Song Wen led Le Liang into his cave abode, brought out fine spirit tea, and brewed and poured it, treating him with every courtesy.
After a round of insincere mutual flattery, the two became reasonably acquainted.
Through his idle conversation with Le Liang, Song Wen resolved one of his doubts: why the Limitless Sect was so desperately short of third-tier alchemists.
During the war in the Northern Region twenty years ago, the Demon Race had ambushed the Limitless Sect's frontline headquarters. Apart from Yinshuo, who had personally overseen the front and managed to escape, everyone else had been wiped out, becoming food for the demons. Among them had been six third-tier alchemists.
Furthermore, over the past thirty years, the Limitless Sect had lost another four third-tier alchemists to exhausted lifespans, accidental deaths, cultivation deviations while practicing corpse-path techniques, and other causes.
That was how the Limitless Sect had ended up without a single third-tier alchemist available.
Song Wen also learned what his stipend would be.
As deputy hall master, Song Wen could collect ten superior spirit stones from the Limitless Sect each month. If he wanted more spirit stones, he would have to complete sect missions.
After fifteen to thirty minutes of pleasantries, Le Liang finally came to the point and explained his purpose.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, the sect has some dealings with the Cui Family in the Southern Region. These involve three kinds of pills: Ghost Shadow Pills, Soul-Returning Pills, and Ghost Power Pills. You will be responsible for refining them."
As he spoke, Le Liang handed Song Wen a jade slip.
"This contains the formulas for all three pills and the quantities required. You can collect the necessary spirit herbs from the sect's Treasure Hall yourself. You may assign the Pill Hall's lower-tier alchemists as you see