Chapter 53: The pill shop opens, business booming

Second-rank Heavenly Tier Alchemist?

Lu Xun pulled out his phone to check, and wow, Bai Ling wasn't lying.

The alchemist's rating is indeed like that.

First, second, third — these only represent what grade of pill you can refine.

But whether the pill is good or not depends on the alchemist's tier.

Like the two second- and third-rank alchemists hired by Treasure Pavilion before, the pills they refined had no pill patterns at all — they were merely the lowest-rank Yellow Tier alchemists.

For such alchemists, even if they can refine third-rank pills, what use is that?

"You're so capable, yet you can't even afford to rent a shop?"

Immediately, Lu Xun showed a doubtful expression.

An alchemist of this level, if they went to a place like the Jia Clan Group, would surely be snatched up.

"Your shop's location is perfect — right opposite the Jia Clan Pill you mentioned — I want to compete with them."

Bai Ling said.

When she spoke, her gaze avoided nothing, her eyes always perfectly clear, giving a feeling of utter sincerity.

This made Lu Xun instinctively feel that she wouldn't be lying.

But... compete with the Jia Clan Pill?

This Bai Ling, her tone is really not small.

They are, after all, a large group with a great many alchemists.

With your small frame, you also want to wrestle with them?

"This bottle of Gathering Qi Pill I'll give you as a gift; you can go verify its effect."

Bai Ling handed the jade bottle to Lu Xun.

Lu Xun took it, opened it and sniffed — a rich medicinal fragrance came.

His spirit unconsciously shuddered.

"How fragrant."

The other students in the shop also smelled the medicinal fragrance, each showing an enraptured expression.

Lu Xun looked again, and indeed, each pill bore a golden pattern.

That golden pattern didn't look like applied color; it looked simple, yet staring at it for a while gave the feeling of gazing upon the ultimate truth of heaven and earth.

This pill is not simple!

It's probably truly a second-rank Heavenly Tier pill!

"How about it? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

Bai Ling looked at Lu Xun expectantly.

"This shop isn't mine... I need to ask the owner first, then let me know — how about you come back tomorrow?"

Lu Xun was actually somewhat moved.

If Bai Ling really is that capable, this business would be a sure profit.

How much could selling these little trinkets earn?

Pills are the real big money-making business.

The Jia Clan Group's shop on Qingbei Jie earns far, far more each year than Star Moon Pavilion does, even compared to Dark Energy.

Star Moon Pavilion looks profitable, but after deducting rent and labor, not much remains.

Rent is too expensive.

Murong Yan set up this shop mainly to keep an eye on Chu Youqing, not to make money.

Now that the shop has been given to Chu Youqing, Lu Xun has nothing else to do, so he might as well give it a try.

If it really can make money, it would also give Chu Youqing an additional source of income.

Cultivation, however, is very costly.

Chu Youqing's father has lost influence in the family; according to Chu Youqing's growth rate, her household will eventually be unable to supply the resources she needs for cultivation.

And once resources are insufficient, cultivation speed will be forced to slow down.

Many people grow slowly not because they lack talent, but simply because they lack resources.

"Alright, then I'll come find you tomorrow — what time exactly?"

"Around 10 o'clock."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

The girl left.

Lu Xun put away that bottle of Gathering Qi Pill and sent Chu Youqing a message.

Chu Youqing's phone has an intelligent assistant that won't remind her unless it's something important.

Lu Xun doesn't intend to disturb her cultivation.

"Lu Xun, just handle it as you see fit — no need to ask me. The shop's earnings we split half each; your Dark Energy payments to me will be deducted from my half... as for the pills, I'll come get them right away."

At noon, Chu Youqing called Lu Xun back.

"Wow, golden patterns — this is a Heavenly Tier pill."

At the school gate, when Chu Youqing saw the Gathering Qi Pill Bai Ling gave her, her eyes lit up.

She knows her stuff.

"Heavenly Tier pills, even if they're first-rank, are quite expensive, Lu Xun — that Bai Ling's background is probably not simple; to hand out such precious pills as a gift so casually, there are twelve in here."

Chu Youqing was surprised, and at the same time formed a guess about Bai Ling's identity.

Lu Xun nodded: "Hmm, I also think her background is not simple."

That girl is clearly not ordinary.

Lu Xun may not be well‑versed, but he could also tell that the girl was wearing a very fine treasure robe.

She acts decisively and swiftly—she gave away twelve heavenly‑tier pills just like that.

This is hardly an ordinary person.

You'd better be careful—you can't go without guarding against others. I'll take one of these pills to test the effect and let you know.

No, take them all.

Don't you need them for your cultivation?

No need—she also gave me a bottle.

Ah?

Lu Xun coaxed and persuaded her, giving Chu Youqing the entire bottle of Gathering Qi Pills.

Gathering Qi Pill is beloved by second‑realm Immortal Cultivators—it boosts the speed of gathering qi and refining Dark Energy, with no side effects.

Pills that directly raise cultivation shouldn't be taken indiscriminately—overuse builds up pill poison, hindering future progress.

How can cultivation gained from pills compare to one's own training?

Auxiliary pills like the Gathering Qi Pill are the best choice.

Lu Xun, the effect is fantastic—it can at least triple cultivation speed; one pill should last a month, though I wonder if the effect will fade later.

That evening, Chu Youqing already had feedback!

Triple!

This effect is indeed good—Jia's Gathering Qi Pill is the best on the market now, but it only gives about double.

Other off‑brand Gathering Qi Pills usually boost cultivation speed by only a few tenths, and may even have side effects.

Besides the effect, duration is also important.

Otherwise, a pill that expensive, even if its effect is off the charts, would only last a short while—what good is that?

Then let's give her half.

Lu Xun had made a decision.

Boss, how about it—have you decided?

The next morning at ten, Bai Ling arrived on time at the shop.

Hmm, that works, but we need to work out a few details...

No problem...

After some discussion, they finally settled on it.

They agreed to give Bai Ling half of the first floor, half of the third floor for her pill‑making, and she also wanted the fourth floor, though Lu Xun hasn't agreed to that yet.

Bai Ling won't pay rent, but will give Lu Xun 40% of the profits.

Lu Xun proposed the 40%, and Bai Ling agreed readily.

This made Lu Xun increasingly suspect that Bai Ling's background is not simple.

She doesn't seem to be here to make money; she's just trying to prove herself.

Is the efficiency really this high?

Three days later, when Lu Xun returned to Star Moon Tower, he found it completely renewed—Bai Ling had already finished renovating the other half.

The third floor was similarly fixed up; Bai Ling had put a small bed in a tiny room, apparently intending to sleep there.

Renovation is usually quick in this era, but this efficiency is excessively high.

On the fourth day, Bai Ling's pill shop officially opened.

She named her pill shop Spirit Pill Pavilion, which fits her name nicely.

Wow, heavenly‑tier pills!

So expensive!

Expensive as they are, these are heavenly‑tier pills!

As soon as Spirit Pill Pavilion opened, it drew many Qingbei students thanks to its heavenly‑tier pills.

Inside it was so packed that the water pavilion was blocked, and even the threshold was about to be broken.

As a result, all the heavenly‑tier pills were sold out in the first hour after opening.

Once the pills were sold out, Bai Ling had the door shut.

Then she put up a sign telling the students to come back tomorrow.

Whoa, it's all gone?

If I'd known, I wouldn't have hesitated over the cost.

The students who missed out were each heartbroken.

Boss, I didn't lie to you, right?

In the shop, Bai Ling clapped her hands, very pleased.

Impressive.

Lu Xun gave a thumbs‑up.

All right, I'm going to make pills; if you're interested you can come watch, but I won't teach you.

Bai Ling slipped into the third floor, where she had remodeled an alchemy room.