Chapter 76: The Bright Moon Discussion

Ten days is not a long time, but it is certainly not short either.

During these ten days, Luo Chen, apart from his daily practice of the Eternal Spring Technique and taking two Qi Nourishing Pills, put aside all other matters.

He did not practice any spells, did not engage in any battles, and rarely went out to visit others.

Qin Liangchen and the others only saw Luo Chen moping around at home all day, fiddling with something.

Occasionally, there would be a few explosions.

They did not know what Luo Chen was doing, but the restless atmosphere within the Broken Mountain Gang grew increasingly intense.

Establishing a Pill Hall!

This was undoubtedly a major and shocking event!

Since ancient times, among the four major arts of cultivation—pill, array, weapon, and talisman—pill-making has always been ranked first.

This is because it is difficult to enter the field, the cultivation conditions are strict, and it requires a huge investment.

Even if a true alchemist is cultivated, without suitable mainline pills, they often can only meet internal needs and cannot generate external profits.

Therefore, only sects have been able to cultivate alchemists and establish institutions like Pill Halls.

Some large cultivation families, when they encounter clan members with alchemical talent, will try to cultivate one or two.

Famous alchemists are almost never itinerant cultivators; they all come from major sects and families.

Now, the gang leader has revealed that the Broken Mountain Gang is about to establish a Pill Hall.

What does this mean?

It means that Uncle Mi Hua has somehow recruited an alchemist!

An alchemist!

If one has an alchemist in their own family, the pills they produce would naturally be prioritized for internal use.

If they are related to cultivation, that would be the best.

Even if they are not, as long as they can be sold, everyone can benefit to some extent.

It can be said that once the Broken Mountain Gang establishes a Pill Hall, its future development will only get better and better.

When new members are hesitant about joining, just the fact that the gang has an alchemist can make them decide to join.

Therefore, during this period, any matters related to the establishment of the Pill Hall within the Broken Mountain Gang were almost all approved without any obstacles.

A new hall was rapidly taking shape, with its own territory, personnel, magical tools, and even some supply channels.

After ten days, Luo Chen emerged from seclusion.

Dusty and with bloodshot eyes, his originally handsome face now looked quite haggard.

Even the corners of his Daoist robe were scorched.

Seeing this, Murong Qinglian said with concern, "Are you okay? Why have you pushed yourself so hard?"

"It's nothing, just some setbacks and failures that are part of the alchemy process," Luo Chen waved his hand, looking at the three people waiting outside and estimating the time.

"Is it today?"

"Yes, it's today."

Luo Chen's lips curled up, "Then let's go!"

This was Luo Chen's second time visiting the main headquarters of the Broken Mountain Gang.

Apart from the first celebration banquet, he had mostly been going to the Slanting Moon Valley.

The Medicine Hall was located there, and it was said that the Pill Hall was also being built in the Slanting Moon Valley.

The reason given for not building the Pill Hall at the headquarters was that the Slanting Moon Valley was safer and more suitable for alchemy.

Luo Chen did not comment on this.

He let them make the initial decisions.

But the next step would be a more detailed and meticulous process.

When they entered the Bright Moon Hall, almost everyone had returned from outside.

This was the first time Luo Chen faced all the important members of the Broken Mountain Gang.

The four elders, Wang Yuan, Qin Liangchen, Luo Wudi, and Sikong Shoujia.

The eight hall leaders: the sick tiger Zeng Wen of the Combat Hall, the dragon coiled tiger Yang Wei of the Dragon Hall, and Luo Wudi, who also served as an elder. Murong Qinglian of the Medicine Hall, Ke Yuelin of the Beast Hall, Zhang Shicong of the Mining Hall, Mi Junping of the Merit Hall, and the newly established Jiao Hall leader, Wang Yuan.

If the upcoming Pill Hall and its future leader, himself, were included,

Then these eleven people would become the highest-ranking and most powerful members of the Broken Mountain Gang.

Of course, above these eleven, there was the highest-ranking and most powerful cultivator, the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Uncle Mi Hua.

The originally noisy Bright Moon Hall instantly fell silent when Luo Chen and his group entered.

"Ha ha, let's welcome the Pill Hall leader, the alchemist Luo Chen!"

With a loud laugh, Uncle Mi Hua stood up first.

The others also stood up, showing Luo Chen the greatest respect.

Luo Chen smiled and returned their greetings, his eyes almost recording everyone's expressions at that moment.

Wang Yuan frowned, Qin Liangchen and his wife were kind, Zeng Wen winked.

Long Pan Hu Yang Wei sized him up, Zhang Shicong of the Mining Hall.

Luo Wudi and Sikong Shoujia of the Beast Hall looked doubtful, as did Ke Yuelin.

Mi Junping showed no change in expression, standing quietly beside Uncle Mi Hua.

There were many different expressions, but none were unfriendly.

In fact, in the absence of direct conflict, anyone would be friendly to an alchemist.

Just one glance, and Luo Chen felt confident.

"Little Luo's alchemy skills are indeed not of high caliber. Today, to have everyone go to such lengths, I am truly flattered!"

He humbly said, but his actions were very natural as he sat down in the last chair.

Seeing this, Uncle Mi Hua nodded slightly, indicating that Luo Chen had temporarily accepted his new identity.

He gestured for everyone to sit down and then spoke about the meeting's agenda.

"The Pill Hall must be established. It cannot be avoided."

"Think about it, two thousand brothers in the Broken Mountain Gang, hungry and cold, practicing cultivation by sitting in meditation, not even able to take a single Qi Nourishing Pill."

"So, a Broken Mountain Gang with a Pill Hall is a complete Broken Mountain Gang. A Broken Mountain Gang with an alchemist is a true place for cultivation!"

"Without a Pill Hall, what distinguishes us from ordinary gangs?"

"Now, everything is in disarray, but even a sparrow, though small, must have all its organs. Only then can we go further!"

Everyone listened with smiles, familiar with the old man's way of speaking.

They knew the main points always came after the pleasantries.

"Little Luo, I am very confident in giving you the Pill Hall. After all, you are a genius who can refine middle-grade pills, and you will surely become famous in the Jade Peak Domain!"

Even though everyone had known this news for a long time, they still admired him greatly.

Middle-grade pills, not bought, but refined by himself.

Luo Chen quickly waved his hands, "Gang leader, the middle-grade pills I refined are just a matter of practice. I cannot be called an alchemy genius."

Uncle Mi Hua smiled kindly.

"Practice is different. You can refine middle-grade pills alone. With the support of the entire Broken Mountain Gang, refining high-grade pills will be a breeze."

Luo Chen looked distressed, "But the pills I refine have no benefit for cultivation!"

Uncle Mi Hua still smiled.

"How can they have no benefit? Your Fasting Powder allows the brothers to hunt demon beasts and gather heavenly treasures more confidently. Your Wondrous Pill is wonderful, selling for a large amount of spirit stones, allowing the brothers to buy magical tools and pills."

Luo Chen looked bitter, "Spirit stones are hard to earn, and life is hard! I have been cultivating for so many years and am only at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation, living a precarious life."

"Don't worry about that!" Uncle Mi Hua waved his hand, "After becoming the Pill Hall leader, the gang will give you a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills every month to solve your cultivation worries!"

A bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills is one hundred low-grade spirit stones.

This treatment was much better than that of the maids and servants in the city's major shops.

The only ones who could compare were probably the female cultivators at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion who earned their living by their skills.

Luo Chen sighed, "Unfortunately, I have a five-element constitution, and a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills will have little effect."

What a joke, I can refine two Qi Nourishing Pills a day now.

You give me a bottle a month, which is only enough for five days. Who are you fooling?

Uncle Mi Hua's expression faltered.

Elder Sikong Shoujia, beside him, laughed, "A bottle is indeed a bit less. How about two bottles? If you save, it will last a month."

After saying this, he looked at Luo Chen kindly.

"Little Luo, as an itinerant cultivator, you probably didn't have many Qi Nourishing Pills a month. Two bottles is quite a lot!"

This should be the limit!

Fine, the key is not here.

Luo Chen bowed, "Elder Sikong, I am grateful. I have no objections!"

Hearing this, not only Sikong Shoujia and Uncle Mi Hua, but everyone else also breathed a sigh of relief.

Two bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills a month was not a big deal for these ninth-layer Qi Condensation experts.

"Little Luo, if you have any concerns, feel free to speak up," Uncle Mi Hua said, "We cannot let you suffer for refining pills for the gang."

"Suffer?"

"I am not suffering!"

"I am afraid I will make everyone suffer!" Luo Chen said with deep concern.

Everyone was stunned, even Qin Liangchen, who knew Luo Chen's plan, was taken aback.

What suffering?

With a new Pill Hall, the gang will have a stable source of income.

This is much safer than going into the mountains to find food.

Everyone would be happy, how could they suffer?

In front of everyone, Luo Chen looked tragic, touching his chest and said, "I have a low-quality constitution and will likely never break through to Foundation Establishment, living no more than 121 years. A high-level cultivator once passed by my village and said I was born with a deficiency and would only live to be 60 or 70 years old."

"Ah, I can hardly imagine what will happen when I die young. After the gang gets used to me refining pills for everyone, how will they accept this reality?"

"Ah!"

"This—"

"Impossible!"

"You look quite energetic, uh, not very energetic, did you not sleep well last night?"

Luo Chen's bloodshot eyes and haggard face were not very energetic.

To say he had a short lifespan was somewhat believable.

"So, Luo Chen, are you thinking of writing a will?"

The speaker was Ke Yuelin, the Beast Hall leader and Qin Liangchen's sworn brother.

Luo Chen's face stiffened, "You write a will, your whole family should write a will."

He reined in his exaggerated emotions and said seriously, "I need longevity items, whether they are heavenly treasures, pills, or even cultivation methods."

When he said this, everyone visibly fell silent.

Luo Chen continued, "The Eastern Wasteland has abundant resources. There must be longevity items within. I know that three years ago, our gang found a six-leaf Heavenly Emperor Lotus."

A six-leaf Heavenly Emperor Lotus, one leaf for ten years, six leaves for sixty years of longevity.

Uncle Mi Hua blinked, "That was just a rumor. It was only two leaves. And when we got it, it was bought by two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Spirit Medicine Pavilion and the Hundred Herbs Hall for a high price."

"I don't care about the past. If we encounter it in the future, it must be given to me first."

Luo Chen clapped his hands and stood up suddenly.

Looking at his tall and sturdy figure, everyone remained silent.

This was not something to be promised lightly.

Longevity items were extremely valuable.

In the face of high-level cultivators with urgent needs, they were not even worth measuring in spirit stones.

Uncle Mi Hua's extra Foundation Establishment Pill was said to have been exchanged for that two-leaf Heavenly Emperor Lotus.

You, a mere fifth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator, have the nerve to ask for this?

You dare to ask for this?

Gradually, some people's expressions turned unfriendly.

In short, they had not seen the profits from the Pill Hall and could not make such a significant promise.

After a long time, Uncle Mi Hua said softly, "We will discuss this later. You are in the prime of your life, and you may still break through to Foundation Establishment and live for two hundred years."

After saying this, he added,

"Young people should have aspirations and not lose faith in the Dao."

Old man, you are really cunning!

I don't believe you.

Luo Chen looked distressed, standing up and revealing himself to everyone.

"Fine, I was being unrealistic and causing everyone trouble."

"Then I will make another unreasonable request, and I hope everyone will consider it."

Under everyone's gaze, he said heavily, "I want half of the profits from the pills!"

(End of Chapter)