Chapter 65: Early Promotion to Primary Level
Lu Yunxi returned to the sect with a heart full of excitement. She was determined to make the most of the treasure she had acquired.
Previously, an Orange-quality fish had allowed her to break through to the rank of Master Chef. This time, with an Orange-quality medicinal herb in her possession, she had high hopes for her alchemy.
To ensure the herb’s potential wasn’t wasted, she headed straight for the sect’s library. Beyond martial arts manuals, the archives were a treasure trove of practical knowledge, containing everything from How to Build Furniture to advanced Farming techniques. She spent hours scouring the pharmaceutical section, meticulously analyzing every recipe she could find.
She encountered a wide array of options. The most complex recipe she found was a universal antidote of Orange quality, while the most efficient was a mosquito repellent that could produce ten kilograms of powder from a single herb. Though all were tempting, she ultimately settled on a specific Blue-grade potion.
Most people would find it insane to “downgrade” an Orange herb to produce a Blue potion. However, this specific concoction had a similar effect to the miracle medicine Miss Gu had gifted her once before—it was a potion that could directly increase skill levels.
Because it was only Blue-grade, it wasn’t as potent as Miss Gu’s gift. That medicine had upgraded every single one of her skills by a full level; this one would only upgrade a single skill at random.
In other words, it was a total gamble. Whether she hit the jackpot or walked away with a dud depended entirely on her luck as a “European Emperor.”
Lu Yunxi etched the prescription into her memory, simulating the refining process over and over in her mind until every step felt like second nature. Only then did she begin. The manual estimated that an Orange herb could produce three pills at most, provided the pharmacist possessed perfect technique. A novice would likely produce fewer—or none at all.
She only had one herb and no room for error. Failure meant the total loss of her prize. But she didn’t let the pressure get to her; as a Senior Pharmacist, she wasn’t about to be intimidated by a Blue-grade recipe.
She locked herself away and focused entirely on the cauldron. She was so absorbed that she didn’t even notice the rest of the sect members returning from their assignments in the outside world. While she worked, the elders held a day-long emergency meeting, culminating in a new sect order: all inner disciples were to depart immediately for experiential training.
Half a month later, the cauldron in front of Lu Yunxi finally began to vibrate. She watched it intently, her eyes not missing a single flicker of the flame. After a sharp burst of crackling, the room fell silent, save for a sudden, intoxicating medicinal fragrance.
She leaned over the cauldron. Her eyes lit up as she saw five perfectly round, glowing pills resting at the bottom. She had produced five—surpassing even the most optimistic predictions in the manual!
As she carefully bottled the pills, a system chime echoed in her mind: [Ding—Congratulations! You have been promoted to Master Pharmacist!]
She had achieved a triple victory: she had successfully refined the elixir, exceeded the expected yield, and triggered a professional breakthrough. A satisfied smile played on her lips.
“Why are you still here?!”
Lu Yunxi looked at her master in confusion. “Where else would I be?” She gave an involuntary roll of her eyes. “I’m perfectly happy here.”
“That’s not what I mean,” the master said, grabbing a cushion and settling in. “A few days ago, the sect ordered all inner disciples to leave for world training. Didn’t you get the notice?”
“Training?”
“You might be the only inner disciple left in the entire mountains,” the master said, bursting into a fit of laughter as if it were the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
Lu Yunxi ignored his laughter and pulled up her skill panel. She only had five pills, and she needed to maximize their utility. If she took them now and they randomly upgraded something trivial like Chess or Weaving, she would be sick with frustration. She resolved to grind all her essential combat and professional skills to the Advanced level before using the pills.
A heavy clank interrupted her thoughts.
“I’ve prepared these for you,” her master said, gesturing to a pile of gear and herbs. “They’re all life-saving items. Keep them safe. You’re strong enough to travel the continent with ease now, but if you run into a master from beyond our borders, it’s a different story. Take them.”
“Thank you, Master.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the heap. While most were Purple-grade, having a surplus of high-tier consumables meant she could stall almost any enemy.
After leaving the sect, Lu Yunxi walked aimlessly, her head down as she plotted the most efficient way to grind her remaining skills.
“Little girl!”
“Who’s there?!” Lu Yunxi’s reflexes kicked in instantly. She grabbed the hand that reached for her and swung her body, attempting to throw the intruder over her shoulder.
The stranger was surprisingly skilled. He twisted his arm, breaking her hold with a fluid motion. “Easy there! I’m sorry, I just saw you were about to walk straight into a tree and tried to pull you back.”
She blinked, finally noticing the sturdy trunk inches from her nose. “I… I’m so sorry,” she stammered, feeling her face flush. “I thought I was being ambushed. Thank you for the warning.”
She stopped mid-sentence as she got a good look at his face. Wait… I know him!
This was the same imposing leader who had chased her when she’d snuck into the military academy to audit classes. She remembered how the other players had saluted him with such reverence. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and she clenched her fists inside her sleeves. Stay calm! she told herself. He has no idea who you are.
The man offered a casual, nonchalant smile. “It’s no trouble.” He turned to leave but paused when he saw the bundle of greenery in her hand. “Are those wild vegetables? If you’re hungry, you don’t have to forage. The main cities are open now; anyone can go in. There’s plenty of work to be found. A day’s labor is enough to buy two decent meals at a restaurant.”
He looked at her with a hint of pity in his eyes, likely assuming she was a player from an impoverished planet who hadn’t heard the news. Since the cities had opened, anyone who had cleared the Novice Village was free to enter, regardless of level.
Lu Yunxi paused, then offered a grateful smile. “Thank you for the advice, but these are actually medicinal herbs. I’m a pharmacist; I was just gathering some as I passed by.”
“A pharmacist? That’s good,” the man said. He paused, his expression shifting as he searched for something encouraging to say. “Study hard. If you can become a Junior Pharmacist one day, you’ll be able to make a very comfortable living. We have a great need for them.”
He sounded optimistic, but internally, he was skeptical. To the interstellar players who relied on automated healing devices, the actual mechanics of pharmaceutical crafting were a mystery. So far, the player ranked second in the profession had only just reached the “Beginner” level and was already being fought over by every major guild. The player in the top spot was significantly more powerful but had hidden their name and rank, clearly wanting to avoid being recruited.
Everyone else was still stuck in the internship phase. While starting the profession was as easy as buying a book from a clinic, leveling up was notoriously difficult.
Lu Yunxi remained silent. She took a moment to browse the forums to see what all the fuss was about, and then she turned her gaze toward the bustling crowds in the distance.
