Time flew by quickly; a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During this year, Long Chen had one week of special training every month.
After these days of arduous special training, his progress was evident.
His physique became more resilient, and his movements more agile.
Climbing mountains was no longer a challenge for him, but a joy of self-transcendence during the ascent.
His steps were light and steady; even steep mountain paths could be climbed with ease.
He could move nimbly through the tree branches, as fast as a monkey in the forest.
Ye Tianming trained Long Chen's physical fitness to prepare him for future battles with Spirit Beasts.
Except for the time spent training in the Spirit Beast Forest, Long Chen dedicated the rest of his time to cultivation and researching medicinal herbs.
He had made significant progress in both spirit power enhancement and medicinal theoretical knowledge.
During his special training in the Spirit Beast Forest, Long Chen had gathered many rare medicinal ingredients.
One day, he came to a medical hall on the street called "Guang'an Hall."
Guang'an Hall treated patients and had its own pharmacy.
It wasn't very big, but it had a good reputation, making it an ideal place for Long Chen to learn.
Long Chen walked into Guang'an Hall's pharmacy.
The pharmacy was filled with the unique scent of medicinal ingredients.
Rows of wooden medicine cabinets were neatly stocked with various medicinal ingredients, and several assistants were busy dispensing and packaging medicine.
Long Chen walked to the counter and softly said:
"Excuse me, is your Shopkeeper in?"
An assistant looked up at Long Chen, and seeing that he was just a child, couldn't help but show a hint of disdain, thinking he was there to cause trouble, and casually replied:
"What do you need our Shopkeeper for?"
After speaking, he lowered his head and continued to sort the medicinal ingredients in his hands.
Long Chen didn't mind the assistant's attitude; he slowly pulled out a jade box from his Pregnant and gently opened it, revealing a Youlan Spiritual Grass emitting a faint green glow.
The corner of the assistant's eye caught a glimpse of this scene, and he suddenly looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
Youlan Spiritual Grass is an extremely rare medicinal ingredient, usually only growing in places frequently visited by Spirit Beasts.
Moreover, this was a fresh Youlan Spiritual Grass, a rare sight for ordinary people.
"This… is this Youlan Spiritual Grass?"
The assistant's voice trembled slightly; he couldn't believe his eyes.
Long Chen nodded and said calmly:
"Yes, I want to discuss a deal with your hall's Shopkeeper using it."
Although Long Chen's voice was soft, it revealed a maturity not belonging to his age.
Seeing this, the assistant's attitude immediately changed; he quickly put down his work and said with a beaming smile:
"Little brother, please wait a moment, I'll go invite the Shopkeeper now."
After speaking, he hurried towards the back hall, looking back as he went, afraid that Long Chen might suddenly change his mind.
Soon after, an old man of about sixty, dressed in a long robe, walked out from the back hall.
The old man's steps were steady, and his eyes revealed a hint of wisdom.
He came before Long Chen and bowed, saluting:
"I am Shopkeeper Wang of Guang'an Hall. I heard that little brother has Youlan Spiritual Grass. May I have a look?"
"Of course."
Long Chen readily handed over the jade box.
The old man took the jade box and carefully examined the Youlan Spiritual Grass, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"Little brother, this Youlan Spiritual Grass of yours is of superior quality, truly rare. What do you wish to exchange it for?"
Long Chen already had a plan in mind and said:
"I wish to exchange it for an opportunity to learn medicinal herb knowledge and alchemy at your hall."
"What?"
Shopkeeper Wang frowned, thinking he had misheard.
One must know that this was an extremely rare medicinal ingredient, yet Long Chen's condition was so simple.
Shopkeeper Wang carefully scrutinized Long Chen.
To keep Youlan Spiritual Grass fresh, one needs to use a jade container. This young man, at such a young age, knows this point, he is definitely not an ordinary person.
"Little brother, who exactly are you? This Youlan Spiritual Grass couldn't have been secretly taken from your home, could it? If your parents are Spirit Masters, I cannot afford to offend them."
Long Chen shook his head and smiled:
"Shopkeeper Wang, please rest assured. To be honest, I am a Spirit Master, and this Youlan Spiritual Grass was dug by me in Sunset Forest."
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Wang became even more puzzled.
"Since you are a Spirit Master, why waste time learning medicine and alchemy?"
"It's purely a personal hobby. I've been researching medicinal herbs for over a year, and I hope to put what I've learned into practice."
Shopkeeper Wang was slightly stunned, then laughed heartily:
"What an ambitious young man! Although my Guang'an Hall is not large, it is somewhat well-known in Heaven Dou City. If you are willing, feel free to come and learn; I will personally teach you medicinal herb knowledge and the art of alchemy."
Upon hearing this, Long Chen was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Shopkeeper, for your generosity. Oh, and I have another rare medicinal herb here, please take a look."
As Long Chen spoke, he took out a small iron box from his Pregnant and gently opened it.
This time, inside lay a medicinal herb that was entirely fiery red, shaped like a lotus, yet emitted a faint medicinal fragrance—a Fire Lotus Fruit.
This Fire Lotus Fruit was also an extremely rare medicinal ingredient, playing an irreplaceable role in refining certain specific elixirs.
Seeing this, Shopkeeper Wang's surprise grew even greater; he took the iron box and carefully observed the Fire Lotus Fruit, exclaiming in wonder:
"Fire Lotus Fruit! This... this is simply an unexpected delight. Little brother, where did you obtain this?"
Long Chen smiled and explained:
"I accidentally discovered it on a cliff in Sunset Forest."
After hearing this, Shopkeeper Wang secretly praised Long Chen's courage and strength.
"Oh, by the way, little brother, what is your name?"
"My name is Long Chen, you can call me Xiao Chen."
"Xiao Chen, can you sell this Fire Lotus Fruit to me?"
"Of course! I want to exchange it for something with you."
Shopkeeper Wang's face lit up with joy.
"Xiao Chen, what do you want to exchange it for?"
"Two pieces of good quality whale glue, at least of thousand-year grade."
"What?"
Shopkeeper Wang was once again shocked by Long Chen's words.
Whale glue is an aphrodisiac, circulated only among nobles.
As an old physician, Shopkeeper Wang naturally knew its effects.
It was just difficult to understand what a child would want it for.
"Xiao Chen, what do you need whale glue for?"
"Shopkeeper Wang, please rest assured. I know it's an aphrodisiac, but I only intend to research it with other medicines, nothing else."
Shopkeeper Wang nodded, half-believing, half-doubting.
This rare Fire Lotus Fruit was more than enough to exchange for two pieces of thousand-year quality whale glue.
Plus that Youlan Spiritual Grass, it was simply a huge profit.
"Xiao Chen, I have whale glue in my pharmacy, but the quality doesn't meet your requirements. How about this, I'll prepare it, and you can come back in two days to pick it up."
"No problem. You can keep this Fire Lotus Fruit for now. If I find any rare medicinal herbs in the future, I will sell them to you at a price lower than the market."
"Good. From now on, whatever you want to learn, I will teach you without reservation."
Seeing Long Chen so straightforward and eager to learn, Shopkeeper Wang was also very happy and expressed his willingness to teach him everything he knew.