An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Chapter 82: Qing Yuanzi’s Detailed Analysis of Alchemy

When Luo Chen arrived at Radiant Moon Hall, Mi Shuhua greeted him with a genuine, heartfelt smile.

But when Luo Chen departed, that same smile had grown somewhat stiff and forced.

After Luo Chen and Sikong Shoujia left, Mi Junping remained behind with her father. She voiced the concern that had been weighing on her mind.

”Father, does building an alchemy room really require such a large investment?”

As the Merit Hall Leader responsible for oversall the personnel management and the gang’s finances, Mi Junping had a sharp eye for costs. From her rough calculations of Luo Chen’s requests, the estimated expenditure had already exceeded a thousand spirit stones—and that was just for the alchemy room’s construction.

That sum didn’t account for the valuable Drain Cloud Cauldron worth nine hundred spirit stones and the Purple Cloud Copper Furnace valued at four hundred spirit stones, both provided by their Mi family. Once the room was completed, supplying the raw materials for alchemy would demand a continuous stream of resources.

Even though Mi Junping handled spirit stones in the thousands daily, they couldn’t be spent so extravagantly!

Mi Shuhua sighed, his expression bitter. He saw no need to mask his weariness in front of his daughter.

”Ping’er, you don’t understand. This level of investment is just the beginning.”

Mi Junping was surprised. ”It’s already quite a lot!”

Mi Shuhua shook his head. ”Do you know why alchemists are usually found only in major sects? Even family alchemists are typically associated with Golden Core families or Foundation Establishment families.

”This kind of hidden investment is one of the reasons.

”Our Mi family is merely a newly established Foundation Establishment family and cannot afford the extravagance of a true alchemist. In reality, establishing the Alchemy Hall is leveraging the strength of the Poshan Gang.”

Mi Junping was well aware of her family’s circumstances. The thought of supporting a cultivator’s alchemy endeavors for decades or even centuries filled her with dread. This was something a newly established Foundation Establishment family simply could not achieve.

“Luo Chen’s demands are modest compared to others,” Mi Shuhua added. ”Those second-tier alchemists are far more prestigious. Their alchemy tools are at least top-grade enchanted artifacts. They wouldn’t deign to use ordinary fire; they insist on earth fire. Do you know how much an alchemy room equipped with earth fire costs?”

Mi Junping whispered, ”How much?”

”From acquiring an earth fire spring, to drawing out the fire, constructing formations, isolating the room, and building the alchemy chamber—Ai Lao Mountain cultivators once quoted a price of eight thousand spirit stones!

Mi Junping sucked in a sharp breath. “That’s robbery at this point!”

Mi Shuhua sighed. ”And that doesn’t even include the cost of materials. The materials must also be purchased from Ai Lao Mountain’s Immortal Build Residence, where they’ll take their cut.

”That’s why, even though Luo Chen seems to have made so many demands, it’s only around one or two thousand spirit stones. Both I and the Poshan Gang can afford it.”

Mi Junping asked, ”Will we be able to earn it back later?”

”We’ll definitely earn it back, but whether we make a substantial profit depends on whether that kid can refine the pill recipe I gave him.” Mi Shuhua spoke casually, his tone carrying both anticipation and hesitation.

***

”Elder Sikong, I’ll leave the Alchemy Hall matters in your hands.”

”Of course, the Gang Leader has already ordered us to fully support you. I won’t hold anything back.”

”Then, see you tomorrow?”

”See you tomorrow!”

At the inner city crossroads, watching Sikong Shoujia hurriedly depart, Luo Chen smiled faintly.

Afterward, he couldn’t wait to head home.

Before long, he returned to the SiHeYuan courtyard.

He closed the door, not bothering to turn on the lights. The newly renovated backroom had two glazed skylights, making the lighting much better than before.

Luo Chen sat at his desk and took out a pile of items from his storage pouch. Two bottles of qi-nourishing pills—his fixed salary for the coming month, which he had just received. The five bottles he had previously purchased with his savings were nearly depleted, so these arrived just in time.

Aside from the qi-nourishing pills, there was an old, yellowed book and two bamboo scrolls. He first used the Spirit Eyes to carefully inspect them, ensuring there were no hidden traps or tricks.

Only then did Luo Chen feel assured enough to pick up the book.

Qing Yuanzi’s Detailed Analysis of Alchemy

This was the alchemy-related book that Mi Shuhua had promised him earlier. The pages were yellowed, and there were even many annotations scribbled on them. It was clear that Luo Chen was not the first person to read this book after its author. The Mi family members had likely gone through it many times.

The art of alchemy is vast and profound, reigning supreme among the myriad crafts of cultivation. Though it lacks the overt power of tools, talismans, formations, or puppetry, it aids us cultivators in our pursuit of the Great Dao.

I, though untalented, have reached only the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Yet, I am ranked as a third-tier alchemist, deserving the title of a master.

This book is a collection of my casual notes during alchemy sessions, documenting everything from the basics of alchemy to...

Just from reading the introduction, Luo Chen could feel the pride radiating from the words of the alchemist Qing Yuanzi and he truly had reason to be proud.

To produce third-tier pills while in the Foundation Establishment Realm was no small feat.

The contents of the book were incredibly detailed. It covered nearly all beginner techniques in alchemy, though some of the technical terms gave even Luo Chen a headache.

”It’s an excellent book, but no one can fully absorb it in a short time. I’ll study it bit by bit.”

Carefully placing Qing Yuanzi’s Detailed Analysis of Alchemy back into safekeeping, Luo Chen’s gaze shifted to the two bamboo scrolls.

One scroll was intact, while the other bore signs of fire damage.

Mi Shuhua had actually given him two pill recipes, but one was incomplete, so he had no real expectations of Luo Chen for that one.

What the old man truly cared about was the intact recipe.

”Jade Essence pill,” Luo Chen murmured as he examined the intact scroll.

Luo Chen carefully studied the pill recipe, examining everything from the primary materials and their proportions to the effects and contraindications. By the time he finished reviewing it, the dusk had arrived without him realizing it.

He rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling deeply emotional.

”No wonder Mi Shuhua went to such great lengths to bring me here and even spared no expense to establish the Alchemy Hall. If I can truly refine this Jade Essence pill, the Poshan Gang will make a fortune!

”No, that’s not right—it’s Mi Shuhua who will make a fortune.”

Luo Chen had secretly asked Qin Liangchen how the profits generated by the Alchemy Hall were distributed after taking out Luo Chen’s share.

Although there were no specific figures, it was clear that Gang Leader Mi Shuhua took the largest share. Other halls, aside from their leaders and ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators, received almost no spirit stones.

This meant that most of the Alchemy Hall’s profits would end up in Mi Shuhua’s pocket. And the Jade Essence pill was a product capable of generating immense profits.

Because it is actually an orthodox cultivation pill!

This single label alone was enough to define the value of the Jade Essence pill. According to the recipe’s description, consuming the Jade Essence pill could increase a cultivator’s spirit power.

A common effect, right?

Yet the more common it was, the more mainstream it became.

However, this type of mainstream pill, whether in terms of recipes or distribution channels, was entirely controlled by the major sects. Ordinary factions had no access to similar pills. Even if they did, sect forces would undoubtedly intervene.

However, this pill does have many drawbacks! Luo Chen recalled the recipe’s description of its effects and contraindications, feeling a tinge of regret.

Although the Jade Essence pill was also a mainstream pill, the spirit power it contained was minimal—only one-tenth that of a qi-nourishing pill. Moreover, excessive consumption could lead to medicinal resistance.

Medicinal resistance wasn’t too concerning, as most pills had this flaw.

The Jade Essence pill’s biggest drawback was that the overconsumption could lead to the dantian turning to jade!

For a cultivator, this was absolutely unacceptable. The dantian was the most critical point for low-tier cultivators. If damaged, the mildest consequence was the severance of their cultivation path; the worst was death from a spirit energy riot.

Jade transformation was far from a positive term. Once jade transformation occurred, it became extremely difficult for the cultivator to break through higher realms.

In alchemical terms, this was known as ”pill barriers,” obstacles caused by pill consumption.

Many unconventional pills were prone to creating pill barriers.

Only extensively studied pills like qi-nourishing pills, Dust Transformation pills, and Jade Dew pills had resolved the issue of pill barriers.

At most, excessive consumption rendered them ineffective.

”Despite its flaws, it’s still a miraculous pill for low-tier cultivators!”

Luo Chen had climbed step by step from the first to the second stages of Qi-Refining, deeply aware of the hardships caused by the lack of pills.

The Spirit Herb Pavilion never sold qi-nourishing pills individually—only by the bottle.

And one bottle cost a hundred spirit stones!

A hundred spirit stones might be insignificant to Foundation Establishment cultivators, affordable for late stage Qi-Refining cultivators, and a painful but possible purchase for mid stage ones. But for early stage cultivators, it was a fortune! They might bankrupt themselves and still be unable to afford a single bottle.

The Jade Essence pill was different. From its primary materials to its effects and drawbacks, it was destined to be priced modestly. In other words, low-tier cultivators could afford it!

”Paupers may be poor, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have spirit stones.

”If I had known about such a pill back then, I could have gritted my teeth and managed to buy a few each year. And if this pill is successfully refined, it will be specifically designed to siphon spirit stones from paupers!”

Luo Chen set down the bamboo scroll, his doubts completely resolved.

As for Mi Shuhua’s concern about whether it could be refined?

What a joke—he was a man with a status panel system!

Of course, he wouldn’t make it appear too easy.

Luo Chen had his plans in mind and then turned his gaze to the partially burned bamboo scroll.

”Spirit Passage pill?”