79 Fully Automatic Pill Furnace
Tian Xuan Sect, Pharmacy.
When Jiang Huai arrived at the pharmacy, several elders were instructing their disciples to sort medicinal materials. Upon seeing Jiang Huai, the elders rose to greet him, “Why are you here today? And who is this?”
“This is Junior Sister Wen Wanwan from Desolate Sword Mountain.” Jiang Huai had been holding Wen Wanwan’s fair and tender hand all the way. The elders took a closer look. One elder, who was closer to Jiang Huai, smiled and teased him, “Oh? You seem to be in good spirits lately? Your face is glowing.”
“Here, little girl, a meeting gift.” Elder Fang tossed a porcelain bottle over. Just as Wen Wanwan was about to refuse, Jiang Huai caught it and whispered in her ear, “Elder Fang and I are good friends. He usually takes advantage of me, so it’s rare for me to get one over on him.”
Elder Fang’s beard twitched in annoyance, “What do you mean I take advantage of you?”
“Hmph, you only know how to steal techniques.”
Jiang Huai placed Elder Fang’s small gift into Wen Wanwan’s palm. He then sat down on a bench with Wen Wanwan and looked up at the elders, “Are there any more pill refining orders recently?”
“What, you’re willing to take them on?”
“Ah, yes, I’m a bit short on money lately.”
“Are you willing to refine five hundred Qi Replenishing Pills?”
“That’s too few, not much profit.”
“Actually, there’s a rather profitable order, but the deadline is tight. How many can you refine in a day?”
“Within five thousand. However many you have, I’ll refine for you in a day, guaranteeing over fifty percent Perfect Quality.”
“Do you mean it?”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“Three thousand Qi Replenishing Pills. I’ll provide the medicinal materials, and I’ll give you three thousand Spirit Stones as a fee, but I need to see the pills by this time tomorrow.” Elder Liu spoke to Jiang Huai, who nodded slightly, “Alright.”
“You wait here, I’ll go get the medicinal materials for you.”
“And pay me five hundred Spirit Stones in advance as a deposit.”
“You rascal.” Elder Liu cursed with a helpless smile, then stood up and went to the pharmacy’s backyard. Not long after, he returned with a Storage Ring, which contained materials for refining over three thousand Qi Gathering Pills, along with five hundred Spirit Stones.
Jiang Huai took the medicinal materials and Spirit Stones, then stood up with Wen Wanwan, heading towards the courtyard.
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Qi Replenishing Pills are Yellow-grade pills, considered consumables. After use, they can greatly restore Spiritual Qi. Many cultivators, when practicing sword techniques or adventuring, inevitably run out of Spiritual Qi and need replenishment. They are sold for ten Spirit Stones each.
The medicinal materials needed for Qi Replenishing Pills cost about seven Spirit Stones. Elder Liu’s offer to Jiang Huai for refining one pill at one Spirit Stone was actually a price he could have negotiated higher. However, his business was already highly profitable, so he was too lazy to haggle further, considering it a favor.
When Jiang Huai and Wen Wanwan returned to the courtyard, Chu Xianning was sitting by the pond in the courtyard, lost in thought.
“I’m back.” Jiang Huai greeted Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning also saw Wen Wanwan beside Jiang Huai. Their eyes met for a moment. Chu Xianning’s gaze was as clear and aloof as ever, while Wen Wanwan remained timid, with a slight hint of seeking approval.
After exchanging greetings, Jiang Huai led Wen Wanwan to the bamboo grove in the backyard and brought out his pill furnace. His pill furnace was large; it was a gift from Chu Xianning in the past, capable of refining even Heaven-grade pills. However, Jiang Huai had modified it slightly. Jiang Huai poured out all the medicinal materials from the Storage Ring. The materials were already sorted. Jiang Huai looked at Wen Wanwan and said, “I’ll trouble Junior Sister Wanwan to help me. Take one of each type of medicinal material and toss it into the pill furnace.”
Wen Wanwan obediently began picking out the medicinal materials. After everything was selected, Jiang Huai confirmed them and watched her throw the materials into the pill furnace. Then, he took out a formation disk, placed a Spirit Stone on it to activate the Spiritual Qi, and inserted it under his pill furnace.
The pill refining furnace started up, emitting steam. Jiang Huai explained to Wen Wanwan, “In about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the pills will be refined and will drop out on their own. You just need to catch them then. The dregs will fall out from that opening. Afterward, you just need to place another Spirit Stone on the formation disk and toss the medicinal materials in again.”
Wen Wanwan was still a bit confused. She knew nothing about pill refining, but listening to Jiang Huai, it didn’t seem that difficult.
Jiang Huai brought over stools, and the two sat by the stools watching the steam rise. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the pills clattered down. Wen Wanwan was prepared and reached out with a cloth to catch them. A total of ninety-six Qi Replenishing Pills were refined, with over sixty percent being Perfect Quality.
The subsequent process was simply to repeat the same steps: put the medicinal materials into the pill furnace, add a Spirit Stone to the formation disk, and the furnace would start up, automatically producing pills after the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
“Alright, do you understand now?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good, then I’ll trouble you, Wanwan. I’m going to make dinner. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”
Wen Wanwan nodded obediently and began diligently sorting the medicinal materials, preparing them for the next batch. Jiang Huai had left over thirty Spirit Stones there. The cost of refining these three thousand Qi Replenishing Pills for Jiang Huai was only thirty Spirit Stones, yet he would earn three thousand. It was a shame that the pharmacy didn’t always have such profitable orders. Currently, Jiang Huai had only researched formation disks for Qi Replenishing Pills, Qi Gathering Pills, and Healing Pills, allowing him to mass-produce only these three types of pills.
Jiang Huai returned to the courtyard. Chu Xianning was still sitting by the pond, lost in thought. Jiang Huai approached her from behind and softly asked, “Does Master have any particular dishes she’d like for dinner? I’ll be descending the mountain tomorrow and probably won’t be back for about half a month.”
“Have the cabbages outside the courtyard grown yet?” Chu Xianning asked softly.
“They’ve grown well, they’re nice and crisp. Would you like vinegar-braised cabbage or dried shrimp and tofu stew?”
“Stewed tofu.”
“Alright, I’ll go pick them now.”
Jiang Huai got up and picked several bunches of cabbage from the vegetable patch outside the courtyard. He returned to the kitchen, tied on an apron, and began to busy himself. Steam rose from the kitchen. Unbeknownst to him, Chu Xianning had appeared at the kitchen doorway, her gaze quietly fixed on him.
“Tomorrow you descend the mountain. Is everything prepared?”
“Yes. Last time I went to Qingxuan Sect, Luo Yueguan gave me the remaining medicinal materials from when she refined the Immaculate Golden Body many years ago. The Spirit Stones Master gave me were saved. I spent one hundred thousand Spirit Stones on a protective Magic Tool, and I have some left. Master, would you like to take it for now?”
“Keep it.” Chu Xianning replied calmly. She had no particular need for Spirit Stones herself.
The Spirit Stones she had accumulated over the years were not many, mainly because she had no means of earning them. As an Eighth Realm cultivator, Spirit Stones had little impact on her cultivation improvement.
“Alright. Oh, right, I plan to have Wen Wanwan take over some of the Qi Replenishing Pill refining orders from the pharmacy on my behalf. While I’m away, I hope Master can look after her a bit and make sure she’s not bullied. Though I don’t expect any trouble.”
“Alright.” Chu Xianning nodded slightly.
“There’s one more thing.” Jiang Huai turned back, looking at Chu Xianning’s eyes, but he didn’t know how to start.
“Speak.” Chu Xianning saw the hesitation and turmoil in Jiang Huai’s eyes.
“I was wondering… if it’s convenient for Master, could you perhaps also offer some guidance on sword techniques to Wen Wanwan these days? Of course, if Master is busy or unwilling, it’s okay to refuse.”
When Jiang Huai had previously taught Wen Wanwan the Mist Slash, Chu Xianning had been sitting nearby. Although this was Chu Xianning’s self-created sword move, Jiang Huai knew Chu Xianning was not petty. Even if her sword moves were passed on, she wouldn’t mind.
“If Master is unwilling, then forget it.” Jiang Huai immediately added after asking, not showing any disappointment in his eyes. He hadn’t intended to force Chu Xianning anyway.
“After you leave, have her come to the courtyard every day. I will guide her for an hour.” Chu Xianning said calmly, her fair cheeks expressionless, making it impossible for Jiang Huai to read her mood.
“Then I’ll trouble Master. I should pass by Ziyun Pavilion on my way down the mountain. Is there anything Master wants me to bring?”
“No. Protect yourself, and don’t act impulsively.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself.” Jiang Huai nodded lightly and turned back to diligently stir the food in the pot. Chu Xianning also left the kitchen.
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Jiang Huai finished cooking dinner and went to the backyard. Wen Wanwan was still diligently watching the pill furnace, her beautiful eyes not daring to blink, afraid of something going wrong. The moment the pills were refined, she was already prepared with a white cloth to catch all the falling pills, and then carefully cleaned away the dregs. In the time Jiang Huai took to cook, over seven hundred pills had already been refined.
“Alright, let’s eat first.” Jiang Huai said softly to her. “I’ve discussed it with Master. Starting tomorrow, if you wish, Wanwan, you can come to my courtyard every day, and Master will teach you sword practice for an hour each day.”
“Master just looks cold, but she’s actually very kind-hearted. You don’t need to worry, Wanwan,” Jiang Huai added softly. He then went to the dining table with Wen Wanwan. Chu Xianning was already seated at the table, waiting quietly.
Jiang Huai had prepared a lavish dinner today. He had also specifically saved a portion for Wen Fufu.
After dinner, Wen Wanwan followed Jiang Huai back to the backyard. Wen Wanwan stayed by the pill furnace. In truth, this was very simple; even a ten-year-old child, if told clearly, could do it.
Jiang Huai sat with Wen Wanwan, watching the stars and chatting. The pills were all finished refining after half an hour, totaling three thousand one hundred and seventy-two pills. Jiang Huai took out three thousand and put them into a Storage Ring. Then, he handed the remaining over four hundred Spirit Stones, along with the extra one hundred and seventy-two Qi Replenishing Pills, to Wen Wanwan. “Here, this is your payment for your hard work.”
Wen Wanwan shook her head in a panic and was about to refuse when Jiang Huai looked at her innocently and blinked. “Since you’re preparing to form your Core, you’ll need a lot of Spirit Stones to stabilize your Foundation Establishment. This way, even if you encounter Heavenly Way Spiritual Qi in Daoji Ancestral Land in the future, you’ll have a chance to refine a Heavenly Way Spirit Pill.”
“Senior Brother Jiang Huai always has such hard-to-refuse reasons…”
“Just accept it obediently. After all, Wanwan was the one busy just now, while I sat around idly and pocketed over two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.” Before Wen Wanwan could refuse again, Jiang Huai took her hand. “Alright, alright, let’s go bring dinner to Fufu, and then go to the pharmacy to deliver the goods. I have some things to discuss with the elders at the pharmacy.”
