The Dagger Revealed

The alchemy room.

"There are nine alchemy rooms in total, and the innermost one is protected by a formation," said the listless Alchemist Li, pointing to the last alchemy room protected by a formation as he explained.

"Only alchemists who have reached the mid Qi Refining stage are qualified to use that alchemy room. Inside, there is a top-grade magic item pill furnace."

This thin and listless Alchemist Li looked at the newly arrived Lin Chang'an with an excited expression, as if he had seen a relative, and introduced him kindly.

"The demand for Bigu Pills is the greatest. Just complete your quota, don't be too serious about it, otherwise, it will drain your energy too much," said the Alchemist Li, his bloodshot eyes looking at him kindly, speaking with emotion.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Li," Lin Chang'an also felt a wave of emotion. There are still many good people.

However, the next moment, Alchemist Li glared at him with his blood-red eyes, "Junior Brother! You must hold on, otherwise, Senior Brother really can't handle so many pills anymore."

Good heavens, Lin Chang'an, who was initially moved, twitched his mouth at this moment, looking speechlessly at the scene before him. It turned out he was just grateful that someone had come to help.

"Junior Brother, I'll go down to rest first. Don't think too much here. You can't escape. Just endure this period honestly."

The listless Alchemist Li, with faint dark circles under his eyes, looked at him pleadingly, seemingly worried and afraid he would do something rash.

Lin Chang'an's eyes twitched at this scene. He took a deep breath and cupped his fists, saying, "Senior Brother Li, don't worry, Junior Brother is a sensible person."

Finally, after this Senior Brother Li left, Lin Chang'an, alone in the alchemy room, looked at the still-red, uncooled pill furnace before him, and the densely packed black pills in the basket beside it. He took a deep breath, his expression firm, but a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

"Six hours every day!"

Lin Chang'an smiled calmly. If it weren't for his insufficient mana and his fear of exposing himself, he would truly wish to refine pills here for twelve hours.

"Rise!"

Lin Chang'an stood before the alchemy furnace, his expression solemn, and closed his eyes for a moment. Suddenly, his eyes were like cold lightning. Holding his breath and concentrating, he placed a hand on the formation in front of the pill furnace.

The spirit stones on the pill furnace wall flickered with spiritual light, and in an instant, a ball of flame rose within the furnace. His mana flowed like fine threads. Under the inhalation and exhalation of mana through his palm, the flame inside the furnace changed.

He had already mastered the Bigu Pills by heart. With his sword finger, he used the Object Manipulation Technique to control over thirty pills into the pill furnace, his movements flowing like water.

"Bigu Pills, though ordinary, this time the pursuit is quantity over quality. First, refine out the impurities, and then completely refine the medicinal properties..."

Lin Chang'an gazed intently at the pill furnace. His palm skillfully and secretly absorbed some spiritual energy while his eyes gleamed.

As the temperature rose, the egg-sized pills in the furnace were constantly shrinking, and wisps of black, foul-smelling impurities were being refined out.

"The ordinary alchemy rooms lack formation restrictions and are easily discovered, so I can't take the risk."

Lin Chang'an, having made up his mind, looked at the wasted pills in the furnace and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

These wasted pills were all great tonics!

While Lin Chang'an was refining pills, Zhang Qing, who was secretly observing from outside the alchemy room, couldn't help but nod. Then, he went to check on others.

"Elder Lu, everything has been arranged."

Under the vast starry sky, the sound of digging echoed from within the mine. Outside the cave, Zhang Qing respectfully cupped his fists and reported.

After a while, Elder Lu, standing on the mountaintop, looked around with his imposing eyes. He then raised his head and pointed to the mine caves around them, which were flying the flags of other factions, a hint of dominance appearing on his face.

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

With his powerful voice, Zhang Qing behind him also looked at the other mining caves around them, a look of determination appearing on his face.

"The Purple Copper Spirit Mine was originally discovered by us, and now we even have to give up so much."

At this moment, Zhang Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of grievance, while Elder Lu let out a hearty laugh, looking disdainfully at the surrounding mine caves.

"People are never worried about scarcity, but about unequal distribution. By giving up this piece of fat meat, we can tie all these factions together. After all, the Beast Taming Zhou Family is also eyeing this piece of fat meat, the Purple Copper Spirit Mine."

Hearing this, Zhang Qing couldn't help but show a look of indignation and apprehension. He nodded, "Although the Beast Taming Zhou Family has five Foundation Establishment ancestors, their actions are too overbearing."

"Overbearing?" Elder Lu let out a self-deprecating cold laugh. "If our sect also had five Foundation Establishment ancestors, we would be even more overbearing than the Zhou Family."

"The Beast Taming Zhou Family is a fierce tiger, and a lone wolf will only become food for the fierce tiger. But if wolves gather, they will not fear the fierce tiger."

The sneering Elder Lu cast a deep glance at the flag of the Beast Taming Zhou Family hanging above the largest mine cave in the distance.

"Various factions are gathered here. When expanding the market, don't be stingy. As long as we stabilize things, we will be able to firmly hold the position of the wolf king in the future."

Elder Lu said calmly. Zhang Qing, standing beside him, cupped his fists and nodded respectfully, "Elder Lu, don't worry. Your subordinate has already given the orders. Even if we earn less spirit stones, we must first stabilize the sect's say."

"For the cultivators who refine pills and draw talismans, their resources will be doubled. As long as they help the sect get through this period, they will be rewarded handsomely in the future."

"It's still not enough." With a frown, Elder Lu said in a deep voice, "Tell these miners that for those who contribute to the sect, we will reward them with pills to improve their cultivation."

"Yes!"

Under the starry sky, the sounds of chiseling echoed from the mining caves. Elder Lu and Zhang Qing stood on the mountaintop, looking down, revealing smiles full of ambition.

In the early morning.

In the alchemy room, after six hours of non-stop work, Lin Chang'an's eyes were bloodshot, but his expression was filled with excitement. The Bigu Pills, shimmering with spiritual charm, were in a jade box beside him.

"Alchemist Lin, we are here to replenish spirit stones."

A disciple of the sect respectfully cupped his fists towards Lin Chang'an, and then began to embed spirit stones into the pill furnace. Some of the spirit stones had already turned to powder due to consumption.

"This must be Alchemist Lin."

Just then, a voice called out. Turning his head, Lin Chang'an saw a short, large-headed cultivator in golden robes smiling at him with clasped hands.

"I am Lin Chang'an, greetings, fellow Daoist."

The other party cupped his hands with a wide smile. "How could I dare? I am Wang Yugang, also an alchemist, but I'm next door to you."

Wang Yugang's face was full of smiles, but there was a hint of ill intent. "I've heard before that fellow Daoist Lin is highly regarded by Elder Lu."

After a brief conversation, Wang Yugang subtly mentioned his relationship with the chief senior brother of the alchemy workshop several times. Lin Chang'an feigned a weary look and smiled.

"Thank you, senior brother, for your guidance."

Although Lin Chang'an thanked him with a polite smile, he was on guard internally.

Wang Yugang, with a smile on his face, said casually, "These Bigu Pills are produced in large quantities, but they consume the most mana and energy. I refine Qi Condensation Pills, which are relatively much easier."

Suddenly changing the subject, Wang Yugang seemed to have thought of something. "I heard that when fellow Daoist Lin first gained Elder Lu's favor, he was rewarded with a pill furnace. May I have a look?"

At this moment, Lin Chang'an's heart grew cold. The hidden motive was finally revealed.

Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your support.