Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

Next step.

It involves fusing various medicinal liquids with different properties together to create pills.

This step also requires extremely high micro-management skills from the alchemist.

If not careful, the conflicting effects of the medicines can cause the pills to be destroyed.

Although Lu Zaian had the advantage of memory, this was the first time he had ever practiced alchemy.

Muscle memory has not been formed, so the control was not very successful.

Puff puff! !

Sure enough, inside the alchemy furnace, the medicinal power of the water spirit mushroom and the medicinal power of the bloodstone powder began to clash.

Originally, Lu Zaian was supposed to use his magic to regulate the two medicinal energies, allowing them to perfectly blend together.

However, this balance was not achieved, and the internal medicinal power of the pill clashed, causing it to explode!

"Wow, alchemy is indeed not as simple as it seems..."

Although Lu Zaian was somewhat prepared, he still couldn't help but sigh.

If one could achieve 100% success simply by inheriting someone else's alchemy memories.

Alchemists wouldn't seem so rare then.

Even if Xiao Fenlin were to personally refine a low-grade first-order pill, he might still fail if he were to be distracted for even a moment.

The process of growing from an alchemy apprentice to a first-grade low-level alchemist requires countless hours of instruction and extensive practice...

For Lu Zaian to achieve this level on his first attempt is something most people wouldn't even dare to imagine.

"Take a rest, let's try again..."

Lu Zaian learned from this experience and repeatedly reviewed and deduced the force needed for his next move.

After completing each step, we arrived at the alchemy stage again.

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Lu Zaian's forehead as he focused intently on adjusting the details.

"Merge it! Merge it now!"

Lu Zaian focused all his attention on the pill, examining the structure and integration of each medicinal element...

This process lasted a full hour!

Lu Zaian's eyes were bloodshot and his lips were pale, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered.

The flames in the alchemy furnace slowly dissipated, revealing three bright red pills in sight.

"It...it was a success?!"

Lu Zaian's voice was a little hoarse as he quickly used his magic to wrap the three pills and take them out to examine them.

Although they are called pills, two of them are not perfectly round; some are concave, and some are convex...

"Hiss... The medicinal effects haven't fully melded yet; it's only about 60% of the normal level..."

Lu Zaian looked at another grain, which was plump and round.

"Not bad, this one is a standard blood clotting pill!"

Lu Zaian let out a big sigh of relief, but at the same time, he felt a wave of drowsiness and fatigue wash over him.

The first success took Lu Zaian two and a half hours.

My magical power was only 30% depleted, but my mental energy was greatly consumed. I had to keep a close eye on the alchemy furnace and sense the situation inside.

At this moment, Lu Zaian looked somewhat listless.

"One cannot condense divine consciousness before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Cultivating skills is indeed mentally taxing... The same applies to alchemy as to formations..."

Only now did Lu Zaian realize the true value of Xiao Fenlin's "Flame Spirit Pill Body".

If he were allowed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage smoothly, he might actually have a chance to become a third-tier alchemist.

It's a pity... I wonder what the situation is like in the Black Soil Mountains now...

While recovering his magical power and spirit, Lu Zaian's mind wandered and was filled with random thoughts.

Two more hours later.

Lu Zaian has fully recovered.

"I cultivate both Qi and body, so my mana recovers quickly and my body can handle it, but the soul is my weakness..."

"There's no shortage of cultivation techniques in Desolate Swamp City. I'll have to keep an eye out for techniques that cultivate the soul..."

Lu Zaian noted down another task he needed to do and continued refining pills.

The so-called once born, twice cooked.

Having had one successful experience, Lu Zaian's subsequent mistakes were much smaller...

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside the Fire Hall, a servant was about to knock on the door to remind the guests inside that it was time.

However, the door was opened from the inside the next moment.

Lu Zaian dragged his feet and slowly walked out.

He looked tired, the bloodshot eyes had not completely disappeared, and a faint dark outline appeared around his weathered eye sockets.

Nodding to the servant, Lu Zaian left without looking back.

I'm too tired to talk...

The first two days were fine; I got plenty of rest.

But in the following three days, Lu Zaian felt the urgency of time.

I came here to refine elixirs, not to meditate and rest.

This room costs two spirit stones a day!

Lu Zaian felt like a teenager in his past life who was addicted to the internet and spent money to stay up all night. He felt like he was missing out if he didn't play until 8 a.m. the next morning...

Therefore, relying on his newfound skill, Lu Zaian greatly shortened his rest time.

Especially on the last day, I practiced for five hours straight without rest.

Finally, he refined all the spiritual materials he possessed into Blood Coagulation Pills and Qi Cultivation Pills.

Lu Zaian barely managed to keep his eyelids open as he returned to the cave.

"Xiao Yi, keep an eye on things for me. Call me if anything happens..."

After silently saying goodbye to Xiao Yi, Lu Zaian immediately went to sleep...

It continued until noon the next day.

Lu Zaian woke up groggily and, after circulating his cultivation technique once, finally felt refreshed.

"Eee-ooh~~"

Xiao Yi's boastful voice came from within the body.

Lu Zaian smiled faintly, offered a few words of praise, and casually made a grand promise.

"Well done, Xiao Yi! When we have spirit stones, we'll buy you as many second-tier spirit items as you want, enough to fill you up to your heart's content!"

"Eee-ooh~~~"

Next, Lu Zaian rubbed his hands together like flies and took out two jade bottles from his pocket.

"Hehe, now it's time to check the results!"

I was so tired yesterday.

After the last batch of pills was completed, Lu Zaian immediately collected them all without having time to check them.

"One, two, three, four... two four, two five!"

"One, two..."

As he counted down the last few words, Lu Zaian's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his mouth practically twisted to the back of his head.

"Ee-hmm?" Little Yi sent a question mark.

My friend has epilepsy, what should I do? I need help urgently, I'm waiting online.

"Hehe, what do you know? These twenty-five Blood Coagulation Pills, at the market price of four spirit stones each, that's one hundred. The other twenty Qi Cultivation Pills, at five spirit stones each, that's another one hundred. Add them up and it's two hundred."

Lu Zaian gestured with his hands and laughed:

"The cost is about one hundred, the profit margin is two hundred percent, and this is just the beginning..."

The elixir market has always been extremely profitable, with profit margins of five or six times being quite normal.

If Lu Zaian can reduce losses, he can generate more profit!

"The next step is to sell these pills."

Elixirs have always been in short supply in the cultivation world, especially in places like Desolate Swamp City, where they are never hard to sell.

Lu Zaian rented a stall in the market, spending five spirit stones a day.

As a result, they were all sold out in half an hour.

Even if the first few batches are of slightly inferior quality, people will still buy them, just at a slightly lower price.

Lu Zaian finally received 191 spirit stones.

A portion is set aside to purchase raw materials, while the rest is sufficient to cover daily expenses.

This virtuous cycle allowed Lu Zaian to finally gain a foothold in Huangze City...