I Tame Beasts by Feeding

Chapter 57: Chapter 56: Dark Stream

First-Grade Medicine Hall.

Yu Changsheng was heavily bundled up. After putting on his Disguise Treasure Pearl, he stepped inside, projecting the aura of the Foundation Establishment First Layer.

The aura and its oppressive weight immediately startled the shop’s clerk.

Fortunately, upon seeing the familiar mask on Yu Changsheng’s face, the man relaxed. He scurried over obsequiously, a fawning smile on his face.

"So it’s Immortal Luo! Your presence brings light to my humble establishment. Please, come inside!"

Yu Changsheng remained silent and simply nodded, following the clerk to meet Xi Wenyu.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Elder!" Xi Wenyu hurried over to welcome him with a smile.

During the Qi Refining Stage, he could still have addressed him as Fellow Daoist Luo. But now that he appeared to have become a Foundation Establishment Great Power, calling him "Fellow Daoist" would be a great sign of disrespect.

In the Cultivation Realm, the strong prey on the weak. Strength was everything. Even if someone was a mere child, you had to address them as ’Elder’ if their cultivation was a realm higher than your own.

"I wonder what elixir Elder Luo wishes to refine this time?" Xi Wenyu asked softly.

Yu Changsheng spoke in a raspy voice, "Ten sets of materials for Qi Enhancement Pills. As for these other elixirs, see what they’re worth and use it as a credit."

He was currently refining Qi Gathering Pills and Spirit Enhancement Pills, which earned him over nine hundred Spirit Stones a month. That was obviously not enough to make the three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones he needed in two weeks.

Therefore, his only option was to take on the more difficult and expensive Qi Enhancement Pill!

He had refined it twice before under Gongsun Yang’s guidance. Although he had only produced three or four pills each time, he had gradually grasped the technique and was confident he could refine them without issue.

Besides, with his improved Three-coin Fire Refining Technique, producing five or six pills at once would be no problem at all!

This was the outrageous part of the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique: though the refining process was slow, it was incredibly stable and yielded a high Pill Formation Success Rate.

Otherwise, it would have been absolutely impossible for Gongsun Yang, a mere Peak Qi Refining Cultivator, to refine a Tier Three Elixir!

"Of course. Please wait a moment, Elder." Xi Wenyu took the elixirs and opened the containers to inspect them. Most were of low quality with no Pill Patterns, while a few had a single Pill Pattern.

’This quality is undoubtedly inconsistent with Elder Luo’s alchemy skills. They must be spoils from killing some foolish Loose Cultivators who crossed him.’

If it had been anyone else, the First-Grade Medicine Hall wouldn’t have accepted such elixirs. But since "Elder Luo" was the one offering them, it was a different matter entirely.

Even if the elixirs looked like a pile of crap, as long as they were effective, Xi Wenyu wouldn’t refuse.

"These can be traded for a credit of about one hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones. With ten sets of materials for the Qi Enhancement Pill, you’ll still owe eight hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones, Elder Luo."

Xi Wenyu said with a broad smile after retrieving the materials.

’One set of materials for the Qi Enhancement Pill costs ninety Lower Grade Spirit Stones. If I succeed, just one pill will cover the cost, with some left over.’

"Fine." Yu Changsheng handed over his remaining Spirit Stones. His pockets were now completely empty.

But as long as he could refine the Qi Enhancement Pills successfully, he would be able to accumulate wealth quickly.

’If all ten attempts are successful and yield at least five pills each, I’ll still have a profit of around a thousand Spirit Stones even after buying the Spirit Chicken Garden.’

Such was the terrifying money-making ability of an Alchemist.

The transaction complete, Yu Changsheng was about to leave when he suddenly remembered the Scattered Demon Essence Pill that the Loose Cultivator had commissioned. He paused and asked another question.

Xi Wenyu didn’t think much of it and replied, "His cultivation is around the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, I’d say. But he was also in disguise, so I couldn’t discern his true identity."

Unsurprised, Yu Changsheng nodded. "Then, Shopkeeper Xi, do you know anything about the Dark Stream?"

Xi Wenyu answered, "I do know a little. I’ve heard they’ve been expanding rapidly this year, stirring up quite a storm in Qingzhou Province. Some even speculate that they’re being backed by the Profound Yin Sect, one of the three great sects." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

The Profound Yin Sect was the most sinister of the three great sects, the one most like a Demon Dao sect. Their disciples cultivated in seclusion year-round in the Profound Yin Mountain Range. Most of them practiced Slaughter Skills, using killing to attain their Dao.

However, the Profound Yin Sect was very far from the Wanxiang Sect, located at the other end of Wuzhou. Few people here knew the specifics.

Someone like Xi Wenyu, from a Foundation Establishment Clan, would only know the general details, most of which were just rumors. freewebnσvel.cøm

Yu Changsheng nodded. "Are there any of their meeting points around here?"

"I haven’t noticed any. If Elder Luo wants an address, I can ask around for you," Xi Wenyu said with a smile.

"Yes. Be discreet about it," Yu Changsheng said.

"Understood, of course."

After leaving the First-Grade Medicine Hall and removing his disguise, Yu Changsheng headed straight for the Alchemy Hall on the main peak.

There, he happened to run into Tang Xing on his way out.

"Senior Brother, congratulations on passing the selection! Hahaha, your junior brother will have to treat you to a celebratory feast another day," Tang Xing said with a radiant smile.

"That won’t be necessary. Has Master come out of seclusion yet?" Yu Changsheng asked.

Gongsun Yang had entered seclusion to attempt his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment before Yu Changsheng even took part in the selection. Several days had passed since then with no news.

"Breaking through to Foundation Establishment isn’t that easy. Master will only make his attempt after conditioning his body and making proper preparations. It’ll probably be another month," Tang Xing said with a laugh.

"I see. I’m usually on Beast Taming Peak, so it’s not convenient for me to get over to Jade Cauldron Peak. Keep an eye out, and if Master comes out of seclusion, please send me a message."

Yu Changsheng added, "I’m going to do some alchemy now."

"Alright. Take care, Senior Brother."

Tang Xing watched the figure walk into the Alchemy Room. The smile on his face gradually faded, and his gaze turned grim.

’The selection was so difficult this time, and there was that assassin from the Dark Stream, not to mention Huang Suyu’s goons. With so many lethal plots, he still didn’t die.’

’This senior brother of mine is far too lucky.’

Tang Xing thought viciously.

He didn’t know whether Yu Changsheng had passed through sheer strength or had just been lucky enough to survive. Either way, his plan had failed.

And now, he had a new choice to make.

’The people from the Dark Stream should be trustworthy; they won’t reveal anything. Judging by my senior brother’s expression, the most he could know is the name Duan Ran.’

’Sigh, I really don’t want to make another move. My senior brother’s talent for alchemy is terrifying. Making an enemy of him is truly unwise.’

’But is it too late to back out now?’

’I have to cut the weeds and pull out the roots!’

Tang Xing’s gaze gradually hardened, turning vicious.

’From the day I first made a move, there was no turning back. It’s either I finish off Yu Changsheng, or my identity gets exposed one day and he finishes me off.’

’After hearing about Yu Changsheng’s past deeds, I don’t think he’s the type to let me go if he finds out it was me.’

’Oh, Senior Brother... just hurry up and die.’

Tang Xing shook his head and began to walk away, already pondering another plan.

’It’s too difficult to make a move within the sect. Then I’ll have to lure him outside.’

’I remember he’s from the Yu Family in Bright Moon City, isn’t he? Just a Qi Refining Clan... Hehehe. The sect is tightening its control over the clans in its territory right now. It wouldn’t be strange if an "accident" happened.’

’Now, let me think... who would be the right person for the job...’

In the Alchemy Room, Yu Changsheng, completely absorbed in his alchemy, was unaware that a new danger was closing in.

A day later, the furnace fire died down. He opened his eyes, ecstatic.

’Success!’

Five lustrous Qi Enhancement Pills, each bearing a single Pill Pattern, lay quietly inside the Pill Furnace.