The Alchemy Conference
---Two years later, Pingrong County
Morning mist clung to the mountain ridges, and dewdrops hanging from pine needles trembled in the dim light.
The damp air, carrying the bitter scent of fir, filled his nostrils. He Chang led his golden-haired donkey across the thick layer of dark brown pine needles, the stone wall ahead seemed to be edged with gold. Several deep roars suddenly rang out, startling the orioles huddled on the cliff edge, causing them to take flight and tear through the morning curtain.
The grass in the old donkey's basket rustled in the mountain breeze, covered with a layer of rotten fruit odor that He Chang couldn't quite place, which only made him feel more depressed.
"Sigh, the top-level assignments at the Merit Points Hall are as difficult as ever. If I had known, I would have stayed by my mother's side and focused on my spiritual practice. Why bother with all this trouble outside?"
He Chang sighed softly at his failure to find the medicinal herbs listed by the Merit Points Hall, while gazing at the golden-haired old donkey whose fur was becoming increasingly lustrous. A hint of envy even flickered in his phoenix eyes.
"Senior Donkey is truly fortunate. After unknowingly consuming a few pills, his advancement came naturally, without any apparent effort on his part."
The golden-haired old donkey, who was munching on white alfalfa, seemed to sense He Chang's intentions and even showed a hint of disapproval on its face in a very human-like manner.
It didn't make a sound, but just glanced down between its hind legs, which immediately made He Chang realize what was happening and gradually the envy on his face faded.
"That's right, it's obvious. How could Uncle allow Senior Donkey to gain an advantage over the sect for no reason?"
He Chang had no idea about the background of the pill that Han Yundao fed to the old donkey back then, nor did he know when his fortuitous opportunity to Foundation Establishment would arrive. But after taking another look at the empty space between the golden-haired old donkey's hind legs, his resolve to pursue the Dao became even stronger.
There's not much to say about the journey from Guo County back to the sect. The campaign to eradicate Evil Cultivator, which Duan Anle has been in charge of for the past few years, has already yielded remarkable results.
In particular, after Sect Leader Kang Da deliberately hung the heads of two superior cultivators on the Chongming Sect's archway, the local tyrants of Cloud Horn Prefecture, who were originally going to put up a stubborn resistance, became very obedient.
Even if they felt that Kang Dabao's rule was too strict and they couldn't live freely, they could still sell their property and move their clan to live elsewhere.
Senior Cultivator Wufeng had just established the Miasma Cage Court in Ding Prefecture, was still in its early stages. He welcomed wealthy families with their own strength, and given Senior Cultivator Wufeng methods, it was indeed an excellent place to go.
Sect Leader Kang Da did not further obstruct such individuals.
On the contrary, Chongming Sect even used its connections with the Fei Household to purchase two manned flying boats from Myriad Treasures Trading Company at a low price, specifically for the migration of mortals. They then assigned their capable disciples to run a business of migrating mortal clans for other families.
Business has been booming in the last year or two, and when you really look at it, it's not much less profitable than the Double Brightness Branch Pavilion he ran in Jia-Chou Military Stronghold.
After that, they set up the Baojia system in various counties and trained local militias. These tasks were tedious, but Chongming Sect and his men were already quite adept at them.
However, setting up this framework is only the first step. How to ensure that these benevolent policies are sustained, how to ensure that the people are prosperous and that the people's strength is fully utilized by the Chongming Sect and the Marquis of Martial Peace's Residence, is also a test for the Chongming Sect.
Because the counties in the prefecture were much more peaceful than before, He Chang was leading a castrated donkey that looked like it was not a good animal, he did not encounter any dangers along the way.
On the contrary, he gained a lot of convenience because of the disciple's identification talisman with the six-leaf blue lotus Dao seal engraved on his waist.
These conveniences were earned by the Chongming Sect through countless bloody deaths for his disciples. However, He Chang, having grown up under the Sect Leader Kang Da, had also learned to be cautious and prudent.
Just before returning to the Chongming Sect in the evening, after a few days' journey, He Chang, exhausted once again, refused the host's offer to send his most beautiful concubine to serve him in bed.
Ignoring the latter's deeply saddened gaze, he waited until he had replenished his food and water before bidding farewell and continuing his journey.
"No wonder several of my fellow disciples in the Punishment Hall said that there have been more and more criminals among our fellow disciples lately. No wonder Senior Martial Uncle Ye has repeatedly warned us to be careful of the 'Honey-Soaked Golden Hooks' outside."
Not long after he had expressed his feelings, he rode his old donkey for another half day before finally meeting his fellow disciples returning from another direction when the moonlight was at its brightest.
"Junior Brother Shan is back too. I heard from Junior Brother Han of the Merit Points Hall that you Gui Household visit your family. Why are you back so early?"
When Shan Yong, who had been called by He Chang, saw that the former also showed some joy, he said, "Greetings, Senior Brother He. I should have returned a few days ago, but I went to Cold Crow Mountain to pay my respects to Master on the way, which delayed me a bit."
"Oh, so you went to see Uncle Niu (Niu Kuang). How is he doing these days?"
"He's good in every other way, except for his inability to break his habit of drinking. He often takes Uncle Sun (Sun Fu) with him, which makes Junior Brother Zhu Yunsheng quite anxious."
"That's true. Last time, when Master Zhou was drinking, Senior Martial Uncle Ye said a few words to him, but he wouldn't listen. It was only after sending Senior Brother Duan to call Senior Sister Zhou back that they were able to subdue him for a while."
The two, having not seen each other for a long time, were deeply engrossed in conversation and walked under the moonlight until sunrise without stopping. However, not long after dawn, they saw a group of people dressed in xiezhi robes slowly approaching from a distance.
"Tie Liuyun's men?!" He Chang immediately dropped his warm expression, and Shan Yong beside him also became solemn, their eyes burning as they looked at the group of people.
Stop.
He Chang abandoned his usual gentle demeanor and, despite only being a Qi Refining Qi Refinement, dared to speak coldly to the leading True Cultivator in front of him.
Perhaps because of his years of unbridled power and few setbacks, the Demon Correction Office True Cultivator, dressed in the attire of a gang leader, paused for a moment upon hearing the voice, then frowned and said in a harsh tone, "And who are you, you little rascal?!"
Before He Chang could react, Shan Yong had already shouted, "You motherfucker! Try saying that again!"
"What an arrogant little cultivator!" The head of the Demon Correction Office Division would not tolerate such arrogance from a junior, which immediately enraged him. However, before the Demon Correction Office soldiers could make a move, the two men in front of him Chongming Sect's True Disciple tokens from their waists.
"People from the Chongming Sect?!" The head of the Demon Correction Office Division narrowed his eyes, the killing intent in them yet to materialize, when He Chang spoke loudly from the other side, "We are disciples of the Chongming Sect. What are you doing here?!"
"Why should the Demon Correction Office discuss matters with a junior like you? Do you even have ears to hear about important military and national affairs?!"
Demon Correction Office True Cultivator from the Demon-Calling Division was about to utter a mocking sneer, he felt a chilling gaze fall upon him.
He was puzzled as to which junior on the other side was so bold, but when He Chang turned his head, he saw the golden-haired old donkey with its shiny mane staring intently at him, a rather human-like sneer playing on its lips.
This True Cultivator Demon Correction Office- Crossing Division, being someone favored by a high-level cultivator like Tie Liuyun, was naturally no ordinary person. However, after only a brief glance at the old donkey, he could see that the latter's fierce killing intent was growing stronger.
"This old donkey possesses formidable spiritual power; I may not be able to defeat it this time!"
The Demon Correction Office's True Cultivator suddenly gripped the iron ruler in his hand tightly. Only when he felt a bit of warmth emanating from the inanimate object did his expression, which had been on high alert, gradually calm down.
"Why does the Demon Correction Office have to come to my Cloud Horn Prefecture to do its work?! This place was only granted to my sect leader by the Emperor himself, so it is entirely my sect leader's private property. It's none of your business to come here and flaunt your power."
The head of the Demon Correction Office Division paused, taken aback by He Chang's sharp shout, then his face flushed red. When he finally spoke, he practically forced out the words through gritted teeth:
"Is this not the king's land? How can we not be allowed to devote ourselves to the king's affairs and endure hardship here?!"
Upon hearing this, Shan Yong chuckled coldly, inwardly cursing, "How many days have you been wearing this Xie Zhi skin?! My family has been the lackeys of the Kuang Household since the founding of our sect by Patriarch Zhang. Do you think we can be manipulated by someone like you with your so-called righteousness?!"
He glanced at He Chang's expression beside him, and after confirming that there was no change in his expression, Shan Yong spoke coldly again, "Whether the foreman has worked hard or not, this junior does not know, nor is he capable of discerning it. Therefore, I would like to ask the foreman to move to my clan's territory so that he can personally explain to Marquis of Martial Peace?"
The demon leader was furious and was about to make a move, but then he saw the two beasts and the dog opposite him and knew that his chances of winning were not great. So he snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Shan Yong and He Chang each released a signal talisman, while Shan Yong followed the golden-haired old donkey and fiercely rammed into the Demon Correction Office's formation.
Blood splattered on the ground along with human lives. The demon's face was ashen. He wanted to leave, but his pride held him back. So he had no choice but to fight the old donkey to the death.
Seeing his men fall to the ground one by one, the head of the Demon Correction Office Division disregarded their lives and instead felt ashamed of himself. However, the golden-haired old donkey's description of the flames was so authentic that the head of the Demon Correction Office Division felt that he alone could not salvage the situation.
Even if they were to leave now, it wouldn't be an easy task. The head of the Demon Correction Office Division had barely managed to escape from the golden-haired old donkey's demonic flames when his pursuers arrived the next moment.
Even Shan Yong and He Chang never imagined that they could summon a fake alchemist to come and help them.
An old cultivator simply drew four streaks of spiritual light with his brush, and they shattered the robes and protective aura of the Demon Correction Office Chief.
These family members dressed in black robes were then no different from fish on a sticky surface, and were not surprising at all.
Seeing that the entire Demon Correction Office had been captured by this old cultivator alone, He Chang straightened his clothes and composed himself before daring to step forward and respectfully bow, saying, "Junior He Chang thanks Military Commandant Gun for his protection."
"Haha, there's no need for such politeness. Without me even lifting a finger, that brat from the Demon Correction Office won't escape either."
Compared to before, Gun Shilu has lost much of his former glory. If He Chang and Shan Yong knew his imposing appearance back then, they might still be able to recognize some of it, but even if they didn't know his former appearance, they could still see that he had aged considerably.
However, he seemed unconcerned about the matter. After settling the soldiers of the Demon Correction Office Exorcism Division, he turned back to the two and said gently, "I happen to have important business to attend to at your sect. I would like to travel with you two young friends."
"That is indeed my wish, and I dare not ask for more!"
It was only when the three of them were traveling together that He Chang learned that Gun Shilu had also brought his juniors to the "Alchemy Conference" that the Double Brightness Alliance was about to hold, which was specifically for recruiting Alchemist into the sect.
Since his last emergence from seclusion, Sect Leader Kang Da has placed great emphasis on the cultivation of Alchemist within the sect.
Not only did He Wanying enable disciples like Qi Ke to become advanced Alchemist, but she also vigorously promoted Alchemist joining the sect, clearly preparing for some major event.
However, Alchemist among Rogue Cultivator are extremely rare, and those who can catch Kang Dabao's eye are even fewer. This has forced Chongming Sect to open its doors wider in order to attract Alchemist from various schools.
But each family's Alchemist is a precious treasure; how many would be willing to offer them up unless they were at their wits' end?
Therefore, the recent gains have been meager. If the Anshan Gun Household is truly willing to entrust their daughter to him, it would be a shot in the Strengthen Heart for the matter that Sect Leader Kang Da is currently promoting.
Gun Shilu's flying boat was a generous reward from Kuang Liuting years ago. Even though for various reasons, the former has had little contact with this Kuang Household family recently, the vehicle still experienced no bumps or jolting and can still be considered a luxury item among Pill Master.
But when the four of them landed under the Chongming Sect's archway, the place had already become lively.
Normally, capturing the head of the Demon Correction Office Division is quite common within the Chongming Sect, so there's no need to report it to the sect leader.
Regardless of his seniority or past favors towards the Chongming Sect, Gun Shilu was able to be considered a truly distinguished guest by most of the Chongming Sect's disciples, especially since he had responded to the Chongming Sect's call.
Therefore He Chang did not dare to be negligent. He did not even bother to wipe away the unfinished task in the Merit Points Hall. Instead, he carefully instructed another disciple of Double Brightness and then rushed into the great formation.
He Chang's identity was indeed extraordinary, and Gun Shilu had a good relationship with the high-ranking members of the Chongming Sect. Before long, He Chang had already prepared the tokens for the two members of the Gun Household, and led them with a group of fellow disciples to a pill refining field where the earth fire was blazing.
The Gun Household descendant who came to the Chongming Sect with Gun Shilu was called Gun Fangmu. Before discovering his talent for alchemy by chance, he was not considered an outstanding descendant in the Gun Household.
Therefore, regardless of his knowledge or vision, Gun Fangmu was not very good, and this was the first time he had ever seen such a lively scene.
There were hundreds of identical bronze medicine cauldrons laid out along the white jade steps, with flames licking the runes cast from black iron on the base of each Pill Furnace.
Alchemist of different temperaments moved among them, the wind stirred up by their flicking sleeves stirring up the thick medicinal mist, revealing their profiles that were illuminated by the firelight.
Someone was squatting on the steps pounding medicine; the crisp sound of the stone pestle striking the bronze mortar seemed to carry a hint of anticipation for the future.
Not to mention Gun Fangmu, even Gun Shilu was astonished by the sight before him.
"As expected of Golden Core sect, such an aura is to be expected."
After the two members of the Gun Household had finished drinking tea inside, Kang Dabao led a Third Tier Alchemist with an extraordinary demeanor into the arena.