Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Court Vice President
"Good. Very good. Then you just wait." Marquis Tianqi and Marquis Zhenjun shot a cold glance at Fan Hao, then another at Ye Xuan. With a flick of their sleeves and a cold snort, they turned and left.
Commander Long watched it all unfold with a sinister chuckle. "Fan Hao," he said grimly, "I see you’re still stubbornly refusing to see reason, unable to grasp the way the wind is blowing. I believe it won’t be long before you’re no longer a commander of the city guard."
The group turned and left arrogantly.
Fan Hao’s face was ashen. He knew that Marquis Tianqi and Marquis Zhenjun really did have some connection to the chief commander of the city guard.
If they truly managed to persuade the chief commander, he, a mere Vice Commander, would be powerless to resist their orders.
However, things having come to this, Fan Hao knew he had no other choice.
It wasn’t just because of the Eighth Prince’s orders. More importantly, he had his own principles. What he couldn’t stand the most was seeing people abuse their power to bully others and twist right and wrong.
"Commander Fan, it seems I’ve dragged you into this."
Fan Hao waved his hand. "Brother Ye, don’t say that. But given the situation, if they really manage to persuade the chief commander, you’ll be in danger, Brother Ye."
He sighed.
"Commander Fan, I have a proposition. Can you help me deliver a letter?" Ye Xuan said suddenly.
"Deliver a letter?" Fan Hao was slightly taken aback, but he quickly nodded. "Please, just tell me what to do, Brother Ye."
Ye Xuan took out a brush and paper and wrote a letter. "Please have someone deliver this letter to the Soul Master Tower in the Royal City, Commander Fan."
’Hua Luoxuan most likely isn’t at the Alchemist Association. In that case, the only person I know in the Royal City is Elder Kuchen.’
’Though both are elders, Elder Kuchen of the Soul Master Tower has a higher status than Elder Hua Luoxuan of the Alchemist Association. After all, on the Celestial Profound Continent, a Soul Refiner is a nobler profession than an Alchemist.’
’With Elder Kuchen’s status, getting me out of here shouldn’t be a problem, as long as he’s willing.’
"The Soul Master Tower?" Commander Fan gave Ye Xuan a slightly surprised look, then nodded.
「Meanwhile, in a magnificent, splendidly decorated hall within the royal palace.」
A group of elderly men in Alchemist robes were all looking respectfully at a man in a yellow robe who was on a couch.
The man at the very front of this group of Alchemists had an aura as deep as an abyss, as oppressive as a prison. Just by standing there, he exuded a suffocating presence. This was none other than the Chief Court Alchemist of the Liuyun Kingdom, a Fifth Grade Alchemist—Yang An.
"Your Majesty, how are you feeling?" Yang An asked.
"This Spirit Suppressing Pill is truly extraordinary. The Xuan Yin energy in my body has been completely suppressed. Though not eradicated, it has been confined to a corner. It feels wonderful. It’s been nearly twenty years since I’ve felt this comfortable."
The man in the yellow robe sat up. His tone was calm and his features were ordinary, yet his every move exuded the majesty of a sovereign whom none would dare to disobey. When his eyes opened and closed, a sharp light flashed within them, and his authority was as heavy as a mountain.
This man was none other than the Monarch of the Liuyun Kingdom, Zhao Jing.
With a smile on his lips, he looked toward an elderly man in the group, rose, and walked over to him. A grateful smile touched his face. "Master Yang An, this must be Master Hua Luoxuan, I presume? I heard that he was the one who developed the Spirit Suppressing Pill. The Liuyun Kingdom is truly full of talented people. If not for you, Master, I don’t know how much longer I would have had to endure that suffering."
Zhao Jing’s face was filled with gratitude.
"Your Majesty is too kind," Hua Luoxuan said, bowing hastily.
The Chief Court Alchemist, Yang An, also smiled and said, "Your Majesty, although Master Hua Luoxuan is only a Fourth Grade Alchemist, his achievements in Alchemy are something even I deeply admire. I’ve had the fragmented formula for that Spirit Suppressing Pill for several years, but I was never able to complete it. In the end, I had no choice but to bring it out for collaborative research. I never expected that Master Hua Luoxuan would figure out the three key Spirit Medicines in just a few months. Not only that, but he also successfully concocted the finished Spirit Suppressing Pill. Even I have tried to concoct it several times and have yet to succeed. This shows the depth of Master Hua Luoxuan’s expertise in Alchemy."
"You praise me too much, Master Yang An. You merely haven’t grasped the trick to the heat control. Otherwise, with your skill, Master Yang An, refining this Spirit Suppressing Pill would surely have been a simple matter, effortless," Hua Luoxuan said humbly.
"Hahaha, Master Hua Luoxuan, don’t be so modest. I can naturally practice my heat control, but your ability to refine pill formulas is far superior to mine." Yang An shook his head as he spoke.
The thought that a pill formula he had studied for years was figured out in just a few months by Hua Luoxuan, a mere Fourth Grade Alchemist, filled him with a mix of awe and disappointment.
"Actually, I wasn’t the one who developed the formula for the Spirit Suppressing Pill. If someone hadn’t guided me, I’m afraid I might not have figured it out even with several times the amount of time."
"Oh?"
Hua Luoxuan’s words startled both Yang An and Zhao Jing.
"Hua Luoxuan, could it be that a certain grandmaster was passing through our Liuyun Kingdom?" Yang An’s eyes lit up, his face filled with excitement.
As fellow Court Alchemists, Yang An, being the Chief, didn’t actually know much about Hua Luoxuan. Even after Hua Luoxuan broke through to Fourth Grade, he had only heard a little about it and had very little contact with him.
However, the refining of the Spirit Suppressing Pill this time made Yang An see Hua Luoxuan in a completely new light.
Whether it was in researching the pill formula, concocting the Spirit Suppressing Pill, or studying the theories of Alchemy, Yang An was shocked to discover that although Hua Luoxuan had only recently broken through to Fourth Grade, his attainments in every aspect were much more solid and powerful than even those Peak of Fourth Grade Alchemists who had been at that level for a decade, or even several decades.
In certain areas, he was not in the least inferior to Yang An himself, a Fifth Grade Chief Court Alchemist.
Yang An had long suspected that Hua Luoxuan must have received guidance from some grandmaster to have achieved such accomplishments. It was just that the two weren’t well acquainted, so although Yang An was curious, he had never asked.
Now that Hua Luoxuan had admitted it himself, Yang An immediately grew excited.
To be able to guide someone like Hua Luoxuan, who was just a Third Grade Alchemist not long ago, to such a level—that person’s attainments in Alchemy must be absolutely heaven-defying. Yang An even suspected that the person was at least a Sixth Grade Alchemist.
At this thought, Yang An became even more thrilled. "I wonder where this grandmaster might be? If possible, Master Hua Luoxuan, I would be so grateful if you could provide an introduction for me, so that I may personally pay a visit to this grandmaster."
Even the Monarch, Zhao Jing, wore a curious expression and said with a smile, "What Master Yang An said is exactly what I was thinking. I too would very much like to meet this grandmaster and thank him personally. If this person is still in our Liuyun Kingdom, please, Master Hua Luoxuan, be sure to pass on my request."
Hua Luoxuan nodded. "Your Majesty, Master Yang An, this person is indeed still in our Liuyun Kingdom, and in the Royal City at that. However, I do not know his disposition, so I dare not make any decisions on his behalf. I must return and ask for his permission first."
"Haha, that is only natural," Zhao Jing laughed.
Generally, anyone who could be called a ’grandmaster’ was bound to be an eccentric character. Zhao Jing could understand that.
"Master Hua Luoxuan, you have rendered such great service this time. What reward would you like?" Zhao Jing asked with a smile.
"To be able to ease Your Majesty’s worries is simply my duty..."
"Ah," Zhao Jing waved his hand repeatedly, cutting Hua Luoxuan off. "That’s not right. Merit must be rewarded. If not for you, Master, I’m afraid I would still be suffering from that endless pain and illness."
"Your Majesty, how about this?" Yang An said with a smile. "Master Hua Luoxuan’s skills are exquisite. The Court Alchemists are still missing a Vice President, and the position has remained undecided. I think we should let Master Hua Luoxuan take on the role of Vice President. What does Your Majesty think?"
"Vice President?" Hua Luoxuan said in astonishment. "How can I... I..."
"Haha, excellent!" Zhao Jing cut him off directly. "If you’re not suitable, I can’t think of anyone else. Many here may have higher cultivation and rank, but they are either too old, or their knowledge of Alchemy can’t compare to yours. You are the only one who can take this position and command everyone’s respect. Besides, Master Hua Luoxuan, don’t think of this as my reward to you. I hope you will use your talents to further serve the kingdom. In that sense, I’m the one who’s profiting, haha."
Since Zhao Jing had put it that way, Hua Luoxuan had no choice but to accept. "Then, thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Master Yang An."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Master Hua Luoxuan!"
The other Alchemists present also offered their congratulations one after another, looking at Hua Luoxuan with faces full of envy.
The Court Alchemists served the kingdom, and it could be said that their status in the kingdom was extremely high. The organization generally consisted of one President and two Vice Presidents. The President was, of course, the Chief Alchemist, Master Yang An, while the position of Vice President was a goal the other Court Alchemists dreamed of achieving.
One of the Vice President positions had been vacant since last year. Many of the Fourth Grade Alchemists present had used all sorts of means, hoping to obtain this position, but unfortunately, it had remained unfilled.
They never expected it to be taken by Hua Luoxuan, an Alchemist who had just broken through to Fourth Grade this year. For a moment, many of them felt a sense of loss and dejection.
Yet, they couldn’t find any fault with the decision. After all, Hua Luoxuan possessed true talent and skill. This time, by developing the Spirit Suppressing Pill, he had rendered a great service. To object would be to slap the Monarch and President Yang An in the face.
Looking at the immensely successful Hua Luoxuan, everyone was overcome with emotion.
And Hua Luoxuan himself was also filled with deep emotion.
’Just over a year ago, I was just an ordinary member of the Court Alchemists, the president of an Alchemist Association in a small city.’
’I never thought that a year later, I would become the Vice President of the Court Alchemists for the entire Liuyun Kingdom and an elder of the Alchemist Association. The twists and turns of life are truly unpredictable.’
’But the higher my status becomes, the deeper my gratitude toward Ye Xuan grows. I know that his help and support are the absolute reason I was able to take this step.’
