Nine Heavens Holy Fire truly lives up to its name as the Supreme of Fire; it's so miraculous that it can be released and practiced even within the Sea of Consciousness without causing any harm to it.
During the one-hour lunch break, under the guidance of the Black Mist Person, Lu An quickly mastered preliminary fire control skills. During the long night's sleep, he practiced even more, finally achieving initial control over the flame's temperature and size.
The Black Mist Person had said that fire control could not only refine Medicinal Pills but was also an important method for enhancing strength. Perfect control over one's own power was a necessary path for Cultivation. After a night, in the Black Mist Person's view, he had barely crossed the threshold into the ranks of a pharmacist.
Don't underestimate the threshold; pharmacists are definitely a minority among cultivators. Both their innate attributes and strength require extremely high standards. If it weren't for Lu An's inherently powerful flame, he wouldn't even be qualified based solely on his fire control ability.
The next morning, Lu An woke up early. Fu Yu always woke up very late, or rather, even if she woke up early, she wouldn't leave her room but would stay in her bedroom.
After buying breakfast and placing it on the table, Lu An glanced at the still-closed door. Ever since he had a little money, buying breakfast every day had become a habit, and although he never saw Fu Yu, the breakfast was always eaten after he left.
After putting down breakfast, Lu An left the dormitory again, departed from Starfire Academy, and walked towards the gate of Starfire City.
This was his first time leaving Starfire Academy in half a month since his enrollment, and his second time entering Starfire City. Unlike his first time, when he was in a daze, this time he had completely changed his identity, no longer a slave afraid of being caught, but a student of Starfire Academy.
Walking on the street, even though his clothes weren't particularly noble, no one gave him a look of disdain anymore. This was also the first time he truly walked with his head held high, and this feeling of smoothness was unprecedented.
After walking through two consecutive streets, Lu An finally stopped in front of a magnificent building. People came and went in front of the building, and on the high plaque, four large golden characters were written: 'Xinghuo Merchant Guild'!
Lu An's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at these three characters. The Black Mist Person had said that while Medicinal Pills were valuable, the Materials were not. Fortunately, Lu An had enough money to purchase the Materials, and making this Medicinal Pill was not difficult; he could do it himself.
Upon arriving at the auction house, Lu An looked around and quickly found the purchasing window. However, every window had a long queue, and Lu An hadn't expected it to be so popular, so he had no choice but to join the end of a line.
After queuing for a full half an hour, Lu An finally reached the window, which made him breathe a sigh of relief. Before he could speak, the good-looking female staff member said coldly, "What do you want to buy?"
The female staff member's tone was not only cold, but her expression was also unpleasant, as if someone owed her money. Lu An frowned slightly, not bothering to argue, and said softly, "I need one Heart-Benefiting Grass, one Dutian Elm Wood, one bowl of Cuiqing Pond Dew, and one Sangqian Flower."
The female staff member was startled upon hearing this. A strange look flashed across her usually cold face, and she finally looked up at Lu An, asking somewhat confusedly, "This is the prescription for the Solid Foundation Pill. How do you know it?"
The Solid Foundation Pill is the most basic Medicinal Pill for strengthening and nourishing the body, and it can also be said to be one of the most fundamental Medicinal Pills. Its effect is very simple: to strengthen the body and nourish the essence.
Especially for those in the Sky Realm, the Solid Foundation Pill is simply the best Sharp Weapon for improving strength. Whether it's the damage to the Sea of Consciousness from Body Tempering, or the harm to the body from frantic Cultivation, or even the Body Tempering effect inherent in the Solid Foundation Pill itself, countless Sky Realm cultivators flock to it. And to make a Solid Foundation Pill, the most basic requirement is that the pharmacist's strength must be at least First-Level Celestial Master.
In fact, only a First-Level Celestial Master is qualified to be called a pharmacist. Although Sky Realm cultivators can also make Medicinal Pills, those Medicinal Pills are low-grade items that no one would buy.
The Solid Foundation Pill's prescription is not a secret, which is why the female staff member was so surprised when she heard what Lu An wanted to buy.
Lu An was startled when he heard the woman's question, then felt a little flustered. The Black Mist Person had clearly said this prescription was very common. He pretended to be fine and said stubbornly, "Isn't this prescription very common?"
"That's true." The woman nodded, looking at Lu An's young age, and asked seriously, "Who are you buying it for? Who is your adult?"
Lu An was stunned again, then understood, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry, he doesn't allow me to say."
The woman frowned slightly upon hearing this, but didn't say much. After all, questioning a true pharmacist too much could easily cause dissatisfaction. One must know that pharmacists are truly rare talents; even in the vast Xinghuo Merchant Guild, there are only two pharmacists who can make Solid Foundation Pills.
However, the Xinghuo Merchant Guild's efficiency was extremely fast, and soon all four Materials were placed in front of Lu An. After paying, Lu An picked up the packaged Materials and turned directly, preparing to leave the Xinghuo Merchant Guild.
But just as he had walked halfway through the hall, someone suddenly blocked his path.
Lu An was startled, and his steps halted, fearing he would bump into someone. Then he looked up at the person blocking him.
To be precise, it was a woman.
This was a very mature woman. Unlike the women he had seen before, she exuded a mature and dignified Aura. Her face had sharp features, possessing the unique beauty of a Western Region woman. What Lu An remembered most were her eyes; though not large, they revealed a shrewd gleam. She looked to be nearly thirty, and while not old, the decisiveness and wisdom revealed in her beautiful face were beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Clearly, this was a strong woman.
"Can I help you?" Lu An looked at the woman, who was slightly taller than him, and asked politely.
While Lu An was observing the woman, the woman was also observing him, but the result left her somewhat disappointed. She spoke indifferently, "I am the steward of the Xinghuo Merchant Guild. You just bought the Materials for the Solid Foundation Pill. May I ask the esteemed name of the Celestial Master who can make the Solid Foundation Pill?"
Lu An was startled, then understood that the Xinghuo Merchant Guild wanted to recruit the pharmacist, but he didn't want to say it was him. The Black Mist Person had also mentioned the principle of 'a tall tree catches the wind.' After a brief thought, he said, "He doesn't want to tell others his name."
The woman was startled, and her eyebrows furrowed little by little, as if she was very dissatisfied with this answer. Looking at the child, who was barely ten years old, she slowly bent down. Immediately, Lu An felt an Aura like Mount Tai pressing down on him.
"Little one." The woman leaned down, her beautiful face less than a foot from Lu An, and said word by word, "If you tell me, I can find your family's pharmacist and hire him to work for our Xinghuo Merchant Guild. At that time, the money he earns will be at least ten times what it is now! Don't you want to live such a good life?"
Lu An, however, smiled faintly upon hearing this. He looked at the woman so close to him and was neither frightened nor tempted. Instead, he felt a little annoyed by her repeated condescending attitude.
"Not interested." Lu An looked at the woman and said indifferently, "I'm very busy. Do you have any more questions?"
Seeing Lu An's suddenly cold expression, the woman was truly startled, looking at him in surprise. No matter what, such an expression should not appear on a child of this age.
However, she was not someone who would be intimidated by a youth. She slowly straightened up and said, "My name is Liu Yi. If you are ever interested, feel free to come find me, or you can go home and ask your family's pharmacist."
Lu An looked at the woman upon hearing this and did not refuse, merely saying indifferently, "Okay, I will tell him."
With that, Lu An bypassed the woman, walked out of the Xinghuo Merchant Guild's main hall, and left.
And just after Lu An left, Liu Yi did not depart. Instead, she slowly walked to the main entrance, watching Lu An's increasingly distant figure, a smile gradually appearing on her face, and an unfathomable look in her eyes.
At this moment, the man who had been following behind Liu Yi came forward and said in a low voice, "Steward Li, do you need me to send someone to follow him?"
"No need." Liu Yi looked at Lu An's back and said with a smile, "Because that pharmacist is him."