Trying Alchemy

"Young Master Yan, it is not that the Mite'er Family lacks sincerity. It is simply that Earth-tier Dou Skills are indeed difficult to find. Moreover, the Mu Family has already learned of our intentions and has been secretly causing obstacles."

Ya Fei said apologetically, "You originally gave us one year, but you suddenly changed your mind. The family could only have me bring these two Dou Skills first.

"But rest assured, the family has already begun seeking other channels in the Chu Yun Empire, Mu Lan Empire, Golden Goose Empire, and other nations. We should find suitable Dou Skills before the end of the year."

"No need!"

Yan Qingshan gave the two Dou Skills a cursory glance, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "I want these two Dou Skills and these three cultivation techniques. How many Gold Coins will that be in total?"

"What!"

Ya Fei was so astonished that she shot straight up from her seat. She had come prepared to offend him this time. After all, the two Earth-tier Dou Skills sent by the family were truly hard to describe. Their power was formidable, but they were far more difficult to cultivate than other Dou Skills of the same tier. Wasn't that practically swindling someone?

Yet the situation had taken an unexpected turn. Yan Qingshan actually wanted them all, leaving her momentarily dazed and unable to believe it.

"You heard correctly. I want them all. How many Gold Coins?"

Yan Qingshan confirmed it again with a nod. Only then did Ya Fei recover, raising her slender jade hand and gesturing. "Five million. However, the family said that if you take them all, four million Gold Coins will do.

"These three Profound-tier High-grade Cultivation Techniques are extremely niche apart from the Wind Scroll Art. Even at auction, the other two would be hard-pressed to sell for five hundred thousand. As for the two Earth-tier Dou Skills, the base price for an Earth-tier Dou Skill is one million. For all five items together, four million Gold Coins."

"Four million Gold Coins? Wouldn't your Mite'er Family be taking a loss that way?"

Yan Qingshan stroked his chin. Profound-tier High-grade Cultivation Techniques with accompanying Dou Skills were truly worth over a million each, while one million was merely the base price for Earth-tier Dou Skills.

Although Ya Fei's words made some sense, the Mite'er Family had expended considerable manpower and resources over the past half year. Four million might not mean a loss, but there would not be much profit either.

"Fine. Take a look at how much these things are worth. Consider them all payment to you."

The Storage Ring on Yan Qingshan's hand flashed, and a large chest packed with treasures appeared, taking up a sizable patch of Open Space in the hall.

Ya Fei and Gu Ni stepped forward and opened the chest. Its glittering treasures reflected across their faces. These were all rare valuables Yan Qingshan had taken from the treasure vault in that cliffside cave, and there were simply too many valuable items inside.

"This..."

After roughly examining the contents, Ya Fei and Gu Ni turned back and exchanged looks. They had long guessed that Yan Qingshan was generous, but they had never expected such lavishness.

Suppressing her emotions, Ya Fei turned to Yan Qingshan and said, "Young Master Yan, these items are extremely valuable. Including the deposit you gave earlier, even after deducting the price of the five cultivation techniques and Dou Skills, there is still a difference of nearly ten million Gold Coins..."

"Ten million Gold Coins? There's still that much left?"

Yan Qingshan truly had not expected the former owner of that treasure chamber to be so immensely wealthy. But then again, it was not strange for someone who had likely been a Dou Emperor to possess such wealth. A Dou Emperor was already among the absolute upper echelon of the Jia Ma Empire. If one controlled an empire, possessing ten million Gold Coins was hardly remarkable.

"How about this? Consider it my long-term investment in the Mitel Auction House. Help me search for and collect pill formulas, notes, rare medicinal herbs, and anything else related to alchemists..."

Yan Qingshan rubbed his chin and made his decision. Now that he possessed the Peach Blossom Flame, although he could not cultivate Fire Attribute Dou Qi or Dou Skills, refining ingredients and making medicine should not pose much of a problem. His primary attribute was Wood, and his spiritual perception far surpassed that of ordinary people. It seemed that none of the three fundamental requirements for becoming an alchemist would be an issue for him.

Moreover, ever since obtaining that Mo Clan alchemist's notebook, he had gained many ideas. This was the perfect opportunity to try them out.

"Alright!"

Though Ya Fei was puzzled, she did not ask further. She stored the chest of treasures Yan Qingshan had given her in her Storage Ring, then departed Qingshan Town with Gu Ni.

Within a small valley in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Yan Qingshan and the others lived peaceful lives of cultivation.

Over these days, Xiao Yi Xian and Qingling had completed Dou Disciple Stage Nine and become Dou Zhe. Together with Xuelan, they were now attempting to cultivate and master the three Profound-tier Cultivation Techniques and Dou Skills Yan Qingshan had brought back.

Top-tier talent truly was terrifying. It had taken Xuelan more than ten years to advance from Dou Qi to Dou Zhe, while Yan Qingshan, not counting the time before his transmigration, had still spent more than half a year achieving it.

Qingling and Xiao Yi Xian were even more frightening. Because she had spent much time studying medicine, Xiao Yi Xian's prior cultivation speed had not been particularly fast, about the same as Yan Qingshan's original pace. Yet after awakening the Poisonous Body of Misfortune, she completed in just over a month the arduous work that had taken Yan Qingshan more than half a year.

Qingling was even more terrifying. Before Yan Qingshan went to the Tagore Desert, even having enough food and clothing had been a problem for her. Yet in less than a year since meeting him, she had gone from absolutely no foundation to becoming a Dou Zhe. How terrifying was that!

During this period, the three young women cultivated diligently. Yan Qingshan had paid a great price to obtain these Profound-tier High-grade Cultivation Techniques and Dou Skills, and none of them wished to let down his painstaking efforts. Cultivation techniques were easy to cultivate, but Dou Skills were difficult to master and required time. Thus, they had barely gone outside during this time.

Though Yan Qingshan no longer had anyone to look after him, he was not so delicate. The valley was also filled with rare medicinal herbs, so he became interested in trying his hand at alchemy.

At a Rock Wall in the gorge, six or seven meters above the ground, was a small cave. After clearing it out, Yan Qingshan made it his place for alchemy.

After placing the medicinal cauldron once used for the Lionheart Baptism in a suitable spot inside the cave, Yan Qingshan sat cross-legged atop a rock. Beside him were precious medicinal herbs he had already prepared.

He focused and circulated his Dou Qi. Deep azure Dou Qi surged within his dantian, and the previously dormant Peach Blossom Flame seed suddenly rose. A faint pink glow appeared on Yan Qingshan's face as a peach-red flame separated from his body and entered the medicinal cauldron, where it blazed fiercely.

Yan Qingshan controlled the Peach Blossom Flame to warm the cauldron. His gaze swept over the neatly arranged medicinal herbs around him as the steps he had pondered and deduced for a long time flashed through his mind. Two pale azure herbs that shimmered with spiritual radiance were drawn into his hand, then dropped into the cauldron one after another.

Yan Qingshan carefully controlled the Peach Blossom Flame. Once the two Azure Spirit Grass stalks had been mostly dried, they gradually turned into pools of spiritual liquid. He then took out a stalk of Underworld Grass from beside him, black as ink and carrying a trace of sinister color.

Yan Qingshan tossed the Underworld Grass into the medicinal cauldron, where it too slowly condensed into liquid under the Peach Blossom Flame. Just as the two medicinal liquids began to merge, there was a sputter. The Peach Blossom Flame flared and died, and the liquids instantly turned into a pool of black sludge.

"Failed. Alchemy truly is difficult!"

Yan Qingshan looked at the failed medicinal liquid and shook his head. He had long been prepared for failure. If success came so easily, how could alchemists be the most revered profession on the continent?