Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

He wasn't actually familiar with Xu Fu, but he trusted "Mr. Qing" because of his belief.

"In that case, Xu Fu should be treated well." Tian Jian's eyes gleamed.

"Of course we should treat them well, but we also need to test their abilities." Hou Sheng suggested to Tian Jian, "Leave this matter to me."

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle." Tian Jian trusted Hou Sheng completely and had no doubts about him.

Langya County is very large, and Xiaoshengxianzhuang is located in Langya.

Xu Fu was also from Langya. Although he was not from the same area as Xiaoshengxianzhuang, the fact that he was able to make a name for himself in Langya, a place where Confucianism flourished, demonstrates that he had some ability.

However capable he was, when the edict from the King of Qi was delivered to him, he still had no choice but to answer the summons and obediently head towards Linzi.

Deep down, Xu Fu was also extremely looking forward to this trip to Linzi.

As an elder of the Yin-Yang Clan, he naturally knew what the sect leader, Donghuang, was thinking.

The Yin-Yang School took root in the Qin state because Qin was the most powerful state in the world. If they could be valued by Qin, the Yin-Yang School could rise to prominence.

In addition, the Yin-Yang School did not abandon the other countries.

Especially the states of Yan and Qi.

The State of Yan was the state where the Yin-Yang School stayed before they went to the State of Qin, so it already had a deep foundation.

The State of Qi is located near the sea, and there are many sorcerers and magicians there, as well as many people of value to the Yin-Yang School. Building good relationships there would be beneficial to the Yin-Yang School.

No one knows what strange and unusual methods those sorcerers possess. If they could be brought into the Yin-Yang School, it would be beneficial to its development.

This task was assigned to Xu Fu.

He was originally from Langya and was very familiar with the area, which allowed him to better integrate into the local community of Taoist priests.

The reason why the Yin-Yang School does so much is that it aspires to rise to prominence.

This is because they possess some secrets.

The secret of the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions.

However, obtaining the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions and deciphering its secrets is not an easy task. In this world, only the Qin state government has the power to collect this item, and before that, the whereabouts of each of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions is also of paramount importance.

Xu Fu's mission was not to search for the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions in the State of Qi.

However, this unexpected audience with the King of Qi inevitably gave rise to the idea of ​​making a contribution. If he could become a favorite of the King of Qi, he might be able to complete this task and thus be given an important position by the Eastern Emperor.

The Yin-Yang School has a strict internal hierarchy.

Below the Eastern Emperor is the Deputy Sect Leader, the Eastern Lord, followed by two Protectors and five Elders.

Currently, there is a guardian position in the Yin-Yang School that has been vacant for many years.

Although Xu Fu was one of the five elders and in charge of the metal department of the Yin-Yang School, he really wanted to advance his career.

With this in mind, Xu Fu soon arrived in Linzi.

Upon arriving here, King Tian Jian of Qi first received him.

This made Xu Fu feel quite smug.

Although the King of Qi was not as powerful as the King of Qin, he was still a king and held a very high position.

He also thought of some news related to the King of Qi.

If the young King of Qin was ambitious, then King Tian Jian of Qi was the epitome of weakness and incompetence.

He lacked independent judgment; while not exactly a foolish ruler, he was certainly not a wise one.

Such people are easy to manage.

If he could gain the trust of King Tian Jian of Qi, and with a little manipulation, the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions of Qi would be within his grasp.

However, to Xu Fu's surprise, after meeting him, before he could do anything, the King of Qi left.

Immediately afterwards, another middle-aged man appeared in front of him.

"You are Xu Fu?"

The middle-aged man asked Xu Fu.

"I am Xu Fu!"

Xu Fu vaguely guessed the middle-aged man's identity and quickly responded.

"I've heard that you are skilled in alchemy, and I would like to see it for myself. If you are truly capable, I would not mind recommending you to the King and entrusting you with important responsibilities."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu immediately had the correct answer: the person before him was none other than Hou Sheng, the prime minister of the State of Qi.

King Qi had received him earlier, but now it was Hou Sheng who came to him and said such things.

Without a doubt, this is a test.

King Qi did not want to do it himself, so he asked his prime minister, Hou Sheng, to do it.

If he can pass the test, Hou Sheng will recommend him to serve as a high-ranking official in the State of Qi.

Xu Fu was extremely fond of power.

He seemed to see a magnificent, golden road opening up to him.

So he quickly said to Hou Sheng, "To be honest, Prime Minister, I am indeed proficient in alchemy and medicine making."

He was about to introduce Hou Sheng to the elixirs he was skilled in.

Of course, there will definitely be some reservations.

After all, Yin-Yang techniques have many methods and are too mysterious.

But Xu Fu assured him that even if the methods were retained, it would still be enough to fool ordinary people and the powerful and wealthy people before him.

For him, a mere test was never a big deal.

However, before Xu Fu could speak, Hou Sheng interrupted, "Since you've said you're skilled at refining pills, let's begin. I've heard that you're known as a living immortal master in Langya. It's said you're skilled at refining three types of pills. Among them, the Ghost-Controlling Pill can strengthen the body; a seriously injured person can recover quickly with just one pill. The True Person Pill can prolong life; even a dying person with only one breath can regain vitality with just one pill. And the most powerful one is called the Immortal Gathering Pill, which can make one transcend the mortal realm and achieve immortality..."

"I don't expect you to be able to refine the Immortal Gathering Pill. Just refine a few True Person Pills for me to see. If the rumors are true, you will be rewarded with wealth and honor."

Upon hearing these words, Xu Fu's expression immediately froze.

In addition to various incantations and spells, the Yin-Yang School is also skilled in alchemy.

Xu Fu was skilled in alchemy.

He was exceptionally skilled in alchemy, having mastered the Yin-Yang School's alchemy to its pinnacle at a young age. He was indeed capable of refining the Gathering Immortal Pill.

However, refining such elixirs is not an easy task.

It requires meeting three conditions: favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious human relations.

On a specific day and in a specific place, extremely precious medicinal materials are required. Through exceptionally complicated methods, the person involved in the alchemy must adjust their energy and spirit to the extreme during the process. Afterwards, regardless of success or failure, their energy and spirit will be severely depleted. It can be said that every time the Immortal Gathering Pill is refined, it will make them walk on the edge of death.

The Elixir of Immortality, which grants ascension to immortality, is not only for those who consume the elixir, but also for the one who refines it.

Because such elixirs seize the power of heaven and earth, they are going against the will of heaven. If one is not careful, they will bring backlash and divine retribution.

However, this was not what Xu Fu cared about.

What he cared about was how Hou Sheng knew his confidence.

He vehemently denied that the Dao of Alchemy he possessed had three realms.

Once this thought arose, Xu Fu rejected it again.

He had just boasted about his remarkable mastery of alchemy.

If I deny it now, wouldn't that just confirm that I'm a liar?

That won't do.

Fortunately, it was just a True Person Pill. Although refining it would be mentally taxing, on the other hand, if he could prove himself to Hou Sheng, and with Hou Sheng's relationship with the King of Qi, a smooth path to success would be right in front of him.

"To be honest, Prime Minister, I can indeed refine True Person Pills, but the medicinal materials..."

"Don't worry, I will provide you with the medicinal materials, provided that you can refine the pills." Hou Sheng looked at Xu Fu with a sharp gaze.

Xu Fu thus settled down at the place arranged by Hou Sheng.

To be honest, this trip to Linzi had somewhat deviated from Xu Fu's expectations because Hou Sheng revealed his true intentions.

But Xu Fu was still full of expectations for the future.

Hou Sheng somehow learned some details about him.

But his background is not that simple.

He considered himself extremely mysterious, and alchemy was merely one of the many methods he possessed.

……

"The Yin-Yang School is a treasure trove; how much wealth can be extracted from you?"

In Hou Sheng's residence, Xu Qing thought of Xu Fu, who had arrived in Linzi but whose face he had not yet met, and spoke softly.

Since they were all from the Yin-Yang School, it was inevitable that they would think of a certain old man they had met in the Yunmeng Marsh.

That person gave him many surprises.

Chapter 175 The True Story of a Fatal Alchemy Failure

In order to gain the favor of the King of Qi, Xu Fu had already used all his scheming skills to the fullest extent.

Ever since Hou Sheng sent people to deliver a lot of medicinal herbs into the courtyard, he immediately put on the airs of a "master of alchemy". First, he used the excuse that "the alchemy furnace must be in harmony with yin and yang and the five elements, and ordinary alchemy furnaces cannot withstand the power of the medicine" to order Hou Sheng to quickly send people to make a three-legged purple copper alchemy furnace. He also specially requested that three feet of ground be dug in the center of the courtyard and cinnabar and other things be buried in order to "gather the earth fire energy".

Once all the necessary tools were prepared, wisps of smoke finally rose in the courtyard, and the furnace was officially set up for alchemy.

Xu Fu made many demands, thinking he could manipulate Hou Sheng at will. Little did he know that if he failed to satisfy Hou Sheng after Hou Sheng met his many demands, he would pay a heavy price.

However, Xu Fu was clearly unaware of these things at the time.

After the furnace was officially opened, he was still smug about being fooled by Hou Sheng and thought about using the Qi state's treasury to satisfy his own desires.

Although it is unclear how Hou Sheng knew about his three levels of alchemy.

However, these three levels of alchemy are the secrets of the Yin-Yang School. Outsiders would never know the deeper secrets behind them, such as which level the pills they refine belong to.

Therefore, the specific effects should be described by the person involved.

Xu Fu certainly couldn't directly refine the "True Man Pill." Although the medicinal materials sent by Hou Sheng could meet the conditions for refining the True Man Pill, refining such a pill would still be an extremely energy-consuming process for him.