18: Chapter 18 Double Yolks: A Happy Trouble

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Chu Sheng was toying with the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand.

[Simulation cooldown ended. Would you like to start the third simulation immediately?]

[Detected that the host has upgraded the prize pool to Lv.2. Random trait quality probabilities have been optimized, and a pity mechanism has been unlocked.]

[Current draw probabilities:]

[White Common: 50%]

[Green Rare: 32%]

[Blue Excellent: 14%]

[Purple Epic: 3%]

[Golden Legendary: 1%]

[Red Collection: 0.05%]

[If no Purple quality or higher traits are obtained in three consecutive refreshes, the third refresh is guaranteed to yield a Purple trait.]

Chu Sheng stared at the line for Red Collection 0.05% for three seconds, then silently looked away.

"This probability is harder than winning the lottery in my past life, but it's slightly better than some game gacha pools. Forget it, at least the pity Purple is guaranteed."

[Current equippable trait slots: 4]

[Bound: Trash (Black), "Many Children, Many Blessings" (Colorful)]

[The remaining 2 slots must be selected from the traits drawn this time.]

[Starting the first trait draw...]

Light orbs spun rapidly in his consciousness space: Blue, Green, Green, White, White.

[Draw results: Born Beauty (Blue), Ignorance is Bliss (Green), Dexterous (Green), Lame (White), Poor Sense of Direction (White).]

Chu Sheng's eyes lit up.

"Born Beauty? Blue quality? This trait..."

He touched his face. "Is this telling me to rely on my looks to make a living?"

Upon closer thought, this trait provided a huge boost to the "Many Children, Many Blessings" playstyle.

High attractiveness and great temperament made things twice as easy when searching for high-quality dao companions and raising the starting point of his offspring.

Not to mention that in certain situations, being good-looking was an inherent, hidden advantage.

"The value of this Blue trait might not be worse than a Purple one in some situations."

But he looked at the pity Purple prompt, then at his two remaining empty slots.

Strong Luck was a must-carry; it was a Purple Epic and a jack-of-all-trades.

The last slot was a choice between this Blue Born Beauty and an unknown Purple trait.

"Draw again! There's still a pity anyway."

[Consume 50 simulation points to perform the second trait refresh...]

The light orbs spun again: Green, Green, White, White, White.

[Draw results: Plain and Unremarkable (Green), Resolute (Green), Good Sense of Direction (White), Shapely Figure (White), Pathologically Lost (White).]

"..."

"I want to verify the deck."

Chu Sheng's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Where's my luck? Where's Strong Luck? Did a dog eat it?"

[Pity count +1. Currently, no Purple or higher traits have been obtained for two consecutive times.]

He took a deep breath, looking at his remaining simulation points.

"Last time! Pity Purple!"

[Consume 50 simulation points to perform the third trait refresh...]

The light orbs spun rapidly, faster and faster.

Two brilliant purple radiances burst forth, reflecting each other!

[Pity triggered! Obtained double Purple Epic traits on the third refresh!]

[Draw results: Body of Artifact Refinement (Purple), Pill Dao Physique (Purple)!]

Chu Sheng nearly jumped out of his chair.

"Double yolk?! Two Purples! Body of Artifact Refinement and Pill Dao Physique!"

Countless images flashed through his mind instantly.

Artifact refiners swinging hammers like rain, with magical artifacts piled up like small mountains; alchemists opening furnaces with fragrant scents, spirit stones flowing into their pockets with a clatter.

These were the two most sought-after and profitable vocational talents among the hundred arts of cultivation!

Happy troubles had arrived.

Four slots, besides the bound Trash, there were the must-carries "Many Children, Many Blessings" and Strong Luck.

Only one slot left.

He had to choose between [Body of Artifact Refinement (Purple)] and [Pill Dao Physique (Purple)].

"One cannot have both fish and bear's paw."

"Artifact refinement and the Pill Dao are immediate ways to make a living, increase strength, and accumulate resources!"

Chu Sheng's mind spun rapidly.

"Strong Luck plus alchemy? Strong Luck plus artifact refinement? Both sound invincible... but alchemists are more respected, have wider connections, and pills are a rigid necessity for cultivation; the money might come faster and more steadily."

"Artifact refinement isn't bad either, but good materials are hard to find, and the initial investment is much larger than alchemy..."

He remembered the days in the first simulation when he nearly broke his back for a few stalks of Blood Qi Grass, and the embarrassment of relying on a casino to save his first pot of gold in Luofeng Town during the second simulation.

"Choose Pill Dao Physique!"

He gritted his teeth.

"Strong Luck combined with the Pill Dao maxes out the success rate of alchemy, and the probability of producing top-grade pills skyrockets! This is the shortcut to quickly accumulate the first pot of gold and make connections! Artifact refinement... I'll talk about that when I have a chance later!"

[Trait selection complete.]

[Traits carried for this simulation: Trash (Black, Locked), "Many Children, Many Blessings" (Colorful), Strong Luck (Purple), Pill Dao Physique (Purple).]

[Start simulation?]

[The simulation will begin from the current real-time point: Chu Sheng, Qi Induction First Grade, low-level attendant of the Lin family.]

"Start!"

[Third life simulation initiated.]

[Loading traits: Trash (Black), "Many Children, Many Blessings" (Colorful), Strong Luck (Purple), Pill Dao Physique (Purple)]

[Chu Sheng, the newly promoted lowest-level attendant of the Lin residence, with a monthly salary of fifty taels, couldn't even afford a decent magical sword.]

[In two days, relying on his status as an attendant, Chu Sheng obtained a rough map and a broken sword. He then went to a teahouse and stuffed fifty taels of silver into the hands of the local constable.]

["Black Wind Stockade Master Song He, a peak Ninth Grade martial artist, is ruthless and cruel. Under the banner of upholding justice, he bullies men and oppresses women. There are quite a few medicinal herbs hidden in the stockade."]

["That Black Wind Stockade is actually Attendant Han's business." The constable lowered his voice.]

Chu Sheng was speechless.

Where there are people, there is Jianghu; where there is Jianghu, there is dirty work. He understood this.

But to run into this kind of setup on his first official mission, he could only say that Lin Hao and Han Li truly didn't treat him like a human.

[Two days later, Black Wind Hollow.]

[Chu Sheng, alone with a single sword, crept to the outskirts of the stockade.]

[The stockade gate was crooked, the watchtower was empty, and there wasn't even a guard dog.]

[He simply strode swaggeringly toward the stockade gate.]

[The two crooked-looking thieves guarding the gate didn't stop him; instead, they bowed and scraped.]

["Are you the Immortal Master from the Lin family? Our Stockade Master has been waiting for a long time!"]

[Sure enough, something was fishy.]

[Inside the Great Hall, the short, dark, and chubby Song He set out a banquet and was extremely polite to Chu Sheng.]

["Immortal Master Chu, your arrival is an honor! I failed to welcome you properly! My brothers are just trying to make a living; we accidentally offended the Lin family, and we truly deserve to die!"]

["This Song is willing to stay away from Qingshi Town from now on. I hope the Immortal Master will raise your hand and show mercy, and put in a good word before Han... cough cough... before the Lin family!"]

Deliberately slipping up, not even bothering to act anymore.

"The Pill Dao Physique has just started; I need a stable environment and startup capital. It's not suitable to fight to the death with a local snake right now."

Chu Sheng thought to himself, "But I can't let myself be manipulated either."

["Stockade Master Song." He put down his wine cup. "This humble one can give face to Attendant Han."]

[Song He's eyes lit up.]

["Today's matter, you know, I know, and Attendant Han knows. If there is a next time, or if word leaks out..."]

[Song He's expression changed, the fear in his eyes deepened, and he nodded repeatedly.]

["Understood! Understood! Thank you for your mercy, Immortal Master Chu! The medicinal herbs are all in the back warehouse; please help yourself! The brothers will pack up immediately..."]

[The next second, Song He's head hit the ground, his eyes filled with unwillingness.]

[Chu Sheng shook the blood off his sword.]

["I hadn't finished speaking. If word leaks out, this is the end result."]

[He looted a batch of primary medicinal herbs from the stockade, worth hundreds of taels of silver, discovered a stack of crumpled pill formulas and a pitch-black furnace, and then burned the stockade to the ground.]

[Returning to the Lin family, Chu Sheng began closed-door cultivation.]

[The terrifying talent of the Pill Dao Physique was fully revealed at this moment.]

Chu Sheng watched the simulation screen, feeling an itch in his heart.

"Just when I was sleepy, someone brought a pillow."

"Is this the Pill Dao Physique plus Strong Luck? Is this cheating?"

[After some time, Chu Sheng was already able to refine First Grade Low-Grade Blood Qi Pills.]

[After another period, he successfully refined Energy Recovery Powder, with a seventy percent success rate.]

[After that, he began to attempt First Grade Mid-Grade "Clear Heart Pills."]

[In half a year, Chu Sheng had become a proficient First Grade Alchemist, occasionally getting lucky and refining First Grade Mid-Grade pills.]

[His pills were secretly taken by Xiao Huan to be sold on consignment at the town's apothecary. The prices were fair, the quality was stable, and they soon opened up a market.]

"I'm rich, I'm rich!"

Chu Sheng's eyes gleamed. "The Pill Dao Physique handles the technical side, and Strong Luck handles the metaphysics; this combination is invincible!"

"Han Li? Lin Hao? I can't be bothered with you for now! When I pile up my pills, my cultivation rises, and I have plenty of spirit stones, I'll play with you slowly!"

"Just making money and cultivating isn't enough. "Many Children, Many Blessings" cannot be wasted; it's time to look for a dao companion."

"I didn't have the capital before, but now at least I'm an alchemist with a little money. I need to find someone who can bear children, has good aptitude, and ideally, can help me..."

Xiao Huan is a good person, but she is ultimately a mortal maid; her aptitude is likely insufficient.

What about other small families in town?

Or wait until I'm more famous and go to a bigger place to see?

[Chu Sheng is nineteen years old.]

[The pill business quietly accumulated his first pot of gold: hundreds of taels of silver and a small amount of spirit stones.]

[One evening, a down-and-out old cultivator who often came to buy pills drank too much and pulled Chu Sheng aside to chatter.]

["Little Friend Chu, I observe that your bones are extraordinary. It's a pity that without guidance, you will find it hard to achieve greatness."]

[He hiccuped from the alcohol and took out a yellowed, ancient booklet.]

["I obtained this remnant script when I was young, and it's useless to keep it now. Give me some money for wine, and I'll give it to you."]

[Chu Sheng took the booklet and opened the front page.]

[Densely packed, fly-head-sized regular script recorded various pill formulas, fire control techniques, and medicinal herb identification.]

["Old sir, this... this is too valuable..."]

["Valuable my ass!" The old cultivator waved his hand. "My spiritual roots are ruined; keeping it is just using it as firewood. If you have the heart, just treat me to a good meal of wine when you refine good pills in the future."]

[After saying this, he staggered away, his back disappearing into the twilight.]

"This isn't money for wine; this is picking up a mountain of gold!"

He suppressed his excitement and continued reading.

"Sure enough, Strong Luck plus Pill Body is the answer to this version."

[After Chu Sheng obtained the remnant script of the "Hundred Herbs Pill Classic," he began to systematically study alchemy theory.]

Alchemist grades vaguely correspond to a cultivator's realm.

First and Second Grade pills correspond to the ordinary Qi Induction Realm, Third and Fourth Grade correspond to the True Condensation Realm, Fifth and Sixth Grade correspond to the Spirit Sea Realm, Seventh and Eighth Grade correspond to the Dao Palace Realm, and Ninth Grade corresponds to the Supernatural Power Realm.

[Chu Sheng is currently barely considered a First Grade Alchemist, which is already rare in a place like Qingshi Town.]

[He stared at the pill formula for the Second Grade Longevity Cultivation Pill in the remnant script, his heart surging.]

[If he could refine this pill, not only would his cultivation be promising, but he could also use it to make friends with higher-level cultivators.]

"Nineteen years old, Qi Induction First Grade, First Grade Alchemist, possessing supreme traits, and holding a remnant ancient pill classic..."

This time, the road is still very long.

But the direction has never been so clear.

Chu Sheng watched the simulation screen, leaning back in his chair.

"Han Li, Lin Hao, Black Wind Stockade..."

He whispered to himself.

"This time, we'll play slowly."