You Were Born to Make a Living at This!

Near midnight, Jiang Feng finally dragged his weary body back from the Alchemy Hall to that dilapidated little hut.

If Song Huai had not needed to rest, he truly would have wanted to stay there, keeping him company as he refined pills without leaving his side for even a step.

Even now, scenes of Song Huai refining pills continued to churn through his mind. Every movement, every word, every tiny gesture of that man seemed branded deeply into his memory, impossible to dispel.

Seeing that it was not yet time for the day's settlement, Jiang Feng took up his stance in the hut and practiced the Iron Stake Technique again, hoping to accumulate a few more points of proficiency in this final stretch of time.

Time passed quickly. At midnight, the panel refreshed right on schedule.

[Yesterday's evaluation: Excellent!]

[Rewards: Iron Stake Technique proficiency +10, Exquisite Breathing Method proficiency +5, Herb Identification Art proficiency +5, Blood-Qi Pill proficiency +20]

At the sight of the evaluation "Excellent," Jiang Feng froze for a moment.

He had thought that he had not worked particularly hard yesterday. Receiving an average evaluation would already have been quite decent.

Yet this result had truly surpassed his expectations.

His gaze continued down the rewards. He had been mentally prepared for the improvements to the first few techniques and skills, but when he saw the final item, his expression suddenly turned puzzled.

"Blood-Qi Pill proficiency increased by twenty points. Could it be that assisting Alchemist Song counts as participating in pill refinement?"

He immediately opened his personal panel.

[Name: Jiang Feng]

[Realm: Blood-Moving Realm, Sixth Layer (53/100)]

[Profession: Alchemist, First Rank (5/100)]

[Techniques:

Iron Stake Technique (Great Mastery 9/300)

Exquisite Breathing Method (Beginner 25/100)]

[Skills:

Herb Identification Art (Great Mastery 127/300)

Bedchamber Arts (Beginner 5/100)

Blood-Qi Pill (Beginner 20/100)]

Jiang Feng swept his eyes across the panel and instantly noticed the enormous changes.

First, a new [Profession] section had appeared on the panel. And in the [Skills] section, the Blood-Qi Pill's proficiency progress had unexpectedly appeared as well.

He closed his eyes and focused, and all sorts of information related to the Blood-Qi Pill involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

The things he had originally crammed in through brute-force memorization now gradually gathered and connected under the guidance of another set of memories, like trickling streams converging into a river. The techniques and principles that had once been obscure and difficult to understand slowly became clear, bit by bit.

Jiang Feng abruptly opened his eyes, unable to hide the excitement in them.

"I actually... learned how to refine the Blood-Qi Pill just like that?!"

This surprise had come far too suddenly.

He had thought he would need to personally refine at least several batches of pills before unlocking the progress on the panel. Now, it seemed that deeply participating in the entire refining process as he had done would likewise be recorded by the system.

"Doesn't that mean I can use this method to secretly learn how to refine other pills in the future? Perhaps even... certain special secret techniques might not be beyond reach?"

The more Jiang Feng thought about it, the more he felt this possibility was no fantasy at all. It was highly likely to become reality.

That night, he was so excited that he tossed and turned, unable to sleep no matter what. In the end, he simply stopped lying down, got up, and began cultivating, practicing straight through until dawn.

The next day, before the sky had even brightened, Jiang Feng headed straight for Song Huai's pill-refining room.

Perhaps because the Iron Stake Technique had reached Great Mastery and his blood and qi had grown ever more abundant, he felt no fatigue whatsoever despite having gone the entire night without sleep. Instead, he was unusually energetic, with even his footsteps carrying a hint of lightness.

It was not until the hour of the Rabbit that Song Huai leisurely strolled out from the side courtyard.

The moment he looked up and saw that somewhat thin figure standing before the pill-refining room, he could not help but pause.

"Jiang Feng? You're quite diligent, kid. When did you get here?"

Jiang Feng turned around, his face full of smiles as he respectfully replied, "Reporting to Master Song, I just arrived as well."

Song Huai had lived to his age. Though his eye for judging people might not have been particularly sharp, he still possessed the basic experience of life.

He looked Jiang Feng over, taking in his clothes and the slightly damp morning dew on his shoulders, and immediately had a general idea. This kid had likely been waiting here before dawn.

He sincerely approved of such diligence and ambition. When he looked at Jiang Feng again, his gaze could not help softening with a rare hint of warmth.

"You needn't come so early in the future. We at the Alchemy Hall do not start work at the hour of the Rabbit. You can rest a little longer and come before the hour of the Dragon."

Having just finished speaking, he seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "By the way, Jiang Feng, have you eaten breakfast?"

Before Jiang Feng could answer, his stomach answered for him.

A clearly audible growl sounded at a most inopportune moment.

Song Huai stroked his beard and let out a hearty laugh.

"Perfect, then. From now on, have breakfast here with me. It's only ordinary plain tea and simple fare, but it's still far better than the food in your apprentices' dining hall."

Naturally, Jiang Feng would not refuse the goodwill Song Huai had extended. He immediately accepted with a smile.

After spending the entire previous day with him, Jiang Feng had discovered that Song Huai was not as ill-tempered as the rumors claimed.

He simply despised, from the bottom of his heart, people who lacked both ability and ambition. So long as one inadvertently showed even a little talent and drive, he would not be stingy with his rare tolerance.

After the two had breakfast together, they began another day of pill refinement. At first, Song Huai did not notice anything unusual, but gradually, he sensed that something was off.

Just yesterday, before every step, he had needed to verbally instruct Jiang Feng. But today, things had changed completely. The moment his hand reached out, before he even needed to speak, the materials required in the next moment were already steadily placed in his palm.

The portions and timing were exact to the slightest fraction.

The tacit understanding between them was nothing like that of two people who had only known each other for a day or two. It was more like Jiang Feng had worked here for a long time already, as though their hearts and minds were in perfect accord.

While refining a batch of Blood-Qi Pills, Song Huai could even remain silent from beginning to end, leaving the entire room with nothing but the low rumble of the pill furnace at work.

He had never experienced such a feeling with any of his previous attendants. It made him feel comfortable and relaxed from the depths of his heart, and he even secretly felt fortunate that old Xie Shu had truly sent him a treasure this time.

After a moment of silence, Song Huai was the one who spoke first, breaking the tranquility filling the room.

"Jiang Feng, what is your cultivation realm now?"

Jiang Feng paused, not expecting Song Huai to take the initiative to chat with him while refining pills. Wasn't one supposed to be serious and focused?

His hands did not stop moving. As he steadily passed the Rhodiola Powder needed for the next step into Song Huai's hand, he honestly answered, "Reporting to Master Song, I am currently at the Sixth Layer of the Blood-Moving Realm."

Song Huai's eyes lit up. He turned his head and carefully looked Jiang Feng over, a rare trace of approval appearing on his face.

"At your age and with your background, reaching the Sixth Layer of the Blood-Moving Realm is already quite good. However, if you wish to set foot on the path of pill refinement, this realm is still somewhat too low."

Hearing this, Jiang Feng's heart stirred slightly.

What did he mean by that? Could it be that he intended to cultivate him?

Jiang Feng did not dare think too much, but he still tentatively asked, "Master Song, is there also a martial cultivation threshold for becoming an Alchemist?"

Song Huai's hands did not pause. Under his control, the furnace flames underwent a series of subtle and wondrous changes, as obedient as his own limbs. Without turning his head, he replied.

"That is only natural. To become an Alchemist, one must not only possess comprehension, but also master the Fire Control Art.

"The most basic requirement for cultivating the Fire Control Art is being able to freely release and withdraw the blood and qi within one's body. To reach that point, one's martial cultivation must be at least at the Seventh Layer of the Blood-Moving Realm."

He paused, and a rare solemnity entered his tone.

"So, the Seventh Layer of the Blood-Moving Realm is a hurdle. Jiang Feng, you must work harder. Do not let your talent go to waste.

"Though the two of us have only been together for two days, I can tell that you were born to make a living at this."

Jiang Feng was stunned. He had never imagined that the Seventh Layer of the Blood-Moving Realm held such a crucial key, much less that Song Huai would give him such high praise.

One had to know that Song Huai had never praised anyone before at the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and answered in a low voice, "Master Song, I will work hard."