69: Dantang's Difficulties

The astonishing proclamation of "Dual Cultivation of Alchemy and Sword" on the Dao Inquiry Platform, like a Category 12 hurricane, swept through the entire Inner Sect of Qingyun Sect within a single day!

Lin Ye, this name once again became the focus of everyone's discussion.

"Dual Cultivation of Alchemy and Sword? Haha, in the hundreds of years since our Qingyun Sect was founded, there have been a few exceptionally talented individuals who tried to walk this path, but in the end, without exception, they all became mediocre! How can he, an Outer Sect handyman who barely made a name for himself through Body Refining, possibly succeed?!"

"Just watch, in less than three months, this so-called 'Genius' will completely fade into obscurity. With no success in the Dao of Alchemy and no mastery in the Dao of Sword, he will ultimately become the biggest joke in our Inner Sect!"

Lin Ye seemed oblivious to the overwhelming clamor from the outside world.

After returning to his desolate Immortal Cave on Black Rock Peak, he once again chose to seclude himself.

He deeply etched Elder Sun's warning of "the Dao is long and arduous" and Su Qingyue's reminder of "absolute strength" into his heart.

He knew more clearly than ever that to establish himself in this Inner Sect, where Geniuses were abundant and the strong preyed on the weak, and to truly embark on his own path of "Dual Cultivation of Alchemy and Sword," what he needed to do was not to argue with others, nor to care about others' opinions.

It was... strength!

Absolute strength, enough to crush all doubts!

"The Dao of Alchemy..."

Lin Ye sat cross-legged on the cold stone bed, his dark eyes gleaming with the light of "ambition."

To perform Alchemy, first, one needed a Pill Formula, medicinal ingredients, and most importantly—a Pill Furnace!

And all of this pointed to the same place.

The Inner Sect, Pill Hall!

...Seven days later.

When Lin Ye had adjusted his state to its Peak, and estimated that the fervor of the disturbance on the Dao Inquiry Platform had mostly dissipated, he finally, voluntarily, stepped out of his Immortal Cave.

He didn't go anywhere else; his target was clear, and he walked directly towards the majestic Pill Hall, which was perpetually enveloped in a rich medicinal fragrance.

The Pill Hall was the most unique and prosperous place in the entire Qingyun Sect.

Here, not only did it control the refining and distribution of all Medicinal Pills in the Sect, but it also managed the Sect's largest Spiritual Plant garden. It could be said that the Pill Hall was the "logistical heart" of the entire Qingyun Sect, holding a transcendent status.

As Lin Ye stepped into the magnificent hall, carved from a single piece of white marble, a rich medicinal fragrance, several times purer than the outside and mixed with the scent of various herbs, assailed him!

Just a single whiff made him feel the Heaven Burning True Fire surging within his body joyfully leap.

Inside the hall, people came and went, dozens of Pill Hall Disciples wearing crimson alchemist robes were busy with their respective tasks. Some were carefully sorting medicinal ingredients, others were hurriedly moving Pill Furnaces; everyone was focused, and the entire hall was immersed in a professional and solemn atmosphere.

Lin Ye's appearance did not cause much of a stir.

He circulated the Breath Concealment Art, suppressing his aura to the lowest possible level, then walked directly to a jade tablet on one side of the hall, which was specifically used to post internal Pill Hall missions.

He knew that with his status as a newly promoted Disciple, directly obtaining a Pill Formula and a Pill Furnace was wishful thinking. The only way was to start from the lowest level of missions, using his "labor" to exchange for meager contribution points and learning opportunities.

However, just as he had taken his stand, preparing to carefully examine the contents on the mission jade tablet, a sarcastic and disdainful, sneering voice quietly sounded from behind him.

"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this our Qingyun Sect's once-in-a-century 'madman' who wants to walk the grand Dao of 'Dual Cultivation of Alchemy and Sword'... Senior Brother Lin, the great Genius?"

Lin Ye's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He slowly turned around, only to see three young Disciples, also wearing crimson alchemist robes, standing with their arms crossed, looking at him with playful mockery, blocking him in front of the jade tablet.

The leader, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, had a hooked nose, thin lips, and a pair of triangular eyes that gleamed with undisguised malice, cold as a viper's.

"Senior Brother... Senior Brother Zhou Kai."

Around them, several Pill Hall Disciples who were still busy subconsciously stopped their work when they saw this person, bowed respectfully, and then immediately retreated to a distance, looking at Lin Ye, who was surrounded, with a mix of sympathy and schadenfreude.

Lin Ye's heart instantly sank.

He saw clearly that these people were definitely here for him!

"Disciple Lin Ye greets the Senior Brothers." He showed no unusual expression, merely cupped his hands calmly towards them.

"You're too kind, too kind!" The leader, Zhou Kai, waved his hand exaggeratedly, but the sarcasm in his tone grew even stronger, "You are a 'madman' who even dared to refuse Elder Sun to his face; how dare we, mere Pill Hall Disciples, accept your address of 'Senior Brother'?"

The two lackeys behind him immediately understood and let out suppressed snickers.

"Senior Brother Zhou is right! Senior Brother Lin, he is going to Dual Cultivate Alchemy and Sword, a great figure who will achieve Physical Body enlightenment and be revered in the Dao of Alchemy! We can't aspire to such heights!"

"Exactly! I wonder why the great Genius Lin deigned to visit our humble Pill Hall today? Could it be... you have already Cultivated the Dao of Sword to its Peak, and are preparing to... comprehend the Dao of Alchemy?"

These humiliating words made the surrounding Disciples who were watching look at Lin Ye with even more sympathy.

Everyone understood, this was... a vendetta!

Lin Ye's heart was cold.

He knew that Han Meng's Master was Zhao Wuji, an Elder with real power in this Pill Hall! These people in front of him had clearly been instructed to wait here specifically to make trouble for him!

But his face still held that calm, unperturbed expression.

"Senior Brothers are joking." He slowly spoke, his voice neither humble nor arrogant, "This Disciple knows his understanding of the Dao of Alchemy is shallow, which is why I came to the Pill Hall to take on some tasks, starting from the most basic chores, hoping to learn a little, and lay a Foundation for my future 'Dao.'"

His words were reasonable, and his posture was extremely humble.

However, how could Zhou Kai and the others let him off so easily?

"Oh? You want to start with chores?" Zhou Kai seemed to have heard the biggest joke. He looked Lin Ye up and down, his gaze like he was looking at an overconfident fool.

"Good! Ambitious!" He feigned approval, nodding, then a malicious glint, only decipherable by Lin Ye, flashed in his eyes, "Since Junior Brother Lin has such determination, then as your Senior Brother, I naturally must fulfill your wish!"

He paused, a cruel arc forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Coincidentally, in our Pill Hall's No. 3 Medicinal Garden, there is a patch of fire saliva grass that is on the verge of dying due to a geomantic pulse a few days ago. This fire saliva grass is the main ingredient for refining the fire spirit pill, and it is exceptionally precious. If it withers and dies, our Pill Hall will suffer heavy losses."

"Since Junior Brother Lin is interested in the Dao of Alchemy, then this 'good job' of tending to the fire saliva grass will be entrusted to you!"

fire saliva grass?!

On the verge of dying?!

As soon as these words were spoken, all the surrounding Pill Hall Disciples watching were horrified, their expressions changing drastically, and their gazes towards Lin Ye instantly filled with extreme sympathy!

"Heavens! It's that patch of fire saliva grass? Wasn't... wasn't that already condemned by Elder Zhao, impossible to save?!"

"Senior Brother Zhou is too ruthless! Is this even giving a mission? This is clearly trying to push someone to their death!"

Lin Ye's heart also sank abruptly!

Although he hadn't started learning the Dao of Alchemy yet, he had read some miscellaneous books and had heard a little about this "fire saliva grass." It was an extremely delicate fire-attributed Spiritual Plant, with extremely demanding growth conditions. Once its Foundation was damaged, it would quickly wither, beyond saving even by immortals!

This was simply an impossible task!

"What's wrong, Junior Brother Lin?" Zhou Kai looked at Lin Ye's slightly changed expression, the mocking smile on his face growing even wider, "Aren't you going to Dual Cultivate Alchemy and Sword? You're not even daring to take on such a small challenge?"

He didn't give Lin Ye any chance to refuse, directly took a crimson jade token from the mission jade tablet, and threw it into Lin Ye's arms.

"The mission, I've already accepted it for you."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I forgot to tell you." He seemed to suddenly remember something, patted his head, and added in a tone full of "goodwill," "This patch of fire saliva grass is worth five hundred contribution points. If you can save it within three days, these five hundred contribution points will be your reward."

"But, if you can't save it..."

His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with undeniable dominance!

"Then you will have to compensate our Pill Hall for the losses at three times the price! That is... one thousand five hundred contribution points!"

"Junior Brother Lin, did you understand clearly?"

One thousand five hundred contribution points!!!