Starting as a Talisman Master

Shen Yanqiu suddenly frowned, but finally spoke.

"What kind of pills do you want to buy?"

He looked at Lu Chi, his eyes showing a rare hint of genuine doubt.

From the moment Lu Chi entered, he went straight to the alchemy counter and looked at each bottle.

They look at those that nourish qi, those that gently tonify, those that regulate the pulse, and even those that improve complexion.

He looked around for a long time without asking the price or checking the condition, which puzzled him.

Lu Chi was secretly pleased, but he only smiled and said, "I'm just looking around."

Shen Yanqiu glanced at him, clearly still not believing him, but too lazy to investigate further, and coldly said: "If you've seen enough, let's get down to business. There are other people waiting."

"If you think that being able to draw a few talismans means you have some talent, and then you want to casually try your hand at alchemy, then you're just dreaming. Do you think you can deduce the formula after just a few glances at a pill?"

Lu Chi chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping over the counter before he asked, "Do you have Qi-replenishing ginseng? Give me a few portions of reliable quality. And also, get me a bottle of Qi-stabilizing pills and let me check the price."

Ginseng is a common spiritual plant in the genus Gynostemma pentaphyllum. It can be combined with Qinghe grass to make Qi-nourishing pills.

The Guyuan Pill is mainly for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the vital energy, making it suitable for cultivators in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

He had already seen most of the pills on the counter at Yangyuanju through the [Formula Recognition] book, so there was no point in keeping them any longer. He decided to buy what he needed and go back as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, none of the pills displayed at Yangyuan Residence were second-tier spiritual pills.

Even the pills that are beneficial to the later stages of Qi Refining only number one or two.

As for the legendary Foundation Establishment Pill, it's even harder to find.

This item is likely a precious resource for Foundation Establishment families, and it is mostly circulated within the family rather than easily released to outsiders.

Shen Yanqiu's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he didn't ask any further questions. He turned around and took out several sealed packets of spiritual plants from the back cabinet, and then took out a blue-patterned jade bottle and placed it on the cabinet.

The Qi-replenishing ginseng only costs a few spirit stones, while the Qi-stabilizing pill requires thirty, which is ten times the price of the Qi-nourishing pill that Lu Chi bought before.

The cost of the spiritual materials needed for the Qi-Strengthening Pill is only a few spirit stones. Alchemy is indeed a highly profitable business...

Lu Chi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and handed over the spirit stones.

He had previously obtained 120 spirit stones from Qin Su Niang, and nearly 100 more from the stolen storage bag.

Moving house cost fifty spirit stones, and now, after buying these items, I still have one hundred and fifty spirit stones left.

This amount of wealth is not considered meager among the independent cultivators in the market, but Lu Chi has no intention of hoarding more pills.

He was planning to switch to cultivating new techniques, and the spiritual items he had purchased would only be enough to support him for a while.

Shen Yanqiu worked swiftly and quickly packed everything up, but couldn't resist teasing him, "You're quite generous. It seems you've certainly got more money after moving into the heart of the market."

Lu Chi accepted the jade bottle and the package of spiritual plants, and said with a smile, "I have to keep up with Brother Shen's vision, otherwise I won't be able to give a present when I come to his wedding next time."

Shen Yanqiu snorted coldly, but the corner of her lips curled slightly.

……

……

When I returned home, it was already dark.

Lu Chi did not delay any longer, closed the door, and went straight into the alchemy room.

"I already have Green Grass and Qi-replenishing Ginseng, so I'll use them to test the Qi-Nourishing Pill."

"The Qi Nourishing Pill is a first-tier spiritual pill, not as crude as the Bigu Pill. Now that I've unlocked the [Alchemist] level, I'll see what quality this batch will produce."

The Qingchu Incense Burner was placed on the table, its body gleaming with a warm, bluish light under the lamp.

The spiritual materials on the table had been sorted out, with Qi-tonifying ginseng and green grass placed side by side, and several spare auxiliary materials placed next to them.

The rest of the process simply involves repeatedly opening and closing the furnace.

Start the fire, warm the furnace, add the medicine, control the fire, reduce the liquid, and solidify the elixir.

Things didn't go smoothly. The first two times the heat was slightly off, the medicine was ruined on the spot, and only burnt residue remained at the bottom of the furnace.

Another batch was almost finished; the pills had barely taken shape when their medicinal power dissipated, wasting a portion of spiritual materials.

Don't waste it again, this furnace is full of spirit stones...

Trying again, Lu Chi silently recited a phrase in his mind, sat cross-legged in front of the Qingchu Furnace, raised his hand to lift the lid, and a medicinal fragrance steadily wafted out.

Several pills lay quietly at the bottom of the furnace. Although their color was not perfectly round and bright, they had already taken shape, with solid bodies and restrained medicinal properties.

The Qi-Nourishing Pill is complete!

[Successfully refined one batch of Tier 1 Qi Nourishing Pills, Alchemist profession experience +1]

The way for an alchemist to increase their experience lies in refining pills in the furnace, which is not difficult to understand.

Lu Chi glanced at the panel prompts, then reached out and took out a pill, examining it closely in his palm. His brows finally relaxed a little.

The joy after the pill was completed was mixed with a strange and inexplicable feeling.

This [Mysterious Fire] is indeed somewhat useful for alchemy.

The fire became more responsive and easier to control. Several times when the fire in the furnace almost went astray, it was this fire that brought it back on track. To say that it was of no benefit would be nonsense.

But it's not necessarily that big.

At least this batch will succeed, largely thanks to [Listening to Plants] observing the medicinal properties and the mastery of the heat achieved after several failed attempts.

It's inevitable that people will feel somewhat disappointed.

Lu Chi put the pill into the jade bottle, his gaze falling on the slag by the furnace, but his expression quickly calmed down.

In the description of [Mysterious Fire], the most important thing is never "initial fire", but "can devour fire to increase the origin". Perhaps this thing is just the foundation at present.

Only after it has truly swallowed the unclaimed fire and the embers of the earth fire will its unusual nature become apparent.

"Now I've reached the threshold of becoming an alchemist, but I still don't have many pills to refine. I need to slowly collect medicinal herbs and practice to fully digest the pill formulas I have."

"We've used up all the Qi-tonifying ginseng and green grass. We'll wait a few days until another batch grows before we start refining the Qi-nourishing pills."

With his mind made up, Lu Chi took the remaining section of the Qi-tonifying ginseng root and went to the backyard. He buried the root in the soil, gently pressed it down with his fingertips, and then used his spiritual power to regulate the soil veins.

Lu Chi flicked his finger, and the spiritual liquid disappeared into the soil.

A moment later, the soil surface swelled slightly, and a tender bud pushed through the damp soil, trembling as it poked its head out. The leaves were still pale, but they already carried a hint of life.

Lu Chi looked at the new green shoots and felt a slight sense of relief.

The roots of the Qi-tonifying ginseng are not particularly delicate. As long as they are properly cared for, they can be harvested again after some time.

He stood in the backyard for a while longer, making sure the small spiritual field was unharmed, before turning back to the talisman table in the courtyard.

The fire in the alchemy furnace had just been extinguished when the lamp on the talisman table was lit again.

Lu Chi rolled up his sleeves, sat down, and began grinding ink and dipping his brush.

During this period, he did devote more attention to spiritual plants and alchemy, but he never neglected his proper craft of drawing talismans, drawing several every day.

Over time, several more high-grade talismans were added, and nearly ten more mid-grade talismans were replenished, gradually filling the talisman box on the desk.

At this rate, the level of talisman masters will probably rise again soon.

He drew the Ice Arrow Talisman, Spirit Gathering Talisman, and Golden Light Talisman the most frequently, and his proficiency in them was gradually approaching mastery.

Before I knew it, the morning light had already begun to appear outside the window.

Suddenly a voice came from outside the courtyard: "Is the fellow Daoist who recently moved into this house here? I am Han Jingxing, and I live nearby. I heard that this place has changed hands, so I came to make an appointment."

A guest arrived; it was a neighbor.

Lu Chi put the alchemy furnace, pills, and talismans into his storage bag, then activated the formation before slowly stepping out, thinking to himself:

The visitor's surname is Han... Could he be related to the Han family?

He pushed open the door and stepped out, where he saw a young man standing below the steps. The young man was tall and slender with clear features. His clothes were neat and tidy, and his aura was restrained yet powerful, clearly indicating that he had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Judging by his age, he's a few years older than me, yet he's already two levels above me. His surname is Han, and with such a foundation, he most likely comes from the Han family…

Lu Chi's mind raced, but a smile remained on his face. Since the other party had taken the initiative to come, he should naturally be courteous.

Upon seeing him appear, the young man smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "My name is Han Jingxing, and I live nearby. I saw people coming and going from this house a few days ago, and I was wondering who they were."

"Yesterday, the patrolman mentioned that this place had a new owner, so I couldn't resist coming over to bother you."

Lu Chi returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "I am Lu Chi. I am new to this place and have not yet paid my respects. I have let Fellow Daoist Han go ahead."

Han Jingxing waved his hand and smiled: "The heart of the market is quiet, and there aren't many people living there. You're bound to run into each other eventually. It's more reassuring to have someone to look after you."

"Furthermore, Fellow Daoist Lu is still young, yet he has managed to settle here peacefully, which suggests he possesses extraordinary abilities. To be able to establish oneself in such a place is no feat for an ordinary cultivator, and I naturally wish to make his acquaintance with him."

He spoke casually, but his eyes were secretly observing.

Lu Chi was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, dressed simply, and had nothing particularly remarkable about him, yet he was able to own a house here. Han Jingxing couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

Lu Chi remained composed and slightly opened the door: "My humble abode is simple; if Fellow Daoist Han doesn't mind, would you please come in and have a seat?"

Han Jingxing nodded: "I'm sorry to have bothered you, Fellow Daoist Lu."

The two went inside.

Lu Chi led him to the front hall to sit down. The hall was simply furnished with neatly arranged tables and chairs.

The door leading to the backyard was ajar, the energy contained, and not a trace of spiritual plant energy leaked out.

Han Jingxing's gaze swept across the hall, but he didn't ask any further questions.

"Would Fellow Daoist Han like to have a drink?" Lu Chi asked.

"I can drink, I can drink. In the past, when I went out with the elders of the clan, if there was nothing to do at night, I would always warm up a pot of wine. Wine is not about getting drunk, but about relieving stress. Occasionally having a few cups does not hinder my spiritual practice; on the contrary, it makes me feel good."

This Han Jingxing is quite talkative.

Lu Chi remained expressionless as he took out a flask of spirit wine from his storage bag.

"Excellent wine!"

Han Jingxing raised his cup, sniffed it lightly, took a sip, then put the cup down and looked at Lu Chi, his tone unhurried: "Fellow Daoist Lu is not very old, yet he has managed to settle here peacefully; he must have some background. May I ask who his master is?"

Lu Chi remained calm and said, "I come from a humble background and have some knowledge of talismans. I work in a talisman shop in the market to make a living."

Upon hearing this, Han Jingxing's eyes showed a hint of understanding. He cupped his hands and said, "So it is Master Lu in person. I was disrespectful. I thought Brother Lu was someone of extraordinary background, but I never expected that you would be the one who personally creates talismans."

"The art of talismans is not easy. To be able to draw a low-grade talisman is already a skill; to be able to consistently draw a mid-grade one is even more remarkable. If fate allows in the future, I may be able to ask Brother Lu for a few talismans, so that the good stuff doesn't go to outsiders."

The implication was clear: he was considered a low- or mid-grade talisman master.

Lu Chi smiled and replied, "Fellow Daoist Han thinks highly of me, I will certainly do my best."

With his current abilities, calling him a top-grade talisman master wouldn't be too difficult, but boasting about it at our first meeting would be pointless.