Brian Clark said seriously, “I want to learn a craft. Not to mention that having more skills never hurts, and more paths mean more chances for survival. Just speaking of alchemy, it’s an essential skill for people like us, and getting an early start is a good thing.”

“Junior brother, you’ve only just begun your cultivation. To start learning alchemy now is a bit too hasty. You should focus on training and solidifying your foundation—that’s the proper way.”

James White shook her head and said, “If you’re short on pills during cultivation, just say so. When I’m not around, you can go to your Senior Sister Reed; she’ll meet your needs.”

James White suspected that Brian Clark lacked a sense of security. Sanqing Peak was too poor, with few cultivation resources. Plus, he was young and proud, unwilling to ask for help, which was why he wanted to learn alchemy.

If I don’t learn alchemy, I won’t have experience. Without experience, I’ll have to cultivate honestly. If I cultivate honestly, then I’m not a genius.

Brian Clark muttered inwardly, then straightened his face and said, “Senior sister, to tell you the truth, every day I’m either cultivating or cultivating, and you won’t let me go out. I’m bored and want to find a hobby to pass the time.”

“You have a point, junior brother. I didn’t consider that.”

James White nodded; this reason she could accept.

Throwing Brian Clark into the Dasheng Pass alchemy room to learn alchemy without leaving the house—no need to worry about the dangers of the outside world, and with Anna Reed watching over him, it really was a good way to pass the time.

This way, she also didn’t have to worry about Brian Clark being unsupervised during the day and sneaking out when she wasn’t around.

“I’ll talk to your Senior Sister Reed for you. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then I’ll trouble you, senior sister.”

Brian Clark nodded. As he turned to leave, something suddenly occurred to him, and he asked with a strange look, “Senior sister, weren’t you in a hurry to return to Lingxiao Sword Sect? Why aren’t you in a rush now?”

“……”

James White immediately blushed, only saying she still had to buy some things at Dasheng Pass—just girl stuff—and told Brian Clark not to ask further.

You call yourself a girl?

Let’s be honest, your junior sister’s daughter is what you’d call a girl!

Brian Clark’s mouth twitched, but he wisely didn’t say it out loud. His goal was achieved; it was time to make a graceful exit.

……

The next day, James White left early, planting three sword talismans on the back of Brian Clark’s hand, saying they would protect him in times of danger.

Anna Reed, looking gloomy, bid farewell to James White and took Brian Clark by carriage to the residence of the Huangji Sect at Dasheng Pass.

As the administrative center and chief county of Dongqi Prefecture, Dasheng Pass was second to none in both population and economy. The presence of the Huangji Sect made the county even more prosperous.

Not to mention, just the wealthy royal disciples like Anna Reed brought considerable economic benefits.

First, land prices soared.

Second, the Huangji Sect’s Dasheng Pass residence consumed and replenished pills and formation diagrams daily. The merchants and sects they worked with came and went, bringing in a hefty sum in taxes.

But that’s not the main point. The main point is that the Huangji Sect’s residence at Dasheng Pass was located in a valley to the west of the county. Even though it was far from the county center, the number of shops along the road didn’t decrease.

That entire valley was taken over by the Huangji Sect and divided into several areas for different departments.

The alchemy area was filled with pavilions and towers, shaded by green trees.

To the naked eye, there didn’t seem to be any strict security, but in reality, the formations were interlocked. Without Anna Reed’s guarantee and a pass at the entrance, Brian Clark wouldn’t get far before being dragged into a little black room by burly men jumping out of the bushes.

Anna Reed was a bookkeeper in the alchemy room, with a chief bookkeeper above her and two colleagues at the same level. The three of them handled most of the daily work, while she mainly just idled away her days.

As long as she clocked in and out on time, she could basically get away with working only fifteen days a month, making her the chief bookkeeper’s most praised and outstanding subordinate.

Don’t ask why—just because her surname is Zhu.

Anna Reed was very self-aware. People respected her not because of who she was, but because they didn’t want trouble. So she was easygoing and friendly, making friends everywhere.

With her help, Brian Clark quickly found a job in the alchemy room.

Apprentice alchemist.

His mentor, John Wood, was experienced—a twenty-year veteran of the alchemy room, born and raised in the Huangji Sect, and had undergone systematic alchemy training.

John Wood looked at Brian Clark with a helpless expression. Seeing his eager look, he became even more helpless.

As an old hand, what he dreaded most was newbies who got in through connections. If you ignore them, you’ll get in trouble; if you try to manage them…

Well, if you could actually manage them, that’d be a miracle!

Fortunately, life in the alchemy room was dull and tedious. John Wood was very experienced in dealing with newbies and was confident he could make Anna Reed’s distant relative give up within three months.

He composed himself and said kindly, “Brian Clark, have you ever made pills before?”

“No.”

“That’s fine.”

John Wood nodded, as expected, stroked his beard, and smiled, “No problem. As long as you’ve watched others do it, it’s easy to pick up.”

“I haven’t even watched before.”

“……”

John Wood was silent for a moment. So he wasn’t just a newbie—he was a young master looking for something to do.

Thinking of Anna Reed’s status, this young master’s family background couldn’t be bad. With that kind of nerve, maybe he was a Zhu too, just hiding his identity to have some fun.

That made things even easier.