Even a small department was set aside for herbalists, preparing to train a special workforce that would venture into the mountains to gather herbs.
Originally, some cultivators from both the Pill Hall and the Medicine Hall were selected.
Then, under the leadership of Gu Caiyi and Qu Hancheng, they re-familiarized themselves with medicinal herb processing and learning techniques for Pill Fire.
Besides, there were the all-important recruitment activities.
This task, led by Murong Qinglian of the Merits Hall, continued uninterrupted.
...
"Lang Mu, a former member of the Battle Hall, are you sure you want to join the Luo Tian Creed?"
The called upon cultivator half tenderly asked: "Are the rumors about Luo Tian Creed’s treatment true or false?"
Murong Qinglian smiled lightly: "Of course it’s true. The chairman added this condition on purpose."
Lang Mu could not help but smile after hearing this.
"Then I will certainly join!"
"Hall Master Murong, you don’t know. After the Broken Mountain Gang was disbanded, I was wandering around like a homeless dog. I used to be ridiculed by small factions, and I was even afraid of getting robbed on the streets."
"Now, I’ve finally found an organization!"
Listening to his grievance, Murong Qinglian gently wrote down his name, inquiring about his strengths to arrange his future deployment.
Soon enough, it was midday.
Gu Caiyi, who had mostly recovered, approached Murong Qinglian only to find her frowning deeply.
"Sister Qinglian, what’s wrong? Is recruitment not going well?"
Murong Qinglian closed the roster with a bitter smile: "How could it be smooth? In the past two days, only a dozen or so members of the Broken Mountain Gang have returned, most of whom are at the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement."
Hearing this, Gu Caiyi also felt helpless.
The Luo Tian Creed was in dire need of revitalization, almost starting from scratch.
The three major powers pressing down on them meant that many old members of the Broken Mountain Gang were afraid to return.
Back then, the Broken Mountain Gang boasted about twenty-nine Ninth Level Qi Refinement experts and hundreds in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, with two to three-thousand Cultivators in the early and middle stages.
Even after the gang’s dissolution battle, it’s likely that many experts survived.
But now, few have returned.
This dire reality truly brings about despair!
All Gu Caiyi could do was try to comfort her: "Don’t worry, Sister Qinglian. Luo Chen also said to take it slow, giving us a month to regroup."
"How can I not worry?" Murong Qinglian glanced at the bustling Crescent Valley, "Meantime, the Battle Hall and your Golden Hall are still empty shells. If we don’t build them up more, the Luo Tian Creed won’t be able to operate normally."
The consequences of not being able to operate normally were clear to both women.
This means, Spirit Stones will be consumed rapidly!
Remember, the initial funding for the Broken Mountain Gang was only ten thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
If these Spirit Stones were insufficient, Luo Chen would have to dip into his own pocket.
Gu Caiyi gritted her teeth, "If there is no other way, I can also recruit people!"
"Where will you recruit people from?"
Murong Qinglian asked curiously.
But before Gu Caiyi had a chance to answer, a man’s voice full of willpower came from the distant sky.
"The head of the three Battle Halls of the Broken Mountain Gang - Zeng Wen, returns!"
Murong Qinglian looked surprised for a moment, looking up to see a man in white robes, chest held high and belly pulled in, descending from the sky.
With every step, he looked like a deity visiting the mortal realm!
His appearance was quite compelling, and his entrance catchphrase was loud and clear, attracting the gazes of many cultivators in the Crescent Valley.
However, the two ladies, knowing his true nature, could only look on in silence.
"You’re still alive!"
Zeng Wen barely managed to stand firm before stumbling again.
The dumpling-like belly he’d held in also deflated in an instant.
"Murong, why can’t you hold any hope for me?"
Murong Qinglian shot him a glare, "Don’t think I don’t know. Yesterday, Tang Quan told me that you were fine all night. After escaping the pursuit, you directly took refuge at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. So many days have passed, I suspect your Spirit Stones must be running out!"
Zeng Wen’s face turned red, "How can you tarnish my innocence! I still have a few Spirit Stones!"
"Friend Zeng, staying overnight at Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is not cheap!", Gu Caiyi suppressed her laughter.
"Alright!"
Zeng Wen’s shoulders sagged as he said dejectedly: "I heard that friend Luo Chen’s treatment was very good, so I came back. We have to live, right?"
"Is there any position available? Give me one that’s cushy. I heard that the Battle Hall Master position is still vacant. I think I’m quite experienced!"
Experience in fleeing the battlefield, right?
"Pah! Go stand to the side!"
Murong Qinglian spat at him, and he complied, moving to stand aside.
"Stand up straight, you’re the first Ninth Level Qi Refinement expert to return. Show everyone the charm you displayed just now, let them look up to you."
"Hey, why are your legs shaking?"
They were going to use Zeng Wen as their front cover.
After all, he was an expert who had made a name for himself on the Dao Debate Platform and had a certain reputation both in the Broken Mountain Gang and The Great River District.
His return, in a sense, represented a certain number of old members acknowledging the Luo Tian Creed.
Zeng Wen, of course, understood this and chose not to shy away, willingly putting himself in the spotlight.
However, he occasionally engaged in small talk with Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi.
"How many people have returned?"
"Tsk, tsk, it’s not as if I abandoned the fight. You don’t know, at that time I was sipping wine, munching on Immortal Beans, and discussing the Great Dao Path with a female cultivator. Then, those damn Ninth Level Qi Refinement experts barged in. How was I supposed to fight?"
"Poor Tie Laojiu, he just reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement and was blasted alive."
"Yang Wei too, how pitiful! He was seriously injured in the Ancient Plains Mountain Range. His wounds hadn’t even healed when his Hall was knocked down."