Chapter 572 - 534: Golden Core Seventh Layer

Over the next several days, Huang Baishong was a frequent visitor to the Sixth Layer of Primordial Mountain.

Everyone knew he was now the second-in-command of the Pill Hall. Everything he said and did represented Chief Chen.

At first, everyone thought the Hall had just changed masters and that everything else would remain the same. But who could have guessed that this new Chief would conduct a complete sweep, from the disciples all the way up to the Chief Stewards.

Furthermore, he canceled all previously arranged deals, instantly making many factions extremely dissatisfied.

Most people, however, were just waiting to watch the show.

After all, Huang Shiwo had attempted reforms many times before, but all had ended in failure. The Chiefs of the other Halls were also stakeholders, and they would never let him get away with such a chaotic overhaul.

But the result was the exact opposite.

The Chiefs of the other major Halls—the Sacrificial Hall, Internal Affairs Hall, and Law Enforcement Hall—showed no reaction whatsoever. Qiu Tianshui even went so far as to declare within the Internal Affairs Hall that no one was to hold up any of the Pill Hall's Materials, or they would have to bear the consequences themselves.

When this news got out, all the stakeholders were left dumbfounded.

But once they figured out the crucial details, they couldn't help but marvel—this young Cultivator was not only a master of Elixir and Sword Dual Proficiency, but his political maneuvering was equally formidable.

The Pill Hall, after all, was the most profitable of all the Halls. Even with many factions taking a slice, the profits were never small. And yet, the other Chiefs had just held their noses and accepted the changes. Didn't this make it obvious that they were powerless against Chief Chen?

In private, a few families with close ties to Duobao tried to request an audience with him to discuss the matter.

But they couldn't even get past the gate.

...

'Has it really settled down this easily?'

Chen Che tapped his fingers leisurely, his expression serene.

He had severed nearly all of the Pill Hall's former chains of interest. While this had made those factions furious, their attempts to retaliate had all failed, leaving them with no choice but to swallow their anger.

He had a clear idea as to why the situation had become so peaceful.

The main reason was his own formidable strength. The Chiefs of the other Halls, who led these interest groups, were certainly powerful themselves. Openly, however, he was not their inferior—and might even be stronger.

After all, quite a few people had witnessed that battle in Primordial City.

With the Sect Leader watching from above, the other Chiefs didn't dare to have a complete falling-out with him over this.

'And here I was, ready to make an example out of a few of them.'

Chen Che's eyes half-closed.

He had even considered that if these families refused to back down, or if the other Chiefs goaded them into making trouble, he wouldn't have minded using the dirt he'd dug up from the ledgers to eliminate a few of them and completely stabilize the Pill Hall.

If he pressed the issue, not even Xingtang Hall could say a word against it.

It seemed these families knew what was good for them after all.

The benefit of such drastic measures was that the unhealthy culture of flattery within the Alchemy Hall was swept away, and at the same time, alchemy efficiency was rapidly improving. The disciples were motivated not only by the fear of punishment but also by the promise of future rewards.

Of course, this move also had the majority of the Pill Hall disciples cheering.

After all, only a small minority had benefited from the old system; it had nothing to do with the vast majority of disciples. Besides, not everyone enjoyed the corrupt atmosphere. The culture of deceiving superiors, bullying subordinates, and constant extortion had made life miserable for many.

Now that order was being restored from chaos, the new focus on competing through genuine Alchemy Skill naturally won the support of many.

"The new Chief really is different. To think he solved the Pill Hall's chronic problems so quickly."

"Tsk, tsk. Chief Chen's power is plain to see; no one can touch him. You can get a glimpse of it just from how Jinyun Valley has developed. Otherwise, the Sect Leader would never have appointed him as Chief."

"It's a shame our talent isn't good enough to be chosen as Elite Disciples. That's five times the stipend! You don't have to do anything but focus on your Alchemy Skill. I heard the Vice Chief say the Elite Disciples get first pick of all resources in the Hall."

"There are only one hundred spots for Elite Disciples, and it's survival of the fittest. Every month, the bottom ten are dismissed and replaced with new people. Everyone has a chance."

...

「Primordial Mountain, Sixth Layer, Pill Hall Chief's Cave Mansion.」

"Rise. From now on, you are the Elite Disciples of the Pill Hall."

Chen Che made a lifting gesture with his hand, speaking kindly to the Hall disciples kneeling before him.

Everyone rose quickly, their postures still respectful.

"From now on, all of you will conduct your Cultivation in my Cave Mansion. Vice Chief Huang Baishong will instruct you in your studies. But I will not harbor useless people here. If you want to stay, you'll have to demonstrate real skill."

Chen Che declared resolutely, flicking his sleeve.

"Yes!"

Everyone replied in unison without the slightest hesitation, unable to hide their delight.

Although Huang Baishong wasn't a Golden Core Cultivator, he had been taught by Huang Shiwo. Gaining access to his experience in alchemy was no easy feat.

"There are plenty of empty rooms in the Cave Mansion. Go and get settled." After dismissing the disciples, Chen Che looked toward Huang Baishong with an appreciative expression. "You've worked hard these past few days," he said with satisfaction. "I'll bestow this Pill upon you..."

With a flick of his sleeve, Chen Che sent a Fierce Beast Pill floating gently to hover in front of Huang Baishong.

"Thank you, Chief."

Huang Baishong was, after all, a veteran Pill Master. He recognized the Pill's Grade at a glance and caught it, unable to conceal his delight.

"I won't be stationed at the Pill Hall permanently, so I will be relying on you for many things. Work hard, and the next person in the Pill Hall to achieve Core Formation will undoubtedly be you. But if you prove incapable, I will have no choice but to find a replacement."

Chen Che's gaze sharpened as he spoke with pointed meaning.

"I understand. I will not disappoint you, Chief."

Huang Baishong understood his meaning. Without a trace of hesitation, he bowed deeply. "As long as I'm here, the Pill Hall will never again descend into that corrupt state. If I fail, I'll bring you my head!"

"Good."

Chen Che nodded slightly.

He still had his own Jinyun Valley and wasn't about to pour all his effort into this place for Wei Yanzhou's sake. "I'm going into secluded Cultivation next. I'll leave the Hall's affairs in your hands during this time."

"Yes."

Huang Baishong clasped his hands respectfully and retreated, only turning to leave after he had backed out of the main hall.

'His character isn't bad.'

Chen Che nodded slightly. The man was certainly usable, but he would have to observe him for some time longer before deciding whether to groom him as a true confidant.

He casually cast several restrictions to seal the hall, sat down cross-legged, and swallowed a Fierce Beast Pill to begin refining its medicinal power.

...

Time flows differently in Cultivation. A month and a half passed in the blink of an eye.

The sun climbed into the sky, its first rays piercing through the valley's thin mist to shine upon Primordial Mountain.

By now, the disciples of the Pill Hall had gradually accepted the new rules their Chief had implemented. In fact, after getting a taste of the benefits, their support for him had grown even stronger. Meanwhile, having witnessed the new Chief's methods, many families in Primordial City began trying to get close to Chen Che.

After all, the re-establishment of the Pill Hall meant a massive redistribution of profits was underway.

Unfortunately, Chen Che had not emerged from his Cave Mansion since entering it, leaving Huang Baishong to handle everything. Consequently, many people tried to approach Huang Baishong, hoping to squeeze their family members into the ranks of the Elite Disciples.

Huang Baishong, of course, refused. The offers made by these families were substantial—some were even enough to tempt him.

But he knew that this sudden change in attitude was entirely thanks to the Chief, not him. After all, when his ancestor had fallen, the Huang Clan's position had been nearly forced out of the Alchemy Hall entirely.

But then Chen Che arrived, and now he was the Vice Chief—second only to one and above ten thousand within the Hall.

While his status couldn't compare to the days when his ancestor was still around, it was still considered a top-tier position within the Primordial Sect.

He would never do something so foolish where the losses would far outweigh the gains.

This was the only way to ensure his own position and the continued standing of his clan.

Meanwhile, Chen Che was sitting upright in the main hall of his Cave Mansion on Primordial Mountain.

He sat facing the vast expanse of Primordial Mountain, surrounded by a swirling white mist of Spiritual Qi. With every breath, the mist surged into his body like a great whale drinking the sea. A long time passed before he slowly opened his eyes.

'After a month and a half of arduous, secluded Cultivation, I've finally reached the Golden Core Seventh Layer. With my current strength, if I were to fight the battle of Primordial City again, it would be over even more quickly and cleanly!'

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Che's eyes as he rose to his feet.