I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Xiao Bing didn't linger on the topic, as if it were just something he mentioned casually.

He chatted for a few more minutes, then got up to take his leave.

The pharmacy returned to its quiet state.

Xu Zhou pondered for a long time, and finally opened the classic text again to continue studying the medicine classic.

The Zhuang family's schemes against the pharmacy, along with Xiao Bing's clandestine actions, may affect many people at Baicaotang, and even implicate the interests of some inner disciples.

But for him, nothing was more important than the medicine in front of him.

He had run the pharmacy for years and never embezzled funds for himself. Even if he lost his job now, it would only mean a slight decrease in his salary.

His ambition lay elsewhere; he only wished to continue studying the classics of medicine.

By evening.

Xu Zhou sensed something again and looked up to see Ke Yanfeng walking into the pharmacy.

"Senior Brother Ke?"

He closed the book and walked out, somewhat surprised: "Senior brother, what brings you here?"

Ke Yanfeng's tone remained cold and hard, but a barely suppressed bluish tinge appeared in his eyes: "It's a minor issue, nothing serious."

He glanced around the pharmacy, seeing that it looked exactly the same as always, and asked, "Has anyone come today?"

"have."

Xu Zhou recounted everything that had happened during the day without hiding anything.

The threat to Zhuang Siyan was not exaggerated, and Xiao Bing's subsequent casual conversation was also told to the other party in detail.

Ke Yanfeng remained silent throughout, and when he heard Xiao Bing appear and express her intention to befriend him, he also showed little emotion.

After hearing all this, he hummed in response and fell silent for a moment.

After a long silence, he sighed softly and said, "Junior brother, don't worry about this pharmacy for now."

Xu Zhou nodded helplessly. He had known that this would be the most likely outcome, but when he finally let go, he couldn't help but feel a little unwilling.

He suppressed his emotions and asked, "This disciple has only lost a job at the pharmacy, but how much has it affected you, Senior Brother?"

Ke Yanfeng snorted coldly: "It's just a trivial matter. Someone is just making a fuss about it. It won't hurt me."

Even so, he seemed to have his unpleasant feelings brought up, pacing back and forth in the pharmacy, unable to calm down for a while.

A moment later, he suddenly looked at Xu Zhou: "Junior Brother Xu, you entered the hall in the same year as Xiao Bing. Do you know anything about him?"

Xu Zhou pondered for a while before carefully replying, "I don't know much about him, only that his uncle holds a prominent position within the inner sect."

What's Xiao Bing's personality like? Just give your opinion.

Xu Zhou thought for a moment and said that Xiao Bing was much more tactful and approachable than before, and should be a good person at making friends.

It sounds like a compliment.

But Ke Yanfeng couldn't help but sneer after listening to his story.

"You're young and naive, spending all your time in the pharmacy surrounded by books, never seeing the harsh realities of the outside world. Do you really think Xiao Bing is some kind of good person?"

Xu Zhou looked surprised: "What does Senior Brother think of him?"

Ke Yanfeng hesitated for a few moments, then said, "This man's uncle is quite successful in the path of immortality, ranking among the top disciples in the inner sect. I heard that he intends to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pills refined by the sect, and is currently trying to build connections everywhere."

"Xiao Bing hasn't contacted you for the past few years, but now he's suddenly coming to help you. He's not here for you, he's here for me."

Xu Zhou frowned: "What good does this do him?"

"benefit?"

Ke Yanfeng snorted and shook his head, saying, "You'd better not ask too much about this. In short, the one surnamed Zhuang has no good intentions, and the one surnamed Xiao has even more ulterior motives."

The Hundred Herbs Hall has been rife with problems in recent years, largely due to the meddling of these people. It's better for you to focus on alchemy rather than learning about such things.

Xu Zhou hummed in agreement. He hadn't intended to delve into these trivial matters anyway, and hearing this made him feel even more at ease.

"but."

Ke Yanfeng continued, "After you relinquished your position in the pharmacy, you had nowhere to go. If you were to go to the library now, working alongside those newly arrived young apprentices, I'm afraid you wouldn't fit in."

I ask you, would you be interested in becoming my apprentice, assisting me in alchemy?

Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback.

He joined the Hundred Herbs Hall and has since thoroughly studied numerous medical texts, yet he has never personally engaged in any alchemy-related work. Although he doesn't care about this, given his surroundings, he always harbors a slight anticipation for alchemy.

I thought I would have to wait a few more years until the stewards approved before I could start refining pills, but things changed unexpectedly at this critical moment.

He was overjoyed and immediately replied, "This disciple is willing!"

"it is good."

Ke Yanfeng didn't beat around the bush: "In that case, you should hand over your position in the pharmacy later and come help me in my alchemy room tomorrow."

Let me be clear from the start: I'm extremely strict about the alchemy process, and my temper... isn't exactly good either. But those are things I can't change. When it comes to actually refining pills, I won't be lenient or accommodating towards you.

"This disciple understands," Xu Zhou replied without hesitation.

"That's good."

Ke Yanfeng said no more, only that he should complete the handover work tomorrow and then come to his alchemy room.

...

The next morning, Xu Zhou handed over all the affairs of the pharmacy.

It wasn't that he was in a hurry to refine pills, but rather that Zhuang Siyan had arrived in a rush.

Master Zhuang was so overjoyed last night upon learning that Ke Yanfeng was willing to resign from his position at the pharmacy that he couldn't sleep a wink. He rushed over with his men at the crack of dawn, fearing that things might change if he was too late.

Xu Zhou explained the account book and the recent details of the pharmacy item by item.

The accounts were clear, the medicinal materials were correct, and even Zhuang Siyan couldn't find any fault with them.

"Finished the investigation?"

Ke Yanfeng, who had been waiting impatiently, finally spoke his first words of the day: "If everything is in order, from now on, the pharmacy will be in your hands."

Don't blame me if anything goes wrong in the future.

"Don't worry, don't worry."

Zhuang Siyan knew the other party was in a bad mood and didn't dare to anger his senior brother, so he immediately smiled and said, "The inspection is complete today, and there are no problems with the pharmacy. Senior brother handed the pharmacy over to me in front of everyone, so I guarantee that it won't implicate you in the future."

"snort."

Ke Yanfeng didn't say much to him, only glanced at Xu Zhou, and then quickly left.

After they left, Zhuang Siyan's smile turned into a smug one: "They were quite sensible, saving me a lot of trouble."

He casually flipped through the account books and tossed them aside: "It's just a pharmacy, how could I be inferior to an apprentice?"

...

By the time Xu Zhou arrived at Keyan Peak's alchemy room, it was nearly dusk.

Upon entering the alchemy room, he noticed a large, roughly legged alchemy furnace in the center of the room, about half a person's height, with its lower walls charred black. Next to it were several wooden tables, on which were placed tools such as balances and mortars, each bearing different signs of wear.

The air was filled with the familiar scent of herbs, along with a lingering aroma of roasting.

The room was empty; there was no one else there.

Xu Zhou was somewhat puzzled by this: The alchemy room of Baicaotang is usually used by one alchemist, and assisted by several apprentices or low-level alchemists.

Ke Yanfeng seemed to sense his doubt and said coldly, "I'm quite strict with people, and I can't keep my subordinates for long."

Hearing him speak so bluntly, Xu Zhou didn't know how to respond.

However, Ke Yanfeng didn't elaborate further. He continued, "That guy surnamed Zhuang has wasted too much time. I need you to familiarize yourself with all the tools here before tonight."

I hope you can grasp the key points quickly. I will take a break for the next two months to focus on teaching you, so that you can get started quickly.

But let me make this clear: I'll be resuming alchemy in two months. If you can't help then, don't stay here; go back to your studies for a few more years.

Xu Zhou's heart tightened, and he could only lower his head and agree.

...

Xu Zhou knew how strict Senior Brother Ke was when he first entered the pharmacy several years ago.

Even with his mastery of the pharmacopoeia, it took him three months to barely manage the pharmacy. In the following two or three years, it was frequently subjected to surprise inspections, which shows how high Brother Ke's standards were.

Inside the alchemy room, Senior Brother Ke went even further.

The placement of tools and the processing of medicinal herbs require extreme precision and strictness. Once, Xu Zhou simply placed the mortar and pestle slightly off-center, and Senior Brother Ke demanded that he rearrange the entire medicine table.

There were even more detailed requirements, which even Xu Zhou couldn't remember.

But this was his only chance to experience alchemy in all these years. If he missed this opportunity, he didn't know how long he would have to wait before he could truly enter the alchemy room and become an alchemist.

Even if he could extend his lifespan through learning, it wouldn't be infinite. Now that the opportunity is in his hands, he absolutely cannot let it slip away.

Xu Zhou gritted his teeth and persevered.

The two-month period has passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning, Ke Yanfeng stood before the alchemy furnace and coldly uttered only two words to Xu Zhou:

"Open the furnace."