Increasing an alchemist’s rank to the second rank requires spending forty favorability points.
To further increase it to second rank perfection requires another sixty favorability points.
"It is a bit of a bad deal."
The success rate of an alchemist who has just entered the second rank is simply atrocious.
Not to mention, the medicinal herbs required for second rank pills are not cheap either.
Zhou Chen thought for a moment.
"I will max out the experience for a first rank talisman master first."
Refining talismans is different from alchemy. There is no need to look for secret manuals.
After becoming a first rank great perfection talisman master, one’s understanding of first rank spirit talismans would reach a level of terrifying comprehension.
Overall, the Dao of Talismans is the most suitable right now.
[The host consumes twenty favorability points. Congratulations, host, on promoting to a first rank great perfection talisman master.] (The host’s understanding of first rank spirit arts has reached the limit of the same realm.)
[Remaining favorability points: 41]
Most first rank spirit talismans do not have a clear distinction in strength.
Ultimately, there are only a few dozen types of spirit talismans that a Qi Refining cultivator can refine.
But the deeper the insight into talisman refining, the higher the success rate.
After all, when a cultivator draws talismans, it also consumes spiritual power. A talisman master with a success rate of less than one in ten would not only fail to obtain resources through drawing talismans but would also significantly consume spiritual qi.
Nan Qiao, meanwhile, was quietly busy in the kitchen.
She had witnessed everything that happened earlier.
Even wealthy merchants in the mortal world had three wives and four concubines.
Big Brother Zhou is a person of the immortal path, so it is only natural for him to have a few female acquaintances.
In her eyes, this was a very normal thing.
Zhou Chen, however, was immersed in the art of talisman refining.
The so called talisman paper is, at its simplest, the seal of a technique originally performed by a cultivator within a spirit talisman.
Once triggered by spiritual power, it can unleash its inherent power.
As for certain special talismanic incantations that can only be cast using spirit talismans, they were not something Zhou Chen needed to consider for the time being.
Furthermore, compared to casting spirit arts oneself, one can cast multiple spirit talismans simultaneously, and the consumption of spiritual power is negligible.
"I still need to buy some yellow talismans, demon beast blood, and a brush."
He had already prepared the materials needed for alchemy.
At that time, he had not yet experienced the awakening of the Talisman Master profession, so he had not considered preparing in advance.
Every day, outer sect disciples of the Yin Yang Sect go down the mountain. Asking them to buy some for him would be the most convenient way.
But doing so would easily leave flaws.
After some thought, Zhou Chen decided to go in person.
He told Nan Qiao to wait obediently at home and went down the mountain alone.
Half an hour later.
Zhou Chen returned.
In the courtyard, Nan Qiao had already prepared a meal and was quietly waiting for Zhou Chen to return and eat.
Zhou Chen smiled helplessly.
"Did I not tell you? You just moved here, so if you are not used to it, take a couple of days off."
It had been many years since he last ate a meal. After Nan Qiao arrived, he even specially built a stove for her.
After all, while Fasting Pills can fill the stomach, they really do not taste good.
Nan Qiao enjoyed the feeling of cooking for her beloved.
"Big Brother Zhou, I am doing this willingly."
A man’s looks did not matter.
A man who was willing to step forward and protect her at a critical moment, and who was usually gentle to her, was far more intoxicating than those handsome men who were all show and no substance.
Zhang Xiu was young and handsome, yet she still lived a life of poverty.
Since she started following Zhou Chen, whether in bed or out, Big Brother Zhou had been extremely gentle to her.
After the two of them finished eating.
Nan Qiao sensibly returned to the room, waiting for the indescribable things to happen.
Zhou Chen pinched her nose.
But to her surprise, Zhou Chen did not touch her. Instead, he took out a round medicinal pill.
"Alright. Swallow this."
Nan Qiao took the pill, her beautiful eyes looking at it curiously.
"Big Brother Zhou, what is this?"
Zhou Chen sat down beside her with a smile and explained.
"A Body Tempering Pill. It can make your body healthier and help you live longer in the future."
Nan Qiao’s gaze grew even gentler as she softly hugged Zhou Chen.
"Big Brother Zhou, thank you. You are so good to me."
But as she hugged him, tears flowed uncontrollably.
These past few days, she had experienced too much. Every event was a major blow that was hard for her to bear.
Zhang Xiu’s tragic death, her daughter’s departure, and arriving alone in a strange environment.
To say she was not worried at all would be a lie.
But at this moment, Nan Qiao was incredibly grateful that she had chosen to follow Zhou Chen.
This was the most correct choice she had ever made in her life.
Without waiting for Zhou Chen’s comfort, she hurriedly wiped her tears, tilted her head back, and swallowed the pill.
A scorching current of air rose from her dantian in her lower abdomen.
Nan Qiao felt as if she were on fire, her flushed face becoming increasingly hot.
Zhou Chen quickly pressed his hand against her back, moving his spiritual power to help her dissolve the medicinal properties.
The Body Tempering Pill was a first rank pill, but the one Zhou Chen gave her was a high grade Body Tempering Pill.
And Nan Qiao was physically weak.
For someone who was not a strong male, refining the medicinal power on one’s own would be extremely painful.
[Congratulations, host. Nan Qiao’s favorability has increased by two points. Current favorability is eighty three. The host has gained six favorability points. Usable favorability points: 47.]
Late at night.
Nan Qiao fell into a daze and went to sleep.
Even after taking the Body Tempering Pill, she could hardly withstand the fierce onslaught.
Soon, Zhou Chen sensed someone arriving outside the formation.
So he quietly got up and went to the side room.
Under the moonlight, Bai Xue’s white clothes were whiter than snow.
Her shoulder length hair was tied up high, revealing her fair and smooth neck.
Two hours later.
A flush that did not belong to a young girl appeared on Bai Xue’s face as she limped away.
Although she had been beaten quite badly, she was still happy in her heart.
Senior Brother Zhou was already old and frail. If he continued to squander himself without moderation like this, his lifespan would likely be greatly shortened.
As the junior sister who had deep exchanges with him, if his inheritance did not go to her, who else could it go to?
Holding such thoughts, Bai Xue left happily.
Seeing that Bai Xue’s favorability had not budged, Zhou Chen returned to the courtyard expressionless.
After a night of hard work, he had not gained any favorability from Bai Xue.
As for Nan Qiao’s favorability, it had already reached eighty points and would not be easily increased.
But he was not in a hurry.
He took out the Five Elements Spirit Arts he had just bought and began to study them seriously.
During these nearly hundred years, he had been busy cultivating to increase his realm and simply had not had the time to learn techniques.
Those offensive and defensive techniques were means for fighting outside.
But Zhou Chen’s cultivation realm could not keep up.
He was so focused on increasing his cultivation that he had no spare time to learn spirit arts, knowing only a few of the most basic spells.
But now that he wanted to refine spirit talismans, he had to study them diligently.
After his comprehension ability was significantly increased, the originally obscure and difficult to understand technique essentials became easy and simple.