I tamed beasts and achieved immortality in the world of cultivation.

Chapter 121 Obtaining the Elixir and the Scheme [Please Subscribe!]

Three days later, in Wanling Market.

Chen Qing stepped into the Hundred Herbs Alchemy Pavilion again. This time, the shop assistant was more attentive than last time, probably because he remembered this generous guest.

"Please have a seat, sir. The medicine is ready."

The waiter smiled and led him to a chair to sit down, then turned and went into the inner room.

Before long, he came out carrying a white jade box.

Chen Qing took the jade box, which contained two white jade bottles, their surfaces lustrous. He uncorked one, brought it close to his nose, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out, mellow yet not pungent, roughly matching the characteristics of the Jade Marrow Pill recorded in the jade slip.

"good."

Chen Qing nodded, put the bottle stopper back in, and put it into his storage bag.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "These two batches of pills, sir, were personally refined by Master Liu of our Alchemy Pavilion. Master Liu has been refining first-grade pills for over forty years. His techniques are highly skilled, and his yield is always 20% higher than others. If you need any more next time, please feel free to come to us."

Chen Qing's heart skipped a beat, and he casually asked, "Is this Master Liu a first-grade high-level alchemist?"

"Of course." The waiter puffed out his chest. "Master Liu is one of the top-tier alchemists. Each of your two batches of pills yielded eight pills, two more than usual."

"Oh?" Chen Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.

In the cultivation world, it is customary that a single batch of spiritual herbs can theoretically produce a maximum of ten pills. However, there are always losses during the pill refining process, and producing five or six pills is considered quite good.

This Master Liu is indeed quite skilled at producing eight coins.

"Your alchemy skills are indeed excellent. I hope to have the opportunity to visit again in the future." Chen Qing casually complimented, put away the pills, and turned to leave.

After leaving the alchemy pavilion, Chen Qing strolled around the market.

He bought a few portions of Jade Marrow Pill materials from several shops, totaling about three portions, to avoid attracting attention by buying too much from one shop.

Afterwards, I went to a shop called "Lingyao Pavilion" and entrusted the shop to purchase the spiritual herbs needed for the Bone-Sculpting Pill: Dragon Bone Grass, Mystic Ice Flower, and Red Essence Fruit. There were twelve plants of each, three portions in total, and the agreement was to collect them all within six months. I paid a 20% deposit.

After finishing these tasks, Chen Qing turned into a small alley on East Street.

The alley is narrow, paved with bluestone slabs, and lined with neat courtyards on both sides. Most of the courtyards are filled with bamboo and herbs, making it a quiet and secluded place. This is Lingyun Alley, where Han Wenshan lives.

Chen Qing had some thoughts about the second-tier alchemist inheritance in Han Wenshan's possession.

After obtaining the "Purple Bamboo Furnace", Dan Yu was able to refine first-grade pills and was working towards first-grade mid-grade pills. However, he lacked a systematic alchemist's inheritance and a simple introductory notebook on alchemy was far from enough.

Therefore, Chen Qing set his sights on Han Wenshan.

However, such ancestral heirlooms are usually not easily passed on to outsiders. Chen Qing plans to first build a closer relationship with him, so that he can get him to refine pills for him at a low price, and secondly, if they become more familiar in the future, he may have the opportunity to obtain that inheritance.

Chen Qing stopped in front of a courtyard gate, took out a sound transmission talisman, infused it with magic power, and the spiritual light flew into the courtyard.

A moment later, the courtyard gate creaked open.

Han Wenshan poked his head out, and upon seeing Chen Qing, his face immediately lit up with a smile. He quickly stepped aside, saying, "Fellow Daoist Chen has arrived! Please come in, please come in!"

Chen Qing nodded slightly and followed him inside.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was quite clean. A row of wooden shelves stood against the wall, with several empty flowerpots on them. It looked like they used to be planted with some kind of spiritual herbs, but now they were empty. There was also a pill-making room in the courtyard, with its doors tightly closed, and a faint fragrance of medicine wafted out.

Han Wenshan led Chen Qing into the main hall, invited him to sit in the guest seat, and then served him a pot of fine tea.

Chen Qing picked up the teacup and took a sip. The tea was thin in spiritual energy, so it probably wasn't very good. He didn't mind, put down the teacup, and got straight to the point: "Fellow Daoist Han, I have the materials for three Jade Marrow Pills here, and I would like to ask you to help me refine them."

As he spoke, he took out the newly purchased jade fungus and auxiliary medicines from his storage bag and placed them on the table.

Han Wenshan's eyes lit up as he glanced at the spiritual herbs, then quickly composed himself and said solemnly, "Since Fellow Daoist Chen trusts me, I will do my best. This Jade Marrow Ganoderma is of good quality, and the auxiliary ingredients are all complete. Fellow Daoist Chen, rest assured, it will not be difficult for me to refine it."

After a pause, Han Wenshan continued, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen is familiar with the market rates at the Hundred Herbs Alchemy Pavilion? They usually charge around twenty-five spirit stones for refining one batch of mid-grade first-rank pills. Three batches would cost seventy-five spirit stones."

Chen Qing nodded, indicating that he understood.

Han Wenshan smiled and held up four fingers: "I only charge forty spirit stones."

95

Forty spirit stones, almost half the price of the Hundred Herbs Alchemy Pavilion.

Chen Qing was satisfied and nodded, saying, "Fellow Daoist Han is straightforward. However, I must make this clear from the start: if the results of this alchemy are satisfactory, I will continue to seek your cooperation in the future. If not—"

At this point, Chen Qing paused deliberately.

Han Wenshan quickly waved his hand: "Fellow Daoist Chen, rest assured, although my alchemy skills are not comparable to those alchemists who have been famous for many years, I will definitely not disappoint you. If you are not satisfied, I will not charge you a penny and will return all the spiritual herbs."

"Alright." Chen Qing picked up his teacup and took another sip, then casually asked, "How long has Fellow Daoist Han been staying in Wanling Market?"

"Twenty-three years have passed." Han Wenshan sighed. "I am of dull talent. I have cultivated for a lifetime and have only reached the sixth level of Qi Refining. I have long given up hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Fortunately, my ancestors passed down the skill of alchemy, which I use to make a living."

"Twenty-three years isn't a short time," Chen Qing nodded. "Does Fellow Daoist Han have any enemies in the market?"

Han Wenshan paused, then understood Chen Qing's meaning and said with a wry smile, "I am just an old man, what enemies would I have? I spend my days refining pills and cultivating, I don't fight with anyone, and I rarely even leave the market."

Chen Qing nodded to himself.

He had already inquired about this information. Han Wenshan had indeed lived in Wanlingfang City for more than 20 years, just as he himself said. He had a clean background and had never made enemies with anyone.

As for why they lacked spirit stones, Chen Qing didn't ask.

The world of cultivation is different from the mortal realm; asking too many questions can lead to death.

Chen Qing took out forty spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them on the table: "I'll leave these Jade Marrow Pills to Fellow Daoist Han. I'll come to collect them in three days."

Han Wenshan accepted the spirit stones, carefully put the spiritual herbs on the table into his storage bag, and then asked, "Does Fellow Daoist Chen have any special requirements for the pills? Such as their quality, size, etc."

"The purer the quality, the better. As for the rest, Fellow Daoist Han, you can handle it as you see fit."

After saying that, Chen Qing stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Han Wenshan, and turned to leave.

Han Wenshan escorted Chen Qing to the courtyard gate, and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes as he watched Chen Qing's departing figure.

This fellow Daoist Chen is very generous and seems to be quite wealthy.

If he could turn him into a long-term customer, then the matter of spirit stones would be taken care of. With this in mind, Han Wenshan secretly made up his mind that he must put in his best effort in this alchemy and never let the other party down.

After closing the courtyard gate, Han Wenshan, holding the two jade boxes, strode into the alchemy room in the corner.