Choice and Planning

Hearing this, the stone that had been half-suspended in Lin Changheng's heart finally settled firmly into place.

As for the "mid-grade access" Xu Qianyan mentioned, it referred to exchanging the contribution points accumulated from completing tasks within the Xu Family.

It was equivalent to a merit system within the clan, granting him further privileges.

Originally, Immortal Seedlings could only exchange for various first-tier low-grade items.

"Many thanks, Chief."

Xu Qianyan glanced at him, shook his head, and said with a serious expression, "You earned this through your own strength; there is no need to thank me."

"As for your duties, it is nothing more than alchemy. When the clan issues tasks, simply go to the General Affairs Hall to collect them."

"Regarding your compensation, in addition to the standard supply of high-quality spirit tea, spirit rice, and spirit wine, you will have access to a spirit vein for cultivation. For the remainder, you may choose to receive a fixed quota of spirit stones, or a profit-sharing method where you earn more by refining more."

"As for which you prefer, you may report back once you have considered it carefully."

Seeing Lin Changheng nod to indicate he understood, an alchemist handed him a jade slip, and the group departed in a grand procession.

Watching their figures disappear, Lin Changheng did not follow them, but instead turned and headed toward the Hundred Treasures Hall on another mountain peak.

Here, one could exchange contribution points and spirit stones for items, or conduct sales of recovered goods.

A moment later, Lin Changheng walked out of the hall.

No unusual expression could be seen on his face.

However, the pills and storage bags he had seized were all sold off.

Three low-grade pills of average quality were exchanged for three spirit stones, at half their value.

The storage bag only fetched fifty spirit stones.

It was acceptable, all things considered.

In total, he had obtained fifty-three spirit stones.

That bottle of poison had also been appraised for free; it was a first-tier mid-grade toxin, concocted from a mixture of venom glands and sacs from various demonic beasts. When dispersed into the air, it could cause paralysis and dull the five senses.

The Hundred Treasures Hall offered to purchase it for two spirit stones, which Lin Changheng politely declined.

What left him somewhat sullen, however, was that the low-grade hammer artifact was deemed too damaged, with repair costs too high and potential risks in its use, so they refused to buy it back.

"Perhaps I can try to trade it at the clan's exchange meeting later."

Upon returning to the Tide-Listening Dojo.

Lin Changheng saw a dense crowd of people blocking the entrance to the dojo once again.

And among them, Dantai Feiyue, who was surrounded like the moon among stars.

Giving them only a faint glance, Lin Changheng walked past them directly.

Clearly, these Xu Family disciples had also noticed Lin Changheng and looked over one after another.

Yet, they did not cast the same confrontational, hateful glares as before; instead, their gazes were tinged with complex curiosity, a mixture of unwilling jealousy and a begrudging, forced awe.

One of the Xu Family disciples subconsciously touched the new low-grade pill at his waist—a cultivation pill his parents had scrimped and saved to purchase from the Hundred Treasures Hall.

Thinking of how Lin Changheng was now an alchemist capable of easily refining such quality pills, his eyes dimmed.

"Excuse me." A calm voice drifted over.

"Yes, yes."

Subconscious responses rang out. The Xu Family disciples blocking the door retreated as if by some strange compulsion; the crowd parted like waves, unable to stop themselves from pushing aside to clear a path.

This also revealed Dantai Feiyue, who stood tall and graceful.

"Thank you."

Lin Changheng offered a word of thanks and passed through the middle. As he brushed shoulders with Dantai Feiyue, he gave a slight nod.

Dantai Feiyue had originally intended to greet him and exchange a few words, but seeing that Lin Changheng had no intention of stopping, the smiling corners of her lips stiffened slightly.

Her gaze fell upon Lin Changheng's retreating back, her red lips pressed together as she pondered something.

As for Lin Changheng, he never looked back from start to finish, as if he were completely unaware of everything behind him—or perhaps, he simply held it in utter disdain.

Back in his own courtyard.

Lin Changheng recalled the two choices Xu Qianyan had given him: a fixed quota of spirit stones, or the profit-sharing method?

He took out the jade slip, pressed it to his forehead, and examined it closely.

At a single glance, Lin Changheng made his choice—

The second option!

Because according to the jade slip, if one chose the "fixed quota of spirit stones," all refined pills would belong to the Xu Family, regardless of whether they were successful, inferior, or waste pills!

To provide the full quota, the number of "pills" and the "portions of medicinal herbs" had to correspond.

With Lin Changheng's perfect success rate, where would he find so many waste or inferior pills?

The first option was not viable.

With that ruled out, only the second remained.

The profit-sharing method described in the second option was far more stringent; for every ten portions of medicinal ingredients provided by the Blackwater River Xu Clan, one had to deliver seven authentic pills.

Regardless of how many pills were produced in a single furnace, seventy percent had to be handed over.

This was twenty percent more than the initial fifty percent. Lin Changheng could accept this; after all, the supply of spiritual rice, spiritual tea, and access to spiritual veins had all been improved, and the exemption from tasks like Land Reclamation represented hidden resources that could not be measured in spirit stones alone.

Furthermore, this was a requirement for one's alchemy skills, a man-made threshold.

It was designed to make guest alchemists with inferior skills retreat in the face of difficulty.

After all, under this model, there was no limit on alchemy; as long as one was willing to push themselves, they could keep the furnace fires burning every single day of the twelve months in a year.

If one's alchemy skills were lacking, it would result in massive waste.

The Blackwater River Xu Clan could not sustain that.

But if one could reach a seventy-percent yield, the Blackwater River Xu Clan would make a profit, so what did it matter if they let you burn through their medicinal herbs?

As a clan with vast assets and far-reaching interests, the Blackwater River Xu Clan naturally had to calculate these things clearly.

No matter how I look at it, I should choose the second option. Although the share is twenty percent less, the high value of the premium pills raises the base, so the ratio doesn't make it feel like I'm losing too much.

Moreover, the basic requirement of ten furnaces a month can be increased to about fifteen without affecting my cultivation, maximizing my initial accumulation.

Right, the refining of the Wood Origin Pill must also keep pace.

After clarifying his alchemy plan, Lin Changheng began to ponder the issue of essence blood.

This was of vital importance!

It concerned the very foundation of Lin Changheng!

Logically speaking, the Blackwater River Xu Clan has over a dozen alchemists, and the amount of waste and inferior pills produced each month is not small. Is there a way to get my hands on them?

If that's the case for low-grade pills, what about middle-grade and high-grade ones? The beast essence blood involved must be even more potent!

Hmm, I'll head to the General Affairs Hall tomorrow to submit my choice and see if there are any good tasks involving essence blood...

Thinking this to himself, Lin Changheng took out a premium Crimson Flame Pill, swallowed it, and began to calm his mind and settle into meditation.

Currently, he still had thirteen premium pills in his storage bag!

His authentic pills, however, had been cleared out; before leaving, he had sold them all to Su Shuangjiang.

He had exchanged them for spirit stones and had none left.

She had even said that if he needed anything in the future, he could come find her at the Blackwater River Xu Clan.

He had only offered a few polite words in response... After all, the distance was too great, and with the current turmoil and chaos in the cultivation world, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator could not guarantee their safety on such a journey.

At this moment, the spirit stones in his storage bag had once again reached over one hundred and eighty.

"Hoo~"

The pill slowly dissolved within his body, and the medicinal power of the premium pill immediately flowed along his meridians and qi channels, following the circulation of his cultivation technique, spreading to his limbs and bones, and finally refining into mana that returned to his dantian...

He continued to make progress.