Chapter 69

“Focus on your training and try to be the second one to leave the top floor! When you return to the Chu family, explain the situation to your mother. Tell her you want to be the second one after Gu Qing. She will definitely agree to spend money to buy contribution points for you!”

Before Gu Ming could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Zhao An.

Gu Ming was momentarily stunned.

That’s right. He had been too focused on taking advantage of the situation and had completely overlooked this option.

“You’re right! I’ll go back and train immediately!” With that, Gu Ming hurriedly left.

The next day, Gu Ming successfully advanced to the Qi Refining stage, becoming the second Qi Refining beastman after Gu Qing.

After reporting his advancement, he was quickly escorted off the top floor.

As soon as he left the top-floor boundary, his light-brain chimed with message notifications.

Having “disappeared” for over a week, quite a few people had messaged him. Among them, Chu Xin had sent him three messages.

“Gu Ming, how are things over at the Pill Sect? Have you met your sect leader? Is that Chu Ning your sister?”

“Gu Ming, the patent authorization for the Jade Dew Pill formula has reopened. This time, only the Gu family, the Alchemist Association, and the royal family obtained authorization. The authorization will likely be reopened again, but… I’m not sure if our Chu family can secure it. The Jade Dew Pill formula is extremely important to our family. Since you’re in the Pill Sect, can you pull some strings and try to get authorization for us as soon as possible?”

“Son, contact me as soon as you see this message.”

The last message had been sent a day ago.

Gu Ming didn’t rush to respond to Chu Xin. Instead, he followed the Pill Sect staff to an alchemy room on the 26th floor.

On this floor, he saw several alchemy rooms.

Most of them were occupied, and all the alchemists inside were female.

However, the alchemy room he was assigned to had only one person—Gu Qing.

When Gu Ming entered, Gu Qing was preparing medicinal ingredients.

Gu Qing glanced up at him, then lowered his head and continued working.

“Gu Ming, please wait here. Your herb instructor will be here shortly,” a staff member informed Gu Ming before leaving.

“After reaching the Qi Refining stage, the next step is to learn how to identify and process medicinal ingredients,” Gu Qing suddenly said.

“The Pill Sect wants us to become alchemists as soon as possible. The instructors will only teach us about the herbs needed for the junior alchemist exam. Have you studied herbal identification and processing before?”

Gu Ming’s heart tensed slightly.

“I’ve learned a little about identification, but I don’t know how to process them.”

“That’s fine. Processing herbs isn’t complicated. The instructor will demonstrate once, and after that, you can review the instructional videos a few times, and you’ll be fine.”

Just as Gu Qing finished speaking, a female instructor arrived at the door—the herb instructor assigned by the Pill Sect.

She wasted no time. After introducing herself, she immediately started teaching Gu Ming.

It wasn’t so much a class as it was a brief introduction to the herbs used in the junior alchemist exam, followed by a hands-on demonstration of how to process them.

“Alright, later, go to the shelves and gather herbs to process. Start by handling 100 portions of each type. Once you finish, you may leave,” the instructor said.

“Tomorrow, report here again, and we will arrange for you to study pill formulas and alchemy,” she added.

Gu Ming nodded.

Then, he saw the instructor walking toward Gu Qing.

“Bring the herbs you’ve processed and come with me.”

Gu Qing responded with a simple “Yes,” stored his processed herbs in his spatial ring, and followed the instructor out.

As he passed by Gu Ming, he didn’t forget to give him an encouraging look.

A warmth spread in Gu Ming’s heart. This heir wasn’t just talented—he was also kind.

Processing herbs required skill and practice. By 3 PM, Gu Ming had completed the assigned work.

Remembering that Chu Xin had been eager to contact him, he reported to his instructor and then left the Pill Sect.

Before returning, he called Chu Xin via video. The two arranged to meet at the Chu family estate.

Upon arriving home, Gu Ming went straight to the study to meet Chu Xin.

“Well? Did you meet the sect leader?” Chu Xin asked urgently the moment she saw him.

“No.”

“After entering the Pill Sect, we were sent to the top floor for closed training. During that time, not only did we not see the sect leader, but even the Fifth Prince never showed up. The only people we interacted with were the Pill Sect staff.”

“I asked around. Apparently, even within the sect, very few people have actually met the sect leader.”

“However, mid-level alchemists might have a chance, like the current Lord Lan of the Pill Sect. I heard he was recruited from the military and is highly valued by the sect leader.”

With that, Gu Ming proceeded to explain the details of the past few days of training.

“Mom, I’ve already reached the Qi Refining stage. Tomorrow, I’ll begin studying pill formulas and alchemy. The Pill Sect’s Essence Nurturing Pill accelerates mental power growth, and combined with the Jade Dew Pill’s ability to replenish mental energy, training in the sect is dozens of times faster than outside.”

Chu Xin’s expression turned to one of shock.

“That Essence Nurturing Pill—is it really that miraculous?”

“Yes! But it’s only provided for free before Qi Refining. After that, both the Essence Nurturing Pill and the Jade Dew Pill must be purchased. The internal price for an Essence Nurturing Pill is one million star coins per pill, with a limit of one per person per day. The Jade Dew Pill has no purchase limit, but it costs 6,000 star coins per pill.”

At this point, Gu Ming looked at Chu Xin hesitantly.

Chu Xin frowned slightly.

“Earlier, you mentioned that even after passing the mid-level alchemist exam, you’d still need to pay to obtain the junior-grade cultivation technique?”

This Pill Sect was clearly in it for the money.

Twenty billion just to get in, and all they guaranteed was passing the junior alchemist exam.

After that, everything required money!

Gu Ming’s expression grew uneasy.

“Not necessarily money. We can also earn contribution points to obtain the technique. But—”

“But how many years would it take to earn enough contribution points?” Chu Xin interrupted, clearly displeased.

This was the Pill Sect’s cunning trick—they gave an alternative path, but in reality, there was no real choice.

As for quitting? Knowing that a little more effort could lead to becoming a mid-level or even high-level alchemist, only a fool would give up!

Gu Ming didn’t respond.

In truth, even a decade might not be enough.

Chu Xin glanced at him.

“Forget it. Since you’re already on this ship, it would be a waste to jump off now.”

“Besides, if the Pill Sect truly helps you become a high-level alchemist, then no amount of money spent by the Chu family would be too much.”

With that, she pulled up her light-brain and transferred one billion star coins to Gu Ming.

“If the Essence Nurturing Pill is that effective, don’t stop using it. And buy the Jade Dew Pill as needed. Focus on passing the junior alchemist exam as soon as possible. As for the money to purchase the technique, I’ll handle it.”

Gu Ming’s eyes flickered with emotion.

“Thank you, Mom,” he said sincerely.

“Oh, right. Send a sample of that Essence Nurturing Pill home when you have time,” Chu Xin added suddenly.

She wanted to see the Pill Sect’s secret medicine for herself.

Gu Ming nodded. “Alright.”