Huang Wangyou

Huang Clan Pill Workshop.

A faint Pill Fragrance permeated the courtyard.

Chen Sheng wore a brand-new azure long robe.

Beside him stood Li Huayao, a girl dressed in a lotus-purple gown.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, with cattail mats placed before them.

Behind them stood Chen Sheng's Uncle and Li Huayao's father.

Everyone wore solemn expressions.

They were witnessing this apprenticeship ceremony.

Seated in the place of honor within the Pill Workshop was a middle-aged cultivator with a lean face and bright, piercing eyes.

He was Huang Yueyang, an alchemist at the Qi Refinement seventh layer.

Huang Yueyang lightly tapped the armrest of his grand chair with his fingertips, his gaze moving between the two children.

He slowly spoke:

"Now that you have entered my Huang Clan Pill Workshop, you must abide by the rules of the Way of Alchemy, cultivate diligently, and not squander your time."

Chen Sheng and Li Huayao answered in unison.

"Yes!"

The two then knelt and kowtowed together.

They raised Tea Cups above their heads with both hands.

Huang Yueyang accepted the Tea Cups and took a light sip.

He nodded and said:

"From today onward, you two shall be my disciples."

"Li Huayao is sixteen and shall be the Senior Sister. Tang Yun is fourteen and shall be the Junior Disciple Brother."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved toward the side of the courtyard.

"You all, come over."

Several young men and women walked over, each standing tall and looking distinguished.

"These are your three Senior Brothers and three Senior Sisters."

Huang Yueyang introduced them one by one.

Chen Sheng hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting, his voice clear and bright.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

Li Huayao followed suit, greeting each of them in turn with the poise of a well-bred young lady.

The Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters also looked at them warmly, smiles in their eyes and kindness on their faces.

Just then.

A petite figure ran out from beneath the corridor, her skirt fluttering as she moved with lively grace!

The girl looked to be around twelve or thirteen. A Gold Bracelet circled her wrist, while seven jade bells hung from the sash around her waist.

Dressed in white as pristine as snow, her delicate features resembled a painting. Though still childlike, she already showed the potential for breathtaking beauty.

Huang Yueyang pointed at the girl and smiled.

"This is my daughter, Wangyou. She is your Junior Sister."

"Father!"

Huang Wangyou planted one hand on her slim waist, looking quite displeased.

"I gave you apprenticeship tea just a few days ago. They entered later than I did, so how can they call me Junior Sister?"

Her almond eyes widened, and her puffed-up little face made her look like an angry little fox with its fur standing on end.

Huang Yueyang froze upon hearing this.

He then remembered the playful "apprenticeship tea" his daughter had offered him half a month ago.

I've fallen for this little girl's trick.

Yet Huang Yueyang kept his expression unchanged and added to Chen Sheng and Li Huayao:

"Though Wangyou is young, she entered the sect before you. You should address her as Junior Senior Sister."

Li Huayao looked at the girl, who was half a head shorter than herself, and called out somewhat unwillingly:

"Junior Senior Sister."

Huang Wangyou curled her lips and gave a quiet response.

Chen Sheng, however, respectfully cupped his hands. "Senior Sister."

Huang Wangyou immediately beamed, lifting her chin slightly and giving Chen Sheng a look that said, "At least you know what's good for you."

Her spirited appearance made the surrounding Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters stifle their laughter.

Senior Sister Liu smiled and teased:

"Wangyou has been the Junior Sister for so many years. She has finally become a Senior Sister."

Three mornings later.

Huang Yueyang announced a new arrangement in the Alchemy Room:

"Zhang Yue, Luo Yun, starting tomorrow, you will guide the new Junior Disciple Brother and Junior Sister in learning to identify and prepare medicinal ingredients."

"Yes!"

Zhang Yue clenched his fist in response, excitement written all over his face.

Luo Yun also smiled softly with pursed lips.

The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters all revealed gratified smiles.

Only Li Huayao looked utterly confused.

She quietly tugged at Chen Sheng's sleeve.

"Why are they so eager to do more work?"

Chen Sheng merely smiled without answering.

But he understood perfectly well.

Six years of medicine preparation, six years of Fire Control, and eight years of Pill Condensation.

Three stages in total!

According to the Pill Workshop's rules, one could only enter the Fire Room to study Fire Control after learning medicine preparation. Only after mastering Fire Control could one learn Pill Condensation.

Under Master Huang.

Each stage had one male and one female disciple.

It was precisely because Chen Sheng and Li Huayao had arrived that Zhang Yue and Luo Yun had the chance to advance.

If nothing unexpected happened.

Once Chen Sheng and Li Huayao mastered the basics of medicine preparation, Zhang Yue and Luo Yun would advance to the Fire Room to begin studying Fire Control.

And so it continued upward.

The two who had originally studied Fire Control would learn Pill Condensation, while the two studying Pill Condensation could complete their apprenticeship.

Therefore.

The arrival of new disciples.

Was a good thing for every disciple.

There was almost no competition within the entire lineage, and everyone got along harmoniously.

Time slowly passed.

In the blink of an eye, two months had gone by.

Medicine shelves filled the Medicine Room, with dozens of medicinal ingredients sorted neatly into categories.

Chen Sheng crouched before the Bluestone Platform, pinching a stalk of Ebony Grass between his fingertips.

Following the method Zhang Yue had taught him, he carefully plucked away the withered leaves, his movements swift and focused.

Over the past two months.

He practiced during the day.

At night, he copied medicinal ingredient charts by the light of an oil lamp.

He memorized and studied them over and over.

He had long since mastered the processing methods and medicinal properties of dozens of basic medicinal ingredients.

"Junior Disciple Brother, your Hand Seal has become more and more skilled."

Before long, Zhang Yue accepted the processed medicinal ingredients and nodded with satisfaction.

"Thanks to you, Senior Sister Luo and I will probably be able to enter the Fire Room next month."

Chen Sheng looked completely sincere.

"It is all thanks to Senior Brother's repeated guidance and supervision. I merely put in a little effort."

Zhang Yue let out a soft sigh.

"Yes. Identifying and preparing basic medicinal ingredients is not difficult to begin with. With just a little effort, one can achieve something."

"Unfortunately, some people simply refuse to put in the effort!"

As he spoke.

His gaze shifted toward the other group.

His expression carried a trace of resentment.

Nearby.

Senior Sister Luo Yun's face had flushed red. She struck the table with a medicinal pestle and sternly lectured Li Huayao.

"Junior Sister Li! The roots of this Red Ganoderma need to be removed three inches up. Look at what you've cut!"

Li Huayao stuck out her tongue and hurriedly began processing the medicinal ingredients again.

But as soon as Luo Yun turned around, she secretly yawned again, and the movements of her hands slowed.

Over the past two months.

Chen Sheng had become fairly familiar with the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters in the Medicine Room.

Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Sister Luo Yun both came from ordinary families.

Senior Brother Zhang in particular.

His family had even borrowed a sum of Spirit Stones just to send him here to study alchemy.

Thus, both of them were extremely diligent, and there was not the slightest problem with their attitude toward learning.

Li Huayao, however, was different.

She came from a branch of the Li Clan, a Foundation Establishment Family. Her father was a cultivator at the Qi Condensation Late-stage and possessed considerable wealth.

Li Huayao herself was the youngest daughter of the family and greatly doted upon. She had been pampered since childhood.

Although she had not developed a terrible temperament, she clearly lacked much drive to strive ahead.

Zhang Yue patted Chen Sheng on the shoulder.

"Having an Senior Sister like her in your batch, kid, you'll have plenty to endure in the future."

Chen Sheng merely smiled.

A loss may yet prove a blessing.

He continued processing the medicinal ingredients in his hands.

Another month passed.

With Senior Sister Luo and Senior Brother Zhang working together and taking turns supervising her.

They gave Li Huayao no chance to slack off.

She finally completed the basics of medicine preparation.

And passed her master's examination.

Medicine Room.

Huang Yueyang examined the results of Chen Sheng and Li Huayao's work.

He nodded in satisfaction.

"Luo Yun, Zhang Yue, beginning tomorrow, you will go to the Fire Room to study."

"Thank you, Master!"

The two were overjoyed and deeply bowed.

They could finally learn Fire Control.

Then.

Huang Yueyang looked at Chen Sheng and Li Huayao.

"Your Senior Brother and Senior Sister are going to the Fire Room. You two must take up the Medicine Room's duties."

"Yes."

Chen Sheng nodded seriously.

Having stayed in the Medicine Room for so long, he had a clear understanding of its work.

For common basic medicinal ingredients.

He could handle them with ease on his own.

For important and rare medicinal ingredients.

His master would personally instruct him.

There would be no problem!

Without his Senior Brother and Senior Sister to help, the only difference was an increased workload.

Learning required a great deal of practice.

Li Huayao, meanwhile, wore a bitter expression. The moment she thought of the enormous workload, she felt as if life had lost all meaning.

Yet before her master, she had no choice but to nod.

Huang Yueyang took both of their attitudes in.

Huang Yueyang turned his gaze toward the corridor, toward an agile figure.

"Wangyou, since you are the Senior Sister, you will oversee the Junior Disciple Brothers and Junior Sisters in the Medicine Room from now on."

"Yay!"

Huang Wangyou immediately skipped over, the jade bells at her waist swaying and chiming crisply through the air.

"I guarantee I'll keep them all in line!"

She immediately ran to Li Huayao's side and carefully examined the Angelica Root she was processing.

Then she suddenly pointed at the cut surface.

"You left the woody core here. You should be punished!"

Li Huayao helplessly trimmed it again.

"Please instruct me, Senior Sister."

Huang Wangyou immediately puffed out her little chest. "Watch carefully. Angelica Root must be cut against the grain, only then can it..."

Sunlight fell across her earnest profile.

Chen Sheng looked at her playful brows and eyes and thought to himself, This little girl really does hold a grudge.