Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Speaking with Malice
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After Xu Shangao left, Fang Lin closed the courtyard door, thinking that no one would come by at this late hour.
Fang Lin walked into the Pill Refining Room. The room was empty, and with a smack of the Nine Palace Bag, the Golden Flame Cauldron made a crash as it landed to the ground.
Looking at the golden Pill Cauldron shimmering with light, Fang Lin appeared a bit thoughtful, examining the Golden Flame Cauldron up and down.
“I wonder if Gu Daofeng has done something to the Pill Cauldron?” Fang Lin thought to himself, starting to meticulously inspect the Golden Flame Cauldron.
Fang Lin didn’t have any positive feelings towards Gu Daofeng, despite him presenting him such a fine Pill Cauldron.
After checking it over several times, Fang Lin finally relaxed. There was nothing unusual about this Golden Flame Cauldron.
Having inspected the Golden Flame Cauldron, Fang Lin didn’t want to do anything else. He then sat cross-legged directly in the Pill Refining Room and took the Nurturing Breath Pill that Master Zhou had given him.
The Nurturing Breath Pill given by Master Zhou was of medium quality and its medicinal properties could last for three or four days.
Although Fang Lin wasn’t very satisfied with the quality of the pill, it was better than nothing.
Upon swallowing the pill, it transformed into a warm flow, quickly seeping into Fang Lin’s body.
“Huh?” In the next moment, a hint of surprise revealed in Fang Lin’s eyes, but it was more of joy.
“I didn’t expect such a peculiar light could have such an effect, increasing the efficiency of my pill absorption so much!” Fang Lin thought to himself.
Once the pill entered his body, it was quickly absorbed. The absorption speed was three times faster than usual.
Originally, it would take an hour before the medicinal power of the pill would show its effect, but right now, it only took the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
Such changes could only be attributed to the effects of the Four Saints light. There was no other explanation.
Fang Lin was currently at the fourth level of Human Origin. At this level, he ranked in the middle among the Pill Apprentices. But now that he has become an official disciple, this level seemed somewhat deficient.
Even Xu Shangao was at the sixth level of Human Origin. Fang Lin’s level was definitely at the bottom among the official disciples.
Although the Pill Sect focused on Pill Refining, one can’t neglect the progress in martial arts further. After all, the foundation of Pill Refining also required a strong martial arts base to maintain.
For three days in a row, Fang Lin did not leave his house, spending all the time in cultivation. During these three days, some other official disciples came to visit him. However, seeing that his courtyard door was closed, they left.
Three days later, Fang Lin emerged from the Pill Refining Room rejuvenated and full of energy.
“I’m almost at the fifth level of Human Origin, just a bit more. If I take two more Nurturing Breath Pills, it should be enough,” Fang Lin thought to himself.
Although he was about to reach the fifth level of Human Origin, Fang Lin still had a lot to do. Firstly, this small courtyard was bare, and he needed to plant some medicinal herbs.
Besides, he needed to get some furniture. Otherwise, when guests come, they simply couldn’t sit on the floor.
After some thought, Fang Lin went to see Xu Shangao. He had been mingling among official disciples for several years and was familiar with many things.
From Xu Shangao, he got many medicinal plant seedlings, and Xu Shangao also got some furniture which Fang Lin put in his Nine Palace Bag to take home.
Fang Lin brought the furniture back to the courtyard and arranged it neatly. Then he started planting medicinal plant seedlings.
Fang Lin designated a part of the courtyard as a medicine farm, occupying nearly two-thirds of the yard, and started planting the seedlings.
In his previous life, Fang Lin was a Pill Sovereign. Not only was his Alchemy Technique sublime, his skills in planting medicinal herbs were also remarkable.
Furthermore, Fang Lin was the Reviving Dead Wood Body. Once the seedlings were planted, they bloomed with life, not wilting like many seedlings do just after planting.
Fang Lin marveled, his Reviving Dead Wood Body was indeed suitable to be a medicinal farmer.
However, Fang Lin was an ambitious person. How could he be content with being just a medicinal farmer? If he had to be a farmer, he would be a farmer with ideals and aspirations.
After being busy for a day, Fang Lin planted all the medicinal plant seedlings he had gotten from Xu Shangao. However, half of the medicine farm was still uncultivated.
“It seems I need to get some more medicinal plant seedlings,” After a tiring day, Fang Lin didn’t plan to do anything else and went back to his room to sleep.
The next day, Xu Shangao brought some more medicinal plant seedlings. After Fang Lin planted them, the spacious courtyard still seemed somewhat empty.
“Brother Fang, your courtyard is so large. You can go to the Pill Pavilion and buy some medicinal plant seedlings to plant,” Xu Shangao suggested.
Fang Lin asked dazedly, “What is the Pill Pavilion for?”
Xu Shangao explained, “The Pill Pavilion is where our Pill Sect sells pills, medicinal plants, Pill Furnaces, and other items. If you refine good pills, you can sell them at the Pill Pavilion. It’s very convenient, and you can also purchase what you need from the Pill Pavilion.”
Fang Lin patted his pocket and said, “I have no money.”
Xu Shangao twitched at the corner of his mouth and said, “You don’t need worldly silver. You can exchange pills for them.”
Fang Lin nodded and said, “I see.”
After a pause, Xu Shangao added, “However, the Pill Pavilion is very domineering. If you sell pills there, the Pill Pavilion will take 30% of your profit.”
Fang Lin raised his eyebrows, “30% profit? The Pill Pavilion is simply robbing people! ”
Xu Shangao sighed, “Who can disagree? But as disciples, we have to grin and bear it.’
Fang Lin pondered, he only needed to buy some medicinal plant seedlings, which weren’t really expensive. He could easily trade them for some pills he could refine.
In the following days, Fang Lin borrowed some medicinal herbs from Xu Shangao, and he refined three bottles of Qi Nurturing Pills to trade at the Pill Pavilion for some medicinal plant seedlings.
The three bottles of Qi Nurturing Pills were quite valuable. Fang Lin thought that they should be more than enough to exchange for some medicinal plant seedlings.
One day, Fang Lin, carrying three bottles of Qi Nurturing Pills, and Xu Shangao headed towards the Pill Pavilion.
The Pill Pavilion was located atop an isolated mountain peak. Only official disciples were allowed to enter the Pill Pavilion to trade. Pill Apprentices didn’t have the qualifications to approach this mountain peak.
Fang Lin and Xu Shangao arrived at the Pill Pavilion together. They saw many official disciples. Since Fang Lin was a new face, he naturally attracted some attention.
However, when these people looked at Fang Lin, they showed a mix of sympathy and derision.
Xu Shangao and Fang Lin both noticed. Xu Shangao was a bit worried, whereas Fang Lin didn’t care, he was used to it.
Outside the Pill Pavilion, there were ninety-nine steps, flanked by massive Pill Furnace statues, which had an impressive demeanor.
On top of these two Pill Furnace statues, a person dressed in black sat on each, motionless, with their auras nearly extinct as if they had become one with the stone statues underneath them.
Xu Shangao whispered, “These two are the protectors of the Pill Pavilion. It’s said their strength is unfathomable. There was a Martial Sect disciple who caused trouble here, and these two crippled him on the spot.”
Fang Lin nodded thoughtfully looking at the two.
“Oh, isn’t this Brother Xu and Brother Fang?” Just then, several people walked over from a distance. The one leading the group was none other than Shen Fu, the superior disciple who had a verbal altercation with Fang Lin the other day.
Upon seeing Shen Fu, Xu Shangao’s expression changed with fear in his eyes, while a smile appeared on Fang Lin’s face.
“I’m new to the Sect, may I ask for your honored name?” Fang Lin asked with a harmless smile on his face.
Shen Fu’s face stiffened, and the disciples following him couldn’t help but look amused.
Xu Shangao glanced at Fang Lin, filled with admiration.
Shen Fu’s forcibly applied smile completely disappeared, replaced by icy anger.
“Fang Lin, did you forget me so quickly?” Shen Fu said with a cold smile.
Fang Lin frowned, puzzled. “I really don’t know you, Brother, you can’t bully me for having a bad memory.”
Shen Fu’s face darkened further. He snorted, “Pretending to be stupid with me? Fang Lin, you better be careful. Even if you have become an official disciple, this place is still my Shen Fu’s territory.”
Fang Lin suddenly realized. “Oh, it’s Brother Shen Fu. No wonder I thought you didn’t look like a good person. I’m really sorry, Brother Shen. I have a bad memory and I forget people who don’t look like good people.”
Upon hearing this, everyone, whether they were just passing by or watching the fun, were stunned. This was followed by an uproar.
“Fang Lin is too bold, he dare to talk to Shen Fu like this!”
“He’s too arrogant. He is just a lower-ranked disciple, and so disrespectful!” “He’s really brave. Among the official disciples, not many would dare to speak to Shen Fu like this.”
Everyone looked at Fang Lin, and then at Shen Fu, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot. They admired Fang Lin but also shook their heads secretly, believing that Fang Lin was too arrogant and unwise.
Shen Fu couldn’t control his anger. His eyes locked onto Fang Lin, as if he were ready to rush over and tear Fang Lin apart.
“Fang Lin, you are so rude!” One of the official disciples next to Shen Fu shouted.
“Disrespectful, ill-mannered, worse than pigs and dogs!”
“Your becoming an official disciple is a disgrace! ”
“Get out of the Pill Sect!” A few other official disciples started yelling. They all followed Shen Fu.
Xu Shangao was secretly apprehensive but could only stand firmly next to Fang Lin, staring angrily at the official disciples.
The two black-robed men sitting on the stone statues opened their eyes, glanced over, and then withdrew their gazes, no longer concerned.
Shen Fu was gnashing his teeth, he roared, ‘You beast, do you dare insult me?”
Fang Lin remained calm, with a mocking smile on his face. He looked at the official disciples who were baring their fangs, “I am the first-ranked Pill Apprentice and favored by the Four Saints. You call me a beast, which is a great sin. If the Four Saints have a spirit, they will punish you!”
As soon as he finished speaking, suddenly the Four Saint statues atop the Pill Array started to glow, as if they were responding to Fang Lin’s voice.
The crowd was shocked and Shen Fu’s followers were in a panic, their eyes filled with horror.
“The Four Saints have shown their divine sanction again!” Someone shouted. Other faces were filled with excitement.
Only Fang Lin, under the glow of the Four Saints, seemed like a divine deity..