Chapter 100: Chapter 99: How Many Did You Remember?

[Some sects and forces come with the risk of failing to join, so choose carefully. If you fail more than three times, Ouyang Ruyu’s expectations of you will decrease to some extent.]

[You choose…]

It was time for Jiang Ming to influence the choice.

Jiang Ming quickly synced information, bringing in Ouyang Yun’s perspective to check the details.

Jiang Ming felt a bit disappointed, as most of the sects were not as good as the Cyan Cloud Sect.

There were a few that were stronger than the Cyan Cloud Sect, though.

But these didn’t have any inheritance of the Alchemy Dao.

One sect did have an Alchemy Tao inheritance, but it was too weak, with only one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even weaker than the Ouyang Family.

Inheritance is hard to find.

If Jiang Ming could wander outside those sects and join them easily, there wouldn’t be so many loose cultivators in this world.

Inheritance always has a threshold, and cultivation is often about ’fate’.

Some cultivators have talent but no opportunities, they can’t join a sect, and they fall into ordinariness.

Even a Celestial Spirit Root, if not discovered by a cultivator, would face the earth, die in the land they worked all their lives, just like an ordinary person.

Some with Five Spirit Roots catch the eye of a major sect cultivator, who thinks they look pleasing and takes them back to enjoy resources even Four or Three Spirit Roots cannot access.

Ouyang Yun possesses alchemy talent, and he needs a platform to showcase it so that the proud alchemists will take notice of him.

The power of the Ouyang Family allows him to cross the threshold directly and showcase his talent before those sects.

Going it alone might succeed, but it’s too inefficient. Not using available resources is foolish.

Choosing which power to join is also a significant decision.

In Zhu Chen’s lifetime, Jiang Ming experienced the benefits of a sect, so he naturally leaned toward joining a sect.

None of the Nine major sects are purely Alchemy sects, but all have a Pill Hall. Ideally, Jiang Ming wishes to apprentice at one of the Nine major sects.

These are the sects with Golden Core Masters.

However, the Ouyang Family no longer has the qualification for recommendation, and the Nine major sects do not allow joining just by passing a test. To join one, Jiang Ming would need luck; otherwise, the few recommendation spots from the Ouyang Family wouldn’t be so precious.

It’s better to first join another sect, gather information, and see if next time through simulation, he can directly join one of the Nine major sects.

Suddenly, Jiang Ming’s gaze paused.

He saw an option.

Loose Cultivator · Master Yunding.

Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one of the partners of the Nine Clouds Market.

A famous Alchemist, proficient in all sixth-grade pills, and even once crafted a seventh-grade pill, which is quite renowned.

But he has a peculiar personality and extremely high requirements for accepting apprentices.

“An alchemist capable of crafting a seventh-grade pill…”

If it were a regular cultivator, the benefits of joining a sect would undoubtedly be greater, but it’s different for those specializing in one of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

As production-oriented cultivators, they can increase resources.

Especially alchemists; every talented loose alchemist has excellent connections and ample resources.

Compared to sect alchemists, they enjoy more freedom, though both have their pros and cons.

“Choose Master Yunding.”

In this lifetime, Jiang Ming aims for the inheritance of the Alchemy Dao, maximizing the use of his talent.

[You chose Master Yunding, Ouyang Ruyu is somewhat surprised, hinting at the difficulty, but your choice is firm.]

[You learn that Master Yunding’s late wife once owed Ouyang Ruyu a favor. Master Yunding agreed to craft some pills for the Ouyang Family and offer a few recommendation spots, but disciples with alchemist aptitude are rare and hard to verify. The Ouyang Family previously sent several disciples, none of whom tested for alchemist aptitude.]

Ouyang Ruyu and Ouyang Yun arrived at a valley.

The valley was enveloped in mist, within which an Enchanting Soul Array was laid, preventing mortals from entering.

As the two approached, the mist automatically parted, revealing a bustling market hidden behind.

The market was more prosperous than any Jiang Ming had seen in the Five Sects Territory.

Upon entering the market, a few children immediately approached.

“Senior, is this your first time at the Nine Clouds Market?”

“Senior, I can help you get familiar with the Nine Clouds Market, for just a fragment of a spirit stone.”

“Senior, pick me.”

Ouyang Ruyu let out a light hum, revealing a Qi Refining Great Perfection aura, causing the children’s faces to turn pale, and they left.

Ouyang Yun looked at these children. They all had cultivation talent, but only Five Spirit Roots and no good family background, so besides risking their lives for resources, this was the only way to earn some extra income.

Ouyang Ruyu led Ouyang Yun deep into the Nine Clouds Market with ease.

They soon stepped into a splendid Treasure Pavilion.

People seemed to recognize Ouyang Yun, and several maidservants went to announce them. Before long, an enchanting and charming woman came out, swaying as she walked.

“Ruyu, you’ve come again. What do you wish to purchase this time?”

“Oh, what a handsome little gentleman.”

The woman smiled as she looked at Ouyang Yun and moved to pinch his cheek.

“Huo Ling, I am here to see Master Yunding.” Ouyang Ruyu tapped her cane lightly, blocking Huo Ling’s fair fingers.

“What, hoping to produce an alchemist from your family?”

“Alchemist aptitude is one in ten thousand, and your Ouyang Family has only a few disciples.” Huo Ling covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.

“If you ask me… you’d be better off using your connection with Master Yunding to trade for some pills.”

“Oh? So you’re saying that you refused on behalf of Master Yunding?” Ouyang Ruyu said calmly, with a hint of confrontation in her words.

“How would I dare, come, young man, follow sister.” Huo Ling said.

Ouyang Ruyu followed Huo Ling upstairs, and only then did Ouyang Yun dare to follow.

At this moment, it happened that Master Yunding was neither practicing alchemy nor cultivation, and he met them directly.

Master Yunding was a tall, thin middle-aged man, with a wisp of white hair on each temple, seemingly not good with words.

Ouyang Ruyu respectfully stated the purpose of their visit.

Master Yunding merely uttered a single word, “Good.”

“Follow me.”

Master Yunding did not even ask for Ouyang Yun’s name in the end.

The two arrived at a bright inner hall, in the center of which stood a large furnace cauldron.

“Have you studied herbal properties?”

“Some minor study, not in-depth.”

“Two quarters.” He tossed a booklet to Ouyang Yun.

The booklet recorded various herbal properties, interactions, and the mutual reinforcement and restriction of their medicinal effects.

The booklet held records of over a thousand herbs, each with relationships with others.

Even presented in the form of a Record Jade, it would be impossible for a general cultivator, even one with Divine Sense, to memorize all the herb properties in two quarters.

Ouyang Yun opened the booklet and began looking through it.

A unique sensation arose, as if he had finally found his calling.

A feeling of a fish entering the water emerged spontaneously, as he glanced over each herb, they etched into his mind.

Moreover, in his mind, the impressions deepened, and in Jiang Ming’s eyes, invisible lines connected the herbs.

The talents of Alchemy Apprentice and Basic Enlightenment both acted simultaneously.

Their combination yielded effects far beyond just the Alchemy Talent alone.

The time of two quarters passed.

The booklet before Ouyang Yun vanished instantly.

“How many did you memorize?”

Reluctantly, Ouyang Yun replied, “Only over three thousand kinds…”

Master Yunding’s lips curled with a hint of a sneer.

Over three thousand kinds… quite amusing; not too few, but too many. In Master Yunding’s view, Ouyang Yun probably misunderstood the term “memorize.”

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