Chapter 4: Mysterious Fire Pill Shop
Three days later.
At the outskirts of the Xuandan Mountain Range, Han Yi bid farewell to Zheng Hai, preparing to descend the mountain.
"Han Yi, don't be discouraged, at least, Elder Brother Guan chose a good position for you."
"The Xuanhuo Pill Shop is a second-tier signboard of the sect outside, you can still accept alchemy tasks there, which is beneficial for your Alchemy Skill."
"If your Alchemy Skill breaks through, you can easily return to the sect next year."
Zheng Hai sighed inwardly but forced a calm expression on his face to encourage Han Yi.
"Don't worry, your words are enough."
"I believe I'll return."
Han Yi nodded firmly.
He did not intend to tell Zheng Hai about his breakthrough in Alchemy Skill to the 'Entry Threshold' level.
Although Zheng Hai was his first friend in this world.
However, some secrets, not telling friends, is the best practice for both parties.
Moreover, one cannot fathom a person's mind.
Having worked in the professional world for so many years in his past life, Han Yi had seen too many stories of friendship turning into hatred.
After bidding farewell to Zheng Hai, Han Yi descended the mountain on his own, heading straight for Mengshan City.
Three days ago.
When he went to Vermilion Bird City and saw Guan Di again, Guan Di could only helplessly tell him that the time limit had passed and according to the rules of the sect, his accommodation would be reclaimed.
Afterwards, Guan Di arranged a job for him in a sect-run pill shop in Mengshan City in the capacity of an external disciple, assisting the shopkeeper.
Guan Di was at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, only one step away from becoming an inner disciple. Thanks to his uncle who was an outer door deacon, he was able to manage the Great Hall as a minor steward.
He needed to prepare for breaking through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation and couldn't always help Han Yi and Zheng Hai, doing this much was already quite challenging.
Han Yi sincerely thanked him.
...
Daqian Immortal Country, occupying Qian and Shu regions.
It has thirty-three counties in the Qian and Shu regions, with twenty in Qianzhou and thirteen in Shu State.
Shu State is steep, with as many as nine mountain ranges.
The Xuandan Mountain Range spans the Taibai and Nanyang, and Luofeng counties of Shu State.
As the ruler of the Xuandan Mountain Range with dozens of Master Golden Core preserving, the Xuandan Sect is only second to the country's two saints and three great sects in Daqian Immortal Country.
One country, of course, refers to the Daqian Immortal Country which is guarded by a powerful Spirit Transformation stage cultivator.
Two saints refer to places of Immortal Path which also possess the Spirit Transformation stage and whose strength is not inferior to the Immortal Country.
Three great sects refer to the three large sects that have in their sect the existence of cultivators at the Nascent Soul level.
Therefore, as long as it doesn't provoke these six forces that have above Nascent Soul level powerhouses, Xuandan Sect has no concern of being exterminated.
These messages.
Were sorted out from the memories in Han Yi's mind.
Growing under a big tree includes the protection of its shade. Although the Xuandan Sect is not the biggest one, it is enough to protect his safety.
Of course, Han Yi did not want to miss such a big tree.
However, he didn't expect to stumble upon a blunder upon arrival.
But since it was a fait accompli, he didn't regret too much.
Mengshan City is a city in Nanyang County.
From his memories, he was not unfamiliar with this city, because he came from Mengshan City, it was his hometown.
But his background was not good, although Mengshan City was his hometown, he had no relatives or family there.
In other words, he had no entanglements in Mengshan City.
Therefore, he went directly to the place the sect had arranged for him.
As a major sect focusing on alchemy, the Xuandan Sect has established two types of pill shops, Xuanxian Pill Shop and Xuanhuo Pill Shop in Daqian Immortal Country.
Xuanxian is a first-tier shop, mainly serving cultivators above the foundation building stage.
Xuanhuo is a second-tier shop, mainly serving Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators.
In Taibai, Nanyang, and Luofeng Counties, each city has a Xuanxian Pill Shop and a Xuanhuo Pill Shop.
Aside from these three counties, in the Qian and Shu regions, the other thirty counties' capital cities have similar settings.
It can be said.
The Xuandan Sect holds at least 30% of the pill market in the entire Daqian Immortal Country.
Mengshan City, Xuanhuo Pill Shop.
Han Yi, wearing a grey robe, entered it, showed his sect token to the shopkeeper at the counter.
The shopkeeper was about fifty years old, he did not look too elderly. At this age, his experience with pill identification was most plentiful, and it was unlikely for him to make a mistake due to lack of energy.
"So it's junior brother Han, welcome, welcome."
The shopkeeper said warmly.
"May I ask how I should address you, Brother?" Han Yi humbly asked, adhering to etiquette.
"I am Guan Sheng. Guan Di is a nephew of my family."
"So, you are Uncle Master Guan."
Han Yi quickly changed his address to show his closeness.
It seemed that Guan Di had made thoughtful arrangements for him here.
He accepted this gesture with gratitude.
The shopkeeper waved his hand.
"Sect's hierarchy should not be messed up, better call me Brother."
Continuing on.
"I am the main shopkeeper of this Profound Fire Pill Shop and spend most of my time here.
There are a total of four alchemy assistants in the shop, including you.
Among them, like me, Jiang De is not an outer disciple. He spends all year here.
The other two, Xia Qingyi and Xiao Yi, like you, are outer disciples."
By 'outer disciples', Guan Sheng meant the low-rank disciples who had their accommodation in the Outer Peaks temporarily revoked due to lack of points.
Though Xuandan Sect boasts of one hundred thousand outer disciples, many had their residences taken away because they lacked points every year.
Most of them lost the hope of returning to the sect after leaving the mountain.
A few of them met with some adventures, or broke through their realms or alchemy skills, thus getting the chance to return to the sect.
As Guan Sheng finished speaking, a tall, thin young man in his thirties stepped out from the outside.
The tall young man also wore the grey robe of the pill shop.
"Well, let me introduce, this is Jiang De."
Guan Sheng said to Han Yi, then introduced Han Yi to the youth.
"This is junior brother Han Yi who just descended from the sect today."
Jiang De, the tall and thin young man, glanced at Han Yi emotionlessly, nodded his head towards him but said nothing. He continued to move past Han Yi and head to the second floor of the pill shop.
A stinging burnt smell entered the nostrils.
It seemed like he had just botched the alchemy, Han Yi thought to himself.
"Brother Han, don't mind him. Brother Jiang De usually keeps to himself and rarely talks, even to me."
Han Yi nodded, indicating his understanding.
Following this.
Guan Sheng led Han Yi through the layout of the Profound Fire Pill Shop, introducing him to the costs of the pills sold in the shop.
Finally, Guan Di took out a tiny silver dish the size of a palm.
"This is the array plate for a residence in the North City District."
"According to sect rules, every assigned disciple gets a residence. If they wish to leave the sect or fortunately return to the sect, they must return the residence to the sect."
First settle down, Brother Han.
As per the sect rules, you need to report to the pill shop every quarter. The next check-in time...ah, quite conveniently, is just seven days from now.
By then, there will be some alchemy tasks available for you to choose from.
Make sure not to miss the time."
"Thank you, Brother Guan."
Han Yi took the array plate.
Then, Guan Sheng told him about other matters. After that, Han Yi turned around and left the pill shop.
After he left, the tall and thin young man, Jiang De, came down from the second floor. His eyes flickering, he said ominously.
"Master Guan, will this guy mess things up?"
"What we are doing cannot afford any mistakes. If we get exposed, it will not just be our problem, but our family, behind us, would face total disaster."
"To be on the safe side, should I get rid of him just like before? After all, the sect wouldn't thoroughly investigate a lower rank outer disciple..."
Jiang De's voice was low and there was a flash of veiled murderous intent in his eyes.
Guan Sheng shook his head and narrowed his eyes, "Don't be hasty. Instead of killing him, I have a better idea."
"What better idea?" Jiang De asked, confused.
"Don't you think it'd be more plausible that a disciple who just had his outer peak spirit vein residency revoked and was assigned to the mountain, becomes greedy for spiritual medicine to breakthrough in alchemy, and finally gets caught and executed by us, thus eliminating a scourge for the sect?" Guan Sheng's voice remained tranquil without wavering.
"I don't even believe this. Will the people from the Law Enforcement Hall believe it?" Jiang De frowned deeply, puzzled.
"Don't worry about it. I naturally have a way to make them believe it." Guan Sheng's tone was as calm as ever.
...
Han Yi was unaware of the conversation between Guan Sheng and Jiang De after he left.
At this moment, after leaving the Profound Fire Pill Shop, he infused a thread of magic power into the tiny silver dish in his hand. Instantly, a stream of information was fed back, guiding him how to proceed.
"Interesting, this is another art among the hundred arts of cultivation, the application of formations."