Chapter 163: Chapter 163 - Reluctant Leader
Lucian River stood frozen in disbelief. Arrested? This couldn’t be happening.
Several officers approached him, ready to take him into custody.
"I’m friends with your boss," Lucian shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "Let me call him!"
The officers exchanged glances before stepping back slightly. "Go ahead," one of them nodded.
With trembling hands, Lucian pulled out his phone and dialed quickly. When the call connected, he blurted out, "Hughes, what’s going on? Why are your people arresting me?"
Hughes’s voice came through cold and sharp. "You broke the law. If I don’t catch you, who should I catch?"
The color drained from Lucian’s face. "Hughes, what... what do you mean?" he stammered.
"What do I mean? Ha, Lucian River, you’re finished!" Hughes spat before hanging up.
Despair washed over Lucian. His legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.
Without a word, the officers moved forward, grabbed his arms, and escorted him out.
A stunned silence fell over the room. The chairman who once stood above everyone was now being taken away in custody, leaving everyone to process the shocking turn of events.
Moments later, several officials from the Association Administration approached me.
"Mr. Raymond, following the decision from above, you will be the president of the Traditional Medicine Association," one announced formally.
I scratched my head awkwardly. "Can I decline being the president of this Traditional Medicine Association?"
Everyone within earshot chuckled. "You don’t know how many people would kill for this position, and you’re actually refusing?" someone remarked incredulously.
"I’m used to freedom," I explained with a helpless shrug. "I don’t want to be controlled by others."
"Mr. Raymond, you should discuss this with our chief," they replied, shaking their heads. "We’re only here to deliver the message." With that, they departed.
Almost immediately, people swarmed around me.
"Congratulations, Mr. Raymond, on becoming the new president!"
"Should we call you President Raymond now?"
"President Raymond, here’s my business card. If you need anything, just let me know!"
Countless individuals approached, practically bowing at my feet, their postures submissive and eager to please.
I had clearly underestimated the power of this position. Despite not being part of an official government organization, the influence was immense.
Later, I followed the host backstage where a wooden box awaited me.
I eagerly took the box and opened it. Inside lay a hundred-year-old Knotweed.
"What a strong medicinal scent!" I inhaled deeply, excitement coursing through me. With this hundred-year-old Knotweed, I might be able to directly advance to the second level of Foundation Establishment Stage!
Although Foundation Establishment was just the beginning of cultivation, it represented the most critical step. Like building a house, it laid the groundwork. Without a solid foundation, the cultivation path ahead would be treacherous.
"A hundred-year-old Knotweed can refine a Foundation Establishment Pill," I thought. However, these pills affected everyone differently, unlike Qi Gathering Pills that guaranteed advancement. Some people might jump several levels with one pill, while others might take multiple pills to advance even once.
After securing the Knotweed, I headed for the exit. At the doorway, I encountered Morgan Barry.
Morgan stood there with a gloomy expression, fists clenched tightly, radiating resentment.
"You’re a good seedling," I called out to him.
He whirled around, fixing me with an icy stare.
"It’s just a pity you chose the wrong master," I continued. "How about becoming my disciple?"
Morgan snorted derisively. "Become your disciple? In your dreams! Let me tell you, starting tomorrow, I’ll visit every top alchemist in the country! Sooner or later, my achievements will surpass yours!"
I shrugged, unbothered by his defiance. "Well, good luck then." Taking him as a disciple had been merely a passing jest; I never seriously considered it.
Afterward, Elder Drake and I returned to the hotel.
During our journey back, Elder Drake couldn’t contain his excitement.
"Mr. Raymond, I never expected your alchemy skills to be so advanced!" he exclaimed with genuine admiration.
I nodded modestly. "To be honest, I didn’t expect it either." The rank of my spiritual fire remained a mystery even to me.
Back at the hotel, I felt exhaustion weighing on me. Yet visitors kept arriving—representatives from aristocratic families, martial arts masters, and people desperate to purchase the Curing Pill.
After brief consideration, I turned to Elder Drake. "Elder Drake, this Curing Pill is for you. If anyone wants it, they can exchange it for hundred-year medicinal materials."
Elder Drake’s face lit up with joy. He accepted the pill, nodding repeatedly. "Thank you for trusting me, Mr. Raymond!"
I yawned, fatigue evident in every movement. The past few days had completely depleted the qi in my body, and recovery wouldn’t come quickly.
"Mr. Raymond, you should rest," Elder Drake suggested, concern in his voice.
I shook my head. "I’m waiting for someone."
"Waiting for whom?" Elder Drake asked, puzzled.
"Turner Keira," I replied solemnly.
When it came to Turner, confidence eluded me. I wasn’t even certain he would deliver the Ganoderma as promised.
Meanwhile, Turner Keira sat in his courtyard, barely having moved all day. He waited patiently, his mind made up.
If Mason showed up personally requesting the Ganoderma, Turner would hand it over. If not, Turner wouldn’t deliver it. A silent test between them—after all, a two-hundred-year-old Ganoderma wasn’t something anyone would part with freely.
Time crawled by. Evening shadows lengthened across the land.
"It seems Turner won’t come," I murmured, gazing out the window.
At the same moment, Turner sneered to himself. "I was right—Mason wouldn’t dare come! Without the Saintly Body Skill, he fears dying at my hands."
Just then, a young man burst into Turner’s courtyard.
"Master!" he called out, breathless from running.
Turner glanced at him disinterestedly. "What’s the matter?"
The young man’s words tumbled out excitedly. "Master, it’s fortunate you didn’t make an enemy of Mason Raymond, or we’d be in serious trouble!"
Turner’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Don’t you know?" The young man’s eyes widened in astonishment. "At today’s Traditional Medicine Conference, Mason completely dominated!"
Turner’s frown deepened as he gestured for the young man to continue.
"That Mason not only controlled spiritual fire but blue spiritual fire! He even attracted a Pill Cloud during the conference!" The young man could barely contain his excitement. "A Pill Cloud! I’ve only heard about them, never seen one! It’s extraordinary! With such alchemy skills alone, he’s earned the respect of every major aristocratic family!"
