Translator: AnubisTL
The lecture venue was located in the northwest corner of the outer sect. Originally, this place was an abandoned alchemy room. After renting, simple renovations, and restoring the Spirit Fire array, the total cost was 50,000 Spirit Stones. Gu Feng was quite satisfied with it.
The internal space was about an acre in size, and the overall layout was arranged according to the sales meeting venues from his previous life.
A large stage with a thousand seats, arranged neatly from the bottom up, gradually increasing in height.
To prevent those who might cause trouble after failing to learn how to refine the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill, Gu Feng generously spent another 100,000 Spirit Stones to have Chu Youhuan lead a team of dozens of cultivators to maintain order at the venue.
Today, Chu Youhuan, with a broadsword slung over her shoulder, stood tall and proud, her sharp eyes exuding an intimidating aura that sent shivers down people's spines.
The guard team led by Chu Youhuan was mostly composed of her disciples from the Jade Maiden Sect. However, their overall strength didn't meet Gu Feng's requirement of at least Qi Refinement level eight, giving off a sense of mediocrity.
Seeing Chu Youhuan's enthusiastic demeanor, it was likely that the entire 100,000 Spirit Stones ended up in her personal pocket. She probably told her Jade Maiden Sect disciples that she was helping a friend, making it a voluntary action.
Gu Feng didn't mind this. As long as Chu Youhuan was there, even if she couldn't take action in the outer sect, her presence alone would serve as a deterrent.
"Guard Chu!"
"Yes, boss. What are your orders?"
"Take a headcount. If there are no issues, we can begin!" Looking at Chu Youhuan, dressed in plain black robes, and the team of cultivators behind her also clad in black, Gu Feng's lips twitched. He didn't understand why bodyguards and enforcers always seemed to prefer wearing black.
Perhaps it was to appear solemn and intimidating!
"Alright, boss!" Chu Youhuan, with her professional demeanor, strode confidently onto the stage.
"Everyone, our Sunset Glow Sect is the top sect in Cloud Prefecture. I believe everyone here has purchased 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills'...
However, for the sake of fairness, we still need to conduct a routine check!
Please prepare your books for inspection by our team!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion broke out. The attendees were all esteemed alchemists who had never been subjected to such disrespect.
Especially those cloaked in black robes, their faces turned grim, itching to tear off their hoods and reveal their true identities, reprimanding Chu Youhuan for her lack of respect.
However, they refrained from doing so. As Alchemy Hall Elders, sneaking in to observe the alchemy demonstration of a non-Alchemy Hall disciple would be quite embarrassing if it got out.
If you want to inspect, then inspect. We believe the disciples of the Alchemy Hall can withstand the moral test.
However, the inspection results left Elder Shen and Elder Zhao, sitting in the corner, furious.
In such a small venue, five or six infiltrators were discovered, four of whom belonged to their outer sect Alchemy Hall.
They had used the most outrageous method, creating their own version of 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills' in an attempt to deceive. Unfortunately, they underestimated Gu Feng's meticulousness. How could the books he personally made not have anti-counterfeit measures?
"Someone, throw those people out!"
Chu Youhuan's sharp voice rang in their ears. Elder Zhao and Elder Shen exchanged glances, both seeing the anger in each other's eyes.
"Before refining pills, refine one's virtue. Expel these disciples from the Alchemy Hall!" Elder Shen said gravely.
"We'll take care of it after the meeting!"
After everyone in the venue had been checked, Chu Youhuan began announcing the venue rules.
"No noise. If..."
"...You may ask Master Gu questions during the alchemy process, but you must raise your hand first and get my approval..."
Using a minor authority as a major command, the black-robed cultivators below the stage sneered at this, thinking to themselves: If I reveal my true identity, wouldn't you be scared out of your wits? An inner sect disciple, acting all high and mighty!
"Boss, we can begin now!" After finishing the venue rules, Chu Youhuan quickly ran to Gu Feng's side.
"It's just alchemy, no need to make it so formal. They are alchemists, not my disciples!" Gu Feng said helplessly, then signaled Yan Xixi to start preparing.
Yan Xixi brought a few people to fill the array with Spirit Stones, activate the Spirit Fire, and adjust the position of the alchemy cauldron...
"Everyone, relax. You can chat. We'll start soon." Gu Feng also went on stage and said with a smile.
"Senior Brother Liu, you're here too?"
"Yes, the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill is quite extraordinary. I can't refine it either. It's a pity our Alchemy Hall Elders disdain this pill, otherwise, we wouldn't have to spend 50,000 Spirit Stones to watch Gu Feng's alchemy demonstration!"
"Exactly, last time I secretly read 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills' in class, I was almost scolded to death by the lecturing elder!"
"Haha, you're not alone. I was scolded too."
"Junior Brother Wu, you're so disloyal. We agreed not to buy it, yet you went and did it secretly."
"Senior Brother Hao, same to you. Didn't you buy it too?"
"Brother, where are you from? Why are you wearing a black robe, so mysterious."
"None of your business!"
"..."
The ordinary Alchemy Hall disciples chatted among themselves, while the black-robed cultivators maintained a silent consensus.
Soon, the stage preparations were complete. A cluster of crimson Spirit Fire erupted from the ground through the array, instantly raising the temperature in the venue.
"Everyone, I will explain as I refine the pills. If you have any questions, raise your hand and ask!"
Gu Feng said briefly, then sat down cross-legged. To ensure everyone could see clearly, he chose a position where all could have a good view.
"The refining materials for the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill are similar to the Bone Cleansing Pill, but with a few auxiliary herbs reduced and some ratios changed."
"Three qian of Incense Candle Grass, one Azure Lotus Fruit, two liang of Mystic Ice Flower..."
TL/N: One qian = 3.73 grams (0.132 ounces). One liang = ten qian.
Gu Feng's movements were slow. Each time he picked up an herb, he placed it in front of him to show the audience.
The cultivators below had a small notebook in their left hand, a pen in their mouth, and their right hand comparing 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills'.
Everyone present was an alchemist. They still couldn't believe they couldn't refine the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill, feeling very indignant. They wanted to compare and find any mistakes or omissions in 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills' to force Gu Feng to refund their money!
Of course, these were ordinary disciples. The true masters had already memorized 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills' by heart and didn't need to compare. The only thing they needed to do was focus intently, paying attention to every detail of Gu Feng's alchemy process.
Warming the cauldron!
The dark green cauldron instantly turned red-hot. Once the walls were evenly heated, Gu Feng began systematically adding the Spirit Herbs.
In one corner, Elder Zhao and Elder Shen watched and discussed.
"Gu Feng's technique is that of an amateur, completely ruining the elegance of alchemy!"
"Haha, it's too rough. When we refine pills, we use both hands to pick up the herbs, applying just the right amount of force. Gu Feng directly grabs them, causing many herbs to deform during the process."
"Indeed, his purification skills are quite good, showing that his soul power is not bad."
"Separating nine pills at once, his soul power has surpassed most people."
"Every step is ordinary, so why can he succeed in refining?"
"I've tried refining like this before, but..."
"..."
The more they watched, the more confused they became. Gu Feng's alchemy steps had no remarkable techniques, and some steps were even rough, violating the principles of alchemy.
If anyone else had done this, their cauldron would have exploded long ago. Yet, the pills in Gu Feng's cauldron remained stable, and the pill fragrance gradually wafted out.
Gu Feng's movements were fast, as if he was rushing through time, often only completing half a step before moving on to the next.
The audience below was stunned. Although 'The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills' stated that refining one cauldron only took an hour, witnessing it in person still left them in awe of his speed.
It made their palms sweat and their hair stand on end, leaving them momentarily forgetting to ask questions.
They had never seen such a rough yet fast refining technique. No wonder he alone could produce enough pills to supply tens of thousands of Body Tempering Realm disciples. With such speed, he deserved to make money.
Chu Youhuan and the female cultivators from the Jade Maiden Sect were also wide-eyed, speechless for a long time.
Buzz—
With a faint metallic hum, Gu Feng's alchemy entered its final stage. He suddenly stood up and lightly tapped the small lid on top of the cauldron.
Nine streaks of mysterious light shot out. Gu Feng held a porcelain bottle in his left hand, spread his right hand, and fanned the nine streaks of light. The pills revealed their true forms, changing their flight path and perfectly landing in the bottle. Sealing and labeling, the entire process was seamless.
Subconsciously, he threw the bottle to Yan Xixi beside him and shouted, "Next cauldron!"
Gasp—
The crowd was completely shocked. To be honest, Gu Feng's alchemy technique wasn't aesthetically pleasing, but his bottling speed was incredibly smooth, more than a word could describe, surpassing even many elders.
"Hehe, Gu Feng—" Yan Xixi covered her mouth with a light laugh, reminding Gu Feng that they weren't mass-producing pills, so there was no need for such a routine.
"Oh, oh—
After refining pills for several months, it's become a reflex." Gu Feng scratched his head sheepishly, then faced the audience and said loudly, "Did you learn it?"
They were completely lost!
They couldn't learn it, nor could they understand it!
Everyone was dumbfounded, including the black-robed Alchemy Hall Elders.
Their minds were in chaos. How could such a refining technique succeed? Moreover, producing nine pills at once, each with six runes, was simply incomprehensible.
The silence in the venue dampened Gu Feng's enthusiasm. The Modified Bone Cleansing Pill might have reached its end here. He waved his hand towards the audience, "Disperse!"
Everyone looked at each other, a sense of unwillingness hanging in the air.
At that moment, a processed female voice rang out, "Refine it again!"
"No, you won't learn it anyway." Gu Feng said weakly.
"You must refine it!" The black-robed female cultivator stood up, her tone filled with coercion.
"Someone, throw this rule-breaker out."
Chu Youhuan, as the leader of the security team, stood up and directed two female cultivators towards the black-robed figure.
"How much will it cost for you to refine it again?" Seeing Chu Youhuan and her team approaching quickly, the black-robed female cultivator clenched her fingers and immediately added.
Oh?
Hearing this, Gu Feng's eyes lit up, and he immediately stopped Chu Youhuan and her team.
"500,000!"
"Are you robbing me!?" The black-robed female cultivator clearly couldn't accept this price.
Not just her, everyone present was shocked by this astronomical figure.
Refining one cauldron, which only took an hour, costs 500,000 Spirit Stones? This was worse than robbery, treating everyone as fools.
"500,000 is already a friend's price, otherwise it would be even more expensive. I can control ninety-nine cauldrons at once, each producing nine pills that can be bottled, totaling a value of nearly two million. Do you still think 500,000 is expensive?"
This statement left no room for rebuttal, as from the current pill sales, Gu Feng wasn't exaggerating.
"Having you bear it alone is indeed too expensive, but there are many of you. You can share the cost!" Gu Feng said with a smile, encouraging them.
Chu Youhuan's eyes sparkled with envy, earning 5 million in an hour was something she didn't even dare to dream of!
"I'll pay 20,000!"
"I'll pay 20,000 too!"
"..."
Gathering 500,000 was faster than Gu Feng expected. In about half an incense stick's time, the 500,000 was placed in front of him.
Without delay, he immediately began a new round of refining.
This time, everyone was smarter, constantly asking questions during the refining process.
Gu Feng answered every question, but the answers only left the Alchemy Hall Elders even more confused.
Another hour passed, and the atmosphere in the venue became even more tense. Clearly, no one had learned it yet.
"Refine one more cauldron, here's 500,000!" Elder Shen's eyes flickered. He seemed to have caught a glimpse of something and without hesitation, directly threw 500,000 Spirit Stones to Gu Feng for another round of refining.
"Sorry, the price has increased this time, 600,000! If there's no money, I'll leave." Gu Feng said with a pout.
"You... how can you increase the price?" Elder Shen didn't say anything, but Elder Zhao beside him was unhappy, standing up and questioning.
"Not only am I increasing the price this time, but every additional cauldron refined after this will increase by 100,000. If you want to watch, then watch. If you don't have the money, get lost!"
Gu Feng was now certain that no matter how much he refined, others wouldn't learn it. So he decided to make outrageous demands, trying to extort as much as possible, and if not, then forget it.
"Fine, 600,000 it is!"
Elder Shen's voice was low, taking out another 100,000 and throwing it to Gu Feng.
The second additional cauldron quickly passed.
At the urging of some people, another 700,000 Spirit Stones were gathered for Gu Feng to refine a third cauldron.
Gu Feng didn't mind, as long as there was money, he would refine!
Time passed, and within twelve hours, Gu Feng refined a total of eight cauldrons, earning over six million Spirit Stones. It had to be said, these alchemists were really rich.
After the last cauldron was completed, Gu Feng really didn't want to refine anymore. He directly extinguished the Spirit Fire and prepared to leave.
At that moment, a black-robed cultivator suddenly stood up and shouted at Gu Feng, "You must have used some obscure technique during the alchemy process that you didn't disclose to us. Otherwise, with my alchemy skills, I wouldn't have failed to learn it."
His voice was loud, his tone harsh, clearly in a "you won't leave until you explain" manner.
"If you can't defecate, don't blame the toilet for not working. If you can't learn it, look for the reasons within yourself. Getting angry at me is useless!" Gu Feng's eyes narrowed, staring intently at the black-robed figure standing there. "Guard Chu, throw him out!"
"Understood!" Chu Youhuan didn't hesitate, leading a team of cultivators, full of momentum, towards the person.
"How dare you, trying to throw me out? Do you have the ability?
Today, I'm putting it out there. You won't leave until you explain clearly!"
As he spoke, a violent aura suddenly erupted, a force surpassing the Innate Realm swept through the entire venue.
A Spiritual Power whirlwind appeared out of nowhere.
Chu Youhuan's face changed, and she immediately led the female cultivators to retreat to Gu Feng's side, setting up defenses to protect him.
Her reaction was quick, but the alchemists immersed in their thoughts didn't react as fast.
The ordinary Alchemy Hall disciples were blown away like pieces of paper, while the Alchemy Hall Elders hiding their identities, although not blown away, had their black robe hoods fall off.
After seeing the faces hidden beneath the black robes, a terrifying silence fell over the venue.
The Alchemy Hall Elder who had erupted was dumbfounded. Many of his colleagues, his superiors, and even the Chief Elder of the Alchemy Hall were here!
The outer sect Alchemy Hall disciples were dumbstruck. The usually aloof Elders, who had disdained the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill, had all come!
Chu Youhuan and the Jade Maiden Sect were shocked. These people were all too familiar, the big shots of the outer sect Alchemy Hall, and they had wanted to throw them out?
Yan Xixi shrunk her neck, hiding behind Gu Feng. She saw her sister, the one who had first thrown 500,000 Spirit Stones to have Gu Feng refine another cauldron.
Gu Feng was shaken, almost falling to the ground!
Holy crap, why are so many big shots here?
Weren't we supposed to have only outer sect Alchemy Hall disciples?
Oh my, I just taught these big shots alchemy, kept increasing the price, and extorted them?
And my attitude was so bad!
(End of the Chapter)
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