Chapter 542

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Protagonist:

Yu Changsheng

"Why does your body have such a dense pill fragrance? The rank doesn't seem low either; just how many pills have you popped?"

Wei Lao looked at Yu Changsheng, who appeared clear-headed and refreshed, walked up close, sniffed lightly with his nose, and asked with a face full of suspicion.

Yu Changsheng froze, his expression revealing a trace of embarrassment; he gave a wry smile and waved his hand: "As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, Master. I ate some Fourth-Rank Pills, that's why I broke through."

"Uh."

Wei Lao's expression stiffened for a moment, followed by doubt: "Where did you get so many Fourth-Rank Pills?"

Yu Changsheng scratched the back of his head, laughed 'hehe', cupped his fists, and said: "A fluke, a fluke. I happened to reach Fourth-Rank Alchemist; refining some Fourth-Rank Pills for alchemy practice is still no problem, right?"

"What!"

Wei Lao was startled, rubbed his eyes, looked at Yu Changsheng with an incredulous face; after a long while, he deeply exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi, suppressed the palpitations in his heart, and said in shock: "You're saying you're already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist?"

"To speak of it is shameful; these two years I haven't had much time to immerse myself in the Dao of Alchemy. This past half month, rare leisure, I've finally made some progress."

Yu Changsheng laughed heartily, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Wei Lao: "……"

Wei Lao fell silent; after a long while, a smile appeared on his face. He patted Yu Changsheng's shoulder and said with a laugh: "Good, good, good. Worthy of being my disciple; alchemy really is your strong suit."

"The preciousness of a Fourth-Rank Alchemist is undeniable. Not bad, not bad. Although I don't know how you did it, it seems your talent in alchemy is truly extraordinary. Continuing to cultivate it as a skill will also be of great benefit to you; more skills never burden the body."

"At such an age, a Fourth-Rank Alchemist with Sub-Talisman Cultivation — haha. I really picked up a treasure."

Wei Lao laughed heartily, his expression revealing undisguised pride.

Yu Changsheng gave a wry smile and merely nodded.

Among the traditional cultivator professions, the Alchemist is the most welcomed and respected profession, and also a mainstream profession.

But an Alchemist's cultivation is far more difficult than others'; entry is easy, but the further one goes, the more one needs time's precipitation and massive practice. The time and resources to nurture a Fourth-Rank Alchemist are, normally speaking, unimaginable.

Like Yu Changsheng, with no background, no resources, yet able to become a Fourth-Rank Alchemist at this age — he is absolutely a one-in-ten-thousand genius.

It truly shocked Wei Lao.

Regarding this, Yu Changsheng also expressed understanding; without the System's help, he himself would also be impossible to reach the Fourth-Rank Alchemist realm so smoothly.

One can only say: a cheater cannot be measured by common sense.

……

"Tsk tsk tsk, my disciple, so young yet already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist……"

Wei Lao clicked his tongue in wonder, looking at Yu Changsheng; a sharp light flashed in his eyes, a meaningful smile appeared on his face. He slowly stroked his beard, nodded, and said with a smile while pondering:

"Being able to become a Fourth-Rank Alchemist is enough to prove your talent in this Dao. Even on Hai Shou Tian Dao, I've heard that the Chief Disciple of the Alchemist Sect there is merely a Fourth-Rank Alchemist……"

Wei Lao pondered, swallowing a mouthful of saliva unobtrusively: "And if you have this identity, it can serve as an opportunity — use it as a breakthrough point with the identity of a Fourth-Rank Alchemist."

"If operated well, perhaps……"

Wei Lao laughed 'hehe', a thousand thoughts flashing through his mind; finally he let out a long breath and shook his head.

Yu Changsheng didn't speak, just listened quietly, nodding occasionally.

On Upper Sea Beast Heaven Island, one island, nine sects, united with each other, relatively independent, together composing the Holy Land of Hai Shou Tian Dao.

The relationship between them is like multiple colleges within a university; the main majors and directions differ. For example, the Beast Tamer Sect on Hai Shou Tian Dao is the mainstream lineage of Beast Tamers, the Sword Cultivator Sect is the lineage led by Sword Cultivators, and the Alchemist Sect is the lineage led by Alchemists……

Among the Nine Sects, they are not completely independent but have intersections; each has its strengths, status equal. The Alchemist Sect, however, bears almost the entire normal Pill resource output of Hai Shou Tian Dao, so it is extraordinary. Even in terms of cultivation base, compared to other sects, it is somewhat weaker.

But its status is highly respected and indispensable. After all, in the normal operation of the entire Hai Shou Tian Dao, the Alchemist Sect plays an irreplaceable, important role.

And Alchemists are originally a profession revered and respected by all, extraordinary.

"The Chief Disciple of the Alchemist Sect is older than Yu Changsheng, yet is merely a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. While Changsheng is so young and already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist — if this news spreads, that Alchemist Sect will certainly not stay calm."

"Thus, this can be used as a breakthrough point; when necessary, break the deadlock and achieve unexpected effects……"

Wei Lao pondered, laughed 'hehe', pressed these thoughts into his heart, let out a long breath, his gaze sentimental, looking toward the island's edge.

There, the morning sun broke dawn, sea waves calm, sea breeze attacking, carrying the sea's unique tidal flavor — a different kind of charm.

The rumbling sound of huge waves striking the shore never ceased; light continuously refracted on the sea surface, weaving a gorgeous morning glow on the sky dome — five colors, quite beautiful. Clouds undulated, revealing a Dongtian; from the sea depths leaped a vast morning sun, emitting myriad rays of rosy light.

And with wind rising and clouds surging, the sea surface occasionally billowed; from Yu Changsheng and Wei Lao's viewing angle, it was quite magnificent.

This is completely different from the scenery of the Nan Yu interior; in Beihai Yu it is very common, but for these two outsiders, it has a novel feel.

"Don't know how Wanxiang Sect is doing now…… hope everything is well, no accidents is best."

Yu Changsheng pondered, lightly sighed, and said in a low voice.

Wei Lao smiled faintly: "No matter, should be all well. After a few more days, we can also go back to Wanxiang Sect to take a look."

"These days I've been collecting Large Teleportation Array materials; later I'll set up a coordinate point in Wanxiang Sect. Returning later will be much more convenient. But it's also fine; I've checked — our Ling Kuang Dao and Wanxiang Sect are in the same direction on Hai Shou Tian Dao. That is to say, the straight-line distance between the two isn't too far. Plus we've also set coordinates on the island; if anything truly happens, we can also return through a one-time Emergency Teleportation Talisman. No need to worry perhaps."

Wei Lao comforted softly, laughed 'hehe'.

"Mm-hmm."

Yu Changsheng nodded; regarding Wanxiang Sect, both their feelings run deep. Especially after arriving at Beihai Yu, this unfamiliar place, this feeling becomes even richer.

"However… the most pressing matter right now is another thing, a bit troublesome."

Wei Lao's gaze condensed, his words turned, yet his face showed a trace of difficulty; he sighed lowly, his expression full of helplessness.

"What happened?"

Yu Changsheng frowned, turned his head to look at Wei Lao, and asked doubtfully.

"This, you look for yourself."

Wei Lao hesitated a moment, lightly shook his head, and handed Yu Changsheng a Mission Jade Tube.

"The requirements are all in here."

"Hmm." Yu Zhangsheng was startled and doubtful, received the Mission Jade Tube, used his Shenjue to perceive it for a moment, half a beat later, his complexion suddenly sank, his Palm exerted force, crushing the Mission Jade Tube into Powder, his face somewhat iron-green, coldly laughing: "What kind of Joke is this, is this Hai Shou Tian Dao's Task Resource Hall eating dry rice? Such an unreasonable quota, they actually propose it? Isn't this deliberately making things difficult for people?"

Inside the Mission Jade Tube, there was only a single simple line of information, roughly requiring that this year Hai Shou Tian Dao's resources are urgent, requiring Ling Kuang Dao's spirit stone output quota to double, and the quality cannot be poor.

If it cannot be done, naturally there will be punishment, specifically how, that is thought-provoking.

"Every year Ling Kuang Dao's output, at most is only a hundred thousand cubic zhang, yet this time, they actually opened their mouth like a lion, raising the quota directly to two hundred fifty thousand cubic zhang, isn't this deliberately making things difficult?"

"Even if now Liu Yun and other Merchants have been uprooted by us, saving this kind of embezzlement, freeing up a portion of output, but compared to two hundred fifty thousand cubic zhang, it is absolutely a fool's dream, even if the entire Ling Kuang Dao works day and night without rest, desperately digging, it would still be difficult to reach this quota!"

Yu Zhangsheng coldly laughed repeatedly, his heart faintly showing anger, voice low, complexion ugly.

"The most interesting part is, they only give us the increased quota mission, but don't assign additional manpower, just relying on our current people, merely Golden Core, wanting to reach this quota can only be a Fantasy, the person who arranged this change, harbors ill intentions."

"Isn't this purely targeting us?"

Yu Zhangsheng for a long while, deeply inhaled a Breath, only then slightly recovered some emotion.

And Wei Lao quietly listened, his face involuntarily revealing a trace of Bitter Smile, nodded his head, lightly sighed: "It is indeed targeting us, looks like your limelight these days has still provoked the displeasure of some big shots on Hai Shou Tian Dao, thus using this to make things difficult."

"Hmph," Yu Zhangsheng Cold Hum, his forehead faintly had Blue Veins bulging, "No need to say I know, this is certainly that so-called Seventh Holy Son Wang Sheng playing tricks in the middle, I thought he would retaliate, use power to suppress, didn't expect he would actually use such a low-down method."

Wei Lao Helpless, held his forehead Bitter Smile: "Knowing again how, this is an open scheme, unavoidable, still have to think of a way, if not like this, then he can seize the pretext, who knows what other tricks he'll cook up."

Yu Zhangsheng fell silent.

On Ling Kuang Dao, miners total only four hundred or so, even if these four hundred plus miners mine day and night non-stop, reaching the quota should be no problem.

But the problem lies in, can Yu Zhangsheng do this? Really treating these miners as black slaves, then one can imagine, the reputation Yu Zhangsheng has accumulated here these days would certainly be ruined in one fell swoop, and would definitely incur resentment.

After all, spirit mine mining is inherently difficult, consumes heart and mind, years of work without rest would also trigger a series of adverse consequences.

Plus the special Environment inside the mining area, easily damages the Root, if such a thing truly happened, then the consequences would only be more severe, Yu Zhangsheng can imagine, then Wang Sheng can even more use this as a reason to make things even more difficult for himself.

"Truly a brilliant open scheme, killing two birds with one stone."

Thinking through these, Yu Zhangsheng couldn't help but coldly laugh.

Actually, this is also what Wang Sheng thinks, expanding the quota, reasonable yet unreasonable, this quota, if Yu Zhangsheng is willing to exploit the miners under him, then he can also barely meet the quota requirement.

And if not exploiting, then difficult to reach.

Then, failing to reach the quota, is Yu Zhangsheng's dereliction of duty, must have punishment, and if reaching the quota, will certainly be pinned with a certain label of exploiting miners, and incite miners' resentment, then, only need a pretext, can detonate, and can justifiably suppress Yu Zhangsheng.

No matter how he does it, he has reason to suppress Yu Zhangsheng.

Of course, the idea is like this, implementing it, relying solely on Wang Sheng is still a bit short of authority, there is Third Elder Wang Donghai obstructing in the middle, this quota was also issued by him.

"Open spear easy to dodge, hidden arrow hard to guard against." Wei Lao couldn't help but sigh, face revealing a trace of Anxiety, lowered brows: "I knew suppression would come, just didn't expect them to be so impatient."

"This time, truly not easy to handle." Wei Lao Bitter Smile.

"Could it be, really have to exploit this group of miners? I think, with your current prestige in their hearts, if you explain the situation frankly to them, then they might not necessarily have resentment, can understand, right?"

Wei Lao Hesitated a moment, spoke like this.

"Absolutely not," Yu Zhangsheng didn't even think, just Shook Head Refused.

"Regardless of whether they have resentment in their hearts, as long as we dare do this, then we will certainly be made an issue of by intentional people, given a handle, who knows how they'll frame us in the dark then,"

Yu Zhangsheng's tone paused, coldly laughing continued:

"Moreover, I dare guarantee, as long as we really do this, under this high-intensity work, among the miners, there will certainly be someone who has an accident, and the willingness to have an accident is also absolutely because of this kind of work injury, then, wouldn't it be even more convenient for them to slander us? This is a trap, cannot jump down into it."

"So, cannot forcefully pressure them into high-intensity work, Loss Outweigh Gain, will only be thankless."

"What you say is also right."

Wei Lao turned his thought, nodded his head, but in an Instant his face showed difficulty: "However, with just this bit of labor force, if we don't increase work hours, no matter what it's impossible to complete this quota."

"Even if we ask above to send more disciples over, without accident, don't know when we'll get a response, since they issued the quota like this, how could they easily send people down, it's just making things difficult for us."

Wei Lao sighed, angry and indignant.

And Yu Zhangsheng frowned tightly, carefully contemplating, face showing difficulty, brows almost knotted into a ball, half a beat, exhaled a mouthful of Turbid Qi, hesitated a moment, slapped his forehead, Gloomy Say:

"I actually thought of a method." (Chapter End)