Fantasy World: Seducing The Heroine At The Start-Chapter 144: Alchemy investment’s good feedback

After placing the last formation and distributing pills, manuals, and resources, Feng Yun dismissed the clan members.

"Return to your residences. Cultivate properly. Merge with your new strength." Feng Yun said as he dismissed all.

The entire Feng Clan shifted into a silent cultivation frenzy.

Feng Yun did not stay to watch.

He stepped out of the estate alone, crossing the street with unhurried footsteps. His aura was fully withdrawn. To anyone watching, he looked like a young master strolling casually through the evening.

Cloud Treasure Pavilion, the Feng clan’s commercial front.

Lanterns illuminated the shopfront. Business was steady, with customers flowing in and out with bags of herbs and low-grade pills. Nothing unusual. Nothing flashy. Just quietly successful.

Good.

Feng Yun pushed open the door.

Inside, the familiar warm scent of medicinal herbs drifted through the air. Shelves were neatly organised. The atmosphere was calm and efficient—a clear improvement compared to his last visit.

Behind the counter, Li Shixin was reviewing records with a focused expression. Today she wore simple merchant robes, her hair tied loosely, but she still carried the same effortless elegance that turned heads even in a crowded street.

She looked up as the door opened.

"Yun?" Her eyes softened. "You came earlier than I expected."

He nodded. "Finished with the clan. Thought I’d come check the Pavilion."

She closed her ledger. "Then you’re just in time. I wanted to talk to you about the progress of the new alchemists."

Feng Yun raised a brow. "How are they doing?" He remembered that he had given her many alchemy manuals to train new alchemists for the business.

The shop lacks good alchemists; if the clan wants to do business, they have to train or invite higher-tier alchemists who can refine at least sixth- to seventh-rank pills. Inviting the alchemist was only a temporary solution; he wanted a permanent solution.

Li Shixin gestured for him to follow her deeper into the shop.

They walked past the front hall into a quieter corridor. Several doors lined the walls, each marked with a small wooden plaque.

Inside, faint ripples of controlled fire qi leaked through—barely noticeable unless one had sharp senses.

"We finished preparing six alchemy rooms," Li Shixin explained. "Soundproofing formations, fire-type ventilation, temperature control arrays...

She paused near the last door.

"And the apprentices?"

She smiled. "They’re progressing faster than I expected."

She pushed the door open gently.

Inside, a young disciple stood over a small bronze cauldron, sweat beading on his forehead as he maintained the flame with careful control. His hands trembled slightly, but his focus was firm.

Li Shixin spoke softly. "This is Feng Hao. Five days ago he couldn’t even maintain a stable flame. Today he can refine simple recovery pills without supervision."

Feng Yun nodded. "Not bad."

Lin Hao turned, startled. "Y-Young Master Yun?!"

Feng Yun raised a hand. "Don’t stop. Continue."

Lin Hao gulped and turned back to the cauldron, hands steadying noticeably.

Feng Yun watched silently as the boy completed the final step. When the cauldron opened, two small, imperfect but usable pills rolled out.

The boy looked as if he would faint from relief.

"Average result," Feng Yun said. "But for five days of training, it’s acceptable. Focus more on adjusting temperature mid-fusion. Your frame is too rigid."

Lin Hao nodded vigorously. "Y-Yes! Thank you, Young Master!"

They moved to the next room.

A young woman sat cross-legged before her cauldron, controlling multiple flame threads at once. Four perfectly shaped low-grade Qi Stabilising Pills rested on a tray beside her.

Feng Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly in approval.

"She has talent," he murmured.

Li Shixin smiled. "Her name is Mei Rong. Her talent in alchemy is very good; she is already a second-rank alchemist, soon reaching third rank."

They observed several more rooms. Each apprentice was progressing steadily—some better than others, but all improving at a pace impossible without the inheritance.

Li Shixin folded her arms thoughtfully. "The Pavilion might actually become a true alchemy centre soon."

Feng Yun corrected her with a faint smile. "A quiet one."

She laughed softly. "Of course. No banners. No announcements."

"Extra attention is dangerous," Feng Yun said simply.

Li Shixin nodded slowly. "I understand."

They returned to the main hall, where she opened her ledger again.

"The new alchemists can refine simple stock pills. This allows us to increase supply without relying on external alchemists. Profits are stabilising, and our dependency is dropping."

She flipped to another page.

"I’ve selected ten more disciples for training. They have steady hands, good temperament, and patience. We’ll begin their lessons tomorrow."

Feng Yun glanced through the names and nodded. "Good choices. Patience matters more than talent in alchemy."

Li Shixin added, "Once they reach competency, we’ll slowly release better-quality pills to the market."

"You entrusted these to me," she said softly. "And I won’t let you down."

Feng Yun paused, then replied just as quietly:

"I know. The Pavilion will grow under you."

Feng Yun glanced around the shop once more before turning back to Li Shixin.

"By the way, where is Feng Xueyi?" he asked. "She’s usually the one greeting customers or managing the front desk."

Li Shixin replied with a faint smile. "She’s upstairs. Learning alchemy."

Feng Yun raised a brow. "Xueyi? Alchemy? Why did she learn alchemy?"

"Not long ago. It turns out she has a natural touch." Li Shixin’s tone carried genuine surprise. "Her fire control was steady from the start. Her memory is sharp."

Feng Yun’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Talent...?"

"Unexpected talent," Li Shixin corrected. "In just one month she rose from a complete beginner to a first-rank alchemist. And she achieved her first successful refinement on the sixth try."

"This is unexpected." Feng Yun chuckled. He walked toward the staircase; he was curious to see Feng Xueyi’s alchemy progress.

The upstairs area was quieter. A faint medicinal fragrance drifted through the hallway—fresh herbs, warm cauldron metal, and the clean scent of fire qi. Through one half-open door, they heard a soft sizzling sound.

Inside, Feng Xueyi sat cross-legged before a small silver cauldron, her hair tied back in a simple knot. Her brows were knitted slightly, not in frustration but in deep concentration.

A small flame hovered beneath the cauldron, steady and rhythmic—exactly the way a proper beginner flame should be.

Two jade manuals lay open beside her.