Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The First Business Deal
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Lin was taking care of the freshly planted medicinal herbs in his garden which were already showing signs of vitality even though they were just recently planted.
This was all thanks to Fang Lin’s Reviving Dead Wood Body; all the young saplings planted by him became full of vitality, growing several times faster than usual.
The cultivation of medicinal herbs is an intricate process, not much easier than alchemy.
Even sometimes, it requires more dedication than alchemy.
A good Pill Refiner must also be a good herbal cultivator.
Back when Fang Lin was at the Pill Saint Palace, he had grown medicinal herbs for some time, even showing great interest, to the extent that he nearly gave up on pill refining.
Although it has been a long while since he last cultivated anything, he was still quite adept at it.
However, the conditions at Pill Saint Palace in his previous life were far superior to those that exist now, starting with the spiritual fields.
Soil imbued with nature’s spiritual energy greatly accelerates the growth of medicinal herbs.
Second is irrigation with Spiritual Liquid, a rare commodity. Apart from the naturally occurring ones, most of it is manmade.
The Spiritual Liquid, which is concocted using various fine medicinal materials and then diluted, can also promote the growth of medicinal herbs and significantly improve their medicinal properties when poured into the field.
Furthermore, there are arrays. The most sophisticated among them is the Time Array, which uses the strong Array Force to speed up the passage of time in a certain area, allowing medicinal herbs to mature in a very short time.
During Fang Lin’s time at the Pill Saint Palace in his previous life, all these facilities were readily available.
But here, there was no spiritual field, no Spiritual Liquid, and the concept of Time Array was even more far-fetched. Hence, he could only cultivate medicinal herbs in the simplest and most primitive way.
However, Fang Lin didn’t mind, thinking of it as cultivation of temperament even though it was tiring.
“Is Disciple Fang present? Martial Sect official disciple Zhang Wen pays his respects.” A man’s voice came from outside the gate but didn’t sound arrogant.
Fang Lin quickly replied that he was coming, without minding the mud on his hands, he opened the courtyard gate immediately.
Outside the gate stood a youth dressed in a red robe. He appeared to be close to thirty, looking a bit vicissitudinous.
The red robe indicates that he was an official disciple of the Martial Sect.
The sight of Fang Lin, with his sleeves rolled up, hands full of mud, and face dotted with some mud, left Zhang Wen somewhat dumbfounded.
Fang Lin grinned and casually wiped his hands on his clothes, saying, “I wonder what official disciple Zhang from the Martial Sect needs from me? You caught me in the middle of herbs cultivation. Pardon my appearance.”
Zhang Wen shook his head and said with a smile, “It’s fine, you’re quite a casual fellow.”
Fang Lin quickly invited Zhang Wen into the courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard and seeing the orderly medicinal herbs, Zhang Wen couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“Not only is Disciple Fang an expert in pill refining, but also a master in cultivating medicinal herbs,” Zhang Wen complimented.
Fang Lin replied, “I’m just killing time.”
Zhang Wen sat beside the stone table in the courtyard. After Fang Lin freshened a bit, he took a seat opposite Zhang Wen.
“Disciple Fang, I came here to request you to refine pills for me,” Zhang Wen said directly, without beating around the bush.
Fang Lin was overjoyed at the request. He had been waiting for this opportunity for several days, finally, someone commissioned him to refine pills. This was a golden opportunity.
“What kind of pills does Brother Zhang wish to refine?” Fang Lin asked.
Zhang Wen replied, “Detoxification Pills, can you refine them?”
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin confidently responded, “Detoxification Pill, of course, no problem.”
Seeing Fang Lin’s confident remark, Zhang Wen hesitated. After all, Fang Lin was only a lower-grade disciple. Although Fang Lin defeated the upper-grade disciple Lu Jiuhe in the previous pill refining competition, that didn’t mean Fang Lin was better than all the upper-grade disciples.
Seeing the change in Zhang Wen’s expression, Fang Lin said, “A Detoxification Pill is just a low-grade pill, not even reaching the grade one level. I can indeed refine it, and my success rate is over 80%”
Hearing Fang Lin’s assertion, Zhang Wen finally believed him.
“I appreciate it, Disciple Fang. I would like ten pills. After the pills are ready, I will bring enough gratitude for you,” Zhang Wen bowed and said.
Sensing that Zhang Wen was about to leave, Fang Lin hastily mentioned, “As for the Inner Energy Pill, I wonder if Brother Zhang has any interest in it?”
Zhang Wen was about to leave, but the mention of the Inner Energy Pill by Fang Lin caught his interest.
He had no choice. Martial Sect disciples often had to spar with others. Having Inner Energy Pills could quickly replenish Inner Strength, which was extremely helpful during combat.
However, not many people even among the upper-grade disciples of Pill Sect could refine the Inner Energy Pill. It’s a grade one pill, so only a genuine One Cauldron Pill Refiner could refine it.
Besides, although the pill formula for Inner Energy Pill was available in the Pill Pavilion, it needed to be exchanged for something else. As a result, among the upper-grade disciples of Pill Sect, only a few people other than the Four Elites of Pill Sect knew how to refine Inner Energy Pills.
“What do you mean, Disciple Fang? You can refine Inner Energy Pills? Please don’t take it wrong, but even though the Inner Energy Pill is a grade one pill, it will not be easv to refine,” Zhanz Wen said. Reason told him that it was unlikely for Fang Lin to be able to refine an Inner Energy Pill, but when Fang Lin brought it up himself, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but hope.
Fang Lin chuckled without saying a word and produced a porcelain bottle from his bosom.
“Have a look, Brother Zhang,” Fang Lin said mysteriously.
Zhang Wen gave Fang Lin a glance and proceeded to open the porcelain bottle. There he saw eight Inner Energy Pills resting peacefully inside.
Instinctually, Zhang Wen was surprised. He never thought that Fang Lin would have ready-made Inner Energy Pills, his eyes burned with desire momentarily.
“Disciple Fang, did you refine this pill?” Zhang Wen asked hesitantly.
Fang Lin put away the porcelain bottle and replied, “Whether I refined it or not isn’t what matters. What matters is, do you need it, Brother Zhang?”
Zhang Wen nodded repeatedly, “Certainly.”
Suddenly, Zhang Wen came to his senses and gave Fang Lin a strange look, “Disciple Fang, aren’t you trying to sell pills privately?”
A slight smile appeared on Fang Lin’s face, “This Inner Energy Pill, if you try to get it from Pill Pavilion, you’d have to pay a great price. But if you get it from me, it would be much cheaper. Would you not take advantage of such a deal, Brother Zhang?”
Zhang Wen laughed out loud, and said, “Disciple Fang indeed has a wonderful personality. Yes, Pill Pavilion is a real rip-off. I’ll take this Inner Energy Pill.”
Fang Lin asked, “So how many would Brother Zhang like? Or would you prefer to take the entire bottle?”
Zhang Wen contemplated for a moment and said, “My budget’s a bit tight right now, I’ll just take two for now. And please don’t delay on the Detoxification Pill.
I’ll come to collect the pills in five days..”