Over The World, Beyond Heaven

Chapter 1064 1064: Pass the Test and Become a One-star Apothecary

After Zheng-Fu had chosen the medicinal recipe he wanted, the elder brought out the ingredients for him and took him to a room for testing. Inside the room, only the elder, Fan-Chen, and Zheng-Fu could enter. Normally, Fan-Chen could not enter. But because Zheng-Fu asked the elder to allow him, Fan-Chen was able to come in and take a closer look at Zheng-Fu's medicine concoction.

"You have three shichen to concoct this medicine. And I have prepared three sets of ingredients for you. You can use them to their fullest potential and free of charge if you pass the test. But if you don't pass, you'll have to pay for them. The price of these three sets of ingredients is equivalent to sixty thousand mission scores. Now... do you have anything else to ask me?" The elder explained the rules for the test again and allowed Zheng-Fu to ask his questions one last time.

"I would like to ask if I'm successful with just one set, and if there's still time left to make a second and third set, will those medicinal pills belong to me?" Zheng-Fu was not worried at all. But what he wanted to know was whether he would get anything from the remaining ingredients.

Hah!

"Of course, it'll be yours. Not just the second and third sets. But all the pills you concoct this time will be yours. Ten Thousand Heavenly Medicines Tower won't take even a single one of them!" The elder looked somewhat shocked by Zheng-Fu's question. He did not think that what Zheng-Fu asked was about this matter. Usually, the members just ask if they can add more ingredients to their set. And Zheng-Fu's question made the elder could not help but smile. Because of that, he broke the rule of having to put every medicinal pill a tester concocted into the Ten Thousand Heavenly Medicines Tower's treasury and instead gave it all to Zheng-Fu to encourage him.

"Thank you for the answer. I understood, Elder. Then I'd like to get started now!" Zheng-Fu nodded in satisfaction. He turned back to the cauldron in front of him and immediately started concocting the first set of ingredients.

The medicine recipe Zheng-Fu chose to use in this test was for the temporary strength-enhancing pill. Its medicinal power could make the person who consumes it double their strength. Although it was not as good as the Spirit Energy Enhancing Pill used for cultivating, it was also useful.

Zheng-Fu chose this kind of medicine recipe not because it was easy to prepare. But he thought that it could still be developed further. And it could also be modified to use fewer ingredients than specified in the recipe. This allowed Zheng-Fu to use only a quarter of the ingredients in each set. Therefore, he would be able to concoct more than four sets of pills instead of just three. And for each set, he was confident that it would yield no less than ten or fifteen pills at the very least. Which was twice as much as the original recipe.

"Elder, why did he divide the ingredients like that, sir? Doesn't this type of strength-enhancing pill recipe require all the ingredients provided? And the methods he used were different. He chose to add the Ivory Stalk to simmer first instead of the Red Power Leaf. Like this, does that mean he's muddling it on?" Fan-Chen was very worried about Zheng-Fu. Because he had read this kind of medicine concoction recipe before. And he remembered all the steps and ingredients very well. Although he could not concoct it, he knew that what Zheng-Fu did was wrong. So, he turned to ask the elder next to him.

"I also cannot tell you whether he did right or wrong. The medicine concoction recipes are not fixed. Everyone has their own methods and procedures. But the recipes that our Ten Thousand Heavenly Medicines Tower uses for the test are the simplest and most effective. So, we've to wait until he finishes!" The elder could not answer Fan-Chen. Because each apothecary had a different method of concocting medicine. But using different methods, the results would be different as well.

"I understand, Elder!" Fan-Chen nodded, listening and staring at Zheng-Fu without blinking. Because Zheng-Fu told him to look carefully at every step of his concocting method. So, he did not want to miss anything.

Half an hour passed...

Booooooom!!!

Hah!

After half an hour, the first set of medicine was finally complete. As the final stage of concocting was completed, a large amount of smoke exploded from the cauldron, along with the alluring aroma wafting from the smoke.

"How is this possible!?"

"What is this aroma? Why does it smell so good!?"

Both the elder and Fan-Chen were in a state of shock and disbelief in their own eyes. Because Zheng-Fu only took half an hour to concoct the Excellent strength-enhancing pills, which usually had to take no less than one shichen or at least one and a half hours. However, Zheng-Fu only used one-quarter of the period, as well as the amount of ingredients. In addition to using a very short period, the aroma of the pills floating in the smoke still smelled as good as if it were a Marvelous Pill.

"There's such an aroma floating like this, does that mean Younger Brother Zheng-Fu has succeeded, sir, Elder?" As Fan-Chen recovered from his shock, he hurriedly turned to ask the elder who was staring at Zheng-Fu without batting an eye. Because this aroma was an indication that Zheng-Fu had finished concocting medicine. And it should also mean that Zheng-Fu passed the test.

"Yes, he passed the test. Pass without any doubts!" The elder seemed to be thinking about something. As he answered, he tried to stare thoughtfully at the crimson medicinal pill in Zheng-Fu's hand. Because of the aroma and energy waves radiating from the pill, the elder could not help but wonder if it was the same type of strength-enhancing pill that was in the recipe.

'The aroma and soft energy wave from the pills are comparable to Marvelous Pill. Not only is the red color darker, but the pattern on the pills is different. But I'm sure they're the strength-enhancing pills as well as in the recipe. So why are the results so different?' The elder could not voice his doubts. So, he was still lost in thought and watched as Zheng-Fu took out strength-enhancing pills after pills from the cauldron until it exceeded the number it should have.

Hah!

"How could there be more than five pills with fewer ingredients?!" The elder finally could not resist his curiosity and shouted as he hurriedly walked closer to Zheng-Fu's cauldron to see how many more pills there were still inside.

Huh!

Flap!

But as the Elder approached, Zheng-Fu quickly used his energy to pull out the remaining pills and hurriedly stored them all. And as he pulled them out, he made them overlap to block the elder's vision. It only made the elder see four more pills floating out of the cauldron.

The elder was a little displeased to see that Zheng-Fu had rushed to collect the medicine like that because he wanted to check whether those strength-enhancing pills were Excellent Pills according to the recipe. Or were they Marvelous Pills like he thought?

"Why are you in such a hurry to collect those pills? Doing that, if you aren't careful, may cause the medicine to deteriorate." The elder did not dare ask to see the medicine that Zheng-Fu had just finished concocting. Because it seemed inappropriate, as he was the Deputy Chief of Ten Thousand Heavenly Medicines Tower. So, he spoke indirectly instead.

"I know that, Elder. But I have a way to prevent it from losing its quality when picked up quickly, because before, I had encountered problems from people who were greedy and wanted to get my medicine. So, I had to invent a method of protection. So, Elder, don't worry!" Zheng-Fu turned and smiled at the elder and replied with slightly stinging words. He already knew what the elder wanted from walking up to him and speaking to him like that.

Ah!

"Is that so! Well then, I just want to warn you so you don't make a mistake. But since you already have a method of protection, I'm relieved. And because you were able to concoct an Excellent Level medicine completely, you're considered to have passed the test. You'll receive a One-star Apothecary badge after the time is up!

"This badge can be used to show your identity anywhere in this Deity Land. Because it was issued by the Apothecary Association of Deity Land. However, the Ten Thousand Heavenly Medicines Tower can only grant the Three-star Apothecary badge. Because the individuals with the highest level, Force Leader and I, are Four-star Apothecaries. If you want to become a Four-star Apothecary, you'll only have to go to the Cloud Valley City Branch of the Apothecary Association, which has a Five-star Apothecary."

The elder advised Zheng-Fu about the apothecary badge that Zheng-Fu would receive, which was not only applicable within the Three Suns Force. But it can be used throughout Deity Land. Because it was issued by the Apothecary Association. And of course, the elder had to submit the matter of Zheng-Fu being able to concoct Excellent Level medicine to the Apothecary Association to confirm his status. Otherwise, the badge he received would be invalid and could not be used.

"Thank you, Elder. Then I'd like to concoct the next set of pills first. And since I have passed the test, if possible, I'd like to be here with only two of us, Elder Brother Fan-Chen and I. Elder, please proceed it for me, sir. Because I want to get the apothecary badge quickly to use it for the right to buy herbs at a cheap price."

Even though the elder was a good person, Zheng-Fu still did not want him to know the methods of his medicine concoction at that moment. Because he knew that just now, the elder was not paying attention to details. But after he finished concocting, and the quality of the pills that he concocted was evident, the elder would definitely want to know more. So, he politely asked the elder to leave, using the excuse that he wanted to get the apothecary badge quickly.

Ah!

"If you want that, fine. I'll go take care of this matter. But first, I have to tell you that you only have five and a half hours left. If the time runs out, you must leave the testing room immediately, no matter what the process is!" The elder was a little dissatisfied that Zheng-Fu had chased him out like this. Because he wanted to see Zheng-Fu's medicine concoction method again. He did not think that Zheng-Fu would not let him stay and watch with such an irritating excuse.

"No need to worry about that, Elder. I'll definitely leave as soon as the time is over. In return, I'll write down the method for concocting the strength-enhancing pill that I concocted and provide you with an example of the finished version later. Is that good, sir?" Zheng-Fu was not only good at acting, but he was also good at persuading and tricking others into loving him as well. He knew that such an offer would improve his relationship with the Elder. Because in the future, he might have something for the elder to help with.

Hah!

"Are you telling the truth?" The elder looked excited and quite delighted. He did not expect Zheng-Fu to give him the medicine concoction recipe as well as the finished samples. Receiving those things would be better than just standing and observing.

"Of course, sir, Elder! I always keep my word!" Zheng-Fu smiled slightly in a friendly manner. But beneath that normal-looking face was a mischievous and evil smile. Because at that moment, the elder was caught by the hook that Zheng-Fu had thrown out.

----------------

Read 'Over The World, Beyond Heaven' before anyone else with a 2-chapter update a day at www.jinovel.com/en