Wasted Spiritual Root To Embark On Demonic Cultivation Chapter 31

[ … words ]

“……”

“In short, that’s how it went. The Xu Family Pill Shop is finished. This is the contract you signed, and I’ve also retrieved the one kept by the Law Enforcement Hall.”

Nine scraps of paper were slapped down onto the table by Wang Yu. Zhou Tao hesitated to speak—Wang Yu’s explanation sounded too far-fetched.

Just like that? The shop was sealed?

Deacon Xu was a mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator—how could he not react at all???

Luo Pinghu frowned and couldn’t help but speak.

“Wang Yu, you’re making it sound too easy. What about the details? And how did you get the contract back?”

“I have my channels. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“You—”

He broke through?

But so what? Luo Pinghu didn’t understand, nor did he plan to follow Zhou Tao’s lead any longer. The three of them had originally banded together to negotiate with the alchemy shop under Zhou Tao’s leadership. It gave them more bargaining power.

Last night’s dinner had been to discuss a potential collaboration. Wang Yu was also invited but declined. Now that there was nothing more to say, Luo Pinghu turned to leave.

“In that case, thank you for retrieving the contract for me, Fellow Daoist Wang. Farewell.”

“No need to rush.”

Wang Yu spoke again.

“All of you have cultivated in the Blood Reversal Sect for some time. Don’t you feel how difficult cultivation is?”

“No resources, slow progress in cultivation, almost no chance of reaching Foundation Establishment. No background means you can’t even speak on equal terms with others.”

“What do you mean by this, Alchemist Wang?” Zhou Tao asked.

Wang Yu smiled and answered.

“This is a rare opportunity. Gathering the four of us, alchemists with no backing—isn’t easy. Why don’t we form an alchemists’ association, sell our pills together, and cooperate with the established alchemy shops?”

“Heh.”

Luo Pinghu’s tone carried both mockery of Wang Yu and bitterness about his own situation. “Sounds easy. Do you have resources? Do you have connections? Three lousy alchemists and a one-armed man—what do we have to offer to those big shops? We can’t even get a meeting with a Foundation Establishment deacon.”

His words were a bit harsh. Wang Yu, Luo Pinghu, and Huang Kai were indeed at the bottom, but Zhou Tao was different. Even without connections, being at the eighth level of Qi Refining and a first-rank high-grade alchemist, he had the qualifications to work at any established alchemy shop.

But he came to Xu’s new shop. That alone meant he had problems—either he offended someone or was pushed out by colleagues. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ended up at a newly opened place. The dinner invitation yesterday also showed he was someone with intentions.

Wang Yu wasn’t bothered at all by Luo Pinghu’s sharp remarks. He was just an ordinary cultivator who had suffered a lot. To learn alchemy, he must’ve poured his heart and soul into it.

Now that he had finally landed a promising gig, only to lose it overnight, of course he was emotional. A little provocation and he’d snap.

Zhou Tao was calculating, Luo Pinghu was emotional, but the one who hadn’t said a word, Huang Kai—was the one Wang Yu paid special attention to. His personality seemed tenacious and determined.

He also had a calm temperament. Though he hadn’t spoken, he also hadn’t gotten up to leave.

Each of the three had their own traits. Wang Yu felt more confident about their potential partnership.

After a brief silence—

Zhou Tao spoke first. “Tell us your plan and what makes you confident. If it makes sense, I’ll join.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu looked at Huang Kai. This quiet one also finally spoke. “I’m thinking the same as Brother Zhou.”

“And you, Luo Pinghu, want to hear it too?”

This guy said nothing, but didn’t leave either. Seeing the attitude of all three, Wang Yu felt even more assured. He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out the Law Enforcement Token he had obtained just last night.

“Here. This is what I’m relying on.”

The Hall of Law Enforcement—a place long dreamed of by countless grassroots disciples in the Blood Reversal Sect. To join it meant the possibility of becoming a core member of the sect in the future, with one foot already stepping into the ranks of the elite.

Wang Yu came from a background similar to theirs, and he only had one arm. Naturally, the three of them never considered that he might have some extraordinary origins. Just yesterday he was still a hired alchemist, and now everything had changed.

For people like them, there was only one path to becoming a cultivator in the Hall of Law Enforcement: catching the attention of someone powerful.

Zhou Tao pondered silently, feeling that the closure of the Xu family’s alchemy shop must have had something to do with Wang Yu. It was an instinct. He immediately made up his mind.

“I’ll join.”

“I’ll join too.”

“Brother Pinghu?”

“I… am I allowed…”

“Of course.” Wang Yu stepped forward, smiling as he patted Luo Pinghu on the shoulder and reassured him. “It’s nothing, we’re friends. Just a few words, nobody will hold it against you.”

Luo Pinghu quietly let out a breath of relief, unaware that the last “friend” Wang Yu had patted on the shoulder had already had their body refined into ashes.

“Since you’ve all agreed, let me explain the purpose of this alchemist association and the benefits you’ll enjoy.

“In short, I’ll use my position to distribute the pills you all refine to any shop within the Blood Reversal Ten Markets.”

Do not underestimate the significance of this arrangement.

The Blood Reversal Ten Markets are an internal enterprise of the sect, serving both as a platform to train disciples and a mechanism to gather spirit stones. The businesses there are fully monopolized.

Any alchemy shop within the Blood Reversal Ten Markets must obtain permission from the Alchemy Hall to operate. The relationships involved are complex, with intense competition over connections, shop qualifications, and supply channels. It’s hard to get a storefront, hard to get certified, and even harder to secure distribution.

Stall-style setups by the roadside, selling as you go, are strictly prohibited.

Even if neighbors know you’re an alchemist and want to buy pills from you, private sales are not allowed. Sect rules forbid it.

So, the license to sell is extremely important. Wang Yu only came to understand this after mingling in the alchemy circles, especially thanks to the six months he spent in the medicinal herb garden.

The next issue is the source of spiritual herbs. For example, someone like Deacon Tantai obtained her herb garden through connections with Cold Blood Peak, but all matured spiritual herbs had to be traded to alchemy shops affiliated with Cold Blood Peak.

Only a small portion of spiritual herbs are traded between disciples.

Those who want to purchase are usually other alchemists. After they master the basics of pill refining, they join various alchemy shops as employees and become standard laborers.

To own one’s own enterprise, one must at least reach the Foundation Establishment stage to even consider it.

Moreover, buying spiritual herbs in bulk from proper stores is too expensive and not cost-effective. Having your own supply channels is essential.

Therefore, Wang Yu’s first promise already made the three of them excited.

If you can sell your own pills for profit, who wants to be a wage slave?

Zhou Tao couldn’t help but ask.

“How exactly will this work? What’s the selling price? How much of the profit do we get?”

“Don’t rush, I haven’t finished.

“I’ll take care of the herb sourcing and sales licensing. All you need to do is focus on refining pills. I guarantee at least three times the earnings you used to make, if not more.”

The three of them were clearly moved. Whether or not Wang Yu could actually deliver, joining this alchemist alliance was definitely not a loss.

“For now, your first task is to go to the Pill Refining Hall and obtain an officially recognized alchemist rank certificate from the sect.”