When Li Yan took the Ebony Sword, he felt a sharp sting in his palm.
The Ebony Sword Old Daoist Xuanwang had given him actually wanted to drink his blood!
[The host has come into contact with a Magic Artifact with a severe side effect: Death-Yin Sword.]
[Side effect: The artifact draws on the host's blood and vital energy to awaken the Death-Yin aura contained within the sword.]
[Side effect reversed: While holding the Ebony Sword, you can absorb the energy of those around you, whether they are living people or resentful spirits.]
Interesting!
Li Yan hadn't expected this plain-looking Ebony Sword to become an incredible minor divine artifact once its side effect was reversed.
Now that was turning trash into treasure. Reversing this side effect could produce unexpected results in certain situations.
Old Daoist Xuanwang stroked his beard and asked with a smiling face and a sinister voice, "Disciple, why aren't you saying anything? Don't you like the sword your master gave you?"
Li Yan was taken aback. He cupped his hands and said, "Master, I'm already completely satisfied with this Ebony Sword."
"Oh? I'm not sure you mean that. I also have a treasured sword that can cut through iron like mud. Would you like to trade the Ebony Sword in your hand for it?"
The moment Xuanwang suggested trading away his minor divine artifact, the Ebony Sword, Li Yan hurriedly waved his hands. "Master, this disciple's strength is low. One Ebony Sword is more than enough!"
However, Xuanwang had only suggested a trade to test Li Yan.
Seeing that Li Yan didn't want the treasured sword, Xuanwang gave him an approving look and nodded with satisfaction. "Good. You're a clever little fellow. Only those who aren't greedy can live long."
But the old Daoist had no idea that this seemingly useless Ebony Sword was an incredible weapon in Li Yan's hands.
The Ebony Sword's reversed side effect made it several times more powerful than any treasured sword.
The old man was pleased with Li Yan's apparent lack of greed. He thought the boy was worth keeping by his side and cultivating.
"Disciple, work hard. Your master won't treat you unfairly."
"Go on. Take the medicine from that gourd on the table and feed it to the Guest Diners."
Li Yan held the Ebony Sword and cupped his hands. "Yes! This disciple will take his leave."
After leaving the Alchemy Room, Li Yan looked at the Ebony Sword in his hand, unable to bear putting it down.
The senior disciples passing by the entrance saw him carrying an Ebony Sword and couldn't help snickering.
"That kid's wearing an Ebony Sword like it's some kind of treasure?"
Li Yan paid no attention to their chatter. What suited him was best, and there was no need to care what others thought.
He also hadn't forgotten that he was now responsible for feeding the Guest Diners at the Stone Workshop Eatery.
The medicine gourd in his hand contained dozens of Blood Egg Pills.
Looking at the gourd, Li Yan suddenly had an idea.
What if I secretly kept a few Blood Egg Pills...
But from Ming Zhe's memories, he knew that the Guest Diners at the Stone Workshop Eatery were all materials the old Daoist used to refine pills.
The Guest Diners had to be fed properly. Each one had to swallow a Blood Egg Pill.
If their blood and vital energy were insufficient and it delayed the pill-refining...
Old Daoist Xuanwang would select one lucky disciple and toss him into the mortar to be ground into mincemeat.
And that lucky one would most likely be him, Li Yan.
He was the one in charge of the Stone Workshop Eatery. If he delayed his master's pill-refining, he would end up in the Alchemy Furnace.
"How can I secretly keep some Blood Egg Pills?"
With that question in mind, Li Yan walked down the corridor and returned to the Stone Workshop Eatery he was responsible for overseeing.
Holding the medicine gourd, he pushed open the door and entered the Stone Workshop Eatery.
Countless Guest Diners scrambled to kneel before him, holding out their hands as they begged.
"Young Daoist, hurry and give me one!"
"Give me two! One isn't enough."
"Please! I feel awful all over if I don't have one today."
These countless addicts were having withdrawals. They scratched at themselves and begged Li Yan to give them another pill.
Li Yan knew that bugs controlled the Guest Diners' brains, making them instinctively crave more Blood Egg Pills.
Once their entire bodies were infested with the bugs, they would become pill-refining materials.
Li Yan's gaze instinctively swept toward the corner, where he once again met the eyes of the girl called Xin Zhi.
This time, there were several people beside the girl.
Li Yan muttered, "These newcomers must be the people who were just brought in to fill the Stone Workshop Eatery."
"There are thirty-six Guest Diners at the Stone Workshop Eatery, and I have thirty-six Blood Egg Pills in my medicine gourd."
"If..."
Li Yan began calculating how to use his authority to keep a few of the Blood Egg Pills for himself.
"Xin Zhi and the newcomers make six normal people in all."
"The old Daoist needs ten Guest Diners as pill-refining materials every seven days."
His thoughts began to stir.
Ten Guest Diners were this week's pill-refining materials, while another twenty would be kept in reserve.
That meant Li Yan could pocket the pills meant for the extra few people!
That would put six Blood Egg Pills in his pocket.
Since Li Yan was the only one managing the Stone Workshop Eatery, there was plenty of room to work things out.
Li Yan wasted no time. He handed out thirty Blood Egg Pills to the Guest Diners who were already gravely ill.
They snatched the pills without hesitation and shoved them into their mouths.
As long as he kept the blood and vital energy of this bunch of pill slaves at normal levels, Xuanwang wouldn't give him trouble.
Then Li Yan took the medicine gourd and walked over to the girl named Xin Zhi.
The girl furrowed her brows as she looked at Li Yan.
Li Yan had already changed into the gray Daoist robe of Jingxu Temple. His waist token read [Outer Sect · Ming Yan].
"You... You were promoted from Guest Diner to servant yesterday, and from servant to Outer Sect Disciple today?"
Li Yan's rapid rise was far beyond what the girl could comprehend.
Seeing the surprise in her eyes, Li Yan pretended to be generous and poured a Blood Egg Pill from the medicine gourd.
In an even tone, he asked, "Do you want to eat it?"
The girl shook her head desperately, frightened of Li Yan.
She had never dreamed that Li Yan, who had just arrived yesterday, would become her superior today—the manager of the Stone Workshop Eatery.
The girl was terrified that Li Yan would force them to swallow Blood Egg Pills to complete his assignment.
Li Yan asked casually, "Were these five just brought in, too?"
"Mm... They were only brought here this afternoon."
The change in their roles had made the girl afraid of Li Yan. She lowered her head and didn't dare meet his eyes.
The five newcomers hadn't been infested by the Blood Egg Pills. They were still clearheaded, and fear showed in their eyes as they looked at Li Yan.
Li Yan asked, "How did you little ones end up here?"
One of the older children swallowed and gathered the courage to answer.
"We heard that we could eat our fill here, so..."
Li Yan waved a hand. "All right. Go back to your room."
Seeing that Li Yan had let them go, the girl called Xin Zhi couldn't help taking a step forward.
"What about you? Those pills... what are you going to do with them?"
Xin Zhi had lived at the Stone Workshop Eatery for some time. She clearly knew its rules.
Li Yan's lips curved upward, but he said nothing.
Carrying the six remaining Blood Egg Pills, he entered the best private room in the Stone Workshop Eatery.
After shutting the doors and windows, Li Yan poured the six fresh Blood Egg Pills from the medicine gourd into his palm, tilted his head back, and swallowed them all in one go.
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