CHAPTER 16: THE HUMBLE CAULDRON

Cai Hui took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and exhaled.

She grasped the manual tightly and said in a firm tone, "I will definitely remember this favor, Big Brother Liu Wei. Here is the Low-Grade Spirit Stone for the pill manual I borrowed from you. I will be returning the pill manual first, too. After all, it’s all in my head."

She proudly pointed her finger at her head with a smug expression on her face.

Liu Wei chuckled and nodded, accepting the Low-Grade Spirit Stone that was inside the leather pouch and the pill manual.

At the same time, the System’s voice echoed in his head.

[You have completed the first phase of the mission: Raise an Alchemy Expert and You Will Become One.

You have been rewarded with all the knowledge containing the pill manual authored by Master Wen Rou.

Please be prepared to receive the knowledge Cai Hui has accumulated from the past five months.]

Liu Wei smiled widely.

He stared at Cai Hui and said, "Cai Hui, will you do me a favor?"

Cai Hui was taken aback.

She hurriedly nodded her head and said, "Please do tell, Big Brother Liu Wei."

Liu Wei smiled and said, "Please be quiet for a while."

Cai Hui was even more surprised.

Her eyes widened but she nodded anyway.

She kept her mouth shut, staring intently at her Big Brother Liu Wei, who smiled at her and then suddenly closed his eyes.

His breathing suddenly slowed down.

The aura emanating from him seemed to have become more gentler and uncaring to his surroundings.

Cai Hui furrowed her eyebrows, but when she finally realized what was going on, she almost let out a noise out of surprise.

In the end, her eyes and mouth remained wide.

Big Brother Liu Wei is in the trance! What is he in the trance for? He simply just received the book and that’s it. He is not even reading it! What can be other reasons?

When a person read a book and suddenly closed their eyes. They were obviously in the trance.

Meaning, all their consciousness was concentrated on the book they read and was now in the state of comprehending it at a rapid rate.

If they were disturbed, it would cause a qi deviation, endangering their life.

So that’s why Big Brother Liu Wei asked me to shut my mouth. I’ll definitely shut my mouth.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened them again and exhaled quietly, she decided to focus reading on the pill formula she just received from her Big Brother... opening each page as quietly as she could.

A minute later, as she was also focused on reading the pill formula, trying to recall the ingredients—their description, where they could be found, and more—she heard a noise of exhalation in front of her.

She lowered the manual and glanced at her Big Brother Liu Wei, who already opened his eyes but it was still dull.

As if... he was still absorbed by what he was thinking.

He mumbled, "The mortal path is not beneath the immortal path. A single mortal pill, refined with intent, holds more Dao than a hundred careless Immortal-grade creations. Learn these well, for they are the roots of every great cauldron."

When she heard what he had said, her heart almost leapt out.

That’s Master Wen Rou’s closing words on the pill manual! Big Brother Liu Wei memorized it as well, but he fluidly mumbled it.

She wanted to speak to her Big Brother Liu Wei already, but she firmly shut her mouth.

It was so tight that her teeth might cut through her lips.

Thankfully, Liu Wei was out of his trance seconds later.

He glanced at Cai Hui, who tightly shut her mouth, and chuckled.

He said, "You can open them now. You can now speak freely."

"WAS THAT MASTER WEN ROU’S WORDS, BIG BROTHER?!"

Was what Cai Hui immediately asked in a loud voice.

Liu Wei backed away and closed his eyes to defend them from her saliva.

Cai Hui realized her action, as she pulled her hands away from the table where she slapped as she shouted.

She lowered her head and said, "I-I apologized, Big Brother. I did not mean to."

Liu Wei shook his head and smiled.

"It’s fine. As for your question, then yes.

It’s from his pill manual I’m currently holding."

He raised the book and read the cover out loud.

"The Humble Cauldron: A Mortal’s Pill Manual."

He smiled and continued, "He really is a master. He was able to create a pill manual with a process that did not even need to use Qi."

Cai Hui’s eyes sparkled and nodded.

"Yes, Big Brother. But the purity will be less. That’s why, he also included a method where Qi can be used, increasing the purity."

Liu Wei nodded and smiled, staring at the pill manual.

Cai Hui then asked what she wanted to since earlier.

"By the way, Big Brother, are you an alchemist?"

Liu Wei’s eyebrows arched upward.

He shook his head and said, "Not officially yet. Perhaps, after a month. I will be."

Cai Hui immediately asked, "Then, Big Brother. Do you also want to participate in the alchemy contest? So you can be an official alchemist? I will guide you in a month. There will still be a test for those who are not an official alchemist yet before the competition."

Liu Wei was surprised.

The idea of participating in the competition intrigued him.

As he was pondering, the System’s voice echoed in his head.

[Are you still thinking about it? Come one. This is now your chance to touch some real grass.]

Liu Wei rolled his eyes and shrugged.

He said to Cai Hui, who had been anticipating his response, "Alright. I will give it a try."

"Yey!" Cai Hui jumped in joy.

Liu Wei watched Cai Hui jumping around and shook his head with a smile.

He said, "Just to let you know. I don’t need their acknowledgement for me to become an official alchemist. I have my own standard."

Cai Hui was taken aback and nodded with a smile.

"Of course, Big Brother Liu Wei. I know that you are just interested in the competition."

Liu Wei smiled.

"It’s good that you know."

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A/N: Welcome to my novel. Please show your support by leaving a review or giving power stones as it will motivate me a lot. Thank you.