Chapter 74
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Chapter 74: The Eccentric Alchemist
“Can’t we hire someone else to refine the pills?” You You asked. Money wasn’t an issue as long as they could get Bone Refinement Pills—they had plenty now.
Ling Qi frowned, shaking his head. “Sect Master, skilled alchemists are rare. Top-tier ones only belong to first-rate immortal sects like the Three Sects and Six Schools. Low-tier alchemists take commissions, but seventh-tier or higher? None would help outsiders.”
This was bad. You You pressed, “No other options?” Were healers this scarce here?
After a pause, Ling Qi hesitantly said, “There’s… one person. Daoist Lord Kui Bi of Qingjing Valley. He’s a sixth-tier alchemist at Golden Core cultivation. Once part of Ziyun Sect, he became a loose cultivator after their celestial maiden died. Major sects tried recruiting him, but he refused them all.”
“A loose cultivator?” You You blinked. “I thought cultivators without celestial maidens formed prominent families?”
Ling Qi sighed. “Only those with noble ladies or female cultivators as partners can. But noble ladies are rare, female cultivators even rarer. Most end up…”
“Single.” You You snorted. Cultivators’ long lifespans made mortal matches impractical, and prejudice against “strange people” limited options. No wonder Kui Bi stayed solo.
“So this single alchemist might take our request?”
“Worth trying,” Ling Qi agreed.
You You stood to leave, but Feng Rong yanked her back. “Since when does a sect master run errands?” He glared.
Ling Qi nodded. “A letter sent via our best sword-control disciple will suffice.”
Three days later, the disciple returned—with odd news.
“He’ll refine pills… but wants to make Barrier Breaking Pills first?!” You You gaped. They’d expected demands for extra payment, not this switcheroo. “We need Bone Refinement Pills, not his experimental projects!”
Ling Qi reasoned, “Alchemists often attempt higher-tier pills to advance their skills. The Seven Heart Spirit Leaf’s rarity makes it perfect for his breakthrough. He promised to use the remaining half for our Bone Refinement Pills afterward.”
“But half a leaf only makes twenty-five pills,” Ling Qi added grimly. “We need forty-six.”
Panicking, You You eyed Yuan Qi. Could their walking herb encyclopedia find another Spirit Leaf?
Yuan Qi smiled. “Perhaps we needn’t give the leaf at all.” Turning to Ling Qi, he asked, “Didn’t we seize other high-tier Spiritual Plants from Ming You Valley?”
Ling Qi scrambled through inventory records. “Six premium plants! Tianyuan Dragon Bamboo, Ice Fire Crystal Flower—”
“Send word,” You You cut in. “Ask if he’ll accept those instead.”
Kui Bi agreed instantly—with a condition. He’d come to Zhen Yan Sect personally to preserve the plants’ spiritual energy.
You You grinned. This was their chance to woo a rare high-tier alchemist. Orders flew: prepare the finest alchemy tools from their confiscated treasures, treat him like royalty. Who knew? Maybe the eccentric hermit would reconsider sect life.
By dusk, everything was ready. All they needed now was one stubborn alchemist.
