https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-137-Refining-the-Strange-Fire-Conspiracy-and-the-Arrival-of-Huo-Kunlun-Part-1-/12963814/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-138-Keeping-Secrets-from-Me-Part-1-/12963816/
Chapter 137: Refining the Strange Fire, Conspiracy, and the Arrival of Huo Kunlun (Part 2)
Chapter 137: Refining the Strange Fire, Conspiracy, and the Arrival of Huo Kunlun (Part 2)
.."
"Stop!"
Huo Kunlun's eyebrows furrowed.
"Class?"
"What class?"
Qu was taken aback.
"Huh?"
Oh no!
He realized he must have misunderstood!
Hence, he dared not continue his rambling and could only say, "Perhaps I misunderstood, Senior. What is it that you seek?"
"Where are you inviting me to go?" Huo Kunlun's eyebrows furrowed even deeper.
"From your words, it seems you've traveled a long way. Surely it's not just for a small matter like me?" The Outer Sect Disciple asked.
Huo Kunlun hesitated.
Although something seemed amiss, he didn't think it was worth his time to deal with an apparently slow-witted Labor Disciple.
If there was anything, he could just ask the three Supreme Elders directly.
Soon after, he casually tossed two Superior Essence Stones of higher quality to the disciple and left with a flick of his sleeve.
As a prominent figure seeking information, a small 'tip' was still necessary.
After all, he was a person of status and not some arrogant bully or evil outsider.
It wouldn't do to spread a bad reputation.
But...
After taking a few dozen steps, he didn't even hear a word of thanks, which made him mutter to himself, "As expected of a small sect, they don't even recognize a Superior Essence Stone, let alone understand proper etiquette."
"When a senior bestows a gift, you don't even know to say thank you?"
He turned back and saw the disciple examining the Superior Essence Stone.
"This should be an Essence Stone, right?"
"What would I do with this thing?" the disciple mumbled.
Huo Kunlun's breath hitched, almost infuriated.
Damn, this is a Superior Essence Stone!
One of these is worth a hundred regular Essence Stones.
And you're questioning if it's an Essence Stone? He didn't find it strange, as it would be odd for a Labor Disciple from a small place like this to recognize a Superior Essence Stone.
But for his esteemed self to graciously bestow such a valuable item, only to have it treated like a worthless object, was going too far.
He couldn't help but say, "This is a Superior Essence Stone, worth a hundred regular Essence Stones. Holding it while cultivating will suffice for your cultivation needs for several months!"
"I surmise that with your identity, your monthly allowance is at most ten regular Essence Stones, right?"
"Hiss!!!"
"So, this is equivalent to two hundred regular Essence Stones?" The disciple exclaimed.
"Not a single one less," Huo Kunlun coldly hummed.
He thought to himself: Now you know the value of a Superior Essence Stone, you fool.
"Then... it should indeed be quite good. Thank you, Senior."
Huo Kunlun was about to retort with something like 'it's nothing to me,' but the words died on his lips as he suddenly realized something.
What did he just say?
"You mean it should be quite good?" Huo Kunlun furrowed his brows, looking at the disciple, "What do you mean by that? Could it be that your monthly allowance doesn't include Essence Stones, and you don't use them for cultivation?"
Surely not?
If they don't provide Essence Stones, how poor and lacking must this sect be! But if they do provide them, why would the disciple not have a clear understanding and instead say it 'should' be quite good?
For a First Stage junior cultivator, this is clearly a huge sum!
Even if one were to reveal this outside, it could cost their life.
"You've hit the nail on the head, Senior." The Outer Sect Disciple smiled naively and clapped, "Indeed, our Moonseizing Sect doesn't provide Essence Stones as monthly allowances. However, we can earn sect points by completing tasks and exchange them for Essence Stones. But I find them useless, so I've never bothered."
Huo Kunlun was speechless.
Wow, is this true?
So even the Moonseizing Sect doesn't provide monthly allowances? How do they manage to be so poor?
You could at least provide one, couldn't you?
Not providing any at all, how can disciples be expected to risk their lives for the sect?
In an instant, Lin Fan's standing in Huo Kunlun's mind plummeted.
This person...
His character is not up to par; he's not fit to be a Sect Leader.
With such management, the sect will eventually disband.
"You..."
After silently criticizing Lin Fan, Huo Kunlun couldn't help but turn around and said in a deep voice, "Child, did your master not teach you the importance of Essence Stones for cultivation?"
"How could Essence Stones be useless?"
"For cultivators like us, Essence Stones are indispensable!"
"Without Essence Stones, how can you cultivate quickly?"
"Without Essence Stones, how can you improve yourself faster?"
"Without Essence Stones, how can you trade with others?"
"As cultivators, we need Essence Stones for everything. Don't let others mislead you!"
At this moment, Huo Kunlun felt a surge of compassion.
What a pitiful child.
To be so easily deceived, it's truly pitiable.
This Moonseizing Sect, it's simply...
"Cultivation?"
Unexpectedly, the Outer Sect Disciple looked puzzled, then clapped his hands, "Oh, that's right! Senior, you just said it's enough for several months of cultivation!"
"Of course!" Huo Kunlun emphasized, "Your realm is still low, so this will be sufficient for several months."
"I see. So Essence Stones can aid in cultivation."
He scratched his head and carefully took out a jade bottle from his chest, opening it and pouring its contents into his palm. "Please, Senior, take a look. At my current realm, would it be better to cultivate with this pill or use Essence Stones?"
"This pill is the monthly allowance provided by our sect. I occasionally take one, but it always feels like a burden. We receive five pills a month, and I have to force myself to finish them."
"If cultivating with the Superior Essence Stone you gave me is more effective, then I won't take these pills anymore."
Burdened?
What nonsense!
Huo Kunlun frowned once again.
"
"If that's true, the Moonseizing Sect is misleading its disciples, no, it's harming them!"
"How could they do such a thing?"
But when the other party poured the pill into his palm, Huo Kunlun looked closely.
Six radiant halos almost blinded his eyes.
"Six...Sixth Rank Opening Mysteries Pill?"
Huo Kunlun was stunned.
The Opening Mysteries Pill was the best auxiliary pill for first-stage cultivators.
But this was a Sixth Rank pill.
Sixth Rank!
Damn, what was he saying just now?
This was their monthly allowance?
And he felt burdened?
Huo Kunlun stared speechlessly at the young man in front of him, his lips twitching uncontrollably.
You're just a first-stage cultivator who has opened five mystery gates. Even if I sold you, you wouldn't be worth as much as a single pill. With your cultivation and physical strength, it's best to absorb one pill every ten days to avoid any waste.
And you want to take five pills a month?
Who else would feel burdened but you? How much pill power will be wasted!
Why don't you choke on them, kid!
"Senior, why aren't you saying anything?"
Huo Kunlun was still in a daze, but the outer sect disciple kept looking at him expectantly. "So, which one is better?"
Huo Kunlun: "..."
Slap, slap, slap!
He felt as if two invisible hands were slapping his face non-stop. His face hurt.
It hurt a lot.
"Cough."
"Your pills are not bad either. You should still take the pills, but if you feel burdened, you can take one every ten days. That way, there won't be any waste, and it's the most cost-effective."
"Oh?"
The outer sect disciple realized, "So that's the case. But we receive five pills every month. If I don't take them, won't they be wasted? I'll still take them, even if it's a bit of a burden."
But in his heart, he muttered, "I thought Superior Essence Stones were so great, but they're just so-so."
"It's not much of a burden, although some pill power will be wasted. But it will help you grow faster," Huo Kunlun felt like his tongue was getting tied up.
This kid's words were like a constant jab at him!
Damn it!
If it weren't for your sincere expression, I'd think you were doing this on purpose.
"By the way, you mentioned earlier..."
Huo Kunlun had a question and asked, "Five pills per person per month? Are all the pills of this quality?"
"Not exactly."
In his eyes, Huo Kunlun was definitely one of them.
This wasn't a big secret, so there was no need to hide it. He explained, "Not all disciples receive five pills. Only some do."
He patted his chest and said proudly, "I am a noble outer sect disciple, so I can receive five pills."
You're a noble outer sect disciple? What nonsense!
Huo Kunlun's lips twitched. If you hadn't said that, I would have thought you were a labor disciple!
"Labor disciples can only receive three pills, and they don't feel burdened."
Huo Kunlun's lips twitched even more.
What? Even labor disciples get three Sixth Rank pills?
"Yes, they're all Sixth Rank."
He muttered, "I heard from the senior brothers and sisters in the pill furnace room that it used to be Fifth Rank pills a couple of years ago. But back then, the sect had fewer people, and the pill refining was done solely by the senior sister."
"With one person refining so many pills, she was extremely busy and had to multitask. That's why the pills were only Fifth Rank."
"Later, the senior brothers and sisters could help out in the pill furnace room, and some could even refine pills on their own!"
"Under the guidance and improved pill formulas of the senior sister, they could slowly refine Sixth Rank Opening Mysteries and Essence Condensation Pills."
"From then on, our pills have all been Sixth Rank."
There are even Sixth Rank Essence Condensation Pills?
Huo Kunlun couldn't control his facial expressions anymore. "Continue!"
"It's not just the Essence Condensation Pills. The senior brothers and sisters can only refine Sixth Rank Essence Condensation Pills at most. Only the senior sister can refine higher-ranked pills."
"However, our Moonseizing Sect didn't have many disciples in the past few years, but now, almost all disciples receive pills. The senior sister isn't as busy as before."
"The pills for the third stage and above are all refined by the senior sister, and even the lowest quality is Sixth Rank."
Damn!
Huo Kunlun's heart raced.
He almost cursed out loud.
I thought the Moonseizing Sect's disciples were living a miserable life, not even receiving a single Essence Stone a month. But you're telling me that even labor disciples get three Sixth Rank pills suitable for their cultivation stage?
And here I was, thinking Lin Fan was being cruel to his disciples. Now, when I think about the treatment my own disciples receive, my lips are twitching uncontrollably, and my face is hurting even more.
It seems like even the monthly allowance of inner sect disciples can't compare to the labor disciples, and the gap is significant!
Most sects outside would envy the treatment of our disciples.
(End of Chapter)The outcome...
Who could have imagined such a scenario?
"What about the Inner Sect disciples' monthly allowance?" He asked, trying to gather his thoughts.
"Inner Sect disciples?"
"It's said to be ten or more, right?"
"I'm curious, how can they afford it?"
"Isn't it excessive?"
"Senior."
Huo Kunlun stared at him with an innocent expression, "Do you think they can handle it?"
Huo Kunlun wanted to curse, but his exceptional composure calmed him down. He took a deep breath and said, "It varies from person to person. Different physiques and talents result in different absorption rates."
"Oh, I see!"
Realization dawned on him, "The Inner Sect seniors and sisters, with their superior talents, should be able to handle it. So, they probably can't, thanks for the clarification, Senior."
Huo Kunlun felt his head buzzing.
He didn't want to believe it, but he had to.
How could he not notice if such a small fellow was lying right in front of him?
But, how could a small sect like Moon Holding Palace offer such good treatment?
Huh?!
You say Xiao Ling'er's alchemy is powerful, and I acknowledge that. But why can all of you 'disciples' refine Sixth Rank potent pills, and seemingly with a high success rate?
Improved pill recipes?
Are those pill recipes that powerful?
If that's the case...
Should I find a way to get my hands on those recipes?
Moreover...
"What about the sect's Direct Transmission Disciples and Elders? What's their treatment?"
"Senior, this is a bit difficult for me."
The Outer Sect disciple helplessly spread his hands, "I'm just an Outer Sect disciple, how would I know this? Isn't it like a farmer guessing the emperor's work with a golden hoe?"
Huo Kunlun was speechless.
You're saying I'm stupid, right?
"Well, I did hear about it, but it's just hearsay."
"Of course, it's just hearsay, I can't guarantee it."
Hiss!!!
Huo Kunlun sucked in a cold breath, shocked.
He never dreamed that he would be surprised time and again by an Outer Sect disciple...
Although the other party claimed it was hearsay, he found it reasonable.
Outer Sect disciples had five Sixth Rank potent pills, and from this, it's reasonable that the elders and Direct Transmission Disciples would have access to any potent pill they needed, isn't it reasonable?
Huo Kunlun delved deeper into Moon Holding Palace.
But...
He even forgot how he had left.
At this moment, his mind was in chaos, and all he could think about was the Outer Sect, and even Labor Disciples receiving three Sixth Rank potent pills of the same rank monthly. His envious eyes were turning purple.
"Moon Holding Palace's strength is too weak, and they dare not be too ostentatious."
"Otherwise, once this news gets out, countless genius disciples will rush to pay respects and seek apprenticeship."
"Perhaps those top-tier talents won't be interested, because no matter where they go, the sect will find ways to satisfy their needs. But for those with exceptional talent and ordinary geniuses, it's a squeeze to get in, right?"
"If that's the case, as long as Moon Holding Palace is given time and opportunity to develop, it won't take a millennium for Moon Holding Palace to potentially return to the ranks of first-tier sects, and even within a first-tier sect, they won't be considered weak!"
This treatment is too good.
Even if it doesn't attract the top talents, it will undoubtedly attract ordinary geniuses. And when these ordinary geniuses grow, they become the sect's backbone.
With enough of this backbone, the sect won't be weak!
And if Fire Virtue Sect had this treatment...
"If Fire Virtue Sect had this treatment, give me a millennium, and I dare lead Fire Virtue Sect to rival almost any first-tier sect!"
Unlike Moon Holding Palace.
Currently, Fire Virtue Sect has a thin base of disciples, even with good treatment, those top talents and peerless geniuses might not be interested. But Fire Virtue Sect has a solid foundation!
With this treatment, and their unique characteristics, it's more than enough to attract peerless geniuses.
Additionally, with the rapid enhancement of the sect's backbone, what's the point of being a first-tier sect?
Hmm...
Could it be...
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Huo Kunlun.
He felt he might know why the three elders came to Moon Holding Palace and didn't return, almost as if they had disappeared.
"And the Third Elder!"
"Stuck at this bottleneck for how many years? How could this be a coincidence? It's probably... because of the potent pills, right?"
"Good, good, good, you Moon Holding Palace!"
"This is truly unreasonable!"
"It's unacceptable, I must discuss this with you, where's the logic in this?"
"Isn't this bullying the honest?"
Huo Kunlun's thoughts gradually cleared, and his steps quickened.
But before he could go far, he was stopped by a very special array formation.
"Hmm?"
"This array formation?!"
He was surprised, "For a moment, even I can't see through its reality?"
He flew into the sky and looked from afar, "Ten Spirit Mountains connected, all covered by the array formation?"
"What?"
Huo Kunlun's gaze intensified as he was drawn to several small black dots.
Upon closer inspection, he realized they were a group of wandering chickens.
"These chickens..."
"Damn, a group of Eight Treasures Chickens?"
Then, on another mountain peak, he discovered a small pond formed by Spirit Liquid, within which a group of ducks swam leisurely.
"Damn, a group of Eight Treasures Ducks?"
"And those mother pigs, they seem to be nurturing new life, and their auras are quite strong, huh?"
"Huh? Huh?"
"This is the treatment of a third-tier sect, huh?"
Huo Kunlun's thoughts were in chaos.
End of Chapter
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