Apprenticeship

Just like in the original story, after Yao Lao revealed that he was an alchemist even more impressive than Gu He, Xiao Yan instantly turned into a simp and began speaking to Yao Lao amiably.

"So, kid! Interested in becoming my disciple?" Although Yao Lao had kept his attention on Xiao Yan, he had not overlooked Yun Shu, who had been silent for quite some time.

There were only three possibilities for someone to remain unmoved after hearing him reveal his identity as a Senior Alchemist. First, they did not believe him.

Second, they had been scared stupid, but Yun Shu clearly did not look frightened.

That left only the third possibility: he possessed exceptional composure and had guessed Yao Lao's next move.

That was what Yao Lao thought as well. Yun Shu's performance had once again caught Yao Lao's eye, so he could not resist the thought of taking him as a disciple and spoke up.

"Of course!" Yun Shu said with a smile.

Having a Dou Zong powerhouse backing him in the early stages—only an idiot would refuse that. As for helping Yao Lao revive, Xiao Yan would handle that.

So Yun Shu was basically getting a teacher who would become a Dou Zun, perhaps even a Half-Saint, after his revival for free.

As for his claim to Ya Fei that he had a teacher, she had not spread it around. She had only said that Yun Shu had an extremely powerful backer.

And now, that lie had become reality! Yun Shu really did have an incredibly powerful backer now.

"Good! Good! Good!!" Hearing that both young men he favored were willing to become his disciples, Yao Lao was so delighted that he shouted "Very good!" three times.

"Then, let us begin the apprenticeship ceremony!!" Yao Lao said cheerfully.

After the two of them performed the apprenticeship rites together, they officially became Yao Lao's disciples.

Naturally, Yun Shu would not reveal his own secrets.

So when Yao Lao asked, he truthfully disclosed his approximate strength, the technique he cultivated, and his alchemy ability.

Strength: Two-Star Dou Zhe.

Cultivation technique: an Earth Rank Low-Level Technique acquired by chance.

Battle skill: a Mystic Rank Low-Level Battle Skill acquired by chance.

Yun Shu did not mention the Purple Cloud Wings. As for Crimson Flame Storm and Burning Flame Burst, the two advanced fire-element battle skills, Yun Shu had not even begun cultivating them yet, mainly because he had not had the time...

Alchemist grade: Though he had not taken the examination to apply for certification, he could already attempt to refine Second Grade Pills.

That was the extent of the strength he revealed to Yao Lao.

And Xiao Yan...

Cultivation technique: none.

Battle skill: none.

Strength: third stage Dou Qi.

Alchemy: did not know how.

"Xiao Yan, Little Shu's strength is not just a little higher than yours..."

After looking over his two disciples' overall abilities, Yao Lao glanced at Yun Shu, then at Xiao Yan, and sighed.

"Do you not know who caused that?" Xiao Yan said flatly, narrowing his eyes at Yao Lao.

"Hehe!! It is not a big problem. Starting today, Little Shu will study alchemy with me, while you, Xiao Yan... Although you also have talent for alchemy, you should focus on improving your strength first. After all, you cannot refine pills until you become a Dou Zhe!" After making up his mind, Yao Lao spoke to the two disciples before him.

"Within one year, I will help you break through to Dou Zhe. As for Little Shu... within one year, he can reluctantly become a Peak Second Grade alchemist first!"

"Really?!! Teacher, can I really return to Dou Zhe strength in just one year?!" Xiao Yan said excitedly upon hearing Yao Lao's words.

Yun Shu, meanwhile, felt somewhat helpless... Without using his Strange Fire, he was only a Peak First Grade alchemist. But if he used his Strange Fire, he could refine even a Sixth-Rank Pill.

After all, his Strange Fire did not require exceptionally powerful Soul Perception to control. All it took was a single command.

So Yun Shu actually wanted to switch places with Xiao Yan and have Yao Lao help him improve his strength. Otherwise, going to the Monster Mountain Range and Tagor Desert later would make it easy for him to get himself killed...

"Rest assured! There is absolutely no problem!" Yao Lao said with a nod.

"Perfect. Little Shu, you have been refining Medicinal Herbs for the Xiao Family for half a year. You should be able to provide some Medicinal Herbs now, right?"

Yun Shu had helped the Xiao Family refine pills for so long that he surely had quite a bit of stock on hand, saving them the trouble of buying any.

"What Medicinal Herbs do you need?" Yun Shu knew they were the ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, but he did not have the Pill Recipe and could not remember all the ingredients.

"First, prepare three complete stalks of Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, the older the better. Also, two Bone Cleansing Flowers—the age does not matter for those. Oh, right! And a Wood-type First-Order Magic Core. For a Pi Xiu like you, getting these should be effortless, right?" Yao Lao said with a mischievous grin as he looked at the two Rings of Holding on Yun Shu's hand.

The other high-grade Ring of Holding had been given to him by Ya Fei. It held roughly seventy or eighty cubic meters, so it was quite spacious.

The reason Yao Lao called Yun Shu a Pi Xiu was that over the past half year, once the money and some Medicinal Herbs from pill refining entered Yun Shu's pockets, they basically never came back out...

Only in, never out—was that not exactly a Pi Xiu?

"Tsk... Let us make this clear first. Medicinal Herbs are no problem, but do not set your sights on my Gold Coins!! This is my Wife Fund!" Yun Shu said solemnly to Yao Lao.

Wife Fund, my ass. His money had all been spent on the Lottery, so he simply could not produce a single coin.

"Do not worry! No one wants to touch your money. What kind of alchemist pays for his own materials? Remember that! But the Medicinal Herbs you have accumulated over the past half year, or perhaps even longer, may take quite a hit!" Yao Lao said with a smile.

"That is not a problem!" Yun Shu said seriously.

With the Little Green Bottle, he was not lacking high-grade Medicinal Herbs at all.

This was a treasure capable of seizing the creations of heaven and earth.

"Alright. Little Yan, go back and tell your father that Little Shu will not be able to refine pills for the Xiao Family for a while," Yao Lao said to Xiao Yan.

"I understand, Teacher!" Xiao Yan also understood that this was because his teacher needed to teach his senior brother Yun Shu more advanced alchemy techniques.

After Xiao Yan left, Yao Lao looked at Yun Shu and took out several Medicinal Herbs.

"These Medicinal Herbs are for refining the Second Grade Pill I created myself, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. I will refine it once first, then give you the Pill Recipe and guide you through refining it!" Yao Lao said to Yun Shu.

Since he had taken Yun Shu as a disciple, he would naturally do his utmost to teach him his alchemy techniques.

And conveniently, the medicinal liquid Yun Shu refined could be used by his other disciple who needed it, or taken to auction. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"I understand, Teacher!" Yun Shu knew what they were about to refine, so he began watching Yao Lao's refining process without blinking.

After all, he would have to do it himself next.