Chapter 204: 189 Human Sentiments, Part 1

While the Dao Residency was still investigating materials, Zhang Rongfang had already successfully settled in the Pill Hall.

Having reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage, his senses were sharp, his energy noticeably more vigorous, and his endurance much stronger than before.

He couldn’t tell whether it was the effect of vitality or the Cultivation of Literature and Void Observation Skill.

However, upon discovering the exceptional nature of the Celestial Treasure Palace, he decided to lie low and wait for an opportunity.

If he could get promoted starting from the Pill Hall, it would certainly help him find the Super Grade secret medicine.

This somewhat mysterious Great Dao Teaching was clearly very closely related to the Spirit Court. It was just suitable for him as a stepping stone, eventually transitioning into the Spirit Court to gain higher official power and influence.

He had deep reservations about the Spirit Court. If it was truly like Yan Shuang said, with the Unique God Teaching wielding power behind it, then they definitely controlled the strongest Spiritual Veins creatures.

That would be an incomparably powerful force.

If possible, he planned to both lie low and get promoted to investigate the truth.

He preferred not to wait for things to approach but to quietly investigate himself, gaining more knowledge.

Only this way could he take greater initiative in the future.

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

Zhang Rongfang continuously and faithfully followed Daoist Qingyou to learn alchemy.

He earned another attribute point.

But now in the Nascent Soul Stage, advancing a stage requires three points.

So for now, this point could only be saved.

Later, he would decide whether to add it to the Spirit Gathering Talisman or use it for other purposes.

Besides learning alchemy, he was also mingling with Zhang Qingzhi.

From his dealings with the Pill Hall, Zhang Rongfang realized that Zhang Qingzhi was someone worth befriending!

Thus, he decisively built rapport and relationships with him.

Money was something he wasn’t short on; not to mention, raiding the Huang family and the Dream Boat Association had already netted him a large amount of cash.

And Zhang Qingzhi seemed to need money badly.

“This alchemy method primarily consists of five parts: the pill formula, fire method, pill furnace, pill storage, and eating method.”

Inside Daoist Qingyou’s alchemy cave.

Zhang Rongfang and another Huxi female Daoist disciple sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly listening to Alchemist Qingyou explain the alchemy method.

“In many pill formulas, there are deliberately concealed elements. The quantities must be grasped by ourselves. Like this Fuling Kidney Nourishing Pill, it contains three medicinals, each marked as a small, a little….

In such pill formulas, we usually, by convention, encounter such terms and default to trying 1, 3, or 5 units of measurement….”

Segments of alchemical secrets that only an alchemist could know continually flowed from Daoist Qingyou’s mouth.

These were deliberately set traps and blanks in the alchemical script, intended to prevent it from leaking.

Zhang Rongfang and the other female Daoist disciple Chui Xi listened extremely attentively.

Especially since he broke through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, his spirit felt more vigorous, and his memory improved significantly.

Having listened to these key points just twice, he memorized them almost completely.

He also had a complete understanding of the overall alchemy method. Many initially vague and hidden parts were thoroughly clarified through Qingyou’s explanations.

As he listened, enraptured, feeling he could even commit these to script.

Suddenly he felt something.

With a blink, the attribute panel automatically surfaced.

’Hmm?!!’

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang’s pupils widened, focusing intensely on his attribute panel.

A new option slowly emerged under the martial skills section — ’Alchemy’.

’Indeed… it has come, hasn’t it??!’

His heart filled with joy.

Having thoroughly understood the entire process of alchemy, its principles, steps, and required conditions.

And having a certain understanding of all aspects of alchemy.

He finally tested it out and found out that his attribute panel could indeed apply to skills outside of martial arts!

’Since it can emerge, can it then be enhanced with attribute points??’

Without immediately adding points, Zhang Rongfang pressed down his anticipation and quietly continued to listen to Qingyou state the key points.

The effect of a single attribute point in martial arts was equivalent to practicing diligently for three years.

What about other skills?

What would be the effect of adding points?

Finally, after Daoist Qingyou finished and rose with the demonstration pill and left.

Only Zhang Rongfang and the other Daoist disciple Chui Xi remained in the cave.

Chui Xi, with her bright eyes, glanced at Zhang Rongfang. Being chosen as a Daoist disciple by Daoist Qingyou.

Naturally, she didn’t possess martial arts prowess but was healthy, had sharp senses, and strong understanding.

All these she had.

The most crucial thing was, she wasn’t entirely a connection-based individual. Moreover… looked pleasing.

Watching Qingyou leave the cave.

Qingyou picked up an iron brush, fetched a basin of water, and began cleaning the pill furnace inside and out little by little.

Every time after alchemy, the furnace must be thoroughly cleaned, this too was the work of a Daoist disciple.

Otherwise, the properties of a batch of pills would mix, surely leading to trouble.

“Hey, are you called Zhang Ying?” Chui Xi said quietly.

Zhang Rongfang was tidying up the bellows tools, and upon hearing, he looked up at her.

“Hmm, what’s up?”

Undeniably, Chui Xi looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, with a beautiful appearance, her chest slightly bulging. She already had the curves of a young woman.

Together with her loose deep red hair, clothed in snug pure blue Daoist robes, exposing a large section of her snow-white, round, smooth thigh. It was quite refreshing and eye-catching.

“Recently, the contents Alchemist Qingyou explained, were you able to understand them?” Chui Xi asked out of curiosity.

” It’s bearable enough.” Zhang Rongfang nodded. Although it was difficult initially, his memory at that time was good. Flipping through notes afterwards and streamlining his thoughts allowed him to grasp them.

As for the task of tending the fire, that was even less worth mentioning.

He was different from most Daoists in the Great Dao Teaching.

The Super Grade’s physical control made it ridiculously easy to learn such fire control techniques. Thus saving a lot of time for learning.

“Incredible, isn’t it?” Chui Xi exclaimed in surprise. “Honestly, before you came, I overheard that someone else should’ve come. Yet, unexpectedly, it turned out to be you.”

She nodded slightly.

“It seems you have strong connections?”

“I don’t have any connections. I made my way here purely on my own skills.” Zhang Rongfang replied earnestly.

“Hehe…” Chui Xi chuckled dismissively.

“Alright, let’s skip the nonsense. You and I should join forces, exchange ideas, and learn more from the alchemist. Afterward, I’ll head to the Pill Room. How about you?”

“The Pill Room? You can decide where to go yourself?” Zhang Rongfang inquired.

“My family has already arranged for me to study here with Alchemist Qingyou. After establishing a good foundation, I’ll go to the Pill Room to learn about the pill combinations and then start my own experiments in alchemy. If I can successfully master a few pill formulas, I’ll become a refiner. If I master more, I can truly become an alchemist.” Chui Xi explained.

She glanced at Zhang Rongfang, who looked utterly bewildered.

“You didn’t come in here knowing nothing, did you?”

“Uh…..” Zhang Rongfang indeed hadn’t researched the details thoroughly. “I came to learn how to concoct pills used in martial arts training.”

“Martial class… There aren’t many formulas for that. The simpler ones are fine, but those within grade are quite challenging…” Chui Xi’s light blue eyes glanced at Zhang Rongfang, not believing he could achieve it.

“Then I wish you success.”

“Thank you.” Zhang Rongfang smiled.

For the moment, neither spoke further.

Chui Xi continued to clean the Pill Furnace, but she was only one meter fifty tall, and some places couldn’t be reached even standing on tiptoe; she had to use a stool.

Occasionally making muffled sounds while working, it was somewhat eerie.

Zhang Rongfang glanced at her, tidied up his tools, and stood up to walk to the recessed bookshelf where books were stored.

Indeed, the cave estate had a bookshelf.

In this hot and dry environment, preserving books was quite easy.

The shelf along the wall housed over a dozen books, all related to pill formulas and the principles of alchemy.

“Chui Xi, can we look at the books here?”

Zhang Rongfang asked.

“Yes. They’re here for us to read. The alchemist’s books generally wouldn’t be placed here.” Chui Xi turned to answer, “Additionally, each apprentice can only stay with the alchemist for two years, after which they must leave, making space for newcomers.”

“So we are, in essence, being trained by the sect as future alchemists?” Zhang Rongfang realized, starting to leaf through the books.

“Only those with skill can become alchemists; those without must return to where they came from.” Chui Xi stretched to grab one of the Pill Furnace’s ears, intending to open it and clean inside.

Perhaps it was due to talking while working that she was careless.

Suddenly, she lunged forward in a Tiger Pounce style, crashing into a shelf stocked with herbs.

Bang!

The shelf collapsed.

Zhang Rongfang turned around in response, just in time to see Chui Xi collapse the wooden shelf, scream, and nearly land face-first.

On the ground right in front of her face were several pieces of sharp-edged ore.

From Zhang Rongfang’s angle, he could only see her daoist robe flipped up like a dress, with her two large white legs kicking in the air.

Immediately, he darted over, grabbing one leg to pull her up, toss her aside.

Thud!

Chui Xi’s face, flushed red, was forcibly extracted, her feet placed accurately on the ground, propped against the wall.

Ahhhhh!!

She instinctively continued to scream until she realized she was saved, opened her eyes, and saw Zhang Rongfang beside her, setting up the shelf and returning the herbs.

The screaming abruptly stopped.

Watching Zhang Rongfang’s movements, her mind was still blank.

Just a moment ago, she was a hair’s breadth away from a disaster.

If she had really collided, she would have been disfigured at best, seriously injured at worst.

Her whole face, bearing her weight, crashing into the sharp mineral ridges.

For someone like her who hadn’t trained in martial arts, the outcome would surely have been grim.

It was quite a while before the shelf was nearly set up again that Chui Xi finally calmed down.

“Thank…thank you!”

She breathed heavily.

“No need, just a small gesture. Good thing I trained in martial arts before, otherwise it would have been too late.” Zhang Rongfang responded calmly.

“Regardless, you saved me this time. I owe you one!” Chui Xi said earnestly.

Additionally, recalling just now her daoist robe flipped over, likely exposing her legs and the undergarments within.

Chui Xi’s face flushed red as she looked at Zhang Rongfang again, her feelings shifted instantly.

Seeing his solid physique, tall and sturdy frame, she couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of security rising in her heart.

Upon closer inspection, although his gaze was worldly, his skin was genuinely good, not showing the maturity his demeanor suggested.

“Zhang Ying, you’re looking for martial class pill formulas, they should be in the third book on the second row.” She swiftly whispered a reminder.

Then hurriedly lowered her head to tidy things up, swiftly left the cave estate.

Leaving Zhang Rongfang speechless, shaking his head, returning to the shelf to find the book she mentioned and carefully examining it.

With two lifetimes totaling thirty to forty years, he naturally wouldn’t be swayed by a young girl.

Moreover, she’s a Huxi person.

Picking up the book, he flipped through it, finding it did contain several pill formulas.

But they were all basic, simple formulas.

Three in total: Blood Replenishing Pill, Detoxification Pill, Calming Pill.

The process for crafting these three types of pills was extremely complex, with very precise demands on the intermediate steps.

Zhang Rongfang closed the book, his brow furrowed.

’The Mysterious Qilin Jade Marrow, even if not the most difficult formula, is undoubtedly the most confidential. If I were to slowly learn it bit by bit, it would likely take a very long time.’

His thoughts immediately focused on the newly appeared option for alchemy.

Generally there were unwritten rules in cave estates.

That is, when the alchemist leaves, the remaining Pill Furnace in the cave estate can be used freely by the apprentices for practice.

But at this exact moment, Zhang Rongfang did not move. Instead, he sat cross-legged, opened the attribute menu, and looked at the attribute point he had just gained.

Without hesitation, he directly allocated this attribute point to alchemy.

’I must see what reaction occurs when attribute points are applied to other skills.’

Soon, within the attribute menu.

Behind alchemy in parentheses, the text transformed from ’beginner’ to a new line of words.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep