Jiang Tang returned to his room, closed the door, and started to examine the ancient tome.
Once he confirmed that these seeds were indeed Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass, Jiang Tang became thoroughly excited.
Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass, once cultivated, could be combined with the Spirit Grass provided by the space to concoct the ancient First Stage Hunyuan Pill. This pill could restore physical strength manifold, far exceeding the commonly used Rejuvenation Pills.
The most exhausting part of his farming work was physical strength, and if he could refine the First Stage Hunyuan Pill, he would certainly get twice the result with half the effort.
After planting the seeds and estimating their maturation time, Jiang Tang immediately got up and headed to the alchemy room used by the Outer Sect disciples.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go to the alchemy room designated for Servant Disciples, but it was the deep dead of the night, and the guardians of the Servant Disciples' alchemy room had already left.
A broken-down pill room like that didn't have much worth guarding.
Thus, those disciples had locked it up early and returned to their own courtyards, either to meditate or wash up and go to sleep.
By the time Jiang Tang rushed from the land of Servant Disciples to the area of the Outer Sect, it was just the beginning of the 0:00 hour.
The alchemy room entrance was lit; someone was indeed watching over it.
When Jiang Tang approached, the disciple on duty yawned, recognized Jiang Tang's outfit as that of a Servant Disciple, and couldn't help showing a look of contempt.
"It's ten silver per hour to use the alchemy room," the disciple said indifferently.
Ten silver!
Jiang Tang gasped.
To concoct a batch of pills would squander the equivalent of a crop with the top 'Third Class' quality in the span of an hour?!
It turned out, in this world, every grade of Spirit Plant had a standardized price set by the Celestial Dynasty.
That was the market price.
For 'First Class' Spirit Plants, it was a daughter's worth per bushel; 'Second Class', a hundred silver per bushel; 'Third Class', ten silver per bushel; 'Fourth Class', one silver per bushel.
For those of medium quality, the prices were halved.
And for those of low quality, they were reduced to one-tenth of the original price of the high quality.
One thousand coins made one silver, one thousand silver made one gold.
This Outer Sect alchemy room, why was it so expensive?
Although he was no longer short on silver, Jiang Tang still felt pained.
"Are you going in or not? If you're not, others are waiting to," the disciple said, glancing impatiently over Jiang Tang's shoulder.
Jiang Tang looked back and saw that there were people heading their way.
In order to avoid the emergence of another Du Long, a situation akin to harvesting rabbit grass, Jiang Tang, with great reluctance, took out two ten-silver ingots and handed them to the disciple, then went into the alchemy room.
Checking the surroundings, Jiang Tang felt that his silver hadn't been wasted.
The inside of the room was much more refined compared to what the Servant Disciples had at their disposal.
Not to mention that it was somewhat better equipped, even the tools for weighing and selecting herbs were more complete. Although the craftsmanship wasn't great, it was still a cut above the crude alchemy room.
As expected, different classes received different treatments.
Jiang Tang sighed, reminded of the purpose of his visit, and hurriedly took out the alchemy furnace, picked up the tools on the desk, and started sorting and selecting the herbs.
Once all that was done, Jiang Tang then extended his Divine Sense into the Spirit Field Space to check on the Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass.
The earliest batch had already matured.
Delighted, Jiang Tang quickly gathered a small portion of the 'Second Class' quality Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass and stored it in his Qiankun Bag.
As for the rest, he asked Eryao to keep a watchful eye, and after giving instructions, he left the space and began sorting the Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass.
Since it was a trial for medicine, the amount of herbs prepared this time wasn't much.
Jiang Tang quickly weighed the ingredients according to the quantities recorded in the ancient texts and inspected them carefully, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
In an instant, Jiang Tang pinched his fingers and picked out an inferior piece from a smashed Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass.
Looking at the inferior piece in his palm, Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned.
This was instinctive.
Did it mean that the legacy Tianlao had passed on to him was actually useful here?
It seemed likely.
Since ancient times, medicine and healing had been one and the same.
Jiang Tang ignited the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, lighting his alchemy furnace.
Once he estimated the temperature was right, Jiang Tang began the alchemy process.
Because fewer herbs were put in, Jiang Tang controlled the fire with even more care than before during the alchemy.
However, the Xuanming Spiritual Fire was extraordinary, and despite Jiang Tang's meticulous control, the edges of the herbs still got burnt.
Jiang Tang, feeling the pinch of loss, carefully retrieved the ruined Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass. Selecting a batch of medium-quality Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass, he weighed the correct amounts and started the second attempt.
With the experience of the first burn, this time Jiang Tang controlled the Xuanming Spiritual Fire to just a small flicker, but still, a bit got burnt.
Jiang Tang was not discouraged and tried for the third and then the fourth time.
It was not until the seventh attempt that he finally succeeded in producing a batch of First Stage Hunyuan Pills.
Wiping the sweat off his forehead casually, Jiang Tang, smiling broadly and enjoying the medicinal fragrance filling the room, tucked the porcelain bottle into his Qiankun Bag.
After tidying up the place and packing up the alchemy furnace, Jiang Tang opened the door, ready to return and rest well.
Just then, a group of young men in golden robes approached, chatting and laughing. Smelling the lingering fragrance of the medicine, they looked around in surprise.
"Who is making pills here?" A young man at the front suddenly looked over and saw Jiang Tang coming out, his eyes lighting up, "Could it be this fellow daoist?"
"Indeed, it is I," Jiang Tang replied, seeing no one else around and had to give a bow.
"What pills are you making? The fragrance is so distinct and pleasant," the young man said, sniffing around Jiang Tang with curiosity.
Jiang Tang touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, "Nothing extraordinary, just First Rank Elixirs."
"Fusu, show some respect," a slightly older young man standing in front coughed into his fist and glared at the youngster.
"Understood, big brother," the young man sheepishly acknowledged and then gave Jiang a bow, "I am Hua Sheng, a disciple of the Medicine Sect. Fortunate to meet a fellow daoist today, I wonder if we might exchange knowledge in pill-making?"
The Medical Gate Hua Clan... Jiang Tang recognized the white peony pendant hanging from his waist and understood immediately.
He was the young master of the Medical Gate Hua Clan, Hua Sheng.
Hua Sheng, also known as Fusu, titled Lord Yuanshan, had become a third-grade Senior Pharmacist by the age of just 28. His talent in alchemy was considered to surpass his predecessors, leading his younger peers.
It was also due to his talent that he was selected by Holy Medical Valley from a young age and taken in as an Inner Sect Disciple.
Hua Sheng had one peculiarity.
Whenever he met an alchemist with some talent, he would always love to join in and exchange insights, grasping the essence of the other's alchemy technique.
Having met Jiang Tang today, Hua Sheng saw that Jiang's talent in the way of alchemy was not weak, which sparked his interest to exchange knowledge.
Jiang Tang looked at the eager Hua Sheng, at the group of Medicine Sect disciples behind him, and then at the on-duty disciple wildly gesturing to him.
"Disciple Jiang, do not refuse them. This is a great opportunity for you to bring honor and recognition to the sect," the disciple changed his earlier disdainful attitude, communicating privately to him.