Alchemy Disciple

After Heaven-Seizing Ancestor finished speaking, he paused before continuing, "But what a pity. This Medicinal-Scent Ghost is merely low-grade, with limited room to grow. Otherwise, kid, you'd practically be the natural choice for the next Hall Master! Of course, even with what you can do now, joining our Earthfire Hall would be more than enough!"

"Your Medicinal-Scent Ghost should be able to use some special power to accelerate the growth of spirit herbs! Six-Section Grass requires special nutrients to grow. It's no surprise that you can cultivate it! Hahaha! It looks like the success rate for our Earthfire Hall's Sixth-Turn Golden Pills will rise greatly in the future! Hahahaha!"

Once Heaven-Seizing Ancestor finished, he suddenly turned to an alchemist beside him and asked, "Right, didn't I say before that whoever could raise the success rate of Sixth-Turn Golden Pills would be made an Earthfire Hall steward?"

"Uh..."

The person Heaven-Seizing Ancestor had questioned was a Nascent Soul Late Stage ancestor.

This Nascent Soul ancestor was named Bu Yun. He, too, was deeply obsessed with alchemy, though not to the same extent as Heaven-Seizing Ancestor. He also occasionally helped handle the general affairs within Earthfire Hall. Strictly speaking, he was the one who actually managed Earthfire Hall.

As for Heaven-Seizing Ancestor's words, Bu Yun did indeed remember him saying them.

However, hadn't he said that when he had failed six consecutive times at refining Sixth-Turn Golden Pills and was muttering to himself within Earthfire Hall? Such words could only be taken as idle chatter. How could they be taken seriously?

Of course, if Hu Donghan had originally been an alchemist and had then suddenly become capable of cultivating Six-Section Grass, it would not have been unreasonable to make him an Earthfire Hall steward—there were so few people in Earthfire Hall anyway that even a steward could not command much of anyone.

His own title was Earthfire Hall's Grand Elder! Yet in the eyes of these alchemists and artifact refiners, wasn't he still worth less than a fart?

But Hu Donghan was now a newcomer, and they knew nothing of his character. What if Hu Donghan truly became a steward, then used that title to swindle people on other peaks...

That old bastard can't remember anything else, so why does he remember this so clearly?

Bu Yun grumbled inwardly, then said softly to Heaven-Seizing Ancestor, "Hall Master, Hu Donghan is not yet an Earthfire Hall disciple. If he becomes a steward the moment he joins Earthfire Hall, I'm afraid the others may have objections..."

"Objections? Who would object?" Heaven-Seizing Ancestor asked angrily. Then he swept his gaze across the surrounding alchemists. "Would any of you object?"

"No! As long as Junior Brother Hu can provide us with Six-Section Grass, we absolutely have no objections!" These disheveled fellows had collectively switched sides the instant Heaven-Seizing Ancestor acknowledged that Hu Donghan likely had sufficient ability to cultivate Six-Section Grass!

For a group of technical shut-ins who knew only alchemy, they did not care in the slightest who was above them. So long as that person could provide what they needed, everything was negotiable.

Listening to this group of people tear down his platform together, Bu Yun felt his head spin. He turned to Heaven-Seizing Ancestor and said, "Ancestor, even if they have no objections, aren't you afraid the Sect Master will learn of this and tell Hall Master Dugu? Think about what the consequences would be if Hall Master Dugu found out!"

"Uh..." The moment Heaven-Seizing Ancestor heard the four words "Hall Master Dugu," it was as though a basin of cold water had fallen from the sky, instantly sobering him up. The surrounding alchemists reacted the same way, as if the person mentioned were a tiger that might suddenly leap out and devour them.

"Then... then let him be an Earthfire Hall disciple first. Kid, listen up—if you work hard, you'll definitely become a steward someday! Also, if anyone from the Enforcement Hall dares cause you trouble, tell this ancestor! I'll fight Soul Devourer to the death! The Enforcement Hall already killed one disciple with a Medicinal-Scent Ghost before. If you die too, our Earthfire Hall won't have any hope left!" Heaven-Seizing Ancestor hurriedly gave a few instructions, then rushed out of the third floor.

From just now until this moment, Hu Donghan had felt rather dazed.

Only after watching Heaven-Seizing Ancestor leave did Bu Yun speak to Hu Donghan again. "Ordinarily, newly joined disciples of Earthfire Hall's Alchemy Division must first become alchemy attendants and have their potential observed. If they possess sufficient potential, they may become alchemy disciples. Only afterward can they become stewards, elders, and so on. Since you can provide excellent-quality Six-Section Grass, you have rendered great service to Earthfire Hall. Therefore, you need not be an alchemy attendant and may directly become an alchemy disciple."

"Thank you, Senior." Hu Donghan still did not know Bu Yun's name or status, so he could only address him as Senior.

Bu Yun shook his head. "No need to thank me. This is what you deserve. Since you have become an alchemy disciple of Earthfire Hall's Alchemy Division, you should learn about an alchemy disciple's rights and duties. The primary task of Alchemy Division disciples is refining pills... Huh? What are you people trying to do?"

Before Bu Yun could finish speaking, the people around them squeezed him aside.

They all crowded around Hu Donghan, smiling as they introduced themselves.

"Junior Brother Hu, this old man is Du Hong. If you have any Six-Section Grass in the future, I hope Junior Brother Hu can save a portion for this old man..."

"Get lost, you old faker! Junior Brother Hu, I am Mo Yandong. Please help me cultivate a stalk of Six-Section Grass, and there will surely be a generous reward..."

"I am Wanqi Liuyun..."

"I am Dongfang Bai..."

A group of alchemists, regardless of gender, age, or seniority, crowded around Hu Donghan to ingratiate themselves with him and ask for Six-Section Grass.

Seeing this, Bu Yun's face naturally darkened with black lines—these people were simply fanning Hu Donghan's arrogance!

"Everyone, if Six-Section Grass is successfully cultivated, it should be handed over to Earthfire Hall's Alchemy Division for unified distribution..."

Before Bu Yun could finish, the alchemists turned one by one like enraged bulls, glaring at Bu Yun as they shouted furiously, "Unified distribution my ass! You talk about distribution every time, but when have I ever seen any of it?!"

"All the good stuff gets wasted by Heaven-Seizing!"

"Stop talking nonsense! Beat him up!"

A group of alchemists swarmed forward and surrounded Bu Yun, punching and kicking him.

At this moment, Wang Ruolong reached out and tugged Hu Donghan. "Junior Brother Hu, leave quickly. Otherwise, be careful not to get dragged into this later..."

"Huh? Ah..." Hu Donghan immediately followed Wang Ruolong and quickly left the third floor.

Then, before Hu Donghan could even ask anything, Wang Ruolong explained carelessly, "Junior Brother Hu, don't mind it. In Earthfire Hall, brawls on this scale are quite common. They only use fists and feet, not spiritual power, so there's no need to worry about anyone dying. When you see it, just pretend you didn't..."

Upon hearing that, black lines appeared across Hu Donghan's forehead again. "Brawls like this are common?"