Zhuangkang Avenue

"The effects were really mediocre. It only added 0.1 Potential Points. It was probably because the medicine I mixed myself was not as effective. Still, the remaining Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste can be applied another five times. Altogether, it can add 0.6 Potential Points."

In the early hours of the morning, Yang Chan saw the additional 0.4 Potential Points and frowned slightly.

He had spent five taels of silver to buy the ingredients for the Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste—five times the cost of the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup. That was already at cost price thanks to his status as an Alchemist Assistant, avoiding the markups of middlemen.

By all rights, its effects should have been better. Yet they were unexpectedly mediocre, not worth the price.

"There is a problem with the Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste prepared according to the fixed proportions. The medicinal properties clash, ultimately weakening the finished product's effects. It does work, but only barely."

"Still, my skin and flesh have improved slightly. That is a gain beyond the Potential Points, though it is not much. Using it before the Ox Demon Strength Fist reaches the Second Order would be somewhat wasteful."

Yang Chan silently pondered.

"There are no tasks for the next three days. I should spend more time on the Ox Demon Strength Fist and raise it to Second Order: Entering the Hall first. Then I can temper my skin and flesh and enjoy the Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste's benefits twofold."

Bear Gallbladder Skin Tempering Paste could be stored for a long time and used over an extended period.

His previous application had merely been a test.

If he calculated solely by Potential Points, the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup was still more cost-effective.

Yang Chan did not have much silver left, so naturally, he had to spend it sparingly. By next month, his monthly stipend would increase—unless something unexpected happened.

The monthly stipend for an Alchemist Assistant was quite decent.

"Now that I have tested it and gotten my answer, I will not stay up any later."

Although Yang Chan was not very satisfied with the Potential Points he had gained, he did not intend to lose sleep over it.

"Junior Brother Yang Chan, appearances really can be deceiving. You are something else!"

"You have already become Pharmacist Xu's assistant. It looks like you learned quite a lot back when you were a Herb Gathering Boy!"

Shi Gaojun spotted Yang Chan practicing the Ox Demon Strength Fist in the Medicine Hall Martial Academy and happily walked over to his side.

Yang Chan's face darkened at once.

What did he mean, appearances could be deceiving?

Then he recalled that when he had been doing the Medicine Drying Task, the sun had tanned his skin dark, and he had been thin and frail, looking like an underdeveloped dark-skinned boy.

Even after a month of recuperation, supplemented by two health-preserving arts and medicinal meals, he had only recovered somewhat. He was no longer quite so skinny, and though his complexion had improved a little, he still looked dark.

"You too, Senior Brother. I did not expect your news to travel so quickly."

Yang Chan slowly finished his form, then looked at the short, plump Shi Gaojun.

"Uh!"

Shi Gaojun froze for a moment. He did not know whether Yang Chan had deliberately insulted him, but he had been the one to say it first.

"It really is unfortunate that you became an Alchemist Assistant now, Junior Brother. Otherwise, you could have joined the sect's internal tasks."

"You have probably heard that several factions under the Qingyuan Sect have rebelled. The elders are now leading teams, and Elite Disciples and Formal Disciples can follow them down the mountain to carry out missions."

"When the time comes, they can obtain precious herbs, silver, and other things from the exterminated families. The sect will only take a portion, while the rest will be distributed according to the contributions of the participating disciples. There may even be medicinal materials useful for External Refinement and Internal Refinement."

Shi Gaojun spoke with a smile, wearing the expression of someone who thought Yang Chan had suffered a huge loss.

The Qingyuan Sect's elders were all Internal Refinement Grandmasters. With such people leading the way, there would basically be no danger. Going after the rebellious factions would be like sweeping everything before them.

And they would get rewards besides.

"That really is a pity. But my cultivation is not high to begin with, so I can use this time to study the knowledge in the Medicine Scripture. It will be of some help in the future."

Yang Chan appropriately showed a look of regret before stating his plans.

The Qingyuan Sect's actions were indeed much as Yang Chan had expected. It had only been a matter of time. By becoming an Alchemist Assistant early, he had also neatly avoided this troublesome affair.

Even with sect elders leading the suppression of the rebellious factions, those factions would certainly have experts of their own. With Yang Chan's Raging Bull Strength only at the major accomplishment stage, he was still no match for External Refinement experts. Naturally, he had to avoid them.

"It is fine. If you miss this chance, there may be opportunities later."

"Even if you cannot participate, you Alchemist Assistants can still receive a share of the credit. After all, they will need to bring all kinds of medicines when they go out."

"With your current cultivation, you would most likely not even be a match for the others. Staying in the Qingyuan Sect is safer for you."

Shi Gaojun knew that it had taken Yang Chan two and a half years to become a Formal Disciple, so his talent was relatively poor. With Yang Chan's current strength, his real combat ability was surely average, and the fighting power he could display would certainly not be very strong.

That level of strength was fine for dealing with ordinary people, but it amounted to nothing against those who had nurtured Jing Power. Unlike him—his Raging Bull Strength was nearly at major accomplishment, and his combat power was formidable.

He also had practical combat experience. Even against someone whose Jing Power had reached major accomplishment, he was fully confident.

"That is what I think as well."

Yang Chan nodded.

Even though his Ox Demon Strength Fist had surpassed that of many Formal Disciples, he remained steady, because this little bit of strength truly amounted to nothing.

He would not let it go to his head.

"It is fine. Once this Senior Brother returns from the mountain with good things, Junior Brother can buy them from my stall on Qingyu Street. I will definitely give you cost price then."

Shi Gaojun spoke again, never straying far from his business.

Before he had even left the Qingyuan Sect, he was already taking preorders.

"Then I wish Senior Brother great gains on this journey."

Yang Chan spoke as the qi and blood in his body slowly recovered.

"A small matter. I will pull in a few more people and go together."

With that, Shi Gaojun left.

"So, I was being looked down on."

After Shi Gaojun left, Yang Chan came back to himself. Shi Gaojun thought his cultivation was too low, so he was not even qualified to go along.

Yang Chan curled his lips and did not care. He had intended to keep a low profile anyway, so naturally, he did not care what others thought. Besides, the path he had chosen was also a Zhuangkang Avenue—only, he was the sole one who knew of it.

As the one benefiting from it, he would naturally make his fortune in silence and wait until he had the strength to protect himself.

External Refinement: Bronze Skin barely counted as having some strength. External Refinement: Steel Tendons meant one was no longer weak. External Refinement: Iron Bones counted as a modest achievement. And under normal circumstances, an Internal Refinement Grandmaster should be relatively safe.

If he had no choice but to leave the Qingyuan Sect, Yang Chan hoped to at least reach the External Refinement realm. He would not set himself a flag by saying when he would leave, lest Murphy's Law come for him. That would be the most miserable thing of all.

I hope this chaos ends sooner, so I can continue living peacefully in the Qingyuan Sect as a low-key Pharmacist.

Yang Chan silently thought.

The chaotic situation was becoming increasingly apparent. This was no longer merely the result of natural disasters, but of restless hearts. To resolve it completely, lives would inevitably have to be piled up one after another.