"Your stipend is plenty. There's no need to demean yourself in a low-grade cave dwelling."
"As for cultivation resources, I provide the Jade Dew Pills, and you have nothing to worry about when it comes to magical instruments or magical treasures."
"In my opinion, you should find some time to speak with Shi Boying and rent a mid-grade cave dwelling!"
Inside Cave Abode Yi-17.
Luo Chen and Sima Huiniang sat opposite each other, eating a breakfast brimming with spiritual energy.
Hearing Luo Chen's suggestion, Sima Huiniang offered a faint smile.
"I'll consider it."
"Don't consider it—do it as soon as possible!" Seeing her indifferent attitude toward cultivation, Luo Chen felt an inexplicable flash of annoyance. "Settle on a cave dwelling within the next two days. There's an empty one a hundred zhang below mine; you can easily rent that."
"All right, all right, I'll do as you say," Sima Huiniang said helplessly.
"I've finished eating, so I'll head to Danxia Peak first. There's quite a lot to handle today, and I can't afford any delay."
Luo Chen shoveled down a few large mouthfuls of food and saw her to the door himself.
Watching her graceful, slender figure drift into the distance, Luo Chen stood beneath the Warm Sun Tree and clicked his tongue.
Standing there, he felt a bit like a housewife sending her husband off to work.
Though the genders seemed somewhat reversed.
With a self-deprecating chuckle, Luo Chen sat down beneath the Warm Sun Tree.
He produced an alchemy tome and began reading it attentively.
This tome differed from his previous ones; it had come from Dan Yuanzi's storage bag.
Not long ago, he had finally cracked the seal on Dan Yuanzi's storage bag.
The haul had been remarkably generous!
In spirit stones alone, there were a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand!
Other texts and materials related to the Dao of Alchemy were likewise of immense value.
Among them were even several tier-one pill recipes and a tier-two recipe titled 'Blood Augmenting Pill.'
Dan Yuanzi had become a tier-two alchemist precisely by mastering the concoction of this Blood Augmenting Pill.
Luo Chen had previously given this recipe a cursory examination.
It was a cultivation pill that augmented a cultivator's Qi and blood.
Unfortunately, it did not increase spiritual energy.
Rather, much like the Golden Quality Jade Liquid, it leaned toward body refinement.
If refined, it would be of immense benefit to body cultivators!
However, its primary ingredients had made Luo Chen raise an eyebrow.
Cultivator essence blood, demon beast blood, and the sap of a spiritual tree.
These three primary ingredients bore a striking resemblance to those of the Blood Fiend Pill, achieving roughly the same purpose.
In other words, both the Blood Augmenting Pill and the Blood Fiend Pill could easily be classified among demonic pills.
*No wonder Dan Yuanzi rarely refined this after first producing it.*
*Strengthening Qi and blood is of little use to normal cultivators. Worse, procuring the primary ingredients is fraught with risk.*
*That said, the cultivator essence blood Wang Yuan gave me is quite plentiful. Once I finish refining the Blood Fiend Pills, if there's any left over, I could try this recipe out.*
Smiling faintly, Luo Chen turned a page.
Reading the intricate, ingenious insights recorded within, his eyes lit up.
*To think the Origin Cultivating Hand has such a marvelous application...*
Without realizing it, Luo Chen became completely engrossed.
It was not until crisp footsteps sounded nearby that he reluctantly tore himself away from the brilliant contents of the alchemy tome.
Looking up at the visitor, Luo Chen broke into a radiant smile.
"Fellow Daoist Tao, you've finally returned!"
The newcomer was none other than Tao Yisheng of Azure Pill Valley!
***
Beneath the Warm Sun Tree.
Tao Yisheng sat down, took a sip of the spiritual tea Luo Chen poured for him, and let out a long sigh.
"At last, my ten-year supervisory duty in the Yuanzhao Kingdom is over. Now I can finally concentrate on my cultivation for a while."
Luo Chen looked at him and asked with a smile, "Do sect disciples have that many assignments?"
Tao Yisheng nodded and began pouring out his grievances, laying out the full spectrum of sect duties.
Qi Refinement disciples who failed to reach Foundation Establishment were demoted to the outer sect, burdened daily with endless menial chores.
Even reaching Foundation Establishment did not mean one could rest easy.
There was a minor assignment every three years, and a major one every ten.
These duties were split between internal and external tasks.
Internal tasks mostly involved cultivating medicinal herbs, feeding powerful spiritual beasts, or assisting sect elders in alchemy.
External tasks were even more troublesome.
As a major Golden Core sect, Azure Pill Valley possessed vast external enterprises.
Mines, spiritual herb gardens, shops, guard duty, combat...
All manner of miscellaneous responsibilities meant external tasks were always protracted and tedious.
"After stabilizing my Foundation Establishment realm, I originally wanted to pick an easy internal task and study alchemy in depth."
"Who knew what madness seized my elder sister? She insisted on choosing an external supervisory mission in the Yuanzhao Kingdom on my behalf."
"Sent away for ten entire years!"
"A whole decade—it slowed down my cultivation considerably."
Tao Yisheng wore a crestfallen expression, clearly detesting that supervisory duty.
Luo Chen listened quietly and attentively to his venting, playing the role of a faithful listener.
It was no surprise he possessed such patience.
The simple truth was that he needed something from the man.
Tao Yisheng held the key to obtaining high-grade tier-two pills!
During Sima Huiniang's Foundation Establishment celebration, Luo Chen had lacked the opportunity for a detailed conversation due to the bustling crowd and numerous social obligations.
Afterward, Tao Yisheng had needed to make a final trip back to the Yuanzhao Kingdom.
Thus, several months had been delayed.
Now that Tao Yisheng had finally concluded his assignment and agreed to this meeting, Luo Chen was determined not to let the chance slip by.
Tao Yisheng seemed to relish having such an audience, eagerly recounting sect affairs with great enthusiasm.
Although he cried foul over the sect's burdensome assignments, his words nonetheless brimmed with immense pride at being an Azure Pill Valley disciple.
Through their conversation, Luo Chen also learned just how formidable Azure Pill Valley was within the Jade Cauldron Domain.
Though it had no Nascent Soul Perfected Person presiding over it, its sheer number of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators far exceeded that of the other five major sects in the domain.
Ice Fort was considered a prominent power, boasting nine Golden Core cultivators.
Yet before Azure Pill Valley, it paled in comparison.
Within Azure Pill Valley, there was a staggering total of fifteen Golden Core cultivators!
Three of them were even late-stage Golden Core great cultivators.
Such a formidable lineup outmatched even the newly ascended Luoyun Sect, falling only a few short of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
A great sect of alchemy was truly not to be underestimated.
Powers like Mount Ailao, with merely five Golden Cores, and Hundred Blossoms Palace, with only three, could hardly be mentioned in the same breath.
Moreover, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Azure Pill Valley was equally jaw-dropping.
A full thousand!
At one point, that number had even surpassed the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Only in recent years, relying on the immense foundations of ruling the vast Jade Cauldron Domain, had the Sword Sect managed to overtake Azure Pill Valley.
Even so, the sheer quantity of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators in Azure Pill Valley ranked among the very best in the entire Jade Cauldron Domain!
Having grasped the strength of Azure Pill Valley, Luo Chen finally understood the source of the undisguised pride permeating Tao Yisheng's every word.
He also understood why Tao Wan had carried an inherent haughtiness on both occasions they met.
They hailed from a prestigious powerhouse!
Yet Luo Chen felt not the slightest aversion toward such pride.
On the contrary, he was delighted.
The more prestigious the background, the better!
Only then would he have a chance to squeeze something valuable out of them.
Perhaps because he had not chatted so freely with a peer in far too long, Tao Yisheng spoke at length before finally pausing.
Raising his teacup, he said with mild embarrassment, "Forgive me for rambling on like this and making a fool of myself before you, Brother Luo."
Luo Chen chuckled and shook his head, then remarked, "Your esteemed sect truly lives up to its name as a great sect of alchemy! With so many cultivators of profound cultivation, I imagine cultivation pills are supplied without limit!"
To his surprise, Tao Yisheng curled his lip.
"The supply is indeed generous, but to say it's without limit is an exaggeration."
Luo Chen frowned slightly. "Oh?"
"It's simple. Pills may be fine, but one must not become greedy. Brother Luo, you are an alchemist yourself, so surely you understand this better than anyone!"
Tao Yisheng spoke offhandedly before adding, "Furthermore, those accepted into Azure Pill Valley possess at least dual spiritual roots. Even the rare few admitted with triple or quadruple roots are taken in solely because they possess special physical constitutions."
"Such people are naturally endowed with exceptional talent."
"Paired with a tier-two spiritual land, their cultivation speed is hardly slow."
Luo Chen remained puzzled. "Yet with so many great cultivators in your sect, could they truly rely entirely on bitter cultivation?"
Noticing Luo Chen's persistent probing and how the conversation kept steering toward pills, Tao Yisheng finally caught on.
Recalling what his sister Tao Wan had mentioned previously, a knowing smile touched his lips.
"Brother Luo, are you asking about high-grade pills?"
Luo Chen nodded candidly.
With all the groundwork already laid, both men knew what was at stake. There was no need to beat around the bush any longer.
Tao Yisheng chuckled slyly. "True disciples like us are allotted one bottle of superior-grade Soaring Dragon Pills each year, but that is the strict limit."
"Only late-stage great cultivators receive a steady supply of Soaring Dragon Pills, and even then, it is barely enough for their own needs."
At these words, Luo Chen's heart sank like a lead weight.
His purpose in befriending Tao Yisheng had been to secure a steady supply of high-grade pills through the siblings.
Yet Tao Yisheng's words implied that even a late Foundation Establishment great cultivator like Tao Wan received an extremely limited quantity of high-grade pills.
Under such circumstances, how could she have any surplus for him?
In her shoes, anyone would satisfy their own cultivation needs before considering others!
Seeing Luo Chen's darkened expression, Tao Yisheng seemed unbothered.
He casually remarked, "Still, it's not entirely impossible to obtain a substantial quantity of high-grade pills."
"How so?"
Luo Chen's eyes lit up instantly!
Yet Tao Yisheng deftly avoided the topic, pivoting to another matter entirely.
"During our past few meetings, I noticed Brother Luo possesses a remarkably profound understanding of the Dao of Alchemy."
"Having some free time lately, I would love to seek your guidance."
"I wonder if Brother Luo would be willing to instruct me?"
Luo Chen stared squarely at him.
Was offering instruction in alchemy the condition for securing high-grade pills?
Pressing his lips together, Luo Chen offered a radiant smile.
"I wouldn't dare claim to instruct. As an esteemed disciple of an alchemy sect, Fellow Daoist surely possesses profound insights."
"We would merely be exchanging insights to advance together!"
Tao Yisheng clapped his hands in approval. "Splendid!"
***
Late at night.
Having concluded their discussion, Luo Chen returned to his dwelling.
The genial smile on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a sullen grimace.
It was not that he was dissatisfied with the Tao siblings.
Rather, the man had played a game of push and pull over his terms, refusing to state them plainly.
This left Luo Chen deeply frustrated.
When it came to cultivation, he vastly preferred straightforwardness and frank speaking.
Otherwise, the time wasted was simply too precious.
He could not afford such delays!
"Master, dinner is ready..."
Bai Meiling's voice cut off abruptly.
Catching sight of Luo Chen's dark countenance, she realized he was in a foul mood and paused timidly by the doorway, not daring to step closer.
Seeing that he had frightened her, Luo Chen forced an awkward smile.
"Bring it out first. I'll go wash my hands and join you shortly."
*A cultivator needs to wash his hands?*
Bai Meiling tilted her head, thoroughly perplexed.
Walking over to the spiritual spring within the dwelling, Luo Chen crouched down and splashed water onto his face.
As the cool water chilled his skin, his mind seemed to calm down as well.
*My endeavors have flourished lately, and I hold a beauty in my embrace. It seems I became too carried away.*
*Procuring high-grade pills was never going to be easy.*
*I shouldn't have been so impatient!*
Having regained his composure, Luo Chen returned to the dining table.
Reflecting on the daytime conversation, he gave his head a firm shake.
In several respects, his handling had been too rigid.
Even his expression and tone had lacked finesse.
That was a mistake.
*The road of cultivation is long.*
*One must seize every moment, yet haste makes waste.*
*Since he chose to parry rather than outright refuse, they must want something from me!*
*No rush. No rush.*
*Let me play this game of give and take with him; sooner or later, I will find their pressure point.*
Luo Chen took a deep breath, completely dispersing his restless irritation.
The Ice God Jade hanging around his neck radiated occasional cool currents, gradually restoring his steadfast calm.
Enjoying the savory dishes, he turned over every word Tao Yisheng had spoken.
*I'll see what kind of game you two are playing!*
Chapter 318