It was the faint sound that entered their ears that made them uncomfortable.
"The price, however, is much higher than ordinary firewood," they noted.
Being able to use it was one thing, but the cost was another matter altogether.
Luo Chen began to ponder about how to maximize the value of the Qinghe Demon as a Pill Fire.
"Neither the Allure Pill nor the Jade Marrow Pill really need this kind of Demon Fire."
Luo Chen referred to the flame produced by burning the Qinghe Demon as Demon Fire.
"The massive flame which can be easily regulated could be considered for refining Second Order pills, but I’m afraid the cost would be too high."
At least it’s a First Order wood spirit demon, classified as a First Order Demon Beast.
Although it is the weakest, posing no threat and offering no utility.
Still, to purchase one, it would cost ten Spirit Stones.
Tool Casting can make use of it, as some ores require extreme temperatures.
Typical Magic Tools all require the use of Earth Fire.
The Qinghe Demon is somewhat of a loophole in this regard.
Moreover, the profit on individual Magic Tools far exceeds that on elixirs.
However, elixirs do not require such high temperatures as the melting point of medicinal ingredients is far below that of ores.
After some research, Luo Chen ruefully acknowledged the missed opportunity.
This thing indeed is valuable, but it’s a shame that it’s quite impractical.
At present, he isn’t able to utilize it either.
"What if I use it for refining the Blood Ignition Pill?"
The firewood used for the Blood Ignition Pill was not common Green Steel Wood or Peach Wood, but Sweet Wax Wood.
Sweet Wax Wood was given this name due to a certain First-Order Demon Beast leaving its mucilage on it during the molting phase.
The taste is sweet, and the dried mucilage strongly resembles the tears of a burning candle, hence the name, Sweet Wax Wood.
In his deduced Pill Formula, the Blood Ignition Pill’s main ingredient just happened to include Explosive Monkey Demon Blood.
The Pill Fire containing a trace of demonic power perfectly facilitated the integration of the original Explosive Monkey Demon Blood into the other main materials.
Compared to Sweet Wax Wood, the Demon Fire produced by the burning of the Qinghe Demon was even purer!
"A single Qinghe Demon can burn for a very long time, and I can easily adjust the flame intensity."
"Perhaps I should give it a try?"
For a moment, Luo Chen was tempted.
Actions speak louder than thoughts!
That very evening, Luo Chen, who was all alone, powered up his Ascendant Grade Magic Tool - the Four Symbols Tripod.
He directly added four portions of raw materials and used the Qinghe Demon as firewood.
After the roaring flames, Luo Chen pulled out the half-burned Qinghe Demon.
"Wasn’t this thing dead?"
"Why does it make a wailing sound after being burned?"
Luo Chen was certain that the Qinghe Demon he bought from the Lianyun Business Union was not alive.
Living Qinghe Demons are extremely agile and lively, often frolicking around in forests and grasslands.
However, the one in his hand was as lifeless as dry grass, which confirmed its death.
Luo Chen couldn’t quite understand the mechanism behind this behavior and assumed it was some kind of instinct left in the muscles and limbs of the creature after death.
He couldn’t wait to open the furnace lid.
The Blood Ignition Pill, unlike other elixirs, produces a burnt, pungent aroma after its creation.
For other elixirs, this would typically indicate failure.
But for the Blood Ignition Pill, there’s a significant chance of success.
As he lifted the furnace lid, seven reddish, blood-like lower grade pills were resting inside.
"Seven!"
Luo Chen was taken aback.
He quickly checked the waste materials, and after some investigation, confirmed that three quarters had failed; only one quarter succeeded.
In other words,
"The fixed quantity of successful Blood Ignition Pills has increased from five to seven!"
"Even just changing the Pill Fire led to a change in the quantity of successfully refined pills. Does this mean that even the Pill Formula is influenced by the Pill Fire?"
"Have I somehow optimized the Blood Ignition Pill’s formula?"
Luo Chen knew the implications of increasing the number of successful pills better than anyone.
It meant that he could now start mass selling.
Of course, he needed to consider the cost as well.
A single Qinghe Demon, when half-burned, could refine four batches of raw materials.
Divided evenly, a single Qinghe Demon could support the refining of ten batches of Blood Ignition Pills.
The cost per batch was increased by one Spirit Stone, roughly twelve Spirit Stones in total per batch.
However, the improvement was also noticeable, as each successful batch would yield two additional Blood Ignition Pills.
Of course, one couldn’t only count the successful ones; a 10% success rate could also imply an additional expense of nine Spirit Stones.
"So, can the two extra Blood Ignition Pills make up for these surplus nine Spirit Stones?"
The answer is definitely yes!
Even if they couldn’t cover the overall cost, recouping the additional nine to ten Spirit Stones shouldn’t be a problem.
Plus, with an increased number of successful pills, the process could also significantly enhance proficiency.
On the panel, Luo Chen’s proficiency in Blood Ignition Pill refining had now reached [13/100].
"I have a lot more Qinghe Demons to use. For the time being, I can attempt refining more Blood Ignition Pills."
Recently, most of the Broken Mountain Gang cultivators have been dispatched to the Ancient Plains Mountain Range, so naturally, fewer people were assigned to keep an eye on Luo Chen.
Moreover, those who stayed behind were keenly focused on the ruins.
Now, Luo Chen could afford to be a little bolder.
...
As time drifted by like a stream,
Luo Chen carried on with his cultivation and Pill Refinement while keeping an eye on the situation at the Ancient Plains Mountain Range and the Golden Core ruins.
With the Broken Mountain Gang holding home court advantage, they had firsthand, unfabricated news.
On this journey to the Ancient Plains Mountain Range, Mi Shuhua had pulled together a team of scattered cultivators, totaling 500 in number.
The three major combat halls provided the main force, supplemented by cultivators from the Mining Hall and the Medicine Hall.
Ninth Level Qi Refinement cultivators were sent out in great numbers.
Apart from Luo Wudi, Zeng Wen, and Yang Wei, even Ke Yuelin, the Beast Hall’s Hall Master, had left the trivial tasks and went there personally.