BTTH : From Humble Beginnings to Dou Di

"Master, the total profit from selling the pills this time is fifty thousand. As agreed, I will take twenty percent—here is forty thousand gold coins."

In a courtyard within Black Rock City, a middle-aged man in yellow bowed slightly, respectfully handing over a gold coin card to Lin Feng, who was dressed in a black robe.

His plump face was filled with flattery, fearing he might offend Lin Feng.

After all, a year ago, the alchemist Liu Xi, whom he had struggled to befriend, was mysteriously killed.

This caused the nearly hundred thousand gold coins he had invested in Liu Xi to go down the drain, pushing his business to the brink of bankruptcy.

Fortunately, he had come to Black Rock City to try his luck and accidentally met this mysterious alchemist.

With this alchemist's support, he managed to recover.

"Hmm."

Lin Feng took the card, glanced at it casually, then stored it in his storage ring. Under the black robe, a slightly hoarse voice sounded.

Seeing his former boss in such a state, Lin Feng found it amusing.

A year ago, he had coincidentally overheard his former shopkeeper talking with someone on the street.

Only then did he realize that because of his own actions in killing Liu Xi, the man had ended up in such a miserable state.

Since Lin Feng needed someone to sell his pills, he decided to lend his former superior a helping hand.

However, to avoid trouble, he never showed his real face.

Clearing his throat, Lin Feng took out two bottles of Purple Orchid Elixir, a second-tier medicinal liquid he had refined based on the formula for Yao Lao's Foundation Elixir.

With a flick of his wrist, the two bottles landed steadily on the tea table in front of them. He then said, "These are two bottles of second-tier Purple Orchid Elixir, with the same effects as the Foundation Elixir occasionally sold in Wu Tan City."

"Second-tier?!"

Hearing this, the yellow-robed man's fat body trembled. He was a resident of Wu Tan City, so he had naturally heard of the Foundation Elixir.

Overjoyed, he quickly picked up the two jade bottles on the tea table and flattered, "I must have been blind not to recognize such a master! I never expected you to be a second-tier alchemist. Rest assured, I will definitely sell these at a high price for you!"

"No need."

Lin Feng shook his head. Seeing the confusion on the man's face, he continued, "I will be leaving Black Rock City in a few days. Consider these two bottles as payment for collecting herbs for me during this time."

"L-Leaving?!"

The yellow-robed man's face instantly turned anxious, thinking Lin Feng was dissatisfied with the profits. He quickly said, "Master, if you are not satisfied, just say the word! I can take only ten percent instead!"

Lin Feng shook his head again and said, "I am leaving because I have important matters to attend to, not because of the profits."

"Master, this—"

"Enough, you don't need to say more. My decision is final."

Hearing the slightly hoarse voice from under the black robe, the yellow-robed man cupped his hands in disappointment and reluctantly left the courtyard.

After the man left, Lin Feng pulled off his black robe, entered his room, and began preparing supplies for surviving in the wilderness.

In a few days, he planned to head to the Magical Beast Mountain Range near Qingshan Town to search for the cave that contained a flying Dou Technique.

Over the past year in Black Rock City, he had not only advanced to a second-tier alchemist but had also reached the strength of an eight-star Dou Zhe.

Although he still did not dare to explore the Magical Beast Mountain Range near Qingshan Town alone, it would be no problem if he teamed up with some mercenaries.

Moreover, with his eight-star Dou Zhe strength and the Black Class Dou Techniques he had, he was well-equipped to handle most unexpected situations.

Besides, according to the original story, Xiao Yan would head to Qingshan Town for training in about three months.

If he didn't go now, Xiao Yan would beat him to it.

Qingshan Town, being close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, was also known as Magic Beast Town.

The majority of people here were mercenaries, who lived by the blade and gathered in groups, their arms around each other as they swaggered through the streets.

They loudly discussed where in town the most attractive women were, which tavern had the strongest liquor, and where the fiercest magic beasts could be found…

After several days of travel, Lin Feng, covered in dust from the journey, walked along the streets paved with bluestone.

There were many shops on both sides of the street, and due to the town's prime location, business was thriving.

However, as a second-tier alchemist, Lin Feng had no interest in the low-level items sold in these shops.

"Thousand Medicine House."

While walking, Lin Feng's gaze landed on a particular medicinal shop.

"I remember… this shop should have a piece of Blood Lotus Essence. I wonder if I can find it now."

Thinking of this, Lin Feng walked straight into the spacious store.

Blood Lotus Essence was an extremely rare high-grade medicinal herb.

It usually grew alongside Yellow Lotus Essence, but it was extremely scarce.

In appearance, it was almost identical to Yellow Lotus Essence.

If one wasn't familiar with it, they would have a hard time distinguishing between the two.

However, unlike the inexpensive Yellow Lotus Essence, Blood Lotus Essence was a main ingredient in the fifth-tier pill, Blood Lotus Pill.

If he could obtain it, he could trade it with a high-level alchemist in exchange for a low-level fourth-tier pill.

As soon as he entered Thousand Medicine House, Lin Feng was greeted by the rich scent of countless herbs.

Looking around, he saw that the shop was illuminated brightly by Moonlight Stones hanging from the walls, making it as bright as daytime.

At this moment, the shop was bustling with people, and the clerks were extremely busy, so no one had time to greet Lin Feng.

However, he didn't mind and continued searching through the store for the Blood Lotus Essence he wanted.

Before long, his eyes locked onto a pale yellow chunk in the most inconspicuous corner of a transparent display counter.

Licking his lips, he casually walked over to the counter.

Lowering his head, he carefully examined the pale yellow medicinal material once again.

"Excuse me… could you take this out for me?"

Suppressing the greed and excitement in his eyes, Lin Feng raised his head and smiled at a young male shop assistant who had just walked over.

The young assistant glanced sideways at Lin Feng, who was dressed in ordinary clothes. Then, he looked at the item he requested.

Seeing that it was merely a low-grade Yellow Lotus Essence, he immediately became impatient, curling his lips in disdain. With a stiff expression, he took it out of the counter.

"Yellow Lotus Essence, a low-grade medicinal herb, one hundred gold coins."

Lin Feng didn't mind the assistant's snobbish attitude.

He sneered internally, then casually took the so-called low-grade Yellow Lotus Essence.

His fingernail quietly scraped the surface, revealing a small section of crimson red beneath the slightly yellow outer layer.

As he stared at that barely noticeable trace of blood-red color, Lin Feng's heart filled with joy. He subtly rubbed his nose, then took a deep sniff of the faint bloody aroma lingering on his fingertips.

Instantly, a gleam of excitement flashed through his eyes.

"I finally found it—Blood Lotus Essence!"

If Lin Feng hadn't read the original story, even with a year's worth of medical knowledge, he never would have discovered that this unremarkable little thing was actually a rare medicinal treasure.

Suppressing his inner ecstasy, he casually fiddled with the Blood Lotus Essence in his hands under the shop assistant's impatient gaze. Then, he handed over a cloth pouch of gold coins.

After weighing it briefly, the shop assistant nodded, accepted the money, and turned away to serve other customers.

After securing his purchase, Lin Feng was about to leave when a sudden commotion erupted at the store's entrance.

"Whoa! It's Xiao Yixian!"

"She's so beautiful… Tsk, tsk, that waist is so slender…"

"Idiot! Do you want to die? More than half the mercenaries in Qingshan Town have been saved by Xiao Yixian! If anyone hears you disrespecting her, they'll cut your damn tongue out!"

Not far from Lin Feng, two men were whispering to each other.

The moment one of them made a flirtatious comment, his companion immediately yanked him back and scolded him in a low voice.

"I was just joking… H-Heh, heh…"

Realizing that several unfriendly gazes were already darting in his direction, the man's face paled. Embarrassed, he let his friend drag him out of the store in a hurry.

Hearing this, Lin Feng's curiosity was piqued.

After all, Xiao Yixian's waist was said to be the finest in the entire Dou Qi Continent—he was definitely interested!

Squeezing his way to the front of the crowd, he finally got a clear look at Xiao Yixian's face.

She wore a light white dress, and though her appearance wasn't absolutely breathtaking, she was undoubtedly a rare beauty.

Her serene smile radiated a fresh, ethereal aura—an otherworldly charm that instantly amplified her attractiveness.

Lin Feng's gaze swept over her body before finally settling on her waist, which was cinched with a green ribbon.

That delicate willowy waist, seemingly no more than a hand's breadth, made Lin Feng's pupils flash with astonishment.

Among all the women he had seen, Xiao Yixian had the slimmest and most delicate waist.

Clicking his tongue in admiration, he suddenly heard a shop assistant chuckle beside him.

"Xiao Yixian is a specially invited healer at our Thousand Medicine House. In all of Qingshan Town, there are countless men who admire her. Every time she goes to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to collect herbs, the mercenary groups compete fiercely for the opportunity to accompany her.

They even slash their prices to the lowest just to get a chance to travel with her. Sometimes, they nearly fight over the remaining spots!"

As Lin Feng observed the white-dressed woman tending to wounded patients, he stroked his chin.

He had to admit, Xiao Yixian's gentle, compassionate smile as she treated the injured was truly heartwarming.

No wonder these usually rough, battle-hardened mercenaries turned into obedient little lambs in front of her.

But Lin Feng knew that this seemingly fragile young girl possessed one of the most terrifying constitutions in the entire Dou Qi Continent—

The Woeful Poison Body!

This constitution was both frightening and enviable.

After all, if someone possessed the Woeful Poison Body, they could reach the Dou Zong realm just by continuously consuming poisons—a feat ordinary cultivators could never achieve.

However, after reaching Dou Zong… well…

Lin Feng's gaze lingered on the delicate Xiao Yixian, and a thought took root in his mind.

If he could trick—no, if he could become Dao Companions with her…

Then in just a few years, he would have a Dou Zong powerhouse as his backing!

With such a powerful supporter, even if he ventured into the Black-Corner Region, he could still thrive effortlessly!