Alchemy Earns the Most Spirit Stones

The clamor of Qingshi Market, like background noise that never ceased, continuously washed over Li Chengjie's eardrums.

The few sheets of inferior Talisman Paper on Li Chengjie's stall seemed welded to the rough beast-hide cloth. Half the day had passed, yet not even a single person had stopped to ask the price.

Old Wang, who sold low-grade ores next door, had at least made one sale. He traded three fist-sized pieces of Iron Essence Ore for two Dust Repelling Talismans, then happily tucked them into his robes. Seeing that Li Chengjie's side was still deserted, he could not help adding:

"Little Li, it's not that Uncle Wang wants to criticize you, but this stall of yours... sigh, with just this little stuff, you probably can't even earn back the Marketplace stall fee, right? I heard the Monster Hunting Team at the western end is short on people lately. It's dangerous, but at least..."

Li Chengjie tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing an expression that could hardly be called a smile. He did not respond.

Monster hunting?

With his fourth layer of Qi Condensation cultivation level, having only just touched the threshold of the middle stage, if he joined teams that routinely faced first-tier mid-stage or even late-stage Demonic Beasts, he would barely even qualify as cannon fodder.

He had been reborn, and he even possessed a Golden Finger. He did not want to die such a worthless death.

Seeing no reaction from him, Old Wang awkwardly shut his mouth and continued hawking his pile of dusty gray ores.

"They say that among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, alchemy earns the most Spirit Stones..." The words Li Chengjie had heard from who knew where echoed in his mind, stirring his thoughts.

That was right. Pills were hard currency for cultivators' cultivation, healing, and breakthroughs. A single Qi Gathering Pill of passable quality could sell for five or six Low-grade Spirit Stones. If he could refine more precious pills, then the profits...

Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. He recalled that an old alchemist surnamed Zhang seemed to live in East City of the Marketplace. Though he was only first-tier Low-grade and had spent years refining common goods like Grain Abstinence Pills and Qi Restoration Powder, he was still considered a known figure among Rogue Cultivators.

If he could copy that man's alchemy experience...

Li Chengjie's heart began pounding uncontrollably.

Even the most basic alchemy technique would be enough to free him from his current plight of going hungry and lacking Spirit Stones, so long as he could successfully refine the most ordinary pills! The speed at which he earned Replication Points would surely increase tremendously!

Hope was like a faint flame kindled in the darkness, instantly dispersing the gloom entrenched in his heart.

Li Chengjie hesitated no longer. He swiftly gathered up the goods on his stall and stuffed them into the tattered cloth bag in his robes that served as storage space—a patched-and-repatched broken bag that Old Man Li had casually tossed him before leaving, taking pity on him. It was the lowest-grade defective product, with an interior space only half a foot wide.

Then Li Chengjie rose and strode quickly toward East City of the Marketplace.

East City of Qingshi Market was far more orderly than the outskirts. Though the roads paved with bluestone slabs were still mottled with age, there was less litter and grime strewn everywhere.

The buildings on either side were no longer crooked wooden shacks. There were more small brick-and-stone courtyards, and occasionally one could see a shop with a crude signboard, selling things such as Talismans and Dharma Artifact blanks.

The Spiritual Energy in the air also seemed slightly denser, mixed with a faint, strange fragrance of countless herbs blended together.

Following his memories and the increasingly distinct scent of medicinal herbs in the air, Li Chengjie passed through several alleys before finally stopping before an old-looking small courtyard.

The courtyard gate stood half-open. Above it hung a wooden plaque with decaying edges, carved in clumsy strokes with two words: "Pill Hut."

This was the place.

He drew a deep breath and straightened his coarse cloth clothes, which had become slightly disheveled from his hurried walk. Trying his best not to look quite so much like a destitute beggar, he reached out and lightly knocked on the wooden gate.

"Who is it?" An elderly voice came from within. Yet it seemed... somewhat more robust than he had imagined.

"This junior is Li Chengjie. I have come to visit Master Zhang uninvited." Li Chengjie tried to make his tone as respectful as possible.

With a creak, the wooden gate was pulled open from within. An old man appeared behind it, dressed in a gray Daoist robe washed pale with wear. His hair was streaked with white, yet combed with meticulous care.

The old man's face was lean and refined. Unlike Old Man Li's cloudy eyes, his gaze carried the sharpness and focus forged by long years spent dealing with Furnace Fire.

He looked Li Chengjie over, his gaze lingering for a moment on his cheap clothes and his somewhat youthful face, which nonetheless bore a steadiness unfitting for his age.

"What is it?" Alchemist Zhang's tone was flat, carrying the customary aloofness of an alchemist. He did not invite Li Chengjie inside, clearly believing that a strange little cultivator at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation was not worth receiving seriously.

The moment Alchemist Zhang opened the gate and faced him directly, the cold notification sounded in the depths of Li Chengjie's consciousness as expected:

[Replicable Target detected: "Zhang Miao" (Qi Refining Level 6). Replicable Items: first-tier Mid-grade Alchemist Experience and Insights (including various first-tier mid-grade and Low-grade pill formulas and refining techniques). Estimated Replication Point cost: 100 points.]

One hundred points!

Li Chengjie was delighted at first. Compared to Chen Xuan's one hundred and fifty points—mainly because his cultivation technique was of higher grade—this number seemed much more friendly!

But immediately afterward, he suddenly noticed the key word in the notification—Mid-grade!

A first-tier Mid-grade Alchemist?!

Hadn't this Alchemist Zhang supposedly been stuck at first-tier Low-grade for more than seventy years, unable to advance even an inch?

How...

Perhaps noticing the fleeting shock on Li Chengjie's face, Alchemist Zhang's placid expression unexpectedly revealed the faintest trace of pride and gratification, though it was difficult to conceal.

Li Chengjie asked instinctively, "Is this the home of Alchemist Zhang?"

He lightly stroked the sparse beard beneath his chin. His tone remained calm, but beneath it lay a subtle air of holding his head high at last.

"Oh, you mean before. This old man has studied the Dao of alchemy for over seventy years. Three days ago, I was fortunate enough to refine a batch of Harmony Qi Pills. Their quality was passable, and I have already advanced to become a first-tier Mid-grade Alchemist."

Three days ago!

He had only just advanced!

Li Chengjie felt bitterness in his mouth.

He did not know whether this luck was good or bad.

The good news was that he had run into a freshly minted Mid-grade Alchemist, whose Experience and Insights were far more valuable than those of a Low-grade one.

The bad news was that the price was also far beyond his current means.

One hundred Replication Points meant one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones!

Even if Li Chengjie were cut up and sold by the piece, he could not scrape together that much.

Still clinging to a sliver of hope, he forced himself to proceed according to the speech he had prepared on the way here. Bowing, he said, "Congratulations, Master Zhang, on your advancement in alchemy! This junior... this junior has developed a yearning for the Dao of alchemy. Might Master be willing to accept me as a disciple, or... permit this junior to serve as an apprentice at the Pill Hut, running errands and helping out? I ask only to observe and learn a little."

This was the method Li Chengjie could think of that was most likely to let him get close enough to perhaps obtain some basic alchemy Experience and Insights for free.

Even if he could only watch, perhaps he could gain something by combining it with the Experience and Insights he copied?

At his words, the barely perceptible pride on Alchemist Zhang's face swiftly faded, returning to its previous aloofness. There was even a trace of undetectable mockery.

"A disciple? An apprentice?" He swept his gaze over Li Chengjie from head to toe and shook his head. "Boy, the path of alchemy values talent, but it values resources even more. Without investing tens of thousands of portions of spiritual herbs, without enough wealth to support failure after failure, merely watching will never make you an alchemist. This old man was once a Rogue Cultivator myself, and I know its hardships well. Though I have fortunately advanced now, I must stabilize my realm and study new pill formulas. I have no time for other concerns."

Li Chengjie paused, his tone carrying the admonition of one who had been through it all. "At such a young age, you are already at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. That is no easy feat. You would do better to find steady work, save Spirit Stones, and cultivate diligently. The Dao of alchemy... is not something Rogue Cultivators like you can easily set foot upon. Do not waste your time and your already meager Spirit Stones for nothing."

As soon as he finished speaking, he did not wait for Li Chengjie to say anything else. He directly stepped back half a pace, and with a creak, shut the wooden gate again. That soft sound was like a muffled hammer blow, smashing Li Chengjie's last shred of hope.

From within the gate came Alchemist Zhang's faint voice, seemingly instructing an attendant boy: "...In the future, dismiss such boys who do not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth at once. Do not disturb my peace."

Li Chengjie stood where he was, staring at the tightly closed wooden gate before him, weathered and mottled by the years. His fists silently clenched, his nails digging deep into his palms and bringing a faint sting of pain.

Disappointment—an overwhelming sense of disappointment—engulfed him like an icy tide.

The faster hope had flared to life, the more completely it had been extinguished.

One hundred Replication Points.

A first-tier Mid-grade Alchemist.

Li Chengjie touched the shriveled cloth bag in his robes. Inside were only eight Low-grade Spirit Stones, along with several Glimmer Talismans that even he found laughable.

The gap had once again been laid bare before him.

This time, it was not the gap in combat cultivation techniques, but the entry threshold to the most money-burning and most profitable profession among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation.