Chapter 44: Qihai Realm

Chapter 44: The Qi Sea Realm

Having revealed her alchemy skills, Hua Changxi was not the only one in the Hua family who wanted her to leave the Medical Bureau's Labor Hall to return and refine medicine for the Hua Family Pharmacy.

Seeing that Hua Dalang could not persuade her, Old Master Hua sent Hua Minghe and Lady Yao to try.

In the entire Hua family, the people Hua Changxi felt the most affection for were Hua Minghe and Lady Yao. Seeing the two of them also coming to pressure her, she was truly fed up.

Lady Yao looked at her daughter: "Jiu Niang, you went to the Medical Bureau for two reasons: first, to learn medicine, and second, because you didn't want to stay at home. Am I right?"

Hua Changxi remained silent.

Lady Yao continued, "If you had entered the Apprentice Hall at the Medical Bureau, your father and I would never have come to persuade you. But you are currently in the Labor Hall."

"Besides doing manual labor in the Labor Hall, can you truly learn medicine?"

"Now that the family knows of your alchemy skills, no one will oppose you going to the family pharmacy. Your mother doesn't understand—why are you unwilling to come back?"

Hua Changxi looked at Lady Yao: "Mother, even if I am doing manual labor in the Medical Bureau's Labor Hall, my gains will definitely be greater than they would be at the Hua Family Pharmacy."

"At the Hua Family Pharmacy, I am the daughter of the Hua family; in the Medical Bureau's Labor Hall, I am Hua Changxi."

Hua Minghe frowned: "What is the difference?"

Hua Changxi: "Of course there is a difference. Let me put it this way: if you work as a constable in the Six Doors, the salary is low and it is dangerous. Father, we care about you, so why don't you resign from your post as a constable and come back to be the manager of the Hua Family Pharmacy instead?"

Hua Minghe froze, as if realizing what his daughter was insisting upon, but he still said, "You... you are being unreasonable! How can your affairs and mine be lumped together?"

Hua Changxi: "Why not? Father, when you are at the Six Doors, when people mention you, they are talking about the person, Hua Minghe. If you were the manager of the Hua Family Pharmacy, when people mentioned you, they might be talking about the eldest son of the Hua family. Do you really not understand the difference, Father?"

"Father, I'm just asking you: are you willing or not?"

Hua Minghe fell into silence.

Seeing her husband silenced by his daughter, a hint of a smile flashed in Lady Yao's eyes. Worried that it might look bad for her husband, she suppressed her laughter.

Hua Changxi continued, "There is one more thing. Father, you were originally the heir to the Hua family. Being the manager of the Hua Family Pharmacy is equivalent to taking possession of your own inheritance in advance. If even you are unwilling to do that, why do you think I would be?"

"If I go to work at the Hua Family Pharmacy, even if I manage to turn it into the best and largest pharmacy in the entire capital, it will have nothing to do with me."

"Tell me, why would I bother?"

Hua Minghe was driven to a fit of angry shame by her words: "Jiu Niang, setting aside calculations of interest, is working in the Labor Hall truly more important to you than helping your family?"

Hua Changxi nodded honestly: "Of course. Father, you have the need to establish your own career, and so do I."

Hua Minghe: "Working in the family pharmacy is also establishing a career."

Hua Changxi shook her head: "Working at the Hua Family Pharmacy is establishing the Hua family's legacy, not mine."

Hua Minghe realized his daughter was too shrewd; he couldn't win an argument against her. He could only resort to emotional appeals: "Jiu Niang, can't you come home for the sake of your parents?"

Hua Changxi replied with total seriousness: "Father, I love you and Mother, but there are many ways to show that love, and none of them include sacrificing myself."

Hua Minghe was made awkward by his daughter's blunt expression. Not knowing what to say, he could only stand up and flick his sleeves: "Jiu Niang, you are making your mother and me very disappointed."

Not being swayed by emotional blackmail, Hua Changxi said lazily, "Father, you pressuring me like this also makes me very disappointed."

Hua Minghe truly had nothing left to say. He looked at Lady Yao for help, but seeing his wife avoid eye contact, he could only leave with a look of a headache.

Hua Changxi was prepared to argue with her mother, but to her surprise, Lady Yao said nothing and simply followed her father out.

In the main hall, Old Master Hua watched his sighing eldest son and his silent, dejected daughter-in-law, and in his anger, he took a heavy drag from his tobacco pipe.

This couple was truly incompetent; they couldn't even discipline their own daughter.

Hua Minghe looked at Old Master Hua: "Father, since Jiu Niang wants to continue working in the Medical Bureau's Labor Hall, let's not force her. Perhaps one day when she is tired, she will come back on her own."

Hua Sanlang also chimed in: "Yes, Grandfather. Jiu Niang is strong-willed. The more the family forces her, the more she will defy us. If the family stops pressuring her and lets her choose, she might come around on her own."

Old Master Hua glanced at the father and son but said nothing.

His granddaughter's stubborn, unyielding attitude truly infuriated him.

In the past, he could have used corporal punishment, but now that the family pharmacy relied on her medicinal formulas, that girl would be difficult to handle.

From the fourth to the sixth day of the first lunar month, Hua Changxi taught Hua Sanlang how to refine Blood-Qi Pills, Body-Tempering Pills, and Foundation-Stabilizing Pills at the Hua Family Pharmacy.

During this time, no one in the family mentioned asking Hua Changxi to come home again.

Hua Sanlang had been studying medicine for several years. Although the potency of the pills he refined could not compare to Hua Changxi's, they were comparable to those on the market.

The potency was similar, but the medicinal ingredients used in the formulas provided by Hua Changxi were nearly half as much. In other words, the Hua family's costs were much lower than those of other pharmacies.

With low costs and the constant high demand for martial artists' medicines, it was easy to imagine that the future business of the Hua Family Pharmacy would be excellent.

On the sixth day, both Old Master Hua and Hua Dalang came to the pharmacy. Watching Hua Changxi teaching Hua Sanlang alchemy in the backyard, both men looked regretful.

Old Master Hua: "If only Jiu Niang were a boy."

Though Hua Dalang shared the same thought, he still said, "Even if she is a young lady, she is still a daughter of the Hua family."

Old Master Hua shook his head: "Girls are outward-looking. Jiu Niang isn't even married yet, and she already doesn't favor the Hua family. Once she marries, it will only get worse."

As he spoke, he sighed with self-reproach.

"It's all my fault. When your grandmother used to discipline Jiu Niang, I didn't stop your father and mother. If it weren't for your parents spoiling and protecting her, Jiu Niang's temperament wouldn't be so rebellious."

Hua Dalang could not criticize his parents, so he could only listen silently to Old Master Hua's continued complaining.

"Jiu Niang is grown now. Relying on her bit of skill, she increasingly shows no respect for the family elders."

"It's only because our family doesn't take it to heart. In a household with strict rules, a young lady like Jiu Niang would be confined to the ancestral temple."

Hearing this, Hua Dalang hurriedly said, "Grandfather, please don't be angry. Jiu Niang is still young. Once she grows up a bit more, she will understand the importance of the clan to her."

Old Master Hua did not argue with his eldest grandson and stepped into the backyard.

Hua Dalang quickly followed, carrying medicinal ingredients.

Hua Changxi was not surprised to see Old Master Hua and Hua Dalang arrive. She was starting work tomorrow; if her eldest brother was in a hurry for Breaking-Shackles Pills, he would certainly come to her today.

Hua Sanlang had already gone to meet them: "Brother, have you collected all the ingredients for the Breaking-Shackles Pills?"

Hua Dalang gave an "mm" and placed the ingredients on the table.

Hua Changxi walked over to inspect them, raising an eyebrow: "These ingredients are of excellent quality. Brother, it seems your friend has quite a significant background."

The higher the grade of the martial artist, the stricter the government's control over their medicines.

For an ordinary person to collect all the ingredients required to refine pills for a Sixth-Rank martial artist within a few days was almost impossible.

Hua Dalang smiled but did not say much about the origin of the ingredients. Collecting them had naturally required considerable effort, involving not just favors but also fulfilling promises.

He had promised those who provided the ingredients that if he successfully refined the Breaking-Shackles Pills, he would share some with them.

In other words, his most powerful trump card was actually his sister—this alchemist who could refine Sixth-Rank Breaking-Shackles Pills.

During these few days of collecting ingredients, Hua Dalang gradually understood why Hua Changxi had been angry on New Year's Eve.

A Sixth-Rank alchemist was truly hard to find.

Even those with some fame were beyond the reach of the Hua family's status.

Thinking of this, the look in Hua Dalang's eyes softened significantly as he looked at Hua Changxi: "Jiu Niang, can you refine the pills today?"

"I can."

As she spoke, Hua Changxi began organizing the alchemy tools. Hua Sanlang wanted to help, but he couldn't find a way to assist.

Soon, Hua Changxi began the refining process.

Old Master Hua, Hua Dalang, and Hua Sanlang stood by, watching with undivided attention.

There was no choice; Hua Changxi's speed was too fast. Decomposing, grinding, mixing, and forming the pills—there was no pause in any step.

Half an hour later, Hua Changxi handed twenty longan-sized pills to Hua Dalang.

Suppressing his excitement, Hua Dalang carefully took the pills: "Jiu Niang, I know a few alchemists at the Martial Academy, and I've seen them refine medicine. They aren't nearly as fast as you. How do you do it?"

Hua Changxi: "Just practice makes perfect!"

Hearing this, Old Master Hua immediately asked, "Just how many pills have you helped people refine in the Labor Hall?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi knew Old Master Hua was trying to probe something: "Grandfather, I've only been in the Medical Bureau for about three or four months in total. I also have my regular duties. How many do you think I could have refined?"

Although Old Master Hua did not press further, he wanted to bring up the matter of her returning home to help the family pharmacy again.

However, before the words could leave his mouth, he was stopped by Hua Dalang.

Hua Dalang had finally understood. With such incredible alchemy skills, his ninth sister would naturally not submit to the family's discipline. Some matters would have to be dealt with gradually in the future.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the Medical Bureau resumed work. Hua Changxi woke up early, ate breakfast, took the bundle prepared by Lady Yao, and headed out.

On the way, Hua Changxi checked her stats.

[Realm: Qi Refining Realm 8100/1000]

She had already finished absorbing and refining the 60 Mid-Grade Essence Spirit Pills, and for the past two days, she had begun refining and absorbing Low-Grade Essence Spirit Pills.

[First-Rank Alchemist (Low-Grade Pill): 1 Batch Refined 1/10]

Only by refining Spirit Pills would the alchemist's stats increase; refining Mortal Pills was completely useless.

She didn't lack First-Rank pill formulas, but where could she find spiritual plants?

As she thought, Hua Changxi injected spiritual energy into her feet, using the Lingbo Microsteps technique. In just over two quarters of an hour, she arrived at the back street of the Medical Bureau.

"Sister Changxi."

Yu Hui, Wan Xiaozhou, and Li Meng arrived in a carriage and ran into her again. "Sister Changxi, get in. We'll give you a ride inside."

"Brother Yu, Happy New Year."

Remembering that she wanted to find Yu Hui to sell her pills, Hua Changxi did not refuse the ride.

After getting into the carriage, Yu Hui immediately asked curiously, "Sister Changxi, was that lightness kung fu you just used?"

Hua Changxi froze for a moment, instantly realizing that Yu Hui and the others had seen her. She smiled and said, "My father is a constable in the Six Doors; I've learned a few footwork techniques by following him."

Yu Hui looked enlightened. "So your uncle is with the Six Doors. No wonder your skills are so good." He then lowered his voice, "Sister Changxi, tell me, what rank martial artist are you?"

Hua Changxi glanced at him: "I don't even know my own rank. In the martial arts, I only know the basics."

Hearing this, Yu Hui gave her an "I understand" look. "If you won't say, I won't ask."

Hua Changxi smiled; no one believed her when she told the truth.

"Brother Yu, how do you handle unused pills?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Hui knew what she intended to do and laughed: "What, sister, you want to sell pills?"

Hua Changxi nodded.

Yu Hui: "If you trust me, give the pills to me and I'll help you sell them. The price will be the same as the pharmacies."

Hua Changxi smiled: "I naturally trust you more than anyone, Brother Yu. However, our cooperation isn't just a one-time thing, and I can't trouble you every single time. I wonder if you could introduce me to one or two merchants who purchase pills?"

Yu Hui looked hesitant: "Sister, I'm not afraid to tell you, the buyers I find are all from various walks of life. My biggest client buys at most ten pills at a time."

"My godfather knows some merchants who buy pills, if you want—"

Hua Changxi quickly shook her head: "I won't trouble Godfather Yu." After a moment's thought, she took two hundred Blood-Qi Pills from her bundle and gave them to Yu Hui. "Brother Yu, please help me sell these first."

Seeing how much Hua Changxi trusted him by giving so many pills at once, Yu Hui smiled immediately: "Don't worry, sister. These will sell quickly. I'll give you the silver in a couple of days."

Hua Changxi was surprised: "They sell that fast?"

Yu Hui nodded: "There are many martial artists in our Great Jin Dynasty, and many don't have the connections to buy pills."

While they spoke, the four of them entered the back gate of the Medical Bureau in the carriage.

After entering the back gate, seeing more people around, Hua Changxi parted ways with Yu Hui's group and walked toward the Labor Hall by herself.

When she arrived at the dormitory, she found that most of her roommates had arrived, and everyone was distributing New Year goods brought from home.

Hua Changxi saw several portions of food placed by her bedside.

"Changxi, these are things we brought from home, please don't be shy."

Hua Changxi picked up a pastry, tasted it, and smiled: "It's delicious."

Sister Shi smiled: "That's the plum blossom cake my mother-in-law made. If you like it, I have more here."

Perhaps because Hua Changxi had saved those who were poisoned by processing medicinal materials last time, the attitude of the people in the dormitory had improved significantly.

Sister Shi brought another bag of plum blossom cakes. Hua Changxi couldn't easily refuse; she hadn't brought much food, and seeing everyone sharing their home goods with her, she felt she should return the favor.

Rummaging through her bundle, Hua Changxi realized that most of her items were actually pills.

Thus, under the bewildered gazes of everyone, Hua Changxi handed out one Body-Strengthening Pill to each person: "For your health."

Wang Yunchu responded particularly enthusiastically: "These pills are incredibly effective! Changxi gave me two before. After my brother and I took them, our hands and feet used to be freezing in the winter, but this New Year, they've stayed warm the whole time."

Hearing this, everyone knew the pills were good and carefully tucked them away.

Afterward, Hua Changxi did not change her way of interacting with others. During her shifts, she still kept to herself, and once her duties were finished, she returned to the dormitory to cultivate.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Yu Hui gave Hua Changxi a banknote for one thousand taels. The Blood-Qi Pills were five taels each, so two hundred pills totaled exactly one thousand taels.

After receiving the banknote, she gave another hundred Body-Tempering Pills to Yu Hui to help her sell.

During the first month, not many medicinal materials were being sent to the Medical Bureau. Since Yu Hui hadn't called her to refine medicine at the Qihuang Hall, Hua Changxi focused on her cultivation.

On the seventeenth day of the first month, while cultivating, Hua Changxi felt a sensation like a floodgate opening within her dantian—a roaring, vibrating sensation. Immediately following that, the warm current that had been flowing through her body like a stream turned into a surging river.

At that moment, Hua Changxi realized she could seemingly see through her own body. She "saw" a red Qi Sea, the size of an egg, appearing in the position of her dantian.

[Realm: Qi Sea Realm 10100/100000]

The realm had changed!

"After the Qi Refining Realm comes the Qi Sea Realm."

Looking at the numbers following the Qi Sea Realm, Hua Changxi felt a great deal of pressure. If upgrading from Qi Refining to Qi Sea was this difficult, it would only get harder from there.

Relying on step-by-step cultivation, she didn't know how many years it would take. She had to find spiritual plants!

Hua Changxi had discovered one type of spiritual plant, the Essence Spirit Grass, within the Medical Bureau, which made her somewhat anxious.

If the Medical Bureau, which mobilized the strength of the entire Great Jin Dynasty, hadn't discovered any spiritual plants, her chances of finding them by wandering through the mountains and fields alone were even smaller.

"Is it that the Medical Bureau doesn't have them, or have the spiritual plants already been collected by the higher-ups?"

Spiritual plants contained spiritual energy and were vastly different from mortal medicines; even if one didn't recognize them, one wouldn't miss them upon encountering them.

Hua Changxi felt that the Medical Bureau must have collected other spiritual plants, but they were likely seized by the authorities as soon as they were discovered. In the Labor Hall, only the Essence Spirit Grass—which withered as soon as it left the ground—had been overlooked.

How was she supposed to find other spiritual plants that could help her increase her realm?