The Mighty Cauldron: Extreme Alchemist! - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The First Business Deal

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Lin was tending to the medicinal herbs planted in his courtyard. Although they were new seedlings, the plants appeared to have already overflowed with vigor and vitality. This was largely the contribution of Fang Lin’s Withered Tree Revived in the Spring Embodiment. Any seedling that his hand planted would be filled with vitality while the speed of its growth would be many times faster than usual.

The act of planting medicinal herbs was a meticulous process and was not that much easier as compared to refining elixirs. In fact, one would need to invest more time and effort into planting medicinal herbs than refining elixirs on many occasions.

A fine alchemist was a skilled medicinal herb farmer as well.

During Fang Lin’s past life in the Alchemy Saint Palace, he spent a long time planting medicinal herbs. In fact, he was so invested in the planting process that at one point, he had almost neglected the practice of refining elixirs. Even though it had been a long time since he last planted medicinal herbs, it felt like his skills and efficiency were just as polished as before.

However, the conditions of planting medicinal herbs in the Alchemy Saint Palace in his past life far exceeded the current situation. Firstly, the plants were planted in a spiritual farmland. The soil was enriched with heavenly and earthly spiritual energy which would allow the medicinal herbs to thrive more than anything else.

Secondly, the plants were watered with spirit juice. However, spirit juice was an extremely rare item. Other than the sources found growing naturally in the wild, most of the spirit juices were curated by man-made efforts.

Spirit juice was concocted from all sorts of delicate medicinal herbs. After dilution, it was used to water the farmland which would encourage the growth of the medicinal herb plants. In addition, the medicinal effect of the herbs would be elevated to an even higher potency.

Other than that, there were also enchanted arrays. The most brilliant type available was the time array which sped up the passing of time within a particular region with its ultra-strong array power so that the plants could mature in a short period. These conditions were all in place during Fang Lin’s past life in the Alchemy Saint Palace.

However, Fang Lin did not have access to a spiritual farmland or spirit juice over here, let alone the time array that was even more out of this world. He could only use the most rudimentary and unsophisticated method to plant the medicinal herbs here. Nevertheless, he did not mind it and could accept being tired. He considered it as a process to cultivate his temperament.

Fang Lin bent over and occupied himself with tending to these medicinal herbs in the courtyard when he heard the sound of someone knocking from outside of the courtyard.

“Are you there, Junior Brother Disciple Fang? I’m an official disciple from the martial arts sect, Zhang Wen. I’d like to pay you a formal visit.” A male voice was heard coming from outside of the door. He did not sound like a domineering person judging from his voice.

Hastily, Fang Lin called out in acknowledgment to the visitor. He did not even pay attention to the mud that covered his hands as he opened the door at once.

A youth dressed in a red robe stood outside the door. He appeared to have aged not very gracefully and looked to be almost 30 years old. The red robe signified that he was an official disciple of the martial arts sect.

Zhang Wen was granted the sight of Fang Lin whose pants were rolled up messily while his hands were covered in mud and his face stained with some mud splatters. Instantly, he was bewildered.

Fang Lin sniggered and wiped his hands on his pants casually. “May I know what the purpose of your visit is, Senior Brother Disciple Zhang? I was busy planting medicinal herbs earlier. Sorry for the mess.”

Zhang Wen shook his head and replied smilingly, “It’s alright. You’re actually quite a relaxed person, Junior Brother Disciple Fang.”

Fang Lin quickly invited Zhang Wen to enter the courtyard. The moment he entered, Zhang Wen was greeted with the sight of medicinal herbs planted in neat rows in the courtyard. He had a rather astonished look on his face.

“Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you’re not just brilliant in alchemy, but it turns out that you’re also an expert at planting medicinal herbs!” Zhang Wen praised.

Fang Lin replied humbly, “I’m only fiddling with them to make use of my free time.”

Zhang Wen took a seat at the stone table in the courtyard. Fang Lin excused himself for a moment to clean up before he came back and sat down opposite him.

“Junior Brother Disciple Fang, the purpose of my visit is to commission you to refine an elixir for me,” said Zhang Wen straightforwardly, not bothering to beat about the bush.

Fang Lin was overjoyed when he heard that. He had been waiting for a few days before someone finally turned up to commission him to refine an elixir at last. It was a rare opportunity for him. “What kind of elixir are you looking for, Senior Brother Disciple Zhang?”

Zhang Wen said, “The Poison-repelling Pill. Do you know how to refine that, Junior Brother Disciple?”

Fang Lin patted his chest confidently upon hearing that. “It’s just the Poison-repel Pill. That’s easy.”

Zhang Wen was slightly hesitant upon marking the arrogance in Fang Lin’s tone. After all, Fang Lin was just a low-grade disciple. Even though he managed to defeat the high-grade disciple, Lu Jiuhe, during the alchemy match earlier, he may not necessarily be more skilled than the other high-grade disciples.

Noticing the change in Zhang Wen’s expression, Fang Lin added, “The Poison-repel Pill is but an unorthodox elixir. It is not even a Grade-1 elixir. I’m genuinely capable of refining that. Moreover, the success rate is higher than 80%.”

Zhang Wen was finally convinced upon hearing Fang Lin’s words. “I deeply appreciate your favor, Junior Brother Disciple Fang. It’s best if you can produce ten pills. I’ll certainly bring adequate compensation as a token of my appreciation when the elixir is refined,” Zhang Wen requested while cupping his hands before his chest in salutation.

Fang Lin noticed that Zhang Lin was about to leave, so he spoke immediately, “I shall make the preparations to refine the Poison-repelling Pills in a while. However, I wonder what you think about the Inner Strength Pill, Senior Brother Disciple Zhang.”

At first, Zhang Wen was about to leave when he heard Fang Lin mention the Inner Strength Pill, so his interest was piqued. It was inevitable because the martial arts disciples would need to spar with one another frequently. Therefore, possessing the Inner Strength Pill would allow one’s inner strength to recover quickly and would be exceedingly helpful during a fight.

However, not many people amongst the high-grade disciples of the alchemy sect were capable of refining the Inner Strength Pill. After all, it was a Grade-1 elixir, and only a Cauldron-1 alchemist could refine it.

Moreover, the alchemy prescription of the Inner Strength Pill could be found in the alchemy pavilion but was only given on an exchange basis. As a result, only a few people were capable of refining the Inner Strength Pill amongst the high-grade alchemy disciples other than the four excellencies.

“What do you mean, Junior Brother Disciple Fang? Are you capable of refining the Inner Strength Pill? It’s not that I look down on you, but the Inner Strength Pill is a Grade-1 elixir. It’s not easy to refine that,” said Zhang Wen who rationally explained to Fang Lin that it was not possible for him to refine the Inner Strength Pill. However, Zhang Wen felt rather eager now that Fang Lin had brought it up on his own.

Fang Lin sniggered. Without a word, he procured a jade bottle from his chest pocket. Then, he said in a secretive tone, “Take a look, Senior Brother Disciple Zhang.”

Zhang Wen took a glance at Fang Lin. After that, he uncorked the jade bottle to take a look and saw eight Inner Strength Pills nestled quietly inside. Surprised flooded his features at once. It never occurred to him that the pills in Fang Lin’s hand would be complete products. His gaze was burning hot.

“Junior Brother Disciple Fang, did you refine these pills?” asked Zhang Wen in puzzlement.

Fang Lin stored the jade bottle and said, “It doesn’t matter who refined this. The most crucial question is, do you need it?”

Zhang Wen nodded repeatedly and said, “Of course.” All of a sudden, he looked at Fang Lin with a strange gaze. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, are you trying to sell your elixirs without permission?”

“If the Inner Strength Pills are sold to the alchemy pavilion, I’m afraid that you may have to pay a very high cost to exchange for this. However, you’ll be able to get it at a price that is way cheaper from me. Aren’t you keen to engage in a tempting deal like this?” Fang Lin asked.

Zhang Wen burst out laughing. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you really are one of a kind. That’s right. The alchemy pavilion is a rapacious place. I’ll buy the Inner Strength Pills then.”

“How many pills would you like? Or would you rather take the entire bottle?”

Zhang Wen considered for a moment before he admitted, “I don’t have a lot of money to spare now, so I’ll just take two pills first. On the other hand, don’t delay the Poison-repelling Pills either. I’ll come and claim them in five days.”