Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

With a flash of the blade, the astragalus root was severed!

The cross-section was presented to the three people.

The interior was indeed hollow, but it wasn't a natural crack as Zhou Ji had described. Instead, it was caused by shrinkage due to drying out, and the texture was light and airy, lacking the powdery feel that Astragalus membranaceus should have.

I actually made a wrong judgment?

Zhou Ji's smile froze on his face.

Chen Wenyan leaned over to take a look and burst out laughing:

"Wow, is this top-grade medicinal material? Zhou Ji, you really are a master alchemist! You have a sharp eye!"

"This...this doesn't count!"

Even the best of us can make mistakes!

Zhou Ji blushed, quickly tossed the rotten herb aside, and grabbed another medicinal plant. "Take a look at this Polygonatum sibiricum," he said.

Polygonatum?

Gu Shuxian stared at the medicinal herbs for a moment, then hesitated before speaking:

"If my junior brother is not mistaken, this should be Gelsemium elegans, commonly known as the heartbreak grass, which is highly poisonous."

"Heartbreak grass? How could that be!"

Zhou Ji laughed, thinking he had won the round; even if the senior apprentice at the pharmacy was confused, there was no way he would give them poison.

He made a small cut at the base of the herb with a knife, then brought it close to his nose and smelled it.

His expression changed drastically.

Unlike the sweet taste of Polygonatum, a spicy aroma rushed into his nostrils.

It really is a poisonous plant!

Has the pharmacy gone mad?!

Seeing the change in Zhou Ji's expression, Chen Wenyan guessed who was right, and he slapped his thigh with joy:

"Zhou Ji, Zhou Ji, you can't even tell the difference between Polygonatum and Gelsemium elegans, what are you doing making medicine? Go home and grow sweet potatoes!"

"Shut up!" Zhou Ji's forehead was sweating, but he was still defiant. "I just misjudged for a moment, let's try again!"

He grabbed another herb.

"The resurrection plant has scorched leaf edges and soft, rotten roots."

Zhou Ji immediately broke open the rootstock, and sure enough, it was already black and rotten inside.

……

I tried it seven or eight times in a row.

Zhou Ji could no longer keep up his stubbornness. He felt that something was really strange. How could this handyman be so powerful?

He even felt that this handyman's ability to identify medicine was unmatched by anyone in the Pill Hall, including the hall master.

Chen Wenyan laughed until his stomach hurt: "Oh dear, Zhou Ji, I always told you to read more books but you wouldn't, now you're showing your stupidity!"

Faced with Old Chen's mockery, Zhou Ji, unusually, did not immediately retort, his face turning pale and then red.

But after a moment, he still found a way to win.

"Ha, this proves that my alchemy skills are actually quite superb; I was just ruined by the medicinal herbs!"

"You're really shameless!" Chen Wenyan said, speechless.

"Get lost!"

Zhou Ji cursed back, staring at the medicinal herbs on the table. Suddenly, he thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he grabbed Gu Shuxian's wrist.

He said eagerly:

"Junior Brother Gu, your ability to identify medicinal herbs is truly amazing! To learn to this level just by reading books, you are truly a genius!"

"It's not very useful; it's just empty talk."

Gu Shuxian felt a little uncomfortable being held so intimately, and quietly withdrew his hand.

"No, no, no, it's incredibly useful! You don't realize its value!"

Zhou Ji said excitedly.

If this Junior Brother Gu can help me select the best medicinal herbs, my success rate in refining medicine will greatly increase!

Especially the outer sect competition, the most crucial battle!

Everyone else uses inferior medicinal herbs, but I use the best ones!

Wouldn't that mean I'd be the best among all the heroes?

Zhou Ji became more and more excited as he thought about it. He stood up excitedly and paced back and forth in the room.

"Junior Brother Gu, would you be interested in working at the Pill Hall? Helping me out?"

Fearing he wouldn't understand the significance of it, Zhou Ji quickly explained:

"Our Pill Hall is the most sought-after hall in the outer sect, bar none! Even the menial workers earn several taels of silver a month just from the salacious food, which is definitely better than you spending all day working on firewood! If you want to come, I'll put in a good word with the higher-ups, and I guarantee no one will stop you. You just need to come and help me identify the herbs!"

Zhou Ji is right, or even to put it bluntly.

It's better to work in any branch of the church than to do odd jobs at the woodshed.

Think about it, you have a stable income and cash flow, and you can see the outer disciples at any time. You might even receive guidance or rewards.

Which handyman wouldn't want to go?

Only veteran servants who have worked in the hall for many years have the opportunity to help out; these young people can't even get in if they want to!

With someone acting as guarantor, this is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

but……

"I refuse."

"Thank you for your kindness, senior brother, but I'm used to staying in the servants' quarters and don't want to move."

Gu Shuxian was silent for a moment before answering.

Why?

Zhou Ji's face was filled with disbelief.

This is a benefit that other servants would fight tooth and nail for, yet he didn't want it?

Chen Wenyan was also somewhat surprised and reminded him:

"Junior Brother Gu, such opportunities are rare. Zhou Ji is telling the truth. Don't let his silly appearance fool you; he can still hold his own in the Pill Hall and will definitely be able to arrange a place for you there."

"No need, senior brother, I just want to live a peaceful life."

Gu Shuxian shook his head and gave an awkward smile.

How should he explain this?

He claims to be a mysterious librarian whose life goal is to build a world-renowned library at No. 9, Jia? Before that, everything in the world is irrelevant to him?

Zhou Ji was quite embarrassed by his resolute attitude.

But then I suddenly had a change of heart.

This might not be a bad thing!

If Gu Shuxian really goes to the Pill Hall, he won't be in charge of the Pill Hall alone. Gu Shuxian might be assigned to other senior brothers and sisters, then all his efforts would be in vain!

It would be better to...

"Junior Brother Gu, you deliver firewood every day, so you must pass by my place, right? Could you please help me pick out some medicinal herbs each time you come? It won't take much of your time!"

Zhou Ji paused, then added, "Especially before the outer sect competition five months from now, that period is the most crucial. You absolutely must come and help me when you have time!"

Gu Shuxian thought about it and decided it wasn't too much trouble, so he nodded.

"If I can, and if I have time."

"Good brother!"

Zhou Ji was overjoyed. He turned around and rummaged through his belongings for a while before pulling out a small porcelain bottle and stuffing it into Gu Shuxian's hand.

"Here you go! From now on, you can help me pick out medicinal herbs, and I'll provide plenty of pills!"

"This is?"

Gu Shuxian glanced at the unlabeled, three-no-product in his hand and asked.

"Aoki Dan".

Chen Wenyan explained, "This is an essential elixir for our Suishan Sword Sect's training. It works best when combined with our Zixia Kung Fu. Zixia belongs to the wood element and enters the liver meridian. Taking this elixir can soothe the liver and regulate qi. Taking one during training will make your efforts twice as effective, and long-term use can also nourish the liver."

It sounds like something related to health and wellness.

Gu Shuxian thought to himself.

I wonder which is better, this pill or my own health-preserving boxing?

However, the health-preserving boxing method nourishes all five internal organs, making it quite comprehensive.

"Thank you both, senior brothers."

Gu Shuxian bowed and thanked him.

"This pill must have been made by Zhou Ji, but don't be afraid. He took it himself, so if it's poisonous, he'll be the one who gets poisoned first," Chen Wenyan joked.

"Get lost! You think I'd give my buddy pills made from rotten medicine? These are top-grade pills I bought from outside! I bought them to use as samples!"

Zhou Ji glared at him fiercely.