Chapter 9: Other Plans

Chen Zhao bade farewell to the two.

He arrived at Ling Tian.

"Younger brother, come here."

Li Zhiwei's cold voice came from inside the room.

Chen Zhao felt puzzled.

Why had Senior Sister taken the initiative to find him today?

He walked cautiously to the door, and heard Li Zhiwei ask:

"I heard someone is impersonating others to sell Spirit-Avoiding Pills?"

Others may not know, but Li Zhiwei was fully aware.

As soon as the Spirit-Avoiding Pills were sold, word spread quickly among the Outer Sect Disciples of Dan Tang, and eventually reached her ears.

Yet when she opened the door,

she saw Chen Zhao with a guilty, submissive expression, and sighed:

"Sigh, you…"

She flicked her finger against Chen Zhao's forehead.

"This is no big matter—why are you bowing your head?"

"Your caution is commendable, but cultivators must prioritize cultivation. Avoid unnecessary trouble, and never break the sect's rules."

Hearing this, Chen Zhao exhaled in relief.

It was just a warning—to stay out of trouble and not drag her into it.

If something went wrong, he'd have to handle it himself.

"Your cultivation is at Qi Refining Third Layer; managing Ling Tian is already second nature to you."

Li Zhiwei changed the subject and pulled out an ancient-looking spirit pill manual:

"This is the 'Initial Explanations of the Pill Scripture.' I give it to you—study it often."

"Once you've entered the realm of alchemy and reached Qi Refining Fourth Layer, tending Ling Tian will be beneath you. Better to assist me in stoking the Pill Furnace—I'll pay you five Low-grade Spirit Stones per month."

Carrot and stick.

Chen Zhao took it.

After a quick glance, he felt a surge of joy.

Besides herb encyclopedias and alchemy instructions, it contained three Spirit Pill Prescriptions.

All First-grade Low-tier:

Qi Gathering Powder, Soul-Returning Pill, Bigu Dan.

In alchemy, you need the Spirit Pill Prescription, the Pill Furnace, knowledge, and herbs—none can be missing.

All cost money.

He'd spent many resources on his cultivation over the past half-year and now had only sixteen Low-grade Spirit Stones left.

Chen Zhao entered Wan Bao Lou.

"Senior brother, do you have any Pill Furnaces for sale?"

The counter senior looked Chen Zhao up and down, then pulled out a crimson iron Pill Furnace:

"First-grade Low-tier Pill Furnace—twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones each."

"Senior brother, I'm a Registered Disciple—can I get it for five Low-grade Spirit Stones?" Chen Zhao ventured.

"Get lost! Not a single Low-grade Spirit Stone less!"

The counter senior glared at him, then waved his hand impatiently:

"Fine, fine—I know you're broke. But since you were once a Registered Disciple, I've got one here."

Saying this, he summoned an object from his Storage Bag.

He cleared his throat, his face reddening:

"This furnace was my own trial piece—Chen Qingmeng's work—not a Wan Bao Lou product, no safety guarantee. First-grade Low-tier. I'll sell it to you for ten Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"Looks shabby and is unfinished, but it'll do the job."

Chen Zhao froze.

This Pill Furnace—

More like a chicken pecking at earthworms than carved dragons and phoenixes.

And it was unfinished.

Unreliable.

He summoned the Divination Tube and silently thought:

"Can this Pill Furnace safely be used for alchemy?"

He glanced at his palm.

Auspicious.

"I'll take it. And four Condensing Qi Grasses."

Chen Zhao laid down ten Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"Four Condensing Qi Grasses—four Low-grade Spirit Stones."

He patted his pocket—only six Low-grade Spirit Stones remained.

Chen Zhao's face flushed red; after paying, he returned to his Cave Abode.

Broke in a single day!

He sat cross-legged and opened the 'Initial Explanations of the Pill Scripture.'

First, go over the alchemy techniques and skills.

Find the Spirit Pill Prescription for First-grade Low-tier Qi Gathering Powder.

"One stalk of Condensing Qi Grass, two taels of Spirit Rice, three taels of clear water..."

The book stated.

The Condensing Qi Grass must be chopped finely, and the Spirit Rice ground into powder.

Then channel spiritual power into the heat-gathering rune array at the bottom of the Pill Furnace, raising the furnace temperature to a gentle flame.

After half a quarter-hour, the ingredients can be added, aided by spiritual power to catalyze, and the pill is finally formed.

"Alchemy requires extremely delicate control of spiritual power... fortunately, I've previously operated the Spirit Rain Technique, so I have a bit of experience."

Chen Zhao was quite confident.

He processed the ingredients and brought out the Pill Furnace.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sharp as cold lightning.

Wisps of spiritual power flowed from his fingertips into the furnace's base.

The heat-gathering trough faintly lit up, and the flame within the furnace held steady as if frozen.

Chen Zhao suppressed his delight, tossed in the Condensing Qi Grass, and simultaneously shifted his hand seal!

Boom!

The tongue of flame suddenly leapt up, wrapping the Condensing Qi Grass within.

Crackling sounds inside the furnace were like firecrackers, and a faint scorched smell drifted out.

Burnt!

"How is that possible? I did exactly what the book said?"

Chen Zhao's face was full of confusion.

Could the temperature change have been too fast?

Again!

Boom!

Again!

Chen Zhao had excellent patience, not seeking success in a single attempt.

This time.

The Condensing Qi Grass slowly melted, turning into a pale green medicinal liquid.

Half a quarter-hour later.

Chen Zhao's heart stirred with joy, and he tossed in the Spirit Rice.

Boom!

The Spirit Rice ignited the instant it entered the furnace, splashing in all directions above the medicinal liquid, scattering like a skyful of shooting stars.

"No wonder they all say alchemy is difficult."

Chen Zhao saw the problem.

Each ingredient requires a different temperature to refine, and adding ingredients causes the temperature to shift.

He not only had to control the temperature in real time, but also had to stabilize the heat afterward.

This was a process that required both divided attention and focus.

No wonder it demands Mental Power.

"This matter can't be avoided without many attempts, but I only have four stalks of Condensing Qi Grass left."

Chen Zhao's face was bitter.

"Enough — being broke now is for the Spirit Stones to flow in steadily. Let's do it!"

Just as he took out the last stalk of Condensing Qi Grass.

Footsteps sounded outside the cave:

"Brother Chen, Senior Sister Wan Yao is hosting a banquet at Baixian Tower at the foot of the mountain. Quite a few disciples hoping to be promoted to Outer Disciple are attending. Are you going?"

Zheng Daocai called out, waving at the doorway.

His crippled leg had already healed, and now he was bursting with energy.

Chen Zhao deliberated for a moment.

He had few Spirit Stones on hand, and only one stalk of Condensing Qi Grass left.

He still had two unused spellbooks to sell; he could then inquire about additional sales channels to exchange them for alchemy ingredients.

Besides,

More connections meant more sources of information, convenient for future decisions.

Although the Divination Tube could provide intelligence, it had a daily limit on uses and required a cost — it could only serve as a supplement.

"Let's go!"

At the foot of the mountain.

The bright moon had just risen, and the immortal market blazed with lights.

This place lay north of Han Hu in Yue Guo, with lake water threading through the city and flowing toward the distant Fulong Mountain.

And Baixian Tower occupied the prime spot for viewing the scenery — its lavishness was plain to see.

The top floor.

Gray-robed disciples came and went, raising cups in shared drinks, some exchanging cultivation insights, some conducting private trades. Chen Zhao and Zheng Daocai moved among them, and from time to time people came to ask for Spirit-Avoiding Pills.

Walking to the end.

At last they saw Liu Chen and the others.

The banquet had not yet begun. Su Wanyao leaned against the railing, and beside her, apart from the Registered Disciples, there were now several white-robed disciples.

Outer Sect Disciples?

"Brother Chen, Brother Zheng!"

Su Wanyao pressed her lips into a smile and drew over a white-robed woman:

"This is Su Muqing, eldest daughter of the Su Family, currently in the Outer Disciple branch of Dan Tang, and has just become a First-grade Alchemist."

This woman's features were handsome and pure, her figure delicate and shapely, rather like a girl from a modest household.

Chen Zhao was immediately intrigued.

If he advanced to the Outer Sect, this person would be his senior sister.

He had to build a good relationship.

"I am Chen Zhao, greetings to Senior Sister Mu Qing."

Su Muqing's lips curved slightly, her voice like the chiming of a spring:

"I know you — Three Spirit Roots aptitude, and your cultivation is not low now. Keep at it,"

"But the person Second Sister brought is quite interesting — there's a whiff of 'mortal world' about you. Still clinging to the mundane dust?"

She tilted her nose slightly and said playfully:

"Condensing Qi Grass, Spirit Rice... and burnt to a crisp, too."

Liu Chen's expression turned odd as he guessed: "After the matter of the Spirit-Avoiding Pill, does Brother Chen also want to take up Alchemy?"

"It should be that the furnace temperature was too high when the Condensing Qi Grass was added, causing it to burn dry. A pity — it only took me one month to condense it into medicinal liquid, so I don't really remember that smell."

Su Muqing rested her cheek on her hand in a thoughtful pose.

There was a touch of condescension in her tone.

Chen Zhao found it amusing in his heart.

He counted.

He himself had condensed the Condensing Qi Grass into a pale-green medicinal liquid after only three attempts.

And he had taught himself.