Chapter 48: Mid-grade Alchemist, Full Marks in Pill Theory

Several more days passed.

The Cloud Mist Mountain Range entered winter; heavy snow fell, and the survival of Cultivators became even more difficult.

Especially for those Cultivators who entered the deep mountains to hunt Monster Beasts, because the heavy snow blocked their way and the Monster Beasts hid themselves, not only was hunting more dangerous, but they also could not find prey for long periods, resulting in coming back empty-handed.

Of course, these matters had little to do with Zhou Sui; he still stayed at home honestly to cultivate.

Whoosh, whoosh~~

At this moment, Zhou Sui sat cross-legged on the ground, operating the power of the Book Gu; wisps of gray airflow surged into the depths of his Soul, causing his comprehension to be greatly enhanced.

A large amount of knowledge regarding First-tier Alchemy emerged in his mind.

Originally, he had only memorized this knowledge and had not thoroughly grasped it, but with the assistance of the Book Gu, he had a profound understanding of this knowledge.

This feeling was as if he had studied alchemy knowledge for more than a decade.

Vaguely, his Soul seemed to have entered the internal Xuni Tushuguan of the Book Gu, where he constantly learned how to refine Spirit Medicine and concoct Pills, just as if he had been an Alchemist Apprentice for over ten years.

He was already incomparably familiar with alchemy; it was at his fingertips.

"First-tier Mid-grade Alchemist."

At this moment, Zhou Sui opened his eyes and looked at his Virtual Panel; after several days of bitter cultivation, he had already reached the realm of a First-tier Mid-grade Alchemist.

With the help of the Book Gu's power, having devoured that First-tier Alchemist's Inheritance Jade Slip and consumed those Pill Recipes, his theoretical knowledge of alchemy was simply at his fingertips, and he had thoroughly mastered it.

However, it was a pity that because he lacked a Pill Cauldron, he currently had no opportunity for practical operation.

Simply put, it was full marks in theory, zero marks in practice.

But he believed that as long as he could skillfully operate a few times, he would be able to thoroughly learn alchemy.

It would not take long before he could become a Second-tier Alchemist and even be able to concoct Foundation Establishment Pills.

"The power of the Book Gu is truly profound."

Zhou Sui was very moved.

If not for the help of the Book Gu, he feared that even after ten-plus years of hard cultivation, he might not even be able to reach the Beginner stage.

But now, as long as the Book Gu ate those books and jade slips, it could allow him to enter the path autonomously and reach the level of full marks in theory; if he were to use those mysterious gray energies, he could further enhance his comprehension and deepen his understanding of this knowledge.

If he were back on Earth in his previous life and had the help of the Book Gu's power, he feared he could instantly become the world's top scientist, mastering all the knowledge of Earth throughout history.

Dong, dong, dong!!

Just at this moment, a burst of urgent knocking suddenly came from outside.

"Hmm?!"

Zhou Sui swept his divine sense and instantly perceived that the person outside the door was actually his long-unseen neighbor, the Alchemist Zhang Cheng.

Moreover, Zhang Cheng's situation was very dire; his hair was completely white, strange black lines had appeared on his skin, and he emitted the scent of rotting wood, as if his Longevity were about to be exhausted.

Whoosh!

Thinking of this, Zhou Sui flashed and arrived at the courtyard entrance, opening the gate.

"Uncle Zhang, what on earth happened to you?"

Zhou Sui was startled, looking at the other party.

Because he remembered that Zhang Cheng had previously followed the Xianxia Sect to the Red Gold Mine to dig for ore; he did not expect that after only a few months of not seeing him, he would have turned into this state.

"Sigh, nephew, this is my own bad luck; a week ago, I was mining at the Red Gold Mine and accidentally encountered a Black-line Poison Insect, resulting in being poisoned. Now, the black-line poison has invaded my meridians."

Zhang Cheng revealed a bitter expression at the corner of his mouth, recounting his experiences over the past few months.

He indicated that although there was no threat from other Cultivators in the Red Gold Mine and the original Second-tier Monster Beasts had been killed, some terrifying poisonous Monster Beasts still hid in the depths of the mine.

If a Cultivator was not careful, they would also encounter attacks from these poisonous Monster Beasts.

The Black-line Poison Insect was one such type.

They were adept at hiding in the Darkness, containing the black-line poison within; once it invaded a Cultivator's body, it was like a maggot on a tarsal bone, invading the meridians within the Cultivator's body.

At that point, the True Essence within the Cultivator's body would continuously wither, and what followed would be incurable by medicine or stone; one could only wait for death.

Even in the months before death, one would suffer the erosion of the poison, encountering painful torture day and night.

"This!"

Hearing this, Zhou Sui had nothing to say; he had originally thought that being a Miner would not encounter too much trouble, at most the possibility of being eroded by Red Gold Qi.

He had not expected that Zhang Cheng would be so unlucky as to encounter a Black-line Poison Insect.

Sure enough, his own choice was correct.

Only a fool would choose to follow the people of the Xianxia Sect to mine; wasn't it better to stay safely in the city and cultivate?!

After all, in the wilderness, any accident could happen.

One who walks by the river often will inevitably get their shoes wet.

"I wonder what brings Uncle Zhang here this time?"

Zhou Sui vaguely guessed something, but still asked.

"I want to exchange some Spirit Stones with you, nephew, to purchase a High-grade Detoxification Pill; only a High-grade Detoxification Pill can remove the black-line poison from my body and allow me to survive."

"Of course, I am not asking you to give me Spirit Stones for free; I just want to sell this First-tier High-grade Pill Cauldron I have to you, hoping to obtain five thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones."

Zhang Cheng said straightforwardly.

After all, the price of a High-grade Detoxification Pill was expensive, requiring at least ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, which was one hundred Middle-grade Spirit Stones.

Wanting to purchase a First-tier High-grade Detoxification Pill was enough to bankrupt an ordinary Cultivator.

"Uncle Zhang, if that's the case, then you won't have a Pill Cauldron anymore."

Zhou Sui was startled.

He knew that the market price of a First-tier High-grade Pill Cauldron was at least eight thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones; now, at only five thousand, it was already a forty-percent discount, which could be called a bargain.

However, Zhang Cheng was an Alchemist; losing his Pill Cauldron meant losing his means of making a living.

This was like a taxi driver selling their taxi; it was clear he wanted to change professions.

"If it's gone, then it's gone. Having been struck by this black thread poison, even if I use a High-grade Detoxification Pill, my path of the Dao is ruined; for the rest of this life, there is basically no hope for the path of the Dao."

"After I purge the toxins from my body, I plan to return to the secular world, take a few wives, and spread my branches and leaves."

Zhang Cheng said helplessly, a gray and defeated look appearing on his face; clearly, he had completely given up on Foundation Establishment.

Once a Cultivator gives up on Foundation Establishment and returns to the secular world, they can enjoy glory and wealth in secular society, take a dozen concubines, sire a whole bunch of little fat kids, and spread their branches and leaves.

In fact, this is also the choice of many a Loose Cultivator.

After reaching the age of forty or fifty, they basically know their fate, knowing that there is no hope for them to achieve Foundation Establishment in this life.

Since that is the case, there is no need for them to waste time, so they choose to return to the secular world to enjoy the happiness of family life.

Originally, Zhang Cheng was also a Pill master with great ambition, believing that he had hope for Foundation Establishment in the future.

However, after this blow, he completely recognized the reality and planned to sell off all his assets, return to secular life, and steadily become a wealthy man.

(End of this chapter)