Chapter 15: Li Yaoqing, Ninth-Rank Pharmacist!
“I can make money now!”
Back in his room, Li Xiang pressed a hand to his pounding chest. Having lived two lives, this was his first time negotiating a business deal. What seemed like a few casual words with Boss Qi had nearly wrung his brain dry!
He had to make Boss Qi believe the Li family was still backing him, while pretending not to reveal a single detail about them, and at the same time, show Boss Qi the enormous profit to be gained.
All the while, he had to appear utterly confident.
If he faltered, the consequences could be dire—Boss Qi, cunning and ruthless, might realize the Li family no longer supported him and could detain him on his way to school, interrogating him about the origins of his resources.
Every step was fraught with danger; it was truly a case of being innocent but hated for one’s treasures.
But the outcome was favorable.
“Hm? Wait a minute.”
Li Xiang suddenly caught the key flaw in his thinking. “On the way to school? Damn it, I’m not going to school anymore—I’m starting a business!”
He shook off the thought.
He had already handed things over to Boss Qi. As long as there was money to be made, a businessman like Boss Qi would work tirelessly for him!
Li Xiang quickly turned his attention back to the game.
No matter what, he had to keep a constant eye on developments inside the game. Though the Li family was still at the Qi Refining stage, their products had a unique market in the current world’s Qi Refining period. Especially the beast blood fruit grown by the beast blood fruit trees—this had become his treasure trove for getting rich!
[Li Dalong, accompanied by Li family members and villagers of Zhi’en Village, returned from a hunt with a wealth of spoils.]
[Captured a beast: Rampaging Tiger]
[Obtained spiritual herb: Spirit Gathering Grass]
[Obtained...]
On the game screen, Li Dalong was already returning with the prey alongside the Li family.
Li Xiang watched as the Li family base grew stronger.
He realized the Li family was now self-sufficient, even forming a certain ecological chain!
The villagers of Zhi’en Village farmed and raised livestock, supplying the fifty beasts in the spirit beast garden, gradually meeting their needs.
Every day, Li Yaoqing drew blood from the beasts, enough to sustain the beast blood fruit trees to produce first-grade beast blood fruits. The beast blood fruit trees bore fruit every ten years, yielding about 80 to 100 fruits each time.
At this point, after years of research, Li Yaoqing had begun planting another beast blood fruit tree.
“To have more beast blood fruit trees, we need more people, more fields to plant, and more livestock to raise,”
Li Xiang suddenly understood!
He clearly knew the importance of the beast blood fruit tree. Not only could its fruit sell well, but as long as he had enough incense points, it could even help him break through his current cultivation realm!
Li Xiang quickly summoned Li Dalong.
“Please, great ancestor, guide us!”
Li Dalong bowed devoutly before the purple-glowing spirit tablet. He didn’t believe in gods or Buddhas, only his ancestors.
As the purple thunder serpent emitted a low roar, Xu Cuihua hurried to translate, “Master, the great ancestor commands that we need more population. Only then can we cultivate more fields and use my beast-taming techniques to raise more spirit beasts!”
“Dalong understands, the great ancestor is far-sighted!”
Li Dalong’s eyes brightened as he knelt before Li Xiang’s tablet. “Wife, I understand the great ancestor’s meaning. It’s not as simple as you said!”
“Ah?”
“Ah?”
Xu Cuihua and Li Xiang both paused in surprise.
Li Dalong continued, “The great ancestor desires not only more fields and spirit beasts! He has foresight and sees that Tailin Town is blocking us. So, when we have more people, we can develop even more prosperously than Tailin Town!”
“In that case, we can attract merchants, attract powerful guests, and we... will dominate the region, completely crushing Tailin Town in the near future!”
Li Dalong raved like a madman, “As expected of the great ancestor! Long live the great ancestor!”
“...”
The peanuts Li Xiang had just put in his mouth fell out as he opened his mouth wide. After a long moment, he pursed his lips, “Hmm... not impossible.”
The sound of keyboard taps rang out.
The purple thunder serpent let out a low growl again, sending a blessing of “Love from the Ancestor” upon Li Dalong, expressing Li Xiang’s approval.
Then Li Dalong quickly began to act.
He sent the elders of Zhi’en Village out in all directions. In times like these, as long as there was food, countless displaced people would be grateful.
Li Xiang estimated it would not be long before Zhi’en Village’s population increased.
Soon after, another piece of good news arrived in the game!
[Qu Xiaoxiao has given birth after ten months, a son named Li Yunlin!]
[Congratulations, incense points +10]
Li Xiang noticed that as the Li family’s power grew stronger, the incense points he received each time also increased!
The third generation of the Li family was born.
The entire Zhi’en Village held a grand feast to celebrate their lord’s new addition. The Li family was adorned with lanterns and decorations, and everyone gathered around the cradle of baby Li Yunlin, filled with joy.
Li Xiang was equally delighted.
The newborn had stronger spiritual roots than anyone else in the Li family—a triple spiritual root!
Though still mixed roots, this meant cultivation speed would be many times faster than the usual five-element mixed spiritual root!
...
In the days that followed, the Li family continued to develop steadily.
Li Xiang quietly observed the growth of a family.
Then he smiled again.
[Year 23 of the Li family: Zhi’en Village population reaches 1,548.]
[Li Yaoqing, at Qi Refining stage four, after years of planting herbs in the spirit beast garden and deep study of the cultivation manual ‘Qi Refiners’ Handbook’ focusing on ‘special methods of growing spiritual herbs,’ has achieved success. By chance, she obtained the ‘Thousand Herbs Scripture’ from an old physician in Zhi’en Village and refined her first medicine powder, ‘Blood Clotting Powder.’]
[Li Yaoqing gains the profession—Ninth Rank Pharmacist!]
[Inspired by this, her wood spiritual root value reaches 60, breaking through to Qi Refining stage five!]
“Profession? A pharmacist appears!”
Li Xiang slapped his thigh. Pharmacists were rarely seen in the current world; with technological advances, this profession was replaced by pharmaceuticals. But that was only part of the reason—becoming a pharmacist was often more complicated than becoming an alchemist.
He had heard that when spiritual energy first revived, pharmacists once replaced doctors. Powerful pharmacists could even bring the dead back to life or kill without a trace!
He quickly clicked on Li Yaoqing’s avatar.
There she was, gleefully holding a packet of medicine powder before the beast blood fruit tree, darting around a large bronze furnace, “It’s done! The great ancestor blesses me—I’ve succeeded!”
At only sixteen, the prime of a young woman’s bloom, but the daughters of the Li family somehow disliked interacting with outsiders. Li Yaowen studied at home every day, and Li Yaoqing was no different.
She wore a simple black robe with her hair tied in a ponytail. Her exposed skin was dirty, and her appearance was less beautiful than Li Yaowen’s, but bore a pure, refined simplicity.
She spent nearly all her time tending the spiritual herbs in the Li family’s medicinal garden.
[Li Yaoqing (Second Generation)]
[Profession: Ninth Rank Pharmacist]
[Realm: Qi Refining Stage Five]
[Spiritual Root: Five-element Mixed Spiritual Root]
[Skills: Qi Absorption Technique, Thousand Herbs Scripture, Swift Wind Step]
[Special Trait: Plant Affinity]
Li Xiang was pleased with Li Yaoqing’s growth.
As she grew, many villagers of Zhi’en with ailments began seeking her treatment, gradually increasing her reputation and steadily raising her pharmacist rank.
At the same time, Li Xiang increasingly recognized Li Yaoqing’s importance!
[Your descendant Li Yaoqing cured the hidden ailment of Zhi’en villager Li Ergou, enabling him to have a normal marital life. The Li family gains merit, incense points +1.]
Besides special events, descendant worship, and births, Li Xiang had discovered yet another way to earn incense points!
He glanced at the incense points tally.
Over time, he had accumulated over 3,000 points.
Soon, he would be able to control war puppets!
...
[Year 25 of the Li family: The Li family discovered a ‘Black Iron’ ore vein deep within the Silver Iron Forest. As they prepared to develop it, a Zhi’en Village cultivator guarding the mine and three guards were killed!]
A special event!
“Damn it!”
Li Xiang was initially thrilled when the ore was found.
Though black iron was a common metal, it had strong oxidation resistance and was excellent for forging weapons and farming tools in the game world. Li Xiang had already discussed with Li Dalong how to utilize the black iron, but unexpectedly, it had been seized in an instant!
Inside the Li family ancestral hall:
“Great ancestor, please calm your anger. Dalong failed to guard the black iron mine properly, allowing the Wang family of Tailin Town to seize it and killing people from Zhi’en Village. This is Dalong’s dereliction of duty. Please punish me, great ancestor!”
[It’s not your fault.]
Li Xiang had the purple thunder serpent convey the message.
He narrowed his eyes. “Tailin Town again?”
In truth, the Li family had often encountered people from Tailin Town. Except for the Hu family, other clans generally maintained peace with the Li family.
But whenever interests clashed, such conflicts became inevitable.
This time, blood was shed over the black iron mine.
“As the Li family grows stronger, Tailin Town will see us as a thorn in their side—an unavoidable reality.”
Li Xiang’s expression remained calm as he typed.
[Go to the black iron mine, kill the same four people. Spare the other Wang family members, let them deliver a message to their clan leader. Invite their patriarch for a talk. We can make a big deal.]
“Talk… business?” With his wife translating, Li Dalong understood Li Xiang’s meaning but was somewhat puzzled.
Li Xiang then explained more details, and Li Dalong’s eyes shone even brighter.
Soon after,
He stepped outside the Li family home, where relatives of the slain were already kneeling in front of the door, weeping loudly.
Li Dalong looked over the villagers gathered in Zhi’en Village.
“Over the years, the Li family has always protected Zhi’en Village. I hope Zhi’en Village will forever be happy and peaceful because every one of us is honest, upright, and kind-hearted.”
“But the world often goes against our wishes. We cannot know when disaster or sorrow will befall us.”
“But I can assure you, whoever brings that disaster will pay an unbearable price!”
“Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow.”
“I, Li Dalong, promise you—their nightmare has already...”
“Begun!”