"Many thanks, Elder!" Chen Jinshu's face visibly relaxed, finally letting out a breath of relief.
When she'd first learned that the alchemy assessment was going to be done blind box-style, she had been genuinely worried. Thankfully, though the process was bumpy, she had managed to pull through in the end.
According to the senior disciple from the outer sect, those who held an official alchemist title received far better monthly stipends than ordinary disciples. More importantly, they could also purchase spirit herbs at discounted rates through the Sect Affairs Hall.
Not to mention, with this alchemist badge, she could sell her pills at premium prices. After returning the leftover ingredients from the blind box, Chen Jinshu promptly left the alchemy room. Even as she exited, loud explosions continued to echo from within, shaking the floor slightly with each blast.
She couldn't help but be thankful for her quick alchemy speed. If she had been any slower, she might have been caught in one of those furnace blasts herself.
Moments later, she returned to the side hall to line up for registration. The wait wasn't long before it was her turn.
"Elder, could you assist me with the registration?" Chen Jinshu, calm and composed, handed over the token proving she had passed the assessment.
"Hm? A top-grade A result?" Elder Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised.
"I must've misjudged you. Who would've thought someone so young could already possess such skill in alchemy?" He chuckled softly and began filling out her paperwork.
In just a blink, Elder Lin handed her a white jade badge.
"You're registered as a First-Grade, Low-Rank Alchemist. The badge has one gold star, indicating your rank and results."
Chen Jinshu took the badge and indeed saw a shimmering gold star embedded in the jade token.
"Thank you, Elder."
After safely tucking the badge away, she headed straight for the Ink Plum Courtyard.
Roughly thirty minutes later, she used Rainbow Steps to arrive just outside Ink Plum Courtyard. There, she saw a female cultivator in a dark cyan robe embroidered with golden threads searching anxiously around the area.
"Junior sister, have you seen a spirit bird carrying a white fruit?"
"Huh? Senior sister, why are you looking for the bird?" Chen Jinshu asked curiously, her expression calm.
"I dropped a Luck-Fruit just now when I passed through. It's incredibly valuable. Took me quite a few spirit stones to buy it."
"Luck-Fruit?"
"Yes! It's a rare fruit grown from the Luck Tree cultivated by the Peak Lord of the Medicine King Peak. Consuming it enhances your personal luck. The Hall of Affairs allows redemptions, but each person can only buy one."
"I spent ages saving up for that fruit, and now it's just… gone." The senior sister looked on the verge of tears, her voice trembling.
"Did you try using a locating spell?" Chen Jinshu asked, thinking quickly.
"No use. I hadn't even warmed it in my hand before it was gone."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jinshu instinctively took a few steps back. In the cultivation world, luck was everything—and this senior sister had just lost hers. Clearly, her fortunes were in decline.
Chen Jinshu had no desire to get involved.
"Maybe keep looking, senior sister. I've got something to attend to, so I'll be heading off first."
"Wait, junior sister!" the woman called urgently. "My name is Dai Yuzhu. If you spot a spirit bird carrying a Luck-Fruit, please report it to the Steward Hall!"
Chen Jinshu heard her, but by that time she'd already stepped through the formation barrier into the courtyard. The voice faded behind her.
She'd more or less guessed the woman's identity—Dai Yuzhu, the inner sect's senior disciple and direct pupil of an elder from the Steward Hall.
Talk about timing. She'd just returned and already run into the inner sect's infamous senior sister.
Rumor had it Dai Yuzhu was strict and decisive, assigned to monitor new disciples. The sect had even given her a nickname in the outer circle—the Cold-Faced Reaper.
Just then, a shrill chirp-chirp! rang out.
Xiao Yin flew down from its nest in the plum tree, its small frame buzzing with excitement.
"Why are you glowing white?" Chen Jinshu narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off.
Xiao Yin only ever gave off that white glow when it hunted or found something valuable. But now, its feathers shimmered constantly with that very glow.
"You... you didn't eat the Luck-Fruit, did you?" Chen Jinshu's eyes widened.
"Chirp-chirp!" Xiao Yin nodded proudly.
Apparently, it had been out wandering when it spotted a glowing fruit on the ground. Thinking it was valuable, it snatched it up and flew off to eat it in a hidden spot.
"If senior sister finds out, we're in deep trouble. You'd better stay hidden these next few days," Chen Jinshu frowned, warning it softly.
As a spirit bird, the Shadowpeak Finch was naturally drawn to spiritual fruits—especially those with the power to enhance fortune.
Given that it already had a minor aura of good luck, Chen Jinshu wasn't too surprised it had stumbled upon the Luck-Fruit. But she was concerned. That senior sister was no one to mess with. This secret needed to stay buried.
"Chirp-chirp!"
The sparrow tilted its head, seemingly understanding, and nodded. Chen Jinshu gave a small, relieved smile and ran her hand over its back. Over the past year, the sparrow had grown remarkably fast. Its once-sparse feathers had all regrown, now sleek and pitch-black with a glossy luster. Under her careful care, it had become even more elegant and intelligent.
Now that it had eaten the Luck-Fruit, its increased luck would eventually benefit her as well. What complaint could she possibly have?
Frankly, she was thrilled. A stroke of fortune like this? Who wouldn't want it? Maybe she'd stumble on some treasure next time she went out.
Two days later, at the Frost Pool Herb Garden.
Since the spiritual herbs in her three plots had begun sprouting, Chen Jinshu no longer came every day. Every two or three days sufficed now. The seedlings didn't require constant watering.
"The root rot's looking a bit better. This secret remedy really is something… though it seems less effective on the vine." Chen Jinshu sighed as she carefully applied the salve to the vine's roots.
She had hoped the repair ointment would bring quick results, but progress had been slow. While the decay had lessened, the damage was still visible and severe.
She suspected that this salve worked only on regular spiritual herbs—not on mysterious spirit plants like this vine.
Which only deepened her curiosity about its origins. She had searched through the sect's records on strange flora, but found no mention of anything like it.
"That'll do for today. Time for me to go."
Just as she finished, the vine waved a leaf at her like a hand. She chuckled, waved back, and gave the spirit fields one last watering before heading toward the Frost Pond.
Ever since discovering how effective the frost pond water was, she'd been using it to nourish her spirit plants. Not only was it better than the Spirit Rain Spell, but it didn't drain her own energy.
She had even swapped to a larger water container—big enough to hold over a thousand jin.
Just then, voices drifted toward her.
"You heard? Two days ago, the Pill King Hall had a massive furnace explosion during the alchemy assessments. Even the Peak Lord took notice!"
"No way. What caused it?"
"Rumor says the earth fire was unstable! Almost every furnace room in Block Ding blew up. Black smoke everywhere! It was wild. I live too far to have seen it, though."
Chen Jinshu's heart skipped.
Block Ding's alchemy rooms?
"Senior sister, did you say Block Ding?"
"Yeah! Over ten alchemy rooms all exploded. You heard about it too?"
"I did… just didn't quite believe it." Chen Jinshu forced a smile.
She hadn't realized until now how terrifying the effects of luck could truly be.
That day, she'd narrowly escaped a disaster.