Chapter 38: Xiao Chen, You're Going the Wrong Way

Chapter 38: Xiao Chen, You’re Going the Wrong Way

“Although I do know alchemy, according to sect rules, techniques cannot be privately passed on.”
“Therefore, we must follow the proper procedures to avoid gossip.”
Elder Chen handed Xiao Chen a token: “Since the Scripture Pavilion is being difficult, use this to go to the Alchemy Hall and choose an alchemy technique.”

After thanking Elder Chen, Xiao Chen headed to the Alchemy Hall, where he met another Elder Chen.
The Chen family had long been renowned for pill forging, and the eldest brother of Chen Tianyang, Chen Tianyuan, was in charge of managing the Alchemy Hall.

After inspecting the token, Xiao Chen was guided to the storeroom by a senior sect brother from the Alchemy Hall.
“Xiao Chen, the pill formulas on these shelves are the complete and distinctive legacies of our sect, divided into Mystic and Yellow ranks.”
“The two rows on the left are Mystic-rank alchemy techniques, while the rightmost row contains only Yellow-rank techniques suitable for apprentices.”

Hearing this, Xiao Chen walked directly to the far right.
“Xiao Chen, you’re going the wrong way—those are just Yellow-rank legacies.”
Xiao Chen smiled faintly: “Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother, but I haven’t made a mistake. You see, I prefer something simple to start with.”

The senior sect brother was baffled but deeply intrigued.
Would someone actually choose Yellow-rank techniques over Mystic-rank ones?
No, no—it must just be curiosity.

“Senior Brother, I’ve made my choice. I’ll take this one.”
Unlike the Scripture Pavilion, the Alchemy Hall displayed only four Yellow-rank pill formulas, each focusing on fire manipulation while incorporating the elements of metal, wood, water, and earth.

As a cultivator with a low-grade wood spirit root, Xiao Chen naturally chose the Evergreen Pill Formula, which emphasized wood attributes. No hesitation needed.

“Xiao Chen, are you sure you won’t reconsider? You haven’t even looked at the Mystic-rank legacies.”
Standing at the hall’s entrance, the senior sect brother still seemed stunned.
“I appreciate your concern, Senior Brother, but my talent is limited. Complex legacies are beyond me—I’ll stick with this one.”

With firm resolve, Xiao Chen strode down the mountain to the bazaar, ready to purchase a pill furnace.
The Lihuo Sect had no shortage of pill furnaces, but apprentices aiming to become pill forgers often bought their own. Public furnaces were insufficient in number, frequently overcrowded, and notoriously outdated—using them drastically reduced pill-forging success rates.

Elder Chen had advised him to choose an ordinary low-grade furnace. A brand-new one cost around 100 spirit stones, a reasonable price for most Alchemy Hall disciples. Secondhand options were cheaper, selling for dozens less depending on condition, though even these were far superior to the sect’s public furnaces.

Premium furnaces, which enhanced pill-forging success, were prohibitively expensive for beginners. Whether to invest depended on one’s budget and ambition.
As the saying went: A craftsman must sharpen his tools before excelling at his work.
A quality furnace would undoubtedly make learning pill forging easier.

After considering his options, Xiao Chen headed straight to the Treasure Pavilion, the largest and most popular shop in Lihuo Bazaar.
To avoid drawing attention, he wore the Cloak of Hidden Tracks to conceal his identity.

The Treasure Pavilion lived up to its reputation, spanning nine floors dedicated to cultivation artifacts: Flying Swords, Magic Robes, talismans, forging, pill forging, array formations, beast taming, and curiosities.

When Xiao Chen reached the fifth floor, he found a solitary cultivator at the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation haggling with the manager over a crimson pill furnace.
“Six hundred spirit stones is the lowest price—we’re practically selling at a loss!”
“Brother Daoist, lower it by fifty. My medicinal herbs are skyrocketing in cost—I can’t afford more than 550.”
The manager shook his head. “Impossible. Six hundred is final.”
Turning to Xiao Chen, he smiled: “Esteemed Sir, the back and right shelves have our finest new furnaces. Call me if anything catches your eye.”

Though the Cloak of Hidden Tracks concealed Xiao Chen’s face, it signaled that he was no ordinary customer. The manager, eager to avoid prying questions, rushed to assist him instead of continuing the negotiation.

Xiao Chen examined several furnaces, comparing mid-grade and low-grade models.
Mid-grade furnaces stabilized spirit flames and handled higher temperatures with pre-engraved patterns to limit mana input, preventing overheating. The Three-Legged Spirit Reversal Furnace before him could store mana or use spirit stones for auxiliary power, allowing forgers to use minimal mana while maintaining steady flames. Even interruptions wouldn’t extinguish the flame, thanks to the spirit stone’s support—a lifesaver during emergencies.

Low-grade furnaces, by contrast, merely converted mana to spirit flames, demanding constant focus.
The cheapest mid-grade furnace cost 499 spirit stones, while the Three-Legged Spirit Reversal Furnace required 900.

Though expensive, its features were ideal for a beginner.

Behind him, the manager was still negotiating with the solitary cultivator, now at 599 spirit stones.
Xiao Chen interrupted: “Manager, what’s the lowest price?”
“Ah, excellent taste, Sir!” The manager beamed. “This furnace was crafted by a forging master—”
Xiao Chen cut him off. “Skip the flattery. The price.”
The manager formed a “gun” with his fingers—a common gesture for “final offer.” “Eight hundred and eighty-eight spirit stones. A lucky number for prosperity!”
Xiao Chen frowned. “I’m in a hurry buying this for my apprentice. Give me a real price. Lie, and I’ll leave.”

The manager hesitated, then proposed: “How about this—888, and I’ll throw in three bundles of premium Agarwood Aloes Standing Incense and a Warm Jade Lotus Cushion?”

The incense had been ordered a year prior by a pill forger who vanished. Now a burden, the items were worth 160 spirit stones alone.

Xiao Chen inspected the incense, then waved his hand. “Pack it up.”
The manager grinned, hastily boxing the items and arranging delivery to the bazaar’s exit.

Meanwhile, the solitary cultivator, initially annoyed at being ignored, now eyed Xiao Chen with curiosity.
Who could casually spend hundreds on Agarwood Aloes?
Could this be a Foundation-Building elder?
Or perhaps a wandering pill forger of great renown?
A new mystery had arrived in Lihuo Bazaar—one worth watching closely.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end