A tooth for a tooth

Dim dungeon.

"What do you think of this pill formula?" Elder Lu asked, his tone as calm as if he were used to this routine.

The figure imprisoned in the dungeon, steel chains piercing through his collar bones, stared at the pill formula in his hands with a cold laugh, his face twisted in a sneer. "Old Lu, this formula is real—and it can also be fake."

Elder Lu frowned at that, his voice low. "What do you mean?"

"You ask me what I mean?" The figure in the dungeon let out a mocking laugh. "Hah! For a genius alchemist, this formula is real, because it demands an extremely high talent for mana control. But what genius alchemist would waste their talent refining this pill?"

As if savoring the thought of the other's ugly expression upon obtaining the real formula yet being unable to refine it, the figure in the dungeon laughed heartily. "Old Lu, save your breath. I'm not bragging—with the requirements on this formula, if someone can succeed four out of ten times, they've got the potential to refine Foundation Establishment Pills."

At that, the disheveled prisoner suddenly paused, as if struck by a thought, and his face lit up with excitement. "No! Old Lu, you absolutely have to try. Find more alchemists to test this formula. When you discover one who can succeed four or five times out of ten, you must scheme to capture that person. Then you can pass on my legacy to him and strengthen your sect."

Watching the figure in the cell shout at him with wild excitement, Elder Lu nodded calmly. "No need for your concern. The sect will one day nurture an alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills. By then, you'll truly be worthless."

The man bound in chains burst into manic laughter. "Hah! Right, you'd better pour all your effort into nurturing one. After all, alchemists are raised on resources. Old Lu, you'd better let me see, before I die, the sect produce an alchemist who can refine Foundation Establishment Pills!"

The mad laughter was laced with mockery and scorn. Elder Lu, clearly accustomed to this, remained expressionless, his resolve unshaken as he said firmly, "You will see that day."

Elder Lu believed it without a doubt. The other man sneered, as if mocking the expectation of watching him sink countless resources in, only to end up dejected and regretful.

Was it really so easy for a sect or a clan to nurture an alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills?

The next day.

"Junior Brother, the materials you need for alchemy are being prepared. This is the workshop for boiling herbs and making pills, and here's the room for your rest..." Zhang Qing's tone was full of courtesy, his smile even broader. Lin Chang'an gave a slight nod.

"Elder Lu said, if Junior Brother needs anything else, just speak up." Zhang Qing patted his chest in assurance. Lin Chang'an rubbed his chin and smiled. "Senior Brother, alchemy is a delicate craft. I'll need a few assistants, you see."

Hearing Lin Chang'an's request, Zhang Qing's cheerful face immediately fell. He'd only been polite—who knew he'd take it seriously? "Junior Brother, have mercy. The demand for pills in the market has been high lately. On a normal day, this would be a trivial matter."

Seeing Zhang Qing's expression, Lin Chang'an didn't press him. He smiled and held up two fingers. "I only need two people."

Zhang Qing breathed a sigh of relief at that. Lin Chang'an squinted casually and added, "Perfect timing. That Alchemist Li who came with me, and Alchemist Wang next door, will do just fine."

Zhang Qing, who had just relaxed, widened his eyes. Good heavens—Alchemist Li might be an excuse, but if Alchemist Wang wasn't payback, he'd change his surname on the spot. "Senior Brother, that's not too much trouble, is it?" Lin Chang'an asked with a grin.

Zhang Qing's eye twitched. "No trouble. Just pulling two people."

It wouldn't have worked last night, but this morning Elder Lu had given specific instructions, so pulling two people was perfectly doable. "By the way, Alchemist Wang has decent cultivation and fine skills. Before that, let him take charge of refining Bigu Pills first. Since the demand for pills is high lately, for the sect's sake, I'm sure Alchemist Wang will gladly accept the order."

Watching Lin Chang'an speak casually with an easy smile, Zhang Qing muttered inwardly—this guy really holds grudges. "As for Alchemist Li, he'll handle the herb boiling first," Lin Chang'an said with a squint and a smile, clearly an easy job.

But what did that matter to him? Zhang Qing shrugged nonchalantly and nodded with a smile. "Alright, no problem. I'll have Alchemist Li report to you shortly."

Looking at the private little courtyard prepared for him—with a room for refining and boiling pills, and a rest chamber—Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes. There were wise people in this sect.

The pill formula he'd taken out last night was also a test. Only a high-level alchemist could see the difficulty in it. Even if Elder Lu didn't catch on, it didn't matter. Once other alchemists tried refining it and compared results with him, the contrast would speak for itself.

Then his talent would be revealed—just a matter of sooner or later. From the start, it had been his setup. The pill formula was merely a token of submission. The Ascending Dragon Pill, with its addictive properties that lured cultivators into lust and depravity, was just a money-making pill.

What he truly wanted to convey to Elder Lu was his alchemy talent, so the sect would start investing in him. Since he was here and couldn't resist, he might as well enjoy it—and make his enemies use their own resources to nurture him. At that thought, Lin Chang'an smiled.

"Alchemist Lin." The summoned Alchemist Li bowed respectfully, his face a mix of emotions. Not long ago, they were fellow sufferers in hardship; today, he had soared to the top.

It truly proved the saying: afraid of a brother suffering, afraid of a brother driving a luxury car. News of Lin Chang'an becoming Elder Lu's disciple had already spread everywhere. Even Elder Lu's trusted man, Zhang Qing, stood smiling at Lin Chang'an's side.

Seeing Alchemist Li approach, Zhang Qing said casually, "Junior Brother Lin needs hands for alchemy. Pack your things—you'll be in the courtyard next door. From now on, listen to Alchemist Lin." The last sentence was directed at Lin Chang'an.

Alchemist Li quickly showed gratitude, cupping his hands toward Lin Chang'an with emotion. "Thank you, Alchemist Lin! Thank you..."

Compared to Alchemist Li's tearful gratitude, the Dwarf King Alchemist Wang walking toward them kept his head low, not daring to meet Lin Chang'an's eyes. Since word spread last night that Lin Chang'an had become Elder Lu's disciple, his regret was gut-wrenching—but there was no medicine for regret in this world.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang!" Alchemist Wang first cupped his hands to Zhang Qing, then turned to Lin Chang'an with a forced smile uglier than tears. "Greetings, Senior Brother Lin."

Looking at Alchemist Wang, who looked like a dwarf, Zhang Qing waved his hand in displeasure and said, "From now on, you'll take over Alchemist Lin's work. Bigu Pills are your responsibility."

Alchemist Wang's face was like an eggplant hit by frost, pitiful and aggrieved, but he knew he had no capital to resist, so he could only clasp his hands and accept the order.

Yet Lin Chang'an heard a sentence from Zhang Qing in his ears.

"Junior Brother Lin, once the market stabilizes, this man is yours to deal with as you see fit, how about it?"

Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes at Zhang Qing and gave a slight nod, replying through the same Voice Transmission Technique: "It's a deal."

Such were those in power—in the span of a few breaths, they decided the fates of two men.

"By the way, Junior Brother, yesterday you mentioned you felt a bottleneck, didn't you? It just so happens that I have a bottle of Golden Marrow Pills here that might help you break through."

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Zhang Qing slapped his forehead in annoyance, then with the smile of a close friend, he took out a bottle of pills from his storage pouch.

Seeing this, Lin Chang'an also put on a look of sudden realization.

"Senior Brother, look, I've been a bit tight on funds lately. How about I give you this furnace that Master bestowed upon me? I can't take it for nothing."

"Junior Brother, that's not right. What pill could compare to the furnace gifted by Elder Lu?" Zhang Qing put on a stern face and forcefully pressed the pills into his hand, as if to say, if you don't take it, you're not giving me face.

This scene made Alchemist Wang, watching from the side, feel both stifled and chilled to the bone—killing someone and then tormenting their spirit!