Chapter 52

Wang Rulong, with an air of righteousness, said, "Of course! The Earth Fire Hall has at least five such scale brawls every month on average. Most of the time, it's due to differing opinions on forging or alchemy techniques, so they end up fighting. Of course, the distribution of spirit medicines is also a major issue."

"I remember the largest-scale brawl in the Earth Fire Hall was twenty years ago. At that time, the Earth Fire Hall held a discussion meeting, but they couldn't agree on anything, and it eventually escalated into a massive brawl. Everyone was dragged into it, and they all ended up with bruised noses and swollen faces. Even the Heaven-Seizing Elder was beaten up pretty badly..."

Hu Donghan felt dizzy just listening to this—how could the Heaven-Seizing Elder, a Core Formation realm powerhouse, actually participate in such brawls and get beaten up?

Heaven! Since joining the Earth Fire Hall, Hu Donghan felt that the value system he had established in the Yin Soul Sect was rapidly collapsing.

"Even the Heaven-Seizing Elder gets beaten up?" Hu Donghan muttered, still disbelieving.

Wang Rulong laughed and said, "Of course! Who else but the Heaven-Seizing Elder picks the best spirit medicines for himself? In the Earth Fire Hall, low-grade spirit medicines are fine, but high-grade and top-grade spirit medicines are in short supply! There are actually several others with remarkable alchemy skills, just like the Heaven-Seizing Elder. When the best things are all taken by the Heaven-Seizing Elder, they naturally have complaints. That's the public brawls. When there are fewer people, the Heaven-Seizing Elder can also get beaten up..."

"However, to fight the Heaven-Seizing Elder, one must have a certain level of alchemy skills. There was once a newly joined alchemy disciple in the Earth Fire Hall who, hearing that brawls were allowed, went to fight the Elder. He was beaten half to death by the Elder and the people from the third level, and then expelled from the Earth Fire Hall. Later, the Law Enforcement Hall got involved, and the fool was severely punished and is still locked up in the Yin Wind Cave..."

"Of course, as long as your alchemy skills are on par with the other person, no one will really care about the brawls. As for grudges? There are no real grudges within the entire Earth Fire Hall. Most people forget about the fights after they're over. You could say it's just a way for us to pass the time..."

Although Wang Rulong's explanation was a bit messy, Hu Donghan still understood it.

From Hu Donghan's perspective, these people were a bunch of tech geeks who only cared about skills, not people! Now, Hu Donghan couldn't quite figure out whether joining the Earth Fire Hall was a good or bad thing.

The benefits were obvious—preparing for the Ghost Spirit to refine pills was very easy; his status was equivalent to that in the Law Enforcement Hall, and he had finally shaken off the last shadow of Hu Meier; in the Earth Fire Hall, he could better hide his identity, and no one would investigate minor or major matters.

Of course, there were also drawbacks. His alchemy relied on the Ghost Spirit, not himself, which was a problem. Moreover, his current status was sensitive, and his ability to cultivate spirit medicines might attract the attention of the Heaven-Seizing Elder, who might uncover some secrets...

In short, whether it was good or bad, even Hu Donghan himself couldn't quite figure it out.

"Whatever! No point thinking too much about it. Now that I've joined the Earth Fire Hall, some things are inevitable. Besides, I've already caught the attention of the Heaven-Seizing Elder. If he really wants to investigate me, I probably won't have anywhere to hide..." Hu Donghan thought, shaking off his chaotic thoughts and feeling much lighter.

As they walked out of the Earth Fire Cave and stepped into the inner hall of the Earth Fire Hall, Hu Donghan and Wang Rulong saw a figure flash before them, and it was Bu Yun.

Bu Yun, rubbing the bruises on his face, said, "You two kids really moved fast! How did you get here so quickly?"

Hu Donghan was slightly stunned and then said, "Well... I saw the seniors fighting, so... Senior, are you done fighting?"

"No! I took the chance to run away while they were all fighting! Those damn bastards, they all hit too hard. When I go back, I'll give them a good lesson!"

Bu Yun then threw a jade token and a storage ring to Hu Donghan and said, "Kid, you've just joined the Earth Fire Hall's Alchemy Department. This storage ring contains the standard equipment for Earth Fire Hall alchemy disciples: a low-grade spirit tool alchemy furnace, all non-secret alchemy formulas of the Yin Soul Sect, alchemy disciple attire, identity jade token, responsibility introduction, and a strand of Earth Fire."

"Originally, new alchemy disciples like you should first set up a cave in the first level of the Earth Fire Cave and gradually adapt to the Earth Fire Hall's lifestyle."

"However, since you can cultivate Land Node Grass, you'll have to take a bit of a loss and go to the Spirit Medicine Mountain for a while to try to cultivate some Land Node Grass that meets the requirements in the short term."

"Next June, the Yin Soul Sect will hold its fifty-year grand competition. Our Earth Fire Hall must come up with some rewards! If we can refine some Six-Transmutation Golden Pills as rewards before the fifty-year grand competition, it should be enough to boost the enthusiasm of the sect's disciples!"

"Of course, to compensate for your loss, all your Earth Fire Hall contributions will be doubled during the period you cultivate Land Node Grass. The contribution for cultivating Land Node Grass will be calculated as one-tenth of the contribution for refining a Six-Transmutation Golden Pill. This way, you won't be at a loss!"

"Do you understand?"

Bu Yun had explained the reasons for sending Hu Donghan to the Spirit Medicine Mountain clearly, so Hu Donghan naturally had no objections.

Originally, Hu Donghan had planned to return to Stacked Peaks and stay at the Earth Fire Hall's branch there. But now, he realized that wherever he was, the outcome wouldn't be much different. So, it was best to choose the place where he could gain the most benefits.

"I understand." Hu Donghan nodded and agreed.

Then, Bu Yun gritted his teeth and said, "Those bastards, they hit me so hard! I'll get them back!"

With that, Bu Yun disappeared from sight.

Watching Bu Yun disappear, Wang Rulong immediately looked at Hu Donghan with envy and jealousy and said, "Junior Brother Hu, you're really hitting the jackpot! One-tenth of the contribution for a Six-Transmutation Golden Pill, calculated this way, by next June, you'll definitely become an Earth Fire Hall steward!"

"One-tenth of the contribution for a Six-Transmutation Golden Pill, is that a lot? And what's the use of these contributions?" Hu Donghan asked, somewhat confused.

Wang Rulong shook his head and said, "Forget it! I won't explain these things to you. I'm sure Elder Bu Yun's storage ring will have everything clearly explained! Now, let's first confirm your identity as an Earth Fire Hall disciple!"

"By the way, I still have to go to Stacked Peaks to collect spirit medicines! And Junior Brother Hu, remember, you have to save me a portion of the Land Node Grass in the future!"