It Worked! The Pill Was Refined!

With Elder Lu deliberately delegating authority and Zhang Qing's cooperation, Elder Lu's disciple Lin Chang'an stepped into the spotlight. Yet few paid much attention to it. At present, all factions were focused on only one matter.

The Liu family and the Great Sword Sect had joined forces, while the Beast Taming Zhou Family, the strongest force, had swallowed its anger. The other factions could not help but sigh at the sight.

They had truly picked a fine time. Now that every faction was mining the Purple Copper Spirit Mine with all their strength, no one wanted to stir up further trouble.

Inside the Pill Room.

The crimson pill furnace radiated such intense heat that the air around it warped.

"Junior Brother, it worked! The pill was refined!"

Before Lin Chang'an could say anything, Zhang Qing could no longer contain his excitement. Eyes wide, he watched as the flames around the pill furnace dispersed and pill after pill, gleaming with spiritual light, floated out.

"What worked?" Unlike Zhang Qing's excited expression, Lin Chang'an's tired face darkened slightly. He sighed unwillingly. "It's still not enough."

After ten pills floated out, only four gleamed with spiritual light. The other six were blackish-gray, clearly ruined pills.

"Junior Brother!" Seeing Lin Chang'an like this, Zhang Qing could not help feeling stifled. "How long has it even been? Four successes out of ten Golden Marrow Pills—if other alchemists found out, wouldn't they be so frustrated they'd die of it?"

Lin Chang'an's humblebragging manner left Zhang Qing sighing helplessly. Perhaps this was what a genius was like.

"Take these four to Elder Lu and report back. As for the other six..." At this point, Lin Chang'an snorted with an ugly expression, as though these six pills had disgraced him.

Though Zhang Qing was not an alchemist, he knew perfectly well what kind of genius it took to master the refinement of Golden Marrow Pills in merely three months. At this moment, his eyes held only the four completed pills. Who would spare a glance for those ruined pills?

"Junior Brother, you've worked hard these past three months. Rest well first. I'll go report to Elder Lu right away."

Smiling broadly, Zhang Qing placed the Golden Marrow Pills into a jade bottle. Before leaving, he suddenly seemed to recall something and turned back with a smile. "By the way, Junior Brother, the Market has gradually settled down recently, and everyone's families have been brought over."

"What do you think?" Zhang Qing's words were practically an overture of goodwill. After all, befriending an alchemist with limitless potential was never a losing proposition.

But Lin Chang'an merely chuckled upon hearing this. Rubbing his tired brow, he shook his head. "There's no need to ask me about such matters. With Li Han and Qi Feng here, that's enough for now."

"Besides, people never remember favors that come too easily." Lin Chang'an smiled meaningfully. Zhang Qing immediately gave him a thumbs-up and nodded in admiration.

"You really do see things more clearly, Junior Brother."

What Zhang Qing had asked just now was a veiled inquiry into whether Lin Chang'an wanted to take the opportunity to have another two people assigned to him. Who would have thought that Lin Chang'an would not take the bait at all?

"Junior Brother, get some proper rest first."

After Zhang Qing left, Lin Chang'an was alone in the Pill Room. Lowering his head, the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward into a smile.

"Three months. If I still couldn't refine it by now, my image as a genius alchemist would be impossible to maintain."

He casually tossed the six ruined pills into his mouth. As they entered his stomach, Lin Chang'an seemed to sense something, and his brows furrowed tightly.

"I've secretly eaten a few too many ruined pills lately. Even my Spirit Stones are starting to run short."

The milky-white mist within his sea of consciousness had become exceedingly thin. The sight made Lin Chang'an's heart ache, and he let out a faint sigh.

He dared to swallow those ruined pills so recklessly and cultivate that cut-corner technique only because this Mysterious Treasure could purify and refine spiritual power. But it consumed far too many Spirit Stones.

Elder Lu's mansion.

"It worked!" Looking at the four pills shining with spiritual light inside the jade bottle, Elder Lu revealed a rare trace of excitement.

Zhang Qing, standing nearby, also smiled and nodded. "It really worked. Junior Brother Lin is truly a genius at alchemy. He actually mastered a pill like the Golden Marrow Pill in just three months."

Faced with Zhang Qing's flattery, Elder Lu gave a rare pleased smile and nodded.

"Not bad. It has only been three months since he obtained the pill formula. To achieve such results indeed qualifies him as a genius. It's just that his cultivation..."

At this point, Elder Lu frowned, then shook his head with a sigh. "Perhaps he has put all his heart into alchemy and neglected cultivation. His progress in cultivation has been somewhat slow."

Zhang Qing's mouth twitched when he heard that. Listen to that—was that even something a person should say?

"Elder Lu, Junior Brother Lin's cultivation may be a little slow, but that's because he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to alchemy."

Seeing Zhang Qing still making excuses for Lin Chang'an, Elder Lu shook his head. "Allocate more cultivation resources to that boy. Once his cultivation rises, both his spiritual power and control will improve. If he wants to refine better pills, his cultivation cannot fall behind."

"Yes." Upon hearing that his cultivation resources would be increased again, Zhang Qing could not help showing envy. He was practically Elder Lu's own son.

Seemingly noticing the trace of jealousy in Zhang Qing's envious gaze, Elder Lu snorted irritably.

"What do you know? Only an alchemist who has grown up can create greater profits for the sect. Don't look at how many cultivation resources we're investing now. In the future, that boy will repay this old man tenfold, a hundredfold!"

At this point, Elder Lu revealed an unusually broad smile. Lin Chang'an's talent truly was exceptional.

"All of this is for the sect..."

Elder Lu's eyes brimmed with ambition. A fully developed alchemist was enough to strengthen the sect. If Lin Chang'an could truly reach that stage, the sect might even replace the Beast Taming Zhou Family's current position.

Patrol Prefecture.

"Congratulations, Brother Lin, on refining the Golden Marrow Pill."

Inside the room, Li Han and Qi Feng raised their wine cups with smiles to offer their congratulations. Lin Chang'an, seated at the table, also waved his hand with a contented smile and nodded.

"Come, come. Sit down and drink, eat."

No one would have imagined that this mansion, responsible for patrolling and maintaining order within the sect's grounds, would change so completely in just three months after Lin Chang'an took charge.

The three sat at the wine table. Looking at this mansion that had once exuded inviolable authority, Li Han and Qi Feng exchanged glances, both feeling as though they could hardly believe it.

"Brother Lin, isn't this somewhat improper?"

Li Han spoke awkwardly, while Qi Feng nodded in agreement. Only Lin Chang'an calmly took a bite of food, then casually glanced at the two of them, his gaze filled with amusement.

"Improper? Then what do you think would be proper?"

The question left the two speechless. Lin Chang'an merely smiled, lifted his cup, and took a light sip. A lingering savor appeared on his face.

"In a place like this, doing too much may not be right, but doing nothing will definitely keep you from making mistakes."

Li Han was rather bewildered by Lin Chang'an's casual remark. However, Qi Feng, who had once come from a marquis's residence, instantly understood. He secretly tugged at Li Han and muttered in a low voice.

"If Brother Lin did everything properly, he would inevitably become embroiled in fighting Senior Brother Zhang Qing for power and profit. You must know, everyone here from top to bottom belongs to the sect. When all is said and done, we are outsiders."

After Qi Feng's explanation, Li Han immediately understood. "So that's how it is. In other words, doing nothing is actually the right thing! But doesn't that mean Brother Lin has been sidelined?"

As he said this, Li Han cautiously glanced at Lin Chang'an. Yet Lin Chang'an remained calm, without the slightest hint of anger.

Damn it, after checking the chapter last night, I forgot to set the scheduled update. I kept thinking I had already set it. My deepest apologies.