Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Bai Mo was amazed.

He hadn't expected Brother Yin to have such ambitions.

He recalled that there were no disciples from Feather Peak among the top ten of the outer sect. Those ten were all recognized as prime cultivation prospects.

Bai Mo didn't think Yin Zhen had the strength to contend with them, but he wondered just how high one had to rank to catch the elders' attention.

"I admire your ambition, Brother Yin. I will certainly spare no effort to help you create this pill!"

Yin Zhen's expression relaxed slightly. After discussing many details with Bai Mo, he prepared to leave.

He was at the door when he remembered something and turned back to ask:

"Since you have a way to create a substitute for the dragon bone, can we do without it?"

The dragon bone was extremely rare. After his father, the emperor, obtained it, he treated it like a priceless treasure, as it was a key ingredient for the Immortal Pill. It had been stored in the royal treasury ever since.

Yin Zhen's mother had gone to great lengths to have it taken out for him now.

Bai Mo hastily waved his hand in refusal.

"If you don't bring the dragon bone, how am I supposed to measure its energetic properties?"

"Just bring it, Brother Yin. The only reason you're holding onto it is for the Immortal Pill. With me around, is there any doubt that we can make more?"

Yin Zhen nodded and finally departed.

Yin Zhen's faith in Bai Mo was one thing, but his father was the one in power—and he wasn't an ambitious, expansionist monarch.

At best, he was a ruler skilled at maintaining the status quo, prone to careful deliberation and always prioritizing stability.

After seeing him off and finding himself finally undisturbed, Bai Mo turned his full attention to the medicinal ingredients before him.

He had already studied the Immortal Pill extensively.

It wasn't particularly difficult.

The only challenge was extracting an energetic signature from other ingredients that was similar to the dragon bone's, which would require some experimentation.

He already had a method in mind.

'Now, it's just a matter of when Caiwei can gather the people I need.'

'And that yellow-robed old Daoist, whoever he is, is still waiting for me to come ask for his guidance...'

「Several days passed.」

An Caiwei finally gathered the thirty-three people Bai Mo had requested, recording their names in a roster.

It included people from all sorts of factions.

Beneath a large light screen, the crowd gathered to listen to An Caiwei's pep talk.

There wasn't much to it—mostly just talk about how valuable a promise from a Grandmaster capable of creating Tier Three Pills was.

The thirty-odd people showed a range of expressions. Watching a junior disciple lecture them didn't particularly stir their emotions.

'Let's just assume what she's saying is true. We'll do our best...'

'I've heard that this Bai Mo fellow has made a bit of a name for himself among the disciples. Even if he's not much now, his future probably isn't too shabby.'

'I'm not looking for much. It's enough just to have someone like him owe me a favor...'

Seeing their unimpressed expressions, An Caiwei got a little angry and spoke up.

"Brothers, don't you dare underestimate my Brother Bai Mo!"

"Yuan Chu and his two companions only obtained their Divine Techniques after taking his Pills!"

Hearing this, the crowd was visibly stirred.

Yuan Chu and his companions had made quite a name for themselves lately.

"Is that really true?"

One of them was a disciple An Caiwei had personally invited down from Divine Dao Mountain. At the time, he had been sleeping soundly in his cave residence.

With his drowsy appearance, he hardly seemed like a disciple living through such a tense and crucial period.

However, An Caiwei had met this man before and knew what he was capable of.

The man worshipped the Sundial Rat, a Demon Beast known in the Cultivation Realm as the Sunrat.

This beast is attuned to Yin and Yang and is particularly skilled in Yang Skills. Its Divine Techniques change with the time of day, making it incredibly formidable.

This disciple had apparently learned the Sunrat's method of traversing Yin and Yang as well; his spirit roamed between the two realms, leaving him in a perpetual state of drowsiness.

A look of surprise appeared on the man's face.

"It seems I've really been out of touch for too long. I had no idea about the inside story."

Seeing that she had finally gotten a reaction from the crowd, An Caiwei felt she had scored a point and was a bit pleased with herself.

She handed a Jade Talisman to each person in the crowd.

"Brothers, don't wander off in the next few days. I'm going to report back, and you'll likely be setting off shortly after."

With her instructions given, she sauntered away.

The crowd exchanged smiles.

Now that they had accepted the job, they would naturally give it their all. There was really no need for such a lecture.

A glint appeared in the eyes of many, their faces wreathed in smiles.

They hadn't entered the Secret Realm precisely because they were waiting for jobs like this. It was standard practice for people of their sort.

Their cultivation levels weren't particularly outstanding, so they lacked the confidence to enter the Secret Realm alone. It was far better to wait for someone to come seeking their help.

This way, they received benefits from their employer, learned the location of a definite opportunity, and got to team up with others.

Regardless of success, they were guaranteed a slice of the pie.

As for the disciple from Divine Dao Mountain, he had simply grown tired of the quiet life and was looking for some action. Hearing that Bai Mo had done a great favor for Divine Dao Mountain was all the convincing he needed.

Though their motivations varied, they all looked up at the light screen in the sky.

The scenes playing out within it were bizarre.

This year's Jade Plate Secret Realm seemed even more perilous than the last.

More and more of their fellow disciples were being killed inside.

Dying in battle against Demon Beasts was one thing.

But being captured by a humanoid giant crawling out of the earth, only to be tossed into its mouth, chewed up, and swallowed... that was bound to leave some psychological trauma.

A disciple who had died a brutal death suddenly materialized in front of the Secret Realm's portal.

He seemed yet to awaken from the shadow of death, his limbs flailing wildly as he tumbled toward the ground.

The yellow-robed old Daoist pointed a finger. The disciple flipped over in mid-air and hit the ground with a THUD.

At least he was spared the horrifying fate of landing headfirst.

The long-bearded old Daoist who was maintaining the light screen spared it a glance before looking away, unconcerned.

He kept his attention on the light screen, his eyes reflecting thousands of shifting scenes.

"This disciple fought bravely. Knowing he was outmatched, he still drew his sword to cover his comrades' retreat, ultimately dying in battle."

"Once his character is tempered, he could be of great use."

The yellow-robed old Daoist sneered.

"It's only because you old codgers are here to 'prune' things that disciples like that even survive."

"A disposition like that... It's truly pathetic!"

The long-bearded elder stroked his beard and said nonchalantly,

"This is the sect's responsibility. Otherwise, how would our legacy be passed down through the generations?"

"In the future, it is these pillars that will hold up the sect!"

The yellow-robed old Daoist shook his head, unimpressed.

"I, on the other hand, have spotted a promising sapling. Judging by his actions, he has the air of a Loose Cultivator."

"He hasn't been 'sculpted' by you, yet his disposition is completely natural. I won't say whether that's better or worse, but he's a true cultivation prospect with a pure heart for the path."

"Oh?"

The long-bearded elder trusted his judgment. Within the sect, the number of people who could surpass his ability to read others could be counted on one hand.

"Who is it? Show me!"

The yellow-robed old Daoist suddenly seemed displeased.

"The brat's too slow! I told him to gather his people for the Secret Realm and then come find me for pointers, but he still hasn't shown up!"

Seeing the long-bearded elder's confusion, the yellow-robed old Daoist pointed to the thirty-odd disciples watching the spectacle.

"See? Those thirty-some people are the ones the brat rounded up."

"His judgment isn't great. They're a motley crew."

The long-bearded elder's hand, which was stroking his beard, paused.

"And this disciple... what is he like?"

"A kid with some talent for the Alchemy Dao. His cultivation is just a bit lacking."

"Hmm." The long-bearded elder thought for a moment.

"Pill Peak in the outer sect has a poor reputation these days, but there are still a few veteran masters on other peaks who are proficient in this art."

"Why don't we arrange something? Have him study under one of them for a while before he enters the inner sect. It would be a good chance to temper him."

The yellow-robed Daoist quickly held up a hand.

"Forget it!"

"There's no point in keeping the kid in the outer sect. All he has to do is show off a little to be fawned over. It's dreadfully dull."

"I'm planning to use this opportunity to send him into the inner sect..."

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