Self-Taught Alchemy

Early the next morning, Jiang Wen summoned all the Jiang Family's core members to the family council hall. He had the doors and windows shut, strictly forbidding any unrelated person from approaching.

Jiang Wen took out a bar of soap personally made by Zhao Ping'an and showed it to everyone. "Guess how many silver ingots this pancake is worth."

After saying that, he passed it around for everyone to inspect.

The Jiang Family's core members took turns holding and examining the soap, clicking their tongues in amazement. They had never seen a pancake of such high quality and flawless perfection.

The soap eventually returned to Jiang Wen's hands. He asked, "Tell me, what price would you put on it?"

"Thirty silver ingots!" Zhao Ping'an's second uncle was the first to speak.

Someone immediately voiced a different opinion. "At least fifty!"

"It's worth a hundred!" someone else shouted an even higher price. It was a woman's voice.

Jiang Shuyue looked toward the sound and saw that it was her second aunt.

Her second aunt was exceptionally gifted and ranked second among the Jiang Family's experts. She had not married out, instead bringing a husband into the family.

Jiang Wen could not help glaring at his younger sister. Dissatisfied, he said, "Why not shout a thousand silver ingots?"

Unexpectedly, Second aunt refused to yield. "If I had the money, I'd buy it even if it cost more than a thousand!"

Jiang Wen was so exasperated that he laughed, but it was a happy laugh.

This pancake truly appealed more to women, who were willing to pay a higher price for it.

"Shuyue, tell everyone where this pancake came from." Jiang Wen turned to Jiang Shuyue.

Everyone's gaze immediately gathered on Jiang Shuyue. A trace of pride could not help appearing on her breathtakingly beautiful face. "Ping'an gave this pancake to me. But he didn't buy it—it was made by his own hands!"

"Ah!!!" Everyone cried out in shock, disbelief written across their faces.

Zhao Ping'an was only one year old, still at the age of nursing—although he had already been weaned. Yet this pancake was white as jade all over, without a trace of mixed odor, carrying only the fragrance of jasmine. It was a perfect treasure; one could imagine how difficult it had been to make.

A moment later, Zhao Ping'an's second uncle suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Ping'an is truly filial, and exceptionally brilliant as well!"

The others came back to their senses from their shock and began praising Zhao Ping'an one after another, marveling that he might be the reincarnation of a sage.

After a wild round of praise, Second aunt asked Jiang Shuyue, "Shuyue, how did Ping'an make this pancake?"

The council hall instantly fell so silent that a needle dropping could be heard. Every gaze focused on Jiang Shuyue, full of expectation.

Jiang Shuyue smiled. "Ping'an has already told me the entire method for making this pancake. It isn't complicated, and the cost is low."

Everyone could not help showing delight. This meant the Lineage had gained another source of income.

Jiang Shuyue continued with a smile, "By my calculations, we would still make a profit even if we sold this pancake for only half a silver ingot."

Boom—

The council hall instantly erupted. Everyone became excited beyond restraint.

After Zhao Ping'an told Jiang Shuyue how to make soap, she did not spend more time with him. On the contrary, she became even busier.

The Jiang Family needed to establish a soap workshop, and the method of making soap had to be kept strictly confidential, so they could only use Jiang Family members as much as possible. As one of the people leading the soap workshop, Jiang Shuyue was inevitably busy during its early stages.

Zhao Ping'an guessed the reason, so naturally he did not blame Mother for breaking her word.

After being bored for two days, Zhao Ping'an seriously considered the issue of his future Cultivation Resources again.

Making soap to sell was merely earning small money. If the profits were too outrageous or they earned too much, the Jiang Family would not be able to protect the soap-making craft.

Moreover, as time passed, the soap-making craft would certainly leak out. It could not become a truly exclusive business.

Therefore, hoping that a single bar of soap would provide him with an endless stream of Cultivation Resources was undoubtedly a fool's dream.

"Since I'll need to consume vast quantities of Spirit Pills in the future, then I'll learn the Art of Alchemy." Zhao Ping'an thus decided on his future Side Hustle.

That evening, Zhao Ping'an waited for Jiang Shuyue to return after a busy day.

"Mother, I want to learn alchemy," he said earnestly to Jiang Shuyue.

Jiang Shuyue was slightly surprised. "Why do you suddenly want to learn alchemy? But you're still too young. Alchemy can be dangerous."

Zhao Ping'an did not explain his reasons. He merely pleaded with a hint of childish coaxing, "Mother, please."

"All right." Jiang Shuyue truly agreed just like that.

She was still quite confident in Zhao Ping'an.

After dinner, Jiang Shuyue went to find Jiang Wen and asked him to find an alchemy teacher for Zhao Ping'an.

Alchemists held lofty status. Any alchemist with even a little fame would have visitors crowding their threshold. They would not easily accept Disciple, and besides an exorbitant apprenticeship fee, one needed sufficiently powerful connections.

Jiang Wen agreed without hesitation. He looked forward to Zhao Ping'an becoming an Alchemist; this grandson of his was simply too extraordinarily brilliant.

The next morning, Jiang Wen took Zhao Ping'an out to seek a master.

Unexpectedly, they met walls everywhere and were politely turned down each time.

For two or three consecutive days, they visited five or six Alchemists, and every one of them politely declined Zhao Ping'an.

Jiang Wen's expression darkened. He returned to one of the Alchemists they had visited and asked for the real reason.

That Alchemist had a deep friendship with Jiang Wen, and the Jiang Family had purchased pills from him year-round.

"Your grandson's identity is unusual. Chen Mou's family business is small and meager; I truly dare not offend the Zhennan Marquis Estate," the Alchemist revealed the truth.

The Zhennan Marquis Estate was like a local emperor in White Emperor City. Alchemists had broad connections and well-informed sources, so they knew that Jiang Shuyue and Zhao Ping'an, mother and son, had actually been driven out of the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Furthermore, Zhao Yingpeng's second wife, Su Yingluo, had an enormous background. Not only was she a direct-descendant young lady of the Qingzhou Su Clan, she was also the Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord's sole personally taught laywoman Disciple.

Pudu Mountain held immense influence in the south of the Great Qian Kingdom. Its Buddhist temples were numerous, its incense offerings flourished, and its believers were countless.

If they accepted Zhao Ping'an as a Disciple, even if the Zhennan Marquis Estate did not hold it against them, should they provoke Su Yingluo's displeasure, they would still be unable to bear the consequences.

Upon learning why Zhao Ping'an had been repeatedly rejected, anger rose in Jiang Wen's heart, but he was helpless.

"Grandfather, it's fine. I won't seek a master anymore." Zhao Ping'an comforted Jiang Wen.

Jiang Wen reached out and stroked Zhao Ping'an's little head, sighing. "Ping'an, you're so intelligent and sensible. You've been wronged."

Zhao Ping'an added another entry for the Zhennan Marquis Estate in the little ledger in his heart.

"Grandfather, I can actually teach myself alchemy. Can you help me gather some Alchemy Books and Pill Recipes?" Zhao Ping'an asked Jiang Wen seriously.

Jiang Wen frowned. "Alchemy is no trivial matter, and it is by no means easy. Even with a famous master personally teaching them, the vast majority of people still cannot become Alchemists."

"Just let me mess around and play with it. I'm bored every day," Zhao Ping'an pleaded pitifully.

Jiang Wen gave a wry smile. "You matured too early, so you find things boring. When others are one year old, they're only just learning to walk."

After hesitating a moment, he indulgently said, "Fine. Grandfather will find you Alchemy Books and Pill Recipes, including an Alchemy Furnace and everything else."

"Thank you, Grandfather." Zhao Ping'an said happily.

Jiang Wen bent down and picked Zhao Ping'an up, his heart full of tenderness for this grandson.

Five days later, Jiang Wen found Zhao Ping'an a Basic Alchemy Book and two Pill Recipes. He also prepared an Alchemy Furnace for him and gave him another three hundred taels of silver.

The Basic Alchemy Book was called "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials," guiding beginners on how to enter the Art of Alchemy.

The two Pill Recipes were "Hundred Herbs Elixir" and "Qi Blood Pill." Both were unranked Pill Recipes, suitable for beginners to practice with.

Zhao Ping'an picked up "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials" and rapidly flipped through it.

Before long, he finished reading "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials." Immediately afterward, he swiftly finished reading "Hundred Herbs Elixir" and "Qi Blood Pill" as well. Then he closed the book and Pill Recipes, slightly shut his eyes, and opened the panel in his mind.

Name: Zhao Ping'an

Age: One year old

Cultivation: Early Primordial Sea Realm

Bloodline: Ancient Sacred Body 100%

Cultivation Methods: "Dao Scripture" Volume Two (/), "Dao Scripture" Volume Three (0/1 million), "Dao Scripture" Volume Four (0/10 million), "Dao Scripture" Volume Five (0/100 million), "Dao Scripture" Volume Six (0/1 billion), "Dao Scripture" Volume Seven (0/10 billion)

Divine Abilities: Sacred Body: Law, Heaven, and Earth (0/10 million) (Restricted), Unblemished Adamantine Body (1 million/10 million), Blood Drop Rebirth (0/5 million) (Restricted), Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye (0/1 million) (Restricted), Kuafu Sun Chasing (0/1 million) (Restricted), Infinite Divine Strength (0/1 million) (Restricted)

Spells: Primal Chaos Body Protection [Earth Rank] (/), "Mortal Transformation" (/),

Martial Skills: "Gale Swordplay" [Low Grade], "Arhat Subduing Fist" [Middle Grade]

Art of Alchemy: "Hundred Herbs Elixir" [Unranked] (0/100), "Qi Blood Pill" [Unranked] (0/100)

Text Comprehension: "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials" (1/300), "Brief History of the Great Wilderness" (30/30), "History of Human Tribulation" (30/30)...

Proficiency Points: 3,465,180 (Points gained automatically every day.)

Zhao Ping'an fixed his gaze on "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials," added Proficiency Points to it, and filled it up in one breath.

For a time, enormous amounts of alchemy knowledge and techniques flooded into his mind. Zhao Ping'an held fast to his consciousness and received them.

After two or three breaths, Zhao Ping'an had completely comprehended "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials."

Opening his eyes, Zhao Ping'an revealed an easy smile.

He exhaled a breath of stale air, then closed his eyes again and reopened the panel. His gaze still fell upon "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials."

He continued adding points to "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials" until the Proficiency Points reached the required Ten Times amount.

An even deeper comprehension of "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials" flooded into his mind, as though he had studied and practiced it for decades.

Zhao Ping'an continued adding Proficiency Points to "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials," reaching one hundred times.

For a time, he gained an even more profound and entirely new understanding of "Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials," casting off the old and bringing forth the new.

"Thirty-Six Alchemy Essentials" changed before his eyes, automatically becoming "Forty-Eight Alchemy Truths."

Opening his eyes, delight appeared in Zhao Ping'an's gaze. "Having comprehended 'Forty-Eight Alchemy Truths,' as long as I have Middle Grade Pill Recipes, I can refine Middle Grade Spirit Pills!"

After rejoicing for a while, Zhao Ping'an pressed on with renewed vigor. He added Proficiency Points to "Hundred Herbs Elixir" and "Qi Blood Pill," respectively, raising both to one hundred times. He then comprehended the "Hundred Herbs Pill" Pill Recipe [Low Grade] and the "Qi and Blood Pill" Pill Recipe [Low Grade], respectively.

Opening his eyes once more, Zhao Ping'an stood up and walked outside, muttering to himself, "Next comes buying medicinal herbs and refining pills."