Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Getting Hands-on

The Purple Fruits his senior brothers had sent were treasures for cultivation, rumored to only grow deep in ancient mountain forests.

They couldn’t be cultivated by ordinary means.

Now that the Purple Fruits were in Bai Mo’s hands, he certainly wasn’t going to just eat them.

Bai Mo was in high spirits as he flipped through the Pill Book, searching for Pills that could be refined using the Purple Fruit.

’My senior brothers are as bold as they are skilled. They must have found these fruits deep within the Celestial Barrier Mountains.’

’After the sect took over Immortal Arrival City, they were likely the first group of Cultivators to venture that deep. They truly spared no effort.’

’When I think about it that way, spending my effort to refine Pills for them was well worth it.’

’I wonder what’s so special about that Jade Plate Secret Realm to make so many of my fellow disciples scramble to prepare for it.’

After carefully putting away the Purple Fruit, Bai Mo heard Qin Wen calling for him.

"Lanshan is here."

Bai Mo hurried out to greet him and saw Lanshan standing in the courtyard, holding a large cloth sack.

Seeing Bai Mo emerge, Lanshan glanced at Qin Wen and said with a smile,

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you seem to be living quite peacefully here at Shopkeeper Bai’s place. Even your complexion has improved greatly."

Qin Wen cupped his fist to him.

"It’s all thanks to your recommendation that day."

After they exchanged a few pleasantries, Qin Wen took his leave, leaving Bai Mo and Lanshan to talk in private.

Bai Mo was about to invite Lanshan inside, but the latter refused.

"Shopkeeper Bai, take a look at this first."

He carefully opened a corner of the sack, and a putrid stench immediately billowed out. It was absolutely unbearable.

Bai Mo felt a wave of dizziness, realizing the contents had become toxic.

He held his breath and stepped closer, only to see that the sack was filled with blackish-green mud.

Because it had been sitting for a while, the mud had begun to dry out, revealing its fine texture.

Lanshan tied the sack shut again, waved a hand to disperse the lingering odor, and said,

"It originally had some rotten leaves and roots, but my men have already cleaned them out."

"That was thoughtful of you."

Bai Mo said sincerely, taking the sack from him.

The mud was for refining the Five Obstacles Pill.

The Demon Hunting Team hadn’t managed to bring back any swamp mud last time, presumably because their route didn’t pass through that area.

But now, many of the men couldn’t stay idle and would head into the mountains in small groups during their free time.

They went not to hunt, but to find valuable items to supplement their income.

This was how Loose Cultivators scraped together their cultivation resources.

Bai Mo placed the sack in a sunny spot in the courtyard to let the sun dry it out and air out the smell.

He and Lanshan then went inside.

"I heard you were injured last time, Brother Lanshan?"

"Inhaling the smoke from a Five Obstacles Pill is no small matter. Were your internal organs injured?"

Lanshan waved it off. "It was nothing serious. Think of it as just choking on some water. Thank you for your concern, Shopkeeper Bai."

"The wretched beast was trying to escape, and I got impatient. I detonated the Five Obstacles Pill at close range, which led to the accident."

His expression didn’t change, but inwardly, he felt a lingering fear.

’It’s not good for the Demon Hunting Team to be too aggressive. Hunting is a long-term business; being too reckless will lead to disaster sooner or later.’

"By the way," Lanshan said,

"I noticed you have a few new faces in your shop, Shopkeeper Bai. Are they new hires?"

Bai Mo said, "The business is growing, and I can’t handle everything myself. I needed to find more people to help."

Since Lanshan was here, it was a good opportunity to give him a heads-up about a few things.

After a moment’s thought, Bai Mo took out a document.

"I’ve secured the dock for the Qinglong Waterway outside the city. The transfer will be completed soon."

"There are significant profits involved, so when the time comes, I’ll need the full support of my brothers from the Demon Hunting Team."

The Qinglong Waterway was a winding route that passed through many towns and villages, and it was a channel where countless Cultivators made their living.

Even the members of his Demon Hunting Team often used that route, so Lanshan naturally understood the great complexities involved.

He couldn’t help the pounding in his chest as he leaned forward.

"I’d heard the old owner of the Qinglong Waterway dock was gone. So you’re the one who snatched up this juicy piece of meat, Shopkeeper Bai?"

Bai Mo nodded.

"I can control the dock, but I can’t stop others from stirring up trouble on the Qinglong Waterway itself."

"I have a rough idea in mind, but I’ll need your help."

In the past, whenever the Demon Hunting Team used the Qinglong Waterway, they would be extorted.

Although the other party wouldn’t dare demand too much, given the team’s reputation and strength, it was still a loss every time.

If Bai Mo could gain control of the Qinglong Waterway, it would be about more than just avoiding extortion.

In the future, they could make even better use of the waterway—the possibilities were endless!

Lanshan’s mind raced. A man capable of leading the Demon Hunting Team was no mere brute who only knew how to use force.

In just a few moments, he made his assessment and decisively declared,

"Alright. When the time comes, Shopkeeper Bai, just tell me your plans. If my men can’t handle it, I’ll go myself!"

Hearing Lanshan’s reply, Bai Mo couldn’t help but smile.

The river pirates he had seen at the docks had incredibly fierce auras; they were true desperados.

Not to mention all the other riffraff roaming the waterway.

Bai Mo couldn’t possibly handle them alone.

When people’s livelihoods were at stake, they wouldn’t give him any face.

With the Demon Hunting Team’s help, he’d have both the reputation and the muscle. That should be enough.

After seeing Lanshan off, Bai Mo summoned Xue Ning and Xue Anping.

He led them into the Alchemy Room.

Bai Mo took out a Pill Formula.

"How is your research coming along?"

Xue Ning cupped his fist. "Per your instructions, Pill Master, the two of us have not dared to be negligent. We’ve studied it day and night and believe we’ve grasped eighty to ninety percent of it."

"The last ten percent or so just requires hands-on practice."

Bai Mo was very pleased. He pointed to several spots on the Pill Formula to test them.

"These sections are the critical junctures. Tell me, what do you need to pay attention to here?"

Xue Ning and Xue Anping glanced at each other and began to answer. Their responses were flawless.

Bai Mo said happily, "Alchemy is not some rigid process that forbids improvisation."

"Since you both already understand the principles, you don’t have to rigidly follow the procedures I wrote down. Feel free to adapt based on your experience."

With that, he had them start their Pill Furnaces and begin Alchemy, watching from the side.

Xue Ning and Xue Anping were both middle-aged men, yet being watched by Bai Mo made them feel like students again.

Back then, their teachers would also stand beside them just like this, observing their work.

Xue Ning went first.

Since this was his first time refining this Pill, he followed the instructions on Bai Mo’s Pill Formula to the letter.

His technique wasn’t the best, but his eye was excellent. He timed the addition of the ingredients perfectly, wasting none of their medicinal energy.

Half an hour later, drenched in sweat, a batch of Pills was complete.

Bai Mo took one out for a closer look and nodded slightly.

"The quality isn’t bad at all. There’s nothing much to criticize. Well done."

Xue Ning was overjoyed.

Next up was Xue Anping.

His skills were well-rounded, and the Pills he refined were perfectly standard—unremarkable, but certainly up to par.

Bai Mo was very satisfied.

The Pills he had them refine were all from his own simplified formulas, or were Pill Pills.

With long-term practice, the quality of their Pills was bound to improve.

"Alright, you can both officially start tomorrow."

"I’ll go to the market to find some Pill Furnaces for you. In the meantime, coordinate with Wei An about the medicinal ingredients."

With that, Bai Mo immediately headed out the door.

It was still early, so some second-hand sellers at the market probably hadn’t closed up shop yet. He still had time to hunt for some sturdy Pill Furnaces.

’The original owners wouldn’t have skimped on costs when they had these Pill Furnaces forged.’

’By searching for discarded Pill Furnaces in a place like that, I can always find a great bargain.’

Meanwhile, Xue Ning and Xue Anping went to the front counter to speak with Wei An.

Wei An’s expression was grave as he said,

"The use of all medicinal ingredients is carefully recorded. Please be diligent, you two, and make sure we don’t end up at a loss."

"Otherwise, it’ll be impossible for me to balance the books..."

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