Chapter 14
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Chapter 14: Special Alchemist
Shang Ling Peak, Alchemy Pavilion.
After finishing his class, Xu Fan headed to Shang Ling Peak, specifically the Alchemy Pavilion.
"Welcome! What kind of spirit pills are you looking for? We have fasting pills perfect for the Qi Training Stage, small spirit pills, calming heart pills, disinfecting pills, strengthening pills, and more…"
"How much for the mid-grade fasting pills?" Xu Fan asked, surprised by the variety of pills available for those at the Qi Training Stage.
"A bottle costs 20 spirit stones and can sustain a Qi Trainer for ten days, covering both their nutritional and spiritual energy needs," the attendant quickly explained. These fasting pills were a staple for Qi Training Stage disciples on missions.
"I’ve recently made a batch of mid-grade fasting pills. Would you be interested in buying them?" Xu Fan asked.
"Absolutely. Please, follow me."
The attendant, now even more respectful, bowed and led Xu Fan to a VIP room. After serving tea, he left.
A short while later, a middle-aged man with an unremarkable appearance entered the VIP room.
"Are you here to sell fasting pills?"
The middle-aged man greeted Xu Fan with a warm, friendly smile.
"Yes."
Xu Fan nodded and placed five plain jade bottles on the table, inviting the man to inspect them.
"Hmm, the aroma is rich, and there’s a faint spiritual glow. These are indeed mid-grade fasting pills."
The middle-aged man picked up one bottle to examine it more closely.
"How much is your pavilion willing to pay for them?" Xu Fan asked.
"Let’s not rush into pricing just yet. First, I’d like to know what you think of our Alchemy Pavilion," the middle-aged man said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the bottles.
What does it matter? It’s just about buying pills, Xu Fan thought to himself.
"The pills you sell seem quite good," Xu Fan replied casually. He hadn’t left the sect since he started cultivating, so he had no real basis for comparison.
The middle-aged man paused, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Here’s the thing: would you be interested in becoming a special alchemist for our Alchemy Pavilion?"
"There are no restrictions—you can take on alchemy tasks from us whenever you like," the middle-aged man explained directly.
"What’s in it for me?" Xu Fan asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Once you sign the contract, we’ll offer you a 20% discount on all spiritual herbs you need for alchemy," the middle-aged man said with a smile. Recruiting a special alchemist was a big win for the pavilion and a key step for his own career advancement.
"And the price for the pills I sell?"
"We’ll increase the purchase price by 5%."
"Any other benefits?" Xu Fan pressed.
"You’ll gain access to rare spiritual herbs and pill formulas that aren’t available on the open market," the middle-aged man replied patiently.
"Alright, I’ll agree to become your special alchemist, but I have one condition: my identity must remain confidential," Xu Fan said after a moment of thought. This was crucial—he had already used a disguise technique to alter his appearance before coming to the pavilion.
"Of course. All our special alchemists use titles or aliases to protect their identities," the middle-aged man explained. Many alchemists preferred to keep a low profile, and this system was designed to accommodate that.
Just then, the attendant returned, carrying a tray with a mirror-like artifact about the size of a smartphone.
"This artifact is specifically designed for accepting alchemy tasks. It can also be used to purchase spiritual herbs and issue tasks," Xu Fan explained. He took the artifact and infused it with spiritual energy, and soon enough, many options appeared in the mirror.
There were sections for tasks, communication, and spiritual herbs. One corner of the mirror displayed the permissions of the artifact.
As Xu Fan gazed at the screen, he suddenly felt that something was off about this world.
"After blood recognition, just give yourself a name, and you can start accepting tasks."
In total, the five bottles of mid-grade fasting pills sold for 75 spirit stones, which was much lower than Xu Fan had expected.
After finishing his conversation with the middle-aged man, Xu Fan bought a few common pill recipes and matching spiritual herbs at the Alchemy Pavilion.
"Even the same pills require different methods and techniques to refine."
In his alchemy room on the mountain, Xu Fan looked puzzled at the few recipes in his hands.
The most basic recipes, including the fasting pill, were given for free by the Alchemy Pavilion.
"I wonder what the effect will be if I refine using this recipe."
Just as Xu Fan was about to begin refining, the protective barrier on the mountain chimed a pleasant bell.
After opening the barrier, a robust figure with a wild aura, Wang Yulun, walked in.
"Did you go to the primordial forest this past month?" Xu Fan asked in confusion.
"I went hunting in the Tianbian Forest and just returned today. I have killed eight beasts at the Qi Refinement peak," Wang Yulun replied. “The final two specific beast tasks given by the sect were too difficult, so I returned to rest a bit.”
As he entered Xu Fan’s territory, Wang Yulun gradually relaxed, and the aura around him softened.
"It seems you had quite a rough time this month," Xu Fan said as he assessed Wang Yulun’s appearance.
"Yes, I hovered on the edge of life and death for the past month and almost didn’t make it back," Wang Yulun admitted.
"I can see that. You came here to…" Xu Fan prompted.
"I wanted to check in on Big Brother Xu and ask for advice on how to deal with my last two beasts," Wang Yulun said, easing into a chair and imitating Xu Fan’s relaxed posture.
"Have you encountered those two?" Xu Fan inquired.
"I have met them and even fought against them. If it weren’t for the spells taught by Big Brother Xu, I would have been done for," Wang Yulun admitted, feeling both bitter and thankful. Without Xu Fan, he might have struggled even against the first beast at the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer.
"Tell me about the characteristics of those two beasts," Xu Fan urged.
With a wave of his hand, a tea table appeared before them, complete with a tea set, and Xu Fan began to brew tea.
"One is a soil-eating beast, possessing extraordinary defensive strength and the ability to burrow underground. Once it senses danger, it will quickly dive into the earth."
"If you can’t break its defenses and kill it instantly, it will vanish underground," Wang Yulun explained, a headache forming at the thought.
"The other one is called the Crimson Wind Blood Cat. It is extremely fast, and I can’t catch its movements. Its sharp claws inflicted several deadly wounds on me."
"If it weren’t for the special defensive artifact I prepared, I probably wouldn’t be here talking to you, Big Brother Xu," Wang Yulun said with a bitter smile. He kept thinking about how he would handle these two beasts if he were in Xu Fan’s shoes.
"Big Brother Xu, what would you do to deal with these two beasts?" Wang Yulun asked earnestly.
"I wouldn’t confront those beasts if I encountered them," Xu Fan replied, a smile creeping onto his face. "They surely can’t run faster than me."
"Based on your description, plus your battle talent, you would probably tire yourself out trying to defeat those two beasts at the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer," Xu Fan pointed out.
"Sometimes, success in battle doesn’t solely rely on your cultivation or the power of your spells."
"If you can’t win through brute strength, you need to think a little," Xu Fan added, tapping his forehead with a finger.
