Chapter 95: No Deal, No Hurt

On the Cauldron Summit, every disciple under the Grand Elder Yan Chen was a skilled alchemist, having deeply inherited his true teachings. Their alchemical techniques were varied and creative—stir-frying, braising, deep-frying—whatever came naturally.

The disciples of the Cauldron Summit were generally arrogant, for in their eyes, they were the elite—rich, handsome, and superior.

At this moment, a large crowd of disciples had gathered outside an alchemy hut.

These were all outer disciples. Some knew nothing of alchemy; others, even if they could refine pills, were only half-skilled. Now they had come to beg the legitimate disciples of the Cauldron Summit to refine pills for them.

“Senior Brother Li, please refine a batch of pills for me.”

“Senior Brother Li, I beg you to help. I’m willing to give up seventy percent.” A disciple gritted his teeth.

“Senior Brother Li, I’ve prepared twenty sets of materials. I only ask for one batch of Speed Essence Pills.”

…

This Senior Brother Li was named Li Shun, an old-timer among the alchemy disciples of the Cauldron Summit.

He had once been the flute-playing boy under Grand Elder Yan Chen. His flute music had deeply pleased the Grand Elder, who then took him as a disciple and taught him alchemy. But Li Shun had little talent for alchemy; over the years, he had only been refining pills for these outer disciples. Meanwhile, his fellow disciples of the same period had already moved on to refine pills for inner disciples and even sect elders.

Still, for Li Shun, everything now was enough. Even if he only served outer disciples, so what? He was still held high by them.

“If you ask me to refine pills, I take eighty percent.”

“Though the Speed Essence Pill is a low-grade Yellow-rank pill, its difficulty is no less than that of a high-grade Yellow-rank pill. Twenty sets of materials yielding one batch is already tremendous luck. You need to prepare forty sets.”

“If anyone else needs pills refined, register with my page boy. Prepare the materials, then come back.”

At that moment, a voice came from inside the hut. The tone was very calm, carrying the air of a reclusive master.

The outer disciples begging for pills were at a loss. A single pill was hard to come by, and obtaining the one they needed was even harder.

The alchemy disciples on the Cauldron Summit were all like vampires, their hearts pitch-black.

But if you didn’t go to them, who else could you ask?

Martial arts and alchemy could not both be pursued. Alchemy required a calm temperament; every refinement demanded patience and freedom from stray thoughts, or the pill would never succeed.

To cultivate martial arts while also practicing alchemy—where would one find the energy?

Unless one reached the Spirit-Entering realm and could multitask, it was out of the question.

“Sigh…”

The disciples seeking pill refinements sighed silently. The path of martial arts was truly too difficult.

“Come, come, don’t miss out! I’ve got a deal to discuss with everyone. Those who come will profit; those who don’t will regret it.” As soon as Lin Fan stepped out, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

To Lin Fan, these Speed Essence Pills were nothing but garbage. Swallowing one only gave him ten experience points; even with the medicinal effect, it was hardly worth it.

If he had the time to cultivate, he’d rather refine more pills.

At that moment, the outer disciples seeking pills looked over in confusion, wondering what this guy was up to.

“Page boy, what’s going on?” Li Shun’s voice came from inside the hut.

“I don’t know. He’s probably trading pills.”

Li Shun grunted and dismissed it. Trading was common. As the former flute boy under the Grand Elder of the Cauldron Summit and now the idol of outer disciples seeking pills, he had quite the presence.

Those outer disciples begging him to refine pills would eventually prepare the materials and come back to him.

Because besides him, they couldn’t find anyone more suitable.

With his seniority on the Cauldron Summit, even his fellow disciples—those more talented in alchemy—would show him some respect.

“Hey, isn’t that the fool from Nameless Peak?”

“The fool from Nameless Peak? Who’s that?”

“Ha, have you ever seen anyone sit on a rock for ten days without moving?”

“Really? I didn’t know. Ten days and ten nights—he must have gone mad.”

“Exactly.”

…

Lin Fan was quite satisfied as he looked around. The crowd had gathered. Using pills refined from dirt to exchange for free labor was no problem at all.

“Look, what’s this?” Lin Fan took out a Speed Essence Pill, squinting as he awaited their frenzy.

The crowd blinked, then burst into exclamations of surprise.

“That’s a Speed Essence Pill.”

…

“Mm, you know your goods.” Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction, having expected their reactions.

“Do you know who refined it?” Lin Fan asked again.

The crowd exchanged glances, unsure what he meant.

Though the Speed Essence Pill was not a high-level pill, its effects were remarkable.

It increased cultivation speed—a pill tied to one’s cultivation level. The herbs used were not rare, but the difficulty of refining it was considerable.

Ten sets of materials yielding one batch was good luck, and getting five pills from a batch required praying to the Bodhisattva and begging Grandma.

Now this legendary fool was asking who refined the pill. They wanted to know too.

“I know—it must have been you.” A person in the front row spoke up.

Lin Fan’s originally indifferent expression softened into a slight smile, his eyes showing appreciation.

“Not bad, not bad. You have good eyes. This one’s for you.” Lin Fan casually tossed the Speed Essence Pill over. The outer disciple was startled, hardly believing it.

He was just giving the pill away?

Could this be a mistake? Then, overjoyed, he said, “Thank you, Senior Brother Lin.”

The surrounding outer disciples were stunned speechless, seeing Lin Fan hand out a pill so casually.

Lin Fan looked at the shock on their faces, knowing his goal was almost achieved.

He had to first give them the impression that he was loaded, or he wouldn’t be able to awe them.

“Look, what’s this now?” Lin Fan smiled slightly and opened his palm.

“Ah…” The crowd instantly erupted.

Their eyes were fixed on his palm, which was piled with Speed Essence Pills.

At a glance, there were at least a dozen.

“Senior… Senior Brother Lin, the deal you mentioned earlier—is it exchanging Speed Essence Pills?” a disciple asked.

“That’s right. You’re smart. Here’s one for you.” Lin Fan tossed a pill over.

The disciple caught it with great joy, then hid it in his bosom, staring at Lin Fan as if mesmerized.

Whoever said Senior Brother Lin was a fool—step forward, and I won’t kill you.

This was clearly a rich landlord!

“Good, now for the main point. You know the Sect Leader granted me Nameless Peak, but it’s overgrown with weeds. So, anyone who weeds for me for one day will be paid ten Speed Essence Pills.” Lin Fan said.

“Ah… Senior Brother Lin, are you serious?” The outer disciples gathered around Lin Fan asked in disbelief.

“Of course. But it’s getting late now. Everyone go back and rest. Come tomorrow to work.” Lin Fan said.

“No, Senior Brother Lin, we’re fine. We’ll go weed right now.” The crowd was ecstatic. How could they delay such a good opportunity?

Ten Speed Essence Pills—that was no joke.

If they had to prepare the herbs themselves, how long would that take?

Lin Fan watched their excited expressions and nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, having capital was great—they were even fighting to do the work.

“Also, remember: I’m not your senior brother. I am the Sect Leader of the Holy Demon Sect, affiliated with the sect. By rank, I am the Sect Leader’s junior brother, so you should address me as Uncle-Master Lin.” Lin Fan said.

For outer disciples, obtaining pills was no easy feat. They’d call him anything—Uncle-Master, or even Dad—no problem.

“Uncle-Master Lin…” The disciples vied to shout.

“Mm, go on. Work hard. Those who do well will receive extra rewards from me.”

…