Competing to Help

Becoming an Alchemy Apprentice in barely two months was simply too shocking.

Fortunately, Qin Dongcheng had patched the story up in time. If he had studied such things before joining the Five Elements Sect, then with the guidance of the relevant canon, spending two months to become an Alchemy Apprentice was still believable.

Even so, an Alchemy Apprentice was ultimately an Alchemy Apprentice. Qin Dongcheng's standing in Bamboo Forest Valley had soared by quite a bit. Many people were already speculating about when he would take the relevant assessment and become an Official Disciple.

The status of an Alchemy Apprentice far surpassed that of a Martial Artist in the Skin Phase Realm. What was more, Qin Dongcheng had also entered the path of martial arts and stepped into the Body Phase Realm.

With the two combined, although he was not yet an Official Disciple, he could be promoted at any time.

The status of an Official Disciple of the Five Elements Sect vastly exceeded that of a Chore Disciple. Setting everything else aside, they were qualified to exchange for cultivation methods for the first five martial arts realms.

You refined two Blood-Replenishing Pills. Congratulations, you triggered a fiftyfold critical hit. You obtained one hundred Blood-Replenishing Pills!

A happy occasion put spring in his step; even the Heaven Rewards Diligence System had sent its congratulations.

When he refined Blood-Replenishing Pills again, not only did he produce two pills in one batch, he also triggered a fiftyfold critical hit, gaining a full hundred Blood-Replenishing Pills worth a total of one hundred taels of silver.

The cost had been only four hundred copper coins. This time, he had truly struck it rich.

After cultivating these past days, Qin Dongcheng's success rate in refining Blood-Replenishing Pills had already exceeded forty percent. In other words, out of ten attempts, he could generally succeed four times.

Ten attempts consumed only two taels of silver. Four successful batches brought in four taels, for a net profit of two taels.

Such a success rate was already quite impressive among Alchemy Apprentices, not to mention the critical-hit gains this time.

For quite some time to come, he would no longer need to worry about pills.

Of the hundred Blood-Replenishing Pills, aside from those used for his own cultivation, he could sell some in exchange for other resources.

Besides the Blood-Replenishing Pill gains, Qin Dongcheng's experience, techniques, and insights in this area had also increased fiftyfold. This should raise his success rate with Golden Wound Pills to around thirty percent as well.

The cost of a Golden Wound Pill was less than two hundred copper coins, while its market price was still one tael of silver. The profit was even greater.

Qin Dongcheng had also refined quite a few of them these past days, and his success rate had now risen to around twenty percent. With the gains from this fiftyfold critical hit, while his alchemy experience and techniques improved, the success rate of Golden Wound Pills would also surge.

As for refining Blood-Replenishing Pills, he could now produce multiple pills in a single batch. This showed just how deep his attainments in Alchemy had become.

Once he mastered the refinement of another low-grade pill, he would step into the ranks of an Official Alchemist and directly become an Official Disciple of the Five Elements Sect.

Happily putting away all the Blood-Replenishing Pills, Qin Dongcheng rested for a while before beginning his fist practice.

These days, the work in the Herb Field was basically all done by others. He only needed to make time each day to harvest the various herbs.

He even disdained to harvest ordinary herbs now. He mainly picked the more valuable ones, spending only about two hours each day.

The rest of his time could be devoted to cultivation, leaving him far more at ease than before.

When he arrived at the Herb Field again, he found that all the work had been completed by others. Many Herb Field handymen were even scrambling to work there, leaving Lu Gen, Wang Kun, and the others with scarcely anything to do.

As long as Qin Dongcheng occasionally gave them a few pointers, they were satisfied.

Even if he did not instruct them, they still wanted to use this opportunity to befriend Qin Dongcheng, this newly advanced Alchemy Apprentice and newly advanced Martial Artist.

"Alchemist Qin is here! I have saved the mature precious herbs in my field for you, just waiting for you to harvest them."

"Quick, quick, quick! Move aside! Don't block Alchemist Qin's path."

"I never expected Alchemist Qin's comprehension to be so astonishing. Before long, he will become an Official Disciple, and he may even have a chance to become an Inner Sect Disciple."

"As long as Alchemist Qin becomes an Intermediate Alchemist, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple will be easy."

Faced with everyone's flattery, Qin Dongcheng responded with a smile, modestly said a few words, thanked everyone for their help, and began harvesting those precious medicinal herbs.

You harvested Five-Year Ginseng. Congratulations, you triggered a double critical hit. You obtained two Five-Year Ginseng plants!

You harvested Ten-Year Fleeceflower. Congratulations, you triggered a triple critical hit. You obtained three Ten-Year Fleeceflower plants!

Critical hits occurred from time to time. Though the multipliers were not high, accumulated together, they still amounted to no small sum.

Once he had harvested all the precious medicinal herbs, he briefly gave a group of Herb Field handymen some pointers. They left fully satisfied and deeply grateful to Qin Dongcheng.

To him, it was merely a matter of lifting a hand, yet it gave him the chance to harvest many precious medicinal herbs. At the same time, he gained quite a few favors and made his own days more comfortable. Why not?

Although he no longer lacked people willing to help, Qin Dongcheng still took better care of Lu Gen, who had once offered aid in the snow, leaving Lu Gen deeply grateful.

Watching Qin Dongcheng's departing figure, the group of Herb Field handymen sighed with emotion.

"I never expected Alchemist Qin's comprehension to be so formidable. In only a few months, he not only mastered the Mount Tai Body Strengthening Fist, but also mastered the Basic Alchemy Canon. He even refined a low-grade pill and advanced to become an Alchemy Apprentice."

"I heard that the reason Alchemist Qin became an Alchemy Apprentice so quickly was because he had prepared many ordinary pills before joining the Five Elements Sect, mastering many alchemy techniques and methods. That was why he could become an Alchemy Apprentice so fast."

"Even so, Alchemist Qin is still incredible. Most importantly, he does not look down on Herb Field handymen like us. He is willing to guide us, and does not even require us to pay Sect Contribution or medicinal herbs. He even helps us harvest precious herbs."

"That hobby is rather strange, but extraordinary people naturally have extraordinary hobbies. Alchemist Qin is so impressive that having a few peculiar hobbies is perfectly normal."

"Whenever everyone has time in the future, help tend Alchemist Qin's Herb Field more often. If you have surplus medicinal herbs, give some to Alchemist Qin as well. He does not quibble with us, but we cannot be so thoughtless ourselves. Besides, before long, I fear we will not even be qualified to work for Alchemist Qin anymore."

Living at the bottom of the Five Elements Sect, they naturally had their own ways of surviving. Besides, those who could join the Five Elements Sect generally had decent character. There were people who repaid kindness with enmity, but not many.

Lu Gen nodded forcefully. He deeply agreed with what some of the handymen had said. Alchemist Qin had treated him so well; in the future, he would certainly repay Alchemist Qin properly.

Even if Alchemist Qin did not care, he still had to act with a clear conscience.