Cultivation Begins with Skill Points
Chapter 83 Learning Alchemy

Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Learning Alchemy

"Stone, you will continue your studies here in the future, do you understand?"

In the Hundred Herbs Hall, there is a dedicated school to cultivate young apprentices in reading and writing. Based on their performance, they are then allocated to study medicine, alchemy, or join the guard team.

Actually, given Zhong Lin’s current status, hiring a private tutor to teach little Stone wouldn’t be impossible. However, Zhong Lin prefers for little Stone to experience this kind of collective environment, as children need more companions.

Moreover, this school is specifically for the offspring of managerial personnel within the Hundred Herbs Hall. Apart from teaching reading and writing, it also imparts some herbal and pathological knowledge.

Little Stone wore a bitter expression and said, "Second brother, can I not go to school?"

"No."

Zhong Lin sternly refused. While other requests might be accommodated, not attending school was out of the question.

"Oh!"

Little Stone pouted, sullen, but dared not defy the authority of his second brother.

"Liu Zhao, take Stone to the school. Also, I do not want to hear about any incidents of Stone being bullied in the school."

Zhong Lin said to the guard standing by.

This guard was assigned to Zhong Lin by his master, responsible for his safety, comprising six people, with Liu Zhao being one of them. All are Middle Third Grades Martial Artists who condensed Qi-Blood, and their leader, Xing Kui, is even a Fifth Grade Inner Strengthening Realm expert.

Zhong Lin sending Liu Zhao to escort little Stone was a declaration of his status to prevent any bullying, as bullying is even more blatant in this world of strict hierarchy.

"Rest assured, young master, I know what to do."

Having climbed from the lower ranks, Liu Zhao, a member of the guard team, had seen all kinds of dealings and naturally understood what Zhong Lin wanted him to do.

Watching little Stone enter the school, Zhong Lin then turned to leave.

"Let’s go! To Dan Ding Garden."

Deng Yunsheng had been waiting in front of Dan Ding Garden and quickly approached upon seeing Zhong Lin’s arrival.

"Greetings, young master."

"Thank you for your trouble."

"It’s no trouble, no trouble at all, young master, please."

Under Deng Yunsheng’s guidance, the two walked with one in front of the other through Dan Ding Garden, while the guards waited outside.

"Young master, Dan Ding Garden has ninety-two First Grade Pill Masters, twenty-four Second Grade Pill Masters, and two Third Grade Pill Masters. Our Hundred Herbs Hall accounts for eighty percent of the elixirs sold in Great Chen."

As they spoke, they arrived at a plaza, where many apprentices were coming and going, some drying herbs, others cutting and boiling them.

Different herbs require different treatment; some need slicing, others steaming, while some need to be air-dried, each encompassing great knowledge.

Many herbs are highly toxic on their own, but when sliced and dried, they can be transformed into excellent detoxifying medicines, hence the need for different preparation methods.

"Old Deng, I’m not very knowledgeable about elixirs; apart from knowing some necessary for cultivation, I know little about others. Could you explain the different grades of elixirs?" Zhong Lin asked curiously.

"You’re too kind, young master; the range of elixirs is vast, and even I only know a portion. In our Dan Ding Garden, apart from Blood Replenishing Pill and Bone Strengthening Pill, among First Grade Elixirs there are also Detoxification Pill, Root Bone Pill, Healing Elixir, Beauty Pill, Blood Nourishing Pill, Essence Cultivating Pill, Solid Foundation Pill, among others, each with its own function."

"Take the Beauty Pill, for example. As the name suggests, it has a long-term effect on maintaining youthful appearance, favored by many women, and it sells for a higher price than the Blood Replenishing Pill."

"The Root Bone Pill is a kind of elixir specifically for children who have not yet practiced martial arts. If a child is too young and their bones are not fully developed, practicing martial arts too early might not be beneficial. During this time, taking Root Bone Pill daily can enhance their innate bone structure, making their Martial Arts path smoother. These are generally prepared for children of aristocratic families, hence the high price."

"The Healing Elixir, when taken after an injury, can alleviate and even directly treat internal injuries. Even if healing isn’t possible, it can still provide a suppressive effect."

"These three elixirs are the most expensive among all First Grade elixirs and are the main offerings of our Hundred Herbs Hall."

Hearing this, Zhong Lin couldn’t help but think that no matter where you are in the world, the money from women, children, and the ill is the easiest to earn.

Deng Yunsheng, unaware of Zhong Lin’s thoughts, continued, "Second Grade Elixirs are fewer, comprising Qi Blood Pill, Five Spirit Pills, Red Blood Pill, Seven Treasures Heart Protecting Pill, Nourishing Yuan Pill, Fasting Pill, Yellow Bud Pill, and Boiling Blood Pill, a total of twelve types."

"As for Third Grade Elixirs, there are even fewer. Even the two Third Grade Pill Masters in the garden can only produce Great Rejuvenation Pill and Protecting Veins Pill."

As they spoke, they arrived in the Alchemy Room, where a wave of heat and a strong medicinal fragrance hit them, making one almost want to sneeze.

The Alchemy Room was vast and empty, with the first sight being a half-man-high bronze Pill Furnace placed in the center.

The Pill Furnace had three legs and was engraved with beast patterns, with its lid suspended from the roof beam by an iron chain, allowing easy removal by pulling the chain.

Charcoal beneath heated the furnace, its base blackened from long use.

Beside the Pill Furnace sat an elder in green clothes, who quickly stood up to greet them upon seeing Deng Yunsheng.

"Greetings, Manager Deng."

"Xie Tianyun, quickly pay your respects to the young master."

Xie Tianyun was startled; he had heard yesterday that a young master had joined the Hundred Herbs Hall as the direct disciple of the Hall Master. To his surprise, it was the youth before him.

Xie Tianyun dared not be negligent, dusting off his sleeve and bowing, "Xie Tianyun greets the young master."

"Young master, Pill Master Xie is a Second Grade Pill Master, who has been immersed in Blood Replenishing Pill and Bone Strengthening Pill for decades. What do you think of him?" Deng Yunsheng asked.

Zhong Lin could detect the strong scent of elixirs from Xie Tianyun, almost as if it had soaked into him, a trait only those who spent long periods in the Alchemy Room possess.

He clasped his hands and said, "I humbly request Pill Master Xie’s guidance, for which I would be extremely grateful."

"I wouldn’t dare, it’s my honor to initiate the young master." Xie Tianyun said, full of trepidation and respect.

"Then let’s begin!"

Zhong Lin had long looked forward to the Alchemy Technique, and now, given the chance, he naturally wanted to experience it as soon as possible.

Xie Tianyun pondered for a moment before asking, "I wonder how much the young master knows about alchemy?"

"Not at all."

Zhong Lin spoke the truth.

Xie Tianyun’s right hand trembled, pulling out two strands of his beard.

"In that case, I shall start from the beginning. Please have a seat, young master."

The two of them sat cross-legged on the mats beside the Pill Furnace, with Zhong Lin listened intently, focusing all his attention.

Zhong Lin’s earnest attitude pleased Xie Tianyun greatly, easing some of his nervousness.

"Elixir, purely one. The singular, one. Only the Dao is without action; thus, it’s called Elixir. Heaven attains one and is clear, the earth attains one and is stable, the valley attains one and is full, humankind attains one and lives long."