As the most prosperous town in Zhongzhou, Blackwater City's prosperity is undeniable. However, unlike other towns, Blackwater City has no city lord, or even a unified leader. The order of the entire Blackwater City depends on the self-discipline of its residents.
But in reality, this self-awareness is rooted in the Daoist alchemy school.
The Pill Sect is located in Blackwater City. Although the Pill Sect does not officially control Blackwater City, everyone knows that Blackwater City is actually under the protection of the Pill Sect.
To cause trouble in Blackwater City is to disrespect the Pill Sect—and to this day, no one has dared to disrespect the Pill Sect.
Therefore, even with its freedom, Blackwater's order was far better than that of ordinary towns.
For reasons related to Dan Zong, Blackwater City is filled with vendors selling pills and spiritual plants—selling spiritual plants and pills on Dan Zong's territory is as ridiculous as trying to teach a fish to swim.
The pills of the Pill Sect are renowned throughout the world, and no one can surpass them. No matter how talented others are in alchemy, they cannot compete with the entire Pill Sect.
Logically, in Blackwater City, if one can buy pills from the Pill Sect, there shouldn't be anyone selling pills from other sects. However, the actual situation is quite the opposite; far more people buy pills and spiritual plants from vendors in Blackwater City than from the Pill Sect itself.
Because the pills from the Dan Sect are simply too expensive!
Their pills are the most effective, but also the most expensive. Even the most ordinary Rejuvenation Pill starts at ten gold coins—ten gold coins is enough for an average family's living expenses for a month.
Other vendors' Rejuvenation Pills cost at most one gold coin, and the efficacy difference wouldn't exceed thirty percent. Under these circumstances, it's easy to imagine that most people would choose to buy the cheaper one.
So what if the medicine is less effective? If one pill isn't enough, take two. The combined effect will be comparable to one of your pills, and the price won't even be the same as one of your pills. Anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't buy such expensive pills from the Pill Sect.
However, the Pill Sect doesn't rely on selling Rejuvenation Pills; they primarily sell mid- to high-grade pills. Once a pill reaches a certain level, other vendors can also refine it, but their costs are much higher than the Pill Sect's, resulting in a more expensive price.
Moreover, the higher the level, the more it tests the alchemy skills. Different techniques result in different medicinal effects. How can an individual's alchemy skills compare to the technical experience of the entire Danzong sect?
Therefore, while Danzong (a high-level martial arts master) could not sell low-grade pills as well as those vendors, he far surpassed them in the business of mid- to high-grade pills.
However, this at least gives those vendors a way to make a living. Although they don't earn much money, at least they can survive.
...
Bai Hao led the carriage through the streets and alleys of Blackwater City. Seeing the spiritual plants and pills for sale all around him, he couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.
"Tsk tsk tsk, these people's alchemy skills are too poor. They have the nerve to display pills of this quality?"
On the way here, Bai Hao made a special effort to review his alchemy skills. After all, he was coming to the Pill Sect to buy pills. Even if his alchemy skills were not as good as theirs, he couldn't be completely ignorant, otherwise he would lose a lot of money if he was cheated.
When he first saw so many vendors selling pills and spiritual plants in Blackwater City, he was very impressed. As expected of the Pill Sect, their excellent conduct was commendable.
But as he walked along, Bai Hao was disappointed by what he saw people selling.
The spiritual plants were alright, some good and some bad, which wasn't something humans could control, but the pills were truly... appalling.
Bai Hao originally thought that the pills he refined were bad enough, but when he saw the pills displayed around him, he could tell at a glance that their quality was about half that of the pills he refined. Bai Hao was greatly disappointed.
They promised to be backed by the Dan Sect and that everyone would practice alchemy, but this is the alchemy method they've come up with?
The pills he refined were even inferior to those of a complete novice like himself. He was utterly disappointed.
"I shouldn't have had such high expectations." Lowering his expectations, Bai Hao accepted the reality, stopped looking around, and headed straight for the Pill Sect...
...
The Pill Sect, as the pillar of Blackwater City, is the most prominent presence in Blackwater City, but the shape of their sect is a bit... peculiar.
When Bai Hao arrived at the gate of the Dan Sect, he was shocked by the uniquely designed gate. The largest entrance was a gourd-shaped mountain gate. Inside, all the sect buildings were related to alchemy or pills, such as alchemy furnaces. Many of the houses were also spherical, probably inspired by pills.
"Good heavens, the construction of this Pill Sect is truly bizarre. No wonder it is called the Pill Sect."
Bai Hao could only exclaim in surprise, "As expected of the Dan Sect!"
Indeed, new talents emerge in every generation, each more brilliant than the last.
For a sect as prestigious as the Alchemy Sect to create a sect with this kind of style is truly ingenious.
Despite his surprise, Bai Hao didn't forget his business.
"Hello, I am a disciple of the Falling Sea Sect. I'm here to buy pills." There were two disciples in front of the Pill Sect's mountain gate, and Bai Hao quickly stepped forward to ask.
"From the Falling Sea Sect?" Upon hearing this, the two men immediately looked Bai Hao up and down with curious eyes for a moment before one of them pointed to the way inside and said...
"Just keep going up this road until you reach the fork in the road at the end. There will be signs there. Just follow them."
They were clearly used to people buying pills, so they easily pointed Bai Hao in the right direction.
"Okay, thank you."
Following the instructions, Bai Hao led the carriage inside and entered the Dan Sect.
The scene within the Danzong sect is quite unique.
First, a faint medicinal fragrance permeated the air, refreshing and invigorating, which was normal for a sect like the Dan Sect. Second, the Dan Sect also had many plants, but unlike other sects, almost all the plants in the Dan Sect were spiritual plants—Bai Hao could recognize these.
Some are very common, some are not so common, but they are all planted around them as plants to improve the environment—and perhaps they will be harvested after these spiritual plants mature.
Yes, that must be it.
After walking for about two miles from the entrance, Bai Hao finally saw one of the main halls of the Dan Sect—the only normal hall, tall and magnificent, resplendent in gold.
However, the sign next to it pointed to the other side for "Buying Pills".
Bai Hao glanced at the sect's main hall a few more times; it seemed quite lively up there, but unfortunately, he couldn't see anything.
"Let's buy the pills later and then find a chance to go up and take a look."
After some deliberation, Bai Hao decided to take care of the important matters first, and then secretly inquire about the "secrets" of the Pill Sect when there was time and opportunity.
Following the signs, Bai Hao gradually walked deeper into the Dan Sect. Along the way, he encountered many other people like him who were there to buy pills or spiritual plants, with carriages carrying them out one after another...
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