No matter where they are in the Ling Tian Caves, Elixir Cultivators are always the most sought-after presence.
Just look at the exalted status of Medicine Hut disciples within the Shenhua Sect for proof.
After all, no one can guarantee they won’t get injured in the future.
With just that one Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, wouldn’t it be reasonable to at least get a consultant’s position at the Medicine Hut?
Thinking this, Yun Liu strolled into the Rosy Fragrance Pavilion.
The one who greeted him was a Qipao Girl with a Steamed Bun Hairstyle.
“What would you like, honored guest? Rosy Fragrance Pavilion has every kind of Spiritual Medicine you could want. Eh—Junior Brother Yun!”
The petite girl had freckles on her nose and a babyish, adorable face. She blinked her eyes and immediately recognized Yun Liu.
The Chief of Tianxiang Peak isn’t someone obscure in the Shenhua Sect—his reputation isn’t small, just his luck isn’t great.
“You know me?”
Yun Liu pointed at himself, not expecting the girl to cover her mouth and snicker.
“Even if I didn’t know you before, after these last few days, I do now.”
The Medicine Hut girl winked exaggeratedly.
Disciples of Clear Mist Peak were like weasels in a melon patch, drawn in by the scent—when it came to gossip, their noses were sharp indeed.
The youth’s expression turned awkward.
Just this Moon-White Cloud Robe already said everything.
Tianxiang Peak is famously poor, all three disciples are penniless.
With his family’s situation, he never had the right to visit places like this; all his thrift went to subsidize his Master’s Sect.
How could he bear to splurge on medicine!
“By the way, if you’re here about the Reversion Pill, I’m truly sorry……”
The girl shook her head regretfully. If Senior Brother Yun came to Rosy Fragrance Pavilion hoping for luck, he’d picked the wrong place.
Rosy Fragrance Pavilion was a small temple—there was no way it could house a Great Bodhisattva capable of refining the Reversion Pill.
The Shenhua Sect is famous for Sword way. The disciples of Clear Mist Peak, who also studied the Path of Alchemy, at most dabbled in ordinary Spiritual Medicine below third-grade for daily use.
The only Third-Grade Alchemist among them was Elder Kuai, who oversaw the Medicine Hut.
The Retrospective Pill Formula is complex, its medicinal properties unique.
Even her teacher wasn’t confident in refining it, not to mention the cost of spirit material was exorbitant—there was no room for failure.
Tianxiang Peak barely had two disciples left, and now one was crippled.
Everyone in Clear Mist Peak pitied their Junior Aunt, but there was nothing they could do.
Yun Liu, however, shook his head. He’d already gathered almost all the materials for the Reversion Pill—thanks to Huangmao’s full support.
“In that case, what are you looking to buy? Our Junior Aunt watched us grow up, and she’s a close friend of the Mountain Lord. All Tianxiang Peak disciples get half off in our shop!”
The girl patted her chest to guarantee it.
The Sister Peaks of Tianxiang and Qingxia had been close since ancient times—sharing a single breath.
“To be honest, I’m here to apply for a job.”
Yun Liu pointed to the recruitment poster outside the door, but he wasn’t here for an apprentice position—he was applying as an Alchemist.
The girl froze at his words, then looked back. Even her sisters behind the counter seemed confused.
Junior Brother Yun’s swordsmanship is exceptional, everyone knows that. But could he also be gifted in the spiritual arts?
Could it be he wanted to walk a different path, abandoning the sword for alchemy……
“The art of the pill cauldron is very difficult. Most give up halfway. Are you sure, Junior Brother?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, then please follow me!”
The Medicine Hut girl tugged Yun Liu’s sleeve, leading him into the back hall’s pill room, introducing herself along the way.
“My name is Huo Tian Tian. You can call me Tian Tian. Maybe you don’t know me, but I’ve known you for a long time. Back then, you broke the fastest advancement record on Sighing Peak—you’re an idol to many disciples.”
“Senior Sister flatters me.”
That record would be broken by Huangmao within the year.
Huo Tian Tian led Yun Liu into the pill room’s dark chamber, pulling out a handful of herbs and placing them on the table.
“Ahem, Qin Sister is out gathering herbs, so I’ll be handling your interview. Next, I’ll give you a few tough questions to test you.”
Yun Liu smiled and nodded. The little lady was trying hard to act like a Path of Alchemy senior, but she was so nervous her hands didn’t know where to go—rather cute, really.
Huo Tian Tian waved her hand and explained, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the work here is demanding.
We can’t afford any carelessness. If we sold a bad pill and someone in the sect got sick, it’d be a huge problem!”
“I think you misunderstood. I’m here to apply as an Alchemist. I’m not interested in being an apprentice.”
The youth in white swept his gaze over the herbs, already making plans.
“Mm, mm. Junior Brother, do you have any works to show? Like Healing Medicine or Qi Gathering Powder? It’s fine even if you failed—let me see what stage you’re at…… Wait, Alchemist?”
The Qipao Girl was stunned. She’d thought Yun Liu was just here for a menial job.
Bah, an apprentice!
Huo Tian Tian was poor at swordsmanship but had an outstanding spirit. She was lucky enough to be taken in by a Clear Mist Peak Elder to cultivate in the Medicine Hut.
After years of training, she just barely counted as a Grade-One Alchemist.
Her own success rate for Grade-One Spiritual Medicine wasn’t even fifty percent—how could she interview another Alchemist?
Yun Liu didn’t waste words. He picked up the herbs and sniffed them, then placed a handful of herbal grains into a simple little cauldron, infusing it with spiritual energy to ignite the fire.
Several little heads peeked in from the doorway.
Alchemists were rare in the sect, and it was unusual for someone to apply—especially such a handsome youth.
The Clear Mist Peak disciples all came to watch.
“What’s he doing?”
“No idea.”
“The shop’s so busy and Tian Tian’s still interviewing. Can’t the new apprentice just be assigned to me?”
“Assigned to warm your bed, you mean?”
“Oh, stop! Don’t expose me like that!”
A group of young girls chattered away without a care.
While forging the pill, the youth didn’t waste a moment.
Sweetleaf was soaked in warm water, and the root of the earth stove was cut with a cross pattern on the surface—details the girls couldn’t understand, but which subtly improved the Spiritual Medicine’s quality.
Half a stick of incense later, a rich fragrance wafted from the little cauldron.
A thread of milky-white liquid, guided by Yun Liu’s spiritual sense, flowed into a small bottle.
“Heavens, that’s Spirit-Guiding Water!”
He’d refined a Grade-One Spiritual Medicine this quickly?
It even smelled sweeter than the teacher’s version!
Huo Tian Tian covered her mouth, her voice trembling: “May I ask… Senior Brother Yun, what grade of Alchemist are you?”
Yun Liu thought for a moment. He hadn’t tried refining Spiritual Medicine above third-grade yet, so he gave a conservative answer: “Second-Grade.”
“What!?”
The eavesdropping Medicine Hut girls and Huo Tian Tian were both shocked.
Was this for real?
Besides Qin Sister, were there actually other Second-Grade Alchemists in the Shenhua Sect?
“W-w-w-wait! I can’t make this decision. I’ll go back to Clear Mist Peak and consult with Master!”
Huo Tian Tian panicked, bowed deeply, then grabbed the bottle of Spirit-Guiding Water and rushed out the door.
She almost tripped crossing the threshold, then quickly hopped onto Little Kite and sped off toward Clear Mist Peak—she still didn’t know how to fly a sword!
“Was it not good enough?”
Yun Liu shook his head. This time, to save time, he’d skipped some of the more complicated steps—he’d even meant to hold back.
Judging by the time, those people should be arriving soon. He’d better take care of the guests first. A chill flashed in the youth’s eyes.
But the truth was, it wasn’t that the Spiritual Medicine wasn’t good enough—it was too good!
Spirit-Guiding Water is the hardest and most useful among Grade-One Spiritual Medicine.
At Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, the price was always high and demand never met supply.
This level of efficiency and completion was far beyond what the Medicine Hut apprentices could comprehend.
By the time Huo Tian Tian returned to the shop, it was already night.
She was drenched in sweat, her eyes anxious.
“Where’s Senior Brother Yun?”
“He left! Said he had important matters tonight and would visit again another day.”
Everyone asked in unison, “Well? What did the teacher say?”
“Sigh!”
Huo Tian Tian was utterly vexed, her voice hoarse: “That was Earth-rank Spiritual Medicine! I’ve never seen anyone successfully refine Earth-rank Spiritual Medicine before, and it happened right in front of me—I didn’t even remember how he did it! Opportunities like this are rare. Teacher said we must keep him here by any means!”
“Hiss—”
So Senior Brother Yun really is a Second-Grade Alchemist?
A group of clumsy apprentices exclaimed in awe, their admiration growing.
But now he was gone. Where could they find him in the middle of the night?