Chapter 44: Qi Sea Realm
Hua Changxi displayed her alchemy skills. It wasn’t just Hua Da Lang who wanted her to leave the Medical Affairs Department’s Labor Department and return to refine pills for the Hua Family Apothecary Shop.
Seeing that Hua Da Lang couldn’t persuade Hua Changxi, Old Master Hua had Hua Minghe and Madam Yao go and try.
Of the entire Hua family, Hua Changxi felt the most affection for Hua Minghe and Madam Yao. Seeing them also trying to force her, she was truly fed up.
Madam Yao looked at her daughter, “Jiu Niang, you went to the Medical Affairs Department because you wanted to learn medical skills, and also because you didn’t want to stay at home. Am I right, Mother?”
Hua Changxi didn’t speak.
Madam Yao continued, “If you had entered the Apprentice Hall at the Medical Affairs Department, your parents would never have come to persuade you. But you are in the Labor Department now.”
“In the Labor Department, besides doing physical labor, can you really learn medical skills?”
“Now that the family knows about your alchemy skills, no one will object to you returning to the family’s apothecary shop. Mother doesn’t understand, why don’t you want to come back?”
Hua Changxi looked at Madam Yao, “Mother, even if I’m doing physical labor in the Medical Affairs Department’s Labor Department, my gains are definitely more than at the Hua Family Apothecary Shop.”
“At the Hua Family Apothecary Shop, I am the Hua family’s daughter; in the Medical Affairs Department’s Labor Department, I am Hua Changxi.”
Hua Minghe frowned, “Is there any difference?”
Hua Changxi said, “Of course there is. Let me put it this way, being a constable in the Six Doors has a low salary and is dangerous. Father, we worry about you. Why don’t you resign from your position as a constable and come back to be the steward of the Hua Family Apothecary Shop?”
Hua Minghe was stunned, as if he understood what his daughter was insisting on, but he still said, “You’re twisting words. How can your matters and my matters be mixed together?”
Hua Changxi: “Why can’t they be? Father, you are in the Six Doors, and when people mention you, they speak of Hua Minghe, you. If you were the steward of the Hua Family Apothecary Shop, when people mention you, they might speak of the Hua family’s eldest son. Do you really not understand the difference here?”
“Father, I’ll just ask you, are you willing or not?”
Hua Minghe fell silent and didn’t speak.
Seeing her husband rendered speechless by his daughter, Madam Yao’s eyes flashed with a smile. Worried that her husband would lose face, she suppressed her laughter.
Hua Changxi continued, “There’s another point. Father, you are originally the heir of the Hua family. If you become the steward of the Hua Family Apothecary Shop, it’s equivalent to taking over your own assets in advance. If you’re not willing to do this, then why do you think I would be willing?”
“If I work at the Hua Family Apothecary Shop, even if I make it the best and largest apothecary shop in the entire Capital City, it will have nothing to do with me.”
“Tell me, why should I go through all this trouble?”
Hua Minghe became somewhat angry and embarrassed by her words, “Jiu Niang, setting aside the calculations of profit and loss, is working in the Labor Department more important to you than helping the family?”
Hua Changxi nodded honestly, “Of course. Father, you have the need to establish yourself, and so do I.”
Hua Minghe: “Working in one’s own apothecary shop is also establishing oneself.”
Hua Changxi shook her head, “Working at the Hua Family Apothecary Shop establishes the Hua family’s enterprise, not mine.”
Hua Minghe found his daughter too shrewd and couldn’t argue with her. He could only resort to emotional appeals, “Jiu Niang, can’t you come home for your parents’ sake?”
Hua Changxi said with a serious expression, “Father, I love you and Mother, but there are many ways to love you, and none of them include sacrificing myself.”
Hua Minghe was somewhat embarrassed by his daughter’s direct expression and didn’t know what to say. He could only stand up, flick his sleeves, and say, “Jiu Niang, you’ve greatly disappointed your mother and me.”
Hua Changxi was not swayed by emotional blackmail and said lazily, “Father, you pressuring me like this also greatly disappoints me.”
Hua Minghe truly didn’t know what to say. He looked at Madam Yao for help, but seeing his wife not meeting his gaze, he left with a headache.
Hua Changxi was prepared to argue with her mother, but to her surprise, Madam Yao said nothing and followed her father out.
In the main hall, Old Master Hua looked at his sighing eldest son and then at his silent eldest daughter-in-law, and angrily took puffs of his dried tobacco.
This couple was truly incompetent, unable to even discipline their own daughter.
Hua Minghe looked at Old Master Hua, “Father, since Jiu Niang wants to continue working in the Medical Affairs Department’s Labor Department, let’s not force her. Perhaps one day she’ll get tired and come back on her own.”
Hua Sanlang also chimed in, “Yes, Grandfather. Jiu Niang is very determined. The more the family forces her, the more she will go against us. If the family stops pressuring her and lets her choose, she might come to her senses on her own.”
Old Master Hua glanced at the father and son and said nothing.
His granddaughter Jiu Niang’s unyielding attitude truly infuriated him.
If it were in the past, he could have disciplined her. But now, the family’s apothecary shop depended on her pill recipes, making that girl difficult to handle.
On the fourth, fifth, and sixth days of the first lunar month, Hua Changxi taught Hua Sanlang how to refine Qi and Blood Pills, Body Tempering Pills, and Foundation Solidifying Pills at the Hua Family Apothecary Shop.
During this period, no one in the family mentioned asking Hua Changxi to come home.
Hua Sanlang had been studying medicine for several years. Although the medicinal efficacy of the pills he refined was not as good as Hua Changxi’s, they were comparable to those on the market.
While the medicinal efficacy was similar, the medicinal herbs used in Hua Changxi’s pill recipes were nearly halved, meaning the Hua family’s costs were much lower than other apothecary shops.
With low costs and a constant demand for medicine among martial artists, it was imaginable that the Hua Family Apothecary Shop’s business would not be bad in the future.
On the sixth day, Old Master Hua and Hua Da Lang both came to the Hua Family Apothecary Shop. Looking at Hua Changxi teaching Hua Sanlang alchemy in the backyard, both of them showed regret.
Old Master Hua said, “It would have been great if Jiu Niang were a boy.”
Although Hua Da Lang had the same thought, he still said, “Even as a young woman, she is still the Hua family’s daughter.”
Old Master Hua shook his head, “A daughter’s heart turns outward. Jiu Niang, not yet married, is already not siding with the Hua family. After she marries, it will only be worse.”
Saying this, he sighed self-reproachfully.
“It’s all my fault. Before, when your grandmother disciplined Jiu Niang, I didn’t stop your father and mother. If your father and mother hadn’t indulged and protected her, Jiu Niang’s temperament wouldn’t have become so disobedient.”
Hua Da Lang couldn’t speak ill of his parents, so he could only listen silently as Old Master Hua continued to complain.
“Jiu Niang is grown now. Relying on her newfound skills, she increasingly disregards the elders in the family.”
“It’s just that our family doesn’t make a fuss about it. If it were in another strict family, a young woman like Jiu Niang would be confined to the ancestral temple.”
Hearing this, Hua Da Lang quickly said, “Grandfather, please don’t be angry. Jiu Niang is still young. When she gets a little older, she will understand the importance of the family to her.”
Old Master Hua did not refute his grandson and strode into the backyard.
Hua Da Lang, holding medicinal herbs, quickly followed.
Hua Changxi saw Old Master Hua and Hua Da Lang approaching and was not surprised. Tomorrow she was going to work, and if Eldest Brother was in a hurry for Breaking Shackles Pills, he would definitely come to her to refine them today.
Hua Sanlang had already gone to meet them, “Eldest Brother, have you collected all the medicinal herbs for the Breaking Shackles Pills?”
Hua Da Lang ‘mm’ed and placed the medicinal herbs on the table.
Hua Changxi walked over, examined them, and raised an eyebrow, “These medicinal herbs are of excellent quality, Eldest Brother. It seems your friend has quite a background.”
The higher the grade of martial artist’s medicine, the stricter the Imperial Court’s control.
For an ordinary person to collect all the medicinal herbs needed to refine pills for a Sixth Rank martial artist in a few days was almost impossible.
Hua Da Lang smiled and didn’t say much about the origin of the medicinal herbs. He had indeed put in some effort to collect them, not only through favors but also by making promises.
The person who promised the medicinal herbs would receive some of the Breaking Shackles Pills if they were successfully refined.
In other words, his most powerful trump card was actually his sister, this pharmacist who could refine Sixth Rank Breaking Shackles Pills.
In the past few days of collecting medicinal herbs, Hua Da Lang gradually began to understand why Hua Changxi was angry on Lunar New Year’s Eve.
A Sixth Rank pharmacist was indeed very difficult to find.
For some well-known ones, the Hua family’s status was not enough to approach them.
Thinking of this, Hua Da Lang’s gaze towards Hua Changxi softened considerably, “Jiu Niang, can you refine pills today?”
“Yes.”
Hua Changxi began to organize the alchemy equipment as she spoke. Hua Sanlang wanted to help but couldn’t find a way to get involved.
Soon, Hua Changxi began refining pills.
Old Master Hua, Hua Da Lang, and Hua Sanlang stood by, watching intently.
It was unavoidable; Hua Changxi’s speed was too fast. Decomposition, grinding, mixing, and pill formation, she didn’t pause at any step.
Half an hour later, Hua Changxi handed twenty date-sized pills to Hua Da Lang.
Hua Da Lang suppressed his excitement and carefully took the pills, “Jiu Niang, I know a few pharmacists at the Martial Arts Academy, and I’ve seen them refine pills. They aren’t as fast as you. How did you do it?”
Hua Changxi replied, “Practice makes perfect!”
Old Master Hua heard this and immediately asked, “How many pills have you helped people refine in the Labor Department?”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi knew what Old Master Hua wanted to find out. “Grandfather, I’ve only been at the Medical Affairs Department for three to four months at most, and I still have to do my duties. How many do you think I could refine?”
Although Old Master Hua didn’t press further, he wanted to bring up the matter of asking Hua Changxi to return home to help their apothecary shop again.
However, before he could speak, Hua Da Lang stopped him.
Hua Da Lang had come to understand that with his Ninth Sister’s formidable alchemy skills, she would naturally not obey the family’s discipline. Some matters could only be approached gradually in the future.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the Medical Affairs Department began work. Hua Changxi woke up early, had breakfast, took the bundle prepared by Madam Yao, and left.
On the way, Hua Changxi checked her status.
『 Realm: Qi Refining Realm 8100/1000』
She had already absorbed and refined the 60 Mid-grade Spirit Origin Pills and had started refining and absorbing Low-grade Spirit Origin Pills these past two days.
『 First-Rank Alchemist （ Low-grade Pills ）: Alchemy 1 furnace 1/10』
Only by refining Elixirs would the Alchemist stats increase. Refining Mortal Pills had no effect at all.
She didn’t lack First-Rank Pill Recipes, but where could she find Spiritual Plants?
Hua Changxi thought about it as she injected Spiritual Energy into her feet and used the Lingbo Microsteps footwork. In just over fifteen minutes, she reached the back street of the Medical Affairs Department.
“Sister Changxi.”
Yu Hui, Wan Xiaozhou, and Li Meng had come by carriage again and encountered Hua Changxi. “Sister Changxi, get in, we’ll give you a ride inside.”
“Brother Yu, Happy New Year.”
Hua Changxi, thinking about selling the pills she had to Yu Hui, did not refuse to ride with them.
After getting into the carriage, Yu Hui immediately asked curiously, “Sister Changxi, what you just used was a lightness skill, right?”
Hua Changxi was stunned for a moment, then instantly realized that Yu Hui and the others had seen her long ago. She smiled, “My father is a constable in the Six Doors, so I learned some footwork from him.”
Yu Hui looked enlightened, “So Uncle is from the Six Doors. No wonder your skills are so good.” He then lowered his voice, “Sister Changxi, tell me, what rank martial artist are you?”
Hua Changxi glanced at him, “I don’t know what rank I am. In martial arts, I only know a few superficial things.”
Yu Hui heard this and gave an ‘I understand’ look, “Sister, I understand if you don’t want to say. I won’t ask.”
Hua Changxi smiled. No one believed her when she told the truth.
“Brother Yu, what do you do with the pills you don’t finish using?”
Yu Hui heard this and knew what Hua Changxi was planning. He smiled, “What, Sister, do you want to sell pills?”
Hua Changxi nodded.
Yu Hui said, “If you trust me, Sister, give me the pills, and I’ll help you sell them. The selling price will be the same as in the apothecary shop.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Of course I trust Brother Yu. However, we’ve cooperated more than once or twice. I can’t trouble Brother Yu every time. Do you know any merchants who buy pills and could introduce me to them?”
Yu Hui looked hesitant, “Sister, I don’t mind telling you, the buyers I find are all from various walks of life. The biggest client only buys at most ten pills.”
“My godfather does know some merchants who buy pills. If you want…”
Hua Changxi quickly shook her head, “I won’t trouble Eunuch Yu.” After thinking for a moment, she took out two hundred Qi and Blood Pills from her bundle and gave them to Yu Hui, “Brother Yu, please help me sell these pills first.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi trusted him so much and gave him so many pills at once, Yu Hui immediately smiled, “Don’t worry, Sister. These pills will be sold quickly. I’ll give you the silver in a couple of days.”
Hua Changxi was surprised, “They’ll sell that fast?”
Yu Hui nodded, “There are many people who practice martial arts in our Great Jin Dynasty, and many can’t even get pills due to lack of connections.”
As they spoke, the four of them entered the back gate of the Medical Affairs Department by carriage.
After entering the back gate and seeing more people around, Hua Changxi parted ways with Yu Hui and the other two and walked to the Labor Department by herself.
When she arrived at the dormitory, most of her roommates were already there, and they were distributing New Year Goods brought from home.
Hua Changxi saw that several portions of food were also placed on her bed.
“Changxi, these things are all from our homes. Please don’t dislike them.”
Hua Changxi picked up a pastry and tasted it, smiling, “It’s very delicious.”
Sister-in-law Shi smiled, “That’s plum blossom cake made by my mother-in-law. If you like it, I have more.”
Perhaps because Hua Changxi had saved those people who were poisoned while preparing medicinal herbs last time, the attitude of the people in the dormitory towards her had improved significantly.
Sister-in-law Shi brought another bag of plum blossom cake. Hua Changxi couldn’t refuse. She hadn’t brought much food herself. Seeing that everyone else had shared some of their home-brought items with her, she felt she couldn’t give nothing in return.
Rummaging through her bundle, Hua Changxi found that she had the most pills.
So, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Hua Changxi gave each person a Strengthening Pill, “For strengthening the body.”
Wang Yun Chu responded very enthusiastically, “This pill is very effective. Changxi gave me two before, and after my brother and I took them, we used to have cold hands and feet in winter. But this year, our hands and feet have been warm throughout the New Year.”
Upon hearing this, everyone knew the pills were good and carefully put them away.
After that, Hua Changxi didn’t change her way of interacting with others. When on duty, she still kept to herself. As soon as she finished her tasks, she would return to the dormitory to cultivate.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Yu Hui gave Hua Changxi a banknote for one thousand taels of silver. Qi and Blood Pills were five taels of silver each, so two hundred pills totaled one thousand taels.
After receiving the banknote, she gave another hundred Body Tempering Pills to Yu Hui to help her sell.
In the first lunar month, there were still not many medicinal herbs delivered to the Medical Affairs Department. Yu Hui hadn’t asked her to refine pills at Qihuang Hall, so Hua Changxi focused on cultivation.
On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, while cultivating, Hua Changxi felt a roaring, dam-breaking vibration coming from her Dantian. Immediately after, the warm current that flowed through her body like a stream turned into a surging river.
At this moment, Hua Changxi realized she could seemingly see through her own body. She ‘saw’ a red Qi Sea, the size of an egg, appear in the location of her Dantian.
『 Realm: Qi Sea Realm 10100/100000』
The realm had changed!
“After Qi Refining Realm comes Qi Sea Realm.”
Looking at the numbers behind Qi Sea Realm, Hua Changxi felt some pressure. It was already so difficult to advance from Qi Refining Realm to Qi Sea Realm, and it would only get harder from Qi Sea Realm upwards.
Relying on step-by-step cultivation, she didn’t know how many years it would take. She still needed to find Spiritual Plants!
Hua Changxi discovered one type of Spiritual Plant, Spirit Grass, at the Medical Affairs Department, which made her anxious.
Even the Medical Affairs Department, with the combined efforts of the entire Great Jin Dynasty, hadn’t found Spiritual Plants. The chance of her finding them by searching all over the mountains and plains was even smaller.
“Is it that the Medical Affairs Department doesn’t have them, or have they already been collected?”
Spiritual Plants contained Spiritual Energy and were very different from Mortal Medicine. Even if one didn’t recognize them, they wouldn’t miss them if they encountered them.
Hua Changxi believed that the Medical Affairs Department should have collected other Spiritual Plants, but they were taken by the higher-ups as soon as they were discovered. In the Labor Department, only the Spirit Grass, which withered as soon as it was picked, was overlooked.
How should she find other Spiritual Plants that could help her improve her realm?
