Chapter 31: Dan Masters Association

"..."

In short, that's what happened. Xu's Alchemy Shop is finished. Here are the contracts you signed; I've also retrieved the copies that were held by the Law Enforcement Hall."

Wang Yu slapped nine crumpled papers onto the table. Zhou Tao hesitated, wanting to speak but finding Wang Yu's words a bit too outlandish.

So, just like that, the alchemy shop was sealed?

And Deacon Xu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had no reaction at all???

Luo Pinghu frowned and couldn't help but speak.

"Wang Yu, you make it sound easy. What about the details? And how did you get these contracts back?"

"I have my own channels; don't worry about it."

"You—"

Zhou Tao suddenly reached out and stopped Luo Pinghu, subtly pursing his lips. It was then they noticed that, after just one night, Wang Yu's cultivation had already reached the fourth level of Qi Condensation.

He broke through?

But what did that matter? Luo Pinghu didn't understand and wasn't planning on listening to Zhou Tao's instructions anymore. Previously, the three of them had formed a group, intending for Zhou Tao to lead their discussions with the alchemy shop to give them more leverage.

Last night's gathering was an overture for cooperation, and Wang Yu had been invited then, but he had declined. Seeing there was nothing more to say, Luo Pinghu bid farewell.

"Since that's the case, many thanks, Fellow Daoist Wang, for retrieving my contract. I'll take my leave."

"Don't be in such a hurry."

Wang Yu spoke again.

"Fellow cultivators, having practiced here in the Against Spirit Blood Sect until now, do you not feel the difficulty of cultivation?

"Without resources, cultivation progresses slowly, making Foundation Establishment almost impossible. Without connections, it's hard to make any progress, and you don't even have the right to speak on equal terms."

"What do you mean by that, Alchemist Wang?"

Zhou Tao asked, and Wang Yu replied with a smile.

"Opportunities are rare, and it's not easy to gather four alchemists like us, who have no backing. Why don't we form an Alchemist Society? We can jointly sell our pills and cooperate with the official alchemy shops."

"Heh—"

Luo Pinghu's tone held both sarcasm for Wang Yu and helplessness regarding his own situation: "That's easy for you to say. Do you have resources? Do you have connections? Three lousy alchemists, plus you, a one-armed guy – what makes you think we can cooperate with an alchemy shop? We can't even get an audience with a Foundation Establishment deacon."

His words were a bit unfair. While Wang Yu, Luo Pinghu, and Huang Kai were indeed from the bottom, Zhou Tao was different, even without a strong background.

His cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Condensation and his skill as a first-tier high-grade alchemist were enough for him to serve in any alchemy shop. The fact that he came to Xu's Alchemy Shop indicated he had his own troubles.

Either he had offended someone, or he had been pushed out of his previous shop by colleagues. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to this newly opened establishment. His invitation to dinner yesterday showed he was a calculating person.

Wang Yu wasn't bothered by Luo Pinghu's harshness. He was just an ordinary cultivator who had been severely oppressed, and to learn alchemy, he must have poured immense effort into it.

Now that he had finally found a lucrative job, only for it to suddenly disappear, his emotions were naturally unstable. A slight prod would make him explode.

Zhou Tao was calculating, Luo Pinghu was emotional, but Huang Kai, who had remained silent, was the one Wang Yu valued. His personality seemed to be of the tenacious type.

He was also remarkably composed; though he hadn't spoken, he also showed no intention of getting up and leaving.

Each of the three had distinct characteristics, and Wang Yu felt confident about cooperating with them.

After a moment of silence,

it was Zhou Tao who spoke first: "Tell us about your confidence and your plan. If it's reasonable, I might join."

Wang Yu looked at Huang Kai, who, despite his usual silence, also spoke: "I feel similarly to Brother Zhou."

"And you, Luo Pinghu, do you want to hear it?"

The fellow didn't speak, but he didn't leave either. With the three of them showing this attitude, Wang Yu felt even more confident. He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out the Law Enforcement token he had acquired last night.

"Behold, this is my leverage."

The Law Enforcement Hall was a place countless ordinary cultivators in the Against Spirit Blood Sect had long dreamed of. To join it meant having a chance to become a core member of the sect in the future, with one foot already in the ranks of the powerful.

Wang Yu's background was similar to theirs, and he was even one-armed. Naturally, the three wouldn't assume he had an extraordinary background. Yesterday he was just a hired alchemist; today, things were completely different.

For people like them, there was only one way to become a Law Enforcement Hall cultivator: to be appreciated by a powerful figure!

Zhou Tao pondered, instinctively feeling that the sealing of Xu's Alchemy Shop was somehow connected to Wang Yu. He immediately made up his mind.

"I'll join."

"I'll join too."

"Brother Pinghu?"

"Me... can I..."

"Of course," Wang Yu said with a smile, stepping forward and patting Luo Pinghu's shoulder reassuringly. "It's nothing. We're friends; a few words mean nothing among us. No one takes it to heart."

Luo Pinghu quietly sighed in relief, unaware that the last friend Wang Yu had patted on the shoulder had had his corpse refined.

"Since you've agreed, let me explain the purpose of this Alchemist Society and the benefits you'll receive.

"In essence, I will use my position to supply the pills refined by you brothers to any of the ten shops in the Against Blood Market."

Don't underestimate the significance of this.

The Against Blood Market, an internal sect enterprise, serves as both a platform for cultivating disciples and a tool for accumulating spirit stones. Businesses here operate as monopolies.

Any alchemy shop within the Against Blood Market requires the approval of the Alchemy Hall to operate. The relationships are complex, with fierce competition for connections. Obtaining a storefront is difficult, getting qualified is difficult, and establishing supply channels is also difficult!

Setting up a roadside stall with a piece of cloth and selling on the go is strictly forbidden.

Even if your neighbors know you're an alchemist and want to buy pills from you, private sales are not allowed; sect rules prohibit it.

Therefore, sales qualifications are extremely important. Wang Yu only gradually learned about this after he became involved in the alchemy community, partly thanks to his half-year at the herb garden.

Secondly, there's the source of spiritual herbs. For herb gardens like Deacon Tantai's, which she acquired through connections with Cold Blood Peak, the harvested spiritual herbs can only be sold to alchemy shops under Cold Blood Peak.

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

Most of those who need to buy them are alchemists themselves. Once they master the most basic alchemy techniques, they then join various alchemy shops as qualified employees.

To own one's own business, one needs to reach at least the Foundation Establishment stage to have any leeway.

Moreover, buying spiritual herbs in bulk from official shops is too expensive and uneconomical; one needs to have their own channels for spiritual herbs.

Therefore, Wang Yu's first promise deeply moved the three of them.

If they could sell pills themselves and earn money, who would want to work for others?

Zhou Tao couldn't help but ask.

"How will this work precisely? What will be the selling price? And how much profit will we receive?"

"Don't rush, I haven't finished yet.

"I'll take care of acquiring spiritual herbs and securing sales qualifications. You only need to focus on alchemy. I guarantee you'll earn at least three times what you used to, if not more."

The three were naturally very tempted. Regardless of whether Wang Yu could deliver on his promises, joining this Alchemist Society would definitely not be a loss.

"Now, your first priority is to go to the Alchemy Hall and obtain your sect-recognized alchemist rank certificates."