Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Three Times the Lifespan

Chapter 44 Genius Alchemist

"No wonder it's a gathering place for artisans," Yang Changsheng thought to himself, a hint of envy barely perceptible in his eyes.

It's not easy for independent cultivators. Being able to rent a courtyard in such a spiritually rich and safe area is itself a symbol of status and proof of wealth.

Although he has now mastered the craft of a puppeteer, the profit from each Xuan Tie woodcutter, after deducting costs, is only a dozen or so spirit stones. Coupled with his fixed but not very generous salary as a mid-level fisherman, he still cannot afford the rent for such a courtyard.

"Cultivation level is the most important thing. The puppetry method can only be considered an ordinary source of income and a means of protection at present. We should steadily improve the breeding of small dragonfish... accumulate resources to improve cultivation level, and there will always be opportunities in the future."

He silently suppressed his longing for a peaceful little courtyard and turned his gaze to a familiar spot deep in the alley.

That was Su Wanqing's residence.

Since that mutual aid meeting two years ago, when Su Wanqing successfully advanced to a first-grade low-level alchemist, she decisively shifted her focus from her status as a mid-level fisherman in the Lu family to alchemy cultivation.

Unlike Yang Changsheng, Wang Ergou, and others, she did not enter Biyue Lake through a 20-year contract introduced by an elder of the Lu family, and thus had much more freedom in terms of status.

With her status and income as an alchemist, she was fully capable of renting this not-too-large but quiet and elegant courtyard in Bi Chao Lane to focus on studying alchemy.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and the jade plaque inlaid on the lintel emitted a soft glow, clearly displaying two words: "Welcoming Guests".

There were no signs indicating that people were going out or were in seclusion.

Yang Changsheng adjusted his robe, which was made of soft silk and represented his status as a mid-level fisherman.

While not as defensively powerful as a battle robe, it is lightweight, waterproof, and has a built-in dust-repellent effect, making it quite practical in the slightly damp waters of the Azure Lake.

Most importantly, it doesn't cost spirit stones, and its status is neither too high nor too low, just right.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door knocker with a light touch.

"Tap, tap, tap!"

The sound of the door knocker striking echoed through the quiet alley.

A moment later, the protective light barrier surrounding the courtyard gate rippled outwards like waves, silently receding to both sides and revealing a gap.

Yang Changsheng pushed open the door and entered.

The scenery in the courtyard is as breathtaking as ever.

The moment you step inside, the refreshing fragrance of herbs and flowers fills the air, soothing and delightful.

The courtyard was exquisitely laid out, with several carefully tended spiritual fields planted with herbs that Yang Changsheng couldn't name but were clearly of high quality. Their branches and leaves were lush and vibrant, exuding a rich vitality.

In the corner, there was a small ornamental pond where several silver-scaled fish with a hint of pale gold on their backs swam leisurely, stirring up shimmering water.

These are clearly not meant to be eaten, but rather to be kept as ornamental pets, which also reflects the taste and wealth of the owner of this place.

"It's so nice to have my own territory like this."

Yang Changsheng felt a surge of emotion once again, mixed with a hint of anticipation for the future.

He walked along the path toward the stone pavilion in the center.

On the stone table in the pavilion, a set of simple and elegant celadon teaware was steaming, and the aroma of the tea was the same refined fragrance that could be faintly smelled from outside the door.

A slender figure stepped out of the house and walked towards the stone pavilion.

The person who arrived was Su Wanqing.

She wore a perfectly tailored, snow-white fairy dress. The fabric was like clouds and mist, with a faint shimmering light. As she walked, the hem of the dress fluttered slightly, giving her an ethereal and otherworldly air.

Her waist-length, jet-black hair was not tied up, but cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, swaying gently with her steps.

Her graceful figure and exquisite curves, illuminated by the moonlight and the shimmering pearls in the pavilion, created an even more ethereal beauty.

She looked up and saw that her eyes were clear and bright, as if they contained starlight, her lips were naturally red, and her skin was as white as snow.

Her beauty is truly breathtaking, enough to leave anyone who sees her for the first time mesmerized.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, you've arrived."

Su Wanqing walked into the stone pavilion, nodded slightly to Yang Changsheng, and her crystal red lips curved into a polite and gentle smile.

This smile, compared to the cold and distant one when we first met a few years ago, now has a warmer, more familiar feel.

Yang Changsheng composed himself, cupped his hands in return, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Wanqing, I apologize for disturbing you."

His resolve was firm, and he would not be easily swayed by beauty. He was well aware of the female cultivator's talent and potential in alchemy, as well as the importance of this cooperative relationship.

"Please sit down and try this freshly picked Biluochun tea. Although it is not a rare tea, it has a unique and mellow flavor."

Su Wanqing held the teapot in her delicate hands and poured a cup of tea for Yang Changsheng. Her movements were graceful and pleasing to the eye.

Yang Changsheng sat down as instructed, picked up the teacup and took a small sip. Sure enough, it was slightly astringent at first, but then sweet, and a refreshing coolness went straight to his lungs, making his mind feel clear and serene.

"Excellent tea. I've come again to discuss the acquisition of discarded pills. I wonder how many you've accumulated this time, Fellow Daoist Wanqing?"

He exclaimed in admiration, put down his teacup, and got straight to the point.

A knowing glint flashed in Su Wanqing's eyes. She gracefully put down the teapot, took out three small jade bottles from a storage bag embroidered with cloud patterns at her waist, and gently placed them on the stone table.

"These are the results of the past three months: fifteen low-grade first-level 'Marrow Cleansing Pills' (unusable), eight low-grade first-level 'Rejuvenation Pills' (unusable), and... five mid-grade first-level 'Spirit Nourishing Pills' (unusable)."

Her voice was clear and ethereal, like heavenly music, as she listed all the categories inside.

Upon hearing the words "Spirit Nourishing Pill," Yang Changsheng's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

The Spirit Nourishing Pill is a elixir that nourishes the soul and assists in spiritual cultivation. It reaches the middle grade of the first rank. Its difficulty and cost of refining are far higher than those of the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the Rejuvenation Powder. Naturally, the value of its discarded pills also rises accordingly.

In the past two years, it seems that Su Wanqing's alchemy skills have improved since the mutual aid meeting, and she is about to reach the level of a mid-grade alchemist.

Such talent is top-notch. If he had been born into a family of cultivators, he might have joined a sect at an early age and achieved even greater success.

However, the world's underclass is never short of geniuses; they just lack the opportunity to rise and the platform to showcase their talents.

"Fellow Daoist Wanqing's alchemy skills have become increasingly refined; she has even attempted to refine the Spirit Nourishing Pill."

Yang Changsheng said sincerely, while his gaze fell on the jade bottle and he quickly began to make calculations in his mind.

Waste pills contain violent and chaotic medicinal power, and are heavily poisonous. They are harmful to ordinary cultivators and extremely troublesome to deal with. They can usually only be sold at a very low price to shops that specialize in collecting pill refining waste, or simply discarded.

But for Yang Changsheng, who possesses the mark of the ancient golden tree, this is a rare resource.

The immense vitality of ancient trees not only nourishes all things, but also has a remarkable effect on dissolving erysipelas and refining impure medicinal properties.

These discarded pills, after being processed by him, can be turned into treasures. Although they are far less than half the effect of normal pills, they are cheap and available in a stable quantity.

The transaction was a win-win situation for both parties; Su Wanqing reduced the losses in alchemy and increased her actual profits.

In return, he gained a source of cheap pills, which he could even sell directly for spirit stones.