The Desire Pill is precious, Zhou Xuan doesn’t need to personally make it; let the Starry Sky Scroll move on its own.

In the Inner Hall, on that long wooden table, lay a glorious spread of golden clouds—all Joyful Longevity Pills.

Manager Liu was extremely excited, counting them one by one.

"Six hundred and forty-two, six hundred and forty-three, six hundred and forty-four, Mr. Xuan, a total of six hundred and forty-four pills, we’ve never made so many pills in one batch before."

"Even at our most productive, we only reached a hundred fifty in total, Mr. Xuan, you truly are exceptionally talented."

The few Alchemy Workers under Manager Liu were all beaming with joy.

The quantity of elixirs signifies the future of the Dan Officer—this batch of pills is like a shining Dan Book Iron Certificate, ensuring Zhou Xuan’s rise to prominence.

It also guarantees that this small fire pit continues to be under Zhou Xuan’s jurisdiction.

Those five senior brothers were eager for Zhou Xuan to continue managing this fire pit.

They had fewer burdens and weren’t subjected to slave-like whippings; having tea is hardly worth mentioning, and soon they would have newspapers and magazines to read, as comfortable as can be.

"Thank you for your assistance, when I return to the shop, I will certainly bring you some entertaining items."

"Old Bai Lu and I will be leaving first, the Desire Pill still needs refining in the Pill Furnace, but it won’t be ready in this short day and a half, please bear with us."

Zhou Xuan, with "Blood and Flesh of the Pill," had little left, needing to make haste to wrap up this small matter with the Ancient Soul Returning Hall today.

After counting thirty-three pills from the batch, Zhou Xuan said, "Where is the Hall Master?"

The Ancient Soul Returning Hall has a Hall Master.

In the past, Ning Bukong made elixirs here, having to submit sixty percent of the elixir’s potency as rental payment to the Hall Master.

While Zhou Xuan’s agreed rental payment with the Hall Master was only five percent.

This batch produced six hundred and forty-four elixirs; five percent, meaning thirty-three pills.

"Mr. Xuan, the Deputy Hall Master has always been here."

"These pills are my rent payment."

"Then I shall gladly accept?" The Hall Master now showed a little flattery, much different from his former cold demeanor.

"Go ahead and take them." Zhou Xuan said, standing with hands on his hips: "Between us, we should have clear accounting, previously Ning Bukong, a batch of pills at most was one hundred fifty, you took sixty percent, that was ninety pills,

however, his elixirs may have looked more in quantity but compared to potency."

"Naturally, they’re far inferior to Mr. Xuan’s pills." The Hall Master, recognizing quality, said: "Even if he gave me the whole batch, they wouldn’t match Mr. Xuan’s thirty-odd pills."

"Glad you understand, let me make it clear just upfront, the second batch of pills is too precious, you cannot touch them, as compensation..."

Zhou Xuan counted out thirty-three more pills from the batch, saying: "These thirty-three pills are the rent for the second batch."

"Haha... How inappropriate this is... Greedy, greedy."

The Hall Master grinned widely, his voice echoing throughout the Ancient Soul Returning Hall.

"Having taken my pills, then these lost souls..."

"I will send them away now."

A gust of Qing Feng rose in the hall, sending all the wandering souls away quickly.

The Hall Master was only concerned with taking the pills, impatient in his methods; some souls wanted to thank Zhou Xuan with a bow, barely bent their knees before they were whisked away by the wind.

"Alright, keep watch over the alchemy workers and the pills in the furnace, if any mistake occurs..." Zhou Xuan warned the Hall Master.

"The Hall Master has received your favor, if there’s a mistake, I’ll compensate with my life."

"I swear to protect Mr. Xuan’s territory."

The Hall Master was quite proactive—just as long as you have pills, this Ancient Hall is all yours, Mr. Xuan.

"Good to hear, I’m off."

"Respectfully sending off Mr. Xuan." The Hall Master said, singing promises respectfully.

...

Zhou Xuan and the Cloud Deer Alchemist returned to Jingyi Shop,

The two had spent the entire night in the Ancient Hall, now it was dawn the next day.

In the shop, only Yun Ziliang and Li Changxun were still playing chess, but not far away, there sat a stranger, squatting in the corner, not making a sound.

"Yo, Xuanzi, you finally showed up, that fellow has been waiting for you all night."

Yun Ziliang put down his chess piece, pointed at the stranger, then sneakily whispered: "He said he’s from ’Heaven and Earth’."

"Heaven and Earth" took Zhou Xuan’s Source Power Pill, and in exchange, promised Zhou Xuan two items; one being the hidden stone temple.

The other being the Hundred Human Phenomena.

This stranger was sent by "Heaven and Earth" to deliver the Hundred Human Phenomena.

"Well, seems he came to deliver in person."

Zhou Xuan placed the cloth bundle in front of Yun Ziliang and said: "Lao Yun, Mountain Ancestor, keep an eye on this package for me."

"What’s in it?" Yun Ziliang asked.

Zhou Xuan smiled and replied: "Elixirs, around five hundred and eighty pills?"

"..." Yun Ziliang, Li Changxun.

Even with Li Changxun’s quick hands, he immediately opened a slit in the package, peeking inside, and was dumbfounded.

"What the hell, I’ve been up in the sky for years, and never seen this many pills... Mr. Xuan, you’re richer than the gods in the heavens!"

Yun Ziliang gently sniffed the fragrant elixirs, saying: "Goodness, nearly six hundred pills... even when I buy jellybeans, I wouldn’t dare to buy so many."

"Enough joking around, you two, watch it for me, I’ll go retrieve the goods."

Zhou Xuan chuckled as he instructed, then walked to the corner and asked the stranger: "Where is the Hundred Human Phenomena, where is it?"

The stranger slowly lifted his head, revealing a handsome face, and at that moment, Zhou Xuan suddenly felt as if he had seen this person before.

"I think I’ve seen you before." Zhou Xuan said to the stranger.

"You must have seen me, I’m usually an actor, always appearing in public and often making the newspapers; I’m Zheng Baofan, Mr. Xuan, I traveled here and my mouth is a bit dry, could I ask for a drink?"

Zheng Baofan said to Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan nodded, flicked his sleeve, borrowed the momentum of the earth, and maneuvered a pot of hot tea from the counter.

Zheng Baofan gulped down the tea from the pot, then suddenly smashed the teapot, squatted down, picked up a sharp shard, and stabbed it into his cheek...