47: Chapter 47 Alchemist Certification and Auction Breakthrough

Bean-sized raindrops pelted against the rock face, creating a dense and rapid pattering sound.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged at the edge of the spiritual spring; the spiritual power within his body, which had previously surged like a raging torrent, gradually calmed down, eventually receding into his Dantian like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

He slowly opened his eyes, and in his deep pupils, there was no frustration at the blocked Breakthrough, only unfathomable calmness.

Although the barrier to the second level of Foundation Establishment had loosened, forcibly attempting a Breakthrough in such a state of intense emotional volatility would be no different from drinking poison to quench thirst.

His thoughts were completely occupied by the fleeting golden ripples on the System interface.

Luck Value.

This was a hidden dimension that had never appeared in the basic settings of "More Children, More Blessings."

Combining the covert surveillance by the Blood Crow Tower in recent days, the relentless commercial strangulation from the Li Family, and the death trap set by Steward Yan Song of the Medicine King Pavilion regarding the Alchemy certification, a vague clue in Lin Chen's mind gradually became clear.

The System was not merely a lifeless object that mechanically distributed rewards.

When the Family faced an existential crisis, it began to evaluate the overall fortune and risk-resistance capability of this nascent "Immortal Clan."

That flickering, unknown Luck Value was like a silent warning, reminding him that simple individual cultivation improvement was no longer enough to break the deadlock; he had to truly forge the Lin Family into an impenetrable block and drive a wedge of his own into the crushing pressure of external forces.

And right now, the first hammer strike for this wedge was the Alchemy certification three days later.

Lin Chen stood up, straightened his robes, and pushed open the heavy stone door of the secret chamber.

Inside the main cave of Shiyuan Valley, a few dim Spirit Stone lamps were lit in the temporarily cleared meeting hall.

The air was filled with a faint dampness and the scent of medicinal herbs.

Su Qingyao was lowering her head, organizing the classics salvaged from Luoxia Valley, while Qin Ruowei was quickly flipping through a stack of ink-scented papers at a large stone table.

Hearing footsteps, both women raised their heads simultaneously.

Qin Ruowei immediately handed him a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, the steaming vapor rising in curls into the cool air.

"Master, according to your instructions, I have gone through the backgrounds of all registered Alchemists of Elementary Grade or above within Liuyun Market and the surrounding hundred miles."

Lin Chen took the teacup, his fingertips stroking the smooth, warm surface; he didn't drink, only stared at the list on the table.

Qin Ruowei pointed to the paper, her voice cold and crisp: "There are seven people in total who meet the recommendation criteria and whom we might be able to contact. Of these, five are either nominal Guest Elders of the Medicine King Pavilion or have intricate interests tied to the Ge Family behind the Li Family, and Steward Yan Song has already tipped them off, so this path is blocked. One remaining individual is a free spirit who went into the Ten Thousand Mountains to gather herbs half a year ago and has been missing since."

Her finger finally stopped at a somewhat reclusive name at the very end of the list.

"The last one is named Yun He. Intermediate Alchemist." Qin Ruowei looked up at Lin Chen, speeding up her speech, "This person has an extremely eccentric temperament and has lived alone in the West Mountain Hollow outside the market for years. He is extremely obsessed with restoring several ancient, incomplete, and obscure Pill Formulas, which has led to his originally substantial Family fortune being squandered. Now, he is even strapped for Spirit Stones to purchase resources for daily cultivation. Recently, he has frequently consigned the niche Medicinal Pills he refined at the underground and medium-sized auctions in the market, trying to exchange them for Spirit Stones and specific rare Spiritual Plants, but because the effects are too niche, almost no one is interested."

Lin Chen's gaze landed on the four words "resources exhausted," his right thumb subconsciously stroking the rough stone ring.

A tech fanatic who was short on money, reclusive, obsessed with technique, and not accepted by the mainstream circle.

This kind of person is the hardest to deal with, but also the easiest to sway with specific bargaining chips.

Steward Yan Song's blockade net seems seamless, but this is precisely the fish that slipped through the net.

"What has he been trying to buy recently?" Lin Chen asked.

"Three-hundred-year-old Yin Erosion Grass," Qin Ruowei replied, "a rare poisonous plant that only grows in places of extreme Yin. There is a medium-sized auction in Liuyun Market tonight, and Yun He has Medicinal Pills consigned there; that Yin Erosion Grass is also on his purchase list."

Lin Chen drank the now-cool tea in one gulp and set the cup heavily on the stone table.

"Prepare two cloaks for concealing one's aura. Qingyao, you come with me."

At nightfall, the rain in Liuyun Market had stopped, and the stagnant water on the bluestone road reflected the colorful, glowing Formations of the shops on both sides.

The medium-sized auction house was located underground in the market; the air was mixed with the sweat of various Cultivators, the smell of cheap spices, and a faint scent of blood.

Lin Chen wore a wide bamboo hat with a black, Divine Sense-blocking veil hanging from the brim, while Su Qingyao wore a loose gray robe, following closely by his side.

With Qin Ruowei's secret assistance, the two of them sat down silently in an inconspicuous corner in the back row.

The first half of the auction was uneventful.

Until a scantily clad female Cultivator walked onto the stage carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.

"The next auction item is the 'Miasma-Clearing Poison-Repelling Pill' consigned by an anonymous Intermediate Alchemist, totaling three bottles. This pill has miraculous effects against specific swamp miasmas. The consignor requests a starting price of three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones or an equivalent exchange for one three-hundred-year-old Yin Erosion Grass." The auctioneer's voice echoed with the amplification of a Formation, but the only response was a wave of whispering from the audience.

Swamp miasma zones are extremely rare in the Eastern Region; for the vast majority of Loose Cultivators, such highly specific Medicinal Pills are like chicken ribs—tasteless to eat but a waste to discard—let alone the high starting price.

Lin Chen's gaze pierced through the Divine Sense-blocking veil, staring fixedly at the three emerald-green jade bottles on the stage.

Across a distance of several dozen zhang, his powerful Divine Sense quietly probed outward, capturing a trace of medicinal aura faintly emanating from within the jade bottles.

Su Qingyao beside him suddenly leaned in, her warm breath hitting Lin Chen's ear through her veil, carrying her unique, fresh scent of plants and trees.

She lowered her voice, her tone revealing a hint of surprise: "The quality of this Medicinal Pill... is astonishing. Although it was just a fleeting glance, I can feel the cloud patterns faintly appearing on the surface of the pill coat. He didn't use the traditional slow-simmering method, but the extremely violent 'Layered Wave Alchemy Fusion Method,' which requires terrifyingly precise micro-control of Divine Sense. This person's attainment in Alchemy is definitely more than just Intermediate."

Lin Chen nodded slightly. This was the value he wanted.

Seeing the auctioneer raise his wooden gavel to announce a failed bid, Lin Chen raised his right hand unhurriedly.

"Four hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. I want them all."

A low, disguised, and hoarse voice exploded in the silent auction house.

Directly paying a fifty-percent premium to sweep up the goods; this nouveau-riche behavior immediately attracted countless probing gazes from those around him.

Lin Chen ignored the gazes of these small fries; his keen intuition made him look up suddenly, his sight piercing through the beaded curtains of the VIP seats on the second floor as if it were tangible.

There, a cold, arrogant gaze was looking down at the entire scene from a high position.

Even with the obstruction of the Formation, Lin Chen could clearly identify that unique medicinal aura belonging to the Medicine King Pavilion.

Steward Yan Song.

He was indeed here, watching every unusual movement in the market.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze, his fingers continuing to stroke the stone ring, his heart without a ripple, even harboring a cold sneer.

Watch, then. Watch to your heart's content.

After the auction ended, Lin Chen went to the settlement room in the backstage according to the rules.

The settlement deacon was a chubby middle-aged man, who was counting the Spirit Stones Lin Chen tossed onto the table with a face full of smiles.

Lin Chen put the three bottles of Miasma-Clearing Poison-Repelling Pills into his Storage Pouch, seemingly casually picking up one of the empty jade bottles to fiddle with, and said casually: "The cloud patterns on this Medicinal Pill are quite unique, and the refinement technique has quite an ancient feel. I am also somewhat obsessed with the path of Alchemy; I wonder if the deacon could introduce this Great Master? I would like to ask for some advice in person."

The deacon's hand, which was counting the Spirit Stones, paused, and he looked up to size Lin Chen up.

In this market, there are many weirdos who spend big money on niche Medicinal Pills, but not many who want to befriend that poor, eccentric old man.

However, who would refuse to make money?

The deacon skillfully fished out a roughly polished wooden token from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and extended five short, thick fingers: "Great Master Yun He has a strange temper and does not see unexpected guests. This is the contact talisman he left behind; he only accepts inquiries related to Alchemy. It will be five Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Lin Chen didn't waste words, directly slapped down five Spirit Stones, picked up the token, and turned to leave.

The next morning, West Mountain Hollow.

After a night of heavy rain, the muddy mountain path was not easy to walk on.

The Spiritual Qi here was extremely thin, and a few dilapidated bamboo houses stood alone on the hillside.

The open space in front of the house, which should have been cultivated into a herb field, was overgrown with weeds, and the air was filled with a complex, pungent, and even slightly burnt medicinal scent.

Lin Chen stepped into this desolate land alone.

He did not deliberately hide his footsteps, making a "squelch" sound as he stepped on the waterlogged fallen leaves.

In front of the bamboo house, an old man with graying hair and a haggard face was squatting in front of an old Pill Furnace covered with cracks.

His ten fingers were covered in black ash, his brows were tightly locked, and he was staring fixedly at the weak earth fire at the bottom of the furnace; for the arrival of Lin Chen, an uninvited guest, he didn't even lift an eyelid, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with him.

Lin Chen did not step forward to offer greetings, nor did he engage in polite small talk.

To deal with someone so immersed in their own world, one must pierce through their defenses with a single, sharp strike.

He walked to within three steps of the old man, stopped, took out the jade bottle he had won at auction last night from his Storage Pouch, pulled out the wooden stopper, and poured out a single Clearing Miasma and Detoxification Pill, placing it gently on the dusty stone table nearby.

"When you were fusing the juice of the third auxiliary ingredient, 'Biyuan Vine', your timing in withdrawing the fire was off by half a breath." Lin Chen's voice was calm, yet every word was like a blade, directly reciting the conclusion Su Qingyao had reached after carefully studying the Medicinal Pill last night. "This slight deviation in heat control caused a trace of fire poison to remain inside the Medicinal Pill. You wanted to use it to neutralize the extreme cold medicinal properties of the 'Yin-Eroding Grass' you've been seeking, right? Pity, you took the wrong path; the fire poison will only cause the medicinal power of the 'Yin-Eroding Grass' to collapse instantly."

The moment his words fell, Yunhe's body, which had previously been like a withered tree, stiffened abruptly.

He slowly turned his head, and in those originally turbid, bloodshot eyes, a startling brilliance suddenly erupted.

He looked like a lone wolf whose feeding had been disturbed, staring fixedly at Lin Chen's overly young face.

"You understand Alchemy?" Yunhe's voice was like sandpaper rubbing against a rusted piece of iron, harsh and full of oppressive pressure.

Lin Chen met his gaze without flinching and shook his head: "I only know a little. But my Dao Companion has studied this path quite deeply. I came here rashly today because I wish to make a trade with you, Senior."

He did not wait for Yunhe to refuse, but directly took out an exquisite jade box the size of a palm from his sleeve.

As the lid opened, an extremely pure and crisp Spiritual Qi of plants and trees instantly dispersed the charred smell in the surroundings.

At the bottom of the jade box, ten perfectly cut Low-Grade Spirit Stones were neatly arranged.

And resting quietly above the Spirit Stones was a small, transparent glass bottle, inside of which was half a finger's depth of emerald-green liquid.

The liquid seemed to have a life of its own, gently undulating in the bottle and emitting a soft, faint glow.

"I heard that you are in urgent need of 'Yin-Eroding Grass', Senior. This item is extremely cold and rare, and indeed hard to find in a short time." Lin Chen pointed to the small bottle, "But this is the essence refined by my Dao Companion using 'Moon Shadow Grass'. Although it lacks age, it has the advantage of having extremely pure medicinal properties, and it is also of an extreme cold nature. Together with these ten Spirit Stones, I wonder if it can solve your current urgent need, Senior?"

Yunhe's gaze was instantly glued to the bottle of emerald-green liquid.

He did not care about the Spirit Stones that would have been enough to improve his living conditions for several months, but instead tremblingly reached out with his calloused, soot-stained fingers and carefully pinched the small glass bottle.

He pulled out the stopper, took a deep sniff at the tip of his nose, and then actually stuck out his tongue and licked a barely visible drop of residual liquid from the edge of the bottle opening.

After closing his eyes and savoring it for several breaths, when Yunhe opened his eyes again, the shock in them could no longer be concealed.

"The medicinal purity has reached ninety-nine percent... not a trace of impure Qi, and the refining technique is unbelievably delicate, even retaining the core vitality of the 'Moon Shadow Grass'. This is definitely not something a mediocre hand could achieve." Yunhe's gaze toward Lin Chen changed, carrying a hint of scrutiny and inquiry, "Which major sect in the Eastern Region did your Dao Companion study under?"

Lin Chen's expression remained unchanged, his tone natural: "A Loose Cultivator from the Eastern Region, our Family fell into decline, so we have mainly relied on self-study, occasionally gleaning insights from some fragmentary ancient texts."

Yunhe sneered, clearly not believing such nonsense.

But he did not delve deeper; who in the Cultivation world doesn't have secrets?

He gripped the small glass bottle tightly in his palm, pushed the jade box back in front of Lin Chen, and tapped his withered, thin fingers on the stone table twice.

"I accept this 'Moon Shadow Grass' essence. Speak, what do you want? Medicinal Pills? Or some obscure Pill Formula?"

"Neither." Lin Chen met Yunhe's gaze and said word by word, "I only ask that you, Senior, come forward and provide a joint recommendation for my Dao Companion's Elementary Alchemist certification."

Yunhe's fingers tapping on the table stopped abruptly.

He looked at Lin Chen deeply, then suddenly let out a hoarse, low laugh.

"So that's it. So it was for this. Those hypocrites at the Medicine King Pavilion who hold the lifeline of Medicinal Pills in Liuyun Market have indeed been frantically suppressing some up-and-coming newcomers recently." Yunhe squatted back in front of the Pill Furnace, fiddling with the earth fire while speaking unhurriedly, "A recommendation is fine. But I, Yunhe, never do business at a loss, and I certainly don't vouch for people casually. I have two conditions."

"Please speak, Senior."

"First, after the certification is passed, I want to have three face-to-face exchanges on Alchemy insights with your Dao Companion, each time no less than two hours. I am very interested in this purification technique." Yunhe said without looking up.

"Second, you must swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao that if your Family influence succeeds in the future, you must watch out for and provide priority access to me for these three medicinal ingredients: 'Yin-Eroding Grass', 'Corpse-Rot Flower', and 'Seven-Leaf Star Orchid'. I will never take advantage of you on the price; I will settle according to the highest market price in the market."

Lin Chen calculated quickly in his mind.

These three conditions seemed harsh, but they were actually completely within the controllable range.

As for exchanging insights, Su Qingyao had the theory deduced by the System's Scripture Pavilion as her backing, so she was not afraid of being exposed; as for searching for Spirit Medicine, that was naturally a necessary path for future power expansion.

"Deal." Lin Chen did not hesitate at all, "But the location for exchanging insights must be designated by our side to ensure safety."

Yunhe twitched the corners of his mouth nonchalantly, considering it an agreement.

He fished out a cyan Jade Slip representing the status of an Intermediate Alchemist from his tattered Storage Pouch, his Divine Sense surged, and he quickly recorded the recommendation information and his unique Soul imprint inside, then tossed it to Lin Chen.

"Take it. For the certification meeting in three days, I hope your Dao Companion won't let me down."

Lin Chen took the Jade Slip, checked it carefully to make sure it was correct, tucked it away, bowed, turned around, and left with long strides.

Leaving the western mountain col, the mountain wind blew through the sparse trees, bringing a hint of chill.

Lin Chen walked on the muddy path with a steady pace.

On the surface, he looked completely unguarded, but his Divine Sense at the Peak of Foundation Establishment had long since spread out like a large net in a radius of a hundred zhang.

Just as he was about to walk out of this mountain forest, the extremely subtle sound of branches and leaves rubbing against each other in a dense thicket about eighty zhang to his back-left fell into his perception.

It was a breathing frequency that had been deliberately suppressed, accompanied by a trace of an extremely faint, yet keenly captured, smell of the specific breath-concealing medicinal powder of the Medicine King Pavilion.

Someone was monitoring him. And they had been lurking here before he even arrived.

Lin Chen did not look back, nor did he even pause in the rhythm of his steps.

He let that figure hiding in the shadows quietly retreat, his right thumb habitually rubbing the coarse stone ring again.

His brain was racing at this moment.

That scout was definitely not coming for him, but was specifically watching Yunhe.

Steward Yan Song, that old fox, looked arrogant but was actually meticulous. He not only blockaded the five related alchemists but even sent people to watch the peripheral figure of Yunhe closely, just to ensure the Lin Family had no way out.

Now that the scout had retreated, the news must have been passed back.

A cold arc hooked the corner of Lin Chen's mouth.

He could almost imagine how Steward Yan Song, in that luxurious backyard of the Medicine King Pavilion branch in Liuyun Market, would furiously crush the teacup in his hand upon hearing this news.

Steward Yan Song must have thought he had cut off all the ways for the Lin Family to survive, but he didn't expect that he could forcefully pry open a gap in a desperate situation.

Since the conspiracy had been broken, what followed would be a blatant scheme and suppression without bottom lines.

Lin Chen took a deep breath of the air that smelled of damp earth after the rain.

Steward Yan Song could not interfere with Yunhe's decision, but he absolutely had the ability to interfere with the certification scene three days later.

The Medicine King Pavilion had been operating in Liuyun Market for many years, and its interests were intertwined with the Ge Family behind it.

Steward Yan Song would definitely go to find the Ge Family, and he would definitely use more resources.

He might even reach out directly to the person presiding over this certification meeting.

A name from Qin Ruowei's intelligence surfaced in Lin Chen's mind: Deacon Zhou.

The person in power who was in charge of the Elementary Alchemist certification in the market, a guy notoriously greedy and very close to the Medicine King Pavilion.

At this moment, Steward Yan Song had probably already prepared a generous "small gift" and sent it to that Deacon Zhou's residence.

A difficulty specifically targeting Su Qingyao, targeting the life and death of the Lin Family, had already bared its fangs in the dark.

The mountain wind was blowing, signaling the coming storm.

The certification meeting in three days was destined not to be just a simple Alchemy test.

Lin Chen quickened his pace, his figure gradually blending into the mist ahead.

This game of chess had only just begun.