NOVEL WEB Chapter 29
Chapter 32: Alchemist Examination
Liu Shunyi’s mind was racing.
Mixed Yuan Pearl.
Just hearing the name gave off an extraordinary vibe.
As for the fact that using the Mixed Yuan Pearl for Foundation Establishment might lead to a catastrophic explosion… well, that was the least of Liu Shunyi’s worries.
But when he saw the price of the Mixed Yuan Pearl…
Liu Shunyi’s expression darkened.
“Contribution points: nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine!”
He turned to Ji Suying, bewildered.
“Is this for real?”
Ji Suying chuckled.
“Of course, it’s not serious! The price is just a warning to keep others from using it for Foundation Establishment!”
Liu Shunyi nodded, feeling a bit torn.
Others couldn’t utilize it, but if he succeeded in using it for Foundation Establishment, wouldn’t that create a stir throughout the Qinglian Sect?
However, despite having this outrageous Foundation Establishment item, to not use it would be such a waste!
It seemed Ji Suying sensed Liu Shunyi’s dilemma.
“Are you thinking about using it for your Foundation Establishment?”
Liu Shunyi fell silent.
Ji Suying pressed further, “How confident are you?”
Liu Shunyi scratched his head, “I really have no idea!”
Ji Suying tapped her sword sheath, her eyes fixed on Liu Shunyi.
After some time, she said, “I can take the lead and get you this Mixed Yuan Pearl!”
Liu Shunyi sighed, “So, what do you want me to do in return?”
Ji Suying’s expression turned serious. “There’s a small secret realm opening soon with a spirit herb called Foxfire Vine.”
“I need you to go into the secret realm and locate that Foxfire Vine, or at least determine its specific location!”
Liu Shunyi: “…”
To be honest, he really didn’t want to venture into any secret realm. They were just too dangerous.
Plus, he had the Golden Scroll of the Great Dao and alchemy skills; he could acquire whatever he needed as time went by without taking unnecessary risks.
Cultivating safely was the main priority.
Yet thinking about that extraordinary Foundation Establishment item…
Liu Shunyi gritted his teeth, “Alright!”
Ji Suying stretched her hand out, and the Mixed Yuan Pearl flew out of the transparent cabinet, directly landing in her palm.
She then handed it over to Liu Shunyi.
“Just like that?”
Liu Shunyi was a bit taken aback.
Ji Suying smiled. “I trust your character!”
Liu Shunyi smiled back.
……
……
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
In that time, Liu Shunyi had chased away three groups of people.
All of them were Outer Disciples—some were even long-established Outer Disciples.
The reason was simple. The previous occupants of his cave dwelling, who Liu Shunyi had defeated, had come to seek revenge.
Those they called in ended up getting beaten again, and more kept coming.
Eventually, Liu Shunyi had practically taken down all the formidable Outer Disciples, and now they had learned their lesson.
Now, Liu Shunyi could stride through Cangjian Peak’s Outer Sect with confidence.
In fact, whenever they saw Liu Shunyi, everyone bowed to him.
This was the cultivation world, where strength forever equated to status.
Liu Shunyi wasn’t one to flaunt his position either; he returned the bows.
Sometimes, he even paused to chat with some disciples.
However, today, Liu Shunyi had more important things to do.
He needed Foundation Establishment techniques along with a Foundation Establishment pill since those were essential for the Foundation Establishment process.
These items would certainly cost a pretty penny.
Not to mention, they required a significant amount of contribution points.
Fortunately…
He was an alchemist!
Now he just needed to authenticate his status as an alchemist. For each pill he refined for the sect…
A Qi Gathering Pill would earn him five hundred contribution points, while a Qi Recovery Pill would net him a hundred.
The better the grade, the more contribution points he’d receive.
Now that was what he should be doing!
Plus, becoming the sect’s alchemist came with its perks.
He could freely use all the medicinal herbs and pill formulas from the sect.
And as an alchemist, the monthly salary was a whopping twenty thousand spiritual stones!
Liu Shunyi was practically drooling at the thought.
———
Time passed, and he finally arrived at Qinglian Sect’s alchemy room.
The first impression of the alchemy room was akin to a hospital.
Everyone coming and going was either injured or being helped along.
It was packed to the brim.
Liu Shunyi navigated through the crowd until he reached the alchemist verification area.
Here, too, was overloaded with people.
What was absurd was that those waiting to be verified were all reading books.
“Wow, this feels like a job interview,” Liu Shunyi thought, wide-eyed.
With nothing else to do, he joined the que and waited.
However, while waiting, he couldn’t help but sneak a peek at the guy next to him.
Upon looking over, Liu Shunyi was speechless.
Everyone was poring over names of herbs and their properties.
Seriously, if they didn’t even know the basic names and properties of herbs, what were they doing trying to become alchemists?
Liu Shunyi just couldn’t wrap his head around it.
However, he kept his mouth shut.
———
Liu Shunyi lost track of time while waiting.
Just as he was about to doze off, the verifier finally called his name.
“Cangjian Peak, Liu Shunyi!”
“Coming, coming!”
Liu Shunyi jumped up and followed the disciple into the verification area.
Upon entering a grand hall, he was greeted by a huge dan furnace.
This thing looked really similar to the one used by the Grand Master.
At least, it looked like it.
Liu Shunyi doubted this one could compare to the Grand Master’s furnace.
“Go ahead!”
The disciple guided Liu Shunyi in and then lurked off to the side.
Liu Shunyi stepped up to the dan furnace. No, more accurately, he walked up to the table in front of the furnace.
On the table was a sheet of paper and several herbs.
“Write down their names and effects!”
Someone’s voice broke the silence.
Not that Liu Shunyi cared who said it; he just followed the instructions.
The herbs and their effects were straightforward enough.
Liu Shunyi quickly jotted them down.
Just as he finished, the paper suddenly flew behind the dan furnace.
As Liu Shunyi leaned over to check, he realized there was another table at the back.
An elderly man, exuding an aura of immortality, was seated there, carefully examining Liu Shunyi’s answers.
“Oh? You even wrote down some hidden effects. You’ve got talent!” The old man was pleased.
“You’ve passed the first stage. For the second stage, refine a batch of nine-grade Qi Recovery Pills. The herbs are in the cabinet to your left!”
Hearing the old man, Liu Shunyi finally noticed the herb cabinet to his left.
Without hesitating, Liu Shunyi grabbed the ingredients for the Qi Recovery Pill and started the refining process.
His technique was notably rough.
He tossed all the herbs into the dan furnace in one go and cranked up the heat, sending a chaotic rush of spiritual energy into the furnace!
The old man assessing Liu Shunyi turned pale, horrified by the chaotic display.