I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

He took three more auxiliary medicines from the medicine cabinet.

Licorice root tips, astragalus root, and stalactite.

He put the three auxiliary medicines into the alchemy furnace.

Guided by his divine sense, the medicinal power fused together within the alchemy furnace.

Zhao Zian threw the Hidden Jade Grass into the alchemy furnace.

"Freeze!"

Zhao Zian made a hand seal with both hands.

Time passed second by second.

Inside the alchemy furnace, the medicinal liquid continuously churned, purified, and concentrated under the combined effects of high temperature and array formation.

"Now!"

Zhao Zian formed a hand seal with both hands.

"The elixir is complete!"

After an incense stick had burned, the alchemical furnace calmed down.

Zhao Zian then stepped forward and patted the stove lid.

The stove lid popped open with a click.

At the bottom of the alchemy furnace, there was a jade-colored pill.

Zhao Zian picked it up.

"Foundation Pill..."

Zhao Zian took out a jade bottle and put the Foundation Establishment Pill inside.

He tidied up the alchemy room and removed the fire-gathering array from the ground.

The door to the processing room opened again.

Sun, the accountant who had been standing guard outside the door, straightened up.

He had been waiting outside for three whole hours.

I stood there from the afternoon until dusk, and my legs were numb.

"The...Master?"

"Thank you for your hard work, Accountant Sun."

"It's not hard work! It's not hard work!"

Accountant Sun waved his hand.

"Master, you... have you succeeded?"

He didn't even know what he was asking.

What was created? A divine medicine?

Zhao Zian simply nodded slightly.

"Let's go take a look at the front hall," Zhao Zian said.

"Yes, sir!"

Accountant Sun followed behind Zhao Zian.

The shop assistants tidied up the last items on the counter, preparing to close.

As soon as Zhao Zian stepped into the front hall, a voice rang out.

"Oh, so our Boss Zhao has finally decided to part with his money?"

Zhao Zian looked up.

Su Mei.

"Manager Su is back."

Su Mei chuckled.

"Boss Zhao, your movements are really nimble."

Su Mei stared intently into his eyes.

"When I got back this afternoon, I heard that you had taken care of all the trouble I was dealing with with Liu San?"

"It's just a minor inconvenience."

Zhao Zian's tone remained calm.

"I just hope you don't think I'm being nosy, shopkeeper."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Su Mei laughed, her chest heaving.

"Troublesome? How could I? My employer solved my problem; I'm more than grateful to you!"

"It's nothing."

Zhao Zian shook his head.

"Manager Su, did you go out today because of Liu San?"

Su Mei's charming smile faded slightly.

"Liu San? He's not worthy of my personal trip."

"I have something more important to discuss with you."

"This is not the place to talk. Come with me."

After saying that, she turned around and walked towards the stairs to the second floor.

Zhao Zian waved to Accountant Sun and the other staff.

"You can go home now, and close the door properly."

"Yes."

……

Second floor, side room.

Su Mei did not sit down, but walked to the window.

"I went to the government office today."

Zhao Zian waited for her to continue.

"The county magistrate, Zhang, has an elderly mother who is ill."

"The illness is very strange."

"We've seen every single doctor in town, every single one of them. Prescription after prescription came out, and ginseng and lingzhi were being forced down our throats like they were free. And what was the result?"

"The person is deteriorating day by day. Now he is bedridden, breathing more out than in, and he is about to die."

Zhao Zian's eyebrows twitched slightly.

A mysterious disease of decay? A gradual loss of vitality?

Most common illnesses are caused by external pathogens invading the body or by internal organ imbalances.

But the word "vitality" has already touched on another level.

Su Mei continued.

"Magistrate Zhang's filial piety is commendable, but he's gone mad with worry. Today, a notice was posted at the entrance of the yamen."

"A reward of a thousand taels of gold, plus a favor from the government, is offered in the hope of saving his elderly mother's life."

A thousand pieces of gold!

A favor done by a government official!

"Life is slipping away..."

He repeated the sentence in a low voice.

Su Mei thought he hadn't heard her clearly.

"Yes, her life is slipping away! The doctors said that the old lady's pulse is getting weaker and weaker, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment. They've tried everything, but they can't hold on to her."

"This is an immense fortune, but it could also be a death sentence."

"Before you, three self-proclaimed miracle doctors had already tried it. They all went in confidently, and what happened?"

"After one prescription, the old lady coughed up blood that very night. Magistrate Zhang was furious and immediately ordered his men to break one of his legs and throw him out of the county office."

"The other two didn't fare much better. One was denounced as undeserving of his reputation and his name was ruined. The other fared even worse; because he used potent drugs, he was imprisoned on charges of murdering an official's family member and is still locked up!"

Zhao Zian pondered.

Ordinary medical practices emphasize Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the regulation of Qi and blood.

However, if the source of life is damaged and the essence is depleted, no matter how much water is poured in, it will only be lost faster.

Su Mei interpreted Zhao Zi'an's silence as a sign that he was frightened.

"What? Scared?"

"It's normal to be scared. Not everyone can make a living like this. I'm telling you this just so you're aware of the situation. Things will definitely be turbulent in the city these next few days. You and I just need to keep an eye on the pharmacy."

Zhao Zian raised his head.

"You can go and take a look."

"What?"

Su Mei doubted that she had heard correctly.

"What...did you say?"

I said, "We can go take a look."

Su Mei was stunned.

"Do you know what you're saying? That's the county magistrate's mother! If she's cured, she'll be promoted to the highest rank! If she's not cured..."

"I know."

Zhao Zian interrupted her.

"If it can't be cured, at best it will result in the loss of a hand or foot, at worst it will result in decapitation."

"If that's the case, why did you...?"

"Manager Su, you told me this so you'd like me to give it a try, right?"

Su Mei's heart skipped a beat.

They saw right through me.

"I just, I just feel..." Su Mei was speechless for a moment.

Zhao Zian smiled.

"Fortune favors the bold. Doesn't Manager Su understand this principle best?"

"Furthermore, I only said I would go and take a look, I didn't say that it could definitely be cured."

Yes, just going to take a look.

"good!"

"Then let's go take a look! Tomorrow morning, I'll prepare the carriage, and we'll go to the county government office together!"

Zhao Zian turned and walked towards the stairs.

"Get some rest, Manager Su."

……

The courtyard gate was ajar.

Zhao Zian pushed open the courtyard gate.

My sister-in-law is bringing the last dish to the table.

"You're back?"

"Go wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon."

"Thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law," Zhao Zian replied.

He went inside.

Li Suqin served the rice.

"Try these! I specially went to the East Market to buy these free-range eggs today, they're so delicious!"

Zhao Zian picked up an egg with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

"tasty."

Li Suqin's eyes smiled like crescent moons.

"Sister-in-law, are you getting used to it today?" Zhao Zian asked.

"I'm used to it! How could I not be used to it!"

Li Suqin was overjoyed.

"The town is so much better than our village! The roads are smooth, and you can buy anything on the street! I bought a few feet of cloth today, and I'm planning to make you a new dress."

"Back in the village, you had to wait for market days to buy even small items like needles and thread. Now it's so much better; it's just a short walk from my doorstep. It's so convenient!"