Chapter 156 - 154: Aftermath, One Person on Two Lists
Ming Gongqiao’s personality was extreme, but he was right about one thing.
In the Jianghu, strength was paramount. Without it, you were nothing more than an ant.
Zong Siyuan knew Zhao Wuji was scheming against Medicine King Valley. It was Zhao Wuji who had secretly established the South Sea Pavilion and funded Ming Gongqiao.
Ming Gongqiao was astonishingly talented in the ways of alchemy and poison, but what did he know about running an organization?
The South Sea Pavilion must have been secretly managed by Zhao Wuji’s people.
But what could he do, even knowing this?
Did he dare kill Zhao Wuji? Could he even kill Zhao Wuji?
Since he could do neither, he could only endure this setback and avoid tearing down all pretenses of civility.
Zhao Wuji had seen this as well, which was why he had feigned weakness and offered up the South Sea Pavilion as a concession.
Although Zong Siyuan felt wronged, he had to agree for the sake of Medicine King Valley’s future.
Seeing this, Zhao Wuji let out a long sigh of relief. He didn’t dare linger, immediately calling his trusted advisor and leaving.
Even a saint has his limits. Though Zong Siyuan’s personality wasn’t forceful, if he were to suddenly have a change of heart and use the might of the Shennong Cauldron to keep them there, Zhao Wuji would have to pay a steep price even if he managed to survive.
Meanwhile, in the forest behind Medicine King Valley, Chen Yuan had already taken out the two elixirs.
Bei Tianya looked at the quality of the elixirs and couldn’t help but click his tongue in praise. "The Strongest Divine Pills! Be it this Healing Divine Pill or the one for your cultivation, their quality far surpasses that of other Divine Pills. Across the entire Jianghu, they would be considered truly peerless."
"By the way, Mr. Bei, do you know what this Divine Pill does?"
Bei Tianya took the Healing Divine Pill and shook his head. "Even Medicine King Valley can’t control the effects of the Divine Pills produced by the Shennong Cauldron. They’re completely random."
"Normally, if Medicine King Valley were to refine a Divine Pill, they would naturally inspect its properties, give it a name, and inform the recipient of its specific effects."
"But now, this Divine Pill has come directly into your hands, so you’ll have to figure it out and refine it yourself."
"But rest assured, the effects of past Divine Pills have all been excellent, to say nothing of one with the quality of your Strongest Divine Pill."
"However, I suggest you find a quiet and safe place for seclusion to refine it."
"The medicinal power of a Divine Pill is beyond what you can imagine. Sometimes, a single one can take months to fully refine."
Chen Yuan nodded, then suddenly asked, "Mr. Bei, it seems the Shennong Cauldron isn’t too deeply bound to Medicine King Valley. Since our Ming Sect can also use it, why don’t we just seize it?"
Only when he controlled the Shennong Cauldron today did Chen Yuan discover how incredibly compatible the *Celestial Fire Secret Manual* was with it.
’If the Great Brightness Sect had just seized the Shennong Cauldron back then and had the Celestial Fire Hall disciples assist with alchemy, couldn’t they have mass-produced Divine Pills?’
Mr. Bei said, "Before, it was out of disdain. Now, it’s because we are unable."
"Back when our Ming Sect was at its peak, even the alchemists of the Pharmacist Hall were incredibly arrogant. They believed that elixirs refined with an external object like the Shennong Cauldron couldn’t possibly demonstrate their true skill, so after using it once, they refused to use it again."
"Besides, the Celestial Fire Hall disciples back then were even more prideful. How could they possibly agree to act as mere Fire-Burning Boys, helping with alchemy day in and day out?"
"As for now... well, that lot from the Pharmacist Hall aren’t so arrogant anymore, but even if we gave them the Shennong Cauldron, it would just be a burden."
"Medicine King Valley relies on its Cauldron Opening Ceremony to deal with the Shennong Cauldron’s side effects. How would our Ming Sect deal with them now? Don’t tell me we’re supposed to copy them and hold our own Cauldron Opening Ceremony?"
"I’m afraid that would just turn into a pledge ceremony to rally forces and annihilate our Ming Sect."
"The Shennong Cauldron is a fine artifact, but it’s best to just borrow it occasionally. There’s no need to possess it outright."
Hearing Bei Tianya’s explanation, Chen Yuan still thought it would be better to just take the Shennong Cauldron.
’Borrowing Medicine King Valley’s Divine Artifact whenever you please, using it whenever you want... what kind of brazen audacity is that?’
’They could easily take it, yet they refuse to. Instead, they just leave it there, ready to be used at a moment’s notice. Chen Yuan couldn’t help but feel wronged on behalf of Medicine King Valley.’
’It’s no wonder Ming Gongqiao’s ideology became so extreme, forcing him down the Poison Dao in his pursuit of power.’
’He was probably pushed over the edge by Medicine King Valley’s long history of being put in such situations.’
Bei Tianya and Chen Yuan didn’t waste any more words. After changing their clothes, they separated and blended back into the scattered crowd, returning to Medicine King Valley.
The Cauldron Opening Ceremony had been ruined halfway through, and now the Divine Pills had been seized by members of the Great Brightness Sect. Medicine King Valley had to give some sort of explanation to all the attendees.
Back outside, the Martial Arts Arena in the center of Medicine King Valley had been completely wrecked.
The destructive power of Divine Platform Realm Martial Artists was utterly terrifying.
Upon reaching the Divine Platform Realm, a Martial Artist could form a Primordial Spirit and perceive the Power of Heaven and Earth. When they struck, they could borrow this power, unleashing might of an incredible magnitude.
One’s personal strength was finite, but the Power of Heaven and Earth was infinite. Thus, the gap in combat strength between those at the Divine Platform Realm could be immense.
It was a miracle that the clash between several Divine Platform Realm Grandmasters hadn’t torn the entire Medicine King Valley asunder.
"Brother Chen, where did you run off to?"
Gu Lichuan was craning his neck, searching through the crowd, when he suddenly found Chen Yuan right behind him.
Chen Yuan pointed toward the valley’s interior. "I found a closer, more concealed spot to observe the Divine Platform Realm Martial Artists fight. An opportunity like this is rare."
"You’re a bold one, Brother Chen."
Cui Xuanye and the others also looked at him with admiration.
’Those were Divine Platform Realm Martial Artists! Their destructive power is simply off the charts.’
They had been a bit too close earlier and were almost caught in the spreading shockwaves, forcing them to quickly retreat even farther.
’Who would’ve thought Chen Yuan would actually dare to get closer to watch? No wonder his combat prowess is so formidable.’
Just then, Zong Siyuan stepped forward. He first had his people help the two Divine Platform Realm Elders from Medicine King Valley settle down.
These two Elders were already suffering from decaying Qi and Blood, their lifespans nearly at an end.
Now, after a series of intense battles and helping Zong Siyuan activate the Shennong Cauldron, they looked as if their oil had run out and their lamps were about to be extinguished. It was clear they didn’t have much longer to live.
Zong Siyuan then bowed to the crowd and announced in a solemn voice, "This Cauldron Opening Ceremony was aborted midway, causing all of your Spiritual Medicines to be ruined. On behalf of Medicine King Valley, I offer my deepest apologies."
"As compensation, every young prodigy here who participated in the Cauldron Opening Ceremony, regardless of wins or losses, may receive a bottle of Top Grade Elixirs!"
"I hope you will all spread the word. Any Martial Artists who left early can come to Medicine King Valley at any time to claim their elixirs."
As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted in praise of Medicine King Valley’s magnanimity.
Normally, refining a single bottle of Top Grade Elixirs required at least one Top Grade Spiritual Medicine as the main ingredient, supplemented by several or even dozens of Upper Grade Spiritual Medicines. It was a process that consumed an immense amount of an Alchemist’s energy.
Consequently, a finished Top Grade Elixir was worth more than ten times as much as an unrefined Top Grade Spiritual Medicine, and was still incredibly difficult to find.
Now, Medicine King Valley was giving a bottle to every single participant. Anyone who had attended the Cauldron Opening Ceremony had essentially struck it rich.
Everyone was quite satisfied with Medicine King Valley’s arrangements. They soon dispersed, leaving the sect to deal with the aftermath.
Chen Yuan, meanwhile, had a final meal with Gu Lichuan and the others.
Cui Xuanye and Lu Chuanshan had to return to their respective sects to report on the events of the Cauldron Opening Ceremony.
Qin Suguang, as a Chief Constable of the Prefecture for the Court, couldn’t be away for too long either.
Gu Lichuan had come to the Central Plains to travel, but also to help some friends from Liang Province settle old scores. He had promised to do so, and now it was time to fulfill his word.
So, after the meal, they all went their separate ways. Chen Yuan opted to find an inn within Danyang Prefecture to immediately begin refining the Divine Pill.
With the Cauldron Opening Ceremony over, Danyang Prefecture was now exceptionally quiet. Even members of Medicine King Valley were rarely seen.
Furthermore, with the recent turmoil having just ended, all the visiting Jianghu People had cleared out, making it a relatively safe place.
To avoid any new problems cropping up, Chen Yuan wanted to convert the Divine Pill into personal strength as quickly as possible.
Just as Chen Yuan was about to enter seclusion, Mr. Bei found him.
"You haven’t left yet?"
Chen Yuan was a bit surprised by Bei Tianya’s sudden appearance in the inn.
"I was about to leave, but there’s something I need to tell you."
Bei Tianya said, "Today, I received a message from the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower. They asked if the Ming Sect would like you to be listed on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. I came to ask what you think."
Chen Yuan was taken aback. "The Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower can actually contact our Ming Sect?"
"It’s not that they can contact us, but that *we* can contact *them*."
Bei Tianya explained, "Our Ming Sect has declined so far that we have few disciples left. We can’t possibly form our own intelligence network across the Jianghu, so we must rely on the strength of the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower."
"But you needn’t be so surprised. A centipede with a hundred legs is hard to kill. Nearly all the major powers know that a remnant of our Ming Sect still survives."
"The Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower’s reputation is reliable, and they bear no grudge against our Ming Sect. They sell intelligence to others, so they have no problem selling it to us as well."
"This time, with you and I revealing our identities before so many people, it’s tantamount to our Ming Sect’s return to the Jianghu."
"And if we’re returning to the Jianghu, we must have a place on the rankings."
"Besides, you killed two Condensing Truth Realm experts during the Cauldron Opening Ceremony. Your display of power was no less impressive than that of the young prodigies on the tournament stage."
"Although you killed them with ease, they were both young talents of the Jianghu trained by the White-clothed Marquis, Zhao Wuji. They weren’t very old and had some minor fame in their home province, which is enough to qualify you for the list."
"The Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower was tactful enough to send a message directly, asking if I was willing to let a Ming Sect disciple return to the Hidden Dragon Rankings."
"If you’re willing, I’ll give them your alias and have you placed on the list."
"If you’re not, they won’t dare list you."
Chen Yuan was slightly taken aback. ’I could be on the Hidden Dragon Rankings under two different identities at the same time?’
After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yuan said, "This disciple will follow your instructions. If the Ming Sect needs me on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, I will go on. If it doesn’t, I will not."
Upon hearing this, a look of appreciation appeared in Bei Tianya’s eyes as he gazed at Chen Yuan.