Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 40: Pill Room, Immortal Bean l

I’m not entirely sure if it’s because Fu Xiuxiu has been at home these past few days.

It seems like Bai Meiling returns from work a bit earlier each day.

When she comes back, she either goes shopping with Fu Xiuxiu, or they chat in the yard, occasionally breaking out into delicate laughter.

Of course, she also makes it a point to visit Luo Chen’s room when she can.

Watching Luo Chen gradually construct the Pill Room, her eyes filled with admiration.

“This craftsmanship of yours, even if you can’t make a living out of alchemy in the future, you could still find work on Ailao Mountain.”

“Ailao Mountain? What would I do there?”

“It’s a Golden Core Sect in the Yu Ding Realm, famous for its various mineral resources. At the same time, this sect is also well-known for its architecture. Aren’t these bricks and stones you’re using bought directly from the Immortal Residence, a store affiliated with Ailao Mountain?”

Immortal Residence is a business owned by Ailao Mountain?

Luo Chen really didn’t know about that.

Or to put it another way, he didn’t know much about Ailao Mountain as a sect at all.

After Bai Meiling casually explained things to him, he finally understood that Ailao Mountain was doing well in the Yu Ding Realm.

Rogue cultivators aren’t too picky about where they live. They are content whether they live in a wooden house or a cave.

But the wealthier sect cultivators aren’t so easily content.

They often spend a lot of time planning their Immortal Mansions.

From good lighting to having a pill room and herb garden, they all choose their locations carefully, using high-quality materials for construction.

Even the larger buildings have a lot of nuances within them.

From the very entrance of the sect to the smallest market stalls, completion isn’t simply about building the house and laying the floors—it extends to setting up a large array.

One has to consider how to match the spirit wood, how ores can permeate and gather Spirit Qi, the impact of Feng Shui on a cultivator’s place of residence, and even if the floors can accommodate large airships for takeoff and landing.

Some of the well-known major formations are specifically set up to not only synthesize with the terrain and water vein but also be inscribed into the architecture, achieving a mutually reinforcing effect.

For the past three hundred years, since the Yu Ding Sword Sect established itself in this region, they initiated an intense wave of infrastructural development.

Ailao Mountain handled countless construction projects during this vast developmental process, earning a handsome profit in the process.

“During the early stages of construction in The Great River District Market, Ailao Mountain was in charge of everything, from the layout to the implementation.”

“It’s rumored that any Immortal Mansion in Ailao Mountain’s Divine Craft City starts at a price of a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and is only on sale for seventy years.”

After listening to Bai Meiling’s explanation, Luo Chen was left in a stupor.

There’s so much business potential in real estate in the Immortal Cultivation World too!

I need to have this place redesigned by experts from Ailao Mountain if more Spirit Stones are available in the future.

“By the way, is there some conflict between Sister Xiu Xiu and Sister Caiyi?” Luo Chen asked curiously, diving into the gossip.

Women’s affairs can be complicated, and he didn’t want to get involved.

But hearing about the gossip amongst women always seems interesting.

Bai Meiling tilted her head, “There’s no conflict!”

“Sister Xiu Xiu is very gentle. She’s usually calm and rarely has any disputes with anyone.”

Luo Chen was taken aback, “But why did it seem like Sister Xiu Xiu felt uncomfortable when I mentioned Sister Caiyi?”

“Oh, you’re talking about that!” Bai Meiling smacked her lips and waved her hand dismissively, “It’s all because of the incident with Sister Xiu Xiu’s Dao Companion.”

Fu Xiuxiu had a Dao Companion before?

Luo Chen was immediately intrigued.

“Sister Xiu Xiu’s Dao Companion was an internal disciple of the Yu Ding Sword Sect. But when his Foundation Establishment failed, he switched to being an External Sect Steward.”

“As an External Sect Steward, one can’t wholly focus on cultivation. They’re often sent to various places to manage the sect’s different enterprises.”

“When that man came to The Great River District Market, he met Sister Xiu Xiu, who was still a rogue cultivator, and then they became Dao Companions.”

As Bai Meiling spoke, she shook her head.

“However, after his failure in establishing his foundation, his Dao Heart was damaged, and he started to enjoy opulence. Even after meeting Sister Xiu Xiu, he frequently spent the night at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.”

“One morning, he was found dead in one of the embroidery rooms of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.”

“It was Elder Sun Shou who personally brought back his body.”

Die beneath the peony flower, be it hell or heaven–romantic to the core?

Luo Chen couldn’t help but nod in approval. He was a role model in his own right.

“Since then, Sister Xiu Xiu has grown to dislike anyone or anything associated with the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. And since Sister Caiyi works there, Sister Xiu Xiu probably feels a bit upset whenever she sees her.”

After Bai Meiling explained the whole situation, Luo Chen finally understood.

So this was a case of guilt by association.

Having satisfied Luo Chen’s curiosity, Bai Meiling remembered her own question.

“Can a Fire Dog Tail also be used to refine Ascendant Grade Fasting Pills?”

Luo Chen quickly pushed her away, “I have work to do, and it’s going to get quite smelly later!”

“Ew, make sure to open the Light-Smoke Sparse-Rain Building, or I’ll complain.”

Bai Meiling pinched her nose and scurried away.

Luo Chen activated the extractor fan with a wave of his spirit power and took out the Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace from his storage bag.

Dang!

“This one cubic meter volume really is a little small. If only I had a storage bag with a volume of three cubic meters, five cubic meters, or even a hundred cubic meters.”

Being of Lower Grade First Order Quality, it couldn’t adjust size to one’s will.

The Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace alone took up almost eighty percent of his storage bag’s space.

There was no choice before so he had to stuff all the medicinal herbs into the furnace.

If he didn’t take them out soon, their primary aroma would cross-contaminate each other.

He carefully positioned the Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace over the fire pit before adding water.

He took a bundle of slightly yellowed Green Steel Wood and placed it underneath, inserting a Fireball Technique into it. The firewood then gradually began to ignite.

The alchemy tool had now been replaced; the peachwood and red cedar wood he often used before were no longer suitable.

The two types of firewood produced too little heat. To heat up the Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace with them would have taken an unknown amount of time.

Thus, Luo Chen made a special purchase of the expensive Green Steel Wood.

This First Order Spirit Wood, contained oils, and could release considerable high temperature when ignited.

“I’ve heard that when high-order cultivators refine Pills, they either use the pill fire within their bodies or borrow the Earth and Heaven Fire from the natural world. I wonder when I will be able to use such a method?”

With a few muttered words, Luo Chen confirmed there were no issues with the fire pit’s insulation, and then he left the Pill Room.

He’d heat the Pill Furnace first to warm it up, and also to smoke out some of the residual medicinal scent inside.

All these steps were based on experience.

Lady Xiangxiang had stressed these points in a booklet when she sold him the furnace.

Heating the furnace was just the first step, followed by testing the furnace. After familiarizing himself with it, he could confidently start refining potions.

Over the next two days, he would process the medicinal materials first!

Crackle Pop!

Crash bang!

“What’s that noise?”

A lazy voice of suspicion came from outside. Luo Chen opened the stone door of the Pill Room and walked out with a dusty face.

Watching his disheveled appearance , Gu Caiyi couldn’t help but giggle.

“What are you up to? And why is there a separate room inside your house?”

Phew Phew!

Luo Chen fanned himself and cast a Cleaning Technique on himself.

With a bang, all the dust on his body scattered, causing Gu Caiyi to dodge hastily.

He arrived at the water tank, ladled out a large scoop of cold water and gulped it down, finally catching his breath.

“Damn it, no wonder all the famous Pill Refiners always have someone to tend to the fire. This Pill Room is certainly not a place to frequent.”

After cursing, he finally found time to explain to Gu Caiyi.

“This is the new Pill Room I’ve built. What do you think, it’s not bad, right?”

Gu Caiyi waved her hand and cleared the dust around her.

“Yes, it isn’t. I suggest you stay in there all day long.”

The colour drained from Luo Chen’s face, but he didn’t take it to heart. “I was trying my furnace. I stir-fried some Immortal Beans, want to try?”

“Immortal Beans?”

Luo Chen went inside the Pill Room and soon came out with a plate of golden beans.

The beans had shells, but they had cracked open during the high heat stir-frying process.

All he needed to do was lightly peel them off, revealing the white kernel inside.

“These are Bitter Hazelnuts!” Gu Caiyi, half doubtful, pinched one, “This is usually very bitter. Can you eat it?”

“You will know once you give it a try.”

Luo Chen had already started to peel off shells, stuffing several kernels into his mouth.

Gu Caiyi peeled off the golden shell, exposing the tender white nut, and put it in her mouth.

Her rosy lips moved slightly as her eyes began to shine.

“Wow, this is really good! How did you make it? It’s crispy and fragrant, and there’s some Spirit Qi hidden in it.”

Luo Chen bragged, “It’s a secret recipe that I’m not willing to disclose.”

Gu Caiyi gave him a sideways glance and snatched away the whole plate of Immortal Beans.

Luo Chen didn’t care. He added a bucket of water to the Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace, and then took a small teapot and left the room.

In the courtyard, Gu Caiyi was sitting on Xiao Hu’s children’s swing, holding a plate of Immortal Beans, being peeled one by one.

Across from her, Luo Chen was watering each potted plant one by one with a little teapot.

“These are Xiu Xiu’s plants, right?”

Luo Chen gave a nod of agreement. After examining the two spirit plants that Sister Xiu Xiu had specifically pointed out and confirming there were no issues, he could relax.

It had been four days since the last gathering.

Xiu Xiu’s rest day was over, and she had returned to work at Shen Fu Pavilion. She only got one day off a month.

She had accumulated three days off since being promoted to steward and working at the Shen Fu Pavilion for a considerable length of time.

Before leaving, she entrusted Luo Chen with taking care of these plants.

“You’re pretty good at making yourself at home. You just met her, and you’ve already deceived her into giving you these plants.”

“Watch your words! Since when does helping a neighbour equate to deceiving?”

“Humph, I just saw you. You put that pot of Moonlight Grass by your bedside. You certainly practice diligently every night!”

Luo Chen’s face turned slightly red. Why are this woman’s eyes so sharp?

But speaking of which, the effect of Moonlight grass was certainly commendable. Although not as effective as Calming Incense, it still had a tenth of the effect.

In the past few days, the maximum limit for running the Longevity Technique at night had increased by one.

Each day after his cultivation, he would wake up feeling more energetic. His daily Technique Proficiency was also soaring, and several Techniques had broken through to new levels.

Luo Chen quickly changed the subject, “Why haven’t you been back in the past few days?”

“Hmm, wait a minute, your Cultivation Level?”

Gu Caiyi, with puckered lips, gave a chuckle. Her swing hugged her plump buttocks and outlined a striking contrast with her slender waist.

“Caught you, didn’t? I’ve reached the Ninth level of Qi Refinement!”