In the mall, Lu Ping spent forty-five reputation points to exchange for the [Moon Grass] and [Moon Grass Formula].
The sect needs Crescent Pills. The elixir resources for the disciples cannot be interrupted. This needs to be addressed promptly, and the Moon Grass also requires a maturation period.
"I have some Moon Grass seeds here that can be planted in the Medicinal Garden to generate some income for the sect."
Lu Ping briefly introduced.
"Additionally, there's an elixir formula, and it records the method for refining Crescent Pills. You can arrange for the sect's alchemists to study it."
After speaking, he took out the two items.
While Lu Zhiwei was hesitating whether to step forward or wait for her father to exit the cave mansion, suddenly, conjured out of nowhere on the open ground outside the cave mansion were two phantoms.
The phantoms solidified into actual objects within a few breaths.
Lu Zhiwei focused her gaze and recognized them as a small paper package pressed with a piece of sheepskin paper bearing an elixir formula.
It seems these are what her father mentioned.
Lu Zhiwei picked them up and glanced over.
She didn't ask how these two items magically appeared.
The transformation from virtual to real was somewhat akin to retrieving items from a storage bag, not particularly novel, or perhaps it was just one of her father's many superior methods.
If her father didn't actively explain, she shouldn't ask too much.
Seeing it was Moon Grass seeds and a Crescent Pill formula, Lu Zhiwei hesitated to speak, her expression revealing a trace of helplessness.
Seeding is straightforward; once planted, the disciples in the medicinal garden can tend to it.
The formula is available, but there's no alchemist…
The helplessness on Lu Zhiwei's face was seen by Lu Ping, who couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"Uh…"
Lu Zhiwei's tone was embarrassed.
"To be honest, father, due to the scarcity of medicinal garden production over the years and the significant loss of sect disciples, there are currently no alchemists in the sect."
"…"
Hearing this answer, Lu Ping didn't know what to say.
Crescent Pills are Tier One Elixirs, a Tier One Alchemist could independently refine them.
The Cyan Mountain Sect had alchemists back in the day; five at Tier One, two at Tier Two, and one at Tier Three, quite a decent number.
But times have changed. With the decline of the Cyan Mountain Sect, now there's not even one.
At the root of it, if a sect cannot provide various medicinal supplies for alchemists to perform alchemy and study, no alchemist is willing to stay.
Moreover, without deep emotional ties or blood relations as cohesion, the reason members still serve the sect can only be due to interests.
Clearly, the present Cyan Mountain Sect has no interests for many people to pursue, and it's normal to look down on it.
It's a reality; this is the fate of poverty, failing to retain hearts.
"It's okay."
Lu Ping sighed, helpless about the matter. It was indeed an oversight on his part.
Initially, he was genuinely delighted upon seeing the reward of the Crescent Pill formula. After all, self-producing elixirs is beneficial for the sect, with no downsides.
But he neglected to consider whether there were any alchemists in the sect before the exchange; he should have asked first.
The decline of the Cyan Mountain Sect is more severe than expected.
However, it doesn't matter, cultivating alchemists is still necessary, and this loop cannot be avoided.
Understanding this, Lu Ping said, "Let's plant the Moon Grass first. If there are no alchemists in the sect, find a way to cultivate some."
"As for finding candidates for cultivation, you can look for them early, this matter cannot be delayed."
Planting Moon Grass requires a year to mature and be harvested.
Currently, without alchemists, the sect cannot rely on alchemy for income in the short term.
Cultivating a Tier One Alchemist takes about a year and is a costly endeavor.
It's quite frustrating.
Acquiring an elixir formula not only requires waiting for the Moon Grass to mature to perform alchemy but also cultivating an alchemist for the sect...
Of course, alchemists must be cultivated.
The sect must have its own alchemists; hiring external alchemists for alchemy, Lu Ping isn't too confident.
In the cultivation realm, there is never a shortage of alchemists who, for personal gain, tamper during alchemy to harm others.
Just like the notorious Elixir Demon upheaval in the Chu Kingdom over five hundred years ago.
That Elixir Demon upheaval ensnared several Crystallization Cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who fell prey to it under the control of the Elixir Demon.
This resulted in major sects and families avoiding hiring external alchemists for alchemy for a long time.
Eventually, it took the Dubhe Institute intervening, signing an alchemy agreement with numerous top alchemists from Lingxi State to gradually quell the aftermath of the Elixir Demon upheaval.
Whether to prevent the recurrence of the Elixir Demon upheaval harming the Cyan Mountain Sect or for the sect's future development, the sect's cultivation of alchemists needs to be prioritized soon.
Fortunately, after reaching the Golden Core Stage, Lu Ping had ample time, and in his leisure, delved into both alchemy and artifact refining, mastering a few of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.
Although his attainments in alchemy were not high, only reaching the level of a Tier Three Top-Grade Alchemist, with his alchemy knowledge, cultivating an alchemist for the sect wasn't difficult.
Just in time, with the [Communication] system function available, he could move freely without restriction, which allowed him to guide disciples in learning alchemy.
However, he couldn't personally demonstrate alchemy, as he was only a consciousness body.
But it wasn't a major issue; as long as there were disciples willing to learn, it was relatively easy to cultivate them to Tier Two Alchemist level.
Achieving Tier Two would make Lu Ping content.
Don't forget, he himself was only Tier Three. Not being able to demonstrate alchemy meant he could at most cultivate disciples to Tier Two Alchemist level; should disciples wish to advance further, improving their alchemy would be up to their own efforts.
In fact, while Lu Ping pondered over this matter, Lu Zhiwei was also contemplating the alchemist issue.
Since her father has awakened and intends to revitalize the sect, having sect alchemists is indispensable and indeed needs early cultivation.
Thankfully, she herself is an Artifact Refiner; otherwise, besides cultivating alchemists, the sect would also have to diligently cultivate artifact refiners.
Among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, cultivating talent in both alchemists and artifact refiners is essentially a costly affair. Cultivating both simultaneously would undoubtedly be too much for the sect to handle.
Fortunately, there is someone within the sect with the talent for alchemy, an ideal candidate for cultivation; her father also understands the Alchemy Dao, eliminating the need to seek outside help.
Having identified a candidate, Lu Zhiwei proactively mentioned it.
"Father, regarding the cultivation of alchemists, Zhiwei can recommend a candidate now."
"Let's hear it."
"In recent years, She Qingqing has been overseeing the Medicinal Garden. Her grasp of medicinal planting and identification is very thorough. Perhaps she can be cultivated towards becoming an alchemist."
"She Qingqing, which generation's disciple?"
Lu Ping was unfamiliar with this name; it sounded like a female disciple.
"She was recruited into the sect by my second brother six years ago, her strength is around Second-Layer Qi Cultivation. Father, you've been in secluded cultivation for so long, naturally, you don't know her."
Besides She Qingqing, there really is no other more suitable candidate in the sect to be developed as an alchemist.
And the only one she could trust as a candidate was She Qingqing.
While Lu Zhiwei was introducing, Lu Ping found She Qingqing's attributes among the sect's members in the system.
[Name: She Qingqing]
[Identity: Inner Sect Disciple]
[Age: 17]
[Personality: Wise and meticulous]
[Status: Healthy]
[Realm: Second-Layer Qi Cultivation]
[Talent: Fire, Wood, and Wind Three Spirit Roots]
[Location: Cyan Lotus Mountain]
...