The Danxia Chamber of Commerce’s Middle Grade Alchemists also recruited some attendants, specifically to select basic medicinal herbs. These attendants often had to undergo a long period of observation before being taught simple Alchemy techniques.
Besides the rarity and difficulty in acquiring Alchemy skills, there was another very important reason. To learn Alchemy, one needed a solid foundation and a clear understanding of the various materials from Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine and Mutant Beasts. This, however, was just the basics. In the practice of Alchemy, it was even more essential to grasp the control of fire, as well as the balance and interactions of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements among the main and auxiliary herbs and the catalysts. One small misstep could, at best, result in a ruined Elixir, and at worst, an explosion of the Pill Furnace. This level of expertise could not be reached without an extensive period of study.
Inside the room, Jiang Shu looked towards Wan Jingxing.
It had been several days since he arrived in Black Mountain County. Unlike the stable and peaceful Yongning County, this place was more chaotic. Some remote villages often saw second-order Mutant Beasts descending from the mountains to consume nearby villagers. Therefore, any civilian in Black Mountain County who had the means would gather in the county town and the surrounding county towns. Though there was oppression from large clans and gangs, it was still better than losing one’s life.
"Alchemy techniques?" At the door, Wan Jingxing paused mid-step, his eyebrows furrowing.
The young man before him being able to name the mission outright meant he must indeed be a Refining Internal Realm expert from the Danxia Chamber of Commerce. What use did such experts have for learning Alchemy? Many Alchemists start from a young age, distinguishing various herbs and understanding Yin and Yang as well as the Five Elements, spending an untold amount of time in the process. If someone truly had talent in the Martial Arts, it was better to practice Martial Arts directly. Once one became a truly high-level Martial Artist with the backing of the Chamber of Commerce, what Elixirs wouldn’t be available? For a Refining Internal Realm expert like him, he would need to consume Middle Grade Elixirs. What use would learning Alchemy serve him? To concoct Lower Grade Elixirs? Truly incomprehensible! Moreover, and more importantly, his mind was becoming increasingly disordered. His wife and children were being held and watched by the Qin Family’s retainers. If he were to teach Alchemy to this Refining Internal Realm expert, wouldn’t he have to wait at least another year or two? Could any accidents happen in the meantime? He didn’t want to gamble. Nor could he afford to!
"With your current status, the Middle Grade Martial Arts and Elixirs you are awarded by the clan are sure to be the lowest among the Middle Grade ones. Let alone being unattractive to the Refining Internal Realm retainers of the Danxia Chamber of Commerce, even the Jade Token retainers of the large clans might not take an interest in them. After all, for a Refining Internal Realm Martial Artist, items that are barely within reach hold little allure. Moreover, accepting your task means making an enemy of the Qin Family. Your wife and children are in the outer town. It’s true that if one moves quickly, the Qin Family might not find out immediately. However, there’s still a risk. For instance, how strong are the Qin Family’s retainers? And what if the fight attracts the attention of the authorities?"
"You’re clearly aware of these two points. Consider this: if I leave, how low are the chances of another Refining Internal Realm Martial Artist coming along?"
"What truly attracts me about you is your Alchemy skill. If you’re worried about the time, that’s fine. Give me one month. You teach me wholeheartedly for one month, and after that month, whether I have learned Alchemy or not, I will take action to rescue them."
"Don’t worry," Jiang Shu said, "I’m very experienced with killing."
Having said that, Jiang Shu didn’t speak again.
After arriving in Black Mountain County, he had specifically toured the outer city. Through the Chamber of Commerce’s secret network, he learned about the Jade Token retainer holding them.
Zuo Dechun. He was over fifty and possessed only one set of palm techniques, which could be considered Middle Grade Martial Arts. His entry into the Refining Internal Realm was purely a matter of luck, so he had only refined one organ over the past two to three years. Among the Qin Family’s Jade Token retainers, he was at the bottom.
This was completely understandable; after all, who would waste their time on such useless matters if they weren’t truly hopeless in the Martial Arts?
Wan Jingxing’s eyebrows were furrowed with indecision. Jiang Shu’s words kept echoing in his mind.
Indeed, he didn’t really have anything to offer to attract a Refining Internal Realm expert. Having one come along was already extremely fortunate. It was just a matter of one month. If, during this month, he could stabilize his emotions and be effective in Alchemy, then it was likely the Qin Family wouldn’t do anything to him or his family. Once the young man made his move, he’d leave the outer town with his wife and children. All in!
He nodded his head fiercely. Now, he had no other choice.
Jiang Shu shuttled between the Two Realms. In the Number Three Heaven and Earth Secret Realm of Guangyue Province, he began learning the rudiments of the Azure Dragon True Strength. After returning, he would be in Black Mountain County, reading the Alchemy notes Wan Jingxing wrote for him daily, starting from the basics of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.
It was only then that Jiang Shu understood why Wan Jingxing had to go to the state city. Compared to ordinary Martial Artists, Wan Jingxing did not possess enough talent in the Martial Arts. His realm was achieved entirely by consuming Elixirs. And the reason Middle Grade Alchemists held a status far superior to that of Lower Grade Alchemists, apart from their ability to concoct Middle Grade Elixirs, lay in another implicit threshold: nearly every Middle Grade Alchemist must also be a Refining Internal Realm Martial Artist! Lower Grade Elixirs could perhaps be managed with Inner Strength when concocting. But when it came to refining Middle Grade Elixirs, one had to possess control over the fire attribute of true strength to achieve effortless mastery. Wan Jingxing had only average talent in Alchemy, and his talent for Martial Arts was even less than his Alchemy skills. Without going to the state city, without taking the best Middle Grade Elixirs, he would never reach the Refining Internal Realm in his lifetime, nor would he ever become a Middle Grade Alchemist.