Chapter 38: Seeking Support

The next morning, Chen Baolan packed his bags and left.

He left behind a notebook containing his insights from the Foundation Establishment stage and gave Chen Xinglan a jade pendant that could clear the mind and soothe the spirit. Wearing it could increase a Qi Practitioner's mental awareness by twenty to thirty percent.

It was equivalent to a quarter of the effects of the Spirit Ascension Powder, which Chen Baolan had obtained during an excavation of an ancient relic site.

Chen Xinglan didn't put on a show of modesty, as it was a gift from his younger brother, so he accepted it directly. However, he did say that after his Foundation Establishment attempt, whether successful or not, he would return it to Chen Baolan, who nodded with a smile.

Wang Jianyuan and Chen Yulan, on the other hand, gave a grand gift.

It was a direct 800,000 merit points. They had originally planned to buy one of the three treasures for Foundation Establishment as a gift, but they couldn't get their hands on any, so they decided to give merit points instead.

However, Chen Xinglan and his wife naturally refused to accept such a large amount of merit points, even from their close siblings.

That night at the theater entrance, it was hard to decline, so the next morning, Tang Pancui got up early to return the 800,000 merit points.

"Son, go buy some hangover medicine for your father. I'm going to your aunt's house first."

After seeing Chen Baolan off, Tang Pancui hurriedly took the bus.

Chen Xinglan had drunk too much last night and was still asleep, despite his average alcohol tolerance.

"Got it."

Chen Mobai ate a quick breakfast and then asked for a day off from his homeroom teacher.

Chai Deyun was very responsible and called to ask what was going on. With the college entrance exam approaching, every day was important. However, after learning that Chen Mobai was going to send his father, Chen Xinglan, to Chixia Academy to prepare for Foundation Establishment, he politely congratulated him and approved the leave.

It was the same Changqing Pharmacy at the street corner.

Chen Mobai had experience this time. He walked in and waited for a while, and the girl in the white nurse's uniform came out. This time, she didn't have a large iron pot in her hand, as she was still busy extracting the medicinal liquid. The edges of her mask revealed a hint of fine sweat on her snow-white skin.

"What do you need this time?"

After two transactions, they had become somewhat acquainted. The girl first removed the medicinal smell from her body before approaching to ask.

"Hangover medicine."

"How much?"

"A box."

"30 merit points."

Chen Mobai took the hangover elixir from the medicine cabinet and immediately paid with his phone.

"Last time, I saw you packaging the 'Qi Replenishment Elixir,' right?"

As the girl was about to return to the back, he couldn't help but ask.

"You mean that? It's made by my teacher, and it's exclusively supplied to Baoping Pharmacy. Even if you wanted to buy it, I couldn't sell it to you."

Qingnü clearly knew what Chen Mobai was asking and directly cut off his thoughts.

"Is there any extra? I heard online that alchemists usually make ten percent more to guard against any accidents and ensure they can meet the quota."

But Chen Mobai didn't give up. If he had enough Qi Replenishment Elixir, his father, who had a third-grade lower-grade spirit vein, might be able to reach the ninth level of Qi Cultivation within the next two years.

"There is some extra, but my teacher sells it to long-time customers. Even I don't get any."

Qingnü shook her head, saying something that made Chen Mobai have to give up on buying the Qi Replenishment Elixir from her.

"That's too bad."

Holding the packaged hangover medicine, Chen Mobai thanked Qingnü and turned to leave.

"If you trust me, I can actually make the Qi Replenishment Elixir."

At that moment, the girl's soft voice made him turn around immediately.

"You! Can you make it?"

"First-stage should be no problem. Although I haven't passed the official alchemist examination, I've learned the basic knowledge."

"But alchemists rely on practical experience. No matter how well you know the theory, it's only useful if you can actually make it."

"Oh, okay."

Qingnü was just saying it, and seeing Chen Mobai's skeptical look, she didn't explain further.

"Wait, can you really make it?"

Seeing Qingnü lift the curtain to the back and about to leave, Chen Mobai couldn't stand it and asked again, hoping for the best.

"Except for the final step of mixing the liquid, which my teacher always does personally, I've gone through the basic steps and processes over a dozen times, with a success rate of about eighty to ninety percent."

"How can we work together?"

After recovering from his shock, Chen Mobai's high emotional intelligence returned. Instead of asking about her confidence in the final step, he humbly asked what he could do.

"You provide the materials, and I'll use them to practice. If it succeeds, it's all yours. If it fails, the loss is yours."

Qingnü's words made Chen Mobai think deeply.

They had only done three transactions, and their trust was not deep.

With the lesson from Wu Wan, Chen Mobai was cautious about everyone in business.

"I have something to do today. Are you free after school tomorrow?"

Chen Mobai decided to think it over. The opportunity was rare, but Qingnü looked about his age. Even if she had been practicing alchemy since childhood, her level couldn't be too high. Although he had some merit points now, he didn't want to waste them.

Everyone knew that supporting an alchemist's cultivation was the most expensive!

If a weapon forging attempt failed, the raw materials could still be partially recovered and reused.

But if an alchemy attempt failed, it was completely wasted. However, the Qi Replenishment Elixir was made using water method alchemy. As long as the extraction process was correct, even if the final mixing step failed the first time, it could be tested gradually, with a higher margin for error compared to fire method alchemy.

"I'm not too free; I have to complete the tasks assigned by my teacher."

The last time Qingnü saw Chen Mobai buy the spirit vein tester without haggling, she assumed he came from a wealthy family. She was planning to take the first-stage alchemist examination soon and needed to practice water method alchemy. Hearing that Chen Mobai needed Qi Replenishment Elixir, she mentioned it indirectly.

However, this was her first time seeking support, and she was a bit inexperienced.

When she saw Chen Mobai's lack of enthusiasm, she also hesitated.

"I have two tickets to the Jade Phoenix Troupe, for Meng Huang'er and Jiang Yuyuan's 'Moonlit Dance.' They're front-row seats, the best outside of the VIP boxes."

Chen Baolan had given him ten tickets, and they used seven last night. He had promised one to his cousin Wang Xinying, and he had two left. He thought the girl, who was about his age, might be interested in the Jade Phoenix Troupe.

But he completely underestimated Jiang Yuyuan's appeal to all the young women in the Immortal Sect.

As soon as Chen Mobai finished speaking, Qingnü's eyes lit up.