Chapter 26 Test
Holy Pill City’s grandeur caused Yao Chen to feel a completely stifled feeling!
He had never before seen this many alchemists and never before seen such a huge boundless city! Humanity’s greatest civilization and culture was definitely amassed here.
“Here? Haha, this is just the outer city. The true grandeur is in the inner city. The Pill Tower is in the inner city!”
Hu Chen was filled with pride that he could no longer hide. He had been born here, been raised here. The holy ground was his family. Although this family might have wronged him in the past, he had no hatred towards it. This place had his family, his friends, and the marks he had left within it.
Yao Chen took a deep breath. The concentration of spiritual qi in the air was comparable to the Yao clan, and the fragrance of medicinal aroma filled the air and refreshed the mind.
Under Hu Chen’s guidance, Yao Chen and Feng Xian arrived at an ancient and simple stone tower. This was one of the Pill Tower’s branch towers. Inside were many alchemists busily working. Although they were all talking quietly, the sum of it still pounded in the ears.
This branch tower had once been under the control of Hu Chen’s mother. The current alchemist in charge was his mother’s elder apprentice, in other words, Hu Chen’s eldest apprentice-bother.
Huchen held an insignia as he brought Yao Chen and Feng Xian straight inside the tower without the slightest obstruction. The inside of the tower was extremely spacious. Inside were many alchemists all wearing robes signifying their level and status. Each person was filled with drive and self-confidence. In the corners were occasionally small groups of alchemists quietly discussing what they had learned of alchemy.
“Let’s go. My eldest apprentice-brother should already know I’ve returned and is waiting for me. Right, we’ll let him give you the ranking test to get your alchemy badge. With your level, the fifth tier might be a bit difficult, but a fourth tier ranking shouldn’t be a problem.”
Huchen began to explain all sorts of things along the way, bringing them along a specific path.
The other paths were all lit while this was the only one emitting a mysterious gloom. This was actually a kind of warning not to enter unless they were like Hu Chen and had the insignia to enter. Otherwise who knew what kind unspeakable calamity would fall on any offenders.
At the end of the path was a large hall. There were several different stone doors along its walls, representing different tests.
At this time there were already a group of people standing there.
“Senior apprentice-brother!”
Huchen quickly walked over and familiarly greeted an old man in his sixties, his eyes becoming watery.
“Junior apprentice-brother, you’ve returned. Unfortunately you didn’t come back earlier; master is in seclusion. It’s a good thing.” The old man patted Hu Chen’s shoulders and smiled.
“Is it a breakthrough attempt?” Huchen’s eyes were filled with shock. In reality their family’s banishment against him had already ended several years ago. But he had been trapped within Demon Valley and also had no way to make up for his offense from that year, so he had purposely never returned to Holy Pill City. Now he had the power to regain his past glory. If his mother could advance, then no one would be able to stop him.
“Right. If master can breakthrough then our branch will truly enter a golden age. Haha, let’s not talk about that now. Who are these two?” The old man’s gaze flashed and fell on Yao Chen and Feng Xian. A powerful fluctuation spread out.
Yao Chen’s heart shook. Although afraid, he still stared back. Feng Xian was a bit weaker, taking two steps back before holding his gaze.
“Oh, not bad.”
The old man stroked his beard, a bit surprised at Yao Chen and Feng Xian’s reaction. Unless their willpower and soul were extremely tough, that gaze of his would make anyone kneel immediately. He had originally thought these two were apprentices his junior apprentice-brother had brought back, but now it seemed that that wasn’t true.
Yao Chen respectfully acted as a junior generation. “Junior is Yao Chen. Greetings senior.”
“Haha, quite a good sprout. What, are you planning on entering the Pill Tower to study?”
The old man had already seen countless talents like Yao Chen who had come knocking on this door. Thus he had showed off his power, letting him know the prestige of the Pill Tower. This was a good thing for him, as this place was completely different from the rest of the world. Since they weren’t disciples of his apprentice-brother, then naturally he would have to treat them according to the rules.
“Senior apprentice-brother, please help. This Yao Chen can count as my disciple.”
The old man angrily said, “If he is then he is, if he isn’t then he isn’t. What is this ‘count as’.”
“Senior apprentice-brother, can we talk?”
Hu Chen laughed and pulled the old man to the side. The two quietly discussed something, and the old man’s body slumped and he shot a glance at Yao Chen before they once more began whispering. Eventually it seemed they came to an agreement and walked back over.
“This old man is called Jian Chengzhang. You can call me uncle-master Jian. Go to that room and test your ranking.”
The old man pointed towards one of four large doors. Yao Chen looked and saw that door had the word ‘Huang’ written over it. The other three respectively said Tian, Di, and Xuan.
Testing below the sixth tier was done in the Huang testing room. These details had already been explained to him by Hu Chen. Yao Chen nodded and was about to walk over.
But just at that moment, another couple of people walked over.
“Ohoho, is this apprentice-brother Dan Huchen? Haha, what? You’ve returned? And even brought back a disciple?”
The leader of this group was a middle-aged man in green robes with a fan in his hand. He indifferently smiled and snapped the fan at Yao Chen with dense ridicule.
“Bai Wei!”
Hu Chen coldly laughed, and his eyes were spitting out real flames!
However Yao Chen couldn’t be bothered to deal with this and continued to enter the Huang tier room. The enmity he himself had was enough for him. Hu Chen was just collaborating with him, so his enmities naturally didn’t need to be dealt with by him.
“Dan Huchen, aren’t you being a bit too petty? Back then I never expected that you were so stupid. You can’t blame me, I just said something as a joke and you took it as the truth. If you have time you should probably spend more time training your head than your muscles.”
The green-robed middle-aged man waved his hand and pointed towards Yao Chen who had entered the door. “Ha, the disciple you took went to the Huang gate. How laughable! Come, you guys go test too.”
“Yes master.”
Two youths walked over to Jian Chengzhang and respectfully cupped their fists to him before walking to the testing procedure.
“What rank are you testing for?”
“Tier six lower grade.”
Both of them spoke out at the same time with great confidence.
For them to challenge the ranking for sixth tier alchemist at their age truly was deserving of praise.
Jian Chengzhang was startled slightly, but still nodded and pointed to the Xuan door. “Enter.”
As soon as he finished speaking a sudden gust of wind came from the path Hu Chen had came from. A shadowy figure quickly flew over. That shadow had the fluctuation of a Heavenly Flame and a powerful aura. The scorching heat waves coming from that shadow even blocked her face. All that could be seen of that indistinct shadow was that it was a woman.
“Aunt-master!”
Jian Chengzhang quickly bowed to that shadow.
“I forgot something in the Huang room just now. I’ll get it myself, so handle your own matters.”
The shadow charged into the Huang room.
“Uh, yes.”
Jian Chengzhang bitterly laughed. This aunt-master was not that old, yet was already a seventh tier alchemist. She was one of the disciples of his master’s ancestors who was always in seclusion. She always acted as she pleased, and even in the Pill Tower she did whatever she wanted, let alone in a place like this branch tower. Here there was no one who could stop her. They could only nod in assent.
Bai Wei coldly laughed, “Haha, Dan Huchen, looks like your apprentice is screwed. Who is the holy ground doesn’t know just how strict master-aunt Han is? The slightest mistake is unacceptable for her.”
Hu Chen’s expression fluctuated. He hadn’t expected for such a thing to occur. Aunt-master Han wasn’t someone he knew, but from Jian Chengzhang’s face he could tell that the situation wasn’t good.
It really was the case that bad luck always drew more bad luck. Just running into this scoundrel Bai Wei was already unlucky enough, but now this eccentric aunt-master Han had also popped up.
Bai Wei smiled as he looked at Hu Chen’s expression, becoming more and more pleased.
Hu Chen might be extremely angry, and his fists had turned white from being clenched, but it was definitely not allowed to fight within the Pill Tower’s branch towers.
In just a short time, the Xuan door opened. The two green-robed disciples Bai Wei had brought with him both walked out with confidence.
“Tier six lower grade, pass.”
Both of them spoke out at the same time, replacing their alchemist badge on their robes.
This badge might not appear remarkable to the eye, but it represented the acknowledge of the the Pill Tower, and within all the mainland, this kind of acknowledgement provided a great kind of power. It meant you had authority and many benefits.
It went without saying that the confident and proud way they were acting was due to Bai Wei’s orders.
Hu Chen’s expression became even uglier. He had no doubt they were mocking him right in the face.
He was pushed to his breaking point, but unfortunately he had nowhere to place this anger. He could only accept this disgrace head on.
Just at this moment, the Huang door opened up and Yao Chen hurried out with a bitter expression.
“Haha, looks like we don’t even need to ask the result.” Bai Wei laughed, his fan pointing at Yao Chen.
“Hmph, my people have yet to reach the point where they can be lectured by you.”
Huchen only felt a rush of blood and qi to his head, and he sent a claw right at Bai We’s face. His Dou qi surged and the room suddenly became as scorching hot as the middle of a burning stove. He had taken out his true Dou Flame!
Bai Wei’s expression darkened. “Do you think you are still a match for me? Looks like the lesson I gave you back then still wasn’t enough!”
BOOM! The force of their collision forced both sides to take two steps back.
Hu Chen’s face was extremely unsightly, but Bai Wei’s look was also flabbergasted. In his mind, since Dan Hu Chen had been expelled from the Pill Tower, no matter what, his cultivation should have fallen behind him. But in their exchange just now he was shocked to realize Hu Chen’s Dou Flame was actually a level higher than his Dou Flame!
“Green Scale Ashen Flame…”
Hu Chen’s eyes were icy cold. The Demon Saint had wanted him to refine medicine, so of course he had offered a couple benefits. One of those was the Green Scale Ashen Flame, a Dou Flame that the Demon Saint had personally found for him. Although it couldn’t possibly be as overbearing as a Heavenly Flame, but when it came to other Dou Flames, it could enter the top ten in terms of power.
But despite possessing such a flame, he was still only an equal match for Bai Wei. It was obvious he was not the only one who had had a fortunate encounter. Bai Wei’s growth was also shocking to him. He wanted to get back at him for what he had done to him in the past, but it appeared that such a thing would not be so easy.
At this time Jian Chengzhang coughed clearly. “This place is the Pill Tower’s! It is not a place for you two to deal with past enmities! Hmph, since you just arrived and were tired from travel it was acceptable that you didn’t go through the proper authentication processes. But there will be no more exceptions for you tomorrow.”
This was obviously opening the backdoor, but that was also what should be done. Even Bai Wei only snorted and didn’t say anything. In any case, who cared if he passed the Huang door’s tests? In fact, to require two attempts to pass was something extremely laughable.
Yao Chen hesitated and said, “But she…”
“Cough, don’t say anything. I’ll handle everything.” Hu Chen waved his hand to cut off Yao Chen.
In terms of strength, he still believed that Yao Chen could get a good ranking during the Pill Battle Competition, allowing him to participate in the Pill Gathering a year later. Within Demon Valley, Yao Chen had done things that were a complete defiance of the heavens. In a competition of pills, he could definitely pull off a miracle.
However, if the most strict techniques were used to test Yao Chen’s alchemy status… then perhaps the fifth tier was a bit difficult. According to what he guessed, Yao Chen’s body had once been through something terrible. The child had then used various techniques like the medicinal bath, sealing his Dou acupuncture points, etc. in order to suppress that thing. That was why despite clearly having an even greater strength, he was unable to display it during normal times.
If you measured Yao Chen’s tier by using his success rate when refining, Hu Chen sometimes felt that Yao Chen might already be at the seventh tier’s level! Of course, this kind of feeling was something even he didn’t believe.
“Haha, Dan Huchen, could it be? You are planning on letting this get participate in the Pill Battle Competition? Hahaha, what a joke! Let’s not discuss the other descendants of the ancestor; even my apprentices would completely suppress this kid.”
Bai Wei was very arrogant, and furthermore he had a great understanding of what Dan Huchen had to do in the future. Other than through the Pill Battle Competition, it would be wishful thinking for him to stand out in the holy ground.
Just at this moment another rumbling sound rang out and the Huang door was pushed open and a black shadow shot towards Yao Chen.
“Aunt-master, please stop!”
Jian Chengzhang was shocked. What had happened inside? Had this kid somehow offended his aunt-master?
“Get out of my way! Hmph, kid, why’d you run so fast? I feel like we can do the sixth tier middle grade test, come!”
Yao Chen bitterly smiled. “Senior, I only wanted the fifth tier high grade badge. The sixth tier isn’t that important to me.”
….
What? It wasn’t important to him?
When the sacred tower’s people heard Yao Chen’s words, an indescribable fury filled their hearts. Even Hu Chen was glowering at Yao Chen.
“Haha, kid, it’s over! However, you’ve got guts! I like it! Hey, whoever you are, is this guy your apprentice? I’m borrowing him!” The indistinct shadow laughed and suddenly her clothes wrapped around Yao Chen, bringing him away in an instant.
Jian Chengzhang was in a daze. “Junior apprentice-brother… this, I guess… this is a good thing?”
“Senior apprentice-brother?”
Hu Chen was also struck dumb.
Only Feng Xian’s mouth was trembling. He wanted to shout but was unable to. Yao Chen, someone he saw as his main backbone and pillar, had been taken away by someone just like that! However, he said it was a good thing? Did he have to chase after him? Although he knew that he was actually unable to do a thing… Feng Xian clenched his fist tightly.
The person whose face was the most ugly at this time would definitely have to be Bai Wei. Sixth tier middle grade? Aunt-master said that this could should go test the sixth tier middle grade!
Just now he had actually insulted Yao Chen by saying he had no skills… now it was like he was slapped in the face in front of everyone!
Holy Pill City, inner region…
Yao Chen looked all around. He was already within the Pill tower, and energy was rushing throughout. This place’s spiritual qi was not inferior to the treasured Fengshui ancestral lands of the Yao clan.
“Kid, quickly show me that technique you used during the test.” That shadow shot questions at Yao Chen, seeming unable to wait for the response.
“Senior…” Yao Chen bitterly laughed. That technique was one he had exchanged for with Hu Chen. But some of the finer details had been changed to make it more suited to himself.
“I know there’s no free lunch. Oh, how about I use this to exchange for it?”
A Dou Technique suddenly appeared in the shadow’s hand. “Xuan class Pill Fire Technique. It should be of great help to you. Your Dou Flame should still be at the Huang class right?”
Yao Chen blinked. “It might be possible, but senior, actually…”
The black shadow impatiently tore off her black robe. Yao Chen’s vision brightened and an absolutely beautiful woman appeared before his eyes.
“Don’t call me senior. At most I’m ten years older than you. Right, call me big sis. I’ll take care of you in the future. You want to enter the Pill Tower to study alchemy right? That’s a bit difficult, but if you don’t mind, big sis can teach you just the same. Hmph, those old antiques want me to go give them advice but I don’t feel like it. Oh, that technique…”
“I’ll immediately demonstrate it.” Yao Chen bitterly smiled. He had originally wanted to say this technique was of little value. Since she was Hu Chen’s senior aunt-master, she naturally could obtain it from Hu Chen.
“I actually understand this technique, but when you use it, it doesn’t seem the same. It seems as if… well in any case, first show it to me and then we’ll talk.”
The beautiful woman threw the Xuan Class Pill Fire Technique to Yao Chen and then took out an ancient medicinal cauldron for Yao Chen to demonstrate on.
Yao Chen nodded and got serious. It was obvious this beautiful woman was one of those alchemy fanatics. Nothing other than alchemy interested her.
Yao Chen took a deep breath. His Dou Flame soared from his hand into the cauldron. He felt some kind of special energy be excited by the Dou Flame, and it actually matched his Dou Flame so that the cauldron would become even more suitable for refining. This kind of feeling was as if his Dou Flame had jumped several levels up. The alchemy level was the most important thing when refining, but a couple other items could also increase your abilities. To an alchemist, those things could not be lacking.
This was the first time Yao Chen had used an excellent cauldron and felt longing towards it. At the initial stages it might not have a huge impact. No matter how good the medicinal cauldron was, it depended on the alchemist. But now that he had grown up more, the current him had reached the level where he needed a high level cauldron to display his true skills.
The technique he displayed was very simple, but after Yao Chen added a couple of his unique understandings to it, it was no longer the same. This wasn’t the Yao clan’s technique, and it wasn’t the Pill Tower’s technique. The two had been combined, not one and not the other. It could only be described as a technique being solely to Yao Chen.
“I think I understand it now. Unfortunately, this technique is something I can’t use. How irritating. Oh right, you still don’t know who I am. My name is Han Shanshan. What’s yours?”
“Yao Chen.”
“Yao? A branch member of the Yao clan?” Han Shanshan was a bit surprised.
Yao Chen became silent. There were some things he did not want to talk about.
“Ok, if you don’t want to talk about it then I’ll just assume it’s true. Do you have any more techniques you can show for me?”
“I have them…”
“Hey! Don’t be greedy. I’ll only offer Xuan class Dou Techniques!”
“No, I was going to ask whether my friend could be brought over as well. He’s called Feng Xian, and although he’s not an alchemist, he’s an excellent helper.”
“A friend? Feng Xian? Fine, I’ll go see him in the evening. Right now, give me a show.”
Han Shanshan was fully deserving of being called an alchemy fanatic. She would disregard anything if it was for alchemy. As for the Pill Tower’s rules… they could get lost!
Yao Chen was reunited with Feng Xian and Dan Huchen in the evening.
“So senior Huchen was actually from the Dan family?”
The Pill Tower had five great clans: Dan, Cao, Ye, Qiu, and Bai. The Dan family was the most low-key, but every field of the Pill Tower had Dan family members at a couple key positions. In just half a day, Yao Chen ended up learning many things about the Dan family from the alchemy fanatic Han Shanshan. Others might not have had such an open mouth, but someone like Han Shanshan who didn’t care about anything other than alchemy told him everything, and he learned that the Dan family was truly not simple.
Dan Huchen bitterly smiled. “This ‘Dan’ surname means nothing. My branch has long since been isolated from the true Dan clan.”
The situation was a bit chaotic. Dan Huchen had never thought that Yao Chen would end up drawing the eye of aunt-master Han. Now he didn’t know whether his plan could continue. After all, he didn’t have any more techniques Yao Chen was interested in.
“When does the Pill Battle Competition begin?” Yao Chen laughed and asked.
“You still want to participate? It’s in half a month. Here is your badge; with aunt-master Han’s acknowledgment, no one will bother you.”
Dan Huchen immediately took out a fifth tier middle grade alchemist’s badge and put it on Yao Chen’s chest, afraid Yao Chen would back out of their deal.
“Haha, how could I possibly give up a chance to look over other people’s alchemy?”
Yao Chen’s eyes brightened. In just one afternoon he had exchanged much with Han Shanshan. A small portion of that had been him demonstrating a couple small techniques in refining. The majority of it had been Han Shanshan discussing the very essence of alchemy. Not only did she talk about how to handle refining or various medicinal natures, but she actually treated alchemy as a kind of cultivation, as one of the Daos of the heavens that could be put into practice and explored.
This had opened up a huge door for Yao Chen, letting him see a landscape he had never before seen. So alchemy was actually like this!
Seclusion training wasn’t the only part of alchemy. Going out to exchange with others and to compete allowed you to evolve your spirituality and find an even more expansive path.
Footnotes:
Dan=Pill. Ye=Leaf. The other three don’t have any meanings relating to pills. Ye, Cao, Qiu, and Bai are all surnames. Qiu=mound, Cao=class/grade/generation, Bai=white (amongst a plethora of other things).
Chapter 26 Test
Holy Pill City’s grandeur caused Yao Chen to feel a completely stifled feeling!
He had never before seen this many alchemists and never before seen such a huge boundless city! Humanity’s greatest civilization and culture was definitely amassed here.
“Here? Haha, this is just the outer city. The true grandeur is in the inner city. The Pill Tower is in the inner city!”
Hu Chen was filled with pride that he could no longer hide. He had been born here, been raised here. The holy ground was his family. Although this family might have wronged him in the past, he had no hatred towards it. This place had his family, his friends, and the marks he had left within it.
Yao Chen took a deep breath. The concentration of spiritual qi in the air was comparable to the Yao clan, and the fragrance of medicinal aroma filled the air and refreshed the mind.
Under Hu Chen’s guidance, Yao Chen and Feng Xian arrived at an ancient and simple stone tower. This was one of the Pill Tower’s branch towers. Inside were many alchemists busily working. Although they were all talking quietly, the sum of it still pounded in the ears.
This branch tower had once been under the control of Hu Chen’s mother. The current alchemist in charge was his mother’s elder apprentice, in other words, Hu Chen’s eldest apprentice-bother.
Huchen held an insignia as he brought Yao Chen and Feng Xian straight inside the tower without the slightest obstruction. The inside of the tower was extremely spacious. Inside were many alchemists all wearing robes signifying their level and status. Each person was filled with drive and self-confidence. In the corners were occasionally small groups of alchemists quietly discussing what they had learned of alchemy.
“Let’s go. My eldest apprentice-brother should already know I’ve returned and is waiting for me. Right, we’ll let him give you the ranking test to get your alchemy badge. With your level, the fifth tier might be a bit difficult, but a fourth tier ranking shouldn’t be a problem.”
Huchen began to explain all sorts of things along the way, bringing them along a specific path.
The other paths were all lit while this was the only one emitting a mysterious gloom. This was actually a kind of warning not to enter unless they were like Hu Chen and had the insignia to enter. Otherwise who knew what kind unspeakable calamity would fall on any offenders.
At the end of the path was a large hall. There were several different stone doors along its walls, representing different tests.
At this time there were already a group of people standing there.
“Senior apprentice-brother!”
Huchen quickly walked over and familiarly greeted an old man in his sixties, his eyes becoming watery.
“Junior apprentice-brother, you’ve returned. Unfortunately you didn’t come back earlier; master is in seclusion. It’s a good thing.” The old man patted Hu Chen’s shoulders and smiled.
“Is it a breakthrough attempt?” Huchen’s eyes were filled with shock. In reality their family’s banishment against him had already ended several years ago. But he had been trapped within Demon Valley and also had no way to make up for his offense from that year, so he had purposely never returned to Holy Pill City. Now he had the power to regain his past glory. If his mother could advance, then no one would be able to stop him.
“Right. If master can breakthrough then our branch will truly enter a golden age. Haha, let’s not talk about that now. Who are these two?” The old man’s gaze flashed and fell on Yao Chen and Feng Xian. A powerful fluctuation spread out.
Yao Chen’s heart shook. Although afraid, he still stared back. Feng Xian was a bit weaker, taking two steps back before holding his gaze.
“Oh, not bad.”
The old man stroked his beard, a bit surprised at Yao Chen and Feng Xian’s reaction. Unless their willpower and soul were extremely tough, that gaze of his would make anyone kneel immediately. He had originally thought these two were apprentices his junior apprentice-brother had brought back, but now it seemed that that wasn’t true.
Yao Chen respectfully acted as a junior generation. “Junior is Yao Chen. Greetings senior.”
“Haha, quite a good sprout. What, are you planning on entering the Pill Tower to study?”
The old man had already seen countless talents like Yao Chen who had come knocking on this door. Thus he had showed off his power, letting him know the prestige of the Pill Tower. This was a good thing for him, as this place was completely different from the rest of the world. Since they weren’t disciples of his apprentice-brother, then naturally he would have to treat them according to the rules.
“Senior apprentice-brother, please help. This Yao Chen can count as my disciple.”
The old man angrily said, “If he is then he is, if he isn’t then he isn’t. What is this ‘count as’.”
“Senior apprentice-brother, can we talk?”
Hu Chen laughed and pulled the old man to the side. The two quietly discussed something, and the old man’s body slumped and he shot a glance at Yao Chen before they once more began whispering. Eventually it seemed they came to an agreement and walked back over.
“This old man is called Jian Chengzhang. You can call me uncle-master Jian. Go to that room and test your ranking.”
The old man pointed towards one of four large doors. Yao Chen looked and saw that door had the word ‘Huang’ written over it. The other three respectively said Tian, Di, and Xuan.
Testing below the sixth tier was done in the Huang testing room. These details had already been explained to him by Hu Chen. Yao Chen nodded and was about to walk over.
But just at that moment, another couple of people walked over.
“Ohoho, is this apprentice-brother Dan Huchen? Haha, what? You’ve returned? And even brought back a disciple?”
The leader of this group was a middle-aged man in green robes with a fan in his hand. He indifferently smiled and snapped the fan at Yao Chen with dense ridicule.
“Bai Wei!”
Hu Chen coldly laughed, and his eyes were spitting out real flames!
However Yao Chen couldn’t be bothered to deal with this and continued to enter the Huang tier room. The enmity he himself had was enough for him. Hu Chen was just collaborating with him, so his enmities naturally didn’t need to be dealt with by him.
“Dan Huchen, aren’t you being a bit too petty? Back then I never expected that you were so stupid. You can’t blame me, I just said something as a joke and you took it as the truth. If you have time you should probably spend more time training your head than your muscles.”
The green-robed middle-aged man waved his hand and pointed towards Yao Chen who had entered the door. “Ha, the disciple you took went to the Huang gate. How laughable! Come, you guys go test too.”
“Yes master.”
Two youths walked over to Jian Chengzhang and respectfully cupped their fists to him before walking to the testing procedure.
“What rank are you testing for?”
“Tier six lower grade.”
Both of them spoke out at the same time with great confidence.
For them to challenge the ranking for sixth tier alchemist at their age truly was deserving of praise.
Jian Chengzhang was startled slightly, but still nodded and pointed to the Xuan door. “Enter.”
As soon as he finished speaking a sudden gust of wind came from the path Hu Chen had came from. A shadowy figure quickly flew over. That shadow had the fluctuation of a Heavenly Flame and a powerful aura. The scorching heat waves coming from that shadow even blocked her face. All that could be seen of that indistinct shadow was that it was a woman.
“Aunt-master!”
Jian Chengzhang quickly bowed to that shadow.
“I forgot something in the Huang room just now. I’ll get it myself, so handle your own matters.”
The shadow charged into the Huang room.
“Uh, yes.”
Jian Chengzhang bitterly laughed. This aunt-master was not that old, yet was already a seventh tier alchemist. She was one of the disciples of his master’s ancestors who was always in seclusion. She always acted as she pleased, and even in the Pill Tower she did whatever she wanted, let alone in a place like this branch tower. Here there was no one who could stop her. They could only nod in assent.
Bai Wei coldly laughed, “Haha, Dan Huchen, looks like your apprentice is screwed. Who is the holy ground doesn’t know just how strict master-aunt Han is? The slightest mistake is unacceptable for her.”
Hu Chen’s expression fluctuated. He hadn’t expected for such a thing to occur. Aunt-master Han wasn’t someone he knew, but from Jian Chengzhang’s face he could tell that the situation wasn’t good.
It really was the case that bad luck always drew more bad luck. Just running into this scoundrel Bai Wei was already unlucky enough, but now this eccentric aunt-master Han had also popped up.
Bai Wei smiled as he looked at Hu Chen’s expression, becoming more and more pleased.
Hu Chen might be extremely angry, and his fists had turned white from being clenched, but it was definitely not allowed to fight within the Pill Tower’s branch towers.
In just a short time, the Xuan door opened. The two green-robed disciples Bai Wei had brought with him both walked out with confidence.
“Tier six lower grade, pass.”
Both of them spoke out at the same time, replacing their alchemist badge on their robes.
This badge might not appear remarkable to the eye, but it represented the acknowledge of the the Pill Tower, and within all the mainland, this kind of acknowledgement provided a great kind of power. It meant you had authority and many benefits.
It went without saying that the confident and proud way they were acting was due to Bai Wei’s orders.
Hu Chen’s expression became even uglier. He had no doubt they were mocking him right in the face.
He was pushed to his breaking point, but unfortunately he had nowhere to place this anger. He could only accept this disgrace head on.
Just at this moment, the Huang door opened up and Yao Chen hurried out with a bitter expression.
“Haha, looks like we don’t even need to ask the result.” Bai Wei laughed, his fan pointing at Yao Chen.
“Hmph, my people have yet to reach the point where they can be lectured by you.”
Huchen only felt a rush of blood and qi to his head, and he sent a claw right at Bai We’s face. His Dou qi surged and the room suddenly became as scorching hot as the middle of a burning stove. He had taken out his true Dou Flame!
Bai Wei’s expression darkened. “Do you think you are still a match for me? Looks like the lesson I gave you back then still wasn’t enough!”
BOOM! The force of their collision forced both sides to take two steps back.
Hu Chen’s face was extremely unsightly, but Bai Wei’s look was also flabbergasted. In his mind, since Dan Hu Chen had been expelled from the Pill Tower, no matter what, his cultivation should have fallen behind him. But in their exchange just now he was shocked to realize Hu Chen’s Dou Flame was actually a level higher than his Dou Flame!
“Green Scale Ashen Flame…”
Hu Chen’s eyes were icy cold. The Demon Saint had wanted him to refine medicine, so of course he had offered a couple benefits. One of those was the Green Scale Ashen Flame, a Dou Flame that the Demon Saint had personally found for him. Although it couldn’t possibly be as overbearing as a Heavenly Flame, but when it came to other Dou Flames, it could enter the top ten in terms of power.
But despite possessing such a flame, he was still only an equal match for Bai Wei. It was obvious he was not the only one who had had a fortunate encounter. Bai Wei’s growth was also shocking to him. He wanted to get back at him for what he had done to him in the past, but it appeared that such a thing would not be so easy.
At this time Jian Chengzhang coughed clearly. “This place is the Pill Tower’s! It is not a place for you two to deal with past enmities! Hmph, since you just arrived and were tired from travel it was acceptable that you didn’t go through the proper authentication processes. But there will be no more exceptions for you tomorrow.”
This was obviously opening the backdoor, but that was also what should be done. Even Bai Wei only snorted and didn’t say anything. In any case, who cared if he passed the Huang door’s tests? In fact, to require two attempts to pass was something extremely laughable.
Yao Chen hesitated and said, “But she…”
“Cough, don’t say anything. I’ll handle everything.” Hu Chen waved his hand to cut off Yao Chen.
In terms of strength, he still believed that Yao Chen could get a good ranking during the Pill Battle Competition, allowing him to participate in the Pill Gathering a year later. Within Demon Valley, Yao Chen had done things that were a complete defiance of the heavens. In a competition of pills, he could definitely pull off a miracle.
However, if the most strict techniques were used to test Yao Chen’s alchemy status… then perhaps the fifth tier was a bit difficult. According to what he guessed, Yao Chen’s body had once been through something terrible. The child had then used various techniques like the medicinal bath, sealing his Dou acupuncture points, etc. in order to suppress that thing. That was why despite clearly having an even greater strength, he was unable to display it during normal times.
If you measured Yao Chen’s tier by using his success rate when refining, Hu Chen sometimes felt that Yao Chen might already be at the seventh tier’s level! Of course, this kind of feeling was something even he didn’t believe.
“Haha, Dan Huchen, could it be? You are planning on letting this get participate in the Pill Battle Competition? Hahaha, what a joke! Let’s not discuss the other descendants of the ancestor; even my apprentices would completely suppress this kid.”
Bai Wei was very arrogant, and furthermore he had a great understanding of what Dan Huchen had to do in the future. Other than through the Pill Battle Competition, it would be wishful thinking for him to stand out in the holy ground.
Just at this moment another rumbling sound rang out and the Huang door was pushed open and a black shadow shot towards Yao Chen.
“Aunt-master, please stop!”
Jian Chengzhang was shocked. What had happened inside? Had this kid somehow offended his aunt-master?
“Get out of my way! Hmph, kid, why’d you run so fast? I feel like we can do the sixth tier middle grade test, come!”
Yao Chen bitterly smiled. “Senior, I only wanted the fifth tier high grade badge. The sixth tier isn’t that important to me.”
….
What? It wasn’t important to him?
When the sacred tower’s people heard Yao Chen’s words, an indescribable fury filled their hearts. Even Hu Chen was glowering at Yao Chen.
“Haha, kid, it’s over! However, you’ve got guts! I like it! Hey, whoever you are, is this guy your apprentice? I’m borrowing him!” The indistinct shadow laughed and suddenly her clothes wrapped around Yao Chen, bringing him away in an instant.
Jian Chengzhang was in a daze. “Junior apprentice-brother… this, I guess… this is a good thing?”
“Senior apprentice-brother?”
Hu Chen was also struck dumb.
Only Feng Xian’s mouth was trembling. He wanted to shout but was unable to. Yao Chen, someone he saw as his main backbone and pillar, had been taken away by someone just like that! However, he said it was a good thing? Did he have to chase after him? Although he knew that he was actually unable to do a thing… Feng Xian clenched his fist tightly.
The person whose face was the most ugly at this time would definitely have to be Bai Wei. Sixth tier middle grade? Aunt-master said that this could should go test the sixth tier middle grade!
Just now he had actually insulted Yao Chen by saying he had no skills… now it was like he was slapped in the face in front of everyone!
Holy Pill City, inner region…
Yao Chen looked all around. He was already within the Pill tower, and energy was rushing throughout. This place’s spiritual qi was not inferior to the treasured Fengshui ancestral lands of the Yao clan.
“Kid, quickly show me that technique you used during the test.” That shadow shot questions at Yao Chen, seeming unable to wait for the response.
“Senior…” Yao Chen bitterly laughed. That technique was one he had exchanged for with Hu Chen. But some of the finer details had been changed to make it more suited to himself.
“I know there’s no free lunch. Oh, how about I use this to exchange for it?”
A Dou Technique suddenly appeared in the shadow’s hand. “Xuan class Pill Fire Technique. It should be of great help to you. Your Dou Flame should still be at the Huang class right?”
Yao Chen blinked. “It might be possible, but senior, actually…”
The black shadow impatiently tore off her black robe. Yao Chen’s vision brightened and an absolutely beautiful woman appeared before his eyes.
“Don’t call me senior. At most I’m ten years older than you. Right, call me big sis. I’ll take care of you in the future. You want to enter the Pill Tower to study alchemy right? That’s a bit difficult, but if you don’t mind, big sis can teach you just the same. Hmph, those old antiques want me to go give them advice but I don’t feel like it. Oh, that technique…”
“I’ll immediately demonstrate it.” Yao Chen bitterly smiled. He had originally wanted to say this technique was of little value. Since she was Hu Chen’s senior aunt-master, she naturally could obtain it from Hu Chen.
“I actually understand this technique, but when you use it, it doesn’t seem the same. It seems as if… well in any case, first show it to me and then we’ll talk.”
The beautiful woman threw the Xuan Class Pill Fire Technique to Yao Chen and then took out an ancient medicinal cauldron for Yao Chen to demonstrate on.
Yao Chen nodded and got serious. It was obvious this beautiful woman was one of those alchemy fanatics. Nothing other than alchemy interested her.
Yao Chen took a deep breath. His Dou Flame soared from his hand into the cauldron. He felt some kind of special energy be excited by the Dou Flame, and it actually matched his Dou Flame so that the cauldron would become even more suitable for refining. This kind of feeling was as if his Dou Flame had jumped several levels up. The alchemy level was the most important thing when refining, but a couple other items could also increase your abilities. To an alchemist, those things could not be lacking.
This was the first time Yao Chen had used an excellent cauldron and felt longing towards it. At the initial stages it might not have a huge impact. No matter how good the medicinal cauldron was, it depended on the alchemist. But now that he had grown up more, the current him had reached the level where he needed a high level cauldron to display his true skills.
The technique he displayed was very simple, but after Yao Chen added a couple of his unique understandings to it, it was no longer the same. This wasn’t the Yao clan’s technique, and it wasn’t the Pill Tower’s technique. The two had been combined, not one and not the other. It could only be described as a technique being solely to Yao Chen.
“I think I understand it now. Unfortunately, this technique is something I can’t use. How irritating. Oh right, you still don’t know who I am. My name is Han Shanshan. What’s yours?”
“Yao Chen.”
“Yao? A branch member of the Yao clan?” Han Shanshan was a bit surprised.
Yao Chen became silent. There were some things he did not want to talk about.
“Ok, if you don’t want to talk about it then I’ll just assume it’s true. Do you have any more techniques you can show for me?”
“I have them…”
“Hey! Don’t be greedy. I’ll only offer Xuan class Dou Techniques!”
“No, I was going to ask whether my friend could be brought over as well. He’s called Feng Xian, and although he’s not an alchemist, he’s an excellent helper.”
“A friend? Feng Xian? Fine, I’ll go see him in the evening. Right now, give me a show.”
Han Shanshan was fully deserving of being called an alchemy fanatic. She would disregard anything if it was for alchemy. As for the Pill Tower’s rules… they could get lost!
Yao Chen was reunited with Feng Xian and Dan Huchen in the evening.
“So senior Huchen was actually from the Dan family?”
The Pill Tower had five great clans: Dan, Cao, Ye, Qiu, and Bai. The Dan family was the most low-key, but every field of the Pill Tower had Dan family members at a couple key positions. In just half a day, Yao Chen ended up learning many things about the Dan family from the alchemy fanatic Han Shanshan. Others might not have had such an open mouth, but someone like Han Shanshan who didn’t care about anything other than alchemy told him everything, and he learned that the Dan family was truly not simple.
Dan Huchen bitterly smiled. “This ‘Dan’ surname means nothing. My branch has long since been isolated from the true Dan clan.”
The situation was a bit chaotic. Dan Huchen had never thought that Yao Chen would end up drawing the eye of aunt-master Han. Now he didn’t know whether his plan could continue. After all, he didn’t have any more techniques Yao Chen was interested in.
“When does the Pill Battle Competition begin?” Yao Chen laughed and asked.
“You still want to participate? It’s in half a month. Here is your badge; with aunt-master Han’s acknowledgment, no one will bother you.”
Dan Huchen immediately took out a fifth tier middle grade alchemist’s badge and put it on Yao Chen’s chest, afraid Yao Chen would back out of their deal.
“Haha, how could I possibly give up a chance to look over other people’s alchemy?”
Yao Chen’s eyes brightened. In just one afternoon he had exchanged much with Han Shanshan. A small portion of that had been him demonstrating a couple small techniques in refining. The majority of it had been Han Shanshan discussing the very essence of alchemy. Not only did she talk about how to handle refining or various medicinal natures, but she actually treated alchemy as a kind of cultivation, as one of the Daos of the heavens that could be put into practice and explored.
This had opened up a huge door for Yao Chen, letting him see a landscape he had never before seen. So alchemy was actually like this!
Seclusion training wasn’t the only part of alchemy. Going out to exchange with others and to compete allowed you to evolve your spirituality and find an even more expansive path.
Footnotes:
Dan=Pill. Ye=Leaf. The other three don’t have any meanings relating to pills. Ye, Cao, Qiu, and Bai are all surnames. Qiu=mound, Cao=class/grade/generation, Bai=white (amongst a plethora of other things).
