Chapter 50: She Turned Out to Be an Alchemist

"Most of them are already prepared, but if there is a stalk of Tier Four or Tier Five Sky Blue Purple Sophora, that is an absolute must! Of course, the more other Tier Four or Tier Five spiritual herbs, the better," Mo Xuan said.

"No way, Tier Four or Tier Five? Well, I will figure something out," Bai Mei did not expect so many would be needed. Tier Four was manageable; as a prominent family, the Bai family could still produce them. Tier Five, however, was somewhat difficult.

The Bai family had at most three Tier Four pharmacists—one of superior grade and two of middle grade. As for a Tier Five pharmacist, let alone the Bai family, not even Luochuan City possessed a single one. Tier Five spiritual herbs were astronomical in price, making it impossible for the Bai family to casually produce them.

Therefore, Bai Mei was in a difficult position. Come to think of it, the Mandala poisonous flower itself had been a Tier Five spiritual herb, and she would never have obtained it back then had the Fourth Elder, Bai Qi, not pulled strings.

"Sky Blue Purple Sophora... wait, that name sounds very familiar. I remember now, the First Protector has one treasured in his collection, but he—never mind, I will do my best to resolve this." Bai Mei's expression flickered with realization, though it soon turned dejected again, likely hindered by some difficulty.

"Then I shall come again tomorrow!" Mo Xuan took his leave first.

Outside the Bai estate, Meng Yao had left in a fit of anger, yet unwilling to stray too far, she loitered near a tree outside the main gates, continuously grumbling to herself, "What a treacherous fellow who abandons his friends for a pretty face! Detestable, utterly detestable!"

However, Mo Xuan had departed via the back gate. Seeing that Mo Xuan still had not emerged after such a long time, Meng Yao went off to complain to Lan Bing...

In Huanxi Town, at Mo Xuan's home!

Mo Xuan was busy preparing the materials he would need to bring tomorrow.

Suddenly, a piercingly cold and sinister chill drifted in from outside, carrying a wave of scorching heat within its frost.

A total of two figures arrived: one was Lan Bing, and the other was Meng Yao.

Meng Yao had forcefully dragged Lan Bing to Mo Xuan's residence, though Lan Bing had not taken the matter to heart at all. "Oh my, such a small matter, you are overthinking it."

"This is a huge matter! He actually scolded me just for the sake of some woman. No, this matter cannot just end like this!" Insistent, Meng Yao brought Lan Bing straight to Mo Xuan's home.

And Lan Bing?

She merely found it amusing and gently comforted Meng Yao, "Alright, alright, I shall uphold justice for you!"

Just as Mo Xuan had arranged the medicinal herbs, Meng Yao burst in, shouting loudly without a shred of politeness. Seeing a very familiar herb in Mo Xuan's hand, she gasped, "Ah... You! Isn't this the Tier Five holy healing medicine I gave you? Why haven't you used it? Could it be that you intend to give it to her?"

"Objects must be used to their fullest potential, therefore... my apologies." Before Mo Xuan could finish—

Driven by panic, Meng Yao snatched it right out of his hands. "Is a mere apology enough? You're actually going to give away something I gifted you to someone else. I really misjudged you. Sister Bing, you must discipline him properly. Look, he's learning bad habits!"

Lan Bing possessed extensive knowledge in pharmacy and saw through the intricacies at a glance. Indeed, what Mo Xuan had done was wrong: "What you did was indeed incorrect. Of course, healing the sick and saving lives is the duty of a healer, so viewed in that light, you haven't done wrong either."

"Ah—saving lives!" Meng Yao asked, puzzled!

"Explain yourself, otherwise you'll find no peace," Lan Bing said without elaborating further. "Speak properly, she cares about you a great deal, you know."

"Actually, it is like this!" Mo Xuan glossed over the details with a brief summary. "She is a friend of mine..."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yao felt a tinge of sorrow. She had not expected that the woman named Bai Mei had only a little over seven years of life remaining. Even so, jealousy still flared within her. "Fine, I wronged you, but you still shouldn't have treated me that way! So, hehe, I must be the one to handle these preparations, and you can just be in charge of giving orders!"

Meng Yao was truly fickle; one moment she was furious, and the next she wore a beaming smile.

Under the circumstances, it would have been more appropriate for Lan Bing to do it. Meng Yao was not a grandmaster pharmacist; how could she possibly take her place?

Therefore, Mo Xuan firmly refused!

Seeing the deadlock, Lan Bing interjected, "It is fine. Letting her do it in your place will yield even better results! Her flame is exceptionally powerful, and her attainment in alchemy is quite remarkable, enough to achieve twice the result with half the effort. Coincidentally, her coursework includes similar arrangements, so she can simply follow you as an intern to hone her skills."

Upon hearing Lan Bing's praise, Meng Yao lifted her chin high, wearing an arrogant and haughty expression. "This is wonderful, hehe! Did you hear that? Sister Bing has agreed."

In the end, Lan Bing patted Mo Xuan's shoulder and stated, "This task is entrusted to you. Don't let me down!"

"Ah!" Mo Xuan felt deeply depressed inside. You can teach her coursework yourself; why must she tag along with me? What if something goes wrong? This was far too casual.

Alchemy was an entirely different profession. Generally speaking, while medicinal potions offered potent effects and rapid efficacy, their shelf life was short, and once prepared, they could not be preserved for long.

Of course, pharmacy was a later-developed profession. Alchemists could also perform the work of pharmacists, and because the difficulty of alchemy surpassed that of pharmacy, the effects of what they produced were naturally superior.

Speaking of pharmacists, it was a profession created by a physician who once wished to become an alchemist but could not. Because the entry barrier was low, it unexpectedly gained rapid popularization and developed to this day.

Alchemists were different. First, one needed to possess a Fire Element Origin Spirit or a fire spirit. Fire Element Origin Spirits were already incomparably rare, and the fire spirits naturally existing between heaven and earth were even more limited.

Of course, having these two things was still not enough; soul power had to meet the standard, and one required formidable comprehension abilities.

The threshold for entry was extremely high. Therefore, before pharmacists appeared, alchemists were individuals that no faction was willing to easily cast aside.

The ranks of alchemists corresponded to those of pharmacists, while pharmacists also bore special titles such as apothecaries or physicians.

Mo Xuan had almost forgotten this detail. Oh well, never mind; as long as it served to save lives more effectively, it did not matter who performed it. Since Lan Bing had already spoken thus, there should be no problem, provided he offered a brief explanation.

The next morning, Meng Yao still followed Mo Xuan to Bai Mei's residence.

Naturally, Bai Mei was far from welcoming. Wearing a stern expression, she cast a disdainful glance and muttered, "Why is she here again?"

This time, Meng Yao was much more well-behaved and refrained from flying into a rage, apologizing outright instead: "I'm sorry about yesterday; it was my fault. I offer you my sincere apology."

At first, Bai Mei truly cared nothing for the apology, but afterward, Mo Xuan briefly explained the reason behind it.

Only then did Bai Mei let the matter go. Come to think of it, the two of them were truly peculiar; once they had slightly reconciled, they were back to chatting and laughing.

"These are the best spiritual materials I could find. I don't know if they will be enough. As for the Sky Blue Purple Sophora, the First Protector said he would deliver it personally today, so it should arrive very soon." Bai Mei handed all the Tier Five spiritual materials she could acquire over to Mo Xuan.

As they were speaking—

The First Protector arrived, his voice heard from afar even before he stepped inside: "Hahaha, it seems I've arrived at just the right time!"

The First Protector, Bai Qianqian. Regarding seniority, he was Bai Mei's paternal uncle, holding a very high standing within the Bai family. His cultivation was also quite formidable, resting at the tenth stage of the Earth Profound Realm, making him a pillar of strength for the Bai family.

He walked in unhurriedly, coming before Bai Mei.

Bai Mei rose and bowed in greeting: "Uncle, you have arrived. This is the person I mentioned, and the one beside him is his attendant, pay her no mind!"

"What is that supposed to mean!" A trace of resentment welled up in Meng Yao's heart, but she clenched her teeth and endured it.

Bai Qianqian looked at Mo Xuan, sizing him up before saying with hearty warmth, "Ah, you must be Mo Xuan. Not bad, not bad at all, truly a youth of great promise!"

Mo Xuan hurriedly returned the bow with a polite remark!

"However, I won't hand Mei'er over to you so easily." Once the pleasantries concluded, it was time for business. Bai Qianqian clearly intended to test Mo Xuan.

"I understand." To save time, Mo Xuan casually produced a few spiritual herbs. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a refreshing fragrance drifted out, permeating the surrounding air. "I wonder if this suffices?"

"To refine such a medicinal potion so quickly!" Bai Qianqian was inwardly shaken. He was well aware that this was a supreme-grade potion; although its rank was only Tier Two, it had taken less than a quarter of an hour to complete. Such speed and technique could only be achieved through years of accumulated experience.

Bai Qianqian vaguely suspected that the emergence of supreme-grade potions in Luochuan City was likely connected to Mo Xuan, and thus he felt extremely satisfied.

Not only him, but even Bai Mei and Meng Yao were dumbstruck.

This technique was far too casual; it looked as though he wasn't paying attention at all. If he were to take it seriously, he would probably be even more formidable.

Meng Yao thought to herself: No wonder Sister Bing wanted Mo Xuan to show me the ropes. He is truly formidable in this aspect.

Upon hearing this, Bai Mei blushed deeply. "Uncle, let us discuss this matter another time!"

"Thank you for your high regard, Senior Bai, but I have no such thoughts at present. Furthermore, Miss Bai and I are merely friends, and I am merely here to help, nothing more," Mo Xuan explained unhurriedly.

Meng Yao almost flew into a rage, but fortunately Mo Xuan refused, otherwise, given her temperament, she surely would have argued the point.

Seeing that Mo Xuan was politely declining, Bai Qianqian could only shake his head with a helpless sigh. "Very well, friends it is then!"

Unable to say much more, he produced the Sky Blue Purple Sophora and handed it to Mo Xuan, giving a special instruction that if he could cure the ailment, there would surely be a heavy reward.

Upon seeing this Tier Five spiritual material, Meng Yao felt not the slightest bit impressed—it could hardly even be called a Tier Five sacred object, merely a mediocre specimen. However, having followed him under the guise of an attendant, how could she interject?

Finally, Bai Qianqian offered a few more parting instructions and departed without lingering to disturb them.

The materials were indeed nearly complete, but these ingredients still needed to be processed into supreme-grade medicine.

Moreover, it was necessary to constantly regulate the spiritual meridians at all times; taking this medicinal bath would temporarily soften the venom of the poisonous flower that had penetrated deep into the bone marrow, which was also the most difficult part to eradicate.

Therefore, this had to be cleared away first.