Chapter 14: Attempting Alchemy

"Although I have Qi luck, I likely don't have any protagonist halo."

Chen Ci looked at the scenery before him that was becoming gradually familiar, feeling a bit emotional: "It was calm and peaceful when I left, and nothing happened when I returned. Without any plots of killing to seize treasures or slapping faces to show off, it doesn't fit the mainstream narrative at all."

Aside from being slightly swindled by a certain fat man, this trip was as dull as a supporting character's.

A supporting character is a supporting character, then; if a minor Qi Refining cultivator thinks about stirring up the winds and clouds, that would be truly laughable.

Returning to Sanyin Temple, Chen Ci first bathed and changed, took a good hot bath, and slept soundly for two hours. Only when he felt his whole body light and comfortable did he get up to meditate and regulate his breath.

"This round trip took seven days of effort. Next time, I can let my subordinates do the work; otherwise, if I have to run around myself every time, what kind of immortal cultivation is this?"

Chen Ci went to the front hall, summoned his third Apprentice, Long Xianzhi, and asked: "In the few days I was away, did anything major happen?"

"Reporting to Master, nothing major happened in the temple. Additionally, Apprentice Gan reported that the sugar-making workshop in the village has been built, but there are a few matters that require Master's decision."

Long Xianzhi said respectfully: "To let Master know, the sugar workshop can currently produce two hundred jin of He Mountain Frost Sugar daily. However, firstly, the stock of brown sugar and black sugar within the county is limited; purchasing them alone is already becoming difficult, and it is hard for the workshop to maintain production. Secondly, although Frost Sugar is precious, the market in Changping County is limited; after selling five hundred jin of Frost Sugar, there are only scattered sales of a dozen jin per day. Furthermore..."

Long Xianzhi paused, seemingly organizing his words: "The Huang Family in the county once sent people to investigate the source of the Frost Sugar. The two Apprentices took action to send them away. After the Huang Family confirmed that the Frost Sugar was the foundation of Sanyin Temple, they didn't do anything else. They came to the door and presented a calling card, wanting to purchase Frost Sugar in large quantities long-term. However, as Master was away, the Apprentices dared not make decisions on our own, so we did not agree, only saying we would wait for Master to return."

"What is the background of the Huang Family in the county?"

Chen Ci sipped his beloved health tea and asked.

Let's put it this way: among the wealthy merchants and powerful clans in the mortal world, their ancestors have at the very least produced a powerhouse at the Zhoutian Consummation, without exception.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to build a family fortune.

It just depends on whether their backing is strong and whether they have declined. It is just like how the Black Wind Stronghold of Jinpen Mountain also claims their ancestors were disciples of the He Mountain Sect, but there is a barrier between immortals and mortals; how much of this sentiment remains is hard to say. Perhaps some low-key great clan is the distant descendant of some Golden Core big shot from dozens of generations ago, just not daring to use that name to stir up trouble.

Therefore, when Chen Ci established his foundation in Changping County, he could only eat a portion of the cake and resources based on his own status and cultivation; he dared not truly treat mortals like beasts of burden.

To use words from his past life, it's as if no one's ancestors were ever wealthy.

"The card says Wenxiang Sect."

Long Xianzhi answered truthfully and presented a somewhat luxurious gold card.

Wenxiang Sect, never heard of it; at least among the side sects of the Liang Kingdom, there is no such great sect by that name.

Their influence should be inferior to the He Mountain Sect.

He had still thought too simply, thinking that producing Frost Sugar would earn some silver, but he neglected the channels for purchasing and selling. Without business connections, this tiny Pingping County has such a small market that he cannot earn much money.

It was also fortunate that he was loyal and devoted, and chose the name He Mountain Frost Sugar.

"What price did they offer?"

"Reporting to Master, two taels of silver per jin of Frost Sugar."

That is a rather ruthless price cut.

Although the profit is still nearly 700%.

"Hmm, let someone from the Huang Family who can make decisions come to talk to me."

Chen Ci tapped his fingers, judged that there shouldn't be too much risk in this matter, and answered calmly.

Although Frost Sugar is good, it cannot enter the eyes of immortal cultivation big shots; it can only earn the silver of mortals, and the profit is not large enough to require fighting and killing.

"This subordinate understands."

Waving his hand to dismiss him, Chen Ci pondered for a while, looked at the account book presented, and understood it in his heart.

His He Mountain Frost Sugar was a grade lower in color than the Frost Sugar on the market, selling for only eight taels and eight qian of silver per jin. In a single Changping County, he earned at most four thousand taels. The only benefit was that he didn't have to share the profits with the sect for the time being.

"Sigh, earning some money is hard~"

Practicing techniques, making talismans, as always.

In the afternoon, Chen Ci did not refine the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag, but stared blankly at the Corpse Ganoderma in the box in the backyard.

It was originally picked to be used as a trump card for self-preservation, but he didn't expect to fail to sell it. Now, how to deal with it has become a problem.

"Can this thing be preserved if dried?"

Chen Ci slightly sensed the Yin nature slowly leaking away and shook his head. Although it was only the most common spirit medicine, it could not be preserved just by handling it casually; he couldn't let it go to waste in his hands.

"Try my hand at alchemy?"

"Just consider it an investment in myself."

Chen Ci thought so.

Sanyin Temple, pill room.

Chen Ci let out a long breath, staring fixedly at the Old Hen Yin Ganoderma Soup in the small cauldron before him.

Hmm, after changing the name, the burden in his heart was indeed much lighter. Corpse Ganoderma, Corpse Ganoderma, what an ugly name.

"Phew, I don't know how much medicinal property can still remain; this is the only way out of no way."

"But since there are immortal market eateries, it should still be somewhat useful."

Chen Ci was very helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to truly practice alchemy, but the problem was that his Small Heavens Qi Absorption Pill Method was not mastered; this medicine-absorbing spell was not effective enough.

He divided the Corpse Ganoderma and tried to extract the medicinal essence using the medicine-absorbing spell, but tried twice and failed both times.

Medicine-absorbing spell: Entry/1/100 (Absorb this Spirit Material, one success in a hundred)

This is no way to practice alchemy.

Without relying on Bigu Pill to grind up the proficiency of the medicine-absorbing spell, practicing alchemy will ruin one's life.

Chen Ci had no choice but to find another way. Stewing soup and alchemy... one cannot say they are far apart, only that they have nothing to do with each other, but there seem to be some commonalities.

For example, one also needs to control fire.

For another example, one also needs to observe Qi.

Chen Ci held a refined iron cattail fan, infused True Qi, and outputted it toward the small cauldron; the refined iron cattail fan in his hand felt as if it weighed a thousand jin.

Literally a thousand jin.

Under his control, the True Qi entered the small cauldron along with the fanning, quite strangely forming a high-temperature but stable burning environment, stewing the Old Hen Yin Ganoderma Soup in the cauldron until it was fragrant.

Fire Control Method: Not yet entered/2/100

"True Qi is truly a magical thing; it seems formless and qualityless, yet it can influence external objects, like some kind of catalyst."

Chen Ci felt the True Qi slipping away and exhaled a breath of turbid air; controlling the fire with such a small tripod was already strenuous, and if he were to switch to a larger pill furnace, his cultivation would be insufficient to handle it, let alone the fact that some immortal pills and wondrous medicines were said to require days or even months of refining.

"However, the smell of this stew is truly fragrant; observing the shape of its vapor and smelling its aroma, it should be about eighty percent done."

Chen Ci looked at the state of the small tripod and judged the progress of this furnace of pills—cough, this tripod of hen soup.

Observation Qi Method: Not yet initiated/1/100

The Observation Qi Method primarily involves channeling True Qi into the eyes and nose to observe the state of the pill furnace, judge the degree of melting of the medicinal materials inside, determine which stage it has reached, and decide whether to add new pill materials or adjust the intensity of the fire.

"Hmm, according to the judgment of the Observation Qi Method... it should be time to add salt."

Chen Ci added an appropriate amount of salt and continued refining for the time it takes to eat a meal; the fragrance in the air had condensed and did not dissipate, clearly indicating it had reached the final moment of success.

He checked the time; there was still about a quarter of an hour until the Hour of the Bo.

He lifted the tripod lid; the soup was done.

Yet, there was no opportunity to practice the Condensing Pill Method.

"Hen, I need you to assist my cultivation tonight!"

Chen Ci took a sip of the chicken soup while it was steaming, then ate it all until it was completely gone; the bones were tender, the meat was fragrant, and the broth was thick, though the Yin Ganoderma had a poor texture, was very bitter, and carried a strange odor.

"I don't know if it will have any effect, but I'll start by consuming the Qi and practicing the method first."

Thinking this, Chen Ci began to circulate the Three Yin True Qi within his body, practicing the Three Yin Qi-Consuming Method.

(End of this chapter)