Chapter 24: Cultivating Qi Level 3

"It's all here, Shopkeeper, please take a look."

After saying this, Lin Jing took out several porcelain bottles from the Storage Bag and placed them on the counter.

The Shopkeeper's eyes lit up, sensing a significant business opportunity.

The Shopkeeper picked up a porcelain bottle from the counter, poured out the elixirs, and carefully inspected them in his hand.

After a while, he nodded and said with a smile,

"Sir, the quality of these elixirs is quite good. You must already be a Second-Grade Alchemist."

The Shopkeeper continued speaking even as his hands remained busy.

He then opened the next porcelain bottle and proceeded with the inspection.

"The Shopkeeper is joking. The path of a Pill Master is fraught with difficulties in promoting oneself; it isn't so easy to advance to a Second-Grade Alchemist," Lin Jing replied.

"Indeed, the path of a Pill Master is indeed tough to ascend. Currently, in Nanshan Market, Second-Grade Pill Masters are few and far between."

"However, I believe—"

As he spoke, the Shopkeeper looked up at Lin Jing, his gaze firm.

"Judging by the quality of the elixirs you've brought today, you're not far from becoming a Second-Grade Pill Master."

"Then I'll take your auspicious words to heart," Lin Jing responded with a smile.

Before long, all the elixirs had been inspected.

"Sir,"

The Shopkeeper toyed with an abacus, the beads clacking as he began to speak,

"Your batch of elixirs contains 145 Medium Grade medicinal pills, 61 Superior Grade, and 4 Supreme Grade."

"Among them are the Fasting Pill, Energy Gathering Pill, Energy Restoration Elixir, and even the Blood Coagulation Pill, all of which have different prices."

At this point, the sound of the abacus beads suddenly stopped.

Clearly, he had calculated the result.

"I've just tallied it up for you, and together, these elixirs are worth a total of 320 Spirit Stones."

"I wonder if you are satisfied with this price, Sir?"

"Hmm, it's acceptable."

The price was nearly the same as what Lin Jing had calculated himself.

"Shopkeeper," Lin Jing suddenly spoke up.

The Shopkeeper looked up at Lin Jing.

"Do you have any other requests, Sir?"

"I'm wondering if you also take Flawless Elixirs?"

"Flawless Elixirs!"

The Shopkeeper was shocked and then quickly responded.

"Of course, we do."

"Do you happen to have any Flawless Elixirs to sell?"

"Indeed," Lin Jing nodded.

"May I take a look at it?"

The Shopkeeper rubbed his hands together eagerly, looking at Lin Jing expectantly.

Flawless Elixirs were rarely sold, and even if someone did refine them, most alchemists chose not to sell them.

Such elixirs served as a testament to an alchemist's refining prowess. Having one's own Flawless Elixirs meant possible respect as an Offering Priest within smaller families, where even the patriarch would treat you with great reverence.

If one were in dire straits and decided to sell, they would typically choose a large trading house like Yuebaolou.

For smaller traders like them, obtaining Flawless Elixirs was extraordinarily rare.

They might not see even one in many years.

"Of course."

After speaking, Lin Jing took out a Pure Jade Box from the Storage Bag and handed it to the Shopkeeper.

The Pure Jade Box was transparent, and the elixir inside was clearly visible.

The Shopkeeper held the Pure Jade Box but did not open it.

He knew that once opened, the Flawless Elixirs inside would start to degrade due to exposure to external air.

If left exposed for too long, Flawless Elixirs would downgrade to Supreme Grade ones.

As he observed the brilliance rotating around the elixir, the Shopkeeper was beside himself with excitement.

"This is a newly refined Flawless Elixir. Are you really sure you want to sell it?"

"I've come across some difficulties lately and my expenses exceed my income, Shopkeeper, please make me an offer," Lin Jing said, giving a reason to avoid raising any suspicion.

After pondering for a moment, the Shopkeeper spoke,

"This Energy Restoration Elixir, being a first-grade elixir, is of moderate value, not too shabby. If you were to sell it at Yuebaolou, it should be worth around 500 Spirit Stones."

"So, let's settle on a price of 500 Spirit Stones. Would that be acceptable to you, Dao friend?"

"That will do."

Lin Jing nodded slightly, acknowledging that the price was already not low.

"So, Daoyou, if you decide to sell, we'll have to open the Pure Jade Box and proceed with the final verification step."

"Agreed, open it,"

Lin Jing nodded again.

To verify the Flawless Elixir Medicine, naturally, one must open the Pure Jade Box; there's no question about it.

The shopkeeper carefully and gently opened a crack in the Pure Jade Box.

In a flash, a refreshing fragrance of elixir medicine spread out.

"Snap"

Just for an instant, the Pure Jade Box was closed.

This unique scent of medicine absolutely could not be faked.

"The check is correct; it indeed is a Flawless Energy Restoration Elixir."

A clear smile appeared on the shopkeeper's face, and then he put away the Pure Jade Box.

"Honored guest, please wait a moment; I will fetch the Spirit Stones for you."

Before long, the shopkeeper counted out the Spirit Stones and handed them to Lin Jing.

"A total of 820 Lower Grade Spirit Stones; please count them,"

"Hmm."

Lin Jing received the Spirit Stones, which were already sorted out, eight small bags with 100 stones each, plus an additional twenty stones, making exactly 820 stones.

"Respected guest, if you have more elixir medicine to sell in the future, please come to our shop again. Our prices are always fair."

"Rest assured, shopkeeper."

With the transaction complete and having bid farewell to the shopkeeper, Lin Jing left the place.

With over 800 Spirit Stones in his account, Lin Jing did not have to worry about Spirit Stones for the time being.

In the time to come, he was to begin alchemy and work hard to improve his cultivation.

......

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

During these two months, Lin Jing seldom went out.

He spent his days with Luo Luo, and at night, he would enter the System Space to refine elixir medicine.

And Lin Jing's alchemy skills improved by leaps and bounds during this time.

Now, Lin Jing could easily produce elixir medicine as if it were second nature.

This might be due to the practice of alchemy within the System Space, benefitting from an enhancement in Divine Sense strength and accumulating a wealth of successful experiences.

Even when refining elixir medicine in the outside world, his success rate was somewhat higher than that of an ordinary pill master.

Of course, Ning Yue's contribution was significant.

The knowledge he learned from Ning Yue, he had now mastered the bulk of it.

In these two months, up until last night, he had produced a total of 10 Flawless Energy Gathering Pills.

And without a doubt, he consumed all these Flawless Energy Gathering Pills, and now his cultivation had reached the third layer of Qi Refinement.

He opened the panel to see his cultivation status displayed clearly.

Lin Jing (23/90)

Spiritual Root: Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root (Low Grade)

Cultivation: Qi Refinement Third Layer (82%)

Cultivation Technique: Qingyuan Dao Method (First Level), Qingyuan Sword Control Technique (Beginner), Controlling Fire Technique (Proficient)

Sub-Occupation: First-Grade Alchemist (1806/3000)

He was not far from reaching the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, and his mastery as an alchemist was also more than halfway there. It should not be long before Lin Jing could advance to a Second-Grade Alchemist.

......

"Thump, Thump, Thump"

The sound of knocking on the door.

Lin Jing put on a cotton-padded jacket and walked out of the room. It was already January outside, and the world was draped in white, as if covered with a layer of white cotton quilt.

Stepping outside, his feet crunched on the thick snow.

"Creak..."

The door opened, and Ning Yue stood outside in a red coat.

"Ning Daoyou, you've returned."

"Hmm, where's Luo Luo?"

Ning Yue asked.

"Luo Luo is in her room, engrossed in the storybook you bought her."

After saying this, Lin Jing added, "She's totally captivated by it."

"Lin Daoyou, I really appreciate your help during this time."

"What about it? Ning Daoyou, have you completed your alchemy?"