Earthfire Hall

Earthfire Hall

The Foundation Establishment cultivator entered the room. When he saw Hu Donghan's attire, he said in considerable surprise, "So you're a law enforcement disciple? I don't know why a law enforcement disciple like you is managing Little Jade Flat, but hand over the spirit herbs at once, and report the number of mature spirit herbs. I have other matters to attend to—I still need to collect spirit herbs from elsewhere!"

Just from the Foundation Establishment cultivator's words, Hu Donghan had already become somewhat certain that the man before him was probably not very skilled in the ways of human relationships.

Hu Donghan was wearing the robes of a law enforcement disciple!

The name of a law enforcement disciple was something anyone who had been to Bloodbone Peak knew well in their heart. Any ordinary person with even a little common sense knew that when they encountered a law enforcement disciple, they had to speak politely and address him as "Senior Brother" and the like. Yet this man showed no manners whatsoever. He did not even ask Hu Donghan's name before directly demanding the spirit herbs, looking as though he would leave the moment he got them.

Hu Donghan did not feel much dislike toward the man.

In Hu Donghan's eyes, only enemies were hateful, people who had to be erased by every possible means. As for how everyone else treated him, Hu Donghan truly did not care too much.

That was simply Hu Donghan's nature—why he had ignored Mu Zhengfeng when Mu Zhengfeng often mocked him, only striking back when Mu Zhengfeng finally tried to kill him.

Hu Donghan smiled faintly and handed the Foundation Establishment cultivator a storage pouch. "Greetings, Senior Brother. These are the one hundred spirit herbs Little Jade Flat is turning in this time. Also, over this past month, Little Jade Flat has produced a total of one hundred and eighty-eight mature spirit herbs. The harvest has been fairly gratifying. I ask Senior Brother to report it truthfully."

"Tch! That dump Little Jade Flat produced one hundred and eighty-eight mature spirit herbs in a month? Who are you trying to fool?"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator clearly did not believe him. He snorted disdainfully, sent spiritual power into the storage pouch to inspect the spirit herbs within, and muttered, "These are... Earth Dragon Grass, Hundred-Day Flower, Thousand-Sail Leaf, Third Watch Flower... Hm? Strange! The grade of the spirit herbs this time seems rather high! There isn't even a single herb for refining trash like Qi-Nourishing Pills or Qi-Refining Pills?"

After muttering that, the Foundation Establishment cultivator did not think much of it. He turned, intending to leave directly.

By then, Hu Donghan had vaguely gleaned from the Foundation Establishment cultivator's words that this man seemed to be an alchemist from Earthfire Hall. Now that Hu Donghan had spirit herbs in hand, he naturally thought of putting the Medicine Spirit Ghost's alchemy abilities to use. Since he had encountered an Earthfire Hall cultivator, there were naturally some things he needed to ask clearly.

Hu Donghan hurriedly quickened his pace and blocked the Foundation Establishment cultivator's path. Smiling, he asked, "May I ask if Senior Brother is a disciple of Earthfire Hall?"

"Why are you blocking me?" The Foundation Establishment cultivator first frowned and snapped angrily, then said, "That's right, I'm an Earthfire Hall disciple. Move aside quickly. I still need to collect spirit herbs from several medicine fields on Overlapping Peaks, and time is tight. If you delay my alchemy, then even if you're a law enforcement disciple, I'll still make you regret it!"

So he really was an Earthfire Hall disciple!

Hu Donghan understood even more clearly. No wonder this fellow had such a foul temper, so prickly and explosive. A technical recluse proficient in alchemy, facing a pill furnace day after day and going without contact with people for so long, would naturally turn out like this.

Hu Donghan clasped his hands. "Senior Brother, my name is Hu Donghan. May I ask if Senior Brother does not believe that Little Jade Flat produced one hundred and eighty-eight mature spirit herbs this month?"

"Hmph! Of course I don't!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator wore a contemptuous expression as he replied impatiently, "As an Earthfire Hall disciple, how could I not know Little Jade Flat's condition? The spirit herbs here are planted in a complete mess, and the management is poor to boot. Producing one hundred and twenty in a month would already be decent! One look tells me you're a novice, yet you dare boast about one hundred and eighty-eight spirit herbs. If I believed you, I'd be a complete idiot!"

After a pause, the Foundation Establishment cultivator added, "Enough! I have no time to waste words with you. Move aside at once. I still have other medicine fields to visit!"

Hu Donghan took another storage pouch from his robes and poured out the spirit herbs inside. "Senior Brother, I am no fraud! If Senior Brother does not believe me, you may examine these spirit herbs. All of them are my harvest from this month."

"Hmph! You think waving around some damned spirit herbs you bought will catch my attention?" The Foundation Establishment cultivator remained utterly dismissive.

However, when the Foundation Establishment cultivator's gaze landed on those spirit herbs, he instinctively let out a surprised "Eh?" He could not help reaching out to pick them up and inspect them. Finally, his expression turned strange. "These... really are spirit herbs that matured within this past month! And they aren't wild spirit herbs either... Hm? These are all herbs for refining Qi-Nourishing Pills and Qi-Refining Pills?"

By the end, the Foundation Establishment cultivator's expression had become solemn as well.

Although obtaining these spirit herbs in Earthfire Hall was not difficult, this was happening to a law enforcement disciple who had only managed Little Jade Flat for a single month! If there were nothing strange about this, he would not believe it himself.

Seeing that the Foundation Establishment cultivator remained silent, Hu Donghan smiled again. "Senior Brother, if you have the time, why not take a look at my medicine field?"

"Fine!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator had long harbored several doubts. The moment Hu Donghan brought it up, he agreed almost immediately.

Hu Donghan led the Foundation Establishment cultivator out through the back door and into the small medicine field. When the cultivator saw the wooden fencing around it, he could not help letting out a mocking laugh. Only then did his gaze fall upon the surrounding spirit herbs. He shook his head as he examined them. But once he stepped into the small medicine field, the farther toward the center he went, the more solemn his expression became.

When the Foundation Establishment cultivator entered the area controlled by the Medicine Spirit Ghost, his eyes widened enormously. He looked around at the spirit herbs in every direction, muttering that it was impossible as he examined them. Then, upon seeing a Six-Section Grass among those spirit herbs, he pounced upon it like a starving dog lunging at food. He kept muttering, "Impossible! This is impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could this Six-Section Grass grow so well? Even on Spirit Medicine Mountain of the main peak, there isn't such an outstanding Six-Section Grass!"

Seeing the Foundation Establishment cultivator looking as though he had fallen into a demon's snare, Hu Donghan smiled faintly. He knew that the plan in his heart would basically succeed.

For the Medicine Spirit Ghost to refine pills, it first needed pill formulas, a pill furnace, and spirit fire for refining pills. Earthfire Hall bore that name because within its main hall lay a strange Earthfire, which worked wonders when used to refine artifacts or pills. Moreover, this Earthfire could be separated into Subfire. Though its effects could not compare to the Earthfire itself, it was still extremely good. Throughout Earthfire Hall, most disciples used this kind of Subfire!

(End of this chapter)