Free Web NovelChapter 577: Chapter 396: Becoming the One and Only! (Double-Length)
Song Changming took the elixir pills and examined them one by one.
This time, he was refining level one Moisture-removal Pills.
A fairly common elixir, with an unremarkable purpose, used to remove moisture from the body.
Song Changming chose this elixir because its refinement difficulty wasn’t high, making it suitable for his first alchemy attempt.
Producing twenty-nine elixirs might seem like a decent amount, but compared to the amount of herbs used, far too much essence was wasted, and the herb loss rate was too high.
Normally, a batch of Moisture-removal Pills that yields fifty to seventy-five elixirs is considered excellent in refinement.
Forty to fifty elixirs are the standard qualification.
And compared to this standard, Song Changming’s batch of twenty-nine Moisture-removal Pills is obviously lacking.
Moreover, the quality of these twenty-nine elixirs varied.
The top grade, which is the best quality, wasn’t present at all; only a few were middle grade, and the rest were of low-grade inferior quality, with very ordinary efficacy.
Looking at it this way, it’s hard to say that this batch of alchemy was a great success, and if they were to be sold, it might not even recover the cost of the herbs.
However, since Song Changming is just starting as an alchemy apprentice, the expectations naturally couldn’t be set too high.
In fact, compared to other beginning alchemists, the result of his first batch of elixirs was quite good.
Typically, the common first-time success yields only ten or eight elixirs. Some only produce one or two elixirs, which is considered a bit of a rookie mistake.
Compared to them, Song Changming is among the upper echelon.
This is partly thanks to his experience from nine previous failures, and partly due to his inherent traits as an alchemy master at play.
In fact, without such traits, Song Changming wouldn’t have considered undertaking alchemy.
Now he suddenly finds alchemy quite interesting.
Opening the medicine cauldron and discovering a fruitful harvest is no less fulfilling than the sense of accomplishment from breakthroughs in cultivation.
"This might become a worthwhile hobby in the future..." Song Changming thought to himself as he watched A Er pack up the elixirs.
Just that this hobby is a bit costly; otherwise, there’s nothing much wrong with it.
In fact, if cultivated well, this hobby could greatly benefit his cultivation.
Like the Earth Core Fire liquid he previously consumed. If it could be refined into an elixir, the medicine’s efficacy would certainly be better than swallowing a drop of Earth Core Fire liquid raw.
There’s also the Great Demon Heart Core that has yet to be fully refined...
When precious herbs are combined and blended properly, they often trigger even greater and more miraculous new effects, which is the original meaning of alchemy.
Of course, Song Changming does not yet have the qualifications to refine precious herbs. Like Talisman Tao, Alchemy Dao also requires a long time to accumulate and grow.
"Master, should I hand over these elixirs to the manager for sale?" A Er asked with an honest face.
In the past, including Talisman Tao, some of Song Changming’s practice outcomes were sold by Song Ping’an if they weren’t useful to the family, allowing some costs to be recovered.
"This is the master’s first successful alchemy; it’s very meaningful to keep them, Master..." Su Qingqing immediately stopped him when she heard about selling them.
"Or, I can manage them for the master."
Hearing this, Song Changming let Su Qingqing take the elixirs.
Watching Su Qingqing carefully protect and store them amused him.
Just level one Moisture-removal Pills, yet treating them as if they’re some kind of miraculous elixirs.
"Master simply doesn’t understand that some key items can carry past memories. If one wishes to reminisce about the past or return to this moment in the future, these are the best keys to unlock forgotten memories."
Su Qingqing muttered quietly, storing the twenty-nine elixir pills in her Heaven and Earth Ring.
Her Heaven and Earth Ring wasn’t gifted by Song Changming; it was given by her mother, and its quality isn’t low. The interior space is larger than the one Song Changming owns.
...
April came.
That day, Song Changming received a message from the Military Department that the marshal position for the Nineteenth Army was about to be decided.
The timing is later than Song Changming anticipated.
He thought that since the Military Department was eager to rebuild the army, there should be a quick resolution.
Unexpectedly, it was dragged from March to April.
In fact, the Military Department indeed wanted to quickly put this matter on the agenda, but the Demon Race outside was not idle for a moment.
Gathering the candidates on the list wasn’t exactly an easy task.
Until recently, the demon race within Cui Bai Dao had either been exterminated or for some reason, they have somewhat restrained, giving the Military Department the capacity to gather everyone to finalize this matter.
Actually, it wasn’t entirely necessary to have such a competition; Hu Tomb wanted to use this method to select candidates, blocking the mouths of all the noble families.
No favoritism, no underhanded dealings, everything only depends on strength.
This time, the strongest will assume the new Grand Marshal’s position; everything else is secondary!
Outside the main city, seventy miles away, in a desolate valley, two figures flew over.
"This should be the place." Yang Zhen said, looking down at the rarely-touched large mountain valley.
"Seeing the valley means it should be correct." Song Changming nodded.
The valley was mostly barren rocks, with not much vegetation.
Stone peaks that looked like pillars stood tall in the valley.
Song Changming and Yang Zhen stood separated on two nearby stone peaks.
No one else was around, and unexpectedly, they were the first to arrive.
Previously, the Military Department had given them the location coordinates and specified it was a rocky valley.
Today, they were here to compete for the Grand Marshal position.
Clearly, the Military Department did not intend to make a big fuss; hence the chosen location was known only to the relevant group today.
Soon, they didn’t have to wait long before people began arriving from afar.
"Oh, they arrived even earlier than me." A man dressed in similar battle armor appeared, looking at Song Changming and Yang Zhen.
He copied them and stood on another upright stone peak.
Song Changming and Yang Zhen began observing the newcomer.
Yang Zhen quickly recognized the person’s identity and first clasped his hands in respect, saying, "Ah, it’s Banner Master Liao, I’ve long admired your reputation."
"And you are?" Liao Junmao asked in response, noticing the other party knew him.
He indeed did not know Yang Zhen.
The entire Military Department consists of forty-eight Cui Banner armies, with a vast scale and numerous soldiers; hence, even the Little Flag Masters guarding different regions hardly knew each other.
And without sufficient military prestige, even if they had met before, it would be difficult for others to remember.
Yang Zhen wasn’t offended by this, merely smiled and said, "I am Yang Zhen from the 41st Army, and this is Song Changming."
Upon hearing these names, Liao Junmao recalled Yang Zhen somewhat, but his expression immediately changed when Yang Zhen introduced Song Changming.
"Song Changming? So you are that Song Changming!"
"I’ve heard of you." Song Changming replied casually.
In terms of reputation, Song Changming’s renown in the military far surpasses Yang Zhen’s.
Liao Junmao might not remember Yang Zhen, but he certainly couldn’t forget the name Song Changming.
The event of him defeating the Zhao Family’s clan elder was a sensational affair that most people knew about.
That was when Song Changming’s fame spread widely.
"Well, I have indeed admired your actions, Brother Song, for quite some time." Liao Junmao said, clasping his hands.
"It was nothing more than being forced by circumstances." Song Changming knew what the other referred to, shook his head, and chose not to elaborate, nor did he take pride in it.
Liao Junmao wanted to say more, but suddenly, two more individuals arrived from afar, landing on different stone peaks, interrupting their conversation.
Liao Junmao got excited upon recognizing familiar faces.
"Brother Dou, Brother Wen, with today’s occasion, I thought I might see you two."
The two remained aloof, not responding as warmly as Liao Junmao but nodded briefly without saying much, quietly awaiting the Military Department’s arrival.
Song Changming looked on, seeing unfamiliar faces, not recognizing anyone, hence losing interest in greetings.
It’s likely that they’re all Grand Marshal candidates from the list, hence his opponents in this race for the position.
No matter who the opponents are, he must defeat everyone here before he can get that position and be the only one!
...
