Complete one practice method every day

"What a brilliant technique, the Fleeting Glimpse Technique!"

A moment later, Chen Yue stopped and stood up, his eyes full of joy.

With this movement technique at his disposal, he was much more confident in dodging and maneuvering in battle or in escaping far away in case of an emergency. His overall combat strength was once again enhanced by this new movement technique!

Chen Yue touched the black spot on his chest. Under the continuous effect of the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the increasingly powerful flow of his own blood and qi, he could hardly feel anything unusual. The color was as light as ink, as if it would disappear completely at any moment.

The following day, in the alchemy courtyard, Chen Yue's cultivation schedule was once again filled to the brim with the Poison Avoidance Pill and the Fleeting Shadow Technique.

But Chen Yue didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, he enjoyed it immensely. This certainty that his efforts would be rewarded brought him an unprecedented sense of security in this chaotic world.

The afternoon sun was slanting slightly. He had just finished a round of Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield cultivation, and his qi and blood were slowly calming down in his body according to the strange vibration method. Just as he was about to take a moment to adjust his breathing and continue studying the formula for the Poison Avoidance Pill, a light knocking sound came from the courtyard gate.

Chen Yue's brows twitched slightly; at this time, there were few visitors. He stood up, dusted off the dust on his robes, and walked over to open the courtyard gate.

Two people stood outside the door. Chen Yuqing was still dressed in a simple, moon-white dress, her black hair adorned with a wooden hairpin. Xiao Cui stood half a step behind Chen Yuqing, her chin slightly raised, her eyes filled with her usual scrutiny and arrogance.

"Does Master Chen not seem to welcome me?" Chen Yuqing's gaze fell on Chen Yue's face.

"Manager Chen is too kind. Please come in." Chen Yue stepped aside and let the two into the courtyard.

Chen Yuqing stepped inside, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard. The courtyard was clean and tidy, the air filled with the aroma of cooking mixed with various medicinal scents, and everything seemed well-ordered.

Her gaze finally settled on Chen Yue, and she got straight to the point: "There's something I need to discuss with Master Chen."

"Manager Chen, please give your instructions." Chen Yue stood with his hands at his sides.

Chen Yuqing didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Because of what happened some time ago, the supply of internal medicine pills is particularly tight right now. Master Lin is getting old and also has to take care of other pills. Therefore, I would like to ask Alchemist Chen to refine more Blood Activating Pills every day."

How about 30 pills a day for now?

Thirty pills daily?

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Manager Chen, it's not that I'm shirking my responsibility. I'm already doing my best with twenty Blood-Activating Pills a day. Thirty... that's really beyond my capabilities, and I'm afraid I won't be able to finish it."

"Master Chen is mistaken."

Seeing Chen Yue's refusal, the maid Xiao Cui immediately stepped forward, "Miss knows that alchemy is hard work, but the pharmacy is currently going through a difficult time. Once we get through this difficult period, things will naturally return to normal. I hope that Alchemist Chen will prioritize the overall situation and work together with the pharmacy."

Chen Yuqing remained silent, simply looking calmly at Chen Yue. Clearly, Xiao Cui's meaning was her stance. This wasn't a discussion, but a directive with explicit demands.

Chen Yue slowly shook his head. "Miss Xiao Cui, alchemy is not like ordinary labor. Once your mind and spirit are exhausted, even forcing you will be useless. Twenty pills is already the limit. If you force yourself to refine them, it will be in vain."

When Xiao Cui saw Chen Yue's clear refusal again, the amiable expression on her face immediately became somewhat unsettling.

She glanced at her young mistress and saw that Chen Yuqing's brows were slightly furrowed and her eyes showed displeasure. Her courage immediately grew, and her voice suddenly rose several decibels:

"Master Chen, the young lady came personally to speak with you, trying to reason with you in a kind manner! Yet you keep making excuses! As an alchemist in the pharmacy, you enjoy the pharmacy's patronage; you should naturally share the pharmacy's burdens!"

This was almost a direct reprimand and command.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue suddenly chuckled softly. The laughter wasn't loud, but it sounded somewhat abrupt in the quiet courtyard. He looked up, his gaze passing over Xiao Cui's angry face and landing directly on Chen Yuqing's face:

"Oh? So it's not a discussion, it's a must-do... If I really can't do it, is Manager Chen planning to deduct my monthly allowance? Or...?"

Chen Yue paused, his voice clear and slow, "You want me to leave Huichuntang?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui's angry expression froze instantly, seemingly not expecting Chen Yue to ask such a direct question.

Chen Yuqing, who had been silent all along, suddenly frowned, and for the first time, a clear look of surprise and anger flashed across his calm phoenix eyes.

She truly hadn't expected Chen Yue to dare speak like that!

How dare a young alchemist, who rose from apprenticeship to power by sheer luck, question her decision to her face and even implied that he would leave?

"Chen Yue!"

Chen Yuqing's voice turned cold. "Huichuntang has nurtured you over the years, taught you skills, and given you a foothold. Now that the pharmacy needs you, is this how you repay us?"

"Cultivation?"

Chen Yue's smile faded, his expression turned serious, and he looked directly at Chen Yuqing. "Manager Chen, the skills that Huichuntang has been cultivating over the years are mainly in grinding and cutting herbs. As for alchemy..."

He pointed to the alchemy room behind him, "Have I ever wasted even a single penny of the pharmacy's resources on the technique of refining Blood-Activating Pills?"

"You! Chen Yue, how dare you!" Xiao Cui was so angry that her face turned pale, her chest heaved, and her finger pointing at Chen Yue was trembling slightly.

She usually followed Chen Yuqing and was the one who had the final say in the pharmacy. She was used to dealing with those timid apprentices. She had never seen a newly promoted alchemist dare to talk back like this.

Chen Yue's seemingly gentle but actually veiled resistance was particularly unbearable for her.

Chen Yuqing's chest heaved slightly; clearly, Chen Yue's uncompromising attitude had completely taken her by surprise.

After a moment of silence, Chen Yuqing suppressed his anger. "The medicine shop is indeed short of pills right now, and I'm not making things difficult for you for no reason. What do you want in return for refining more pills?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue's eyes flickered slightly.

"Manager Chen, the world outside is in chaos right now. Although I have some minor cultivation, I am ultimately lacking in the ability to protect myself. If I had one or two better cultivation manuals, I would try my best to refine a few more batches."

"A cultivation technique manual?"

Hearing this, Xiao Cui couldn't help but sneer again, her voice laced with sarcasm, "Now you realize the world outside is in chaos? The pharmacy arranged so many guards to patrol day and night to protect you, spending so much money and effort! Instead of being grateful, you're demanding cultivation techniques?"

Chen Yue frowned slightly. This time, he didn't look at Xiao Cui; his gaze remained fixed on Chen Yuqing's face. However, he raised his right hand and pointed at the chattering Xiao Cui beside him.

"Manager Chen, we need to discuss serious matters. Could you please ask her to shut up first?"

"Chen Yue, you—!"

Xiao Cui was struck dumb, her face instantly turning from white to red. She was so angry that she trembled all over and almost rushed forward, but was stopped by a sharp look from Chen Yuqing.

Chen Yuqing waved her hand, signaling Xiao Cui to step back. Her phoenix eyes looked intently at Chen Yue, as if she wanted to re-examine this young alchemist whom she had not previously taken seriously.

"You just said that you've exhausted all your energy refining pills and have no time for anything else. Now you're asking me for cultivation techniques... Chen Yue, don't you think your words are contradictory?"

"It is precisely because sitting in front of the alchemy furnace for a long time causes stagnation of qi and blood that it is even more necessary to practice martial arts to move one's hands and feet, so as to promote the flow of qi and blood. In this way, one's mind and spirit can recover faster." Chen Yue's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was calm.

Chen Yuqing's gaze lingered on Chen Yue's face for a moment, as if trying to discern something from his calm expression. But Chen Yue's eyes were clear and unwavering.

"The 'Mountain-Turning Technique' is already available for you to practice inside the pharmacy. It is a proper method for tempering the body and refining strength, and it is sufficient for you to cultivate," Chen Yuqing said slowly.

Chen Yue slowly shook his head: "I have read the Flipping Mountain Technique, but its method is not quite compatible with my own. Forcing myself to practice it would probably be counterproductive."

Xiao Cui listened from the side, wanting to interrupt several times to mock Chen Yue for being ambitious and ungrateful, but she secretly noticed that although her young mistress's face was calm, her eyes were even more profound than before.

She dared not provoke him at this moment, so she could only swallow back all the words in her mouth. Her face was slightly flushed with anger and resentment, and she twisted the hem of her clothes tightly with her fingers, hoping that her mistress would resolutely reject this arrogant young man.