Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 65
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 65
‘A request…’
What kind of request could the Provincial Commander have for him?
“Could you make Spirit Medicine for me?”
“Spirit Medicine, you say?”
“Yes. The Spirit Medicine you gave me before. It had excellent effects.”
“You’re referring to the True Origin Pill.”
“That’s right. I’ll pay the price.”
Spirit Medicine, was it. He never expected the medicine he’d given out of goodwill to return as a request.
However, there was a problem.
“The one from that time was lucky to come out with good performance. Even if you take it again, there won’t be much effect.”
“You’re hesitating because diminishing returns would be a problem, right?”
“That’s correct. From the second time onwards, the effects are greatly reduced, aren’t they?”
“Surely you don’t think I’d make such a request without knowing that.”
“Hmm…”
“This Spirit Medicine isn’t for me to consume.”
“It’s going to someone else then.”
“You guessed correctly.”
He was seeking it even though it wasn’t Spirit Medicine for himself to consume.
And at the same time, something with stronger medicinal effects than the existing True Origin Pill?
‘I see.’
The Provincial Commander seemed to be dreaming of building power.
Those who could be called his retainers or limbs.
He was definitely trying to prepare Spirit Medicine for them. Or perhaps it could be presented as tribute upwards.
New Spirit Medicine would always be welcome.
Either way, there was no problem for him.
‘Since he called it a request, he’ll surely give me sufficient compensation.’
There were no major procedural problems either.
Thinking about it this way, this was an opportunity for Jung Myeong.
‘Why don’t I leisurely try making new Spirit Medicine?’
Money and budget were always the problem.
Jung Myeong had always wanted to create new Spirit Medicine whenever the opportunity arose.
He still hadn’t made everything recorded in the Alchemy Manual he’d obtained.
Before that, as an alchemist, making new things was always a joyful task and an opportunity for growth.
So he couldn’t help but rejoice.
‘It’s like a big fish came to me on its own?’
Jung Myeong quickly finished assessing the situation.
He deliberately clasped his hands together like a Merchant and asked.
“May I ask how much you’ve looked into this?”
“Hehe…”
A sudden change in attitude.
At this, the Provincial Commander laughed as if he found it absurd.
* * *
‘There’s no need to make this complicated.’
Jung Myeong didn’t complicate matters.
He decided to conduct one research and one manufacturing process.
One research.
“I’ve accumulated enough know-how about True Origin Pills. Now enhancing them is my job as an alchemist.”
The countless True Origin Pills he’d made so far.
He conducted research to further enhance them.
It was called Enhancement.
Originally, this would have been an extremely difficult task.
Medicine was such that even the slightest change in Materials would not amplify effects but only reduce them.
If such Enhancement were easy, the market would be overflowing with enhanced Spirit Medicine.
There was no way Jung Myeong didn’t know this.
‘I know it better than anyone.’
As much as he knew the difficulty of Medicine Enhancement, he simply knew Medicine well.
[Using Analysis.]
[Analysis successful!]
The Spirit Medicine he created, the True Origin Pill. He analyzed it to the limit and analyzed it again.
‘Sometimes it succeeds greatly and the medicinal effect doubles, and other times even with the same True Origin Pill, the medicinal effect is strangely low. I need to understand that difference.’
Through this, he learned what controlled the strength of medicinal effects.
“Is Blue Spirit Grass the answer?”
Blue Spirit Grass, known to hold the blue light of dawn at the tips of its leaves.
This was the key that made the True Origin Pill’s medicinal effects different.
‘Let’s approach this intensively.’
At first, he obsessed over the concentration of the blue light it contained.
“This isn’t it.”
The answer was failure. Next, he obsessed not over concentration but over the energy contained within it.
He thought perhaps enhancing it with skills would work.
“Wow. This failed too. But it’s interesting?”
That also failed. Breaking through to new paths was difficult.
Then he found it in a completely different place.
“Blood Cloud Root was the answer?”
Blood Cloud Root, which bore a red light contrasting with Blue Spirit Grass.
Unlike Blue Spirit Grass which was central to True Origin Pills, this was merely a supplementary medicinal herb.
Compared to the expensive Blue Spirit Grass, its price was also very cheap.
As it turned out, that was the key.
‘So the success rate varied depending on how Blood Cloud Root affected the medicinal properties of Blue Spirit Grass. The catalyst that controls it is more important than the main herb, is that it? I had forgotten this basic principle!’
Once he found the key, there was learning to be had.
Ding-
[You gain a small enlightenment about being an alchemist.]
[Experience increases.]
[Skill: Analysis experience increases greatly.]
What remained after such learning was practice.
“Now then, let’s try different catalyst combinations. The answer must be to vary the concentration of Mysterious Wind Flower, which serves as the catalyst for this catalyst, each time.”
Proper analysis and direction through it.
What remained now was nearly infinite grinding.
Normally, just imagining it would be sickening, but.
‘Ahh. This is good.’
Jung Myeong enjoyed this moment.
He welcomed this time when he could temporarily forget both the growing operations of the Medical Clinic and his growth as a Martial Artist.
He regarded it as a moment when he could briefly set down heavy burdens and enjoy himself.
[You succeed in enhancing True Origin Pills to create a new Spirit Medicine!]
[Experience increases greatly.]
He finally succeeded.
[Would you like to name the new Spirit Medicine?]
“Let’s call it Original True Origin Pill.”
[The new Spirit Medicine is named Original True Origin Pill.]
Thus the Original True Origin Pill was created!
It bore a blue light similar to the Spirit Medicines of Wudang Sect, one of the Nine Sects and One School.
‘How mysterious?’
Though he did use Quanzhen Sect’s alchemy.
Jung Myeong was quite distant from Taoism.
Yet it had a light similar to Wudang Sect’s, which seemed to have a similar essence.
‘If done well, there might be a connection. Did Quanzhen pass teachings to Wudang? Or did it leak to Wudang when Quanzhen fell?’
Many directions came to mind.
Either way, investigating would be quite interesting.
‘But for now, that’s for later.’
However, Jung Myeong postponed resolving that curiosity for now.
He still had things to do.
“Now then, next let’s move on to more difficult alchemy.”
With one development complete, next came production.
Since the material costs were far too expensive compared to True Origin Pills, he decided to make something he hadn’t dared touch before.
Namely, True Energy Pills!
It was one of the training Spirit Medicines at the next level after True Origin Pills.
Would he fail to make this?
[You succeed in crafting True Energy Pills.]
“Great!”
Jung Myeong quickly succeeded in creating the new Spirit Medicine.
Compared to the grinding-like enhancement he’d done, this was several times easier to succeed at.
However, as the price for that.
“Wow. I sure wasted a lot.”
He did have to waste quite a lot of medicinal herbs.
But wasn’t there a Provincial Commander scheduled to be billed for it?
‘I’ll have to charge generously including research costs.’
He set the price at three times that of Original True Origin Pills.
For reference, Original True Origin Pills were also priced at three times that of True Origin Pills, so the price would be quite steep.
However, this much would be no burden from the Provincial Commander’s perspective.
‘Considering the side effects of qi deviation, this is worthwhile.’
He was confident even after setting such an expensive price.
That’s why he decided immediately.
“Manager.”
“Yes. What can I do for you?”
“Please send a communication tube to this place discreetly.”
“A communication tube, you say?”
“If you say it’s about a commission, he’ll understand and come.”
“I’ll carry it out right away.”
He decided to call in the Provincial Commander.
This happened exactly thirty days after receiving his commission.
* * *
Three days later. The Provincial Commander came disguised as a martial artist, bringing two more people with him.
Since he had informed Manager Jang beforehand, this time they could enter the Alchemy Room discreetly.
“Whew. This is quite professional, isn’t it?”
The Provincial Commander was impressed upon seeing the Alchemy Room.
“If you’re going to do something, you should do it properly.”
“That’s right. But…”
“What’s wrong?”
“This time, I’m quite doubtful whether you’ve done it properly.”
“Is that so?”
“Honestly, yes.”
However, his expression as he looked at Jung Myeong clearly showed suspicion.
“It hasn’t been long since I asked you to make the Spirit Medicine.”
“It was a month ago, wasn’t it?”
“Right. Just a month ago.”
So it was about the timeframe after all. There was no way Jung Myeong couldn’t understand this.
“Ah…! So that’s what you’re worried about.”
“It’s a natural concern.”
The solution to this was simple.
“Then wouldn’t it be fine to test it right now?”
“Test?”
“Yes. A test to see if I’ve brought medicine that meets the commission.”
“Ho…”
Perhaps because of his confident appearance, the Provincial Commander’s suspicion lessened considerably.
‘Come to think of it, this fellow has Divine Power, doesn’t he? If he made it quickly using Divine Power… it might be possible.’
Though the direction of resolving his suspicion was a bit strange.
Without mind-reading abilities, it was difficult for Jung Myeong to know this.
“Then let’s give it a try.”
“Good.”
The pill test was decided immediately.
“Choose one of the two. One is the Original True Origin Pill. The other is the True Energy Pill.”
“Hmm… Original True Origin Pill and True Energy Pill. These names don’t inspire much confidence, do they?”
“Is that so?”
“True Energy Pill is… Right. It sounds familiar somehow?”
It seemed the Provincial Commander knew something about the True Energy Pill.
‘He must have found out something when I sold the True Origin Pills.’
Though he didn’t say it.
He certainly knew it belonged to the Quanzhen Sect.
Considering the Provincial Commander’s abilities, knowing this much wasn’t strange.
‘It’s strange that he seems reluctant to talk about the Quanzhen Sect for some reason. But that’s not what’s important right now.’
What was important right now was testing the medicine.
“Wasn’t it difficult to make?”
“It was difficult, but I managed it.”
“…I see. That’s possible. Actually, this True Origin Pill is quite potent, so it’s also difficult to absorb, isn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
“Hmm…”
It seemed he wasn’t very keen on testing with the True Origin Pill.
There was an alternative.
“If you don’t like it, there’s this Original True Origin Pill.”
“Original True Origin Pill? This name sounds familiar too.”
“That’s right. It’s the True Origin Pill that was originally distributed, but enhanced even further.”
“Ho. Really?”
“The effect is certain. By using materials with stronger medicinal properties, I’ve doubled the efficacy. Instead, the price is three times higher.”
“Haha. Twice as good but three times the price. Normally this would be quite a scam, but it’s not bad?”
“That’s right. Because it’s Spirit Medicine.”
“Right. Because it’s Spirit Medicine. If it’s an enhanced version of the True Origin Pill from before… the risk would be low.”
“As I said, both are fine.”
“Hmm…”
Fortunately, he seemed to have no reservations about the Original True Origin Pill.
In the end, the answer lay only in the Provincial Commander’s choice.
Since either side didn’t matter.
Jung Myeong asked without hesitation.
“Let’s go with whichever side you choose. Which one would you like to test first?”
“Let’s go with the Original True Origin Pill!”
“Very well.”
After the quick decision.
Swish swish swish—
The medicine efficacy test began.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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