The Dagger Is Revealed

Pill Room.

"There are nine pill rooms in total, and the innermost one is protected by an array." Alchemist Li, looking listless, pointed at the final array-protected pill room as he explained.

"Only alchemists whose cultivation has reached mid Qi Refining are qualified to use that pill room. There's even a high-grade magical artifact pill furnace inside."

The skinny, listless Alchemist Li looked at the newly arrived Lin Chang'an with excitement, as though he had seen a relative, warmly introducing everything to him.

"Bigu Pills are in the greatest demand. As long as you complete your quota, that's enough. Don't take it too seriously, or it'll drain too much of your energy." Alchemist Li looked at him kindly with bloodshot eyes and sighed.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Li." Lin Chang'an was also moved. There really were more good people in the world.

Yet the next moment, Alchemist Li widened his bloodshot eyes. "Junior Brother! You must hold on! If you don't, Senior Brother really won't be able to hold out under all these pellets!"

Well, damn. Lin Chang'an, who had just been somewhat touched, twitched at the corners of his mouth and looked speechlessly at the scene before him. So after all that, he was merely grateful that someone had come to help share the burden.

"Junior Brother, I'll go down and rest first. Don't overthink things here. You can't escape. Just honestly endure this period, and it'll be fine."

Alchemist Li, listless and with faint bluish shadows beneath his eyes, looked at him eagerly, seeming somewhat uneasy, as though afraid Lin Chang'an might do something rash.

The sight made Lin Chang'an's eye twitch. Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Senior Brother Li. Junior Brother understands."

After Senior Brother Li finally left, Lin Chang'an returned alone to the pill room. Looking at the crimson pill furnace that had yet to cool and the densely packed black pellets in the basket beside it, he drew a deep breath. Beneath his resolute expression, a trace of smugness flashed through his eyes.

"Six hours every day!"

Lin Chang'an smiled faintly. If not for his insufficient mana and fear of exposing himself, he truly wished he could spend all twelve hours here refining pills.

"Rise!"

Standing before the pill furnace, Lin Chang'an wore a solemn expression and closed his eyes for a moment. Then suddenly, his eyes flashed like cold lightning. Holding his breath and focusing his mind, he slapped one hand against the array on the pill furnace.

The Spirit Stones embedded in the furnace walls flickered with specks of spiritual light, and in an instant, a flame rose within the furnace. His mana, like fine threads, caused the flames inside to shift and change as it flowed from his palm.

He had long since committed Bigu Pills to memory. With a Sword Finger, he used the Object Manipulation Technique to control more than thirty pellets into the pill furnace, his movements flowing like clouds and running water.

"Bigu Pills may be ordinary, but this time, the pursuit is quantity rather than quality. First, refine out the impurities, then completely refine the medicinal power..."

Lin Chang'an stared gravely at the pill furnace, skillfully and secretly drawing in a portion of spiritual energy with his palm. At the same time, a sharp light glimmered in his eyes.

Under the high heat, the egg-sized pellets in the pill furnace continuously shrank, while strands of black, foul-smelling impurities were refined out.

"An ordinary pill room has no array restrictions. It would be too easy for someone to discover me. I can't take that risk."

Having silently made up his mind, Lin Chang'an could not help but reveal a pained expression as he looked at the pellets ruined in the furnace.

These ruined pills were all great tonics!

While Lin Chang'an refined pills, Zhang Qing, who had been observing in secret outside the pill room, nodded inwardly before going to inspect the others.

"Elder Lu, everything has been arranged."

Beneath a sky full of stars, the sounds of excavation echoed from the mine tunnels. Outside the cave, Zhang Qing respectfully cupped his hands and reported.

After a long while, Elder Lu stood atop the mountain peak, his imposing eyes sweeping across the surroundings. Raising his head, he pointed toward the nearby mine tunnels bearing the flags of other factions, a domineering expression appearing on his face.

"The Purple Copper Spirit Mine will sooner or later become ours!"

At his sonorous words, Zhang Qing behind him also looked toward the other actively mined tunnels, a resolute expression appearing on his face.

"We were the ones who discovered the Purple Copper Spirit Mine in the first place, yet now we have to give up so much of it."

Zhang Qing could not help but reveal his frustration, but Elder Lu let out a hearty laugh and looked disdainfully at the other mine tunnels.

"People do not fear scarcity; they fear unevenness. The fat morsel we gave up can bind all these factions together. After all, the Beast Taming Zhou Family is also eyeing the Purple Copper Spirit Mine like a fat morsel."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qing revealed both anger and apprehension. He nodded and said, "The Beast Taming Zhou Family may have five Foundation Establishment Ancestors, but their conduct is far too overbearing."

"Overbearing?" Elder Lu gave a self-mocking cold laugh. "If our sect had five Foundation Establishment Ancestors as well, we would be even more overbearing than the Zhou Family."

"The Beast Taming Zhou Family is a fierce tiger. A lone wolf can only become the tiger's prey, but a pack of wolves need not fear a fierce tiger."

With a cold smile, Elder Lu cast a deep look toward the Beast Taming Zhou Family's flag hanging above the largest mine tunnel in the distance.

"All factions have gathered here. When expanding the Market, don't begrudge what must be given up. As long as we stabilize things now, we will be able to firmly sit in the position of wolf king in the future."

Elder Lu spoke steadily. At his side, Zhang Qing cupped his hands and nodded respectfully. "Rest assured, Elder Lu. This subordinate has already given the orders. Even if we earn fewer Spirit Stones, we must first secure the sect's right to speak."

"As for cultivators who refine pills and draw talismans, double all their resources. So long as they help the sect endure this period, there will be no shortage of benefits for them in the future."

"Still not enough." Elder Lu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Tell those cultivators mining ore that anyone who contributes to the sect will be rewarded with pills that improve cultivation."

"Yes!"

Under the starry sky, clanging sounds of pickaxes rang out from mine tunnel after mine tunnel. Elder Lu and Zhang Qing stood atop the mountain peak, gazing into the distance with smiles full of ambition.

At dawn.

After six sleepless hours in the pill room, Lin Chang'an's eyes were bloodshot, yet his expression brimmed with excitement. One Bigu Pill after another, gleaming with Spiritual Charm, lay in a jade box beside him.

"Alchemist Lin, we have come to replenish the Spirit Stones."

A sect cultivator respectfully cupped his hands toward Lin Chang'an, then began embedding Spirit Stones into the pill furnace. Some of the previous Spirit Stones had been reduced to powder through consumption.

"So you are Alchemist Lin."

At that moment, a voice sounded. Turning around, Lin Chang'an saw a dwarf cultivator wearing golden robes, short in stature with an unusually large head, smiling as he cupped his hands toward him.

"I am Lin Chang'an. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

The other man smiled broadly and cupped his hands. "I wouldn't dare. I am Wang Yugang, also an alchemist, though my pill room is next to yours."

Wang Yugang's broad smile carried a trace of ill intent. "I had long heard that Fellow Daoist Lin had won Elder Lu's high regard."

After the two conversed for a while, Wang Yugang casually mentioned his relationship with the chief senior brother of the pill workshop several times. Lin Chang'an put on a weary appearance and smiled.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Though Lin Chang'an wore a polite smile as he thanked him, inwardly, he raised his guard.

With a smile on his face, Wang Yugang said as though by chance, "Bigu Pills are produced in large quantities, but they consume the most mana and energy. I refine Qi Condensation Pills, which are comparatively much easier."

Then his tone suddenly changed. Wang Yugang seemed to recall something. "I heard that when Fellow Daoist Lin won Elder Lu's favor, he was rewarded with a pill furnace. Might I take a look?"

At that moment, Lin Chang'an's heart turned cold. The map had been exhausted, and the dagger was revealed.

Thank you all, Fellow Daoists, for your support.