Chapter 606: Recruitment

Some time passed.

Yan Buji was invited to the Internal Affairs Hall.

"Friend Yan." Yang Yunshu walked out, smiling.

"Friend Yang, I don't know why you summoned me today; what urgent matter is there?"

"It's like this; the pills you've been refining lately are quite good. Elder Feng wishes to meet you."

"No problem."

Yan Buji wasn't quite sure why the other party wanted to see him—could there be another task?

Entering the reception hall, Yan Buji saw Feng Yue and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Elder Feng."

"Please have a seat."

"Yes."

Yan Buji sat to the side and asked, "Elder Feng, what business do you have with me?"

Feng Yue smiled: "Your refining speed is fast, and the finished pills are good. The Outer Gate currently lacks a suitable alchemist; I'd like you to stay and work in the Paolong Sacred Land's Outer Gate. What do you think?"

Huh?!

Yan Buji froze for a moment: "I haven't even curried favor with you yet—why are you inviting me proactively?"

"Well... if I could stay in the Paolong Sacred Land, I'd naturally be pleased. But I've just arrived; there are plenty of alchemists like me in Long Qi Cheng, and many skilled ones too. Why would Elder Feng show me such favor?"

"Hahaha, it seems Friend Yan is also quite cautious. Actually, this isn't a big deal—because of internal gate affairs, all the Outer Gate alchemists have been drawn away, leaving some disciples' ordinary needs unmet and forcing them to run to Long Qi Cheng, which is too troublesome. Mainly it's for the disciples' convenience. Likewise, the Paolong Sacred Land doesn't just take anyone; at least one's background in the Zhong Tian Zhi Yu must be clean."

Feng Yue's words hinted at something; Yan Buji pondered carefully.

What the other party said posed no problem; it also proved that his past deeds had cleared his background nicely.

"Then, if I join the Paolong Sacred Land, what would my daily duties be?"

"After joining, since the Alchemy Hall currently has no staff and others need to refine United Effort Pills, you will temporarily take on the role of Head of the Alchemy Hall, just meeting ordinary demands."

"Huh? Does that mean I don't have to refine United Effort Pills?"

"No."

"I have another question; please clarify, Elder."

"Please speak."

"If all the disciples come to me for pill refining, what should I do? With insufficient manpower, I alone couldn't satisfy everyone's needs."

Feng Yue smiled: "The Internal Affairs Hall has considered this point. Besides making up the shortfall of pills distributed by the Inner Gate, the remaining pill demand either has you liaise with those disciples to negotiate a mutually satisfactory arrangement, or the Internal Affairs Hall opens a counter, records the disciples' pill needs and gives them to you, and you decide."

Yan Buji froze: "Then... wouldn't the power in my hands be too great? I'm merely a Fivefold Transformation Alchemist; for some matters I'd still prefer Elder Feng to decide."

Both options Feng Yue proposed would be profitable for Yan Buji and offer ample room for maneuver. But since Feng Yue didn't specify his points, Yan Buji dared not readily agree.

Feng Yue raised his eyebrows, realizing this old fellow before him was not simple.

This remark seemed to push his own problem onto him, but in fact he wanted Yan Buji to make demands before he'd dare accept that position.

In short, Yan Buji's words meant he intended to bind Feng Yue to himself—let him handle the hardships, but he must gain benefits, making them a community of interest.

Feng Yue pondered, then suddenly smiled: "It seems looking for you was the right choice."

Yan Buji smiled silently.

"In that case, let's speak in terms of contribution. If we take over the disciples' demands on your behalf, they will trade contributions as spiritual stones. Likewise, as the intermediaries, we also need to take a cut for fair distribution."

"No problem—how about six parts for the Internal Affairs Hall and four for the Alchemy Hall?"

"Excellent!"

Yan Buji smiled and bowed: "Thank you, Elder, for this opportunity. I have long admired the Paolong Sacred Land; today, receiving your favor, I will devote myself wholeheartedly!"

Feng Yue waved his hand: "No need for pleasantries. Entrusting you with the Alchemy Hall isn't an easy task. Don't think that just refining pills daily in the Alchemy Hall will solve everything."

"Oh? What other troubles are there?" Yan Buji asked.

"First, the Outer Gate's Alchemy Hall isn't valued by the sect; I obtained it through reasoned argument with the Inner Gate elders." Feng Yue extended a finger and explained: "Most of the Paolong Sacred Land's pills come from the Inner Gate's Alchemy Hall, but because there are many disciples, pill supplies sometimes fall short, forcing purchases in Long Qi Cheng, which wastes time and unsettles the disciples' minds—hence the Outer Gate Alchemy Hall was established."

"Second, the Outer Gate Alchemy Hall has never had a Sixth Transformation Alchemist in charge since its inception, which led Outer Gate disciples to rack their brains trying to squeeze into the Inner Gate, naturally failing to retain some promising material."

Yan Buji nodded, meaning that since their interests are now bound together, they can no longer engage in fickle opportunism.

However, is the competition between the Inner and Outer Gates of the Paolong Sacred Land really this fierce? After all, isn't an sect's Outer Gate merely meant to supply fresh blood to the Inner Gate, giving it reason to exist?

"Although the Outer Gate consists only of low-level disciples—I myself am merely a late-stage Nascent Soul—here one can obtain things no worse than the Inner Gate. Moreover, the Inner Gate's competition is fiercer, so naturally some have set their sights on our Outer Gate." Feng Yue's face turned cold.

This statement both describes the Outer Gate's situation and tells Yan Buji that following him won't leave him wanting.

Yan Buji chuckled: "Elder Feng, I have a question."

"Speak."

"Since the Outer Gate offers many benefits, who exactly is sharing them now?"

"Your questions are a bit too many."

Yan Buji smiled: "I can't part from the Elder—you should know that. If you don't trust me, why seek me out? As the saying goes, employ without suspicion; I also wish to relieve your worries and solve your difficulties."

Feng Yue glanced disdainfully at Yan Buji, but then thought: since he'd chosen this shrewd old fellow, he wanted to see if he could lend a hand.

"The biggest problem is that the group headed by the Outer Gate Treasure Vault has squeezed out our Internal Affairs Hall's original manpower. The Outer Gate Treasure Vault stores spiritual materials, pills, accumulation devices, and various resources; that place is no longer in my hands."

Yan Buji pinched his chin: "So we're now at others' mercy?"

"One could say that."

"But if the disciples originally got nothing, and then we tell them the Treasure Vault actually has everything, what would happen?" Yan Buji chuckled.

Feng Yue's eyes lit up, and he suddenly turned his gaze to Yan Buji before him.

Well played, you old fox!

You actually used such scheming?

Looks like I didn't choose the wrong person—this fellow's mind is deep and scheming; bringing him under my command will surely make him a great general!