A cultivator's strength comprises three aspects:
Realm, Supernatural Abilities, and Magical Instruments!
All three hold significant importance. Previously, he was too poor to afford them. Now, after working for two months and becoming well-off, he could naturally consider equipping himself comprehensively in all aspects.
Meanwhile,
at the Xu Family Pill Shop, after Wang Yu left, the Zhu grandfather and grandson gathered. The young master, arrogant and domineering during the day, now spoke nervously to Elder Zhu.
"Grandfather, can that Wang Yu bear this crime?"
"He can't."
Elder Zhu shook his head, his expression extremely cold.
"We'll find a few more alchemists and have them share the blame."
Zhu Xiaosun immediately felt a pang of guilt.
"If I hadn't offended that person from Evil God Peak, Grandfather, you wouldn't have to take such risks."
"None of that. There's no need for such words between us, grandfather and grandson."
"Besides offering a large sum of spirit stones to clear your offense, we also need scapegoats at the pill shop. Otherwise, there will be no peace."
"During this time, show up less at the pill shop. If this matter goes wrong, leave the sect as soon as possible and find a way to sneak through the barrier between the two domains."
The Zhu grandfather and grandson had already embezzled substantial private profits from the newly opened Xu Family Pill Shop to clear their own offenses.
This offense-clearing system was a distinctive feature of the Reverse Blood Sect.
Except for crimes like betraying the sect, any offense could be offset with spirit stones. They were using one crime to cover another, the difference being that Foundation Establishment stewards were easier to bully, and there were ways to make others take the fall.
This was the real reason for the high salary in the employment contract, not Steward Xu's intention.
During the day, Zhu Xiaosun's sarcastic remarks towards Wang Yu were actually meant to make him back down. After all, a third-layer Qi Refining alchemist embezzling tens of thousands of spirit stones was too absurd. Who would dare?
Having such a person take the fall—no one would believe it! So he was eager to drive Wang Yu away to avoid trouble.
Unfortunately, Elder Zhu had taken a liking to Wang Yu. Old and crafty, pinning such a large sum entirely on one person was also somewhat unreasonable.
After all, the embezzled funds would eventually be traced. The larger the group, the lower the amount分摊 (fēntān - shared, apportioned) per person, preventing precise tracking of every spirit stone's destination and providing them room to maneuver.
Cooking the books—he was a professional!
...
...
**The next day.**
Wang Yu hummed a tune, leisurely heading to work at the Xu Family Pill Shop. Without the oppression of his spirit slave days, now he worked to earn money for himself—a completely different mindset.
"Elder Zhu, how's business today?"
Early Si hour (9 AM).
Wang Yu entered the pill shop. Old Man Zhu was copying something behind the counter. Wang Yu intended to chat.
But he said, "Alchemist Wang, you're here. The furnace in the earth fire room is preheated. There's an assistant at the door to hand you the ingredients."
Wang Yu paused, suspicion arising in his heart. Rushing him to refine pills after a casual chat—what did it mean?
Coincidentally, a customer came to settle payment for a bottle of Spirit Restoration Pills.
"Shopkeeper, I'll take this bottle of pills. Be quick; I have a mission outside the sect."
"Ah, yes, yes."
Seeing this, Wang Yu headed towards the earth fire room in the backyard. The more he thought, the more something felt off. Finally, five words echoed in his mind—**[This is a demonic sect!]**
Suspicion, vigilance, decisiveness—all were fine virtues of a demonic cultivator. He was gradually developing these instincts. Elder Zhu had suspicious points; regardless of size, he needed to be cautious.
He buried the matter in his heart for now, deciding to make plans after work.
The contract was signed, so daily work still needed completion. Operating with one arm was somewhat difficult, meaning Wang Yu had to perform each fire control seal and pill condensation seal single-handedly!
Pill refining was more mentally draining for him. Each time he refined two batches, his spiritual power was sufficient, but his spiritual sense would be exhausted, requiring a short rest and entering a state of empty-mindedness to recover quickly.
This also had benefits. Reaching the limit of spiritual sense and recovering was like physical exercise—muscles grow stronger through repeated tearing; spiritual sense is the same.
Intensity,上限 (shàngxiàn - upper limit), and fine control degree all grew steadily through each recovery. Even if each growth was minimal, it was steady progress.
*Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a river or sea!*
It was the persistence and accumulation in unnoticed moments that eventually allowed a seed to grow into a towering tree. His Waste Spiritual Root aptitude made Wang Yu value every improvement.
Realizing that pill refining exercised and increased his spiritual sense, he invested more mental effort, gradually becoming fully immersed.
Unknowingly, the day passed.
Five batches of Spirit Restoration Pills, five batches of Fasting Pills. The former yielded 32 pills, the latter 29. Wang Yu only submitted mid-grade pills; any high-grade pills produced went into his own pocket.
That amounted to about one bottle—reasonable refining loss.
If it weren't for these simple first-grade spiritual pills having almost no risk of furnace explosion, he could have pocketed a few more sets of ingredients—truly a pity.
He meditated briefly to calm his energy.
Then he left the earth fire room and went to the shop's front hall. The crowd had dispersed by then. Elder Zhu was speaking with three cultivators. Seeing Wang Yu, he quickly called out,
"Alchemist Wang, come quickly. These three are the alchemists joining the Xu Family Pill Shop. Come and meet them."
A man with a scholarly气质 (qìzhì - temperament), wearing a headscarf and blue robe, introduced himself, "I am Zhou Tao, eighth layer of Qi Refining, first-grade high-tier alchemist, outer disciple of Five Yin Peak."
Wang Yu immediately understood. With this cultivation level still being an outer disciple, he must be a first-generation cultivator without backing, aiming for the steward or elder path.
As for Five Yin Peak, it belonged to the Reverse Blood Sect's Seventh Peak, specializing in ghost summoning and curse techniques—methods were bizarre and hard to guard against.
The other two were more ordinary, but they shared a common trait: no backing!
"I am Huang Kai, sixth layer of Qi Refining, first-grade mid-tier alchemist, outer disciple of Blood Nether Peak."
"I am Luo Pinghu, fifth layer of Qi Refining, first-grade mid-tier alchemist, outer disciple of Heavenly Corpse Peak."
Zhou Tao, Huang Kai, Luo Pinghu. Wang Yu glanced at Old Man Zhu and gave a standard self-introduction.
Learning he was only at the third layer of Qi Refining and refined pills with one arm, they all expressed surprise. They wanted to invite Wang Yu for a meal to discuss alchemy, but he declined.
Without delay, it was best to investigate as soon as possible.
Considering various possibilities, he decided to personally visit Steward Xu. The pill shop had been open for days, and he hadn't even met the owner—utterly improper.
Steward Xu held a position in the Evil God Market. Generally, disciples held positions in their own peak's market. Promoted outer disciples held nominal positions, only receiving the title and lowest benefits.
Most were still sent out of the sect to guard various resource sites occupied by the sect.
Promoted inner disciples held substantial positions, like stewards in the Enforcement Hall, Technique Transmission Hall, Mission Hall... etc. Backed by the sect, they lacked nothing and were very safe.
Another group was stationed in various cities under the Reverse Blood Sect's jurisdiction.
(End of Chapter)