by Feng Yise
Ever since going to the Alchemist Association once in the State of Qin, Ye Yuan had never stepped foot in here again.
"Little Brother Ji, I'll have to trouble you for the Grand Pill Assembly this time!" Xiao Rufeng clasped his hands towards Ye Yuan.
This was still Ye Yuan's first time meeting this Xiao Family's number one genius. He looked well-mannered and soft-spoken with a rather refined demeanor, giving people a good impression at first sight.
But Xiao Rufeng's complexion was clearly not good. Although he consumed the Vast Tuber Essence Stimulating Pill, the low-grade Vast Tuber Essence Stimulating Pill was only barely able to help him consolidate his foundation and nurture his essence. It was only able to alleviate the sequela from failing to assault realm.
If Ye Yuan made a move to help him refine a high-grade or even superior-grade medicinal pill, Xiao Rufeng would surely be able to recover to his peak condition right now.
But Ye Yuan had no such plans. The Vast Tuber Essence Stimulating Pill was indeed an extremely hard to refine Tier 3 high-level medicinal pill. Compared to the Jade Dragon Heart Calming Pill, the difficulty level was way higher.
If Ye Yuan was freakish enough to be able to refine any medicinal pill, it would be hard to avoid drawing the suspicions of an observant and conscientious person.
During this Grand Pill Assembly, Ye Yuan did not plan on going all out either. Just winning his own match was fine.
Thinking about it, dealing with the Tong Family's weakest genius, taking the other party down shouldn't be something difficult, right?
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "First Young Master is too kind. Since Ji Qing is Xiao Family's guest retainer and is drawing Xiao Family's salary, I naturally have to put forth my strength for the Xiao Family."
Xiao Rufeng smile and said, "There's no need to be so polite, Ji Qing. This foolish elder brother is a few years older. Brother Ji can just call me Brother Xiao."
Ye Yuan did not decline either and said with cupped hands, "Brother Xiao!"
At this time, an unfriendly gaze came from behind Xiao Rufeng. Who could it be but Xiao Ruyan?
But today, within Xiao Ruyan's eyes, other than disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e towards Ye Yuan, there were a few parts additional of uncertainty.
Evidently, Ye Yuan had became mysterious in her eyes.
"Ruyan, your eyes are really discerning! To actually be able to find an Alchemy Path genius like Brother Ji. Truly, the heaven doesn't want my Xiao Family to perish!" Xiao Rufeng said to his sister.
Xiao Ruyan shook her head and said, "So what if I found him? We're bound to lose the match with Tong Yongchang without any doubt. And I don't have confidence in winning Tong Yongshou either. Even Tong Yonghui is also somebody with uncommon strength. Whether or not Ji Qing can win him is another matter altogether!"
Very clearly, even if they had Ye Yuan, Xiao Ruyan was not optimistic about today's match.
Listening to Xiao Ruyan's words, Xiao Rufeng's brows were also locked tightly together. Regarding this match that gambled with their family's destiny, the two of them could not afford to lose!
In a twinkle, the people in front of the association's gates gradually increased.
This match today not only concerned just the two Xiao and Tong family's fate, but it also involved the enormous change in the capital's alchemy world arrangements in the days to come.
Basically, there was already nobody who was optimistic about the Xiao Family.
Now, many families were itching to have a go to try and replace the Xiao Family's position.
Medicinal pills was a business with even more extravagant profits in the Fierce Gale World.
The Fierce Gale World's resources were scarce. The price of medicinal pills was several times of the Endless World! There were even some rare medicinal pills that could sell at a sky-high price.
Such a large market, how could everyone possibly watch it slip by them?
"Oh? Isn't this the Xiao Family's number one genius, Xiao Rufeng? I thought that you'd be bedbound, unable to get up. Didn't think that you actually came!" A haughty voice was heard.
Xiao Rufeng's face fell when he saw the arrival. He said with a cold snort, "Tong Yongchang, don't get too smug!"
This person was shockingly the Tong Family's number genius, Tong Yongchang!
But Tong Yongchang was even more pleased with himself as he said, "Hur hur, of course I am feeling smug! I say, you lying on the bed is already pretty good. You don't have to come out and embarrass yourself. But now, you just have to run in front of me to make a spectacle of yourself. Do you think I will no feel smug? What's this called? This is called delivering your face here for me to smack! Hahaha!"
"You!" Xiao Rufeng was so enraged that his entire body was shaking.
But because of his failed breakthrough, being able to step on stage today was already pretty good. It was simply impossible to be Tong Yongchang's match.
It unwittingly gave people a feeling of a hero being caught in difficult circ.u.mstances.
In truth, with Xiao Rufeng's talent, advancing to Quasi-Alchemy King was something inevitable. Watching helplessly as the Grand Pill Assembly got increasingly closer, and yet he still could not break through after so long. Finally, it made him unable to restrain himself from taking the plunge to forcefully break through.
It was just that he did not receive divine favor and failed his breakthrough.
"Oh, right. I heard that you all even went around recruiting guest retainers for this competition. Your Xiao Family is really too tragic, to actually not even be able to pool together three alchemists to come on stage. Mm? Is this brat the replacement you guys found? Looks only so-so . . ." Tong Yongchang looked at Ye Yuan with a half smile.
But Ye Yuan did not take notice of Tong Yongchang's derision. His attention was placed entirely on the person behind Tong Yongchang.
That person's eyes were somewhat dull, clearly different from normal people as if he did not have his own thoughts.
This person was none other than precisely Ye Yuan's senior, Du Cheng!
Ye Yuan f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y suppressed his own agitated emotions, with the expression on his face being as usual. His eyes did not look in Du Cheng's direction either.
But regarding Tong Yongchang's words, not a single word sank in.
But in Tong Yongchang's perspective, his mockery was like a stone falling into the ocean; it was utterly disregarded.
This made him unable to quite preserve his face.
"I'm talking to you, punk. Didn't you hear?" Tong Yongchang said solemnly.
Ye Yuan ignored his words once again . . .
"Hahaha! Xiao Rufeng, turns out that your family found a fool to take up the gauntlet! I think you all should just directly concede today. What's there still to compete?" Tong Yongchang wanted to use laughter to resolve his embarrassment.
Except . . . everyone looked at him like they were looking at a fool.
Because no matter how foolish the Xiao Family was, they also would not find a fool to take part in such an important Grand Pill Assembly.
Seeing nobody answer, Tong Yongchang's face finally fell, and he made a move, grabbing towards Ye Yuan.
This time, Ye Yuan moved . . .
Chapter 375 - Tian Ji's Horse Racing Strategy
Tong Yongchang had the intentions of embarrassing Ye Yuan. The grab act was not held back at all.
But his vision blurred and Ye Yuan disappeared without a trace.
Tong Yongchang was secretly alarmed as a sense of impending danger assailed from behind. Turning around with a jerk, but there was nobody there.
Still from the back, a sense of danger pounced once again!
Tong Yongchang turned around once more. There was still nobody there!
Everyone looked at him with strange looks, wanting to laugh but unable to laugh.
Wanting to laugh was because Tong Yongchang looked like he was afraid of even his own shadow; it was very hilarious.
They were unable to laugh was because Y
e Yuan's movements were like that of ghosts and goblins; it was entirely unlike the movements that a Crystal Formation Realm martial artist would have!
While Tong Yongchang was an alchemist, he was a bona fide Sea Transformation Realm martial artist. He actually could not even touch Ye Yuan!
"Are you looking for me?" With a flicker of his body, Ye Yuan appeared before Tong Yongchang's once again.
Tong Yongchang's face fell and had a feeling like he was being toyed with. Within this capital, there were not many people who dared to play tricks on him!
"Good! Excellent! You've successfully infuriated me! I'll make the Xiao Family die very horribly! Who knows if when the time comes, should they be thanking you for fighting on their behalf, or hate you for making them not even have the slightest thread of hope!" Tong Yongchang laughed coldly and said to Ye Yuan.
"Haha! Talk again about winning; what the use of talking big here?" Ye Yuan did not care a whit.
Tong Yongchang snorted coldly, and then led Du Cheng and the Tong Family members into the association building.
Ye Yuan did not turn around but felt quite a few eyes staring fixedly on him. Turning around to have a look, he indeed saw Xiao Ruyan looking at him with an unkind expression.
"So your movements were actually so quick. Did you intentionally give way to me the day before?" Xiao Ruyan said.
Ye Yuan laughed and said, "Already said that I was just joking. Why take it seriously?"
"You can still laugh?! You've already thoroughly infuriated Tong Yongchang just now. He'll definitely exert all his effort this time. We have even less of a chance now!" Xiao Ruyan grumbled.
"Ruyan! At this time, the Xiao Family should be even more united as one! How can you question Brother Ji? Brother Ji entered the Xiao Family at a time of crisis. It's sufficient to show his sincerity. Even if the Xiao Family loses today, we should also treat Brother Ji kindly and generously!" Xiao Rufeng hurriedly stopped and glared fiercely at Xiao Ruyan.
"Ruyan is insensible. Please don't get angry, Brother Ji," said Xiao Ruyan, apologizing to Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan waved his hand and said, "Haha, Brother Xiao is too kind. I joined the Xiao Family originally just to find a place to stay. I didn't think so much. But since I've already joined, there's naturally no reason to go back on my word."
Although he suspected that Xiao Rufeng was just putting on a show, Ye Yuan did not mind.
One should say that the anguish in Xiao Rufeng's heart right now could only be more intense compared to Xiao Ruyan. But he could take the opportunity to rope in Ye Yuan so shrewdly and subtlety. It was truly the bearing of a fierce and ambitious person.
Xiao Ruyan pursed her mouth but did not make a sound.
Following this, the Xiao Family's group too entered the association building.
The Alchemist Association Headquarters occupied a huge territory. When the group of people arrived in a great hall, the place was already filled with distinguished guests.
Ye Yuan took his seat and noticed several gazes looking over at him provocatively, and he could not help but to feel gloomy.
You guys were clearly the ones stirring trouble. Why did you make it seem like I owed you guys?
What the hell?!
But thinking about it, those few people should be the Tong Family's junior generation.
And on that note, the strength of Tong Family's junior generation was indeed way stronger than the Xiao Family's.
Ye Yuan slightly released his sense and discovered quite a number of high-rank Alchemy Grandmasters, far beyond those few currently stepping onto the stage.
Looking at the Xiao Family's side in contrast, apart from Xiao Rufeng and sister, there were barely any Alchemy Grandmasters. Thinking about it, their standards should not be much. Otherwise, they would not have needed to find Ye Yuan this guest retainer either.
Ye Yuan's attention was still on Du Cheng. He traveled thousands of miles, deep behind enemy lines, for the sake of saving this bunch of fellow apprentices.
Now that he finally saw one of them after experiencing life and death, waves surged slightly within Ye Yuan's heart.
Right at this moment, the entire great hall suddenly quietened down. Evidently, an important figure had arrived.
Ye Yuan did not recognize a single person here. He only knew one, and that was Xiao Changfeng.
But Ye Yuan saw that he was currently escorting an elderly person. But that old man looked rather impatient.
Similarly an Alchemy King powerhouse, Xiao Changfeng actually had a sort of groveling attitude, making Ye Yuan sigh unceasingly.
When the family declined, even if one was an Alchemy King powerhouse, they also would not have a backbone!
In the martial artist world, it had always been the powerhouses' game. Nobody would pity the weak.
On the other side, a middle-aged man with a similar age to Xiao Changfeng also accompanied an old man. But the two of them were laughing and talking, clearly the relation of equals.
That person was naturally the Tong Family's family head: Tong Fangshuo.
After chatting a few sentences, Xiao Changfeng and Tong Fangshuo both returned to their family's seats, while the two elderly men sat on the seats in the center.
But a seat was still reserved in the middle of the row in the center. Clearly, there was still another even more important character that had not arrived.
Xiao Changfeng sat between Xiao Rufeng and Ye Yuan, while the other family elders sat at the back.
After taking his seat, Xiao Changfeng suddenly said to Ye Yuan, "Little Brother Ji, in this match, you will face Tong Wenchang. Rufeng and Ruyan will face Tong Wenshou and Tong Wenhui respectively! Facing Tong Wenchang, you just have to do your best. Victory or defeat isn't important, alright?"
Ye Yuan understood in his heart that this was clearly Xiao Changfeng not believing in his strength, wanting to use the method of Tian Ji's horse racing strategy to win this competition.
Towards Xiao Changfeng's arrangements, Ye Yuan did not have any conflicting thoughts. After all, he did not wish to be too conspicuous.
In this kind of life and death juncture grand competition, hoping for Xiao Changfeng to entrust all of his hopes onto an outsider like Ye Yuan was clearly not something very realistic.
In comparison, Xiao Rufeng and Xiao Ruyan, the brother and sister pair were his biological children. They were naturally more dependable.
Previously, the Xiao Family was finding guest retainers impatiently because Xiao Rufeng was confined to his bed. The Xiao Family only had Xiao Ruyan one person left. Now, since Xiao Ruyan refined the Vast Tuber Essence Stimulating Pill, Xiao Changfeng naturally believed in his own son more.
Although Xiao Rufeng was not in his optimal condition right now, wanting to win Tong Wenshou should not be something hard.
The Tong Family sent out three people to battle. Tong Wenhui's strength was the weakest, leaving Xiao Ruyan to deal with him. The assurance was naturally much greater too.
One should say that under the situation where Ye Yuan's formidable strength was excluded, such an arrangement was the most rational!
Ye Yuan did not have any mentality about not being able to get past losing to Tong Wenchang. He was a reincarnated Alchemy Emperor. What was he being serious for against a puny little Quasi-Alchemy King?
Previously with Tong Wenchang, it was at most considered squabbling with words. Ye Yuan was not that petty to such an extent.
Anyway, Xiao Changfeng did not place his hopes on him either. He just had to hoodwink him a little, and that would do.
Thinking this through, Ye Yuan was even less serious about this Grand Pill Assembly. He was planning out in his mind on how to get close to Du Cheng.
Ye Yuan just nodded his head slightly at Xiao Changfeng to indicate that he got it.
Chapter 376 - The Forsaken Youth
After a short while, an old man slowly walked out from the back and sat down on the centermost seat.
Everybody stood up at this tim
e and bowed. They said, "We pay respects to Sovereign Star Abyss!"
The old man nodded slightly and said, "Everyone, have a seat. This old man, I, only wished to come and have a look at what genius descendants have appeared in our capital these few years. This matter about judging, old me won't be taking part in. You all just decide it on your own. I'll be watching everybody's performance in today's match and take one person as my disciple."
When Sovereign Star Abyss's words were spoken, everyone revealed ecstatic looks.
"What did I hear? Sovereign Star Abyss is going to accept disciples! I didn't hear wrongly, right?"
"It has already been decades since Sovereign Star Abyss has accepted any disciples. Today, he actually wants to accept a disciple out of the blue! What on earth happened?"
"A sovereign's disciple! As long as one can step onto this track, they will have a meteoric rise!"
When Ye Yuan saw this Sovereign Star Abyss, his eyes also shrunk slightly. This was the first sovereign level powerhouse that he met!
When martial artists reached the Divine Traversing Realm, they could be titled as sovereigns. That was also a sovereign level powerhouse!
The meaning of a sovereign level powerhouse was extraordinary. In regards to the Lower Realms, they were practically pinnacle existences!
This old man was apparently a Divine Traversing Realm powerhouse. More importantly, he was even an Alchemy Sovereign!
An Alchemy Sovereign on the Alchemy Path was similarly considered as reaching a high level in proficiency.
Only alchemy sovereign powerhouses had the minimum qualifications to enter Ye Yuan's arcane eyes!
Due to the disparity in strength between Ye Yuan and Sovereign Star Abyss being too great, he completely could not see through the other party's depth.
But Ye Yuan had a sort of feeling that this old man was not simple!
Seemingly detecting Ye Yuan's gaze, Sovereign Star Abyss's gaze also looked towards Ye Yuan. That deeply profound gaze actually nearly made Ye Yuan collapse uncontrollably.
Ye Yuan hastily moved his gaze, secretly sighing with vicissitudes of emotions.
Right now, his soul force was still too weak. The other party just swept a glance lightly like that, and it practically made him lose his mind.