Chapter 195 - 190: Alchemy Conditions
After finishing his cultivation, Li Yuan went to Pill Refiner He’s residence.
Pill Refiner He had been near Yunyang Market for some time now.
Li Yuan had known Pill Refiner He was in the area ever since he ran into Wang De on the road, but he hadn’t gone to see him.
For the past few days, the main gate to Pill Refiner He’s courtyard had been shut tight. The Restriction outside the walls was set to its highest level, not even a trace of an aura leaking out. He was clearly in seclusion or performing Alchemy, so it would have been inconvenient to disturb him.
This morning, while restocking his Spirit Grass in the Loose Cultivator gathering area, Li Yuan passed by a street on the west side of the market and glanced toward Pill Refiner He’s courtyard from afar.
The courtyard gate was open.
The Spiritual Wave from the Restriction had also subsided, shifting from its previous fully-sealed state to its daily low-intensity operation.
After buying the Spirit Grass, Li Yuan didn’t head straight back to his own courtyard. Instead, he changed course and walked toward Pill Refiner He’s.
The gate was ajar, and someone stood guard at the entrance.
The Restriction on the inner side of the courtyard wall was still active; no one could enter without a Token or a pass.
The guard recognized Li Yuan. After exchanging a few words, the guard turned to announce him.
A moment later, the Restriction on the inner wall flashed, and an opening appeared.
Li Yuan pushed the gate open and walked inside.
The courtyard was unchanged from his last visit. A stone table and stools, a wooden chest in the corner, and the scent of herbs wafting from the main building’s entrance.
Pill Refiner He was sitting in a bamboo chair behind the stone table. Spread before him were several beast hides covered in writing, as if he were organizing something.
Seeing Li Yuan enter, Pill Refiner He gathered the beast hides to one side and leaned back in his chair.
"Sit."
Li Yuan sat down on a stone stool.
He didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"Senior He, I’d like to ask you to refine a batch of Breaking Element Pills."
’A Breaking Element Pill would make my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment safer, and even if I don’t need it, I can sell it for a high price.’
’And what if I get an entry from it?’
Pill Refiner He’s gaze lingered on Li Yuan for a breath.
Then he smiled.
"Breaking Element Pills." He folded his hands and rested them on the table. "Do you have the materials?"
"Most of them. I’m just missing two or three of the common main ingredients. I’m working on gathering them."
Pill Refiner He nodded, not asking where the materials came from.
"I’ve refined Breaking Element Pills many times."
He traced a line on the tabletop with his fingertip.
"One batch usually yields one to three pills, most often two. On a lucky day, I might get three. On a bad day, just one. In rare cases, the batch fails, and I get none at all."
He drew his hand back and looked at Li Yuan.
"You provide the materials. That part’s non-negotiable. A Spirit Essence Fruit is too precious; there’s no way I’m providing one for you."
"If you have a Spirit Essence Fruit, we can talk, but you should still be the one to supply it. I don’t keep them in stock here."
After speaking, Pill Refiner He raised his hand and ticked off fingers one by one.
"There are three options in total."
"First option. Regardless of how many pills are refined, I take one, and you take the rest. I charge no fee, no labor cost. But if the refinement fails, I won’t compensate you."
"This option saves you the most Spirit Stones, but it’s also the riskiest. If only one pill is produced, it’s mine, and you get nothing. If two are produced, we each get one. If there are three, you get two."
"Second option. You pay me a fee based on the market rate. All pills produced belong to you, no matter how many. If the refinement fails, the fee is non-refundable."
"Third option. If it succeeds, you pay me a large sum of Spirit Stones. If it fails, you don’t have to pay me anything, and I can even give you some Spirit Stones as compensation for the loss of materials."
"Of course, the more I’d compensate, the more you’d have to pay upon success."
He lowered his three fingers and folded his hands back on the table.
"Three options. You choose. No rush. Go back, think it over, and then come see me again."
Li Yuan quickly ran through the options in his head.
’The first option costs no Spirit Stones, but it could be all for nothing. If only one pill is produced, it goes to Pill Refiner He, and I’d be left empty-handed. The cost of the materials would all go down the drain.’
’The second option is safe but expensive. But no matter how many pills are produced, they’d all be mine.’
’The third option involves a huge payment upon success, but if it fails, I’d actually get Spirit Stones in compensation. It seems favorable to me, but the success payment is much higher than the fee for the second option.’
’Each option has its pros and cons. It all depends on my judgment of Pill Refiner He’s success rate and how much risk I’m willing to take.’
"I’ll go back and think it over, and gather the rest of the materials in the meantime," Li Yuan said, standing up.
Pill Refiner He nodded without saying more.
Li Yuan turned and left the courtyard, the Restriction sealing shut behind him.
He retraced his steps back to his rented courtyard.
Just as he reached the gate, he saw someone waiting for him outside.
Shopkeeper Han.
He was wearing his dark gray robe, carrying a cloth pouch, a smile on his face.
"Li Dao You, I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while."
Li Yuan opened the courtyard gate, and the two of them walked inside.
Shopkeeper Han sat down on a stone stool and placed the cloth pouch on the table.
"About what we discussed last time—things have finally settled down at the shop."
He looked over at Li Yuan.
"Could the boy come over tomorrow to learn talisman crafting?"
Li Yuan thought for a moment.
’Things with Pill Refiner He aren’t settled yet, but it won’t affect my daily schedule. Teaching Shopkeeper Han’s son talisman crafting will only take an hour or two each day. I can spend the rest of my time crafting talismans and cultivating as usual.’
"Yes. Have him come over tomorrow morning."
Shopkeeper Han smiled, nodded, and pushed the cloth pouch across the table.
"This is the first month’s tuition."
The pouch opened to reveal several dozen Spirit Stones.
"Also, starting this month, the purchase price the Purple Abyss Trading Company gives you will be raised by another five percent."
The terms were consistent with what they had agreed upon earlier. Li Yuan accepted the Spirit Stones.
Shopkeeper Han stood up to leave. At the gate, he turned back and said one more thing.
"The lad’s name is Han Qing. His personality is a bit withdrawn, but he’s a serious student. I’ll be troubling you."
With that, he pushed the gate open and left.
Li Yuan closed the courtyard gate and sat down at the table.
He spread out a sheet of talisman paper, picked up his talisman brush, and resumed his crafting.
As he drew the talisman, his mind replayed the three options Pill Refiner He had given him.
’The materials aren’t all here yet, so there’s no rush to decide. I’ll focus on buying the remaining two or three main ingredients first.’
Outside the window, the sky slowly began to darken.
Li Yuan put down his talisman brush, sat on his bed, and began to circulate his energy cross-legged.
Spiritual Qi surged into his body. Spiritual Power and Qi Blood flowed alternately through his meridians.
Outside the courtyard walls, Yunyang Market gradually grew quiet. The clamor from the Primordial Yang Sect’s disciple recruitment was still ongoing, and occasionally, the distant voices of Loose Cultivators discussing it could be heard, but it was much quieter than during the day.
Li Yuan closed his eyes, his breathing even, as the Spiritual Power inside him circulated in a continuous cycle.