An Invitation from the Pharmacist Association

After descending the mountain, the two parted ways, and Zhang He immediately hurried toward the Wang Family Pharmacy without a moment's rest. He felt deeply guilty; in his greed for cultivation, he had actually forgotten his agreement with Wang Pengyu. He had no idea what the situation at the pharmacy was like now.

As soon as Zhang He stepped into the Wang Family Pharmacy, Wang Pengyu received the news and immediately hurried forward to greet him. Seeing Zhang He arrive, he visibly let out a sigh of relief, and his tightly furrowed brows finally smoothed out.

"Brother Zhang, you've finally come. These past few days have nearly worried me to death! All the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills have been sold out. The people coming to beg for medicine are enough to trample our threshold flat; they've practically been camping out at our door every single day!"

Wang Pengyu wiped away cold sweat and gave a wry smile, his tone carrying a hint of reproach.

Zhang He felt ashamed. He immediately set down his basket and took out several large ceramic jars, which contained a total of over three thousand Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills.

"Refining these is no easy task. As soon as I finished, I rushed right over. There are three thousand pills here; take them for now," Zhang He said.

"Three thousand pills... that should be enough to handle things for a while." Wang Pengyu breathed a slight sigh of relief. "You have no idea, the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pill has gone crazy. Ever since those wealthy families learned it could cure the poison of the Corpse Poison Beetle, they've been coming here every day to beg for it. They've used every kind of coercion and bribery imaginable."

Wang Pengyu spoke as if his situation were miserable, but in reality, he was currently suffering and enjoying it all at once. For the first time, the Wang Family Pharmacy was this famous!

"I will refine the next batch as soon as possible and send them over to you," Zhang He said.

"By the way, I'd like to introduce someone to you," Wang Pengyu said with a sudden air of mystery. "This person has quite the background. He heard the news and came specifically to find you."

"Came specifically to find me?" Zhang He frowned.

Led by Wang Pengyu, Zhang He followed him to a luxuriously furnished room.

Inside sat a middle-aged man wearing a brocade robe, radiating a faint sense of authority. When he saw Zhang He enter, the man's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He then began to size Zhang He up without leaving a trace, and as if he had sensed that Zhang He was extraordinary, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Brother Zhang, this is Master Lu Tiao. He is a master alchemist of the Pharmacist Association, and he came here specifically to find you," Wang Pengyu said with a smile.

The Pharmacist Association? Zhang He racked his brains, but he couldn't recall what that was.

"This must be Zhang He, right? Just as Pengyu said, you are a talented young man!" Lu Tiao smiled slightly, showing goodwill.

Zhang He pursed his lips and got straight to the point: "You flatter me. May I ask, Master Lu Tiao, what is the purpose of your visit?"

He had already guessed that this must have something to do with his Five Poison Beads.

Lu Tiao was slightly taken aback; Zhang He's directness caught him a little off guard. However, being a man of seasoned composure, he quickly returned to normal and smiled. "Please, sit. I came here for you, little brother. I have examined the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pill, and both the refining technique and the molding method, as well as the unique ingredients, have left me in awe. Your alchemy seems to follow a path completely different from ours. Am I right?"

Lu Tiao stared intently at Zhang He's face, hoping to catch his reaction.

Zhang He remained calm. "That is correct. My alchemy techniques are indeed unique." The main component of his alchemy was poison, and he required various methods to balance the medicinal properties during the refining process, so it was naturally different. However, from Lu Tiao's words, Zhang He already knew that the man must have studied his Five Poison Beads. Because he couldn't make sense of them, he had come to seek cooperation.

Thinking of this, Zhang He felt a hint of dissatisfaction. Was Wang Pengyu planning to crack the formula and stop working with him?

Lu Tiao noticed the displeasure on Zhang He's face and immediately guessed the reason. He quickly said, "Little brother, please don't misunderstand. In truth, my research into your Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pill was purely out of personal curiosity. Every pharmacist is curious about novel alchemy techniques; you should understand that."

Only then did Zhang He's expression soften.

"From these refining techniques, I see your potential. That is why I intend to recruit you into our Pharmacist Association," Lu Tiao continued.

"Join the Pharmacist Association?" Zhang He frowned, looking at Lu Tiao in confusion.

Wang Pengyu, standing to the side, quickly added, "Brother Zhang, the Pharmacist Association is a rigorous organization. Only those pharmacists with true skill can join. Once you join, you can receive a great deal of help from the Association. If you intend to walk the path of a pharmacist in the future, it will be of great benefit to your development."

Lu Tiao nodded slightly. "That's right. Little brother, to be honest with you, the great backer behind our Pharmacist Association is actually the Medicine King Valley. Across the entire continent, there isn't a single sect that dares to offend the Medicine King Valley. By joining the Pharmacist Association, you naturally gain the protection of the Medicine King Valley."

Zhang He looked intrigued. "So, you want me to join a sect?"

"Join a sect? Hehe, being in the Pharmacist Association doesn't mean you can call yourself a member of the Medicine King Valley. The criteria for selecting disciples for the Medicine King Valley are extremely strict, but they do prioritize selecting from the Pharmacist Association when they choose disciples every year," Lu Tiao said proudly.

Zhang He remained unmoved. "Why should I join the Pharmacist Association? There is no profit in waking up early; what benefits can I gain from joining, and what do you need me to do?"

No matter how powerful the Medicine King Valley was, Zhang He would not be easily swayed.

Lu Tiao couldn't help but look at Zhang He in a new light; even after hearing his introduction, the young man remained so calm. Lu Tiao thought for a moment and said, "There are over three thousand pharmacists in the Association. These pharmacists are all skilled and ranked. Within the Association, all pharmacists are divided into six grades: Ace, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, and Ordinary. As long as a pharmacist makes a certain contribution to the Association, they can earn contribution points. Once you accumulate enough points, you can not only qualify for promotion but also use them to obtain help from the Association, such as rare medicinal herbs, ancient pill formulas, or the assistance of high-level experts."

Hearing this, Zhang He's eyes couldn't help but brighten slightly. In that case, this Pharmacist Association was actually a pretty good place!

"Then, if I want to join the Pharmacist Association now, what do I need to do?" Zhang He narrowed his eyes and asked calmly.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Lu Tiao's face. The other party was finally interested, so he said directly, "If you want to join, with my guarantee, you only need to register."

"Hehe, Master Lu, if there is anything else, just say it plainly," Zhang He smiled slightly. "Are you planning to ask for my pill formula?"

Seeing Zhang He like this, Lu Tiao decided not to hide it anymore and stated his true intention. "A pill formula is the lifeblood of a pharmacist; we would not ask for it. In fact, recruiting you into the Pharmacist Association is also for the sake of our reputation. Once you join, you will certainly need to accumulate contribution points, and the Five Poison Beads of Mengyin City are a perfect opportunity! When selling the Five Poison Beads, we only need to state that the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pill is specially supplied by the Pharmacist Association."

Zhang He immediately understood Lu Tiao's meaning. On one hand, the man wanted him to join because he saw the uniqueness of his alchemy; on the other hand, he wanted to use this opportunity to help promote the reputation of the Pharmacist Association.

Zhang He had no reason to object; this matter was entirely beneficial to him.

"If I become a member of the Pharmacist Association, that is naturally no problem. But I would like to ask, how many contribution points can I get for doing this?" Zhang He asked shrewdly.

Lu Tiao clapped his hands and laughed, "The contribution points I'll give you this time are enough for you to be promoted to an Iron-rank pharmacist immediately!"

"What can an Iron-rank pharmacist do?"

"That is very complex. Because the authority of an Iron-rank pharmacist is far greater than that of an ordinary pharmacist, you can do many things. I will give you a document later, and you can read it at your leisure. Currently, in the entire Pharmacist Association, there are fewer than three hundred Iron-rank pharmacists. You will be the youngest one!"

Wang Pengyu looked at Zhang He with envy; an Iron-rank pharmacist of the Pharmacist Association—what an incredibly noble status! Zhang He truly had infinite potential for the future.

Wang Pengyu made up his mind that he must befriend Zhang He. He had a feeling that Zhang He's future achievements would be absolutely immense.

After finishing their business, Lu Tiao couldn't wait to go back and prepare for Zhang He's induction into the Pharmacist Association. As Zhang He's sponsor, the better Zhang He did, the more it would benefit him.

After Lu Tiao left, Wang Pengyu ordered someone to bring out a chest and said, "All the money from the previous sales of the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills is here. However, the prices varied, and a small portion was given away as favors to help with promotion. This is the ledger."

Zhang He was stunned. He opened it and saw that it was filled with glittering gold coins. Judging by the number, there were at least six hundred of them! This was a sum of money that an ordinary family could hardly earn in a lifetime of hard work!

"Making money is too fast." Zhang He was overjoyed, but looking at the large chest, he knew he couldn't carry it away—that would be too foolish. After a moment's thought, he said, "Just keep this money here for now. Oh, right, could you help me find a new house?"

"What kind of house?" Wang Pengyu was taken aback.

"A nice environment, doesn't need to be too big, and arrange for two or three servants," Zhang He pondered. He didn't have many requirements for a house, as long as it was comfortable to live in. However, he had to consider his mother and younger sister. With this much money, it was enough to buy a decent place.

"No problem, leave it to me," Wang Pengyu promised.

Lian Yunbi returned home and headed straight for her younger brother's room, where Lian's mother was keeping watch alone. Lian Yunbi's heart sank as she saw her brother's condition; he had fallen into a deep sleep. In just a few short days, he had become a mere shadow of his former self, and the sight made Lian Yunbi's heart ache uncontrollably.

"Yunbi, did you find the Ice Cold Pangolin?" Lian's mother's eyes lit up when she saw her daughter return unharmed.

Lian Yunbi shook her head. "Has Father returned?"

"He has, but he also returned empty-handed." Lian's mother's eyes dimmed, and she let out a sigh.

At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside, and a handsome, middle-aged man strode in. This was Lian Yunbi's father, Lian Cheng.

"Father!" Lian Yunbi greeted him hurriedly.

"I have already ordered people to search for Pharmacist Lin. I believe there will be news soon," Lian Cheng said in a deep voice.

"Are there really no other capable pharmacists in Luowang Prefecture? Must we go to that Pharmacist Lin?" Lian Yunbi was furious with Pharmacist Lin. He had repeatedly made excuses to avoid refining the Cold-Clearing Pill, and every time he came to their home, he would leer at her with lecherous eyes. She knew exactly what he was thinking, so she had no fondness for this man of such base character!

"Pharmacist Lin is a bronze-ranked pharmacist of the Pharmacist Association! How many silver-ranked pharmacists are there in the entire Luowang Prefecture?" Lian Cheng was also helpless. If there were any other options, would he really need to beg that Pharmacist Lin, whose arrogance reached the heavens?

Just then, her younger brother on the bed groaned, his brows furrowed tightly, and his breathing became rapid. His originally fair skin once again flushed with a crimson hue, as if a ball of fire were burning from his lower abdomen. Wherever it spread, his skin instantly turned blood-red.

Her younger brother was suffering another episode!

"I don't want to live anymore, just kill me!" Her younger brother woke up, sobbing uncontrollably.

"My poor son!" Lian's mother wailed, and Lian Cheng's tiger-like eyes filled with tears. They both blamed themselves; if they had prepared the Cold-Clearing Pill sooner, the situation would have been alleviated, and their son wouldn't have to suffer such agony!

Lian Yunbi had experienced this pain herself when she was young, though it had never been as severe as her brother's. Seeing him in such excruciating pain, her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife.

"If only there were an Ice Cold Pangolin..." Lian Yunbi gritted her teeth, wishing she could take this suffering upon herself instead. Her hand gripped her clothes tightly, and she suddenly felt something unusual. A thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately pulled an inconspicuous porcelain bottle from her pocket.

Recalling Zhang He's words and looking at her brother's agonizing state, she gritted her teeth and poured out a single pill: "Let's try this first!"