Chapter 5: 4. First-tier Intermediate Alchemist

4. First-tier Intermediate Alchemist

Leaving the apothecary, Chen An did not rush home.

Instead, he went to a street stall area specializing in women's accessories to take a look around, carefully selecting and buying the cheapest hairpin.

No matter the world or the era, there is no woman who does not like gifts.

This is one of the most effective ways to improve the bond between husband and wife.

Carrying the wrapped hairpin, Chen An set off on the road home with several bags of medicinal herbs on his back.

His luck was good today; he didn't run into any trouble on the way out or on the way back, and he arrived home safely.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, did you go to the Market to buy herbs for alchemy?"

Just as Chen An was about to step forward to push open his front door, an elderly man's voice came from the side.

Turning his head to look, he discovered it was an old cultivator who lived next door.

He looked slovenly and unkempt.

A foul, sour stench was wafting from his body.

One look was enough to know he hadn't bathed in a long time.

This old cultivator walked over, looked at the herbs on Chen An's back, and shook his head, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, alchemy is so boring. You work yourself to death for a month, and at most, you only earn one or two Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"It would be better for you to come with me to the gambling den for a few rounds; you could easily earn ten or twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones in a single day."

"It makes money much faster than your alchemy."

Chen An glanced at the tattered clothes on his body, feeling speechless inside.

If the gambling den is so easy to win money from, then why are you dressed so shabbily?

A gambling addict is truly beyond saving!

Chen An thought this to himself, but his tone remained polite: "My luck isn't as good as yours, Fellow Daoist Wang. I've been plagued by bad luck since I was a child; I'm afraid I'd lose my pants if I went into a gambling den."

Upon hearing the words "bad luck," the old cultivator immediately moved back a few steps, signaling his desire to stay away from Chen An.

But soon, he walked up again and said to Chen An:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I'm a bit tight on cash lately. Could you lend me a few Low-grade Spirit Stones?"

"Once I win money, I'll pay you back double!"

Double?

It would be more like throwing a meat bun at a dog—never to return!

Thinking this, Chen An politely declined: "You're too late, Fellow Daoist Wang. I just spent all my savings on these herbs; I'm penniless now."

"How about this then? Give me these herbs, I'll go sell them, and when I win dozens of Low-grade Spirit Stones at the gambling den, I'll split them with you fifty-fifty. How about that?"

"I'd rather not."

After saying this, Chen An immediately walked into his house and closed the door, not wanting to waste any more time entangled with this old cultivator.

Seeing this, the old cultivator immediately began cursing and swearing, saying that Chen An only knew how to do alchemy all day and deserved to be this poor!

He arrived at the Alchemy Room.

Chen An poured out all the herbs he had been carrying and stored them away in a specially made wooden box.

He thought he would wait until he raised his Alchemy Dao realm to First-tier Intermediate before coming back to refine pills.

He walked out of the Alchemy Room.

Chen An realized belatedly that the house had been tidied up very cleanly, without a speck of dust.

He knew this was most likely done by his little wife.

"Husband!"

Song Huaying came out of the room, and seeing Chen An standing outside, she immediately greeted him with a joyful face.

From the conversation between Chen An and Manager Zhang today, she had learned about the destruction of Qingshi Town, which left her completely devoid of a sense of security in this world, worrying that Chen An might never return if he went out.

Fortunately, Chen An had returned safe and sound in the end.

This allowed her suspended heart to finally settle.

"Ying, what happened to your finger?"

Chen An noticed that his little wife's left index finger was wrapped in a layer of cloth, and he could see tiny specks of blood seeping through, so he asked with a look of concern.

Feeling her husband's concern, Song Huaying felt sweet inside and explained softly:

"I accidentally cut it with a knife while cooking in the kitchen just now, but the wound is very shallow; it's nothing."

Chen An didn't say anything more after hearing this; he immediately took out a packet of medicinal powder he carried with him, gently unwrapped the bandage for his little wife, and carefully sprinkled a little on the wound.

Then, in the next second, the wound on her index finger began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In just a short moment, it was restored to its original state, with no trace of having been injured.

Song Huaying was shocked, thinking to herself what kind of immortal medicine this was!

Then, she instantly became somewhat annoyed:

"Husband, such immortal medicine must be extremely precious. It's all my fault for being clumsy and making Husband waste it."

"I am an Alchemist; I can refine as much of this medicine as I need. It's not worth much."

Seeing his little wife looking dejected, Chen An comforted her.

Hearing Chen An say this, Song Huaying's mood improved significantly, and she turned to say in a virtuous manner:

"Husband, I just cooked a table full of food, and it's all keeping warm in the kitchen. Are you hungry? I'll go to the kitchen and bring it out."

"I am a little hungry. Sorry to trouble you, Ying."

Chen An wasn't actually hungry at all; he just didn't want to waste his little wife's kind intentions.

Soon, Song Huaying brought the food out.

Chen An examined the appearance of the dish and felt it actually looked quite delicious.

So, under his wife's gaze, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and took a taste.

As a result, this one bite nearly sent him to his grave on the spot!

Good heavens, how could this dish be so terrible?

Even a dog would shake its head at it!

As expected, he had overthought it; his delicate little wife was a pampered young lady who had never lifted a finger before, so how could she possibly be good at cooking?

She was, however, proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

"Husband, how does it taste?"

Seeing her husband already using his chopsticks to eat, Song Huaying could not help but ask with a look of anticipation.

Chen An lied against his conscience: "It's delicious."

After the meal, he took out the hairpin he had bought at the Market and gave it to his delicate little wife, gently putting it in her hair with his own hands.

Song Huaying liked this hairpin very much, and her affection for Chen An soared.

【You gave your wife Song Huaying an exquisite hairpin; she likes it very much, marital affection +1.】

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Song Huaying, now a newlywed, had fully recovered her health by this time.

In fact, her physical constitution was even much stronger than before.

This was because during this period, Chen An had frequently brewed soup for her, the kind with all sorts of precious medicinal herbs added to it.

"Ying, the hour is late; it is time to go to bed and rest."

"Mm..."

Song Huaying's face was shy, knowing what was about to happen next.

Several days in a row.

He opened his panel to take a look.

His Alchemy Experience had already broken 100.

【Name: Chen An】

【Cultivation: Qi Refining Third Layer】

【Alchemy: First-tier Primary (102/100)】

【Spouse: Song Huaying】

【Offspring: None yet】

"The proficiency is enough; I can break through."

Chen An put away the panel and, unable to spare time for intimacy with his delicate little wife, impatiently headed to the Alchemy Room to attempt his breakthrough.

Arriving at the Alchemy Room, he skillfully set up the furnace and started the fire.

He casually chose a basic pill that was relatively easy to refine and immediately began, searching for the feeling of a breakthrough.

This breakthrough went without a hitch.

He succeeded in one go.

【Alchemy: First-tier Intermediate (102/500)】

Chen An was excited for only a brief moment before he quickly set off to take all the medicinal herbs out of the specially made wooden chest and diligently began refining pills.

Song Huaying was very virtuous; during this time, she came to knock on the door to ask if there was anything she could help with.

Because the Alchemy Room was far too sweltering and a mortal body could not endure it, Chen An did not let her come in to help.

Although she could not go in to help, Song Huaying did not remain idle and instead busied herself with other household chores in the house.

PS: Bowls out, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!