Chapter 77

In the stage of combining the elixir, if one is to use concentrated spiritual energy and medicinal ingredients, one must be fully focused, which is no less strenuous than the stage of purifying and elevating the elixir. The strength of one's spiritual sense plays a significant role in this process.

For several days, Chu He stayed in the elixir room, using the Sweet Dew Technique to gather spiritual water to quench his thirst when he was thirsty, and taking the Cultivation Essence Pills he had refined to stave off hunger when he was tired.

With this hard work, and with the help of the Cleansing Fire, the success rate of refining the Cultivation Essence Pills was nearly ninety percent. Apart from the required amount for the task, he could still have half left over each day.

Unfortunately, all the pills were of the lower grade, and not a single one was of the middle grade, but Chu He was already very satisfied.

Every day, apart from the task and material costs, he could obtain about a hundred lower-grade Cultivation Essence Pills. At market prices, this was roughly equivalent to five thousand lower-grade spirit stones, or fifty middle-grade spirit stones, which was equal to fifteen upper-grade spirit stones per month.

And for a teaching assistant like Zhang Xu, the monthly salary and allowances combined were less than three upper-grade spirit stones. Chu He had earned five times as much as him.

Indeed, being an alchemist was a highly profitable profession!

Actually, he didn't know that few of the newly admitted disciples in the Earth Fire Department had such extraordinary talent as he did: with the advantage of his past life's experience, extremely pure spiritual essence, and the assistance of the Cleansing Fire.

Some disciples, after several years, were still refining upper-grade Qi Enhancing Pills because their success rate in refining Cultivation Essence Pills was less than fifty percent. They could only practice in their spare time, and their income naturally could not compare.

In these few days, Chu He's gains were significant. He had even figured out some clues about improving the quality of the Cultivation Essence Pills. With targeted learning and improvement, he might be able to refine middle-grade Cultivation Essence Pills in the future.

The little guy, although it had its eyes on the food, was not very comfortable in the elixir room with abundant fire essence. After several days of suffering, it finally couldn't bear it anymore. Its eyes were full of sorrow, and it kept begging Chu He to leave.

After several days, Chu He also felt a bit stifled. Seeing its pitiful state, he stopped refining and handed over the refined Cultivation Essence Pills to the steward before returning home.

"Chu kid, wait a moment!" Just as Chu He was about to use his token to open the palace array gate, he heard the voice of Instructor Bai Li from behind.

Since Instructor Bai Li was responsible for teaching and correcting the Earth Fire Department disciples, he only appeared once every half month, and it was hard to see him otherwise.

Chu He stopped, turned around, and greeted him with a bow. Bai Li handed him two items, which Chu He took and saw were two invitations to the Green Spirit Pill Gathering.

"Go and broaden your horizons. It's not good to always stay in the elixir room. Take the opportunity to meet the alchemy masters of Qingzhou," Bai Li smiled and said, "If there's a woman you like, you can bring her along. Remember, don't give the invitations to just anyone; there are only a few spots available."

Chu He naturally thanked him greatly for his kindness.

"Don't thank me, it's a small matter. Work hard in the future and become a famous alchemist to make me proud. Go on," Bai Li started to walk away but turned back after a few steps and added, "By the way, if you really can't figure out something in alchemy, don't force yourself to the point of exhaustion. Come find me directly."

Hearing this, what could Chu He say? He bowed again in gratitude.

"Too formal, too formal!" Bai Li waved his hand and walked straight into the palace.

Back at his residence, Gu Han had not returned yet. Chu He left a message on the communication array in his room, informing him about the pill gathering and inviting him.

"Where are you, the woman I like?" Chu He sat on the bed, thinking of Bai Li's words, and took out a jade slip, staring at it blankly.

Fate is like the wind, coming and going as it pleases. If I want to see you again, who knows when that will be, leaving me with longing and sorrow.

"Yaya." The little guy on his shoulder was restless, seemingly sensing the owner's unusual expression. With some mental connection, it vaguely guessed: the owner is in heat, thinking about mating.

Recalling the Eight Honors and Eight Disgraces that Gu Han had taught it, which seemed to include this, it made a face and acted embarrassed.

Understanding its meaning, Chu He was embarrassed and lightly tapped its little head, pretending to be serious, "What do you know, kid!"

Seeing it still acting embarrassed and criticizing, Chu He's playful side came out, and he tickled its armpits, making it laugh "giggling."

Just as they were playing happily, Gu Han sent a message.

When Gu Han received the invitation and understood the message, he immediately marveled at how resourceful Brother Chu was, even managing to get this. He mentioned that the invitation was already selling for more than fifty middle-grade spirit stones in the sect, and it was in high demand.

"Oh, since we're so close, let's make it eighty percent off, so you can give me forty," Chu He laughed smugly, holding out his hand.

"Ah, since we're so close, talking about spirit stones is the most hurtful to feelings, don't you think, little nephew?" Gu Han laughed dryly and then went to play with the little guy rolling around on the table, changing the subject.

"Da da?" The little guy clearly didn't understand what feelings were.

"..." Looking at the little guy's eager, watery eyes, Gu Han immediately judged his attempt to change the subject as extremely foolish.

Educating it was always a task that made one's throat sore and legs tired. The most frustrating thing was that the audience was forgetful, understanding today and forgetting tomorrow. Day after day, repeating the same things over and over was extremely frustrating. Even more helpless was that this little tyrant wouldn't let up until it understood, or else it would glare at him.

During the two months of taking care of it, Gu Han had once doubted his own intelligence: it must be that he was doing something wrong, unable to teach it.

"Hmph, this is the result of being a freeloader." Chu He laughed maliciously and then went to the inner room, leaving a message, "You play with it, I need to rest, I'm quite exhausted these days."

Gu Han scratched his head, looked at the invitation in his hand, and then at the little guy still looking at him eagerly. He could only choke out, "I'll tough it out..."

The pill gathering was to start in eight hours. Chu He spent two hours taking Cultivation Essence Pills to adjust his breathing, restoring his energy to its peak before coming out to take over from Gu Han.

Poor Gu Han, who had been talking non-stop, was already parched and irritable. Seeing Chu He appear, he left a message to meet in three hours and then quickly left.

"Da da?" Despite being drenched in Gu Han's saliva, the little guy was still confused, not quite understanding.

"Kids don't need to know so much!" Chu He poked its little head and continued, "I'm not as silly as your second uncle, rambling on and on. Here." Chu He took out a small bottle of lower-grade Cultivation Essence Pills and opened the cap.

The little guy, which had been a bit sad, immediately cheered up upon seeing the porcelain bottle and smelling the medicinal fragrance, hugging it tightly as if it were its treasure.