Seeing the fervent look in Xiao Yan’s eyes as he gazed at Xuner, a soft expression appeared on Cai Lin’s cold and beautiful face. She regarded Xuner very highly, more important even than her own life. That Xiao Yan could truly care for Xuner was also the most significant thing in her heart. “Xuner’s current conditions are already quite good. The ‘Heavenly Soul Blood Bone Pill’ you sent back to us before her birth helped cultivate a decent constitution for her,” Cai Lin smiled. As she spoke of this, she couldn’t help but give Xiao Yan an extra glance. Back then, she had made up her mind: if Xiao Yan dared to forget their agreement when the time came, she would never have anything more to do with him ever again. Stubborn by nature, Cai Lin did not easily regret her choices. If Xiao Yan broke his promise, she wouldn’t hesitate in taking action; they would simply lead the snake-people to relocate once more.
Fortunately, however, Xiao Yan had kept the delivery of the pills in mind all along. When he left the Black-Corner Region, he made sure to send the medicine back.
“The Heavenly Soul Blood Bone Pill is indeed good, but it’s still not enough.” Xiao Yan shook his head. With his current perspective, he didn’t think too highly of the Heavenly Soul Blood Bone Pill. Although its foundational powers were decent, it was far from meeting his requirements. “Your serpent people race has probably never encountered a true master of alchemy, which is why you only categorize into three classes. At most, the Heavenly Soul Blood Bone Pill would be considered an inferior grade of 7th-grade pill. It provides some foundations, but falls far short of perfection.” Xiao Yan observed as he gazed at the bustling city walls, smiling slightly.
“Yes, the Heavenly Soul Blood Bone Pill is good, but there are stronger alternatives, such as the Profound Body Foundation Pill. This pill reaches the peak level of 7th grade and would perfectly suit Xuner. But this sort of pill, even if I were to personally refine it, the success rate would only be forty percent. To prepare it, we would likely need the Alliance Chief’s assistance…” someone standing nearby stated casually.
Xiao Yan followed the sound of the voice, and couldn’t help but smile. He cupped his hands towards the speaker and said, “Master Gu He, how have you been?”
The person who spoke was none other than Master Gu He, the former Alchemist King of the Jia Ma Empire, and now the director of the Hall of Alchemists of the Yan Alliance. Standing behind him were several elders dressed in alchemist robes. Although Xiao Yan was unfamiliar with them, he guessed they must have joined the Yan Alliance after he had left. As their gazes met, Xiao Yan’s brows rose slightly. Although these people looked at him with some respect, they also carried an inexplicable meaning within their eyes.
“Chief, to be absent for so many years, that’s really a relaxed lifestyle,” Gu He greeted, cupping his hands with a light smile. For the latter, he had mixed feelings. Years ago, Xiao Yan had disgraced him during the wedding fiasco with the Cloud Rending Sect. Fortunately, he managed to let it go and didn’t hold too much of a grudge. This led to him eventually joining the Yan Alliance after losing the competition in alchemy to Xiao Yan. Though he had joined the Yan Alliance, he couldn’t completely forgive that defeat. Over the years, he devoted himself to the cultivation of alchemical skills. Now, he had become a high-level Grade 7 Alchemist — in the entire Northwest Continent, the number of people who could surpass him could be counted on one hand.
Having improved his strength, naturally, he wished to regain his honor. However, Xiao Yan had been missing for years, out of reach. Now, upon finally seeing him again, his thoughts inadvertently surfaced. Of course, he harbored no ill will. It was just that he, who had always prided himself on his alchemical talent, was reluctant to accept that he had lost to someone younger than himself.
“Master Gu He is now the top alchemist in the Northwest Continent. Under his management and guidance, the Hall of Alchemists has grown quite formidable. The rapid development of the Yan Alliance wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of the Hall of Alchemists. The few individuals behind him are the Hall’s elders. They are all Grade 6 alchemists and the backbone of the institution,” Cai Lin added, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, about to speak, when suddenly Cai Lin’s subtle voice echoed in his ear like a whisper. “The position of the Hall of Alchemists in the Yan Alliance is too crucial. Its contribution to the swift rise of the alliance over the years has led some higher-ups to develop arrogance. Some believe that without the Hall of Alchemists, there would be no Yan Alliance. The Hall operates almost independently. I am not an alchemist, so over the years, my prestige among them may not even be as high as Gu He’s…”
Tightly crossing his fingers in his sleeves, Xiao Yan smiled lightly. Too much power with no oversight, that was what led to this situation. It wasn’t strange though. Alchemists naturally had a sense of superiority, and the vital role the Hall of Alchemists played over the years added to this. These people believed themselves to be superior to others, and even the highest-ranking leaders didn’t always show the utmost respect.
In the upper echelons of the Yan Alliance, Cai Lin, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li were not alchemists, so they couldn’t command the respect of the alchemists. And although Gu He was upright, he lacked the ability to manage those beneath him, leading to the growing arrogance of the Hall of Alchemists.
“It seems that the Yan Alliance isn’t as tightly knit as we imagined. This haughtiness cannot be allowed to grow unchecked, or it will become a cancer to the Alliance,” Xiao Yan glanced at Gu He and the elders behind him, and smiled. “The Profound Body Foundation Pill is decent, but it’s not the best choice. I wonder if Master Gu He has heard of a pill called ‘Yi Shi’?”
At the mention of the ‘Yi Shi Pill’, Gu He and the Hall of Alchemists’ elders’ faces changed, and they exclaimed, “A Grade 8 ‘Yi Shi Pill’?”
“Is the Alliance Chief capable of refining Grade 8 pills?” Gu He asked, gazing at Xiao Yan with shock. The elders behind him also looked at Xiao Yan with astonishment and disbelief. Gu He, who could refine Grade 7 pills, was already considered a top alchemist in the Northwest. They had always followed his lead and while they had heard of Xiao Yan’s exploits, they always believed that Gu He was the top alchemist in the Yan Alliance.
“Grade 8 pills are classified by the color of the medicinal thunder. The Yi Shi Pill should attract five-color medicinal thunder. Master Gu He, gather all the alchemists of the Hall tomorrow. I will publicly refine a pill, and anyone who doesn’t attend will be expelled from the Yan Alliance! When I left, I granted the Hall privileges and conveniences that other sections didn’t have, yet you still haven’t produced more than five Grade 7 alchemists. This efficiency is unacceptable!” Xiao Yan looked directly at Gu He and spoke sternly.
Hearing Xiao Yan’s sudden harsh tone, Gu He felt a slight shock. He was an intelligent man, and he quickly understood that Xiao Yan intended to reform the Hall of Alchemists. He was aware of the bad habits the Hall had developed over the years but hadn’t addressed them. Though Cai Lin was strong, she didn’t know alchemy and thus couldn’t gain much respect in the Hall, but now, Xiao Yan was different. He had surpassed Gu He in alchemy long ago. Since he had reached Grade 7 level, it was plausible that he might attain the Grade 8 master alchemist realm.
The elders exchanged glances, feeling uneasy. Even Cai Lin, who had great authority, hadn’t spoken to Gu He like this, but the newly returned Chief was going to take direct action against the most essential Hall…
“Very well, Alliance Chief! In that case, I shall go and summon the Hall of Alchemists. We’ll wait for your arrival tomorrow…” Gu He sighed inwardly, but still nodded, cupped his hands, and after Xiao Yan’s nod, turned and left with the elders. He knew that once this news spread, the Hall of Alchemists would be in an uproar.
Watching Gu He and the others leave, Xiao Yan’s eyes slowly narrowed.
“Is this appropriate? Being too harsh may make those proud alchemists dissatisfied,” Cai Lin expressed her concern. She was familiar with the characters in the Hall of Alchemists, and even the messengers sent to collect herbs were sometimes harassed—a sign of the Hall’s prevailing habits.
“Dissatisfaction? They are just mediocre alchemists. You overestimate them. Alchemists of this level, if placed in the Central Plains, would barely make a living. If they leave, we can recruit better ones,” Xiao Yan remarked coolly. With the space wormhole between Starfall Pavilion and the Yan Alliance, he could now travel freely between the two. As for alchemists, he could directly invite them from the Central Plains. Given his and Elder Medicine’s fame in the alchemy world of the Central Plains, even high-ranked alchemists would flock to him.
“I plan to refine a pill for Xuner. Tomorrow, I will open the pot in the Hall of Alchemists to show my presence. The Hall needs to be properly reformed,” Xiao Yan lightly patted Xuner in his arms, speaking firmly. He was getting angry. He never expected that the special privileges he had given the Hall would turn into a tumor in the Yan Alliance!
Seeing Xiao Yan’s slightly gloomy face, Cai Lin also nodded. She had endured a lot from the Hall, but for the greater good, she had always held back. Now, with Xiao Yan’s return, such indulgence was no longer necessary.
“There are still some elder alchemists who didn’t appear. Those are the real troublemakers, including two Grade 7 alchemists who recently joined. They are outrageously arrogant. According to my information, they have secretly sold the Hall’s pills, but I lack evidence to act,” Cai Lin spoke softly.
“Mm,” a faint sound emitted from Xiao Yan’s nose, his dark eyes flashing with a cold light.
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