Chapter 134: Pill Master Recruitment, Poor Reputation

Good sword, good pill, good talisman, good chess, good wine, good tea.

This True Person Jiao has quite broad interests, ha.

Unlike Chen Ci, who only loves Longevity; it's just that I don't know if I could have brought a "Supreme Enlightenment" over back then, would it have been enough to make this Golden Core True Person's Dao Heart collapse?

Shaking his head and casting such wandering thoughts to the back of his mind, Chen Ci began to ponder his own methods.

Although the White Bone Heart-Locking Sword is sharp, it is a bit embarrassing to show off; what a pity.

As for a good pill, forget it; the only Spirit Pill he has is the worthless Yellow Sprout Pill.

As for a good talisman, the Soul Fixing Talisman is not exactly a rare item in the He Mountain Sect.

As for good chess, a move at Tianyuan to start, the world in great harmony; I don't know if it could stun the audience.

Looking at it this way, apart from some "Purple Shoot Flowing Clouds Small Round," the only thing he could think of a way to improve is the wine; Chen Ci's Peiyuan Yangshen Wine is merely made by soaking Peiyuan Yangshen Pills in ordinary common wine. The concentration of the Peiyuan Yangshen Pill can be adjusted, and the quality of the base wine can also be adjusted; it is not impossible to make some progress.

It's just that in terms of taste, he might need to try a few more times.

"Visiting elders for the New Year, giving cigarettes, wine, and tea; it seems every world is much the same."

Chen Ci sighed softly. Actually, upon reflection, he knew why Lin Laohu hadn't thought of taking him to visit True Person Jiao.

To put it bluntly, it was because he cultivated the Five Yin Demon Magic; in the eyes of those who knew the inside story, he actually had no future and no value. Don't look at the Five Yin Demon Magic as a Superior Grade Qi Refining Method; if one cannot master it, what use is it?

Among all the He Mountain Sect Apprentices currently known, only Lin Qinhu had mastered this method. He was able to master it only because his Five Ghosts were somewhat different from the Five Ghosts raised by other He Mountain Apprentices; it is said there was another mystery to it. This was a stroke of luck, difficult to replicate.

For a Qi Refining Apprentice who could only attain a Lower Grade Dao Foundation, or perhaps not even attain a Lower Grade Dao Foundation at all, showing his face before a Golden Core True Person had no meaning.

Chen Ci shook his head: "For us cultivators, cultivation base is the foundation. It's just a pity that the Five Ghosts Transportation Method is still lacking in heat, and this Five Ghosts Possession Great Method cannot even be entered before the year ends. I can only rely on these small means to make progress and get familiar with people first."

On the path of cultivation, how can there be so many perfect things? Forcing himself to start the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method in just over a month had no meaning; not only would he fail to show his face before True Person Jiao, but he might even bury hidden dangers for his cultivation.

Chen Ci suppressed the thoughts in his heart, stretched his limbs, and prepared to go to the eatery to cook the Spirit Rice Meal.

But then again, if True Person Jiao were to examine the Apprentices' pill methods or talisman methods, his "Proficient" level Soul Fixing Talisman might not be without a chance to show off. After all, the "Must Succeed at One" entry is still quite magical, ha.

The weather was getting cooler, and the tower ships on the Lian Hai Shi seemed to have decreased, bringing a thinner flow of customers to the Pingkang Ward than in previous days.

Chen Ci waved his hand to extinguish the furnace fire, feeling that today's work of cooking Spirit Rice was much easier. Just as he stood up, he discovered a white, chubby Daoist in his early forties, wearing a fire-patterned pill robe and a Nine Yang headscarf, standing at the kitchen door and staring at him with great interest. Judging by his figure and appearance, he looked five or six parts similar to Old Daoist Zhuang.

"Daoist Chen, don't take offense. I came home for a break today and originally wanted to come to the shop to lend a hand, but I saw that Daoist Chen's fire control technique was exquisite, so I stood at the door and watched for a while."

This white, chubby Daoist raised his hand in a salute, gentle and approachable.

Chen Ci returned the salute: "Could you be Daoist Zhuang Liang?"

"It is indeed me."

Zhuang Liang smiled and acknowledged.

This person was the young owner of the eatery, the son of Old Daoist Zhuang. Don't look at how Old Daoist Zhuang usually looked down on this son, constantly harping on about "unfilial son" or "pill path is a dead end," but in reality, hey, even a fly passing through the eatery knew he had a son who was about to succeed in the pill path.

That look on his face, tsk tsk, the regular customers who came to eat often teased him about it, and even Chen Ci had heard plenty.

"I rarely come home; I have been studying pill methods in the Chamber of Commerce. A few days ago, I heard from my father that a fire control expert had come to the shop. Seeing you today, it is truly well-deserved."

Zhuang Liang's face revealed a smile: "Daoist, your Fire Control Method is a waste in the kitchen. Why not come with me to the Chamber of Commerce to study the pill path? If you succeed in the future, we can look out for each other."

The tone was very sincere, but does Old Man Zhuang know you are poaching his staff like this?

Moreover, studying the pill path in a Chamber of Commerce—the Chamber of Commerce is not a charity organization; it doesn't sound very reliable.

"Daoist Zhuang, I wonder which Chamber of Commerce you work for?"

But Chen Ci was also a bit curious. He usually didn't see any place where he could ask for knowledge about pill methods. Apart from the inheritances of large sects, all the miscellaneous schools and rogue cultivators, including the side doors, true wonderful pill methods had always been passed from father to son, grandfather to grandson; even a disciple would likely hide a trick or two.

Although the Small Heavens Qi Absorption Pill Method is widely circulated, this thing is like a textbook; the key knowledge is inside, but without a famous teacher to point things out, it is very difficult to score high.

"Let's go, let's have a casual meal and chat while we eat."

Seeing that Chen Ci seemed moved, Zhuang Liang laughed, grabbed his hand, and headed out the door. In the main hall, Old Daoist Zhuang was setting up a table of wine and food, but with a long, sullen face, clearly quite unhappy.

"I am untalented, currently serving as an apprentice pill master at the Yongxing Firm."

Zhuang Liang poured a cup of wine for Chen Ci and chuckled: "Daoist Chen, you may not know, but although the Yongxing Firm is not famous in the Sea Market, its strength is not weak. If it weren't for the fact that the firm has expanded significantly in recent years and started doing pill business, we rogue pill masters wouldn't catch the eye of the firm's owner. The firm is currently in need of people; opportunities must not be missed, for they will not return."

Yongxing Firm?

He hadn't expected that this man surnamed Zhuang was actually a pill master for this firm.

Chen Ci was truly interested and asked: "Daoist Zhuang, may I ask who the owner behind your firm is? Is there anything particular about being a pill master in the firm?"

"You have asked the right person, but don't let this spread. Our owner is a Golden Core expert from Longhu Mountain."

Zhuang Liang coughed lightly, lowered his voice, and said quite mysteriously: "If this were to spread, there is no telling how many people would break their heads trying to get in. If you do well, you might even have a chance to join Longhu Mountain. Even if you can't be a proper disciple, being an Outer Sect Disciple is also excellent."

Chen Ci: "..."

He would like to, but the He Mountain Sect probably wouldn't allow it.

"Daoist Zhuang, isn't the Chamber of Commerce for Longhu Mountain in the Liangjiang Sea Market the Xixing Pavilion?"

Chen Ci thought for a moment and asked curiously.

"Longhu Mountain is not a single family name. The Xixing Pavilion is the property of the Zhang clan, the officials of the Liang Kingdom. Our firm belongs to another True Person; it doesn't conflict, we just need to be a bit low-key."

Zhuang Liang toasted with Chen Ci and laughed: "It is also because of this that the firm did not directly hire Longhu Mountain disciples. Otherwise, relying on the pill path inheritance of Longhu Mountain, where would there be a need to cultivate rogue pill refiners like us? This is all fate. As for the requirements..."

"You have to be a fan-fire boy for three years, a qi-observing boy for three years, a medicine-selecting boy for three years, and finally, you become an apprentice pill master for three years. However, I am untalented, but I have some connections in the pill room, and I happen to be short of a fan-fire boy... ahem, a fan-fire fellow Daoist. If Daoist Chen is willing, I guarantee you will become an apprentice pill master within five years. How about it?"

Zhuang Liang patted his chest, almost writing the words "sincere and earnest" on his face.

Chen Ci hurriedly added a bowl of Spirit Rice Meal for himself, pressed it down hard, and while eating, asked: "Daoist Zhuang, I do have a master's inheritance. I don't know if that affects anything."

"What effect could it have? Are you a True Inheritor of some sect?"

"Uh... no."

"Then that's it. It's not like I'm taking you in as a True Inheritor of Longhu Mountain. Even if you have some other skills, what are you afraid of? Which rogue cultivator doesn't dabble in some inherited techniques from their family?"

Zhuang Liang looked disdainful, thinking it was nothing major: "Could being an Outer Sect Disciple of Longhu Mountain wrong you, Daoist Chen? Would your master's sect dare to come looking for trouble with you?"

"Uh... I don't know about that."

Chen Ci felt a bit regretful. If he had known earlier that there was a chance to switch to another sect, that would have been good. However, wanting to stand out from the firm and enter the gates of Longhu Mountain would probably be even harder than cultivating the Five Yin Demon Magic.

Seeing Chen Ci eating with such relish, Zhuang Liang inexplicably felt hungry too, so he added some Spirit Rice Meal for himself and began to eat in large mouthfuls.

Don't look at him as the young proprietor of an eatery; refining Spirit Pills is truly too resource-intensive. Zhuang Family Eatery actually earns quite a bit, but in order to successfully refine pills and complete his apprenticeship, Old Daoist Zhuang and Zhuang Liang live very frugally, and they don't eat Spirit Rice Meal unless it's a holiday or festival.

Zhuang Liang's current situation is somewhat similar to Chen Ci's; he can refine proper Spirit Pills, but his success rate is not high and he cannot yet turn a profit, so he thought of finding a helper to fan the flames, allowing him to focus more energy on other aspects during pill refinement to improve his success rate. Seeing that Chen Ci has quite high-level methods for cooking Spirit Rice, he happened to be the talent he needed, so he developed the intention to recruit him.

The path of alchemy is difficult to tread; any rogue cultivator truly devoted to alchemy would surely be moved upon hearing the name of Longhu Mountain.

But after waiting for a long while, seeing Chen Ci appearing to be deep in thought at the table while actually devouring the food, with not the slightest hint of agreeing, Zhuang Liang subconsciously asked, "By the way, I had assumed Daoist Chen was a rogue cultivator of the miscellaneous arts, but I don't know which immortal mountain you hail from?"

"Oh, I am a cultivator of the He Mountain Sect. Of course, just a minor Outer Transmission disciple; this shouldn't affect anything, right?"

Chen Ci felt he was only about sixty percent full and was just about to add another bowl, only to find the small cauldron being firmly guarded by Zhuang Liang.

"Daoist Chen, eat more of the dishes. This Green Bamboo Spirit Rice has a yin nature; eating too much will damage your yang energy. Eat the dishes, eat the dishes, ha. I have been having a bit too much internal heat from refining pills recently, and I need to suppress it."

Damn it, what a massive loss!

You, a He Mountain Sect cultivator, not out there being fierce and aggressive or practicing Evil Method, why have you come to my eatery to cook Spirit Rice? You are lowering the status of a disciple of the He Mountain side-door sect for nothing.

"Actually, I have also been having quite a lot of internal heat recently."

Seeing the little remaining Spirit Rice Meal in the small cauldron being scraped away by Zhuang Liang, Chen Ci also felt it was a pity; he had still been a bit too slow to act.

Zhuang Liang ate a few mouthfuls with his head down, suddenly feeling that he had been a bit petty, and also feeling that Chen Ci seemed different from the rumors about the He Mountain Sect, so he asked in a low voice, "Daoist Chen, are you really a He Mountain Sect cultivator?"

"Genuine and authentic."

Chen Ci thought for a moment: "How about you just pretend you don't know, Daoist?"

"Sigh, Daoist Chen, you should mention your own identity less in the Sea Market in the future. In the past, there were rumors circulating in the Sea Market of He Mountain Sect cultivators intercepting and killing their employers. Although I don't know if they are true or false, the reputation is indeed quite poor."

While shoveling in Spirit Rice Meal, Zhuang Liang sighed: "Not to mention finding some money-making business, even if you go to shops associated with Longhu Mountain to buy things, they will charge you extra silver before they are willing to sell to you."

Chen Ci: "?"

Wait, it shouldn't be that bad, right?

(End of this chapter)