Raise a sword!

Inside the cultivation room.

Jiang Peng focused intently on controlling the flames within the Xuan Tie Furnace.

His divine sense landed in the furnace, meticulously manipulating numerous spiritual herbs to transform them into a large mass of medicinal liquid.

When the temperature of the flames in the furnace reaches a certain critical point, a wisp of blue smoke suddenly rises from the furnace, carrying the fragrance of elixirs.

"It's about to be completed!" Jiang Peng's spirits lifted.

He carefully channeled his spiritual energy, taking out a small portion from the medicinal liquid and condensing it with his divine sense within the alchemy furnace.

He was a little inexperienced the first time.

But the second time he separated the medicine, he was much more skilled.

The third time, he handled it with ease, effortlessly condensing the separated medicinal liquid into a pill.

After a long while, Jiang Peng let out a long sigh of relief.

"At least my study of alchemy wasn't in vain; I successfully refined three Qi Condensation Pills on my first attempt."

Jiang Peng opened the lid of the alchemy furnace.

The fire in the furnace had gone out, and four pills lay quietly inside.

The first pill was of poor quality, the second was slightly better, and the third was already considered a high-quality Qi Condensation Pill.

As for the fourth one.

Because the medicinal liquid was not divided evenly, the fourth Qi Condensation Pill can only be considered a waste pill, as its medicinal power is insufficient.

Jiang Peng began to summarize her experience from her first attempt at alchemy.

"It's still a lack of experience, which led to insufficient caution in controlling and dividing the drug's potency."

The materials for one Qi Condensation Pill cost 8 spirit stones, and one Qi Condensation Pill can be sold for 3 spirit stones.

One batch of pills yields four pills, earning 4 spirit stones.

If you successfully produce three pills, you will only earn 1 spirit stone.

If one's skill level is insufficient to produce two pills, one will actually incur a loss.

"Alchemists are indeed made with spirit stones. Only someone like me, who received the true teachings of the Old Demon of Alchemy and has the mental image of pill formation as a reference, can succeed so smoothly," Jiang Peng thought to himself.

In any case, being able to refine Qi Condensation Pills makes one a proper first-grade low-level alchemist.

Even cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining mostly use Qi Condensation Pills for cultivation, since they are cost-effective.

With this skill, Jiang Peng was able to establish herself in the market.

Jiang Peng bought materials for three sets of Qi Condensation Pills.

Now that he had succeeded in refining pills on his first attempt, he decided to strike while the iron was hot and continue refining the furnace.

Although the second batch of pills was of very good quality, only two pills were successfully produced.

Because she was too anxious, she did not recover her condition between the two alchemy sessions, so much so that by the time the pill was finally completed, Jiang Peng's spiritual sense was already unable to hold on.

Ultimately, it was just a minor repair at the early stage of Qi Refining.

"Don't be impatient for quick results; let's regulate our breathing first."

Thanks to the spirit stones, Jiang Peng's restlessness dissipated by more than half.

He simply cultivated diligently for a day before finally opening the furnace to continue refining pills.

Hard work pays off.

The third batch of Qi Condensation Pills produced four pills, all of which were of medium to high quality.

"The cost was 24 spirit stones, and a total of 9 pills were made... After all that trouble, I only made 3 spirit stones."

Jiang Peng was somewhat at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

Even with the nine pills he refined himself, he couldn't purify and refine them for his own use; he had to sell them.

Otherwise, he wouldn't even have the capital to start the next furnace operation.

"Now that I have some experience, it shouldn't be too difficult to make four pills in one batch in the future. There's no need to rush. The days of earning spirit stones are yet to come."

......

The market in Cangshan was not just for stationary merchants who opened shops.

To attract independent practitioners, a special area has been set aside in the northeast corner of the market for them to set up stalls.

After all, the market town is adjacent to the Earth-Ringing Mountains. Most of the independent cultivators who do not have any other skills rely on the mountains for their livelihood, gathering herbs and hunting beasts in the mountains in search of opportunities.

Those who had a good harvest, or those who didn't mind the trouble, or those who were dissatisfied with the prices offered by the merchants, would set up a stall in the northeast corner.

Jiang Peng arrived at the place early in the morning, thinking she was early enough, only to find that there was no longer any space left to set up a stall.

So Jiang Peng had no choice but to find a secluded corner where few people passed by and put out the pills she had refined.

Qi Condensation Pills are a common commodity, and inquiries about their price came in very quickly.

"Three bottles in total, three Qi Condensation Pills in each bottle, 9 spirit stones per bottle," Jiang Peng casually quoted.

The price is the market price and there's no room for it to drop; the Qi Condensation Pill in the shop is also priced at this level.

However, Qi Condensation Pills are sold in shops at a minimum of ten pills per bottle.

30 spirit stones is no small sum for a Qi Refining rogue cultivator.

Therefore, in the trading of individual cultivators in the northeast corner, there are often cases of selling Qi Condensation Pills in small quantities.

The customer inquiring about the price was a woman who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old. She was wearing a plain-colored long dress, had a slender figure, and wore a veil over her face, revealing only her captivating eyes.

She examined the three bottles of pills quite carefully, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Did you refine these Qi Condensation Pills?" she asked curiously.

Jiang Peng nodded.

"The quality is surprisingly good. Generally, the pills from the Northeast corner are a grade lower in quality than those from shops, but yours are no different from those in shops."

The female cultivator took out nine low-grade spirit stones and took the bottle of the best quality Qi Condensation Pill from the three bottles.

As she was leaving, she asked again, "Will you come back again?"

"Come on, come every seven days," Jiang Peng said.

In seven days, I can refine four batches of Qi Condensation Pills. I can sell three batches and keep one batch for myself to consume during my cultivation breaks between pill refining sessions. That's just right.

The female cultivator nodded slightly and then left.

The remaining two bottles of Qi Condensation Pills were quickly sold out, clearly showing that the rogue cultivators knew their value.

"I received 27 spirit stones, and with the remaining 6 spirit stones, I have just enough materials for four Qi Condensation Pills."

...

Baicaotang.

Shops that sell medicinal pills in the market.

Materials for Qi Condensation Pills are also sold here, and most of the independent alchemists in the market purchase their materials here.

I spent 32 spirit stones to buy four sets of Qi Condensation Pill materials.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard shouts from behind.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

Hearing this made Jiang Peng tense up.

In the marketplace, if it's in the wilderness, this phrase is essentially the same as "Baby, please turn around."

"I am Wu Qian, the manager of Baicaotang."

The speaker introduced himself and then looked Jiang Peng up and down with curiosity.

"Rogue cultivator, Jiang Peng." Jiang Peng gave a slight bow.

Wu Qian cupped his hands and said, "If I am not mistaken, fellow Daoist is an alchemist?"

Jiang Peng sniffed.

Anyone with a discerning eye can tell that he exudes the aura of alchemy fire from his body.

"What brings you here, Manager Wu?"

"Bai Cao Tang is currently recruiting alchemists, fellow Daoist..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng immediately lost interest.

"I'm used to a leisurely life and have no intention of seeking refuge with any powerful force for the time being... Manager Wu, please wait."

As Jiang Peng left, Wu Qian frowned slightly but did not stop her.

A servant nearby complained, "This guy's got quite the nerve! He doesn't know what's good for him. He can only refine a Qi Condensation Pill, right? Shopkeeper, let's not sell him any materials next time and see what he does then!"

"There's no logic to opening a business like this." Wu Qian shook his head slightly. "But what you said is true. Being able to refine Qi Condensation Pills doesn't make one a proper alchemist."

"Let him be."