Chapter 102: The Advancing Alchemist

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“Young Master, the Old Master has sent a letter. He wants you to remain in Qingliu County for the time being. As for where you go next, he will discuss it with the First and Second Masters. Once a decision has been reached, he will inform you.”

“I understand, Uncle Shou.”

The rear offices of the county government blazed with light.

Having changed into a dark blue-green official robe and fastened a silver belt around his waist, Li Jiufang strode into the council hall, which was already nearly full.

“My lord.”

As Li Jiufang entered, everyone present rose to their feet. Nearly half of them wore armor. Their brows were marked by a fierce severity, and they were unmistakably men of the military.

“No need for such ceremony. Please, sit.”

Li Jiufang raised a hand, signaling them to take their seats. He then walked to the place of honor and sat down. After slowly sweeping his gaze across the assembly, he spoke in a deep voice:

“You have all heard about what happened in Shengzhou County.”

The people below nodded silently.

The incident in Shengzhou County had taken place practically on their doorstep. Even if they had wanted to remain ignorant, they could not have.

Moreover, the Fire Spirit Sect had gone out of its way to lessen its own responsibility, hiring people to spread the news everywhere.

By now, even a novice who had only just entered the world of cultivation probably knew the matter as well as they did.

“Shengzhou County lies no more than three hundred and fifty li from our own county. The Fire Spirit Sect has already sent us seventeen letters requesting aid. In your opinion, how should this county respond?”

“The decree from the Provincial Military Office is perfectly clear. All demonic disasters and calamities caused by evil entities are to be handled according to the principle of territorial jurisdiction, by the local government office, sects, and clans of the affected territory.

“Shengzhou County has fallen. The Fire Spirit Sect should naturally bear the responsibility. Instead, after losing several contingents, it has gone begging for help everywhere, showing no sense of duty whatsoever.

“In my opinion, we need not pay it any attention. Let the Fire Spirit Sect deal with the matter itself.”

After a brief silence, a towering man in silver armor spoke with a cold snort. He had broad shoulders, a thick waist, a bushy beard, and a face covered in coarse flesh.

His name was Chu Zhao, commander of the Iron Peak Army.

Like Yuan Baiyi, he had come from the Jixi Military District.

After hearing Chu Zhao’s words, the others exchanged glances, their thoughts shifting beneath composed expressions.

Li Jiufang’s face remained unchanged as he spoke evenly:

“Commander Chu has made a reasonable point. Does anyone else have a different opinion?”

“I agree with Chu Zhao.”

The speaker sat opposite Chu Zhao. She was a striking female commander, wheat-skinned and sharp-eyed, her words crisp and forceful.

“As far as I know, the force the Fire Spirit Sect sent into Shengzhou County consisted of only two Dao-Entry cultivators, and both were stewards of the inner hall. Not one of their elders or true disciples accompanied them.

“What does that tell us?

“It tells us that the Fire Spirit Sect never took the Shengzhou County incident seriously. They were merely going through the motions. The moment they encountered the slightest setback, they began crying for help.

“If we aid them this time, what about the next time? And the time after that?

“In my opinion, we should not only refuse to help them, but also submit a memorial to the Provincial Military Office, accusing the Fire Spirit Sect of obeying orders only in appearance while secretly acting otherwise.”

She and Chu Zhao had spoken one after the other, decisively stating that the Fire Spirit Sect’s pleas should be ignored. She had even proposed investigating it for failing to fulfill its responsibilities.

The other military commanders nearby also nodded slowly, apparently supporting the two of them.

This was, after all, the usual manner of soldiers.

As professional warriors, they were swift and decisive, obeying commands without question. They regarded obedience as their sacred duty, and despised nothing more than opportunists who muddled through their obligations and tried to shirk responsibility.

The Fire Spirit Sect’s present conduct naturally aroused their disgust and resistance.

“What you say is reasonable enough, but Shengzhou County is too close to us. If the Fire Spirit Sect keeps dragging its feet, then when fire breaks out at the city gate, the fish in the moat will suffer as well. If the flood comes rushing this way, we may end up getting our own shoes wet.

“We should still lend them a hand.”

The speaker was a middle-aged man with a long, neatly groomed beard and a fair complexion.

His name was Xie Changling.

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He was the chief manager of the Qingliu County branch of the Hundred Herbs Lodge.

Like Shen’s General Goods Exchange and the Listening Wind Teahouse, the Hundred Herbs Lodge was a sect of the cultivation world that both cultivated in seclusion and conducted business in the mortal realm.

Its principal trade lay in medicinal pills.

Xie Changling was the manager of the branch the Hundred Herbs Lodge had established in Qingliu County.

Many of those present had backgrounds similar to his.

Qingliu County had become the center of the vortex in Huangtan Prefecture. It was dangerous, but it also offered opportunity.

Thus, many sects of this sort had come upon hearing the news and opened branches there. They could make money while cultivating themselves through their own special methods.

“Manager Xie makes it sound simple. Help? How are we supposed to help? Will you help, or will I?”

Chu Zhao folded his arms. His armor clanked as he spoke coldly.

“Let me make one thing clear: the soldiers under my command will not clean up someone else’s mess. The military district ordered me only to guard Qingliu. Everything else has nothing to do with me.”

The other military commanders present also expressed their positions one after another. The army would not intervene in this matter.

“We are still discussing the matter, Commander Chu. There is no need to lose your temper. I was merely offering my opinion. Forgive me, forgive me.”

After decades in business, Xie Changling did not grow angry even when Chu Zhao rebuked him in front of everyone. He merely waved his hand with a smile and fell silent.

The council hall once more sank into silence.

If the military would not act, the managers and proprietors of these secluded sects certainly would not expend their own strength for the sake of the Fire Spirit Sect.

As for the unaffiliated cultivators, they were even less likely to do so.

Most cultivators, after all, were refined egoists. Even those with kindness in their hearts had to consider the circumstances.

As though he had anticipated this outcome long ago, Li Jiufang lowered his eyes slightly and spoke slowly. Every word, every syllable, carried an indescribable weight.

“I understand what you are saying.

“In this matter, the imperial court is at fault, the sects are at fault, and the demons are at fault.

“But the common people… they are innocent.

“If everyone here is willing to travel to Shengzhou County and provide aid, then this county gives you its word.”

There was no excessive emotional appeal, no rousing speech.

Li Jiufang simply raised a hand.

Behind him, a procession of maids and servants from the inner hall emerged, carrying ornately carved wooden trays.

Dao coins, cultivation arts, magical artifacts, medicinal pills!

Four full piles of cultivation treasures that could not have been purchased even with mountains of gold and silver were placed before the assembly.

In an instant, wondrous auras began to spill into the hall.

The gazes of those present were drawn toward them despite themselves.

“Anyone willing to travel to Shengzhou County and provide aid will be rewarded according to merit. Everyone present shall bear witness.

“If I deceive you, may Heaven strike me with thunder.”

As soon as Li Jiufang finished speaking, many people began to stir.

If they were expected to go clean up the Fire Spirit Sect’s mess for free based on nothing but an empty promise, they would never have agreed.

But if there was compensation—and compensation this generous—then the risk was worth taking.

Before long, a force was assembled.

The unaffiliated Daoists Ge Chuan, Yun Yazi, and Liu Qing took the lead, while the Hundred Herbs Lodge, Shen’s General Goods Exchange, the Listening Wind Teahouse, and the Thousand Hammers Pavilion each sent people to accompany them.

After everyone had dispersed, Li Jiufang returned to his study. He removed his official robe, changed into a plain white gown, and sat down wearily before his desk.

“Young Master, Shengzhou County has been overrun for so many days. Is there really still a need to go this far?”

Uncle Shou handed Li Jiufang a cup of spirit tea to calm the mind and dispel fatigue. He could not quite understand what his young master had done that day.

“Uncle Shou, do you still remember Banqiao Town?”

Li Jiufang took a sip of spirit tea and rubbed his brow.

“Of course I do. Wasn’t that the place where—”

Uncle Shou abruptly stopped. His expression changed.

“You mean Shengzhou County… was the work of the Golden Flower Mother Cult?”

Banqiao Town was a township under Qingliu County. Shortly before the Golden Flower Mother Cult laid siege to Qingliu County, Banqiao Town had sent people to request aid, claiming that a dense fog had suddenly appeared within the town and refused to disperse.

At the time, Li Jiufang had only just taken office and had not paid the matter much attention.

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Yet not long afterward, tens of thousands of soldiers from the Golden Flower Mother Cult had suddenly emerged from the fog.

Seen in that light, Shengzhou County was now playing the same role Banqiao Town had played then.

“The Fire Spirit Sect was not merely trying to evade its duty.

“After Shengzhou County was swallowed by the dense fog, the sect master and three elders of the Fire Spirit Sect joined forces and entered to investigate.

“But once they entered the city, all contact was lost.

“The reports released by the Fire Spirit Sect were issued at my instruction. I wanted to prevent a panic from breaking out prematurely.”

Li Jiufang’s gaze grew solemn, and his expression turned grave.

“I have placed a Divine-Severing Command on that unaffiliated cultivator named Ge Chuan.

“If Shengzhou County truly is the Golden Flower Mother Cult’s attempt to rise again, I will descend there personally and wipe them out.”

“Is that not a little too dangerous?” Uncle Shou frowned slightly, his face filled with concern.

“In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are necessary.

“If Shengzhou County truly is the opportunity the Golden Flower Mother Cult needs to return, then unless we cut it off at once, my lifespan will not withstand a second casting of the Heaven-Praying Art.”

At the mention of the Heaven-Praying Art, a trace of heartache flashed through Uncle Shou’s eyes.

“Young Master, there is much that is good about you.

“But there is one thing the Old Master was right about.

“Your heart is too kind.”

…

Boom!

A sudden explosion shook the ground of the immense courtyard. Waves of heat roiled outward, sending the accumulated snow flying and melting it in midair. Flames surged and spread in every direction.

Humm—

At that moment, golden talismans appeared in the void, transforming into interwoven chains.

They formed a hemispherical barrier of inverted light, blocking the full force of the explosion and preventing the entire courtyard from being destroyed.

“Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!”

Spitting black smoke, Qi Xiu stumbled out of the suppressive barrier, his face covered in soot as he sneezed and coughed.

“Explode, explode, explode! That makes four times today! I refuse to believe I can’t tame one tiny pill.”

Standing outside with his hands on his hips, Qi Xiu wore an expression of deep resentment.

Ever since he had begun attempting to refine Dao-Entry medicinal pills half a month ago, he had been blown apart more than forty times in a mere fifteen days.

Fortunately, he had now become a Dao-Entry cultivator and possessed true astral protection. Otherwise, the force of the explosions would have cremated him long ago.

“Compared with decoctions and ordinary pills from the mortal world, Dao-Entry medicinal pills are exponentially more difficult.

“The heat, the timing of each medicinal ingredient’s addition, constant temperature, constant humidity, constant airflow—even if the true astral energy is activated a fraction too early…

“Boom. Nothing else to say. It just explodes.

“This isn’t alchemy. It’s a demolition site.”

Qi Xiu shook his head with a bitter smile, then sat on the ground with his chin propped in his hand, silently organizing the insights and experience that continued to surface in his mind.

Once pill refinement reached the Dao-Entry realm, the greatest difference was that the slightest error would cause the pill to become gunpowder, exploding in an instant.

“Now that I think about it, the Essence-Gathering Treasure Pouch really is a wonderful treasure. It isn’t picky about ingredients, and it can refine pills at the press of a button.

“Other than being limited to refining Essence-Gathering Pills, it has no flaws at all.”

After sighing over the matter, Qi Xiu digested the insights and experience filling his mind. Then he rose once more, his gaze serious and stubborn.

Clearly, after being blown apart more than forty times, that bullheaded streak in his bones had been blasted fully awake.

“A mere medicinal pill, and you think you can defeat me? If I can’t bring you to heel, I’ll write my own name backward!”

…

End of Chapter