Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Improving the Pills

The shop had already closed for the day.

The other merchants outside were also packing up their stalls. Tactful customers knew not to disturb them now.

Bai Mo pointed to the Pills on the table.

"Most of the shop’s customers are Cultivators from Demon Hunting Teams. I’ve added a few new types of Pills and modified the existing ones."

The others nodded.

The Shopkeeper’s relationship with the Demon Hunting Teams was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. The web of interests involved was vast.

"The Pills on the market have always been too general. Their effects on tempering the body are too crude."

"So, I’ve divided these Pills into several categories."

Bai Mo listed them one by one:

"Skin, tendons, blood, and bone—four main categories."

"Each corresponds to that specific part of a Cultivator’s body, and the effects are much more pronounced."

"With Pills like these, Cultivators can focus on the parts they rely on most without wasting resources."

Qin Wen was startled.

"Such Pills actually exist?"

He was skeptical, thinking that Bai Mo’s Pills were merely improved versions of existing ones, just with a different focus.

"May I try one?"

Bai Mo tipped out a single Pill from a bottle labeled "Skin."

"Try this one."

This was the new Pill Bai Mo was most satisfied with.

Qin Wen grabbed the Pill and, without much hesitation, tossed it into his mouth.

The Pill was astringent, and he had some difficulty swallowing it.

Bai Mo handed him a cup of water.

After a few moments, Qin Wen felt a wave of heat, followed by an itching, painful sensation spreading across his skin.

Bai Mo asked expectantly:

"How is it?"

Qin Wen suppressed his discomfort and answered through clenched teeth:

"It’s very good. It feels a lot like soaking in a medicinal bath."

"If I could circulate my energy and practice my forms right now, I imagine the effect would be even better."

Bai Mo then tilted a bottle labeled "Bone," took out a Pill, and handed it to Qin Wen.

"Brother Qin makes his living on Celestial Barrier Mountain. I imagine you can handle the effects of two Pills at once."

Qin Wen said nothing, simply taking the Pill and tossing it into his mouth without a second glance.

This Pill didn’t taste very good either. It was extremely bitter and became even stickier when mixed with saliva, requiring water to wash it down.

Tempering one’s body was never a comfortable affair. To put it bluntly, it was no different from seeking out suffering.

Therefore, no Cultivator cared about the taste of a Pill.

Qin Wen waited a moment. When he felt the second Pill take effect, he was caught off guard and nearly collapsed.

Fortunately, Xue Ning, who was beside him, caught him and helped him into a chair.

"You need to be careful."

Xue Ning said, looking at Bai Mo.

"Shopkeeper, is he alright?"

Bai Mo shook his head.

"That’s how the Bone Strengthening Pill works. It acts on the bones, and first-time users are most affected. It can easily turn them into ’soft bones’."

Indeed, Qin Wen felt his entire body was devoid of strength. He tried several times, but even lifting a hand was a struggle.

"The medicinal power of these two Pills is truly remarkable."

Qin Wen gasped for breath, speaking with difficulty.

It was only thanks to the immense willpower he had forged in life-and-death battles that he could suppress the discomfort. Otherwise, he would have made a complete fool of himself.

Bai Mo pushed the Pill bottles forward.

"From now on, these four types of Pills will be known as the Skin Strengthening Pill, Tendon Strengthening Pill, Blood Strengthening Pill, and Bone Strengthening Pill."

"As for the price, it will be two Spirit Stones for a bottle of ten."

Wei An listened and nodded slightly.

Having managed the shop for a long time, he knew this price was not difficult for the Demon Hunting Teams to accept.

As for the straightforwardness of the Pill names, it was best to just ignore it.

Bai Mo took out two more Pill Formulas.

"This is a Pill for long-term use. One Spirit Stone per tael. It replenishes qi and aids in cultivation."

Bai Mo looked at Xue Ning.

"I will teach you this Pill Formula as well."

"As long as an ordinary person isn’t starving to death, they can always find some money to stock up on these and snack on them like beans. This is the Qi Replenishing Pill."

Xue Ning accepted it with great care.

The method for refining this Pill wasn’t difficult; the key was the preciousness of the Pill Formula.

Not just anyone could reduce the cost to this extent while ensuring the Pill retained such efficacy.

Bai Mo looked at them.

"I have another Pill Formula on hand. It’s for countering the Blood Curses of Demon Beasts. The cost is also low, and it is extremely valuable to Demon Hunting Teams."

"It’s called the Clear Heart Pill."

During his few days of seclusion, Bai Mo had adjusted all these Pills in many ways.

Their effects were all slightly improved compared to before.

Qin Wen struggled to sit up straight.

"Shopkeeper, you mustn’t!"

"A secret this crucial, you must keep it for yourself! Don’t let it fall into others’ hands so easily!"

Hearing this, Xue Ning and Wei An couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

They coveted the Pill Formula, but they also knew how precious it was—not something they could dare to hope for.

Bai Mo remained noncommittal.

"Of course I can’t give it to you now."

"With your current abilities, the most you could do is help me shape the pill paste into pellets after I’ve refined it."

Hearing this, Xue Ning could only give a wry smile.

Bai Mo’s expression was placid.

"Pills like these... I can’t keep them in my own hands forever. It will depend on your performance from now on."

"When you’re able to truly help me, it won’t be too late to pass it on to you."

With that, Bai Mo waved his hand, dismissing them.

"It’s time to eat. Go find something to fill your stomachs."

After speaking, he left the shop and headed straight for Mountain View Tower.

He did so because not long after he came out of seclusion, Qin Wen had told him that An Caiwei had come looking for him several times.

Normally, knowing Bai Mo was in seclusion, she shouldn’t have come to find him.

But the fact was, she had come a total of three times.

Bai Mo’s figure disappeared at the end of the street.

The staff, however, had no mind for food. They hastily finished the meal Wei An had prepared and returned to their rooms.

They had only just settled down, and now things were changing again. Their minds were in turmoil.

Only Qin Wen, the medicinal power still not fully dissipated in his body, felt extremely uncomfortable.

He managed to get to his feet, struggled out into the courtyard, and began to practice his forms, albeit with great difficulty.

...

The sky had not yet darkened when Bai Mo arrived at Mountain View Tower.

At this time of year, daylight lingered long, and a residual warmth still hung in the air.

Mountain View Tower was bustling. Many of his senior brothers saw Bai Mo but were too busy to pay him any mind.

A nod was all the greeting they could spare.

Bai Mo climbed the winding stairs and soon arrived on the fifth floor, entering one of the rooms.

Between two bookshelves, An Caiwei was sitting behind a large desk, looking quite distressed and irritated.

Seeing this, Bai Mo paused, intending to retreat and come back after dinner.

He knew this young lady’s temper; she was not an easy person to deal with.

Unexpectedly, however, the sound of his footsteps had already alerted her.

An Caiwei looked up, and her face immediately lit up with joy upon seeing Bai Mo.

But when she noticed his intention to retreat, she froze.

"You! Get over here!"

Bai Mo shrugged, walked over, and spoke first to preempt any trouble:

"Little Senior Sister, you’ve looked for me several times. Has something happened?"

An Caiwei shot him a glare.

"You’re a real power broker here in Immortal Arrival City. You have to help me with this!"

Bai Mo’s eyelid twitched. He smiled and said:

"You jest, Little Senior Sister. You’re far more capable than I. Besides matters of Pills, how could I possibly be of use to you?"

An Caiwei sighed in resignation and explained in a low voice.

"This is a bit shady, so don’t you dare tell anyone..."

But Bai Mo’s heart skipped a beat.

’Pay a high price to find Cultivators to scout the path in the Jade Plate Secret Realm?’

’What kind of Cultivator is that coddled?!’

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