Chapter 917: Pill Alliance, Top-Tier Smith!

“Master, you may not know this. The Huaying Pill requires rare materials and is extremely hard to refine. In the Starry Sea, aside from the Pill Alliance, no one can consistently produce more than two per batch. It’s the same across all other factions and their alchemists.”

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s displeasure, the Zhenhai Patriarch explained.

A fourth-rank alchemist is defined by being able to consistently refine fourth-rank pills.

But the Huaying Pill isn’t an ordinary fourth-rank pill. The materials are rare and the difficulty is sky-high.

Being able to consistently get one pill already marks you as exceptional, enough to be a guest elder anywhere.

Their chief alchemist in the Zhenhai Seven Sects has a fifty percent chance of producing two pills. That’s already top tier and ranked in the Starry Sea.

Only a few bigshots in the Pill Alliance can reliably do better.

Lu frowned, though he understood.

After all, not everyone is like him—if he was willing to put in the time, he’d have a sudden breakthrough and blend alchemy, forging, and talisman craft into one, reaching profound mastery.

“If we hire the Pill Alliance to open the furnace, what’s the price?” Lu asked.

“Ordinary Pill Alliance alchemists will take Huaying Pill commissions for free to gain practice, but to get three pills you must invite their top figures.”

The Zhenhai Patriarch added, “They rarely accept commissions. Unless you’re willing to owe them a favor or offer something they desire.”

“If they do have time and agree to refine, aside from base fees they’ll usually take one Huaying Pill as payment.”

The Starry Sea has neutral forces skilled in alchemy, forging, and divination—the Pill Alliance, Blade Forging Mountain, and Starrymoon Hall.

Even so, major powers still train their own alchemists, smiths, and diviners. Top craftsmen are hard to hire. It’s easier to cultivate your own.

And those neutral groups also price based on who you are.

If your cultivation is deep and your force has high-level alchemists, smiths, and diviners, they charge less.

If not, the price goes up.

“Tsk.”

Back in the day Lu supported wives, concubines, and children on talisman craft alone. He knew the profits were fat.

Even so the Pill Alliance’s fees still made him click his tongue.

No wonder these factions can remain neutral.

With skills like that, why risk your life fighting over opportunities?

“Looks like asking the Pill Alliance to make Huaying Pills isn’t worth it.”

Lu then asked about the smiths of the Zhenhai Seven Sects.

“Master, forging is my specialty.”

The Zhenhai Patriarch lifted his chin. “I’m not bragging. Aside from the late former head of Blade Forging Mountain, few in the Starry Sea surpass me at the forge.”

He was a body condensed from the Turtle Immortal Patriarch’s bloodline talent.

He had his own will, started ahead of most, and reached Nascent Soul in no time.

But the root of his strength was also his flaw.

Influenced by the main body, his cultivation advanced slowly, so he poured time and energy into studying the Seven Sects’ legacy.

Forging is where he spent the most time and where his talent shines.

“Oh?” Lu arched a brow, took out the blueprint for the Small Misty Dust Banner, and handed it over. He asked if it could be forged.

The Zhenhai Patriarch examined it and saw it was a composite treasure that needed to link with a main banner.

“Master, there should be a main banner to go with this. Let me study it a bit and forging it won’t be hard.”

He spoke after a short ponder.

“Good!” Lu was pleased.

He hadn’t expected his forging attainments to be this high.

He did need an alchemist for Huaying Pills,

but for now no one at home urgently needed them.

What he did have was a pile of treasures that needed recasting, forging, and upgrading.

“Once I’m free I’ll bring you the main and sub banners to study and copy. For now help me recast and refine these.”

Lu handed over the Mountain-Moving Whip, Silkworm Robe, Yellow Spring Map, Jiaolong Seal, and Yin Ming Ghost Sword.

Aside from the Yellow Spring Map he obtained in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons, the others were the life-bound treasures of True Lord Loushan, True Lord Tiancang, the Flood Dragon Holy Son, and True Lord Mingsha.

Such life-bound treasures can’t show their power without the same-line cultivation.

So Lu had long planned to recast or break them down and fuse them into other treasures.

As he spoke he also passed over some fourth-rank materials, asking the Zhenhai Patriarch to first repair the Silkworm Robe and forge a fourth-rank robe for himself.

Then recast the Mountain-Moving Whip to boost its anti-art properties and weight for use by him or the Brahma Demon True Form.

Both his fourth-rank physique and the Brahma Demon True Form need dedicated weapons.

“…”

The Zhenhai Patriarch’s face twitched at the heap of treasures. Was he being worked like a draft ox?

Fourth-rank spirit treasures, even just recasting, devour time—half a year to a year apiece.

And True Lord Yangming’s standards are high.

Not simple recasting. They have to be premium pieces.

If he also had to awaken and nurture spirits, one item might take years.

“You don’t need to nurture spirituality. Just push the quality as high as you can.”

Lu knew this was backbreaking work.

Otherwise he’d have stepped into fourth-rank forging long ago instead of leaving it untouched.

With that he lifted a hand and more treasures appeared.

True Lord Pinghai’s Pinghai Halberd, True Lord Fuhai’s Fuhai Jiaolong Spear, and several artifacts.

“These artifacts and treasures should go back to their owners. New Nascent Souls of the Pinghai Sect and Fuhai Sect can use them right away.”

Spirit treasures are precious.

But the Zhenhai Seven Sects now fall under his banner.

Sending them back raises the Seven Sects’ combat strength.

Otherwise he’d break them down and fuse them, and later the Seven Sects would spend resources to make replacements—wasteful.

And since he’s asking the Zhenhai Patriarch to forge, he should pay properly. Not make him work for nothing.

Seeing the life-bound treasures of True Lord Pinghai and True Lord Fuhai, the Zhenhai Patriarch paused.

Who would’ve thought the Seven Sects would end up like this, all because of one wrong step and making an enemy.

He sighed, took the treasures, and said, “Master, do you still have Lingbo’s body and treasures?”

His life now rests in True Lord Yangming’s hands. Talking about grudges is meaningless.

But returning the life-bound treasures of Pinghai and Fuhai showed the score was settled, which made him think of Lingbo True Lord’s body.

Though Lingbo has already seized a new body,

her original body was a top-tier Spirit Body, better aligned with her Nascent Soul spirit body, arts, and divine abilities.

If recovered it could serve as a reserve body, or for cultivating a clone or incarnation.

Besides the body, Lingbo’s treasures also fell to Lu.

For a Nascent Soul cultivator that greatly affects combat strength.

Right now in the Seven Sects, Pinghai, Fuhai, and Nuhai are dead,

Zhenhai, Tunhai, and Lingbo are badly wounded and had to seize bodies, and only Minghai remains intact.

In this situation he must raise the Seven Sects’ strength to face coming troubles and probes.

“Lingbo True Lord’s body isn’t with me now.”

Lu paused, then said, “But as for her treasures and artifacts, I’ll see if I can retrieve them.”

Lingbo’s body wasn’t fully refined into a puppet by Qian Zhuyan.

But it has already become Qian Zhuyan’s spirit-soul avatar.

Giving up the body now would harm her spirit-soul.

As for the life-bound treasure, Lu didn’t mind returning it.

As the Zhenhai Patriarch said, forces in the Starry Sea are testing the Seven Sects. If trouble snowballs, he won’t sit back.

“Thank you, Master.”

Now that Lingbo has finished seizing a body, the Zhenhai Patriarch didn’t press for the body. Getting the treasures back would already help a lot.

“Since you’re adept at forging, I have a forging legacy here. Spend some time studying it. It should help you.”

Lu thought for a moment and handed over a Jade Slip.

Having completed the God-Devouring Technique and pushed his Spirit-Soul Perception past late Nascent Soul, he fully controls the Turtle Immortal Patriarch and no longer worries about betrayal.

Though the Zhenhai Patriarch feels unwilling, with the main body’s suppression he can’t resist unless pushed too far.

So Lu showed goodwill and passed on the forging chapter of the Divine Creation Refinement Art.

He’ll need help crafting other high-grade treasures. The better the Zhenhai Patriarch is, the better.

“Much appreciated, Master.” The Zhenhai Patriarch accepted the Jade Slip calmly, planning to read it later.

“Besides that, help me gather the materials on this list and prepare some artisans and formation masters.”

Lu continued, handing him a materials list.

The Heavenly Sword Sect is busy relocating.

Once they’re done, it’ll be his turn.

The sect will be renamed Yangming Mountain. The mountain-guarding grand array must be rebuilt, and many buildings need artisans to repair.

Beyond the grand array, construction of the Dewfall Terrace needs to be scheduled.

He’d debated building it in the Immortal City of Damengze, the Zhenhai Sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect, or the Sea Eye at Da Mengze.

Now he’d decided.

Build it on the Heavenly Sword Sect’s blessed land—the future Yangming Mountain.

Simple reason: wherever you build it, there will be drawbacks and trouble.

Right now his name shakes the Jiang, Yue, and Liang regions, even across the Southern Desolation and the Northern Region.

Few dare to cause trouble.

And the Jiang Kingdom has already become his base.

The Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain, True Lord Incinerating Wither, and True Lord Nine Spirits will sit in town—three Nascent Souls.

When Hong Lian breaks through, that makes four.

With that strength they can contend with mid-stage Nascent Souls.

Once teleportation arrays link the Jiang and Jin Kingdoms and the Jiang Kingdom and the Zhenhai Sect, travel will be open.

Ah Youduo, the Heaven Corpse Sect Master, the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, and the Zhenhai Patriarch can reinforce at once.

With that lineup he fears no force in the Southern Desolation and the Northern Region.

Beyond that, his biggest confidence is Yangming Mountain, a fourth-rank spiritual land.

Once he advances to a fourth-rank formation master and the mountain-guarding array is built to his specs, merging with the array and driving the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, he won’t fear even late Nascent Soul elites and is confident he can beat them back.

With him seated at Yangming Mountain, plus Hong Lian, the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, the Zhenhai Patriarch, True Lord Nine Spirits, the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain, True Lord Incinerating Wither, and others, he doubts any top force will dare a head-on war.

So building the Dewfall Terrace at Yangming Mountain is the safest choice.

The Zhenhai Patriarch scanned the list and frowned.

The materials and manpower are enormous.

What is he planning?

A fourth-rank Immortal City?

He’d heard of the Jiang–Liang–Yue war and roughly guessed Lu’s plan, so he nodded.

He was just surprised. The man had kept a low profile in the Immortal City, then suddenly turned high-profile.

“In that case, I’ll trouble you. Gui Da, come with me to the Divine Maiden Palace.”

After giving instructions, Lu looked at the hunched, high-backed Turtle Immortal Patriarch at his side.

“Yes.” Bound by the Demon Subjugation Talisman, the Turtle Immortal Patriarch instinctively obeyed.

“I have some business with the Divine Maiden Palace to handle. There won’t be danger or trouble,” Lu said.

To the Turtle and Zhenhai Patriarchs, that explanation was unnecessary.

Penglai Island is only on par with the Seven Sects.

In the Divine Maiden Palace only Shen Jianjia, a top cultivator of the Starry Sea, is worth attention,

but neither the Turtle Immortal Patriarch nor True Lord Yangming fears her.

“Master, please hide the connection between my main body and the Seven Sects as much as possible to avoid needless trouble.”

The Zhenhai Patriarch knew the main body, under the Slave Mark, wouldn’t say this to True Lord Yangming.

So he had to bring it up.

“Rest easy.” Lu knew that once the Turtle Immortal Patriarch’s matter spread, the Seven Sects would be pushed to the forefront and draw more fear.

“Gui Da, when you act normally, will it draw attention or cause trouble?”

Lu asked with care, wanting to know if his bloodline and identity hid potential enemies or risks.

“Don’t worry, Master. In the Starry Sea no one can threaten me. In the Forbidden Sea I do have a few enemies, but it’s not an issue.”

The Turtle Immortal Patriarch spoke with confidence.

“Enemies in the Forbidden Sea?” Lu had always been curious about that place.

“I’ve lived there all along. Sometimes I fought demons over Natural Treasures I ran into.”

The Turtle explained.

Cautious as he is, being a turtle,

he still fights when it’s time to fight.

Inevitably enemies pile up. Some grudges can’t be avoided.

But unless someone is gravely wounded, none of us can do much to the other.

Lu nodded.

Who goes through life without a few enemies?

Even he, the ever-amiable Lu Ancestor, has his share.

The two left the Fuhai Sect, ready to board the Spirit Whale and head for the Divine Maiden Palace.

But the Spirit Whale instinctively felt danger and fear toward the Turtle Immortal Patriarch.

Seeing this, the Turtle used a divine ability, pulling in his demonic power and presence until even Lu couldn’t gauge his depth.

“Such profound concealment,” Lu thought. “I’d need to master the Perfect Seamless Robe to reach this level.”

“When we reach the Divine Maiden Palace, disguise yourself as my steward and call me Master.”

Lu eyed the black-robed, hunched Turtle and gave the order.

In that guise no one would guess he was a top Demon King, just a servant.

“Yes, Master.” Gui Da had no objections.

Lu had said he didn’t need to humble himself so much,

but under the Demon Subjugation Talisman he instinctively acted respectfully.

He stirred his bloodline ability, adding a withered elderly air, looking even more like an old retainer.

Lu couldn’t help but sigh. The Turtle’s concealment and disguise were exceptional.

When Lu returned to the cabin, Qin Yuning immediately saluted. “True Lord.”

But seeing the hunched, servant-like Turtle behind him, she looked surprised, wondering who the old man was.

She couldn’t see through him at all, as if he were just an old man with little life left.

“My steward, A’Gui.”

Lu gave a brief introduction and sat cross-legged with eyes closed.

The Turtle stood to the side, stooped.

After Lu and the Turtle left, the Zhenhai Patriarch slowly exhaled and looked at the Jade Slip.

The Seven Sects trace back to Yuhai Mountain, a top power in the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm.

Their arts and legacies outstrip typical Nascent Soul-level forces.

His forging is profound thanks not only to effort but also to Yuhai Mountain’s deep heritage.

So he rarely cares for ordinary forging legacies.

Even when he studies them, it’s only to spark ideas.

But he was interested in True Lord Yangming’s forging legacy.

He wanted to see its level, how it compared to Yuhai Mountain’s, and whether it could hint at Lu’s origins.

“This…”

The more he read the forging chapter of the Divine Creation Refinement Art, the more serious his face became.

He realized this legacy was on par with, maybe even deeper than, Yuhai Mountain’s.

And he could tell the forging chapter wasn’t complete—there were supporting arts alongside it.

“A legacy like this must come from a major power, one no weaker than Yuhai Mountain. Is he really the Eastern Emperor?”

Suspicion surged again as he guessed True Lord Yangming’s identity might be tied to the Eastern Emperor.

Only someone at that level could bestow such a top-tier legacy.

“But the Sun-Moon Star Palace isn’t known for forging. They shouldn’t have a legacy this strong.” The Zhenhai Patriarch was puzzled.

After a long think he still couldn’t figure out Yangming’s background. He stopped dwelling on it, immersed himself in the legacy, and began repairing the Silkworm Robe and recasting and upgrading the Mountain-Moving Whip.

Earlier he’d grumbled about the backbreaking work.

But after receiving the forging chapter of the Divine Creation Refinement Art, insights clicked into place. His complaints faded and this became the perfect chance to test and practice them.