Translator: CinderTL
Three days later, Song Wen erged from the Pill Refining Chamber to find Shu Niang waiting outside.
Shu Niang respectfully bowed. "Greetings, Vice Hall Master. Forty-three alchemists are waiting in the Great Hall. Among them, there are thirty-seven First-Tier Alchemists and six Second-Tier Alchemists."
Song Wen nodded approvingly. "Well done."
"Vice Hall Master flatters . Please, co this way!" Shu Niang’s eyes lit up slightly as she gestured toward the exit.
Song Wen stepped forward, leading the way. They soon arrived at the Great Hall.
Inside, a group of cultivators were already waiting. Upon seeing Song Wen and Shu Niang erge from the corridor, they imdiately rushed forward.
"Greetings, Vice Hall Master."
Song Wen’s gaze swept across the crowd, confirming that the number of cultivators matched Shu Niang’s report.
"I assu you all already know why you’ve been summoned, so I won’t repeat the details. Those among you who cannot refine the Ghost Shadow Pill or the Soul Return Pill, please leave now. Additionally, those whose Ghost Shadow Pill success rate is below 60% or whose Soul Return Pill success rate is below 50%, please also depart. If anyone with poor alchemical skills insists on staying and participating in Pill Refinent, wasting the sect’s Spirit Herbs, don’t bla for being ruthless."
As Song Wen’s words fell silent, no one retreated. However, a male cultivator in the middle stage of Foundation Establishnt stepped forward.
The man was dressed like a refined young master, but a hint of frivolity lingered between his brows. His complexion was deathly pale, radiating an unnatural, sickly aura.
"Junior ng Cao greets Vice Hall Master Gou Jun. Reporting to the Vice Hall Master, I have never refined the Ghost Shadow Pill or the Soul Return Pill before, but I am quite interested in both pills. I humbly request the Vice Hall Master to grant an opportunity to try."
How dare a re Foundation Establishnt cultivator openly defy the rules he had just laid down? Song Wen’s expression imdiately darkened.
"If you don’t want to die, get out this instant."
ng Cao remained unfazed by Song Wen’s stern rebuke. He continued to clasp his hands in a respectful bow.
"Reporting to the Vice Hall Master, my mother, ng Lengyu, is the Hall Master of Zhenbao Hall. I beg the Vice Hall Master to consider my mother’s reputation and allow to participate in the refinent of the Ghost Shadow Pill and the Soul Return Pill."
Song Wen turned his head, casting an inquiring gaze at Shu Niang beside him.
She gave a slight nod.
Instantly, a smile forced its way onto Song Wen’s icy face.
"So you are ng Hall Master’s son. No wonder you carry yourself with such confidence. Since you are eager to participate in the refinent of the Ghost Shadow Pill and the Soul Return Pill, I will grant you this opportunity. In the future, if you have any questions about Pill Refinent, you may co to for guidance."
"Thank you, Vice Hall Master," ng Cao said with a wide smile, the hint of arrogance in his eyes growing more pronounced.
Song Wen shifted his gaze from ng Cao and announced loudly, "For this sect mission, we require 30,000 Ghost Shadow Pills. Each pill will earn you one low-grade Spirit Stone. This task will be handled by the thirty-seven First-Tier alchemists among you. Additionally, we need 5,000 Soul Return Pills, each earning six low-grade Spirit Stones. This will be completed by the six Second-Tier alchemists. The allocation of specific quantities will be decided through your own negotiations. Rember, this mission has a one-year deadline. Don’t be overly ambitious. Don’t take on more than you can handle just to earn Spirit Stone rewards."
"We will obey the Vice Hall Master’s orders," the crowd responded in unison.
Song Wen turned to Shu Niang. "From now on, you will work by my side."
Shu Niang had been eagerly currying favor, and Song Wen knew she had her own agenda. It was clear she was seeking a powerful patron.
Shu Niang’s eyes lit up with excitent. "This subordinate will dedicate her life to serving the Vice Hall Master."
Song Wen handed her his identity token. "Once they’ve agreed on their individual pill refinent quotas, take them to the Zhenbao Hall to collect the Spirit Herbs they need. But don’t take everything at once—stagger the withdrawals."
Shu Niang said, "Rest assured, Vice Hall Master. I understand."
Song Wen turned and returned to the Pill Refining Chamber.
For the next month, Song Wen spent most of his ti refining Ghost Force Pills.
For him, refining Ghost Force Pills was incredibly easy. He succeeded in condensing pills on his second attempt.
Moreover, from ten sets of Spirit Herbs, he produced a total of eight batches, yielding thirty pills.
In his spare ti, Song Wen also strolled through the Alchemy Hall, familiarizing himself with the place.
One day, in a Second-class Alchemy Room, ng Cao gazed at the two Yin Energy-laden pills lying in his furnace, his face flushed with ecstatic joy.
"I’ve finally succeeded in refining the Soul Return Pill!"
Song Wen stood beside him, a gentle smile on his face, his expression as benevolent as if he were watching his own nephew.
"Congratulations, Young ng."
Yet inwardly, Song Wen felt a deep contempt.
It had taken this First-Tier Alchemist a whole month, with his constant guidance as a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, just to barely succeed in condensing a Soul Return Pill for the first ti.
Such talent could only be described with two words: utterly useless.
During their month-long interaction, Song Wen had also observed that ng Cao was reckless in his actions and excessively fond of won.
Many female disciples in the Alchemy Hall, especially those in the Qi Refining Realm, had fallen victim to his depravity.
However, this man had an inexplicable obsession with alchemy. Unfortunately, his talent for it was so abysmal it was almost painful to watch.
"I must thank Vice Hall Master for your guidance. Without your help, this junior would have struggled to grasp the key principles," ng Cao said, his excitent tempered by a degree of self-awareness.
"It was a minor effort, not worth ntioning," Song Wen replied with a humble smile. Then, changing the subject, he continued, "Young ng, I’ve used up all the Spirit Herbs for my Ghost Force Pill. I plan to go to Zhenbao Hall to collect more. Would you accompany ? I’d also like to et your mother."
"If Vice Hall Master wishes to et my mother, I would be honored to introduce you," ng Cao replied.
The two left the Alchemy Hall and flew through the air to Zhenbao Hall.
As the main repository for the Wu Ji Sect’s treasures, Zhenbao Hall was naturally heavily guarded. The mountain peak it occupied was completely enveloped by a massive array. At the foot of the mountain, outside the array, stood a Great Hall. All Wu Ji Sect disciples who ca to collect treasures were required to stop at this hall and were forbidden from taking a single step onto the mountain.
In addition to its main hall, the Great Hall had two side halls.
Under ng Cao’s guidance, Song Wen arrived at the entrance of a Second-class Alchemy Room in the right hall.
"Niang Qin, your son requests an audience." ng Cao’s voice was filled with genuine respect.
Upon arriving at Zhenbao Hall, the playful deanor that had been on his face vanished completely, replaced by an air of calm composure.
A cold, clear female voice echoed from within the stone chamber.
However, it wasn’t directed at ng Cao.
"Which Fellow Daoist has co to visit?"
"I am Gou Jun, Vice Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall. Having recently joined the sect, I have co to pay my respects to Fellow Daoist ng."
Before Song Wen could finish speaking, the stone door of the chamber slowly creaked open.
A woman of mature beauty stood in the doorway.
"Fellow Daoist, what brings you here?"
ng Lengyu, true to her na, exuded an aura of aloofness that kept others at arm’s length. She remained standing in the doorway, making no move to invite Song Wen inside.
Before Song Wen could respond, ng Cao stepped forward.
"Niang Qin, why are you blocking the door? Vice Hall Master Gou Jun has been very kind to , personally teaching the Pill Refinent Technique. If we treat him poorly, wouldn’t it seem like we lack proper etiquette?"
As he spoke, ng Cao sidestepped his mother and entered the chamber. He suddenly turned back and said to Song Wen, "Vice Hall Master, please, co in quickly."
Only then, reluctantly, did ng Lengyu step aside.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, please enter."
(End of the Chapter)
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