The two of them spoke boldly and promoted energetically. Zhang Erdog especially used his full strength, employing his ultimate flattery technique. Although this drew a crowd of many disciples, they merely glanced once, then left with expressions of disdain.
This left Zhang Erdog and the others feeling helpless. Were these outer sect disciples really so unwilling to believe in Wuming Peak?
The Sect Leader possessed supreme pill-refining skills. It should have been a great honor for these junior outer sect disciples to receive pills from him, yet now they all seemed reluctant, which enraged Zhang Erdog so much that his face turned bright red.
“I know about Wuming Peak, but what’s this about refining a pill from just three ingredients?”
“He must be bluffing. The Grand Elder of the Pill Cauldron Peak once said that being able to refine a pill from three ingredients is already extremely lucky. Look at their banner—it seems like they’re guaranteeing success.”
“I think I’ll just gather more ingredients. I don’t want to waste all the materials I’ve painstakingly collected.”
“It says they only charge a tenth as labor fees, which sounds good, but who knows if it’s real or just a scam.”
“Nowadays, anyone dares to call themselves a pill-refining master. I think I’ll just go to Pill Cauldron Peak and have Brother Li refine my pills.”
…
Seeing how these outer sect disciples didn’t believe in their Sect Leader, Zhang Erdog naturally became anxious. “Hey, hey, don’t talk nonsense! Our Sect Leader’s pill-refining skills are among the best. The Sect Leader understands how hard it is for you all to gather materials, so he’s come out of seclusion to refine pills for you. You’d better seize this opportunity!”
“Hmph, stop trying to fool us. Who in the outer sect doesn’t know about Wuming Peak? Isn’t it just a mountain the Sect Leader gave as a reward? When it comes to pill-refining skills, do you really think you can compare with the seniors from Pill Cauldron Peak?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“It might cost a bit more at Pill Cauldron Peak, but at least you can guarantee a successful refinement. Can your Wuming Peak guarantee that?” one outer sect disciple said with a smile.
At Pill Cauldron Peak, sometimes ten sets of ingredients were needed to produce one batch of pills, but they could indeed guarantee a successful refinement.
But no one really knew Wuming Peak. If they handed over their materials and no pills were produced, what then? Could they really just destroy Wuming Peak?
Zhang Erdog and Feng Buju were furious at these outer sect disciples who doubted their Sect Leader’s pill-refining skills.
The Sect Leader was so kind as to offer to refine pills for them, yet none of them believed him.
“Senior Brother, forget it. The Sect Leader’s willingness to refine pills for them is already a great blessing. Since they don’t believe him, it’s better for the Sect Leader to rest properly. One day, they’ll deeply regret this,” Feng Buju said.
“Hmph,” Zhang Erdog, though feeling resentful, didn’t want to say more. He then ignored the outer sect disciples’ gossip and continued promoting.
…
Meanwhile, at Pill Cauldron Peak.
Li Shun had been extremely busy lately. Those disciples had finally come back to him for pill refining, bringing their materials obediently.
One particular case was especially profitable for Li Shun.
Twenty sets of materials for refining Speed Essence Pills. When he reached the seventh set, he got extremely lucky and successfully refined a batch—what a great profit!
Then with the remaining thirteen sets, he succeeded again. This extra batch of Speed Essence Pills not only belonged entirely to him, but he would also take a large portion of the first batch.
In short, it was a huge profit.
Just after refining a batch of pills, Li Shun took a brief rest. A young boy who played the flute beside him served tea, massaged his shoulders, and gave him a back rub.
“Senior Brother, I just heard some disciples saying that someone at Wuming Peak is also refining pills, claiming they can produce a batch with only three sets of materials and charging only a tenth as labor fees,” the flute-playing boy gently massaged his senior brother’s shoulders.
Having followed his senior brother for many years, he clearly knew what kind of gossip his senior brother liked to hear.
Sure enough, Li Shun, resting with his eyes half-closed, revealed a sneer on his lips.
“Merely seeking attention.”
“Senior Brother, I think they’re just seeking attention too. Pill refining isn’t like other things—it’s not that easy. Even the Grand Elder said that successfully refining a batch from three sets of materials is already extremely lucky.”
“Although these herbs have the same medicinal properties, their strengths vary. The furnace temperature differs greatly, and the moisture content in each herb is different too. To successfully refine a batch of pills requires careful observation,” the flute-playing boy softly explained.
“Mm,” Li Shun slightly nodded with his eyes still half-closed.
He was quite satisfied with this flute-playing boy. In the past, when he went on long journeys to search for rare herbs, which lasted for months, the journey was not only arduous but also lonely. With heavy labor involved, having a boy servant was essential.
“Senior Brother, should we go to Wuming Peak and give them a warning?” the flute-playing boy asked.
“No need. Let them be. If any disciples really get scammed, they’ll naturally learn the lesson themselves—that without real skill, one shouldn’t dare to refine pills.”
…
As the sun set in the west.
Zhang Erdog and Feng Buju had no success all day. Not a single disciple believed them; most were just curious onlookers.
But later, Zhang Erdog somewhat understood them. After all, Wuming Peak was unknown and obscure. Suddenly claiming to refine pills, especially with such an extremely high success rate promised by the Sect Leader, naturally scared away disciples from trying.
As the sky gradually darkened, Zhang Erdog prepared to carry the big banner and return with his junior brother to report.
This day had been a complete waste.
He didn’t know whether he should come again tomorrow to promote further.
“Sigh…”
Zhang Erdog and Feng Buju sighed deeply, showing their helplessness.
“Senior Brothers, is it really possible to refine a batch of pills from just three sets of materials?” Just as Zhang Erdog and Feng Buju were about to leave, a faint, timid voice came from behind.
Instantly, Zhang Erdog and Feng Buju stopped their actions and looked up joyfully.
“Of course.”
Mao Xiaoxiao was a servant disciple. In the morning, while delivering something for an outer sect senior brother, he had seen the pill-refining situation here.
When he saw the favorable conditions, Mao Xiaoxiao was somewhat tempted. However, this temptation only lasted a few moments before he hid aside, too afraid to step forward. The pills he needed to refine were simply too embarrassing to show.
Seeing how the outer sect senior brothers distrusted Wuming Peak, he had hesitated in his heart.
But this hesitation only lasted a short while before disappearing. Because if he wanted pills, he could only have them refined here.
“Junior Brother, what kind of pill do you plan to refine?” Zhang Erdog smiled and asked.
Mao Xiaoxiao looked at Zhang Erdog, slightly nervous. “Senior Brother, I’m just a servant disciple. I haven’t been in the Holy Sect for long, and the materials I prepared aren’t anything valuable. I want to refine a batch of Qi & Blood Pills. Here are three sets of materials. Senior Brother, do you think it’s okay?”
Mao Xiaoxiao took out three herbs from his inner clothing. These herbs were ones he had accidentally obtained and had been keeping close to his body. For Mao Xiaoxiao, these three herbs were already his most precious possessions.
Qi & Blood Pills were relatively low-grade pills, yet extremely important for servant disciples.
Before reaching the Later Heaven stage, one could take Qi & Blood Pills to enhance one’s blood and energy. Even after reaching the Later Heaven stage, these pills still had significant effects.
For servant disciples, although the sect provided certain pill subsidies, such resources were extremely scarce. Servant disciples were outer sect members responsible for attending to the daily lives of inner sect disciples. Among servant disciples, very few could break through to the Pre-Heaven realm, and upon achieving this, they could officially become outer sect disciples.
Each year, the Holy Sect would recruit disciples. Those with poor talent were usually assigned to the servant disciples, while those with better talent could be promoted to outer sect disciples or even chosen by the Nine Grand Elders to join their peaks.
Zhang Erdog and Feng Buju showed slight disappointment in their eyes. They hadn’t expected the requested pills to be this low-grade.
But well, this was their first business deal. How could they possibly refuse?
“Sure, Junior Brother, don’t worry. We’ll take your materials. Tomorrow morning, we’ll still be here. You can come to collect your pills then,” Zhang Erdog said.
“Thank you, Senior Brothers.” Mao Xiaoxiao’s face immediately lit up with a smile.
He didn’t know pill refining techniques, and the seniors at Pill Cauldron Peak wouldn’t refine Qi & Blood Pills for him. In their eyes, Qi & Blood Pills were considered low-grade, and refining them would be a waste of time.
“No thanks needed. Go back now. We also need to return to the mountain to report,” Zhang Erdog waved his hand.
“Yes, Senior Brothers, see you later.” At this moment, Mao Xiaoxiao felt a great weight lifted from his heart. He never doubted for a moment that the seniors might keep his materials for themselves, because although these materials were perhaps very important to him, to the seniors, they were practically useless.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage