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Chen Lu knew that alchemy was a troublesome matter, but he did not expect it to be so complicated.

Perhaps it was because he had preconceived notions that as long as one knew how to control fire and knew a few pill formulas, one could be an alchemist.

I didn't expect there to be so much to learn.

However, according to Master Li Dan, it's also possible to learn alchemy directly.

However, he has high standards and doesn't want to take on apprentices who lack prior knowledge.

Talent cannot be learned, but knowledge can. He considered himself to have decent comprehension, and at just over thirty years old, he had plenty of time ahead of him.

Once you complete the training, not only will your life be more stable, but you'll also be able to earn more spirit stones, making all the current investment worthwhile.

"Senior, this junior can start learning from the beginning."

He spoke with great conviction, but worried that Li Danshi might not want to go through the trouble.

It's easier and less effort to give occasional pointers on cultivation than to waste energy teaching a clueless newbie.

Master Li hesitated, for many cultivators had started learning alchemy midway through their studies.

Most people may work hard for several years, but it may not be as effective as someone else's afternoon.

Ultimately, only a very small percentage of people truly make it through.

However, he knew that this kid had good talent, but whether he had good comprehension was still unknown.

After a moment's thought, he said, "I can take you on as an apprentice, but there's a condition."

Master Li didn't give specifics, he just told him to follow him.

After leaving the Western Regions pharmacy, they followed Master Li Dan for a long time, and the surroundings became increasingly remote.

This place appears to be a small village, but it is deserted and desolate, with no grass growing on the ground, a scene of utter stillness.

The further you go, the stronger the stench in the air becomes.

Chen Lu, who had just stepped in, took a while to adjust.

Master Li seemed to be used to it, pointing to the large cluster of stone houses in the distance billowing smoke, and introduced them:

"Half of the pills in the entire Red Bamboo Immortal City are refined here."

The cheapest spirit bamboo charcoal is used, and the cultivators use a fire control array to manipulate the fire with spiritual energy.

Even the best alchemists can make mistakes if they refine too many pills.

The poisonous mist emanating from the discarded pills, mixed with charcoal smoke, has drifted for hundreds of years, and every clod of earth underfoot has been buried with waste residue.

Nothing can survive here except rats and people.

Chen Lu listened silently, perhaps this was one of the prices behind the prosperity of the Immortal City.

After wandering around for quite some time, Li Danshi finally arrived at a courtyard with a three-tiered layout.

As soon as I stepped inside, a young man carrying a box rushed up to greet me.

"Master! The pills I've refined are ready. Please take another look and see if there are any problems?"

Master Li lowered his head and sniffed, frowning slightly. His tone wasn't very pleasant, but he spoke very patiently and in detail.

Chen Lu didn't understand much, so he could only wait quietly to the side.

"Alright, come with me to the bookstore in the backyard."

Li Danshi walked with his hands behind his back through the middle courtyard toward his residence in the back courtyard.

During the journey, Chen Lu secretly observed and discovered that there was also a row of stone houses in the central courtyard, which were much smaller in scale than those in the distance.

Normally, alchemists would practice alchemy in a dedicated place, not in someone else's home.

Out of curiosity, I secretly peeked at the stone houses and discovered that many alchemists were concentrating on refining pills.

Even highly paid Foundation Establishment alchemists cannot avoid using their jobs to earn extra money.

Upon entering the back room, Chen Lu immediately felt the air become fresher, and he felt much more energetic.

"I obtained a century-old spiritual tree from the Medicine King Sect. It can gather spiritual energy, purify the air, and improve the soil."

Without even turning his head, Li Danshi knew what Chen Lu was thinking, so he pointed to the small tree in the yard that was only half a person tall and introduced it.

"A hundred years old? Such a small ancient tree?"

Li Danshi looked down and fumbled for the key, while imitating Chen Lu's tone and asking exaggeratedly.

"Kid, look at whatever you want to know. This is your house, not mine."

After all, who would be so rude as to look around aimlessly on their first visit to someone's home?

Chen Lu scratched his head awkwardly, and Senior Li noticed his little action.

Li Danshi then joked around and gave him a good dressing down.

But he still addressed Chen Lu's doubts by explaining:

"That spirit tree is extremely effective. It is a natural spirit-gathering array. It only grows three centimeters taller and one centimeter thicker each year. The longer the tree is old, the stronger its effects of gathering spirit and improving the soil become."

This thing is priceless; you can't buy it even if you have money. Don't be fooled by the sheer size of Crimson Bamboo Immortal City; I guarantee there are no more than ten of these spirit trees!

Master Li's tone carried a hint of pride; it was a great honor to be associated with the Medicine King Sect, a sacred place for elixirs.

The door opened, revealing eight five-tiered bookshelves filled with jade slips, scrolls, and some booklets made of special materials.

At this point, Master Li Dan finally got down to business:

"Every apprentice under me started learning from me at the age of 12 and studied for 16 years before they could touch the alchemy furnace."

As long as you're not too stupid, you can refine it on your own around the age of 35.

"But you've only been learning alchemy halfway through your career, missing out on over twenty years of formal training. To succeed, you'll need exceptional comprehension and perseverance."

He turned around, took out a piece of paper, wrote a lot on it, and handed it to Chen Lu.

"These are three prescriptions, and one of the ingredients is incorrect."

The books here are very detailed, enough to understand the pharmacology and properties of the medicines in the prescriptions.

Your task is to find out which ingredient in which prescription is wrong within three days, and why.

"If I find him, he can become my apprentice; if I don't, my apprenticeship in alchemy will have to end."

"Yes, senior."

Chen Lu accepted the prescription, bowed respectfully, and then immediately turned around to browse the books on the bookshelf.

Three days, one divination a day, was enough for him to easily fulfill Master Li's requirements.

"All the medicinal herbs in the prescription are available in the central courtyard's storeroom."

You need to gather all the ingredients for these three prescriptions and place them here.

You can't ask anyone; you can only find the answers in the books here.

After speaking, Master Li brought three days' worth of food and water, then turned and left to teach his apprentices how to refine elixirs in the main hall.

At this moment, Chen Lu picked up the paper again and looked at the three prescriptions.

"The Qi Gathering Pill, the Rejuvenation Pill, and the Body Tempering Pill are three types of pills that have no similarities and are the most common and best-selling pills."

An old Foundation Establishment cultivator must possess a comprehensive collection of books, which would be of great benefit to both cultivation and alchemy.

Today's divination has already been used, so we can only wait until tomorrow. It's a good time to take a closer look now.

The collection of books is extensive, but most of them are about pharmacology, prescriptions, or knowledge about meridians.

However, cultivation techniques and spells are extremely rare, and those recorded are only for the convenience of alchemy.

For example, fire control techniques, purification techniques, and spirit absorption techniques.

However, he still found a high-grade secret technique for cultivating Qi that specializes in the meridians of the ten fingers and wrists of both hands, called "Double Pivot Meridian Refining Hand".

It combines strength and flexibility, which can temper the meridians in the hands, making them wider and more resilient.

When mastered to a high level, the Hard Law allows one to capture fire and poison with bare hands. Combined with finger techniques, it can gather more spiritual energy and unleash a powerful force that surpasses that of other practitioners of the same level.

The gentle technique can nourish the nerves in the fingertips, making the fingers as nimble as silk, and allowing for delicate and skillful hand gestures and spiritual manipulation.

When refining elixirs, one can control the heat more precisely, thus improving the quality of the finished product.