Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

As the branch master of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion in this region, Chen Changrong held considerable influence.

Though Yun Jin's request for "the more spectators, the better" was unusual, he was eager to secure a long-term partnership with her. A little publicity stunt was nothing.

The Hundred Herbs Pavilion unfurled massive banners announcing Yun Jin's attempt at the Tier 2 Alchemist exam, while disciples were dispatched to spread the word across the market.

Meanwhile, Ming Heng also pitched in, promoting the event through the Alchemy Pavilion's channels.

These two were major figures in this part of the city. Their combined efforts, plus the buzz from Yun Jin's Tier 1 exam spectacle, had everyone talking. Many who'd missed the last event were itching for a chance to witness her "mature cauldron" magic firsthand.

This time, they wouldn't be left out.

Better yet, the exam was scheduled two hours later, giving attendees plenty of time to call their friends. Soon, cultivators from nearby sects began flooding into the market square. By the time Yue Zhao scouted the venue, the plaza was already packed shoulder-to-shoulder. He rushed back, his expression torn between awe and dread.

"Such a grand stage…"

"Such high expectations…"

"If she fails, how will we recover?"

Yun Jin, however, didn't look the least bit nervous. In fact, she seemed more excited the more he described it. Back in the Tianxing Sect, the entire sect didn't even have this many people.

But now? Disciples from all over were gathering here. It was surely more than what a small sect like Tianxing could muster.

To Yun Jin, the gap between her and becoming a third-grade alchemist was still significant. That meant this assessment was probably her only chance, in the short term, to reap a massive harvest of emotional value.

She had to seize it.

"So many people already…" Yun Jin hesitated for a moment.

Yue Zhao mistook her pause for nerves and was about to say something comforting, when she suddenly continued with a spark in her eyes.

"Senior Brother, with so many people watching, we can't let them down, right? What do you think—should I make a grand entrance with flowers raining down? Something tasteful and refined."

Yue Zhao blinked. "...That's not really necessary."

"You think flowers are too tacky?" Yun Jin brightened further. "Then how about a flying sword formation? I'll stand in the center, we spiral upward, then descend and land with a 360-degree spin. Dazzling and dramatic."

Yue Zhao said with a straight face, "Actually, I think flowers are a fine choice. Really."

"But that sword formation…" Yun Jin still looked reluctant to let go of the idea.

Yue Zhao quickly added, "Little Junior Sister, you should be the one to shine out there. What if someone else in the formation ends up stealing your spotlight?"

Yun Jin considered that and nodded. "That makes sense."

It wasn't that she was afraid of being overshadowed. The issue was that attention split among multiple people would reduce the emotional value she could absorb.

A bit disappointing, really.

Fine, flowers it is.

"Senior Brother, this time I plan to refine Foundation Establishment Pills. They take about four hours to complete. But my cauldron's very obedient, doesn't need much babysitting. It'd be such a waste to just sit around during those four hours." Yun Jin frowned in thought.

Yue Zhao was suddenly very grateful there were no other alchemists present. If anyone overheard that, she'd be slapped on the spot.

Every seasoned alchemist watched their cauldron like a hawk during refinement. One slip of concentration could ruin everything.

But Yun Jin?

She was already thinking about hosting side events.

"Oh, I've got it!" she said brightly. "Senior Brother, let's sell stuff!"

Yue Zhao was speechless. "...Excuse me?"

Yun Jin grinned. "Didn't you say you have partnerships with some merchants? Maybe they've got good products that haven't sold well due to poor marketing. With this many people watching, we can help promote their goods. Of course, we'd take a small... advertising fee."

She rubbed her fingers together meaningfully.

As someone who had transmigrated from the modern world, Yue Zhao understood instantly.

But his expression turned oddly complicated.

Wait a minute.

Was he the one who transmigrated here, or was she?

She'd even come up with live selling?

"Senior Sister Lan Cen, if Hundred Herbs Pavilion has any products to push, I can promote them too. But the quality must be up to standard. You'll have to show me everything in advance," Yun Jin said.

Lan Cen didn't really understand what this was all about, but since Yun Jin said it, she agreed without hesitation and ran off to find Chen Changrong.

Chen Changrong was immediately intrigued. He had a sharp nose for opportunity and sensed this could be a major business opening. He dove into his inventory at once.

Yun Jin was still bubbling with ideas. "Senior Brother, we've got plenty of unused land on Tianjian Peak. Not all of it's productive, but we did grow a few things. For example, those spirit melon seeds I've been munching on—they'd definitely sell."

Tianjian Peak had no real planting talents, so most of their land just produced hardy spirit plants like spirit melons, which grew well without much care.

But they were tasty enough. Yun Jin had been snacking on them lately, and they were quite satisfying. She couldn't eat them all by herself, so she figured, why not sell some and earn a few spirit crystals?

Besides, the supply was limited. She'd already gotten some seeds from Chen Changrong and planned to clean up the land for future spiritual herb cultivation. Whether she could grow them successfully or not didn't matter. With the simplified system helping her, she could switch to a planting profession at any moment.

Right now, the most important thing was to accumulate as much emotional value as possible. She'd need a lot for what was coming.

Selling goods during alchemy…

It was reckless. Truly reckless.

And yet, the idea was just too tempting.

Yue Zhao grit his teeth. "Alright, I'll contact the merchants. As for the spirit melons, we've only got about three hundred jin to sell. The rest are reserved as snacks. That's all we've got."

"Got it! Then hurry, Senior Brother!" Yun Jin urged.

She had a full four hours to run this event, and she had to keep the emotional value coming non-stop. If the crowd grew bored, it would be such a waste. Selling goods might not last the full four hours, so she'd need to arrange some performances in between too.

As soon as Yun Jin voiced the idea, Lan Cen nodded enthusiastically. "I know some sisters who are skilled in music and dance. They're from Nixian Sect, one of the nearby lower-tier sects. It only accepts female disciples, and they're all quite talented. I'll ask them to help."

"Sister Lan Cen, I'll leave it to you then. Make sure to tell them we'll pay for the performance," Yun Jin said, radiating generosity. A full performance troupe might split some emotional value away from her, but it couldn't be helped. She couldn't keep the crowd emotionally charged for four straight hours all by herself. She'd just make sure to stay center stage when needed and draw their attention back.

Lan Cen was delighted to be of help and readily agreed.

At that very moment…

Ming Heng, still hesitating over whether public alchemy would actually generate better results, had no idea—

Just what kind of ship he'd gotten himself aboard.