May I seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and live a long and prosperous life.

"Du Shan, the tenth, step forward."

Zheng Bingwen's furrowed brows finally relaxed: "Late stage of Qi Refining Level 3, fifty years old, with one year of experience as a pill-refining handyman? Okay, you can stay!"

Upon hearing that he had been accepted, the middle-aged rogue cultivator named Du Shan was overjoyed and almost danced with excitement. Realizing his lapse in composure, he quickly regained his composure and respectfully thanked the male steward and Zheng Bingwen.

At this moment, the other independent cultivators who were waiting for the assessment also cast extremely envious glances at him.

Du Shan seemed to have instantly transformed, from a humble, head-down, and insecure individual into someone with a touch of smugness and confidence.

Seeing this scene, Li Heng was also filled with emotion.

He thought to himself, "Cultivating immortality is truly difficult. Even a menial task like alchemy, which consumes one's lifespan, has so many people vying for the job. Power, indeed, is the best tonic for men!"

"Fifteenth, Li Heng, step forward."

When Li Heng heard the male manager of Baicaoge call out his name, he quickly stepped forward.

He clenched his right fist, wrapped his left hand around his right, and bowed respectfully to the male steward and Zheng Bingwen.

"My name is Li Heng. I greet you, Steward and Elder Zheng."

When the male manager of Baicao Pavilion saw that Li Heng's hair was already half white, and he must have been at least over sixty years old, and he was only at the early stage of the second level of Qi Refining, he had already eliminated Li Heng in his mind.

However, Zheng Bingwen chuckled and said, "Li Heng? Forty-five years old, Qi Refining Level Two cultivation, he worked as a pill-refining handyman in the outer sect's pill-refining room for over three years. Hmm, this one's fine, keep him!"

Upon hearing that he had been asked to stay, Li Heng quickly said, "Thank you, Elder Zheng, and thank you to Baicao Pavilion for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely do my best!"

Zheng Bingwen smiled at Li Heng, his smile carrying a hidden meaning. Clearly, he had recognized Li Heng; back then, Li Heng was Zheng Bingwen's alchemy handyman.

Unexpectedly, after he became the chief alchemist at the outer branch of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, Li Heng reappeared in front of him.

"Could this be what they call fate?" Zheng Bingwen thought to himself.

This result surprised the manager of Baicaoge. He thought Li Heng would be eliminated, but unexpectedly, Zheng Bingwen took a liking to him.

What surprised him even more was that this cultivator named Li Heng, despite having half-white hair and a rather aged face, was actually only forty-five years old.

How could he age so quickly?

However, after thinking about it for a moment, the steward also felt it made sense. After all, Li Heng had worked as a pill refiner for several years, which must have cost him a lot of his lifespan, causing him to age prematurely.

The assessment ended after an incense stick had burned for a while.

Three people, including Li Heng, were admitted.

The three of them were then taken to a separate room by the manager of Baicaoge, who explained the rules and precautions of Baicaoge to them.

Then, the other two were each assigned to do odd jobs for ordinary alchemists.

Li Heng was the only one assigned by Zheng Bingwen to work as a menial laborer.

Soon, Li Heng followed a servant from Baicao Pavilion to Zheng Bingwen's private alchemy room.

Zheng Bingwen was refining elixirs at the time, so Li Heng sent the servant back and stood quietly to the side to wait.

An hour later, Zheng Bingwen finally finished refining the pills. This time, he succeeded quite smoothly. Of the twenty pills in the batch, fifteen were successful and only five were unusable.

Zheng Bingwen was in high spirits, and Li Heng seized the opportunity to step forward and congratulate him, saying, "Congratulations, Elder Zheng, on refining such a fine batch of pills! Elder Zheng's pill-refining skills have reached a level of perfection!"

Hearing Li Heng flatter him, Zheng Bingwen felt even more pleased. Moreover, knowing that Li Heng was refining pills, he waited on the side until he finished before daring to come in, which showed that Li Heng's perception was still excellent!

Zheng Bingwen had always admired Li Heng for this quality: he was good at reading people's expressions, acted calmly and methodically, and provided him with emotional support. He was a worthy disciple to cultivate.

Now, the fact that Zheng Bingwen has met Li Heng again shows that it is fate.

Zheng Bingwen already had plans to cultivate Li Heng as his assistant. Since he himself was new to the outer branch of Baicaoge and had not yet taken on any alchemy apprentices, he might as well take on Li Heng, let him do odd jobs first, and then gradually transition him to become his assistant.

"Haha, Li Heng, I never thought we would meet again. Back in the Tianyan Sect, I admired your way of doing things. Now that we meet again in the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, it must be fate."

I hope you can continue to serve me as you did at the Tianyan Sect. I, Zheng Bingwen, never mistreat my own people. Rest assured, after you have completed a year of alchemy chores at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, I will apply to the higher-ups to make you my official alchemy assistant.

"Once you become my alchemy assistant, you won't need to deal with discarded pills anymore. If you can learn even 30% of my skills, you can officially graduate and become a true alchemist! In the cultivation world, alchemists are among the most respected professions!"

"Your work is quite busy right now, as you have to deal with waste pills and assist me in refining pills. Do you have any complaints?" Zheng Bingwen asked.

Li Heng once again solemnly clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Zheng. I have no complaints!"

"Very good, then from today onwards, you will begin working as my alchemy assistant and help me with alchemy."

Subsequently, Zheng Bingwen taught Li Heng many steps and techniques of alchemy without holding anything back. It was clear that he genuinely wanted to cultivate Li Heng as his alchemy assistant.

Thus, Li Heng officially began his work as a mortician at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

When dealing with discarded pills, Li Heng didn't accept them all. For example, even if the discarded pills of the Rejuvenation Pill and the Rejuvenation Pill were of the highest quality, he wouldn't take them. First, he didn't need them at the moment, and second, he was afraid that hoarding too many discarded pills would attract attention.

Currently, he only wants the discarded Qi Gathering Pills and Qi Condensation Pills of medium, high, and top quality; he doesn't want any other discarded pills.

Inferior-grade Qi Gathering Pills and Qi Condensation Pills are already ineffective, not to mention their waste pills, which are even less effective. Small quantities are useless, while large quantities make it easy for others to discover that he is hoarding waste pills.

Of course, if there were any discarded Foundation Establishment Pills, he would definitely want them. However, alchemists who know how to refine Foundation Establishment Pills would not appear in the outer area of ​​Crimson Cloud Mountain.

Moreover, alchemists of this level are all at the Foundation Establishment stage. With Li Heng's current level, he has no chance of encountering them, and they would not accept him as a disciple, not even as a menial alchemy worker.

......

At night, Li Heng did not stay at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, but chose to return to his cave dwelling. He did not want to cultivate under the supervision of others.

He would be more free if he returned to his cave dwelling.

So he went to Baicao Pavilion early in the morning to do odd jobs and assist Zheng Bingwen in refining elixirs, and didn't leave Baicao Pavilion until 1:15 pm.

Back in his cave, he made the most of his time to cultivate, making his life incredibly fulfilling.

Thanks to the various quality of Qi Gathering Pills that Li Heng brought back from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, his previously stagnant cultivation level has made visible progress again.