Junior Brother Xiao, You Went the Wrong Way

"Although this old man does know Pill Dao, according to sect rules, techniques cannot be passed on in private."

"So we still need to go through the proper procedure, lest people start gossiping."

As Elder Chen spoke, he handed over a token. "Since the Scripture Pavilion made things difficult for you, take this as proof and go to the Pill Refining Hall to choose a Pill Dao."

Xiao Chen thanked Elder Chen, then headed to the Pill Refining Hall, where he met another Elder Chen.

The Chen Family had practiced alchemy for generations. Within the sect, the one in charge of managing the Pill Refining Hall was Chen Tianyang's elder brother—Chen Tianyuan.

After examining the token, Xiao Chen followed the guidance of a senior brother from the Pill Refining Hall to the Warehouse.

"Junior Brother Xiao, the shelves here hold the sect's remaining complete Pill Dao inheritances, each with its own specialties. They are likewise divided into Mysterious and Yellow grades."

"The two rows on the left are all Mysterious-grade Pill Dao. The row on the far right contains only Yellow-grade Pill Dao practiced by ordinary alchemy apprentices."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen walked straight to the far right.

"Junior Brother Xiao, you went the wrong way. Those are all Yellow-grade Inheritances."

Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother, but I did not go the wrong way. You may not know this, but I prefer simpler inheritances like these. They make it easier to get started."

Huh?

This Pill Refining Hall senior brother simply could not understand such a bizarre notion, yet he was deeply shaken by it.

Was there really someone who would pass up a Mysterious-grade Inheritance and choose a Yellow-grade Inheritance?

No, no, no. He was probably just curious.

"Senior Brother, I've chosen. I'll take this one."

This was not the Scripture Pavilion, after all. There were only four Yellow-grade Inheritances here, respectively focusing on fire as their core while accommodating the four directions of metal, wood, water, and earth.

Xiao Chen had a Low-Grade Wood Spiritual Root, so he naturally chose the Evergreen Pill Method, which focused on the Wood Attribute. There was no need for hesitation.

"Junior Brother Xiao, are you really not going to choose another inheritance? You have not even glanced at those Mysterious-grade Inheritances."

Even after they left the Pill Refining Hall and stood outside its entrance, that senior brother still found it hard to believe.

"I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother, but my talent is dull. I cannot understand inheritances that are too complex, so I'll choose this one."

Xiao Chen's attitude was resolute. He strode down the mountain to the market, preparing to buy a suitable Pill Furnace.

Naturally, the Li Fire Sect did not lack Pill Furnaces. Yet even apprentices with aspirations of becoming Alchemists would purchase a Pill Furnace of their own.

That was because the sect's public Pill Furnaces were not only insufficient in number, often requiring people to queue for use.

They were also old and worn. Refining pills with such furnaces would inevitably make Pill Formation far more difficult.

Elder Chen had told him about this before and advised him to choose an ordinary Low-Grade Pill Furnace.

A typical new model cost around one hundred Spirit Stones. Though a little expensive, this was the tier used by most disciples of the Pill Refining Hall.

If one was willing to buy discarded secondhand goods, they could be dozens of Spirit Stones cheaper depending on their condition. They were generally sold to apprentices.

After all, even secondhand goods were far, far better than the sect's public Pill Furnaces.

As for premium Pill Furnaces that helped with Pill Formation, they were extremely expensive and not especially cost-effective for beginners. That depended on one's own wishes and the number of Spirit Stones in one's pocket.

As the saying went, if a craftsman wished to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.

With a good Pill Furnace, learning alchemy would surely become much more convenient and easier.

Xiao Chen considered it and decided that necessary money should be spent. He headed straight for the largest and busiest shop in Li Fire Market—the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Of course, following the principle that wealth should not be displayed, he deliberately put on a Stealth Cloak to conceal his appearance.

With such a grand name, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was naturally enormous.

Qi Refining Stage Artifacts alone occupied an entire building.

From the first floor to the ninth, they respectively sold Flying Swords, Magic Robes, Talisman Making, artifact refining, alchemy, formations, beast taming, and Mysterious Items.

When Xiao Chen reached the fifth floor, a Rogue Cultivator at Qi Refining Layer Eight was already haggling with a manager from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion over a red Pill Furnace.

"Six hundred Spirit Stones at the least. This is already the lowest price. We're selling it at a loss."

"Fellow Daoist, make it a little cheaper. The prices of all kinds of Spirit Herbs have been rising lately. This old man truly does not have enough Spirit Stones. Lower it by another fifty Spirit Stones, just fifty."

The manager repeatedly shook his head. "No, no. Six hundred Spirit Stones is already our most sincere price."

Then he turned and greeted Xiao Chen with a beaming smile. "Fellow Daoist, the row behind you and the row to the right are all excellent new-style Pill Furnaces. If any catch your eye, just call for me."

The Stealth Cloak concealed Xiao Chen's appearance, but the cloak itself meant that its wearer's purpose was anything but simple.

If hidden-identity customers did not generally dislike being disturbed, especially being probed for information, the manager would have run over at once to introduce the goods rather than continue haggling over every last coin.

Xiao Chen carefully inspected several Pill Furnaces and compared the descriptions beneath the Mid-Grade Pill Furnaces and Low-Grade Pill Furnaces.

He found that Mid-Grade Pill Furnaces were mainly superior because they helped cultivators output Spirit Fire more steadily, while also holding more Medicinal Herbs and enduring higher temperatures than Low-Grade Pill Furnaces.

For novice Alchemists, controlling the size of the Spirit Fire by regulating the speed of Mana input was quite difficult.

However, through pre-engraved Artifact Inscriptions, a Mid-Grade Pill Furnace could set a maximum limit for Mana input.

Thus, even if an Alchemist injected excessive Mana, the temperature would remain below the preset warning line, ensuring that the fire did not become too fierce.

The Three-Legged Spirit Return Fire Furnace before him could even store some Mana in advance or have Spirit Stones inserted to assist its operation.

This way, an Alchemist needed only a little Mana to activate the Pill Furnace, greatly reducing the Mana burden during alchemy.

It also had a function that prevented the Spirit Fire from cutting out. Once activated, even if the Mana injection stopped, the Spirit Fire would remain stable with the support of Spirit Stones.

That way, if something urgent happened midway through refining, the Alchemist could lower the flame and leave briefly. It was especially convenient.

Low-Grade Pill Furnaces, meanwhile, basically only converted Mana into Spirit Fire. Throughout the entire process, the Alchemist had to remain fully focused, without the slightest mistake.

Naturally, since Mid-Grade Pill Furnaces had stronger functions than Low-Grade Pill Furnaces, their prices rose with the tide.

Even the cheapest model required four hundred ninety-nine Spirit Stones, while this Three-Legged Revolving Fire Pill Furnace cost a full nine hundred Spirit Stones.

After looking it over again and again, Xiao Chen felt that although the Three-Legged Revolving Fire Pill Furnace was a little expensive, it was fully equipped. For a novice Alchemist like himself who was just preparing to begin, it was undoubtedly something urgently needed.

When he looked back, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion manager was still haggling with that Rogue Cultivator. The price had now reached five hundred ninety-nine Spirit Stones.

Xiao Chen called out directly, "Manager, what is the lowest price for this Pill Furnace?"

"Ah, sir truly has a fine eye!" Upon hearing this, the manager immediately came over enthusiastically. "This Pill Furnace was made by an Artifact Refining Master—"

Xiao Chen raised a hand, cutting off his sales pitch. "Enough. Name the price."

The manager held out his index finger and thumb. "If you sincerely want it, I'll make the decision and sell it to you for eight hundred eighty-eight Spirit Stones, symbolizing that you will prosper all the way in the future, wealth—"

Xiao Chen spoke sternly. "Enough, enough. This old man is busy choosing a gift for his disciple and cannot be bothered to haggle with you. Give me a real price."

"If I am satisfied, we have a deal. If you quote another inflated price, this old man will go elsewhere."

This was the disguise Xiao Chen had devised for himself. With the Stealth Cloak on, the other party could not tell his age anyway.

Through his words, he hinted that he was an Alchemy Grandmaster capable of taking disciples, merely here to buy a Pill Furnace for his disciple. He understood the market well, so the manager should not even think of deceiving him.

The manager was indeed bluffed and did not agree immediately.

After thinking for a moment, he proposed an entirely new deal. "Master, since this is a gift for your disciple, I also have a batch of fine Incense Sticks made from excellent Agarwood Aloeswood."

"The price of eight hundred eighty-eight Spirit Stones was set by the shopkeeper, but I can make the decision to give you three bundles of Incense Sticks, along with an excellent Warm Jade Prayer Mat. What do you think?"

This batch of agarwood incense had originally been ordered by another Alchemist a year ago. After he went out, however, there had been no word from him, so the incense was left sitting here.

Ordinary cultivators could not afford such high-end goods, while Great Families looked down on such a small quantity. It had long been a source of worry for the manager, who feared it would be left to rot in his hands.

He was merely giving it a try as he brought out the agarwood incense and prayer mat, hoping that this unfamiliar Alchemy Grandmaster would take them off his hands at cost.

Bought separately, these two items would cost at least around one hundred sixty Spirit Stones, mainly because the Agarwood Aloeswood was truly expensive.

Xiao Chen inspected the Incense Sticks and felt they seemed like good goods. With a grand wave of his hand, he said, "Wrap them up for me!"

"Right away!" The manager immediately beamed. Not only did he pack everything into a large wooden crate, he also assigned a shop assistant to carry it to the market entrance for free later.

If Xiao Chen had not been wearing the Stealth Cloak, they could have even delivered it directly to his home.

The Rogue Cultivator on the other side had originally been somewhat displeased when he saw the manager abandon him and run over.

However, seeing Xiao Chen spend so lavishly, he immediately put away his petty thoughts. Only curious contemplation remained in his eyes.

There were not many people who could casually afford Agarwood Aloeswood worth hundreds of Spirit Stones.

Could this be a Foundation Establishment senior?

Then, recalling that he had heard this person was buying a Pill Furnace for a disciple, it could basically be ruled out that he was a family Alchemist.

Could it be that a Rogue Cultivator Foundation Establishment Alchemist had newly arrived in Li Fire Market?

This was important news. He had to keep an eye on it.