Chapter 9: Matryoshka

For the next few days, Zeng Defang continued to guide Chen Fei on his alchemy techniques. After feigning incompetence for a few days, Chen Fei finally revealed that his proficiency in crafting Blood-Qi Pills had reached the "Proficient" level.

Zeng Defang laughed heartily, feeling a sense of old-age gratification, and even patted Chen Fei’s shoulder firmly a few times.

"Having reached this stage, I have nothing left to teach you regarding the Blood-Qi Pill. From here on, it will depend on your own insights during your daily practice."

Zeng Defang’s own skill in crafting Blood-Qi Pills was naturally far beyond the Proficient level. However, once one reaches the Proficient level, the techniques themselves are essentially sound; all that remains are subtle adjustments in heat control.

Such adjustments are difficult to express in words; they require the alchemist to comprehend and practice them personally. Furthermore, Blood-Qi Pills at the Proficient level are already fit for sale on the market, which meant Chen Fei could finally start earning money.

According to the agreement with the Qingzheng Medical Hall, after deducting the cost of herbs, Chen Fei would receive thirty percent of the remaining profits from the Blood-Qi Pills he crafted each month.

Is that little?

Certainly not. Chen Fei was quite satisfied with this result. After all, he only needed to focus on alchemy; the herbs, the shop, the furnace, and the sales were all unrelated to him.

With the backing of the Qingzheng Medical Hall, Chen Fei only needed to focus on crafting his pills.

It could be said that Zeng Defang must have put in a good word for him for the Medical Hall to offer such terms.

Of course, the profit-sharing ratios for other alchemists were not much different. After all, alchemists are precious; if you don't provide sufficient compensation, they will simply leave.

Unlike security guards—who are hard to recruit but exist in a large enough base that they can always be hired with money—alchemists are rare, and you cannot simply hire one just because you want to.

Zeng Defang stopped hovering by Chen Fei’s side. Chen Fei took the opportunity to go out a few times, raising his proficiency in Blood-Qi Pills to the "Mastery" level.

Chen Fei was in no rush to push the Blood-Qi Pills to the "Grandmaster" level, as the Mastery level was already more than sufficient for his current crafting requirements.

Not only were the pills plump and full, but the yield per batch was also high. It could be said that he was extracting every bit of medicinal essence from the herbs without any waste.

As for the Grandmaster level, it would likely involve innovation—improving the effects of the Blood-Qi Pill itself.

That would naturally be good, but the requirement of 10,000 proficiency points was not easy to achieve in a short time. Thus, Chen Fei was not anxious; he would take it slow.

There was no one else in the alchemy room, so Chen Fei gave his all for every batch. The difference between Mastery and Proficient level pills was mainly the quantity produced; there wasn't much difference otherwise.

Externally, Chen Fei naturally wouldn't show such a high level of alchemy, so he simply consumed the extra pills he produced.

The Blood-Qi Pill lived up to its reputation as a pill for ordinary martial artists. One pill could increase Chen Fei’s cultivation progress by 1 point. Chen Fei could consume five pills a day, and combined with the cultivation gained from his own techniques, that was 6 points of progress per day.

"Even if the Wind-Suspension Breathing Technique hadn't been simplified, I would only need less than five months to break through to the Flesh-Refining Realm."

Chen Fei muttered to himself, feeling the power of pills—or rather, the power of money—for the first time.

One tael of silver could buy five Blood-Qi Pills. A regular security guard’s monthly wage at the medical hall could only buy twenty-five pills. Therefore, guards rarely bought them for cultivation because they were too expensive.

Only those with martial potential would be willing to make such an investment, and even then, they would have to sustain it for years to see results.

Within Pingyin County, only disciples of noble families or inner disciples of schools like the Jishan Fist Hall could afford to consume Blood-Qi Pills at their daily limit like Chen Fei to catch up on their cultivation as quickly as possible.

"A skilled alchemist really makes money. And this is just the Blood-Qi Pill."

Chen Fei shook his head slightly, tossed a pill into his mouth to refine it, and couldn't help but smile.

Chen Fei planned to request an advance on his silver from the medical hall in a few days so he could simplify his two fused techniques.

Although his cultivation progress was already decent thanks to the Blood-Qi Pills, he would never refuse a way to become stronger faster.

Moreover, Chen Fei always felt a sense of uncertain anxiety about this world. After all, he had come from a peaceful and prosperous era in his previous life, and living in this world filled with strange occurrences and human-made disasters made it hard to truly feel at ease.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Aside from focusing on alchemy and cultivation, Chen Fei spent his spare time going out to grind his progress on "Stir-fried Pork Liver."

While stir-frying pork liver in the dilapidated courtyard, Chen Fei had actually noticed he was being followed, but he didn't pay much attention to it. After all, he was currently the most talked-about person in the Qingzheng Medical Hall.

Everyone in the hall could see Zeng Defang’s fondness for Chen Fei; it was as if he had all but announced Chen Fei as his closed-door disciple. Under such circumstances, many were naturally curious about how Chen Fei achieved his success.

Perhaps he had some special method?

If only those people could see him stir-frying pork liver in the courtyard, they would wonder what kind of expression they would have.

Stir-frying pork liver had nothing to do with alchemy; otherwise, the kitchen staff in restaurants would all be master alchemists.

These people could only attribute Chen Fei’s stir-frying to a personal quirk. Aside from that, they couldn't think of any other reason.

Some were unwilling to give up and followed Chen Fei for several days, only to see him stir-frying pork liver every time. And every time he cooked, he only used a fingernail-sized piece of liver, which left the onlookers dumbfounded.

What kind of bizarre hobby is this!

"Normally, it’s not good to advance silver, but I understand your situation. After consulting with Manager Cui, he has agreed. Here is thirty taels of silver; keep it safe."

The accountant handed the money to Chen Fei. Chen Fei took a quick look and smiled.

Based on the quantity of pills Chen Fei was intentionally limiting himself to, his monthly income was about fifty taels—ten times that of a regular guard. How could others not be envious?

The fact that they agreed to advance him thirty taels showed that the medical hall saw his potential and understood he had the ability to repay it, which was why they were so forthcoming.

Returning to his room, Chen Fei was slightly excited.

"Panel, simplify the Wind-Suspension Breathing Technique!"

"Simplifying Wind-Suspension Breathing Technique... Simplification successful... Wind-Suspension Breathing Technique → Jishan Breathing Technique!"

"Huh?"

Seeing the information on the panel, Chen Fei was stunned. How did it simplify back into the original Jishan Breathing Technique?

Then, realizing something, Chen Fei tried to circulate the original Grandmaster-level Jishan Breathing Technique once, and immediately saw the experience points for the Wind-Suspension Breathing Technique on the panel increase by +1.

Good heavens!

Chen Fei’s eyes widened. This panel truly exceeded his expectations time and time again; it had actually pulled a "nesting doll" trick.