The group, left stunned by Keini's departure, felt a mixture of envy and profound confusion. They couldn't fathom why Zhong Shenxiu would suddenly show such kindness to Keini. Was it merely because she was sensuous and beautiful?
That very thought exposed their lack of understanding of Zhong Shenxiu, a misconception many readers might share. Some might even speculate that Keini could usurp Robin's position. If so, they would be gravely mistaken!
No one could ever replace Robin in Zhong Shenxiu's heart—not now, and certainly not in the future!
Just as Robin would willingly die for Zhong Shenxiu, Zhong Shenxiu would change for Robin.
No one knew the profound purpose behind Zhong Shenxiu keeping Keini close. His true motivation stemmed entirely from Robin.
Perhaps this is unclear now, but a brief explanation will illuminate Zhong Shenxiu's hidden anxieties.
To truly explain, we must return to the incident of Zhong Shenxiu’s Tribulation. During that time, Robin displayed her first true act of willfulness, which simultaneously made Zhong Shenxiu realize deeply that if anything befell him, Robin would absolutely refuse to live on.
This was not what Zhong Shenxiu desired. He wished for Robin to live on, strong and happy, hoping that no matter what happened to him later, Robin would never contemplate self-destruction!
That single Tribulation almost caused Zhong Shenxiu to forget Robin, and the road ahead was still long, with countless unknown trials awaiting. Zhong Shenxiu did not want Robin to be alone. His real intention in seeking out Keini was the hope that Keini’s presence would let Robin know she was not isolated. Furthermore, he hoped that in his absence, Keini could console and guide Robin—just in case.
No one could grasp the depth of Zhong Shenxiu’s careful planning, and he certainly would never tell Robin!
Therefore, those who believe Keini can replace Robin, or that Zhong Shenxiu has shifted his affections, have truly wronged him.
Robin was the first family member Zhong Shenxiu knew in this world, and the most important. The bond between family is something no outsider can penetrate!
Every small memory they shared was Zhong Shenxiu’s most precious treasure!
After all this extraneous talk, the real point I wish to convey is this: Do not judge a person merely by their outward appearance; strive to understand the landscape of their heart!
Returning to the main narrative. Zhong Shenxiu and his companions soon arrived at the "Soggy Forest."
The place they reached resembled a valley, with relatively level ground surrounding them. A remarkable feature was a clear spring flowing nearby.
This was the precise location Zhong Shenxiu had chosen using his "Spiritual Wave" for the construction of the "Pharmacy Factory"!
Another great advantage of this spot was its extreme concealment. The surrounding terrain was treacherous; unless encountering some acutely sensitive magical beasts, anything else would surely perish due to the perilous topography.
Moreover, a thick layer of mist obscured the sky above. Had Zhong Shenxiu relied only on natural sight, discovering this excellent spot would have been incredibly difficult.
Despite the inherent secrecy provided by the terrain, Zhong Shenxiu, for ultimate security, still laid down a grand formation around the area. This ensured that forget magical beasts, not even an ant could pass through unnoticed.
The next stage was the formal construction, which proved relatively simple. Zhong Shenxiu exerted a slight measure of his power, carving several spacious caverns into the rock walls on either side, more than enough space to accommodate people and supplies!
These structural tasks were easy. The true difficulty lay in implementing the "assembly line process"!
Though arduous, it was not impossible. Zhong Shenxiu had already devised a strategy on the journey here, and he was now in the process of executing it.
The very first problem to solve was fabricating a cauldron capable of automating the potion refinement process. This cauldron needed to be simple to operate, otherwise the Skeleton Warriors would struggle to use it.
Fortunately, Zhong Shenxiu possessed a broad and deep knowledge base. By integrating various array techniques, he could overcome this challenge.
This time, when crafting the cauldron, Zhong Shenxiu did not utilize any rare or divine ores. He casually gathered common minerals scattered nearby; many were sourced directly from the environment.
The reason for this was simple: the cauldron had no need for rare heavenly treasures. As long as it achieved the anticipated effect, refining it with superior materials would only be wasteful.
Furthermore, because the focus was on maximizing output, the cauldron needed to be massive. Correspondingly, the material consumption would be substantial, and using overly precious ores would have made Zhong Shenxiu genuinely pained!
With the concept established and the materials procured, the formal forging commenced. Although Zhong Shenxiu still employed the "Samadhi True Fire," he dispensed with extensive purification of the ores. He merely removed obvious impurities before beginning the "shaping" process!
As the colossal cauldron neared completion, Zhong Shenxiu quickly executed a series of hand seals, channeling the pre-planned formations into the vessel continuously.
The entire process appeared exceedingly intricate, yet Zhong Shenxiu completed the refinement in less than an hour!
Gazing at the behemoth of a cauldron before him, Zhong Shenxiu smiled. Even though this vessel barely qualified as a magical artifact, he remained satisfied.
He intended the cauldron merely to produce medicine, and the potions brewed were not for his own consumption; maintaining consistent quality and high yield was the only requirement!
By Zhong Shenxiu’s estimation, if this cauldron operated non-stop, twenty-four hours a day, its service life could extend to three years! Even if limited to three years, the income generated by the potions it produced would undoubtedly be staggering!
Next came the thrilling moment: testing whether the cauldron actually functioned.
This time, Keini and Robin could assist. First, they poured clean water into the cauldron, then gathered branches to start a fire beneath it.
The advantage of this cauldron was that one did not need to manually control the heat; the internal formation managed it automatically. One only needed to maintain the fiercest possible blaze!
Subsequently, the group loaded the necessary raw materials for the various potions into the cauldron’s four separate ports. After that, they needed to do nothing more than wait patiently for the finished medicine to emerge. The internal formations automatically adjusted the ratio of ingredients—everything was fully automated!
What made it even more ingenious was that if a potion was successfully brewed, there was no need to open the lid for inspection. There were four track-like slides at the base; the finished potion would automatically deliver itself through these channels—absolutely convenient and labor-saving!
It is also worth noting that this cauldron could refine four types of potions simultaneously. Two of the ports were dedicated to brewing "Sunscreen Pills" and "Skin Cream." The other two ports were designated for a remedy against the "Darkness Backlash," now christened the "Devour-Cure Pill," and a potion to replenish dark mana—the "Dark Mana Water"!
If one were to claim this cauldron was impressive, its true marvel lay in the magical formations that controlled everything!
Since the fastest potion required over two hours to complete, Zhong Shenxiu set up a "Fire Element Magic Array" beneath the cauldron to eliminate the need for manual stoking.
Following this, the trio began constructing the kilns. This was far easier than forging the main cauldron, so they were finished quickly!
And just like that, this rudimentary pharmaceutical base was complete! Though basic, the sanitation standards were certainly met, haha!
The remaining task was simply waiting for the finished products to roll out.
Stanley and Faraday stole a glance outside. Although somewhat mentally prepared, they were nonetheless startled by the sheer, dense mass of figures before them.
They had never witnessed such a vast assembly of Necromancers, and even more shocking was the sight of many powerful individuals among them—many of whom they personally recognized!
Back in the office, Stanley couldn't help but remark, "There must be well over a thousand Necromancers outside?"
"Definitely!" Faraday affirmed with certainty. "I never imagined that just one day of promotion would yield such results. If Necromancers from farther cities hear about these two potions, the crowd will only grow larger."
"It won't be long before higher-ups send someone down," Stanley said with a peculiar smile.
Faraday chuckled in return, unable to contain himself, "Hmph, just wait until I show them my attitude then."
The memory of the scorn and derision he faced when requesting a share of Zhong Shenxiu's proceeds from the association’s leadership made Faraday seethe! But now the tables had turned; soon, the people upstairs would be begging him!
As the two chatted, an aide burst in with a look of utter panic, forgetting even to knock.
"Why such recklessness? What is the matter?" Faraday frowned, demanding.
"The... the Chairman, Elder Robin is here! She's right outside the door! Should we open it?" the chastised Necromancer stammered out.
Stanley and Faraday were initially stunned. Then Stanley couldn't help but snap, "Are you an idiot? The Elder is here and you don't open the door? What are you waiting for? Hurry and escort the Elder in!"
Stanley felt like strangling the subordinate; he couldn't believe such a matter needed consultation. What if they angered the two Elders?
The two quickly realized they couldn't just wait. They should personally go and welcome the guest, so they rushed out in a flurry.
Meanwhile, outside the 'Necromancer Association,' those standing closer to the entrance stared in amazement at the small girl standing at the doorway. What baffled them was that despite waiting there for a long time, they had no idea how this little girl had appeared!
They were truly curious how she managed to push through such a large crowd?
Even more curious was who this little girl was and why she had come here?
Just as speculation ran wild among the crowd, the moment of intense excitement arrived: the door to the 'Necromancer Association' opened, just a crack, and a Necromancer emerged to respectfully usher the small girl inside.
But then, the crowd was left frustrated, as the door immediately closed again!