Chapter 201: Chapter 201: The Scourge of the Sects, A Youth’s Arrogant Spirit

The expressions of everyone in Taihe Palace changed, including those of the ever-calm Grand Tutor Helian Guang and Grand Scholar Peng Kang. This was news enough to shake the entire Capital City.

Normally, Emperor Yang Yu would have kept such a matter secret, but now he had announced it openly. He was also handing the task of refining the Earth Element Supreme Pill over to the Pharmacist Alliance, as if it were all a deliberate act.

In White Jade City, the Pharmacist Alliance’s Pharmacist Exchange Conference was already attracting a great deal of attention. A request from the Imperial Family to refine the Earth Element Supreme Pill was impossible to hide; it wouldn’t be long before the entire world knew.

The emergence of a Martial Saint would inevitably draw attention, and it would also focus many eyes on the Earth Element Supreme Pill itself.

An elixir of this Level was incredibly difficult to refine. Even a Top Level Pharmacist couldn’t guarantee success, to say nothing of gathering the various Spirit Flowers, Spirit Grasses, and other Spiritual Materials required for the Refining of the Earth Element Supreme Pill.

The difficulty of gathering these Spiritual Materials was already immense, and the time it would take to collect them all was incalculable. For the Cyan Yuan Sect, this was a heavy burden; completing the collection would be a monumental challenge.

The High Tier Spiritual Materials in particular were located in remote, desolate places, possibly guarded by powerful Exotic Beasts. Obtaining them would be fraught with danger.

Grandmaster Yan Hongwen, Grand Tutor Helian Guang, Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen, Grand Scholar Peng Kang, and Chief Steward of the Palace Zhang Yu all knew that something major was about to happen in White Jade City.

The Pharmacist Alliance’s Refining of the Earth Element Supreme Pill would likely attract the attention of the “old monsters” from the Major Sects.

None of them dared to look directly at Emperor Yang Yu. As they sensed the shifts in the atmosphere within Taihe Hall, they couldn’t perceive anything out of the ordinary.

Emperor Yang Yu’s Cultivation was higher than all of theirs, so it was normal that they couldn’t probe the situation. Unable to detect any change, they kept their expressions neutral.

“Your subject obeys the decree.”

Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen quickly knelt to receive the imperial decree.

Although he didn’t know what Emperor Yang Yu was planning, his only choice was to cooperate.

After the decree was announced, Grandmaster Yan Hongwen, Grand Tutor Helian Guang, Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen, and Grand Scholar Peng Kang all left Taihe Palace. Each wore a different expression, but none of them spoke to one another.

All four held extremely high positions. If they appeared too friendly with each other, it would likely displease Emperor Yang Yu, as he was particularly sensitive about such matters.

Previously, two ministers who had reached the highest echelons of the court had shown mutual admiration. Not long after, both ministers retired to their hometowns.

In the Emperor’s own words, since they admired each other so much, they ought to retire to their hometowns together. That way, they would have more time to enjoy their discussions.

From that day forward, a line—one might even call it a chasm—was drawn between the ministers, and they rarely interacted.

’The scourge of the Sects… Hmph!’

Back in Taihe Palace, Emperor Yang Yu let out a cold snort before turning to the official documents on his desk.

…

The Capital City had no shortage of tall buildings and pavilions, but none were permitted to rise higher than the towering city walls. This was a decree from the Imperial Family that all outside the Imperial Palace had to obey.

Of course, the city walls were massive, so the buildings within the city were by no means short. Still, none were so tall as to be instantly memorable. As a result, the architecture expanded horizontally, with sprawling complexes of interconnected structures.

Yang Chan had seen many famous brothels that occupied huge plots of land, beckoning to customers from every direction.

He could walk past one building only to find the next was still part of the same brothel. This was a rare sight in White Jade City, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, and it spoke to the incredible profitability of these establishments—truly renowned as places to squander a fortune.

Men who entered would be stripped of all their wealth by the beauties inside, down to the last copper plate. That was, after all, the brothel’s entire purpose.

Following Elder Yan and the others, Yang Chan gave the scene a passing glance and paid it no mind. That is, until they arrived before a large building suffused with the rich aroma of elixirs. A plaque hanging above read “Pharmacist Alliance.” It was said to have been personally bestowed by Emperor Yang Yu and served as a symbol of the Alliance itself.

Upon arriving, Yang Chan’s attention was naturally drawn to this plaque. Within the calligraphy, he sensed a powerful Realm fused with a majestic, noble aura. This perception was a gift from his own Sword Intent. From the plaque alone, he could discern something of the writer’s Cultivation.

He was certain this person’s Cultivation far surpassed that of an Inner Master.

An Inner Master could never produce calligraphy of this Level, especially not with such a powerful Realm embedded within it.

“This is the Pharmacist Alliance. When we go in, none of you are to speak. Just follow me.”

Yan Jinfeng’s gaze fell upon Xu Gaocen, Yang Chan, and the others, his words a clear command.

“We disciples will heed Elder Yan’s teachings,” Yang Chan and the others quickly replied in unison.

Elder Yan’s warning made Yang Chan and the others a little tense.

Stepping into the Pharmacist Alliance, they saw many people bustling about, while others in all manner of dress waited patiently.

“Elder Yan, you’re here! Come this way, I’ll handle your registration.”

Not a moment after Yang Chan’s group entered, a middle-aged man in fine brocade clothes walked over enthusiastically—or more precisely, walked right up to Yan Jinfeng.

Clearly, the man knew Elder Yan.

“Ah, Ding. Sorry to trouble you.”

Elder Yan smiled and nodded upon seeing the man.

“Not at all, Elder Yan, don’t you worry. I’ll get your information registered right away.”

“Pharmacist Xu, you’re here as well. It’s been three years! I’m sure you’re bound for great things this year.”

The man also knew Xu Gaocen and had clearly interacted with him before.

“Steward Ding, we’ll have to trouble you again. Besides Elder Yan and myself, we’re also registering Pharmacist Yang Chan, who has come along to broaden his Experience.”

“Yang Chan, this is Steward Ding Tong of the Pharmacist Alliance.”

Xu Gaocen made the introductions, informing Ding Tong that all three of them needed to be registered.

The Pharmacist Alliance only registered those who were participating in the Pharmacist Exchange Conference. The escorts would not be registered. When the conference began, they would not be allowed to enter the venue and would have to wait outside.

“A pleasure to meet you, Steward Ding.”

Yang Chan said with a respectful fist-and-palm salute. He was quite satisfied with Xu Gaocen’s introduction.

’I’m just here to broaden my horizons, basically a tagalong. It’s best not to attract any attention.’

’If Xu Gaocen had called me some Genius Pharmacist or an alchemy prodigy, I would have been uncomfortable. In a place like this, the fewer people who know who I am, the better.’

This was actually something Yang Chan had brought up during a chat with Xu Gaocen. He had said that upon entering the Jade Capital, it was best to keep a low profile, which is why Xu Gaocen introduced him as such.

Although Xu Gaocen didn’t understand why Yang Chan preferred this, he didn’t object to the request. He simply thought to himself that Yang Chan lacked the typical arrogant spirit of youth.

’He doesn’t have that haughty arrogance that sees the rest of the world as beneath him. Then again, this attitude will certainly save him a lot of trouble and keep him out of conflicts. I suppose it has its advantages!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep