Complete one practice method every day

The unpleasant meeting between Chen Yue and Li Lie, and the fact that he only got the secret manual, were spread by someone and quickly rippled through Huichuntang.

First, the guards whispered among themselves while drinking and on duty, their words filled with criticism of Chen Yue's lack of tact. Then, the news spread like wildfire, reaching the ears of the apprentices in the backyard and the rooms of the stewards.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lin frowned slightly.

On this day, Chen Lin specially summoned Chen Yue to his quiet room where he handled affairs when Chen Yue went to the front hall to hand over the pills.

"sit."

Chen Lin pointed to the chair next to him, and after Chen Yue sat down, he carefully chose his tone and said, "Chen Yue, I heard that you went to Li Lie to learn the Yue Flipping Technique, and it caused some unpleasantness?"

Chen Yue's face showed just the right amount of helplessness: "Reporting to Steward Chen, it must be that Chief Li had other important matters to attend to, so I was unable to get his personal guidance. I only obtained the manual and intend to study it on my own."

Chen Lin glanced at him and sighed, "You are now an alchemist, your status is different. Li Lie... is a bit arrogant. If you really want to learn the Flipping Mountain Technique, I can arrange for other gentle guards to guide you."

"Thank you, Steward. No need for now. I'll figure it out myself first," Chen Yue said with a smile.

A moment later, Chen Yue returned to the alchemy room. Lin Quan saw Chen Yue and waved to him, and Chen Yue quickly went over.

"I heard you had a bit of a conflict with Li Lie?" Lin Quan said with a smile.

"There are some."

Lin Quan looked at Chen Yue, seemingly feeling it necessary to give Chen Yue some pointers.

"In this pharmacy, we alchemists have a fairly good status, but the guards are actually a separate, relatively independent system."

Lin Quan lowered his voice: "Guards are crucial to the safety of the pharmacy, and loyalty and reliability are paramount. Especially someone like Li Lie, a martial artist at the Body Refinement Realm, is considered quite skilled in Youlin County and is a vital asset for the pharmacy."

His own level of cultivation was his greatest asset in securing a living at the pharmacy. Therefore, he neither needed nor would he fawn over us like ordinary shop assistants, because we couldn't offer him any benefits.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue nodded.

Lin Quan looked at Chen Yue and said earnestly, "He probably sees that you are young and have suddenly become famous, so he wants to take advantage of you. Maybe he wants to get more benefits, or maybe he just doesn't like you."

But I didn't expect you to be so stubborn and not go along with his wishes. Let's leave it at that and avoid further conflict. Focus on refining your pills; that's more important than anything else.

Chen Yue understood the protectiveness and admonition in Lin Quan's words and nodded: "I understand. I will focus on alchemy and will not cause trouble."

Chen Yue had no intention of causing trouble, but he was afraid that someone might not let things pass so easily.

Inside a small tavern in the west of the city, smoke filled the air and voices mingled. Li Lie was sitting around a table with several guards, on which were laid out several small dishes and two jars of murky local wine.

Li Lie tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of wine, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat. He slammed the wine bowl heavily on the table with a dull thud, drawing the attention of diners at several nearby tables, who quickly turned away.

"Bah! A kid who hasn't even grown his first beard yet, thinking he's something special just because he can refine a couple of batches of pills?"

Li Lie, his face flushed with the effects of alcohol, scoffed, "Do you think the 'Mountain-Turning Technique' is so easy to master? Without my personal instruction and the necessary medicinal broth to strengthen your muscles and bones, you think you can master it just by reading a tattered book?"

He glanced around at the guards at his table, his face revealing undisguised malice: "If he were to ask you for advice, you know what to do, right?"

The guards quickly put on a smiling face and said they would absolutely not teach Chen Yue how to practice the Flipping Mountain Technique.

Chen Yue's rise was so rapid that it dazzled them, and even made them somewhat unable to accept it. From an apprentice whom they could mock at will, to an alchemist whom they had to treat with respect... this leap in status brought about a subtle psychological imbalance.

Li Lie's denigration and curses against Chen Yue, to some extent, also vented their unspoken jealousy and resentment; they were happy to see Chen Yue fall.

Chen Yue ignored all the rumors and sarcasm from the outside world and continued to live at his own pace.

The newly acquired Mountain Collapse Technique was quite wondrous. As Chen Yue deepened his cultivation, what he felt first was not a significant leap in his cultivation level, but an increase in the power of his flesh and blood!

This increase in power is different from the overall physical enhancement brought about by breaking through to the Skin Refining Realm; it is more concentrated.

When Chen Yue circulated the Mountain Collapse Technique, he could clearly feel that the muscles and tendons in his arms, waist, abdomen, legs and other power-generating parts were infused with more resilient energy.

"So, a good cultivation technique not only increases the speed of cultivation, but also has its own unique characteristics..." Chen Yue had a deeper understanding of the importance of cultivation techniques.

Mastering the Iron Mountain Fist only laid a solid foundation, while the Collapsing Mountain Technique unlocked his power traits on that foundation. If he could acquire other good techniques, perhaps he could unlock even more unique traits.

However, the only martial arts techniques that Huichuntang could provide him were Iron Mountain Fist and Mountain-Turning Technique.

To acquire more and stronger techniques, Chen Yue must find another way.

While Chen Yue was focused on his cultivation and oblivious to the world around him, the atmosphere in Youlin County began to change.

Outside the city gate, a group of emaciated and pale-faced disaster victims had gathered.

They came with their families, their eyes numb and desperate, having fled from several neighboring counties that had suffered from war and drought.

Recently, things have been quite unsettled in various places. I've heard that several places have seen rebellions, causing widespread chaos and displacement of people.

The news of the gathering of disaster victims cast a shadow over the residents of Youlin County, bringing a sense of unease.

The county government quickly ordered the city gates to be closed and strictly prohibited disaster victims from entering in order to prevent unrest.

However, perhaps in an effort to appease the people, the county government also ordered the major families and wealthy households in the city to go out of the city in batches to distribute porridge, in order to relieve the immediate needs of the disaster victims and prevent them from taking risks and storming the city gates.

The Chen family behind Huichuntang, as a prominent family in Youlin County, naturally needed to send some people out of the city to distribute porridge. This task didn't fall to an alchemist like Chen Yue, so guards and apprentices were sent instead.

However, that afternoon, manager Chen Lin led a woman to the people in the pharmacy.

Chen Lin clapped his hands, signaling the busy apprentices, shop assistants, guards, and alchemists to gather around.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily fell on the woman next to Chen Lin.

She looked to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, wearing a simple, moon-white dress. The fabric wasn't particularly luxurious, but the cut was flattering and accentuated her tall and slender figure.

His eyes were particularly special; they were phoenix eyes with slightly upturned corners.

"Gentlemen,"

Chen Lin cleared his throat, his voice carrying clearly throughout the front hall, "This is Chen Yuqing, Steward Chen. From today onwards, she will replace Steward Tu and be responsible for managing all matters in the backyard of the pharmacy. From now on, all matters in the backyard must be reported to Steward Chen Yuqing."

These words shocked everyone in the room.

To replace Tu Shan? Where did Steward Tu go?