Just as Meng Chen was letting his imagination run wild, the big-bellied man suddenly flashed right in front of him.
The big man looked deeply regretful, pulling his resentful gaze away from the horse-faced woman's retreating back before finally looking at Meng Chen.
"Well, look at that, a newcomer! And you actually managed to bump Li Yi out of the spot that was already reserved for him. You really are something else."
The big man said in surprise, "No wonder Senior Sister mentioned just now that you were personally assigned by Senior Su."
"Greetings, Senior Brother. I am Meng Chen. Please take good care of me."
Meng Chen swallowed hard. Standing so close to this fatty put a lot of pressure on him, so he couldn't help taking a few steps back before speaking.
"Don't worry about a thing, Meng Chen. From now on, you're one of us here in the Discarded Pill Room. Even though Senior Su's backing means you won't have to do the regular chores around here like the rest of us, managing the Medicine Garden isn't quite as simple as you might think."
"Might I ask how I should address you, Senior Brother?" Meng Chen rolled his eyes inwardly, but on the outside, he cupped his fists and asked.
"My name is Liu Dagang. Around here in the Discarded Pill Room, just call me First Senior Brother. That over there is your Second Senior Brother... and that's your Third Senior Brother..." Liu Dagang chuckled.
"Alright, I'll take you to your quarters now, and then brief you on your duties at the Medicine Garden," Liu Dagang added.
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Meng Chen and started walking.
"The reason the Discarded Pill Room has this name is simply because this is where discarded pills are collected. When alchemists refine pills, a large number of flawed pills are left behind—some with damaged spiritual power, others that need to be thrown away, and even poisonous pills..."
Liu Dagang explained as he dragged Meng Chen along:
"As for which ones are poisonous pills, even those apothecaries find it extremely difficult to tell them apart. So you must never swallow any discarded pills at random, lest you suffer uncontrollable consequences..."
Hearing this, Meng Chen finally showed a look of interest.
"What kind of consequences?"
Liu Dagang sighed, "Some people do soar to greatness after swallowing discarded pills, but most people don't have such good luck. The best-case scenario is going mad, and the worst is losing your cultivation base or even your life..."
Meng Chen nodded upon hearing this. "This junior understands."
"Alright, this is your living quarters from now on. Everything you need to know is inside. If there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me anytime."
Liu Dagang gave Meng Chen a few final instructions, then pointed to one of the nearby wooden huts before shaking his head and sighing as he left.
As he walked away, he muttered regretfully, "Senior Sister, oh Senior Sister, Liu treats you like this—just when on earth will you ever notice...?"
Hearing this, Meng Chen directly covered his forehead. Not wanting to hear another word of this cheesy nonsense, he quickly flashed his figure and slipped into the wooden hut...
The inside of the hut appeared rather spacious. The surrounding walls were plain and unadorned, and the floor was covered with slightly aged wooden boards.
The furnishings inside were clear at a glance: just a wooden bed against the wall, next to which sat a matching wooden table and a lonely chair.
After stepping into the room, Meng Chen didn't pay much attention to its sparse layout. His gaze locked directly onto the table.
He strode quickly over to the table and, without a moment's hesitation, reached out and picked up a jade slip resting quietly upon it.
Meng Chen gently picked up the jade slip and then cautiously pressed it against the center of his brow.
In an instant, a torrent of information surged into his mind like a tidal wave. As the information continued to pour in, several large characters gradually became clear.
"Qingxuan Burning Furnace Formula!"
This was clearly a secret cultivation manual.
This cultivation method was an introductory technique that every disciple in the Qingxuan Sect was required to study.
However, although everyone learned it, those who could actually master this technique were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Because mastering this method was extremely difficult, requiring a massive investment of time and energy.
Normally, the vast majority of disciples, once their own cultivation base had improved, would seek out other cultivation methods better suited to themselves.
After all, for those on the path of cultivation, time was infinitely precious. Obsisting blindly over a technique that was hard to master would likely stall their personal progress.
Meng Chen merely glanced roughly through the contents of the Qingxuan Burning Furnace Formula, and an irrepressible look of surprise immediately surfaced on his face.
Based on his preliminary judgment, if he could cultivate this technique to the grand completion stage, its generated power would be quite astonishing.
By then, not only would he be able to command the power of flames at will, but he could even transform the illusory furnace into a genuine physical entity, using it as a formidable weapon to launch fierce attacks against enemies.
After a brief look through it, Meng Chen took out the jade slip the horse-faced woman had handed him and pressed it to his brow...
"Well... it's actually the *Compendium of Flora*. It seems this Senior Sister also gave me special treatment. With this, I can avoid a lot of mistakes while tending to the Spirit Herbs..."
With his brow furrowing deeply, Meng Chen immediately immersed himself in it...
This was the job his master had arranged for him, and he didn't want to end up turning into a lunatic who constantly lost control of himself in the future...
The next day, Meng Chen arrived at a Medicine Garden.
"This is Black Spirit Ear... its leaves are ink-black with tiny serrated edges along the borders. This is wild grass... don't look at it as plain and unremarkable, but it actually contains a trace of spiritual qi. This is..."
He murmured softly, his gaze focused intently on every single plant.
Just like that, he carefully identified them one by one, without a shred of impatience or restlessness, appearing extremely steady and patient.
Time flew by like a white steed flashing past a crack in the wall. In the blink of an eye, the sun had gradually sunk westward, and the edge of the sky was tinged with a brilliant sunset glow.
At that moment, Meng Chen was still standing quietly in the Medicine Garden, his expression as calm as still water.
He slowly extended his right hand, and a gentle ball of spiritual power rose like mist from his palm, gradually wrapping around those Spirit Herbs.
As his spiritual power was infused into them, the previously motionless Spirit Herbs gently swayed their branches and leaves.
It was almost as if they were showing affection to Meng Chen.
Meng Chen gazed fixedly at the changes in these Spirit Herbs until, a moment later, when all the Spirit Herbs had returned to tranquility, he slowly retracted his palm.
"Did Master get it wrong... I think I'm actually quite patient..."
Meng Chen stroked his chin and pondered to himself.
After thinking for a moment, he gently shook his head, then casually waved his left hand.
In an instant, a transparent barrier suddenly appeared around the perimeter of the Medicine Garden. Like a massive protective dome, it enveloped the entire Medicine Garden tightly.
As for himself, he walked away briskly and returned to his residence.
He picked up the *Qingxuan Burning Furnace Formula* once again and began his study...
"Who is it that took my spot in the Discarded Pill Room from me? Get out here!"
Just as Meng Chen felt a wave of soreness in his waist and back and was about to stand up to stretch a little, an aggressive voice rang out abruptly.
Meng Chen was startled and immediately poked his head outside.
Li Yi was standing outside the hut, and the moment Meng Chen poked his head out, Li Yi locked his gaze directly onto him.
"There's no one in the Discarded Pill Room that I don't know, and you're a fresh face. Looks like you're the one who stole my spot!"
Li Yi pointed at Meng Chen and shouted loudly, his voice filled with rage:
"Come out here, let me teach you a good lesson! I want to see what kind of skills you actually have to steal my spot!"
Hearing this, Meng Chen felt he was somewhat in the wrong and couldn't help offering some well-meaning advice:
"Fellow Daoist, it's merely a spot in the Discarded Pill Room—why make such a big deal out of it? We should value harmony."
"Spare me the lecturing!" Li Yi said with a face full of grief and indignation. "Do you know that I saved up Spirit Stones for three whole years and handed every last one of them over to the Senior Brother at the Law Enforcement Hall just to secure this spot...?"
"And yet, I get kicked out for no reason... Now I have nothing left. It's you... it's all because of you..."
Li Yi roared hysterically, and as he spoke, he made a move as if he were about to pounce on Meng Chen.
Seeing this, Meng Chen felt a bit of a headache. His master was a Golden Core cultivator of the Second Peak, a person of noble status, and arranging something like this should have been a breeze.
Yet his master obviously didn't want to make a fuss over the matter. After all, the relationship between master and disciple was somewhat less than pure...
"Hold on..."
Meng Chen was just about to try persuading him again when suddenly a blur crossed his vision, and a mountain of flesh appeared right in front of him.
To be precise, it was a back...
Liu Dagang stood before Meng Chen, speaking with a completely expressionless face: "I was wondering who was shouting and hollering around my Discarded Pill Room—turns out it's Li Yi. What do you want?"
Li Yi's expression changed. He hurriedly stepped back a few paces, then cupped his fists and said, "Senior Brother Liu, this junior came here to demand an explanation..."
"Meng Chen, go back to what you were doing. As for you, if you don't have anything else to do, go play somewhere else."
Liu Dagang waved his chubby hand, and a gust of wind instantly whipped up.
Seeing this, Li Yi's expression shifted several times. He gritted his teeth, as if wanting to say something more, but finally cast a venomous glare at Meng Chen and turned away.
Yet Meng Chen wore a thoughtful look...
It was clear that Li Yi now held a grudge against him, and yet at this very moment, his own cultivation base had noticeably improved...
"Could it be that if someone harbors hatred toward me right to my face, it actually boosts my cultivation?"