Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 218: Chapter 218: The Pill’s Launch

Smoke and vapor swirled within the quiet room.

Had an outsider been present, they would have seen two swirling mists in the Alchemy Room—one red and one white—spiraling in opposition to one another.

Bai Mo sat at the center, his forehead beaded with sweat.

The Water and Fire Life-saving Pill possessed a tyrannical medicinal power. To successfully refine it, the two forces of water and fire had to be perfectly balanced.

The Fire Tongue, in particular, was the main source of its Fire Essence.

Maintaining equilibrium after abruptly introducing such a volatile medicinal force was no easy feat.

Bai Mo glanced furtively at the surrounding mist. Seeing no sign of a violent imbalance, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

According to the records in the *Cyan Pouch Pill Scripture*, the Water and Fire Life-saving Pill was originally the exclusive Pill of a minor sect.

They had fallen on hard times and sold the Pill Formula to survive, which was how it came to be recorded in the *Cyan Pouch Pill Scripture*.

That small sect was known for its Pill Masters. It often took a team of five martial brothers working together to refine this Pill.

Four would handle the ingredients while one directed, relying on the unspoken chemistry between fellow sect members to complete the refinement.

’Now that the Pill Formula is out, that minor sect has lost its exclusive recipe. I wonder if they managed to survive.’

Bai Mo reined in his wandering thoughts.

With his current staff, there was no one who could assist him.

If he was to succeed in refining this Pill, he had to rely solely on his own considerable mastery of the Alchemy Dao.

Inside the Pill Furnace, the Pill Liquid churned like waves, its color shifting from time to time.

Bai Mo’s movements were steady and unhurried. He added the medicinal herbs one by one, and they melted swiftly into the liquid.

Having absorbed the essence of so many herbs, the liquid itself was already a top-grade treasure.

...

"When will the Shopkeeper be done?"

The sun had set. As Qin Wen helped Wei An close the shop doors, he asked the question.

Wei An mused, his head bowed. "I’m afraid it won’t be soon."

"Indeed."

Xue Ning strode over, a weary look on his face.

Demand for Pills at the shop was so high that they had been working around the clock for days, not even daring to stop for a breath.

Still, their Alchemy Skill had certainly improved a great deal.

Qin Wen and Wei An turned to look at him. Seeing the rough, smoke-stained skin on his face, they couldn’t help but laugh.

"You’ve worked hard, Fellow Daoist Xue."

Xue Ning nodded, then added:

"From what Fellow Daoist Qin said, it sounds like the Pill Alchemist Bai is refining is one that balances yin and yang."

"The sheer volume of ingredients is staggering. At the very least, someone like me wouldn’t even dare to attempt it."

Qin Wen didn’t grasp the technical difficulties and couldn’t appreciate the weight of Xue Ning’s words. He simply said:

"Haha, you’re being too modest, Fellow Daoist Xue."

"Seeing how proficiently you refine Pills now, in a few more years, couldn’t you earn the title of Pill Master yourself?"

"So many years squandered... this small achievement is hardly worth mentioning."

Xue Ning cupped his hands in a modest gesture but didn’t deny it.

"After all I’ve been through, I’ve come to realize the importance of guidance from a master. It can save a person from half a lifetime of wasted effort."

After closing the shop, they all went their separate ways.

Qin Wen left to tend to his family and friends, while Wei An went to review the Pill Book.

The Xue duo, meanwhile, had developed a habit of talking late into the night. They would discuss Alchemy Skill and share the day’s insights, with two teenage boys listening in.

These days, no one had a moment to spare.

It wasn’t until Lanshan arrived that everyone took half a day off to attend to official business.

"I’ve arranged a large ship for you. The shipwrights have already fitted it out."

"My brothers and I will be on board as well, so you won’t have to worry about security."

Lanshan announced as he entered the shop, his eyes scanning the room.

"Where is Shopkeeper Bai?"

...

Inside the quiet room, the mist was no longer as dense.

It was as if a beast inside the Pill Furnace were inhaling, drawing all the mist back into itself.

Bai Mo’s lips were dry and cracked. He sat on the spot, feeling so weak he could barely stand.

The sound of the Pill Liquid churning in the furnace had subsided.

This was the sign of success. All he had to do was wait for the Pill to fully form.

But Bai Mo’s attention wasn’t on the furnace. He slowly raised a hand.

He peeled away a layer of dead skin from his hand, revealing the smooth, new skin beneath.

Over the past few days, his skin, unable to withstand the alternating forces of water and fire, had cracked and peeled.

’How interesting. Just the leaking auras of water and fire essence were enough to do this to me.’

Bai Mo narrowed his eyes as random thoughts drifted through his mind.

Before he could seize upon a crucial insight, a pure fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

Before his mind could even register it, his hands had already acted on instinct, swiftly pulling the firewood from beneath the furnace.

When he lifted the furnace lid, a puff of residual steam shot up and vanished in an instant.

Bai Mo waited a moment before taking two Pills from the furnace. They were yellow with a hint of green.

[Pill Master: Bai Mo]

[Realm: Qi Refining Sixth Layer]

[Identity: Pill Disciple (547/900)]

[Aptitude: To See the Whole from a Part; Insight Dawning]

Staring at the ink-wash characters before him, Bai Mo had a sudden realization.

’So it was a Tier Two Pill. No wonder it gave me so much trouble.’

’Good. At least I didn’t miss the appointed day.’

With that, he pushed open the door and stepped out.

Lanshan and Qin Wen, who were in the main shop, noticed immediately.

A smile spread across their faces.

"Today is an auspicious day. It’s a good thing you didn’t miss it."

After a short wait, Bai Mo emerged, having cleaned himself up.

Everyone was startled by his appearance, but the unconcealed joy in his expression allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Shopkeeper, is the Pill complete?"

Qin Wen asked.

"It is."

Bai Mo nodded and looked at Lanshan.

"Is everything prepared?"

Lanshan cupped his hands in a solemn gesture.

"By good fortune, I have fulfilled my duty."

He then stepped aside, gesturing for them to proceed.

"Time is of the essence. Let’s be on our way."

So, leaving Wei An and a few others to mind the shop, Bai Mo and Qin Wen followed Lanshan out.

A carriage was already waiting. The two Xues came over carrying a large chest, loaded it onto the carriage, and watched as Bai Mo’s party of three departed.

HYAH!

The driver was a large, brawny man. He flicked the reins, and the horses set off at a trot through the city.

Once they were outside the city walls, there were no more restrictions. The slight jostling of the carriage didn’t bother its occupants in the slightest.

When they arrived at the docks, a crowd of burly men stood in two lines, having forcibly cleared a path between them.

"What’s all this?"

"What a scene. Things have been so chaotic lately..."

"Hmph. And who can say they haven’t benefited? Once the new charter is in place, all our lives will be much easier!"

The onlooking Cultivators and commoners whispered among themselves.

Lanshan couldn’t care less about the paltry silver and Spirit Stones they had. He had decisively established new rules simply for the sake of stability.

The real prize was hidden within the flow of commerce.

Several large ships were moored at the docks. The one in the center was especially tall, and from its mast fluttered a flag bearing the single word "Bai."

Bai Mo led the way, stepping onto the gangplank to board the large ship with Lanshan and the others close behind.

A crowd of grinning, burly men followed as well.

WHOOSH!

The river wind gusted, snapping the flag.

Lanshan’s voice boomed, "Everyone! As of today, the Azure Dragon Wharf has a new master!"

"We all make our living here on this river! We’re all just trying to put food on the table! I won’t say much more. In short, from now on, you follow the new rules!"

Lanshan’s men turned to face the crowd, the cold glint in their eyes impossible to conceal.

These were all hardened men from Celestial Barrier Mountain—not a crowd you could fool.

There were some ’River Rats’ in the crowd, but even they had to lower their heads before these men.

A new era had truly dawned at the Azure Dragon Wharf!

Lanshan smiled faintly, took a few steps back, and gestured grandly with his large hands.

"Everyone, we’re just here to do the heavy lifting! The real master is the city’s own Alchemist Bai!"

"Alchemist Bai is a man of compassion! If you follow him, you’ll never go hungry!"

At this, all eyes turned to Bai Mo, filled with shock and uncertainty.

’Lanshan hadn’t revealed any of this before!’

Bai Mo’s expression remained serene as he met their collective gaze.

"Set sail."

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