Vol 2 Chapter 12 (1/2)
Volume 2, Chapter 12 – The Spirit Beast Inciting Troubles, Zhang Yan Setting Up Traps
Preparing the plan for their next steps in the future, Zhang Yan and Zhou Chongju stayed in the secret chamber for a long time. And due to some other considerations, Zhou Chongju explained to him the forces’ constellation within the Sect in detail, as well as in addition, comprehensively telling him the important events in the recent years.
This was similar to opening the general picture in front of Zhang Yan, so as revealing all the Azure Ocean Sect’s records that were emerging on top of the picture.
In the past, he was confined due to his limited status and was restrained by it. The things he could see were only in a small scope. Even if he obtained some valuable information, it was like seeing flowers within the fog. But now, his understanding of the Sect’s circ.u.mstances had changed greatly.
For safety reasons, Zhou Chongju suggested that Zhang Yan should live in the Alchemy Pavilion, so as to avoid be targeted and suffer from the Feng Family’s actions. As well as to wait for the limelight to die down before he could return to his Immortal Cave again. Zhang Yan accepted the suggestion since he thought that Feng Shang should have sent someone to secretly pry into his actions. Which indeed was quite inconvenient for him to go back to his Immortal Cave immediately, because it would arouse that old fox’s suspicion.
However, he also found that this place was not suitable to practice his cultivation law.
Although the spiritual qi around the Alchemy Pavilion was abundant, it was actually being contained with a Formation Array so as to manipulate all the spiritual qi in this place toward the underground, nouris.h.i.+ng those medicinal and spiritual herbs.
On the other hand, the pills’ concocting techniques were one of the most difficult to practice, and even though he was without prospects in cultivation, it would be unlikely that he would take this path. Therefore, the Immortal Cave in this place mostly only looked good but was useless. It could perhaps be useful for an ordinary cultivator. However, in Zhang Yan’s view, he was disinclined to even put it in his eyes.
Since he had nothing to do, Zhang Yan gave a try to read the pills’ concocting manuals Zhou Chongju had given him. The instant he read it, he became fascinated and immediately entered the Broken Jade.
Having read it, he couldn’t help but sigh. It was no wonder the Senior that day directed him to come to seek refuge with Zhou Chongju. This person’s alchemical ability was truly extraordinary. The originally “Three Opening Arts”, with his meticulous improvement, had been transformed into the “Inner Opening Arts”.”
One must know that the “Three Opening Arts” was mainly to temper one’s tongue, nose, and eyes. To practice their identification ability, heat control, efficacy, and effectiveness of furnace devices, which basically were the foundation that made one eligible to be called as Pills Concocting Master or Alchemy Master.
However, this “Inner Opening Arts”, although it was a derivation from the original ‘Three Opening Arts’, it was a whole level higher. He could specifically contain his qi inside his body’s orifices, and then swallow several special concocted pills. The condensated qi that was being contained in these orifices was not inferior to the ones that w
ere aided by inserting some drugs by means of some instruments with acupuncture arts. He would simply extract the qi from the contained qi in his orifices after circulating it for three times. He then would be able to replace the original Three Opening Arts. Not only would this method greatly shorten the practice time, but also had low requirements from a cultivator’s apt.i.tude. The most essential point in this method was that, as long as there were those special concocted pills, anyone could practice it.
Should this method spread out, it would absolutely change the present constellation (situation) of the 16 Great Factions.
Zhang Yan was immediately aware of the value of this pill concocting method and carefully put it away in his Universe Pouch as he prepared to find a few concocted pills to try this method by himself. After thinking up to there, he dressed up and went outside. He threw out his flying boat and flew straight toward the Hardwood Kind Pavilion.
By the rules, n.o.body was allowed to ride a flying s.h.i.+p in the Alchemy Pavilion’s vicinity. However, Zhou Chongju gave him a supervisory role, which he could conveniently use to monitor various affairs and departments in the pavilion.
This position’s privileges were quite wide and gave him the rights to monitor and take action for any irregularities that happened under the Alchemy Pavilion. n.o.body had any objection to his job’s arrangement.
In the eyes of outsiders, Zhang Yan was now Zhou Chongju’s successor—a true direct disciple—and his most trusted person, a person that mustn’t be offended. There were thousands of things and complicated matters in the Alchemy Pavilion, while Zhang Yan was only a new person with an unknown ability. In alchemy, he had neither the knowledge in medicinal herbs’ identification nor could he tell the quality of concocted pills. Even if some people cheated him in secret, he wouldn’t be able to see it. Thus, even the other two Vice Masters of the Alchemy Pavilion gave their acquiescence.
The Alchemy Pavilion occupied a vast area, which was located outside the landma.s.s where the Upper Court resided. Most of the island’s soil was covered with fields of spiritual and medicinal herbs. Even all the island’s sh.o.r.e along the Great Lake was planted with a variety of aquatic spiritual herbs. Zhang Yan flew all the way and found many warriors in every place, the ‘Sea Toppler’ warriors, the ‘River Flipper’ warriors, and the ‘Mountain Seizer’ warriors, who were seen patrolling back and forth on the mountain.
He couldn’t help but feel quite astonished as he then traced his sleeve to pinch the Jade Command Token which had been imprinted with those warriors’ Soulblood. He then issued an order to 30 ‘Sea Toppler’ warriors and 5 ‘Mountain Seizer’ warriors to come along with him.
At this moment, he looked at the faintly seen Hardwood Kind Pavilion that was located on the summit’s eaves when he suddenly heard a “BOOM” sound as a strand of light whistled in the air. He could see that it shot toward his position. As he quickly steered the flying s.h.i.+p to avoid it, some people were shouting at him, “Get out!”
He saw a strand of red light shoot forward and was about to hit him. Zhang Yan’s eyes then flashed and he decisively abandoned his flying s.h.i.+p. In the next second, he only heard a “cracking” sound as his flying s.h.i.+p was then cut into two parts. He quickly circulated his Pure Qi and slowly floated down. The man on the white light shouted in surprise as the red light then circled around and shot toward Zhang Yan as if it would try to cut him down.
Zhang Yan’s complexion sank as his hand reached into his sleeves. When he was about to act, he then heard the man on the white light spoke, “Don’t play here, a young life is more important.”
The man hovering in midair laughed then loudly spoke, “It’s very convenient for you.” The white light then turned around and descended toward the Hardwood Kind Pavilion’s courtyard.
After Zhang Yan gently landed on the ground, he then looked up and found that not all of these white lights had stopped. There were a total of 20 strands of light rus.h.i.+ng into the Hardwood Kind Pavilion. He then patted his robes as he squinted his eyes to look what happened ahead. He let out a grim smile and walked over there.
When he arrived at the courtyard, he found that the lights turned out to be all kinds of odd and strange-shaped flying s.h.i.+ps while there were 20 people that had landed here. It seemed that almost all of them were 13 or 14-years-old boys and girls, while the oldest ones were only 15-years-old. A teenager who acted like a leader with his hand embracing a kind of spirit animal, patted the cabinet case and shouted, “This is Senior Brother Su’s Red Fur Spirit Mole which was accidentally injured by a Flying Bear Demon. Old man Chao, quickly give me a ‘Flower Tranquilizer Pill’ so I can heal it.”
The Hardwood Kind Pavilion’s manager was surnamed Chao and had always been handling most matters with a smooth and slick manner, never easily offending people. At the moment, he could only reply with a bitter face, “Young ancestor, we only produce 3 furnaces of Flower Tranquilizer Pills in a year, and it also must be distributed to the hands of an Immortal Master. It’s very fortunate if this one could take a grain out, so where would this one find one for you…”
The teenager seemed a little impatient and scolded, “Don’t waste any words, there has to be some of it here!” The other boys and girls behind him also let out some curses. But this manager Chao didn’t dare to talk back. He repeatedly nodded even though he didn’t move a single step. He only signaled to a steward beside him, prompting the steward to run away immediately.