Cultivate All You Want, Just Don't Ruin the Immortal World!

Chapter 28 – Stinky tofu comes out of the mountain

Qin Yu scanned the people around him one by one.

He tested over a dozen people in a row, but didn't find anyone with a talent for alchemy, nor for artifact refining or formation techniques.

"Is the talent for the hundred skills of cultivation really that rare?"

"The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish!"

"The rarer the talent, the more profitable the alchemist!"

Qin Yu continued his probing until he finally found someone with a D-level alchemy talent after testing more than thirty people.

[Fire Fan Child (D-level)]: Has some talent in the path of alchemy, able to smoothly enter the field and refine relatively simple elixirs.

"Got it!"

Qin Yu decisively copied it.

After discussing the benefits of alchemy, Jiao Xiaoxiao began formally explaining the basic knowledge of alchemy.

"First, to refine elixirs, you need to prepare a pill furnace. The primary function of the pill furnace is to convert the spiritual energy of us cultivators into the spiritual fire needed for alchemy."

Jiao Xiaoxiao took out a pill furnace from her Qiankun bag.

The pill furnace was dark red, with a hole on each side.

"These holes are called furnace apertures. With formation techniques inscribed on them, our spiritual energy is channeled into the furnace through these."

"If you're new to alchemy, I recommend using a single-aperture furnace. It's cheaper and easier to control."

"Besides the furnace, we also need to prepare the pill formula, materials needed for alchemy, and so on."

"A complete pill formula not only records the materials needed to refine the elixir but also the order in which they are added and the time each material needs to be refined."

"I have a few basic pill formulas here, along with some personal insights on refining them. If anyone's interested, you can come and copy them later."

"Even with detailed pill formulas, alchemy is still a very challenging task, especially for beginners!"

"Next, I'll explain the specific steps and precautions for refining the Strength Pill..."

Qin Yu listened carefully to Jiao Xiaoxiao's explanation.

Perhaps it was the boost from having the 'Fire Fan Child' talent, but Qin Yu quickly understood and memorized the steps Jiao Xiaoxiao explained.

He also remembered all the precautions clearly.

"Alchemy isn't that hard after all!" Qin Yu's confidence soared.

Soon, Jiao Xiaoxiao finished her explanation and demonstrated the process to everyone.

"That's all for today's class. If you have any questions afterward, you can ask the senior brothers and sisters in the Pill Fire Hall."

The Pill Fire Hall is where outer sect disciples of the Pill Refining Peak usually practice alchemy, located near the dining hall.

As soon as class ended, Qin Yu dashed out with the absolute strength of Qi Refinement Stage Two and was the first to copy the pill formulas Jiao Xiaoxiao had prepared.

Upon leaving the classroom, Li Zhengtong was already waiting at the door.

"How did it go?" Qin Yu asked upon meeting him.

Li Zhengtong confidently replied, "I feel that formation techniques aren't difficult. Getting started shouldn't be a problem."

Qin Yu said the same, "Piece of cake. Let's go to the marketplace and buy materials!"

The two of them hurried to the marketplace.

Qin Yu first bought the necessary spiritual pen and talisman paper with Li Zhengtong, spending a total of six contribution points.

Then, they went to a shop selling pill furnaces.

Qin Yu had no money on hand and wanted to inquire about the prices first.

"What? Even the cheapest pill furnace costs thirty contribution points? Why don't you just rob us?"

"My friend, the process of making a pill furnace is complex. Not only does the furnace body need to be sturdy and heat-resistant, but it also requires formation techniques to be inscribed on it. Thirty is already the cost price!"

"Yu Ge, why don't we pool our resources? I still have twenty contribution points left."

"That's still not enough. I only have two contribution points left!"

Qin Yu and Li Zhengtong left the shop. "Let's go find that senior brother with the street stall and see if he has any ideas."

The senior brother's name was Li Ming, and Qin Yu quickly found him at his usual spot.

Knowing Qin Yu was interested in alchemy, Li Ming was delighted and said Qin Yu could come to him with any alchemy-related questions in the future.

After Qin Yu explained his purpose, Li Ming didn't have many solutions.

"I've sold all the pill furnaces I used before, and the one I'm using now isn't suitable for beginners."

Naturally, Qin Yu wouldn't take Senior Brother Li Ming's furnace. "Do you know of any cheap sources for pill furnaces? Second-hand ones are fine too."

Li Ming thought seriously, "Currently, none of my friends are planning to change their furnaces, but I can keep an eye out for you."

"As for cheap sources, I don't know of any. I bought my first furnace with a month's worth of contribution points."

Outer sect disciples receive 30 contribution points a month!

"Do I have to wait three months?"

The wait was too long; Qin Yu couldn't afford to wait.

"Alright, thank you, Senior Brother!"

"No problem, no problem!"

Qin Yu and Li Zhengtong left Li Ming's stall, with Qin Yu constantly surveying the nearby stalls.

He's not someone who backs down when faced with a problem.

Once Qin Yu sets his sights on a goal, not even ten bulls could pull him back.

Li Zhengtong suggested, "Yu Ge, why don't we borrow ten points from Xiao Zhi and the others? Thirty contribution points aren't that much."

Qin Yu shook his head, revealing a mysterious smile.

"No need, I've already thought of a way to make money!"

"Just thirty contribution points, it's a piece of cake for someone like me, Qin!"

Qin Yu borrowed a Qiankun bag from Zhong Wende and took a leave to visit the nearby town. He didn't return to the Xuantian Sect until nightfall.

That night, Qin Yu attempted cultivation.

Since he had plans for the next morning, he didn't consume his last Qi Refinement Pill.

The progress at Qi Refinement Stage Two was slower.

At Qi Refinement Stage One, without taking elixirs, Qin Yu could improve by three percent overnight!

Now, after a whole night of cultivation, he only improved by a little over one percent.

Without elixirs, the progress was too slow.

When dawn broke, Qin Yu pushed a cart to the marketplace.

A sign hung on the cart, with two large characters written on it, "Stinky Tofu!"

"Luckily, the leftover raw materials from before going up the mountain weren't thrown away, but the smell is even stronger now, ugh!"

"No worries, it stinks when you smell it, but it's delicious when you eat it!"

Ordinary snacks were bought with copper coins, but Qin Yu considered his 'stinky tofu' to be no ordinary snack. It was the only one of its kind on this cultivation continent.

This groundbreaking invention would make the entire culinary world tremble.

Selling it for just one contribution point per skewer seemed quite cheap.

Qin Yu found an empty spot for his cart, right next to a senior brother selling candied hawthorn.

"Ugh! What is that smell?"

The candied hawthorn senior brother pinched his nose and looked at Qin Yu, asking, "My friend, the marketplace prohibits selling feces. If caught, you'll be fined!"

Seeing someone insult his proud stinky tofu, Qin Yu retorted without hesitation:

"Old Deng, I'm selling stinky tofu. Repeat after me: Stinky, Tofu. If you can't read, go back and learn with the kids for a few more years."

The candied hawthorn senior brother angrily said, "I don't care what you're selling, but with such a strong smell, how am I supposed to sell my candied hawthorn?"

Qin Yu had a sudden inspiration, "My friend, you're mistaken!"

"Haven't you heard of the contrast method?"

Candied Hawthorn Senior Brother: "What do you mean?"

Qin Yu: "It's like standing next to someone ugly makes you look more handsome than usual, or standing next to someone dark makes you look fairer than usual!"

Candied Hawthorn Senior Brother: "Now that you mention it, that makes sense!"

Qin Yu: "Similarly, your candied hawthorn next to my stinky tofu makes your candied hawthorn seem even more sweet and delicious, understand?"

Candied Hawthorn Senior Brother: "I see, my friend, I apologize for misunderstanding you earlier!"

Qin Yu generously said, "No problem, no problem!"

'Old Deng, if you can sell even one skewer of candied hawthorn next to me, I'll consider you impressive!'