Chapter 82: Detailed Explanation of Qingyuanzi's Alchemy

When Luo Chen arrived, Uncle Mi Hua laughed from the bottom of his heart.

When Luo Chen left, his smile had become somewhat forced.

In the Bright Moon Hall, Sikong Shoujia and Luo Chen had already departed, leaving only Mi Junping, who had arrived later, to accompany him.

“Father, does it really require such a large investment to build an alchemy room?”

Mi Junping couldn't help but ask.

She was the head of the Merit Hall, which, in addition to managing personnel, was also responsible for some financial calculations.

The items Luo Chen had just mentioned, when roughly estimated, would require an investment of over a thousand spirit stones.

And this was just for building the alchemy room.

Their Mi family had already invested a Xuan Yun Cauldron worth 900 spirit stones and a Ziyun Copper Furnace worth 400 spirit stones.

Moreover, once the alchemy room was constructed and actual alchemy began,

The Mountain Breaker Gang would have to provide countless raw materials.

Even though Mi Junping handled thousands of spirit stones daily, they shouldn't be spent so recklessly!

Mi Hua sighed, a bitter expression on his face.

In front of his family, he wouldn't hide his true feelings.

“Pinger, you don't understand. This kind of investment is just the beginning.”

Mi Junping was surprised, “It's already quite a lot!”

Mi Hua shook his head, “Why do ordinary alchemists only exist in major sects? Even family alchemists are usually from Gold Core families or long-established Foundation Establishment families.”

“This kind of hidden investment is one of the reasons!”

“Our Mi family is just a newly established Foundation Establishment family, and we can't support a true alchemist's extravagance. Establishing the Alchemy Hall is actually leveraging the Mountain Breaker Gang's resources.”

Mi Junping, who was well aware of the family's situation, felt a bit terrified when she thought about supporting a cultivator's alchemy for several decades or even a century.

This was something a newly established Foundation Establishment family simply couldn't afford.

“Luo Chen is just making a small fuss.”

“Second-stage alchemists are even more prestigious. Their alchemy tools are at least high-grade magical artifacts. They disdain ordinary fire and insist on using earth fire. Do you know how much it costs to build an alchemy room with an earth fire furnace?”

Mi Junping asked softly, “How much?”

“From acquiring an earth fire spring to channeling the earth fire, constructing an array, isolating the inside and outside, and building the alchemy room. The Ailao Mountain cultivators once quoted a price of 8,000 spirit stones!”

“Wow, why not just rob people!” Mi Junping gasped.

Mi Hua sighed, “That's just the cost of the construction, not including the materials, which must be purchased from the Ailao Mountain's Immortal Construction Residence, where they also make a profit.”

“So, even though Luo Chen seems to have made many demands, it's only a few thousand spirit stones, which I can afford, and the Mountain Breaker Gang can afford.”

Mi Junping asked, “Can we make it back later?”

“Of course we can make it back, but to make more, we need to see if that boy can refine the elixir formula I gave him.”

Mi Hua said calmly, with a mix of anticipation and hesitation in his voice.

“Elder Sikong, I'll leave the Alchemy Hall to you.”

“Of course, the Gang Leader has already said he will fully support you, so I won't hold you back.”

“Then, see you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow!”

At the crossroads in the inner city, Luo Chen watched as Sikong Shoujia hurried away and smiled slightly.

Then, he eagerly headed home.

Before long, he returned to the quadrangle courtyard.

He closed the door, but there was no need to turn on the lights.

The new wing had two glass skylights, making the room much brighter than before.

Luo Chen sat at his desk and took out a pile of items from his storage bag.

Two bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, which were his fixed salary for the next month, which he had just received.

He had already consumed most of the five bottles he had previously bought, so this was a timely replenishment.

In addition to the Qi Nourishing Pills, there was a yellowed book and two bamboo scrolls.

He first cast the Spirit Eye Technique to carefully inspect them, ensuring there were no hidden traps.

Only then did Luo Chen feel safe to pick up the book.

"Qingyuanzi's Detailed Explanation of Alchemy"

This was the alchemy-related book Mi Hua had promised him.

The paper was yellowed, and there were many annotations on it.

It was clear that Luo Chen was not the first person to read this book after the author.

The people of the Mi family had likely read it many times.

"The path of alchemy is vast and profound, ranking first among the hundred arts of cultivation. Although it does not have the external power of artifacts, talismans, arrays, or puppets, it can help us cultivators reach the Great Dao."

"I am not talented, my realm is only at the later stage of Foundation Establishment, yet I am listed as a third-stage alchemist, a master of my generation."

"This book is a collection of my random notes during my alchemy practice, recording the journey from the basics of alchemy to..."

Just by reading the introduction, Luo Chen could feel the pride of the alchemist named "Qingyuanzi" in the words.

He indeed had reason to be proud.

To refine a third-stage elixir at the Foundation Establishment realm was no small feat.

The content of the book was very detailed, covering almost all the techniques for beginners, with some professional terms that even made Luo Chen's head spin.

"This is a good book, but it's not something I can learn in a short time. I can read it more often in my spare time."

Carefully putting away "Qingyuanzi's Detailed Explanation of Alchemy," Luo Chen's gaze fell on the two bamboo scrolls.

One was intact, while the other had burn marks.

Mi Hua had actually given him two elixir formulas, but one was incomplete, so he didn't have high expectations for Luo Chen.

The old man truly cared about the complete formula.

"Jade Marrow Pill!"

Luo Chen carefully read through the formula, from the main ingredients to the proportions and effects.

By the time he finished, it was already evening.

He rubbed his aching temples, feeling deeply moved.

"No wonder Mi Hua went to such lengths to bring me in, even at great cost to establish the Alchemy Hall."

"If I can really refine the Jade Marrow Pill, the Mountain Breaker Gang will make a fortune!"

"No, no, it will be Mi Hua who makes a fortune."

Luo Chen had secretly asked Qin Liangchen about how the profits from the Alchemy Hall were distributed after his share.

While there were no specific ratios, the Gang Leader Mi Hua would definitely get the largest share.

Other halls, except for the hall masters and Ninth Layer Qi Cultivators, would receive almost no spirit stones.

In other words, most of the Alchemy Hall's profits would end up in Mi Hua's pocket.

And the Jade Marrow Pill was a high-profit elixir.

"It's a genuine cultivation elixir!"

This label alone explained the value of the Jade Marrow Pill.

According to the formula, the Jade Marrow Pill, when consumed, could increase a cultivator's spiritual energy.

A very common effect, right?

But the more common it is, the more mainstream it becomes.

However, such mainstream elixirs are usually controlled by major sects, both in terms of formulas and distribution channels.

Ordinary forces don't have such elixirs for sale. If they do, there will definitely be sect forces involved.

"However, this elixir has many drawbacks!"

Luo Chen recalled the effects and contraindications described in the formula, feeling a bit regretful.

While the Jade Marrow Pill is a mainstream elixir, the amount of spiritual energy it contains is not much, only one-tenth of a Qi Nourishing Pill.

Moreover, consuming too much can lead to drug resistance.

Drug resistance is a common issue with most elixirs.

The biggest drawback of the Jade Marrow Pill is that overconsumption can cause the dantian to jadeify!

This is something cultivators absolutely cannot accept.

The dantian is the most critical part for low-rank cultivators.

If damaged, it can lead to a broken path or even death from spiritual energy chaos.

Jadeification is not a good term either.

Once jadeified, it becomes very difficult for a cultivator to break through to higher realms.

In alchemy terms, this is called "elixir barrier," an obstacle caused by consuming elixirs.

Many obscure elixirs can cause elixir barriers.

Only elixirs like the Qi Nourishing Pill, Dust Transformation Pill, and Jade Dew Pill, which have been studied for hundreds of years, have had their elixir barrier issues resolved.

Overconsumption at most results in no effect.

"Despite its many drawbacks, it is still a miraculous elixir for low-rank cultivators!"

Luo Chen had progressed from the First Layer to the Second Layer, and he had suffered greatly from the lack of elixirs!

The Spirit Medicine Pavilion sold Qi Nourishing Pills in bottles, not individually.

A bottle cost 100 spirit stones!

100 spirit stones, which Foundation Establishment cultivators don't even notice, and late-stage Qi Cultivators can easily afford, while mid-stage cultivators can occasionally buy a bottle by tightening their belts.

But for early-stage cultivators, this is a huge sum of money!

Even if they sold everything they had, they might not be able to afford a bottle.

The Jade Marrow Pill is different.

From the main ingredients to the effects and drawbacks, it is destined to be priced low.

In other words, low-rank cultivators can afford it!

"Poor people may be poor, but it doesn't mean they have no spirit stones."

"If I had known about such an elixir back then, I could have bought some every year by tightening my belt."

"This elixir, once refined, will specifically target the spirit stones of the poor!"

Luo Chen put down the bamboo scroll, with no further doubts.

As for whether Mi Hua was worried about whether he could refine it,

That was a joke, he was a man with a system!

Of course, he couldn't refine it easily.

Luo Chen had his own plans, and his gaze fell on the burned bamboo scroll.

"Passage to the Netherworld Pill?"

The release is expected in the next one or two weeks, the exact time is not yet determined, and I will notify everyone when it is set.

However, I would also like to ask for your help, to click on the latest chapters, slowly read to the end, and increase the number of followers, especially on Tuesdays.

Thank you all, Xiao Yu bows in gratitude

(End of Chapter)