“Fifty Spirit Stones, this price isn't high, in fact, it's very low. Qin Chu, are you sure this isn't a scam? Don't let your concern blind you and fall into someone else's Dao.” Qin Longxuan said.
“Third Uncle, this matter involves Demon Castle, so I won't say much, but its reliability should be fine!” Qin Chu replied.
Since it involved Demon Castle and a promise, Qin Chu didn't want to elaborate.
Qin Longxuan nodded. He was an experienced Jianghu veteran and naturally understood what was going on. Demon Castle's reputation was indeed impeccable, standing firm on the Saint Martial Continent for countless years. Besides its formidable strength, its reputation was also a contributing factor.
After accompanying Qin Longxuan for a pot of tea and listening to him recount some past events of the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, Qin Chu left the canyon of Heavenly Sword Mountain.
Returning to his residence at the Alchemist Guild, Qin Chu Cultivated his swordplay under the night sky. He had heard Qin Longxuan speak of the tragic intensity of the battle back then.
In that battle, half of the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's forces were killed, and the White Tiger Holy Clan and Fiery Thunder Holy Clan also suffered heavy losses. A crucial reason for the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's defeat was that the Fiery Thunder Holy Clan had developed a unique skill to counter the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, the Dark Fiery Thunder Palm, which caused immense damage to those of the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan. Qin Longxuan himself was injured by the Dark Fiery Thunder Palm.
Qin Chu also learned that the reason the Fiery Thunder Holy Clan developed a unique skill to counter the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan was due to a rebellious collateral branch that revealed the characteristics of the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan members to the Fiery Thunder Holy Clan, leading to this targeted approach.
Qin Longxuan asked Qin Chu to visit the canyon again later. He would transcribe the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's unique skill and give it to Qin Chu. He used to be an Enforcement Elder, not managing resources or ancient texts, so he didn't carry any Materials with him, which was also why he had no Spirit Stones.
After Cultivating for a while, Qin Chu returned to his room to meditate. Knowing some news about the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan had a significant impact on his heart.
For the next two days, Qin Chu steadily performed Alchemy and Cultivated.
Upon returning to his residence that day, Qin Chu told Qian Xun not to disturb him, even if he didn't come out the next day.
Hearing Qin Chu's words, Qian Xun understood what was happening; Qin Chu was about to enter secluded Cultivation.
Within the pavilion, in two days, Qin Chu's Cultivation reached Spirit Origin Rank six, and his strength increased further.
Seeing Qin Chu's Cultivation improve, Chu Shan was very happy. Although an Alchemist's pursuit is the improvement of Alchemy, one's own Cultivation Rank also relates to the level of Alchemy.
Pill fire requires Origin Qi Cultivation support. To become a fifth-Rank Alchemist, one must have a fifth-Rank Heavenly Origin Realm Cultivation. This means a fifth-Rank Alchemist must be a Heavenly Origin Realm Cultivator, but a Heavenly Origin Realm Cultivator is not necessarily a fifth-Rank Alchemist.
“Qin Chu, your approach is correct. While improving your Alchemy, your Cultivation must not fall behind. A fourth-Rank Alchemist and a fifth-Rank Alchemist are completely different concepts!” Chu Shan said, looking at Qin Chu.
“Isn't it just one Rank difference?” Qin Chu poured a cup of tea for Chu Shan from the teapot.
“Haha, your thinking is too simple. If you are a fourth-Rank Alchemist, you can only gain the respect of Cultivators of fourth-Rank and below, not higher-Rank Cultivators, because the Medicinal Pills you refine don't offer much help to them personally; at most, they help those around them. But if you are a fifth-Rank Alchemist, it's different. Will fifth-Rank Cultivators need to consider your feelings?” Chu Shan analyzed the reasoning for Qin Chu.
Qin Chu nodded, “The improvement of Cultivation cannot be neglected!”
“That's natural, never neglect the improvement of Cultivation.” Chu Shan reminded Qin Chu before leaving the Pill Chamber. Having laid out the reasoning for Qin Chu, he believed Qin Chu would understand the implications.
Qin Chu pondered for a moment and felt that Chu Shan's reasoning was very practical. Although it was only a one-Rank difference, the underlying principles were different. Currently, there is an insatiable demand for top-grade Spirit Origin Pills in the market, so what about top-grade Heavenly Origin Pills? Their value would be even higher!
However, Qin Chu also knew that as his own level continuously increased, the improvement of Cultivation became increasingly difficult. Previously, he could advance one Rank in a month, but now the time required was more than double, because the energy needed was too vast, and time and resources were both indispensable.
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Chu continued with Alchemy. He wanted to earn more resources; resources were always good things.
After two more busy days, Qin Chu put away his Pill Furnace and went to Demon Castle. He wanted to know how Demon Castle had arranged things, whether he could earn Spirit Stones by helping Demon Castle refine Medicinal Pills.
When Qin Chu arrived at Demon Castle, the silver-cloaked Enforcement Officer Guan appeared.
“Enforcement Officer Guan, I wonder if you have inquired whether I can earn Spirit Stones by performing Alchemy.” Qin Chu directly stated his purpose.
“You can! However, the ratio is quite large: for first-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills and second-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills, you get one Spirit Stone for refining a thousand bottles; for third-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills and fourth-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills, you get one Spirit Stone for three hundred bottles.” Enforcement Officer Guan told Qin Chu.
Very steep! Qin Chu knew this was completely manual labor, but Spirit Stones were hard to come by. Given that fourth-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills couldn't even be exchanged for Spirit Stones, being able to earn Spirit Stones through Alchemy was already good. He knew this might even be the result of Enforcement Officer Guan looking out for him.
“I'll do it!” Qin Chu nodded. For the Flesh Ganoderma, he had to do it. If both Pill Furnaces were operating simultaneously, his refining speed wouldn't be slow.
“Alright then, you can come tomorrow! This Enforcement Officer will prepare the Pill Chamber and Materials for you, and can even arrange an assistant to help you sort the Materials!” Enforcement Officer Guan said.
Qin Chu nodded. Qian Xun was his assistant, but Demon Castle certainly wouldn't allow Qian Xun to enter.
Leaving Demon Castle, Qin Chu breathed a sigh of relief. If he could earn Spirit Stones, then let Demon Castle get a good deal! In fact, it couldn't really be considered a good deal for them, as they were providing Spirit Stones.
Returning to the Alchemist Guild, Qin Chu Cultivated all night. In the morning, after Cultivating swordplay for a while, Qin Chu stopped Qian Xun, who was about to go to the Pill Chamber.
“Brother, I will be away for half a month to a month. During this time, you'll have to navigate the Jianghu on your own.” Qin Chu said, looking at Qian Xun.
“Can't you take me with you? You don't hide anything from me!” Qian Xun said.
Qin Chu shook his head, “It's not that I'm hiding it from you; the rules don't allow it.”
After a brief thought, Qian Xun understood. Qin Chu had been to Demon Castle, and now talking about rules, it must be related to Demon Castle.
Subsequently, Qin Chu told Chu Shan that he would be leaving for a while, then left the Alchemist Guild and went to Demon Castle.
Enforcement Officer Guan led Qin Chu into the underground palace, to a Pill Chamber, where a veiled woman was already present.
“This is your assistant. Refine five thousand bottles each of first-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills and second-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills, and three thousand bottles each of third-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills and fourth-Rank top-grade Medicinal Pills.” Enforcement Officer Guan told Qin Chu.
Calculating the quantity, Qin Chu looked at Enforcement Officer Guan in surprise, because the Spirit Stones he would earn were almost exactly the amount he needed.