Encountering her ungrateful son elicited no emotional response from her.
The one who cared about the child was the original Lin Wei; she was already dead.
All she wanted was to survive.
It seemed her guess was correct: Lu Yan would look for her, but not make a public spectacle of it.
She did not yet possess any real status.
Therefore, her only path to survival was to avoid them.
Returning to her quarters, Lin Wei immediately went into seclusion. After taking a Bigu Pill, she felt no hunger.
She sat cross-legged and began to cultivate, absorbing spiritual qi until her body could take no more before she began digesting it. Once she guided the spiritual qi back into her Dantian, she resumed her cultivation.
During brief moments of awakening, she could smell a foul odor even through her mask, but she no longer had the luxury of caring.
After cultivating like this for four days, Lin Wei finally made a breakthrough.
She reached the 8th Layer of Qi Condensation.
She could feel her meridians expanding, allowing her to absorb even more spiritual qi.
Inside her Dantian, the pool of spiritual qi had grown to the size of a watermelon.
Of the five Bigu Pills she had acquired in exchange, only one remained.
Tomorrow was the day of the alchemist examination.
Lin Wei stretched her limbs and hurried to the washroom.
This time, she scrubbed for much longer before washing away all the grime and filth from her body.
Upon returning to her quarters, she took out a spiritual chicken to simmer some chicken soup.
That evening, Lin Wei called Sun Hu over to eat with her.
"Granny, did you break through?"
Seeing how happy Lin Wei looked, Sun Hu asked.
Lin Wei nodded. "Eat a bit more today and get a good night's sleep. The examination is tomorrow, and I hope we both succeed."
Sun Hu nodded. There were four spiritual chickens, two for each of them.
After finishing the meal, Lin Wei rested.
When Sun Hu returned, he handed Lin Wei several medicine packets. Confused, she asked, "What are these?"
"Granny, these are just some lower-quality herbs. I bought them for you while I prepared an extra set for myself. You've been so good to me, and I want to treat you well."
Sun Hu's eyes shone brightly as he looked at Lin Wei, warming her heart.
She smiled benevolently. "Thank you, Xiaohuzi. Granny accepts your kind intentions."
Lin Wei accepted the herbs.
Sun Hu smiled, his canine teeth making him look particularly earnest, and happily returned to his own room.
Lin Wei lay down to sleep. She did not cultivate tonight; instead, she got a thorough, proper night's rest.
She had not slept well once since arriving in this world nearly two months ago.
There had been her steadily decreasing lifespan, not to mention the scumbag husband who wanted her dead.
She had spent her time either refining pills or cultivating, but tonight, she could finally sleep peacefully.
After tomorrow, she would become a pharmacist disciple of the Shangyuan Sect. She would not hide her abilities; the Human-grade pharmacist rank was merely her first step in proving herself, and her ultimate goal was a Heaven-grade pharmacist.
Yet even a Heaven-grade pharmacist was only the first step toward survival. To completely master her own destiny, she still needed absolute strength.
Lin Wei carefully mapped out her plans in her mind and gradually drifted off to sleep.
She was awakened by a knock on the door.
The sky outside was already bright.
Lin Wei got up, washed up, and headed toward the examination venue with Sun Hu.
It was a massive, circular multi-story corridor building with a total of seven levels, the corridors looping around circles upon circles of small cauldrons.
Identity plates had to be collected at the entrance. Lin Wei received number 223, while Sun Hu was number 356, placing them on different floors.
"Xiao Hu, go find your own station."
Not being assigned to the same floor left Sun Hu a bit disappointed and worried.
Lin Wei patted his arm to reassure him.
The examination was of the utmost importance—more critical than anything else.
Sun Hu headed upstairs, and Lin Wei found her designated station.
The small alchemy cauldron was not large, about the size of a circle made by bringing both hands together, and all the necessary materials were laid out beforehand.
Everyone who found their station was checking for any missing items. Lin Wei checked hers as well, then took out her herbs to begin refining.
Higher-grade pills required more time, so once her checks were clear, she commenced the refinement.
The alchemists did not converse with one another.
After all, Lin Wei was an elderly woman; although no one spoke aloud, quite a few people cast curious glances her way.
She tossed the herbs into the cauldron, and the firestone flared to life.
Lin Wei carefully inhaled the fragrance of the medicinal herbs, adding them one by one at the absolute, most perfect moment.
The alchemy cauldron turned glowing red, the searing heat making sweat bead on her forehead, yet no one retreated; everyone observed the condition of their cauldrons from up close.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky:
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
One after another, cauldrons began to explode.
"How could the cauldron explode? Impossible, this is impossible..."
"I won't fail, I can't possibly fail..."
"My herbs, my herbs..."
Wails of despair rose one after another.
Yet sword cultivators quickly stepped in to escort them out.
Cries of sorrow and shouts of joy rang out in succession before fading away.
She wondered if Sun Hu's pill refinement was going smoothly.
While Lin Wei worried about Sun Hu, Sun Hu was equally worried about Lin Wei.
Seeing that well over half the people around him had already failed and been escorted away, Sun Hu broke out in a frantic sweat.
It was now afternoon.
Sun Hu's cauldron had cooled. He excitedly lifted the lid, a refreshing fragrance wafting out, and a smile broke across his face. "It worked."
A mid-grade Vigor Pill—solid quality, nothing less.
An apothecary came over to inspect it, made a record, and then handed Sun Hu a token. "You've passed. From now on, you are a Human-grade alchemist."
The apothecary collected the pills.
Clutching his identity plate tightly with excitement, Sun Hu bolted downstairs.
There were very few people left now.
Seeing that Lin Wei's cauldron was still burning, Sun Hu dared not approach for fear of disturbing her, so he stood quietly at a short distance and watched.
As more and more people departed, Sun Hu grew increasingly anxious.
Unaware that Sun Hu had already come down, Lin Wei dropped in the final herb and added a few more firestones to the flames.
The pill she was refining was so extraordinary that those who had already earned their passing tokens paused out of curiosity, and before they knew it, dozens of people had gathered around to watch.
"Who is this old woman? Why has she been refining for so long? Is she trying to produce a high-grade pill?"
Someone voiced their doubt.
"How could that be? This old woman always smells foul, and at her age, how could she possibly refine pills? Look at her constantly adding firestones—does she think the bigger the fire, the more supreme the pill?"
A man sneered disdainfully and spoke up.
He lived not far from Lin Wei, and since she often smelled terrible, he had disliked her for a long time.
Now that he had the chance to voice his contempt, the man finally felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Shut your mouth! If you dare disturb Granny again, I won't be polite!"
Sun Hu clenched his fists, looking like a beast on the verge of explosive rage.
He was much taller and sturdier than the average person, his muscles bulging all over. The man who had just spoken was startled, curled his lip in silence, and dared not continue.
The onlookers also realized that Sun Hu and the old woman shared a close relationship and didn't dare discuss it further.
After all, no one wanted to get beaten up for no reason.
"Puff, puff, puff—"
Lin Wei's cauldron began to vibrate.
"Th-this is the sign of a high-grade pill forming!"
Those with some knowledge of alchemy grew excited.
Sun Hu also clenched his fists, breaking out in a nervous sweat for Lin Wei.