Lianhua went to Liujin Street to take a look.
Before leaving Xuanjian Peak, she habitually glanced at the summit. The three large characters "Xuanjian Peak" on the cliff face had already been eroded by wind and snow, and the dormant sword energy swirled quietly, without any movement even after two years.
Golden Core cultivators are usually served by two martial artists. Before Shen Du went into seclusion, he specifically went to the Beast Taming Arena to ask Kang Cheng for help, so that he could work for Xu Xing.
Now Xu Xing has four people under her command, each with their own strengths. Kang Cheng is rough but meticulous, Tong Yuanbai is cheerful and enthusiastic, and Shu Wenshi is quick-witted. In addition, there is Aunt Lian who is wholeheartedly thinking of her. With them around, Xu Xing doesn't have to worry about trivial matters and can enjoy a relaxed and carefree life.
At the end of Liujin Street, the "Everything Sells" shop hadn't even opened yet, but a long queue had already formed outside, stretching from the door all the way to the other end of the street. All the merchants on Liujin Street knew that this "Everything Sells" shop was the last to open and the first to close each day, operating for less than four hours a day, yet business was booming. Sometimes, when they ran out of stock at the end of the month, they would even have to close for several days – their business was incredibly capricious.
However, because the highest grade of the items they sold was only second-tier, which was only useful to disciples in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, although it had a significant impact on the low-grade pill market, the initial sales volume was not large. In addition, Wen Lu had made several appearances, and others knew that there were two Golden Core cultivators, Wen Lu and Shen Du, behind this shop. People would think twice before trying to do anything crooked. So, although many shopkeepers were envious, nothing serious happened.
Over the past two years, the shop has gradually increased the variety and quantity of its pills, including some with extraordinary effects that even the Pill Pavilion doesn't have. Now, more and more people are secretly watching this shop...
While the shop was still closed, some of the cultivators in the group who knew each other chatted for a bit.
"Last month, there were only five gold-type spirit enchantments available, and a friend of mine was lucky enough to snag one. He's been bragging about it to me non-stop these past few days. I'm determined to get one this time!"
"I'd like to buy a Spirit Shield Bead. A Tier 1 Spirit Shield Bead only costs ten mid-grade spirit stones and can be used at least ten times. I plan to go down the mountain to train, so the more defensive magic artifacts I have, the better."
"The newly released Detoxification Pill is also quite good. I heard it can even make you immune to illusions. I should buy a bottle to keep on hand when I'm out and about."
"It works so well? It's better than the antidote! I want to buy some too!"
"..."
Seeing that he had attracted the attention of others regarding the Detoxification Pill, the cultivator who brought it up couldn't help but regret it. There weren't many Detoxification Pills available, and what if he didn't manage to get one? He should have known better than to say it!
Hong Ji, the manager of Tianyi Pavilion, was lounging lazily on a recliner by the shop entrance, listening to the chatter of the queuing cultivators. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a young female cultivator who had just joined the queue, and she suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Xu Xing blended into the queue, pretending to be someone who had come to buy things as well. She secretly observed the cultivators in line and heard someone discussing the Detoxification Pill. She slightly curved the corners of her lips.
The Detoxifying Pill was something she had just refined last month. Its effect was to dispel all adverse effects, including illusions, which were also considered adverse effects and could naturally be removed. She had only refined twenty second-tier pills in total, with one pill per bottle, and the price was six mid-grade spirit stones.
The second-tier detoxification pills at the Pill Pavilion only cost five mid-grade spirit stones. This was one of the few items in the shop that was more expensive than those at the Pill Pavilion. Sure enough, some cultivators discovered its special features, and the response seemed quite positive.
Wang Lianhua, who came with Xu Xing, circled around outside and entered the shop through the back door, where she met up with Tong Yuanbai and Shu Wenshi. She brought a pile of pills and magical artifacts, all of which Xu Xing had just given her, and there were many more of them than usual.
Tong Yuanbai sorted and put away the items one by one, and found that there were five wood-type spirit attachments and five fire-type spirit attachments this month. In addition, there were seventeen protective armor plates, and the most spirit shield beads, a total of more than thirty. Each magic item had a small "x" symbol engraved in the corner.
"So many magical artifacts this time? That's wonderful!"
Shu Wenshi finished counting the pills, and his gaze lingered on the Detoxification Pill. "This Detoxification Pill is really a good thing. Last month, the alchemists from the Pill Pavilion also came to buy a bottle."
This shop has a recipe that even the Dan Pavilion doesn't have. Who exactly is the alchemist who supplies the "Everything Sells" shop?
Shu Wenshi glanced at Wang Lianhua and tentatively began, "Many cultivators feel that we have too few varieties of pills. I wonder if any master has any ideas on adding some more? Preferably ones that the Pill Pavilion doesn't have, so that we..."
Wang Lianhua's smile faded slightly. "The matter of alchemy depends entirely on Master's mood. I'm just here to deliver the goods and have no way to influence Master's decision."
Of the three of them, only Wang Lianhua currently has access to the two alchemists and weapon refiners. Seeing her apparent displeasure, Shu Wenshi quickly explained, "I didn't mean to rush you, it's just..."
"Alright, it's time to open the door."
Tong Yuanbai interrupted him, which eased the slightly tense atmosphere considerably.
As everyone eagerly awaited its arrival, the "everything-for-all" shop finally opened its doors.
"Please, esteemed immortals..."
Just as Tong Yuanbai opened his mouth, he saw several cultivators walking towards him from not far away. This group of people came with great momentum and seemed to be heading this way.
"Oh dear! Manager Tong, don't bother with us, let us go in and buy our things!"
"Exactly! You guys open way too late..."
The people in line were rushing to squeeze into the shop when one of the cultivators suddenly pushed through the crowd and shouted, "We, the Extreme Fire Peak, will buy everything in this shop!"
Upon hearing this, the other cultivators immediately stopped what they were doing, their eyes filled with doubt.
Extreme Fire Peak? This is an inner sect peak. Peak Master Kan Yuanyi is a Nascent Soul cultivator with countless disciples. He is known for his domineering and unscrupulous behavior. If the people of Extreme Fire Peak want to buy it, how can these outer sect cultivators compete with him?
"We were here first..."
"That's right..."
Some cultivators complained quietly, while others boldly tried to plead for them so they wouldn't leave empty-handed, only to be met with disdainful looks from the Extreme Fire Peak cultivators.
"Didn't you hear what I said? Hurry up and bring the things here!"
Tong Yuanbai swallowed hard and said with a forced smile, "Seniors, the shop's rules are that each person is limited to two bottles of pills and one magic weapon, and it's first come, first served. If you wish to purchase, please join the queue at the back..."
The leader of the Extreme Fire Peak cultivators was a Golden Core stage cultivator. He frowned and said in an unfriendly tone, "You want us to line up?"
The person behind this shop is just a second-tier alchemist, and the manager is just a few Qi Refining stage disciples. How dare they speak to him like that? Although there are two Golden Core cultivators backing him up, Golden Core stage cultivators are not worth the attention of Extreme Fire Peak.
An invisible pressure spread out, making the surrounding disciples feel suffocated.
Shu Wenshi shrank back, quickly nudging Tong Yuanbai's back with a worried expression. This was an inner sect cultivator! Did he really dare to offend an inner sect member?!
Facing the oppressive aura of a Golden Core cultivator, Tong Yuanbai took a deep breath. His legs trembled slightly, but he straightened his back and insisted, "Please, seniors, line up."
"Good! You're very good!"
"You have no choice but to sell today!"
With a wave of his hand, the shop's door collapsed. Several cultivators rushed into the shop, dropped dozens of spirit stones, and broke the seal, intending to take everything with them.
They were rough, and when Wang Lianhua tried to stop them, she was pushed aside.
Tong Yuanbai angrily retorted, "How dare you act like this? Aren't you afraid of being punished by the Punishment Hall?!"
The cultivator from Extreme Fire Peak burst into laughter as if he had heard a joke. "The Hall of Punishments?"
"Our ancestor was the deputy head of the Punishment Hall!"
Kan Yuansi, the deputy head of the Punishment Hall, and Kan Yuanyi, the peak master of Extreme Fire Peak, are siblings with a close relationship. The Punishment Hall is the one that the people of Extreme Fire Peak fear the least.
Those rules and regulations are merely used to restrict outer disciples without any background.
However, there is another force in the Punishment Hall that opposes Kan Yuansi. In order to save face, Ji Huofeng will naturally not leave any evidence against him.
The Golden Core cultivator pointed to the spirit stones lying on the ground and sneered, "We gave them spirit stones, so it's only right that we take the things. What crime have we committed?"
He glanced around, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone, and pressed, "So, what do you say? Does this deal stand?"
Xu Xing hid in the crowd, her expression indifferent. She hadn't expected to witness such a forced sale as soon as she arrived. Worried that Aunt Lian and the others might get hurt, she took a step closer.
Hong Ji had been watching this place. When she saw a girl in a cloak in the crowd who seemed to be about to step forward, she stretched and stood up. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw someone riding a spirit beast in the air, flying straight towards the shop.
A plump old man jumped off the spirit beast's back and said repeatedly, "Where is the alchemy master who refined the Poison-Clearing Pill? I am eager to learn from you, and I humbly request your guidance!"
The cultivators of Extreme Fire Peak stopped in their tracks. The outer disciples didn't recognize him, but the cultivators knew him.
This old man was none other than Gu Hongguang, the elder of the Alchemy Academy. He not only had the cultivation of the Nascent Soul stage, but was also a seventh-level alchemist. He held a very high position in the sect, and even the peak masters and elders of the inner sect had to greet him respectfully.
Even though their patriarch from Extreme Fire Peak was always arrogant, he treated this Master Gu with respect.
The higher the alchemist's level, the fewer impurities the pills they produce. High-level alchemists are rare; even the Jade Cloud Sect only has two seventh-level alchemists and one eighth-level alchemist, all of whom are honored guests of the sect.
And now, such a highly respected alchemy master is actually going to a small shop on the outer gate to ask a second-tier alchemist for guidance?!
The cultivators of Extreme Fire Peak looked at each other, and all turned to the Golden Core cultivator in the lead. Should they still do this "business" today?
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Author's Note: Thank you to the lovely Xixi for the nutrient solution! =3=
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