The proof of Emperor Wu began with daily rewards for diligence.

Chen Jue withdrew from the Honglin Street area, changed his clothes, and went to Pei's Bank in the inner city to borrow another 500,000.

With this loan, his monthly payment instantly reached 6084 coins, but he also gained twenty low-grade spirit stones and 300,000 yuan in working capital.

This time, however, he did not choose to buy the True Qi Realm Pill at Pei's Pharmacy. Instead, he returned to Kaiyang Street and found Doctor Jiao.

Jiao Fengchun was changing Lin Shoucheng's dressing when he saw Chen Jue sneaking in, and couldn't help but find it amusing.

"What bad thing have you done that you're too ashamed to show your face in broad daylight?"

"Hey, Chief Wu approved a month of sick leave for me. If I'm all out and about in Kaiyang during this time, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the leadership?"

Chen Jue offered a reasonable explanation for the past, then looked at Lin Shoucheng, who was sitting in the caregiver's chair, and asked, "Uncle Lin, how's your recovery going after a week?"

Lin Shoucheng's complexion was no longer as pale as it had been a few days ago. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Thanks to the pills you gave me, my injury should be fine now. However, I heard from Doctor Jiao that those pills were originally a discounted donation to you, but I didn't expect you to give them to me instead..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Chen Jue cupped his hands to Jiao Fengchun and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Doctor Jiao."

"It's alright, you have the right to use what I give you."

Rather than giving away Chen Jue's good intentions, Jiao Fengchun was more interested in knowing Chen Jue's current condition. He reached out and placed his hand on Chen Jue's wrist, carefully sensing his condition.

"All the hidden injuries and accumulated problems have been swept away. You have indeed awakened a special physique, and it's quite strong at that."

He gestured for Chen Jue to follow him into the more private consultation room.

"Kid, you came here specifically to see me, didn't you? Tell me, what's up?"

Jiao Fengchun gestured for Chen Jue to sit down on the metal chair opposite him and asked.

"The spiritual materials sold by the powerful clans in the inner city are too expensive. I would like to ask Doctor Jiao if he has any special connections that might allow him to get a discount."

Chen Jue rubbed his hands together like a fly and asked tentatively.

Jiao Fengchun glanced at Chen Jue and said, "You're quite clever... However, the government and powerful clans have a strong control over spiritual materials, so I can't guarantee I can help you gather everything you want."

The old doctor beckoned to Chen Jue, signaling him to bring the list of required spiritual materials.

"Even if the old doctor tries his best, if he really can't raise the money, I will spend some money to go to the inner city to buy it."

Chen Jue took out a copy of the prescription he had made beforehand from his pocket and handed it to Jiao Fengchun.

Jiao Fengchun took the order and glanced at it casually.

He initially thought the paper contained only ordinary medicinal materials for nourishing blood and qi, but after reading only three lines, he was so shocked that he suddenly sat up from his chair.

"The recipe for the Spirit Sprout Pill? Anyone want to refine a first-tier auxiliary cultivation pill?"

Seeing that Doctor Jiao was reacting so strongly, Chen Jue quickly reassured him, "It's me who wants to refine it. A few days ago, I happened to find a book on alchemy for beginners. I found the contents to be detailed and simple, so I wanted to try it myself."

"Simple?!"

Jiao Fengchun was almost amused by Chen Jue's arrogant tone. If alchemy were an easy thing, it wouldn't be a top-tier secondary profession for martial artists, like inscription masters.

However, he was too lazy to painstakingly correct Chen Jue's mindset.

People can't teach people; but if you teach them through experience, they'll learn it in one go.

Once the young people in front of us suffer losses and are deceived, they will naturally develop the proper respect for the profession of "alchemist".

Following Chen Jue's pill formula, he seized a peck of spirit grain and several corresponding pill-making auxiliary materials.

"The spirit grain is equivalent to 16 paper money, and the remaining alchemy materials are worth 4, for a total benefit of 20 paper money. Payment can be made in cash or via mobile payment."

Jiao Fengchun handed Chen Jue a porcelain jar for storing spirit grains, and then took a spirit-locking paper specially used to seal spirit materials, and tied the prepared pill-making auxiliary materials with rope to pack them up.

"Remember to return the jar when you've finished using the spirit grain."

"Also... if you really can't refine anything, you might as well cook and eat the remaining spirit grains halfway through. Although the effect is far less than that of the Spirit Sprout Pill, it's not too bad."

Doctor Jiao's words were half advice and half teasing.

"Damn it! Doctor Jiao, don't underestimate me! I'm truly a genius at alchemy!"

"I mastered the basic alchemy techniques after only two readings!" Chen Jue said, deliberately blushing and trying to establish his persona.

"Haha, who doesn't fantasize about being a genius when they first encounter alchemy?"

Jiao Fengchun found Chen Jue quite interesting, so he promised, "Kid, don't think I look down on you. If you can really refine the Spirit Sprout Pill, I'll buy it back for you at 10% more than the black market price!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jue's eyes lit up.

I never expected this to have such an unexpected bonus!

"Dr. Jiao, you said it yourself!"

Chen Jue turned his gaze to Lin Shoucheng and said, "Uncle Lin, you have to be my witness. What if I refine the pills and this old man denies it?"

How come this involves me?

Lin Shoucheng scratched his head; of course, he didn't believe that Chen Jue had any talent in alchemy.

After all, Chen Jue's martial arts talent was already ridiculously strong for an ordinary person.

If only I could also refine pills...

Tsk tsk, then it's not just a case of a poor family producing a genius, but rather a golden phoenix flying out of a remote mountain village.

"Okay! Uncle Lin will be your witness." His reply was so perfunctory that it made people want to laugh.

After taking the spiritual materials, Chen Jue suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Lin Shoucheng, "Uncle Lin, do you know a patrolman surnamed Meng in the Honglin neighborhood of the South City?"

"You mean Meng Liang?" Lin Shoucheng immediately thought of the name and said, "Isn't he paralyzed? Where did you hear about him... No, it's normal that you've heard of him."

"After all, when he graduated from Linjiang Martial Arts University last year and entered the Guard with the strength of the ninth level of True Qi, it caused a sensation in the patrol system. He is a true commoner prodigy."

"However, later, the main family invited him to visit the inner city, but he refused. Then an accident happened; his Qi and Blood Furnace was violently shattered by villains, and he was paralyzed in all four limbs..."

"..." Chen Jue looked as if he had seen a ghost upon hearing this.

But he quickly realized that there were so many people with the surname Meng in Linjiang, and the person he met today might not necessarily be Meng Liang.

However, just as he was convinced that "this Meng is not that Meng," Jiao Fengchun interjected.

"What you're saying is all outdated."

"Meng Liang miraculously recovered from his injuries half a month ago and has now re-entered the Red Forest Guard Station, reaching the fifth level of True Qi."

"..." Chen Jue gasped. It seemed that the guy he had encountered today was none other than Meng Liang, the commoner prodigy.

Seeing the strange look in Chen Jue's eyes, Jiao Fengchun laughed and said, "That kid is the real genius. He has the four wood attributes and his physical constitution is so good that, apart from the Divine Tree Royal Court in Southeast Asia, there are almost no cultivation methods in the world that are perfectly suited to him..."

"Although you have a slightly weaker constitution, you're still far inferior to him."

"Tch! The outcome is still uncertain. Who will be the dark horse? Who can be certain?"

Chen Jue hugged the porcelain jar to his chest, picked up the spiritual materials, and left.

Jiao Fengchun watched Chen Jue's departing figure, clicked his tongue twice, and then said to Lin Shoucheng beside him, "He Yuanshan's nephew is quite something; his future achievements are likely to be considerable..."

Lin Shoucheng grinned, beaming with pride, and said, "That's right! This child has been clever since he was little, and now he seems even more extraordinary..."