Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

The days passed as peacefully as flowing water.

The only disturbance was that the law enforcement disciples of the Marvelous Dharma Sect in the city seemed rather irritable, but no one paid them any mind.

In a tavern near the city gate, more and more Loose Cultivators were gathering.

Those about to enter the mountains and those returning from them were all exchanging the latest news.

Waiters bustled between the tables.

Occasionally, upon seeing someone with large and small bundles, they would ask an extra question.

"Are those ores or medicinal herbs you have there?"

"Have you no eyes! If they were ores, how could they be this light?"

"Then where are you planning to sell them?"

"Not sure. The city market is poor. If all else fails, I’ll take them to a pharmacy and get back some travel money!"

The pharmacies’ purchasing prices were notoriously low. Many people would rather let their herbs rot in their hands while gambling on a chance to sell them for a better price.

The pharmacies and the Marvelous Dharma Sect’s Saint Hand Hall were widely acknowledged by Loose Cultivators as being complete rip-offs.

Yet, no one could criticize them, because all business was voluntary. They were openly and brazenly crooked.

"Why not go check out Shopkeeper Bai’s Pill Shop first?"

the waiter suggested.

"Shopkeeper Bai?"

"Heh, I can tell you’ve been cooped up in the mountains for a long time..."

Due to a combination of factors, Bai Mo had indeed received a great deal of medicinal herbs lately.

His supply of Spirit Stones was dwindling quickly, but fortunately, the income from his Pills was keeping pace.

In tandem with this, Bai Mo’s skills were also improving.

Materials like the Sunflower, which were relatively rare on the market, were very complex to process.

Just observing the changes in their medicinal properties was a huge learning experience, something an ordinary pharmacy apprentice couldn’t even comprehend.

Bai Mo recalled the previous night’s session, writing down the medicinal properties of several herbs on a piece of paper.

He wrote and revised as he went, smudging the clean white paper.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"What can I get for you?" Bai Mo asked without looking up.

"A bottle of Righteous Qi Pills..." The man’s voice trailed off. It was a familiar one.

Bai Mo finally looked up to see the two young masters, Wei and Wang.

"Young Master Wang, you need Righteous Qi Pills?"

Bai Mo stood up and asked with a smile.

Young Master Wei, however, pulled Young Master Wang back and said to Bai Mo with a serious expression:

"We can talk about buying Pills later."

Bai Mo frowned. ’Every time I see these two, there’s always some kind of trouble,’ he thought.

"What seems to be the matter?"

Young Master Wei pointed upward.

"Shopkeeper Bai, your vent is acting up again!"

Bai Mo was taken aback. "But I just had someone fix it not long ago!"

He was familiar with the craftsmanship of Master Wang the carpenter. He was a local neighbor, and things he worked on rarely had problems.

Young Master Wei sighed.

"If I’m not mistaken, Shopkeeper Bai, you’ve been researching some potent virility Pills recently?"

He said this, looking somewhat moved.

"It seems Shopkeeper Bai really took that Golden Spear Pill to heart. But there’s no need to be in such a rush."

"My clan uncle is still in seclusion..."

Hearing them say this, Bai Mo instantly understood.

The fumes from when he processed the herbs must have really smoked them out.

"I’ll find someone to fix it today."

At this moment, Young Master Wang stepped forward.

"I never had the chance to thank you in person for saving my life before, Shopkeeper Bai. So, thank you."

Bai Mo waved his hand. "It was just business. Nothing to it."

"Young Master Wang, could it be that your injuries haven’t healed?"

"Not at all," Young Master Wang said with a sigh.

"After inhaling Shopkeeper Bai’s smoke the other day, I think I’ve been poisoned. A bottle of Righteous Qi Pills should be just the thing to clear my system."

Hearing this, Bai Mo was momentarily embarrassed.

Young Master Wei, at his side, added, "Shopkeeper Bai, your skills are truly profound.

"It’s only been a few days, and the smoke alone almost broke my years of virgin cultivation!"

If he weren’t already familiar with these two, Bai Mo would have thought they were being sarcastic.

But as it was, Bai Mo could only offer a wry smile and hand over a bottle of Righteous Qi Pills.

Young Master Wang took it, opened it on the spot, and swallowed a Pill.

"There’s actually a Pill Fragrance!?"

He froze in astonishment.

Young Master Wei took the Pill bottle from his hand, sniffed it, and nodded in deep agreement, feeling that his hopes for the Golden Spear Pill were very high.

After finally seeing them off, Bai Mo went to the home of Master Wang the carpenter when it was time to close up shop.

It was his teenage apprentice who opened the door. Upon seeing Bai Mo, the boy jumped in fright.

Master Wang was sawing wood and was also startled by the commotion.

"Shopkeeper Bai!?"

By now, everyone in the neighborhood knew that Bai Mo had become a Pill Master.

The difference in their statuses made them feel a little reserved and distant.

"Master Wang!" Bai Mo called out.

"Don’t overthink it. Just address me like you always have."

Master Wang studied Bai Mo’s expression, saw that he was sincere, and relaxed slightly.

He forced a smile and asked, "What brings you here today?"

Bai Mo pointed upward and said, "My vent, it’s broken again!"

Hearing this, Master Wang froze.

"I already repaired that. The wood wasn’t the best, but it was sturdy."

"And I made it a tight fit. It shouldn’t have any problems!"

Bai Mo stepped aside, inviting him.

"I don’t know. Please, come take a look."

Master Wang, with his usual impetuous nature, put down his saw, grabbed his tools, and headed out the door.

Bai Mo smiled at the young apprentice and left with Master Wang.

The apprentice, still timid, dutifully closed the door.

Once they were in Bai Mo’s shop, Bai Mo fetched a wooden ladder and had the other man climb up.

"It really is out of alignment again!"

Master Wang looked at it for a moment, then tapped the vent with his finger, shaking loose a few specks of dust.

"This shouldn’t be happening."

He muttered, looking around, then suddenly jammed his knife into the wood and pried with force.

CRACK!

The sound of splintering wood rang out, and Bai Mo quickly dodged out of the way.

A large amount of wood dust fell, leaving a powdery streak on the floor.

"It’s been hollowed out by worms."

Hearing this, Bai Mo quickly looked at Master Wang.

"What’s going on?"

Master Wang didn’t answer, instead asking, "Shopkeeper Bai, do you have any Pills on hand?"

Bai Mo handed him a Qi Absorption Pill.

Master Wang took it and, smelling the Pill Fragrance, sighed inwardly.

"Shopkeeper Bai, please watch."

Master Wang held up the Qi Absorption Pill, placing it in front of the crack he had pried open in the wood.

After just a few breaths, Bai Mo saw something moving inside the crack.

A worm’s head suddenly poked out from the crack. The rings on its body squirmed, and its mandibles were yellowish-brown.

Master Wang’s hand trembled, and he quickly pulled the Qi Absorption Pill away.

If he hadn’t been so quick, the Qi Absorption Pill would have been bitten.

Carefully tossing the Qi Absorption Pill back to Bai Mo, Master Wang used two pieces of wood to clamp onto the worm and pull it out.

The fat worm struggled and twisted between the wood chips. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"If I’m not mistaken, Shopkeeper Bai, this place is already hiding a lot of these worms."

"The smoke gathers at the vent, and the scent of Pills is thick there, so naturally it’s the most affected area."

As he spoke, he held the ladder with one hand and climbed down.

Bai Mo hadn’t expected this. "In that case, I’ll have to ask Master Wang to fix it again."

"My two ’good neighbors’ came to the shop today to mention it. It was terribly awkward."

But Master Wang waved his hand.

"There’s no point in repairing it again. The priority now is to get rid of the worms in the wood."

He placed the chubby worm on his hand for Bai Mo to see.

"If you don’t solve this problem, no amount of repairs will be of any use!"

Bai Mo cupped his fists.

"Please, teach me what to do."

"I don’t know how. But I’ll take you to someone who does."

Saying this, Master Wang carefully wrapped the worm in a cloth and put it away.

"This worm likes to eat Pill Qi, which makes it a beneficial creature. It’ll be perfect for my boy..."