Chapter 23: Foundation Establishment Pill? Huh? What is going on!-Deixam você cultivar e fundar uma seita, mas que história é essa de dissuasão nuclear?(Em cima da batata)

Liu Ruyan was stunned. How could they possibly not be in need of medicinal pills?

Currently, the supply of pills was dwindling rapidly every day, especially since many disciples were waiting for them to improve their cultivation.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Without me, a trash sect like yours would have to go out and buy every single pill you need!" Xu Chengwei sneered, holding his head high. How could he possibly be unaware of the White Sword Sect’s situation?

Back when the four sects lived in peace, the other three had always relied on his Blood Moon Sect to purchase pills. Moreover, any alchemist with a shred of talent looked down on such a small sect; it was impossible for anyone to replace him.

"Foolish."

Liang Chuan cast a cold glance at Xu Chengwei. "Your time is running out. You’d better start thinking about your last words."

"Still trying to scare me? Do you really think I’m that easily intimidated?" Xu Chengwei’s expression was frantic, tinged with disdain.

In his eyes, a small sect like this should be treating him like an ancestor. Kill him? This was nothing more than a desperate attempt to force him to serve them obediently.

"Junior Sister, what are you still standing there for?"

Liang Chuan had no intention of wasting time with a dead man; he waved his hand, signaling for Liu Ruyan to take him away.

"Liang Chuan, just you wait. I look forward to seeing how you come crawling to me!" Xu Chengwei spat out a vicious threat with a twisted grin as he was dragged away.

Many disciples witnessed the scene as Liu Ruyan led him out.

"Why is that guy being arrested? Did he mess up a batch of pills?"

"I think I heard him being disrespectful to the Sect Master. It sounds like he’s going to be executed!"

"Execution is impossible, but it’s good to see that guy get a taste of his own medicine!"

Many of the disciples present belonged to other sects, and seeing Xu Chengwei being hauled away, they couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. Even if they couldn't afford the pills themselves, they had all been subjected to his abuse whenever they were assigned to the alchemy room. Seeing him suffer brought them secret satisfaction.

However, the disciples of the White Sword Sect watched with furrowed brows.

"I wonder if he’ll be stubborn enough to stop refining pills altogether."

"Who knows? I only just managed to get a Spirit-Storing Pill yesterday. I hope this doesn't mean there won't be any more."

"He brought it on himself. Of all people, he had to go and offend the Sect Master."

Though the disciples were relieved to see him locked up, anxiety quickly followed. They were well aware that he had come from the Blood Moon Sect and had been incredibly arrogant even after being captured by the White Sword Sect. While his arrest was satisfying, their sect had finally secured a stable source of pills. If he refused to work, they would be the ones to suffer.

Most importantly, there was the matter of the Foundation Establishment Pills. They had only just managed to refine a few when the man was dragged away. Procuring more would be another problem entirely.

"Old Luo, help me watch the heat. I’ll handle the medicinal herbs."

"Understood. We’ll follow the method we tested earlier."

Inside the alchemy room, Su Qin focused entirely on the task at hand. Just as they were about to begin, Liu Ruyan entered, closed the door tightly, and hurried over to Liang Chuan.

"Senior Brother, are we really going to..."

She made a throat-slitting gesture, her eyes full of hesitation. She had returned specifically to plead for Xu Chengwei. To Xu Chengwei, Liang Chuan might have just been bluffing, but she had known Liang Chuan long enough to know that he truly intended to kill.

"There is no need to discuss this further. Keeping him around would only be a disaster."

Liang Chuan interrupted her without a second thought. He had needed Xu Chengwei in the past, but now that they had developed a streamlined production method, the man was useless. The White Sword Sect would not waste resources feeding an arrogant, overbearing parasite.

"But we..."

Liu Ruyan wanted to say more, but seeing the resolute expression on Su Qin’s face, she ultimately remained silent.

"Junior Sister, go outside and stand guard for us."

After speaking, Liang Chuan nodded at Old Luo. "Old Luo, let’s begin!"

Liu Ruyan could only sigh and step out to keep watch.

Old Luo went through the familiar motions, lighting the flame and placing a thermometer inside the furnace. Meanwhile, Su Qin retrieved the Spirit-Essence Root.

The root looked like any other tree root on the outside, but it was twisted and gnarled, resembling a coiled snake. After placing it on the cutting board, he sliced it into centimeter-wide pieces and immediately dropped them into a bowl of water.

This was a discovery made by later generations of alchemists. The difficulty in controlling heat and dosage wasn't just due to the maturity of the herbs, but also because exposure to air caused a portion of the medicinal properties to evaporate. By soaking the cut pieces in water, they could prevent this loss and, due to the nature of the water, lock the medicinal essence inside.

Though the step was simple, it was tedious.

"If only I had modern machinery," Su Qin muttered to himself. In a modern automated production line, the herbs would fall directly into the water the moment they were cut.

"What did you say?" Old Luo wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to look at Liang Chuan.

"Nothing. Everything is ready. What’s the temperature?" Liang Chuan waved his hand, steering the conversation back to the alchemy.

Old Luo frowned slightly, squinting at the thermometer. "It has reached three hundred degrees!"

"Excellent!"

Liang Chuan tossed the Spirit-Essence Root into the furnace. Instantly, steam billowed out. The intense heat rapidly evaporated the moisture on the surface of the roots. Without needing a prompt, Old Luo used his spiritual energy to intensify the flames. Within moments, the temperature soared to five hundred degrees.

Liang Chuan immediately threw in the Spirit-Hundred Grass along with the prepared ice cubes and sealed the furnace lid.

Two hours later, Liang Chuan wrapped his body in spiritual energy and retrieved the medicinal liquid from the furnace, plunging it into ice water.

The moment it touched the ice water, the brown liquid solidified. The fragrance of the pill filled the room.

"It’s a success!" Old Luo clenched his fists, his eyes filled with excitement.

This was a Grade Two pill: the Foundation Establishment Pill!

"It seems we can now mass-produce Foundation Establishment Pills!" Even though Liang Chuan had anticipated the result, he couldn't help but cheer. A single Foundation Establishment Pill was worth ten thousand low-grade spirit stones!

Old Luo carefully picked up the pill. "Sect Master, you are truly brilliant. In all my life, I have never seen such a novel way of refining alchemy!"

He had lived for most of his life, but this was the first time he had felt such excitement. If this method were to spread, it would be a legacy for the ages!

Hearing the commotion inside, Liu Ruyan could no longer hold back and peeked in. "What happened?"

"Look!" Liang Chuan held up the pill.

Liu Ruyan froze for a moment, then her eyes widened in shock.

This was... a Foundation Establishment Pill?!