Just as Gu Ni thought, on this Dou Qi Continent, most alchemists valued their pill formulas and alchemy techniques more than their own lives.
Although the Qi Recovery Pill was a common type of medicine, not all alchemists used the same techniques.
Some alchemists had unique techniques, and their success rate in producing pills was higher than others.
And now, this young man was actually letting him observe his alchemy techniques up close... This...
Gu Ni was deeply moved, beyond words.
Gu Ni's teacher had passed away two and a half years ago, so even if he wanted to try his hand at becoming a Grade 3 Alchemist, he could only proceed cautiously by studying pill formulas.
For an alchemist like him, who had never been taught by a renowned master and whose talent was only average, it would be almost impossible to become a Grade 3 Alchemist in this lifetime without the guidance of other alchemists.
How could he not be moved that this young man, whom he had just met, had given him a chance?
Thinking of this, while Chen Yang was heating the medicine cauldron, Gu Ni opened the door and called several guards to stand outside, instructing them not to let anyone in, even if it was Ya Fei.
After giving his instructions, he hurriedly went inside and began to observe Chen Yang's techniques!
Gu Ni knew that it took a considerable amount of time for an alchemist to refine a Grade 3 pill, and there was also a chance of failure during that process.
It was normal to fail at alchemy. Even the Pill King Gu He had a chance of failing when refining Grade 3 pills. Thinking this, Gu Ni took out another set of Qi Recovery Pill ingredients and quietly placed them in front of Chen Yang.
Chen Yang also noticed Gu Ni's actions. A smile appeared on his lips, but he did not stop him. Instead, he continued to input his Dou Qi, which turned into flames within the medicine cauldron.
A Grade 3 Alchemist could not yet control real fire; they could only channel fire-attribute Dou Qi into flames within the cauldron.
However, as a 9-Star Great Dou Master, Chen Yang was cultivating the High-Level Xuan Rank Crimson Flame Technique, so he had nothing to worry about with a mere Grade 3 pill.
After a short while, feeling that the temperature inside the cauldron was about right, Chen Yang waved his hand and used his Dou Qi to carry the medicinal herbs one by one into the cauldron.
Since it was his first time refining medicine in this world, Chen Yang was cautious and didn't throw everything in at once.
Using his Soul Force to precisely control the temperature, each medicinal herb was quickly transformed into a medicinal liquid. At this stage, the pill refining had reached its most crucial moment!
Chen Yang carefully enveloped the medicinal liquid with his Soul Force, using a special technique to slowly fuse it...
Meanwhile, Gu Ni, standing nearby, was completely mesmerized.
In his eyes, Chen Yang's technique was smooth and fluid, with each step seemingly honed through countless trials. It was nothing like what Chen Yang had just described as a newly qualified alchemist who had only recently entered the third rank.
'No wonder he's a top student taught by a master. I wonder where this Brother Chen Yang came from?' Gu Ni was secretly shocked, but continued to study diligently.
Fortunately, the fusion of the pills went very smoothly. Soon, a pitted and uneven nascent pill appeared inside the cauldron. At this point, the pill refining process was basically 90% complete.
Seeing this, Chen Yang increased his Dou Qi output and began the final step of calcination.
Less than ten minutes later, Chen Yang gently tapped the medicine cauldron. As the flames went out, a round pill emitting a fragrant aroma flew out of the cauldron and landed steadily in Chen Yang's outstretched right hand.
"It's a success!"
"It worked on the first try!"
Gu Ni looked at the pill in Chen Yang's hand in surprise, not expecting that Chen Yang had completed the refining of a Grade 3 pill in one go.
"Congratulations, Brother Chen Yang, on refining this Grade 3 Qi Recovery Pill in one go!"
Gu Ni looked at Chen Yang and said with admiration.
"Just lucky!"
"I never expected to master it in one go."
"Master Gu Ni, can this Qi Recovery Pill be used as payment for the remaining two portions of medicinal herbs?"
Chen Yang smiled and stood up, walked to Gu Ni, placed the Qi Recovery Pill in his hand, and pointed to the two portions of Qi Recovery Pill ingredients on the small table next to the medicine cauldron.
"Brother Chen Yang, you're too kind. It's the custom on the continent to prepare at least three sets of medicinal materials when hiring an alchemist to refine pills."
"Moreover, I have already benefited greatly from being able to observe your alchemy techniques up close, so how could I possibly take this pill for free?"
"If you are interested in selling this Qi Recovery Pill, young brother, I am willing to buy it at market price."
"And Gu Ni is willing to offer something more to thank you for your guidance, little brother."
Gu Ni was now adopting a very humble attitude, not only because Chen Yang was already a Grade 3 Alchemist at such a young age, nor only because of Chen Yang's high-level Great Dou Master cultivation, but more so because Chen Yang was willing to let him stay and watch the process of refining Grade 3 pills!
Regardless of whether he could advance to the Grade 3 Alchemist because of this, he could never repay this debt of gratitude!
"Master Gu Ni, you flatter me. There's no need for thanks. However, if you're willing to buy this pill, then that's no problem at all!"
Chen Yang was quite happy, getting the money for a pill and two portions of medicinal herbs for free—that was all money!
He was so poor he couldn't even afford to eat. If he couldn't get any money soon, he'd really have to rob the Mittel Family!
"Young Brother Chen Yang, please don't refuse. Gu Ni is just a Grade 2 Alchemist, and I'm sure you wouldn't be interested in what he has. However, I come from the Mittel Family, and I have the most common possessions. Please accept this Purple Gold Card!"
That was why Gu Ni was so sensible; he knew that Chen Yang came from a major sect, and the trash he had was simply not presentable now.
Remembering that Chen Yang had just said he was penniless, he decided to just give him the money directly.
"This…"
Chen Yang looked at the Purple Gold Card presented by Gu Ni with both hands, thought for a moment, and then accepted it.
"Very well, I'll have to trouble Master Gu Ni again, so I'll accept the money!"
Seeing Chen Yang accept the gold card, Gu Ni breathed a sigh of relief; his gift had clearly been delivered appropriately.
"Brother Chen Yang, here are 60,000 gold coins. This is the money Gu Ni paid for this Qi Recovery Pill!"
Gu Ni looked at Chen Yang and casually took out 60,000 gold coins.
Upon seeing this, Chen Yang couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Alchemists truly lived up to their reputation as the most lucrative profession on the Dou Qi Continent. The money a Grade 2 Alchemist could casually take out was almost comparable to that of an entire family in Wutan City.
On the other hand, this Grade 3 Alchemist was still a poor wretch.
Thinking of this, he shook his head and put away the gold card containing 60,000 gold coins.
"Young man, you must be tired from your journey and haven't eaten yet. I'll have someone send over some local specialties from Wutan City, and while I'm at it, I'll also introduce you to the person in charge of our auction house. Would that be alright?"
Gu Ni looked at Chen Yang and asked again.
"No problem, um... send me a set of clothes first. This set of clothes was given to me by a guy on the road, and it doesn't fit me very well!" Chen Yang nodded, then tugged at his clothes and said to Gu Ni.
"No problem, I'll give the orders myself!" Gu Ni nodded, looked Chen Yang up and down, and then went to handle the matter himself.
Inside the room, watching Gu Ni leave, Chen Yang walked to the medicine cauldron and waved his hand to collect his medicine cauldron and the two portions of Qi Recovery Pills from the ground.
Before Gu Ni returned, Chen Yang found a chair, sat down, and began to think about his plans for the next year or so.
Since the World Tree was essentially tied to Xiao Yan, Chen Yang planned to stay in Wutan City until Xiao Yan left.
In the upcoming days in Wutan City, there would be events that could trigger the World Tree's mechanisms; he recalled there being two other types as well.
One was the Xuan Rank High-Level cultivation technique Wind Walk Technique auctioned at the Mittel Auction House. The World Tree should provide itself with a Low-Level Di Rank cultivation technique in return.
The other was the Xuan Rank High-Level fighting skill Eight Extremes Collapse that Xiao Yan learned from Yao Lao, which could also give him a Low-Level Di Rank fighting skill.
Apart from that, if he developed normally without interference, he probably wouldn't make any further progress in the next year and a half to two years.
Chen Yang closed his eyes and looked inward. In his sea of consciousness, the World Tree stood tall. The leaf representing Wutan City swayed gently.
[Verdant Green Leafof9-Star Great Dou Master (Current Peak).]
[Gleaming Gold LeafofGrade 3 Alchemist (Current Peak).]
The leaves were stable. They reflected his current supremacy in the region. But Chen Yang knew the Tree's rule: it rewarded based on the region's peak. If the region's peak didn't change, his rewards wouldn't change.
"However, a living person can't let themselves die from holding in their pee!"
"Since there are no strong individuals, then I will create and cultivate them!"
"If I can train Gu Ni to become a Grade 3 Alchemist, then the Tree will detect a new peak... I should be able to advance to Grade 4!"
"If I can help Xiao Zhan become an 8 or 9-Star Great Dou Master, then the Tree will detect the new cultivation peak... I can probably break through to Dou Ling as well!"
"Hmm... let's do it this way. I need to find something to do..."
As Chen Yang thought about it, a smile appeared on his lips. The Fate Threads in his mind seemed to vibrate slightly at his intent to alter the local power structure.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Gu Ni walked in with a charming woman dressed in a red robe...