Chapter 29

From that day on, Bu Zheng seemed to have developed a new hobby of reading, and he only read one specific book, which enriched his free time even more.

If someone were to observe carefully, they would notice that Bu Zheng's reading pace was extremely slow. Sometimes, he would spend several days on the same page, or even just a single array diagram on that page, and sometimes it would take even longer. He would often cheer loudly, looking as if he had just experienced something incredibly joyful.

However, on this peak of alchemy, there was no one else to share his joy with, so he was the only one who was happy...

Perhaps, if others knew about this, they wouldn't think much of it, believing that Bu Zheng was simply happy about understanding some small things, which were insignificant to others.

Indeed, Bu Zheng was just a small, uneducated country bumpkin who could only understand trivial things...

However, if the authors of this array formation manual were to be reborn and see this situation, they would be utterly stunned. It wasn't that they thought no one could comprehend this wordless heavenly book; they left it behind precisely for others to understand. It was just that they didn't think anyone could comprehend it so quickly.

According to their thinking, even an array formation genius would take a month to understand a single page, and for Bu Zheng to understand a page in just a few days was absolutely impossible.

Could it be that what he comprehended was not the entire manual?

Perhaps, because no one would know. This was something that could only be understood intuitively and not explained. Who could know what the true entirety was? Even if they were reborn, they wouldn't know what Bu Zheng had truly comprehended, at least not until he demonstrated it.

And the chances of Bu Zheng having the opportunity to demonstrate it were slim, as he was a member of the Alchemy Peak, not the Artifact Refinement Peak. Although alchemy also involved array formations, these were used in places that others couldn't see, unlike array formations on artifacts, which were clearly inscribed.

Array formations could also be demonstrated in martial techniques, especially those that relied on array formations for attacks. The deeper one went, the more the importance of array formations became evident.

However, for Bu Zheng, this was also impossible to demonstrate. First, martial techniques that required array formations were only used after reaching the True Essence realm, which was beyond the Six Meridians. Currently, the strongest person in the entire Qingyun Sword Sect was only at the Four Meridians realm.

Therefore, for Bu Zheng to demonstrate his array formation skills through martial techniques was absolutely impossible at this stage. Even if this impossible miracle were to occur, no one would understand the intricacies.

Currently, Bu Zheng could only demonstrate his array formation skills through artifact refinement, or rather, let others know how much he had learned.

In alchemy, others couldn't see his skills, but that didn't mean he couldn't use the array formation secrets he had comprehended. For example, he had refined some array formations to improve the effects of his alchemy, increasing the success rate of his pills.

He had also experimented with some new things, creating completely different pills whose effects he himself didn't fully understand...

Regardless of whether the array formation manual had appeared or not, Bu Zheng's talent in alchemy was exceptional. He could remember every change in his alchemy process, a skill that alchemists most needed and desired.

Alchemists generally recorded their alchemy processes, the amount of materials used, and the steps taken, aiming for absolute precision. This was a method to compensate for their inability to remember the entire process. However, Bu Zheng didn't need to record anything; he could clearly remember the materials, steps, and array formations he used.

Moreover, Bu Zheng could clearly sense the changes in the properties of each herb, something others couldn't do. This allowed his alchemy skills to progress rapidly, and even without any guidance, he could slowly develop new techniques.

The motivation for this wasn't his love for alchemy, but rather his discovery that it was a profitable venture. In the sect's trading market, he had sold a few extra pills and found them to be in high demand. Even without mentioning the pills that enhanced cultivation, like the辟谷丹 (Pigudan), healing pills, and antidotes, which were always in demand by the senior disciples for their training and had a high consumption rate, they could always be sold.

There were also other types of pills that sold well, especially poisons, sedatives, and aphrodisiacs. Cough, as a conscientious country bumpkin, he generally didn't make those colorless and odorless poisons and sedatives to prevent others from using them to harm others.

In fact, poisons and sedatives were also consumables. During the hunting of demonic beasts, they were used to make up for the lack of strength, and the stronger the effect, the better.

The poisons and sedatives that Bu Zheng made were very popular because they were cheap and effective, and a few familiar senior disciples often bought pills from him.

The senior disciples didn't ask where Bu Zheng's pills came from; everyone understood the unspoken rules of the trading market. Unless the sect investigated, no one would ask.

And if the sect were to investigate, no one would be foolish enough to sell such items in the trading market...

Bu Zheng was now setting up a stall in the trading market and shouting out his wares—

"Selling pills! Divine Power Pills, Invincible Detox Pills, Golden Gun Pills, One-Step Death Pills..."

"..."

Vulgar, truly vulgar!!

Upon hearing Bu Zheng's shouts, the passersby lost interest. Pills with such names sounded like those sold by江湖骗子 (jianghu charlatans).

There was no help for it; after all, Bu Zheng was an uneducated country bumpkin who couldn't read. The names he came up with were the best he could think of, and he believed they were catchy and would attract customers. He had always thought that the pills sold by charlatans were powerful and would have bought some if he had the money.

Although Bu Zheng's shouts were vulgar, no one found him particularly unusual. The trading market was filled with thousands of shouts, and all sorts of strange situations occurred. To be honest, his shouts weren't even the most attention-grabbing.

However, good wine needs no bush, and eventually, someone would notice. The few familiar senior disciples were examples of this. Besides, it was better this way, as it wouldn't draw too much attention.

"Little junior brother, I haven't seen you around lately. Come, give me some One-Step Death Pills. They really work well; they even poisoned a Unicorn Savage Bull."

——

Second update, seeking votes...