Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After Xu Shangao left, Fang Lin closed the door to his courtyard. He was under the assumption that no one would come visiting anymore now that it was late.
He walked into the alchemy room to find it completely empty. With a pat, Fang Lin unleashed the Golden Flame Cauldron from the Nine Palaces Pouch onto the ground with a loud bang. He appeared to ponder as he looked at the cauldron shimmering with golden light and sized it up and down.
I wonder if Gu Daofeng performed any tricks on this cauldron? Fang Lin did not have a favorable impression of Gu Daogeng even after he had given him quite an impressive cauldron. He began to examine the Golden Flame Cauldron meticulously.
After examining the cauldron outside and inside for a few times, he was finally relieved. There was nothing unusual about it. Satisfied, Fang Lin did not have any intention to do anything else. At once, he sat cross-legged on the floor of the alchemy room and consumed the Health-nurturing Pills given to him by Old Man Zhou. They were of medium-grade quality and the effects could last for three to four days.
Even though Fang Lin was not very pleased about the quality of this medicine, it was better than having none at all.
As soon as the pills entered his mouth, they transformed into a stream of warm liquid and flowed into his body rapidly. In the next moment, there was a wisp of astonishment in Fang Lin’s eyes that seemed to suggest good news.
I didn’t expect that the strange light from earlier would such an effect. It elevates the speed of my medicine absorption by such a huge extent!
After consuming it, Fang Lin’s body absorbed the medicine very quickly at a speed of absorption that was three times faster than usual. At first, the effects would only develop after half an hour. However, it only took the time to burn one joss stick to take effect at this very moment.
He could only associate such a transformation with the effects of basking under the light of the four saints earlier. Other than that, there was no other reason he could think of.
Fang Lin was on the level-4 primordial man realm at the moment, which was considered the middle level for junior alchemist disciples although he was now an official disciple. Therefore, his realm appeared to be inadequate compared to his status. Even Xu Shangao was on the level-6 primordial man realm, thus Fang Lin’s realm was definitely the bottom rank amongst the official disciples.
Even though the alchemy sect placed particular emphasis on the act of refining elixirs, one’s martial art realm should not be neglected either. After all, the foundation of refining elixirs needed to be supported with an adequate martial art realm too.
For three consecutive days, Fang Lin did not leave the residence at all. He remained cultivating all the time. Some other official disciples came to visit him during the three days, but they left after noticing that the door to the courtyard was tightly shut.
Three days later, Fang Lin walked out of the alchemy room, energized and refreshed.
I’m just a tiny step away from achieving the level-5 primordial man realm. I should get there if I take another two Health-nurturing Pills!
Even though he was close to approaching the level-5 primordial man realm, Fang Lin still had many other matters to attend to. Firstly, the small courtyard was completely empty, so he would need to plant some medicinal herbs.
Apart from that, he would need to get some furniture for the house. Otherwise, he had nowhere to receive the visitors. They could not possibly sit on the floor to talk, could they?.
After considering for a moment, Fang Lin decided to look for Xu Shangao. Since Xu Shangao had been mingling with the official disciples for a few years, he should be quite familiar with these matters.
Fang Lin received quite a large number of medicinal herb seedlings from Xu Shangao who also helped him source for some furniture. Fang Lin stored the new furniture in the Nine Palaces Pouch to take back to his residence and arrange neatly.
Then, he began to plant the medicinal herb seedlings. He divided a stretch of farmland for medicinal herbs in the courtyard. It took up almost two-thirds of the entire courtyard. Next, he began planting the seedlings.
Fang Lin had been an Extreme Alchemist in his past life. Not only had he attained the acme of perfection in his alchemy skills, but his ability to plant medicinal herbs was outstanding as well. In addition to that, he was the Withered Tree Revived In The Spring Embodiment. The seedlings were filled with vigor and vitality after they were planted, unlike many seedlings that would appear withered.
Fang Lin heaved a sigh emotionally. He thought about how he would be suited to become a medicinal herb farmer with his Withered Tree Revived In The Spring Embodiment skills.
However, as an ambitious person, how could he allow himself to end up as a medicinal herb farmer? If he wanted to become one, then he would be a medicinal herb farmer filled with ambition, goals, and aspiration.
After bustling about for the entire day, Fang Lin finally managed to plant all the medicinal herb seedlings taken from Xu Shangao’s courtyard, but it took up less than half of the space in his medicinal herb plot.
It seems like I need more medicinal herb seedlings. Exhausted after such a long day, he was not planning to do anything else, so he returned to the room and slept.
The next day, Xu Shangao brought him more medicinal herb seedlings. After Fang Lin planted the seedlings, the enormous courtyard still appeared to be spacious and quite empty.
“Junior Brother Disciple Fang, your courtyard is too huge. You should go over to the alchemy pavilion and buy some medicinal herb seedlings to plant in addition to these,” Xu Shangao said.
Fang Lin asked in confusion, “What is the alchemy pavilion?”
Xu Shangao explained, “The alchemy pavilion is where our alchemy sect sells elixirs, medicinal herbs, cauldrons, and other items. If you manage to refine some fine elixirs, you can sell them conveniently at the alchemy pavilion. You can also buy some necessities from there as well.”
“I don’t have any money,” Fang Lin patted his pocket and said.
The corners of Xu Shangao’s lips twitched as he said, “You don’t need worldly silver coins. You can exchange for products with elixirs.”
“I see,” Fang Lin replied with a nod.
Xu Shangao hesitated for a moment before he continued, “However, the alchemy pavilion is extremely tyrannical. If you sell your elixirs there, the alchemy pavilion will take 30% of your profit.”
Fang Lin raised his eyebrows. “30% in interest? The alchemy pavilion is simply brutal!”
“It is. However, we can only abide as disciples,” Xu Shangao said, heaving a sigh.
Fang Lin pondered for a moment. He thought that he could simply refine some elixirs in order to exchange for some medicinal herb seedlings since they were not considered expensive items.
The next few days, he borrowed some medicinal herbs from Xu Shangao which he refined into three bottles of Energizing Pills. He was prepared to use them in exchange for some medicinal herb seedlings from the alchemy pavilion.
Three bottles of Energizing Pills were considered rather expensive, so Fang Lin figured that he would still have some left over after using them to exchange for some medicinal herb seedlings.
One day, Fang Lin brought the three bottles of Energizing Pills along as he joined Xu Shangao to head to the alchemy pavilion.
The alchemy pavilion was located on an independent mountain peak. Only official disciples were allowed to enter the alchemy pavilion for business and sales transactions. The junior alchemy disciples were not even permitted to get close to the mountain.
Fang Lin and Xu Shangao arrived at the alchemy pavilion to find many official disciples milling around. Because Fang Lin was an unfamiliar face as a newly-promoted official disciple, he naturally drew some attention. However, the people were looking at him with a mix of sympathy and mockery.
Xu Shangao and Fang Lin noticed the furtive glances. Xu Shangao was feeling rather worried, but Fang Lin did not mind at all. Anyhow, he was used to this by now.
Along a path flanked by two enormous stone athanor sculptures, 99 steps led the way to the outside of the alchemy pavilion, creating an impressive entrance. Two men in black sat cross-legged on each of the stone athanor sculptures. Appearing not to breathe at all, they did not move in the slightest. It seemed as if they were fused to the stone sculptures underneath them.
“These two men are the guardians of the alchemy pavilion. It is said that they are powerful beyond understanding. A martial arts sect disciple once tried to cause trouble here and he was crippled by these two people on the spot,” Xu Shangao whispered softly.
Fang Lin nodded and looked at these two people in deep ponderation.
Meanwhile, a few people approached them from a close distance. The person walking at the front of the group was the high-grade disciple, Shen Fu, who got into a quarrel with Fang Lin the other day. “Isn’t that Junior Brother Disciple Xu and Junior Brother Disciple Fang?”
Xu Shangao had a drastic change of expression instantly when he noticed Shen Fu. Fear swirled in his eyes while Fang Lin cracked a smile.
“Hello, I’ve been newly promoted in the sect. How may I address you, Senior Brother Disciple?” Fang Lin cupped his hands together before his chest in salutation with a friendly and harmless smile on his face.
Shen Fu stiffened for a moment. The official disciples by his side had an array of different expressions too while Xu Shangao took a glance at Fang Lin. His heart was flooded with respect and admiration. At the same time, the feigned smile on Shen Fu’s face vanished completely and in its place was coldness and rage.
“Fang Lin, have you forgotten about me so quickly?” Shen Fu responded with a bitter smile.
Fang Lin frowned and he asked in confusion, “Senior Brother Disciple, it’s true that I can’t recognize you. You can’t bully me for having a poor memory.”
Shen Fu’s expression turned even more unpleasant. He gave out a humph and said, “are you trying to play the fool here? Fang Lin, you’d best be careful. Even though you’ve become an official disciple, this is still my territory, Shen Fu’s territory!”
Enlightened, Fang Lin exclaimed, “Oh so it’s you, Senior Brother Disciple Shen Fu! No wonder I noticed that you don’t seem like a good person. I’m sorry, Senior Brother Disciple Shen Fu. I tend to forget anyone that looks like a bad person.”
As soon as those words were spoken, the passersby, as well as the bystanders, were stunned. In seconds, the crowd simmered with incredulous chatter.
“Fang Lin is atrocious! How dare he say that to Shen Fu!?”
“That’s crazy. He’s just a low-grade disciple, yet he speaks so insolently!”
“What a brave man! No official disciple would dare say that to Shen Fu!”
…
The group of people who gaped at Fang Lin then looked at Shen Fu whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. Some admired Fang Lin’s courage while some shook their heads in secret. They thought he was wildly arrogant and was not being rational.
Shen Fu was inconsolable as his eyes stared straight at Fang Lin. He wished that he could charge forward and tear Fang Lin up alive.
“Fang Lin, you’re simply impertinent!” an official disciple by Shen Fu’s side shouted aloud. Another few more official disciples chimed in and hurled insults at him. They were all Shen Fu’s supporters.
“You speak insolently. What an uncultured swine!”
“You becoming an official disciple is simply an embarrassment to our sect!”
“Get the h*ll out of the alchemy sect!”
Xu Shangao grieved in his heart bitterly. However, he could only stand by Fang Lin’s side closely as the two men stood gazing at each other in rage.
The two men in black sitting cross-legged on the stone sculptures opened their eyes, but they only darted a glance at them. After that, they shifted their gaze and stopped paying attention to the crowd.
Shen Fu clenched his teeth before he roared in rage, “How dare you insult me, swine?”
Fang Lin’s expression dimmed. He shot him a disdainful smile, then he looked at the official disciples attempting to threaten him. “I’m the top scorer of the junior alchemy disciples and I’ve gained the favor of the four saints. It’s a serious offense for all of you to call me a swine over and over again. The souls of our four saints are waiting to ultimately punish all of you!”
Before his voice faded away, the four statues around the alchemy altar suddenly glowed brightly as if they were responding to him.
Everyone turned pale with fear. Shen Fu’s supporters were panic-stricken and their eyes were charged with terror.
“The four saints have manifested once again!” someone shouted aloud.
Under the illumination of the four saints’ light, Fang Lin appeared like a deity.