novel-bin Chapter 84 Alchemy
Chapter 84 Alchemy
The copper lock in the steward's office fell to the ground with a soft but jarring sound.
Jiang Lan gripped the brass key in his palm. He had rented a small, third-class courtyard house for fifty taels of silver a month, with a deposit of one month's rent and three months' rent paid in advance.
Two hundred taels of silver were gone in an instant.
The third room in the east row of the residence, against the wall, is secluded and without neighbors. The blue bricks are mottled, the gray tiles are covered with dust, the lintel is empty, and there is no sign or number. It is the most inconspicuous corner courtyard of the sect.
Pushing the door open, the wooden hinges were stiff and made a hoarse, grinding sound.
The courtyard was small, the bluestone slabs cracked and sprawled, weeds sprouting and growing from the gaps, desolate and silent. The main house had two rooms, the left a sleeping room and the right a quiet room. The quiet room's walls were sealed with thick wooden planks, airtight, and closing the windows shut out all worldly noise. On the floor lay an old prayer cushion, its edges worn white, worn smooth by countless people who had sat upon it before.
Jiang Lan threw the coarse cloth bundle onto the bed board with a dull thud.
Carrying buckets to fetch water, the well water was bone-chillingly cold, making my fingertips numb.
He moved extremely slowly, wiping away the dust inch by inch from the tabletop, chair legs, and windowsill. For those at the bottom of society, cleanliness is the bare minimum, and the only semblance of dignity they can hold onto.
The items were laid out one by one.
A few changes of clothes, faded from washing, a bag of dry, hard-crusted food, a bottle of Peiyuan Pills sealed in oil paper, a few cultivation manuals, and finally, a thin booklet titled "Flying Light and Shadow".
The hidden weapon techniques and shortcuts given by Su Xiaotang are also a trump card to protect oneself in desperate situations.
The pages were neatly arranged, without a single detail. Jiang Lan sat down on the futon, cross-legged, and began to regulate her breathing.
Opening the book "The True Explanation of Incantations: Introduction," one learns that incantations cultivate qi and blood, not muscles and bones. Nurturing the seed of strength with qi and blood is the only threshold for unlocking the realm of condensed strength from the Nine Acupoints Realm.
It is divided into three layers: seeding, sprouting, and condensation.
Qi and blood condense into a seed, nourishing it day and night; strength breaks through the shell, transforming it into a new sprout; roots are firmly planted, drawing in evil spirits into the body, thus condensing evil spirits.
Only when one has mastered the art of condensing evil energy can one be considered to have entered the inner sanctum and escaped the lowly, miscellaneous cultivation.
Countless martial artists at the peak of the Nine Acupoints stage are trapped in the cultivation stage for their entire lives. This is not due to dull talent, but because they lack a proper cultivation method.
Cultivating without a method is like sowing seeds in the wild; without water and fertilizer, the seed will either wither or grow wildly, with absolutely no chance of survival. Inner cultivation techniques are the rarest path for lower-level martial artists.
Jiang Lan closed his eyes, drawing upon the remaining medicinal power within his body. Warm energy lingered in his stomach, slowly spreading throughout his limbs and bones. Following the path of the mental cultivation technique, he guided the qi and blood throughout his body, gathering them all in his dantian, where they swirled, compressed, and condensed.
The dantian was empty, a chaotic void. Only a wisp of energy swirled slowly, like mist or illusion, weak yet persistent.
A flash of golden light appeared, cold and hard without warmth.
Heaven rewards diligence; success is inevitable.
【True Explanation of Spells: An Introduction (1/500)】
Five hundred progress points isn't much, no rush. There are no shortcuts in cultivation, only perseverance.
I closed the book and ran my fingertips over the cover of "Introduction to Hidden Weapons".
The five realms of hidden weapons: beginner, minor mastery, major mastery, perfection, and ultimate realm. The beginner realm has the simplest threshold: accurately hitting the vital points of a wooden dummy within three zhang (approximately 10 meters).
There are no wooden dummies in the courtyard yet, so we won't practice today. No rush, steady progress is the only way to last.
As dusk fell, night descended upon the courtyard.
For dinner, we had dry food and cold water.
The hard biscuit was hard and dry to swallow. Jiang Lan sat upright on the edge of the bed, chewing slowly and silently as she ate.
Voices could be faintly heard from behind the wall, laughter and chatter fragmented and indistinct. Sects never lacked disciples with exceptional talent or from wealthy families; their leisurely and lively lives were never a concern for lower-level cultivators.
The following evening, water was drawn from the well, and the courtyard gate was opened three times, neatly and gently.
Jiang Lan put the bucket down and turned around.
A young girl, about eighteen or nineteen years old, stood outside the door. She wore a pale white Taoist robe, her hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and her features were gentle and refined, without a trace of arrogance.
He carried a bamboo basket, covered with a blue cloth, with the outline of an oil paper package peeking out from the corners.
"The new neighbor next door is Shen Ning, a master of talismans."
"Hearing that my new junior brother had moved in, I came to pay him a visit. I brought some homemade snacks and fresh tea from the mountains; they're nothing special, just gifts from my neighbors."
She reached out and handed over the bamboo basket, her smile serene.
Jiang Lan did not answer.
Offering favors without reason is always driven by self-interest... Within the sect, there is no such thing as pure goodwill.
"Take it." Shen Ning shoved the bamboo basket into his hands with a gentle but firm touch that left no room for refusal. "A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Since we're new here, it's only right that we look out for each other."
"Thank you, Senior Sister Shen." Jiang Lan reached out and accepted it.
"No need to call me 'Senior Sister,' I only joined the sect a few months earlier. Just call me by my name."
Shen Ning's gaze swept over his simple, old robe, then quickly looked away.
"A lineage of incantations, a disciple of Abbot Qian?"
"Yes."
"The incantation techniques are orthodox, but the people in the academy are cold and the rules are strict. If you can endure it, you can get ahead."
She knows when to stop, avoids gossip and judgment of others, and maintains a perfect sense of propriety.
"Living alone?"
"Um."
"Me too." Shen Ning leaned against the courtyard wall, the evening breeze ruffling the hem of her Taoist robe, unintentionally revealing the coarse cotton trousers underneath. She calmly pressed them down, her smile unchanged. "The talismanic lineage has too many complicated procedures, and I couldn't stand the constraints, so I moved here. This place is quiet, perfect for secluded cultivation."
"Where are you from, junior brother?"
"Yu Cheng, Reed Bay, of humble origins."
Shen Ning remained calm upon hearing about the lowly origins that ordinary martial artists would avoid, nodding slightly as if it were the most mundane matter.
"My father started out as a blacksmith and built his business from scratch." Her tone was calm, but it carried a deeper meaning. "Those who have nothing have no way out but to strive desperately and be the first to succeed. That is often the best way to gain a foothold."
This statement succinctly reveals the fundamental principle for those at the bottom to establish themselves.
Jiang Lan remained silent. Human hearts are unpredictable; kindness is precious, but it is also the easiest way to harm others.
Shen Ning took out a small medicine pouch from his sleeve and handed it over.
"These three Qi-boosting pills will come in handy for your current cultivation." Seeing that he didn't move, she added frankly, "I want to establish good neighborly relations."
Jiang Lan took the medicine pouch.
Thank you.
"I won't disturb your rest. Please feel free to knock on the door if you need anything."
Shen Ning turned to leave, but as he reached the alley entrance, he suddenly turned back and gave a tip: "The Iron Flower Shop at the east end of the market specializes in concealed weapons; they use high-quality materials. Mention my name, and you can get a discount."
He chuckled lightly at the end, speaking frankly: "The discount isn't much, but it's a token of my appreciation."
Jiang Lan stood at the door, watching her figure disappear into the shadows of the night alley.
The evening breeze lifted the blue cloth covering the bamboo basket, revealing the faint characters "Shen Ji" on the oil paper wrapping.
Opening the medicine pouch, three Qi-boosting pills were found intact, with neat small characters on the paper: Talisman Pulse, Shen Ning.
The blacksmith's daughter, who started from scratch, understands the hardships of the lower classes and knows the difficulty of working hard.
This sense of propriety and this clarity far surpasses that of most sect's pride.
Jiang Lan closed the courtyard gate and locked it.
Accept the goodwill for now, but don't let your guard down. Within the confines of the sect, every favor has a price.
At dawn the next day, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, the fog had not yet dissipated.
Jiang Lan took the silver to the market.
Iron Flower Shop is hidden in a narrow alley at the east end. The old plaque is faded and the characters are simple and unadorned, but it is a reliable old shop recognized by the locals.
Upon entering, the cold smell of medicine and iron hits you.
The old man at the counter looked up, glanced at the wooden plaque with the incantation vein at his waist, and immediately laid out several trays.
Flying needles, bone-piercing needles, coin darts... a complete range of products, all neatly sharpened.
Jiang Lan purchased two boxes each and paid an additional five taels of silver to commission the making of a hardwood human stump. The vital parts, such as the heart, throat, and eyes, were all reinforced with ironwood, making it durable and wear-resistant, suitable for long-term ascetic practice.
The bill came to over a hundred taels, and the silver note was even thinner.
They carried the equipment and wooden stakes back to the courtyard, placed them on the ground, and stabilized them in the corner of the courtyard wall.
Stand still at a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters).
The core of "Introduction to Hidden Weapons" lies in the three words: stability, accuracy, and speed, which rely entirely on wrist control and fingertip precision.
The first stitch is made by flicking the wrist.
"Knock!"
The needle pierced the wooden dummy's shoulder, but missed its vital point.
A slight difference can lead to a huge error.
Come again!
One stitch missed, one stitch veered off course, one stitch grazed the edge.
Repeatedly insert the needle, finish the movement, and adjust the wrist angle. It's tedious and repetitive; there are no shortcuts, only practice makes perfect.
As the technique became more proficient, the trajectory became more stable, and the accuracy steadily improved.
Golden light refreshed.
[Introduction to Hidden Weapons (3/100)]
Life proceeded in a predictable, routine manner, with no discrepancies between day and night.
By day, he would squat in the courtyard practicing hidden weapons, repeatedly piercing through a thousand needles to hone his skills; by night, he would sit quietly in a secluded room, cultivating incantations and refining his iron bones and golden body.
They used every single Qi-boosting pill and Yuan-cultivating pill sparingly. Their silver notes were dwindling daily, a fact clearly visible to the naked eye.
A month has passed in the blink of an eye...
Jiang Lan retreated to a distance of seven zhang, far exceeding the entry standard of three zhang.
The fingertips hold the bone-piercing needle, and the wrist trembles slightly.
The needle's shadow was like a streak of light, piercing through the air in an instant.
"Knock!"
The needle tip was precisely driven into the vital throat of the wooden dummy, with most of the needle body submerged in the ironwood, leaving only a tiny needle tail hidden among the wood grain.
Silent, precise, deadly.
Golden light shone brightly one after another.
【Flowing Light and Flying Shadows: An Introduction (92/100)】
Finish the movement, exhale and exhale the stale air, and calm your mind like a still well.
He returned to his quiet room, sat cross-legged, and the results of his days of arduous practice became fully apparent.
Heaven rewards diligence; no effort is ever wasted.
【True Explanation of Mantras: Seed Formation (458/500)】
【Iron Bones and Golden Body - Steel Bones (3/1000)】
[Crushing Mountain Fist Perfected (3789/5000)]
[Completed the Mountain-Crushing Stance Training (4891/5000)]
Jiang Lan raised her hand to count the silver she carried. After deducting all expenses such as rent, equipment, medicine, and food, she had less than a hundred taels left.
They can't live off their savings for more than two months...
We must find some ways to make money.
The Spellcasting Clan's notice board offers a wide variety of tasks, including herb gathering, exorcism, escorting goods, and talisman drawing, each with its own reward. However, the Alchemy Room Odd Job has the lowest entry barrier, is ideal for newcomers, and offers the best benefits.
A monthly salary of thirty taels of silver provides a stable food allowance. A free introductory tutorial on medicinal herbs is available; beginners who fail at alchemy can receive three free refills of basic medicinal herbs.
After noting down the address of the alchemy room, Jiang Lan went straight to his post the following morning.
The alchemy room is located on the east side of the mountain gate, with its own entrance and courtyard. A wooden sign stands solemnly: "Alchemy Room, restricted area, no unauthorized personnel allowed."
Upon entering, the astringent, bitter, and fishy smell of medicine assaults the senses and fills the entire courtyard.
Several large vats were lined up in the courtyard, filled with various medicinal herbs. After soaking for a long time, the smell was strong and pungent.
The open rooms under the eaves were filled with alchemy furnaces, their fires roaring and waves of heat scorching one's face.
Beside the door, a woman in a gray robe sat quietly fanning the fire.
He was around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing firm, well-defined forearm muscles. His cheekbones were slightly high, his jaw square, and his features neither delicate nor flamboyant. His eyes were sharp as concealed daggers, devoid of any gentleness.
She fanned herself continuously, kept the fire burning steadily, and never raised her head.
"The new handyman?"
His voice was cold and deep, crisp and clear, devoid of emotion.
"Jiang Lan, a practitioner of incantations, has come to the alchemy room to learn skills and serve." Jiang Lan clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, behaving with perfect decorum.
"Are you aware of the rules?"
"Medicinal herbs are provided by the individual, and the alchemy furnace is shared. Introductory tutorials are free, and the monthly salary is thirty taels. If a mistake is made in alchemy, the individual can receive three replacements of basic medicinal herbs."
Every word is accurate, without any errors or omissions.
The woman raised her chin, gesturing towards the corner of the wall.
"Take the introductory texts. The third furnace in the inner room is empty and is available for your use. Ask questions if you don't understand anything, but do not act on your own and ruin the furnace or waste the medicine."
Jiang Lan moved to pick up the book, and a gust of wind blew behind her as someone pushed open the door and entered.
A disciple of the talisman lineage, thin and pale, with unsteady steps.
His gaze immediately fell on the woman in the gray robe, his eyes darting around, concealing a filthy greed that lingered for a long time.
The palm-leaf fan suddenly stopped moving.
Xu Ling raised her eyes, her gaze straight but filled with a chilling coldness, and fell on the boy.
"Have you seen enough?"
The boy froze, his face drained of color, and he turned bright red, completely at a loss.
"I...I didn't...this disciple just..."
He was incoherent, his throat was tight, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
Xu Ling stood up.
She was tall and imposing, a head taller than the thin boy. She walked slowly forward, looking down at him with a gaze that pierced through his flustered pretense.
"With a filthy mind and entangled in distracting thoughts, how dare you attempt alchemy and cultivation?"
His voice was soft, but every word resonated, silencing the room completely.
The boy retreated step by step, his back slamming hard against the door frame. He trembled all over, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.
"This disciple knows his mistake..."
Snapped!
The slap was clear and loud, not heavy, but extremely intimidating.
The boy covered his face and stood frozen, his eyes suddenly reddening. He dared not look up or argue.
The other servants inside all lowered their heads, none daring to look at him. Some chuckled to themselves, but quickly suppressed their laughter.
Xu Ling turned around and sat down, picked up the palm-leaf fan again, and the fire in the stove surged steadily once more, as if the punishment just now was just a trivial matter.
"The three vats of medicinal herbs must be thoroughly washed and soaked today. No food is allowed until they are completely consumed."
The boy felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and he scrambled away from the alchemy room. The curtains rose and fell with muffled thuds, concealing his fear and humiliation.
Xu Ling turned her gaze to Jiang Lan, scrutinizing her calmly.
"Still standing there?"
Jiang Lan said no more and went into the inner room.
The No. 3 alchemy furnace was still warm, and the fire was glowing red.
He placed "Introduction to Alchemy" on a wooden shelf beside the furnace and studied it word by word, not missing a single sentence. The rules regarding the heat, proportions, timing, and the advance and retreat were all strict and rigid, with very little room for error.
[Introduction to Alchemy (1/100)]
Xu Ling's voice came from outside the door, penetrating the curtain.
"If the fire is too strong, add charcoal to cool it down. If the fire is even slightly off, the medicinal power will dissipate significantly, and the elixir will be wasted."
Jiang Lan immediately reached out and dispersed the red-hot embers in the furnace, gradually softening the fire and stabilizing the temperature.
For beginners in alchemy, the most difficult things are maintaining a steady mind, steady hands, and steady control of the heat.
He practiced acupuncture and incantations, and his mental fortitude and concentration far surpassed those of other newcomers at the same level, which perfectly aligned with the essential principles of alchemy.
"Not bad, it even looks like a pill refining workshop," Xu Ling said.