Chapter 216 - 110: Zhu Li: What’s wrong with the three of us being together?

Chapter 216: Chapter 110: Zhu Li: What’s wrong with the three of us being together?

Zhao Ci grinned. "We’re family now. What’s there to hide?"

’A Mansion Official appointment on top of an engagement—if that doesn’t make us on the same side, what does?’

Of course.

Kan Luotang’s character was also an important factor.

’To be honest, he had a very good impression of his fiancée, but there had never been a spark between them.’

’It wasn’t that she wasn’t his type. Rather, the woman was so pure, possessing many qualities he deeply admired, that he found it hard to feel any romantic excitement.’

’He felt that he could trust her.’

’But most importantly, his current situation was growing increasingly perilous. If he only guarded the Alcohol Refining Technique, he feared he was bound to suffer a major setback sooner or later.’

...

Kan Luotang thought for a moment. "This Wine Refining Equipment can indeed be improved with an Array. It’s not too difficult. Give me some time to go back and look through some records, and I should be able to do it within three months."

"No, no, no, the alcohol refining isn’t urgent!"

Zhao Ci waved his hand dismissively and then took out another diagram. "I actually have another favor to ask. You’ve already seen our Alchemy process.

Actually, after producing the high-purity alcohol, the Alchemy Technique for the Qi Cultivation Pill is already quite simplified. All an Alchemist needs to do is control the fire and extract the medicinal components of the supplementary ingredients.

I was thinking, if we could design an Array that can automatically regulate the fire’s temperature...

...wouldn’t that mean we could automatically refine pills just by putting the extracted ingredients into the furnace?

If so, the production capacity for Qi Cultivation Pills could increase again by more than tenfold, perhaps even dozens of times over.

And the freed-up Alchemists could then focus on refining higher-level pills."

"HISS..."

Kan Luotang’s beautiful eyes went wide. She stared at the diagram Zhao Ci had given her. It contained only a few simple boxes, yet it felt like the door to a whole new world had been opened for her.

In fact, during the Gongdan Conference, she had already been stunned by the Xingyu Pill Association’s alchemy model. It was like an assembly line, yet it could generate an astonishing level of output.

’And now... even the people working the assembly line could be replaced by an Array.’

’The crucial thing was, she unexpectedly found it feasible!’

’Aside from the difficulty of using an Array to control the fire’s temperature, there were almost no other obstacles.’

’If this really succeeded, the price of a Qi Cultivation Pill could very well drop by another tenfold from its current price.’

’Two taels of silver... even a poor family could probably scrape that together if they gritted their teeth, right?’

The price was secondary.

The main thing was the production volume.

’If it really worked, all the Qi Nourishing Grass on the market could be turned into Qi Cultivation Pills. It might even be enough to completely solve the problems in the Northern Three Prefectures.’

’Strange!’

’When looking at these two diagrams piece by piece, neither contained any particularly revolutionary designs.’

’So why did they produce such a miraculous effect when put together?’

[Current Wish for Kan Luotang: Help Zhao Ci create the Alchemy Array. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +1000, Stealable Skill: *True Guide to the Kan Clan’s Arrays*.]

’Whoa!’

Zhao Ci asked, "Can it be done?"

As a transmigrator, he had a strong fixation on the idea of "rice cooker alchemy."

But he understood neither Alchemy nor mechanical principles, so he could only provide a general concept.

After waiting for so long, he had finally found an Array master he could trust with his back.

"Yes!"

Kan Luotang bit her lip. "But my understanding of Arrays is still shallow, and some types of Arrays are not the Kan Clan’s forte. My grandfather might need to pay a visit to the Zhuge Family."

Zhao Ci was instantly delighted. "How long would that take?"

Kan Luotang considered for a moment. "A year at the soonest, three years at the latest. Will that delay the mansion conflict?"

"Not at all, not at all!"

Zhao Ci waved his hand with a smile, grinning from ear to ear.

He wanted this thing not for the mansion conflict, of course. Even if Kan Luotang managed to develop it, he couldn’t possibly reveal it right away.

The significance of this "thing" was that by mastering a more advanced means of production, his Alcohol Refining Technique could be freed up sooner.

He was well aware that all the major Pill Workshops, including the Feng and Zhu families, were frantically searching for brewing masters, spending money like water trying to crack his technique.

Regardless of how many years it would take them to catch up to him, one thing was certain.

’The Alcohol Refining Technique in my hands is bound to depreciate over time.’

’If I can free it up, I can exchange it for even greater benefits.’

’For example... the trust of that little minx, Gu Xiangzhu.’

’Giving this to Gu Xiangzhu wouldn’t really affect me. The Xingyu Pill Association is a joint venture between us, so we’d share the profits. Moreover, the Chu Family is always mingling with the Xiang Family, so my connection to them is basically secure.’

’And my value to her is no longer just the Alcohol Refining Technique.’

’She seems to be after my Cultivation Talent.’

’So, even if I hand it over, the pros outweigh the cons.’

’My own strength can’t fall behind!’

’But relying on my own strength alone is definitely not enough.’

He needed allies.

’Kan Tianji is one!’

’Xiang Yunzhan is another!’

’Neither of them has insignificant influence, but they don’t directly control any major forces.’

’That’s why I must hold on to Gu Xiangzhu tightly and ensure she’s a key part of my network.’

He chatted with Kan Luotang for a few more moments, reminding her to rest well.

Then, Zhao Ci left the room and headed straight for the Practice Room.

There, the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk was laid out, along with all the prepared supplementary ingredients.

And in his hand, he held the long-prepared Taotie Talisman.

’I wonder if all these things combined can unleash the full medicinal effects of a complete Heaven-Suspending Pill.’

’This time...’

’I must refine First-Grade Tendons and Meridians!’

’And the Celestial Demon Tendons, too!’

He needed to become an Absolute Peak Powerhouse—the kind that was even stronger than the Xiang Tiange of old.

...

「Ninth Prince’s Mansion.」

「Practice Room.」

Zhao Yong sat cross-legged for a long time before he could finally sort through his jumbled thoughts and let them settle.