Chapter 74

The alchemist does not bear any risk, whether the attempt is successful or not; the alchemist must be paid, and will never refine artifacts for free.

— This is the basic rule of the alchemy world.

"I followed Master Yao for some time, and his success rate is quite high, while his failures are few," Qin Lie said.

"Master Yao?" Zhuo Qian had a strange expression. "Let's forget it. In the eyes of true alchemists, he doesn't even make the cut."

"How so?"

"The reason his success rate is high is that he refines artifacts based on his own ideas, rather than according to a martial artist's requirements, realm, physical condition, and cultivation techniques. For example, if a tailor makes a shirt without taking measurements or considering the customer's preferences, and just makes it based on his own ideas, wouldn't such a shirt be easier to make?"

"That's true."

"However, such a shirt, though it is still a shirt, would be uncomfortable for the customer to wear, and might not even fit, right?"

"Right."

"A true alchemist refines artifacts not based on his own ideas, but on the specific martial artist's overall condition, realm, cultivation techniques, physical strength, height, hand size, and even the thickness of the fingers. All these aspects need to be considered!" Zhuo Qian's expression was solemn. "Only then can the refined spirit artifact make the martial artist feel comfortable just by touching it, and use it as if it were a part of their body, greatly enhancing their strength."

Zhuo Qian smiled faintly. "This is true alchemy, and a process that a high-level alchemist must go through. Of course, the possibility of failure is also greater. However, the spirit artifacts refined this way are unique and most suitable for the user, allowing the martial artist to truly unleash their power."

"From what you say, I understand now." Qin Lie nodded lightly, with a thoughtful expression.

"I and Tu Ze did not seek Master Yao for two reasons: one, his rank as an alchemist is not high, and the other, he cannot tailor the most suitable spirit artifacts for us based on our conditions." Zhuo Qian frowned slightly, speaking sincerely. "Qin Lie, I know you have a strong interest in alchemy, but Master Yao... is not a true master. Moreover, he is very secretive about his spirit array diagrams, and you won't learn anything from him."

"That's fine, I'm not trying to steal his spirit array diagrams, hehe." Qin Lie smiled.

"Right. Recently, things outside have been a bit unstable. Be careful and try to stay in the city as much as possible." Zhuo Qian thought for a moment and said, "Don't take on any missions for now. It's too dangerous. Many people have died recently. Not only our Ice Shatter Manor and Star Cloud Pavilion, but even the Crimson Flame Association and Water Moon Sect have been attacked by spirit beasts, resulting in many martial artists' deaths."

Qin Lie was secretly moved. The Crimson Flame Association and Water Moon Sect were also Blue Stone-level forces, not far from Ice Rock City, and located near the Extreme Cold Mountains. He didn't expect them to be attacked by spirit beasts as well.

"What's going on?" he asked in confusion.

"According to the information from the Seng Luo Hall, it seems the Beast King of the Extreme Cold Mountains has changed. The former king of the spirit beasts in the Extreme Cold Mountains was the 'Rock Ice Snow Wolf King,' but for some reason, the 'Rock Ice Snow Wolf King' left the Extreme Cold Mountains and has not been seen for a long time."

Zhuo Qian's expression was serious. "After it left, the spirit beasts in the Extreme Cold Mountains engaged in a bloody competition, and the 'Purple-Eyed Flame Lion King' ascended to the throne. This fierce and violent spirit beast, after ascending, tore up the contract that the 'Rock Ice Snow Wolf King' had made with the surrounding martial artist forces. As a result, many spirit beasts that had long roamed the Extreme Cold Mountains began to leave the mountains, attacking the surrounding lower-level forces with their bloodthirsty mouths."

"This chaos may not end soon. The 'Purple-Eyed Flame Lion King' is likely trying to show its power and force the surrounding martial artist forces to re-establish the contract. I heard that the Seng Luo Hall and Seven Sins Valley have dispatched high-level martial artists to the Extreme Cold Mountains to hunt spirit beasts. They aim to gain an advantage in battle to put pressure on the 'Purple-Eyed Flame Lion King' and secure a favorable position in the new contract."

"So, things will be unstable for a while, and many people will die. The spirit beasts will become more rampant. Until the new contract is established, the battles will continue. The Ice Shatter Manor, Star Cloud Pavilion, Crimson Flame Association, Water Moon Sect, and other Blue Stone-level forces in the surrounding areas will be drawn into the conflict, and will be arranged by the Seng Luo Hall and Seven Sins Valley to engage in large-scale battles with the spirit beasts."

Zhuo Qian explained the details, telling him the reason for the recent unrest and advising him to be careful and not to take on any unnecessary missions.

Qin Lie silently took note.

In the following half month, the conflict between spirit beasts and martial artists not only did not subside but intensified, with the battles gradually escalating.

Just in the Star Cloud Pavilion, dozens of people were killed, and many more were injured. Every time Qin Lie went to Yao Tai, he saw Yao Tai busy repairing spirit artifacts, with no time for his own alchemy.

Elders Du Haitian, Wei Xing, and Chu Yan almost always led their subordinates outside to hunt spirit beasts that appeared near Ice Rock City. They occasionally returned to the Star Cloud Pavilion to replenish food and spirit stones, but their expressions were heavy, and many had obvious injuries. Some never returned.

Even Ye Yangqiu, who was usually only responsible for the Punishment Hall, had to join in under the pressure, and began to hunt nearby spirit beasts.

The附属势力 of the Star Cloud Pavilion, such as the Ling Family, Du Family, and Gao Family, had to temporarily relocate to Ice Rock City to avoid being killed by the spirit beasts.

The various training grounds, sparring rooms, and gravity rooms of the Star Cloud Pavilion suddenly became crowded, with all martial artists diligently practicing.

This was because, with the increasing pressure, the Star Cloud Pavilion had begun to assign missions, and any martial artist in the Star Cloud Pavilion could be required to go on a mission.

Going out meant the risk of death, so the martial artists in the Star Cloud Pavilion were all working hard.

"Two days ago, a commander from the Seng Luo Hall was killed in the Extreme Cold Mountains. The commander was at the mid-stage of the Myriad Phenomena Realm, but was devoured alive by a third-stage 'Iron-Winged Golden-Horned Lizard.' It was truly tragic. A mid-stage Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse was eaten alive by a spirit beast, which is terrifying to think about."

"A late-stage Myriad Phenomena Realm martial artist from the Seven Sins Valley, named Qiu Xudong, didn't kill two third-stage 'Green-Eyed Toads'?"

"Qiu Xudong must be doing well. I heard that the eyes of the 'Green-Eyed Toad' are priceless and are rare treasures for refining high-level spirit artifacts. The teeth and skin of the 'Green-Eyed Toad' are also valuable. This guy has made a huge profit and is truly lucky."

"Only those who survive and can kill high-level spirit beasts can gain great rewards. If you end up like the Seng Luo Hall's commander, being devoured alive by an 'Iron-Winged Golden-Horned Lizard,' it's even more terrifying than death."

"Yes, sigh, with the shortage of manpower, we might also be assigned to go out."

"A bit scary."

"..."

In the direction of the sparring area, a group of martial artists stopped, frowning and talking.

It was Wei Li and Liu Ting's group.

Wei Li and Liu Ting had a certain status in the Star Cloud Pavilion and were generally not assigned to go on missions. However, if the Star Cloud Pavilion was short of manpower, they would not be spared and would also be forced to go on missions.

Recent news reaching Ice Rock City made many young people, who had not experienced the baptism of blood, anxious and worried, fearing that they would be dispatched by the Star Cloud Pavilion.

"Qin Lie, with the shortage of manpower, I'm preparing to leave in the next few days." In the stone forest, Gao Yu's face was cold. "The situation outside is chaotic, but hunting spirit beasts to accumulate contribution points will be quick. I lack contribution points, and my recent cultivation has reached a bottleneck, so I'm preparing to go out and move around."

Gao Yu had two sisters in the Star Cloud Pavilion. His elder sister was married to a hall master under Elder Chu Yan, but unfortunately, the hall master died in a mission six years ago, making his elder sister a widow.

His second sister was in the Punishment Hall and was said to have a deep relationship with Ye Yangqiu, who might become Gao Yu's second brother-in-law.

Back then, in Tianlang Mountain, Liu Yan would often be close to Gao Yu.

Gao Yu was able to enter the Star Cloud Pavilion early partly because the Gao Family suffered heavy losses in Tianlang Mountain, and partly because his two sisters had connections in the Star Cloud Pavilion. Therefore, after Gao Yu came to the Star Cloud Pavilion, he was often the subject of gossip, with people saying he relied on his two sisters to get in.

Unlike Qin Lie, who chose to stay by Master Yao, Gao Yu chose the Punishment Hall and was affiliated with it, earning the favor of Ye Yangqiu.

However, now even Ye Yangqiu had to go out to hunt spirit beasts, and as a member of the Punishment Hall, Gao Yu lacked contribution points and was naturally combative, so he had no reason to stay in the Star Cloud Pavilion.

"Be careful." Qin Lie advised.

"Don't worry, when I return, I will have a lot of contribution points. Then, when we come to the sparring room, we can use my contribution points. Recently... we've been using your contribution points." Gao Yu frowned.

"Hehe, I have ten contribution points left, and they are almost used up." Qin Lie said helplessly.

"Right, when I return, the contribution points will be sufficient." Gao Yu was full of confidence.

...

"Qin Lie! Come over and drink with me!"

Returning from the training ground to his small house, he had not even entered when he heard Tu Ze's shout from Zhuo Qian's small building.

Turning his head, he saw that Zhuo Qian's building was brightly lit, with glasses clinking. Han Feng, Chu Peng, Kang Zhi, and Zhuo Qian were all there, feasting.

"Coming." Qin Lie smiled, not entering his own house, but turned and went to Zhuo Qian's place.

After entering, he noticed that Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian both had red eyes, and their moods seemed off. They had both drunk a lot, as if trying to drown their sorrows.

On the table next to the wine table, there was a long knife and a beautifully crafted dragon bone whip.

These two items were very similar to the ones Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian used before, but they looked more exquisite and beautiful. However, there was no spiritual energy fluctuation, indicating they were not spirit artifacts.

"All failed. This is my third time, and Tu Ze's fourth." Zhuo Qian's beautiful face was filled with disappointment and helplessness. "We went to great lengths to gather the materials for alchemy. Those materials are worth more than a thousand seventh-grade ordinary spirit stones, and we didn't expect them to be completely wasted."

"Don't talk about these sad things, let's drink, let's drink." Tu Ze said with red eyes.

"How can we not care?" Zhuo Qian sighed. "More than a thousand seventh-grade ordinary spirit stones is a huge amount even for us. Moreover, many of those materials were gathered with the help of our fathers. Now they are all destroyed, and it's unknown when we can gather them again."

"Didn't we already prepare for this?" Tu Ze forced a smile. "How can alchemy succeed on the first try? Some people ask alchemists to refine artifacts seven or eight times, and they fail every time. To get the most suitable and unique spirit artifact, we must learn to taste the bitterness of failure."

"Three consecutive failures, I'm almost... unable to bear it." Zhuo Qian's face was filled with bitterness, and she looked dejected.

Tu Ze sighed deeply, hanging his head in silence, not knowing what to say. It seemed he was also heavily affected, not as relaxed as he appeared.

Qin Lie did not go to the wine table but hesitated for a moment and came to the round table where the two items were placed. He picked up the long knife and focused his mental awareness to feel it.

His face suddenly showed a very strange expression.

...

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