Chapter 10: Start of the Medicine Competition
The person who was quickly rushing over with Luo Shu was precisely Yao Chen.
However, looking at Yao Chen, he appeared extremely depressed and his face had a pale sickly color.
"Yao Chen finally arrived, haha." All around, people recognized him and shouted out
After all, he was the clan school's Great Competition's number one place, and along with his Violet Flame Pill he ended up garnering quite a bit of attention.
Only, with just a brief look they didn't recognize Yao Chen with this kind of face, causing them to be a bit flabbergasted.
"Huh? This is Yao Chen?"
"The clan school's Great Competition number 1 place has this kind of appearance?"
"This extremely sick look, is it possible… that during this month, he was recovering from an injury?"
"It's possible, using a nine star Dou Zhe's strength to obtain victory at the clan school's Great Competition, if there wasn't some sort of trick to it, even a ghost wouldn't believe it."
"But he appears to have lost some of his strength, looking at it now I'm afraid it wasn't so simple."
"These words… if it was me, I wouldn't even come out today, and just save some of the mystery, as that would still be somewhat beneficial for my future growth."
"Right, with his current appearance, coming to the Medicine Competition is just making a disgrace of himself."
All kinds of voices rang out, with some deliberately ridiculing him in loud voices, causing the people around them to laugh. Even people who wouldn't normally have laughed couldn't help but give voice to it once they saw Yao Chen's miserable appearance. To actually come to the Medicine Competition in this state, what a charitable person.
But Yao Chen simply blocked his ears and didn't listen to these stupid remarks. While he was sickly and his state was not that good, but towards the Medicine Competition he still had interest, and while he might not be one hundred percent confident, he was still seventy to eighty percent sure of himself.
Luo Shu's face would twitch occasionally; although what the other people were saying was hard to listen to, but inside, Luo Shu also felt that brother Chen had taken this too lightly. Although going into seclusion was fine, but how did you seclude yourself and end up in this manner? Although he wanted to say a couple of encouraging words, he just didn't know how to find any words for this situation.
In the end, all he said was, "Brother Chen, good luck. I support you." Although support him he did, but he didn't have any hopeful thoughts.
Yao Chen laughed, as he walked through all the ridicule to ender the competitor's area. By this time there were already over a hundred Yao clan disciples who were making their preparations.
Although the clan school only had eight names, but the various families and branches wouldn't all necessary send their disciples to the clan school. The things that the clan school taught were all the basics amongst basics. Other than for stabilizing a foundation, it was difficult to find other benefits. The families that had the ability would all use those own teaching methods to teach the fundamentals, or they would find a wise master for their kids. With one or two students per teacher, the effect was obviously better than the clan school's broad teachings.
Although the clan school only had eight spots, but the various families and branches also had their own spots. The Yao clan was huge, and no matter how selective it was, by the end there were more than one hundred participants, which displayed just how formidable the Yao clan was. The younger generation who were able to participate in the Medicine Competition at the very least had the strength of the Dou Shi class… of course, this was excluding Yao Chen. But when it came to true power, Yao Chen had a technique that let him obtain the power of a Dou Shi, so he could also be classified as a Dou Shi.
As one of the major clans that had been continued on from ancient times, it had to have qualified successors. To continue to exist stably it had to have a strong foundation, its past, its present, and its future had to be extremely powerful in order for it shock and overpower its enemies.
Yao Chen walked to a corner and was just about to sit down, when suddenly a laugh rang out, "Yao Chen, with your current state, it seems like you're going to faint?"
Yao Chen laughed, "It's possible."
Zuo Hongle narrowed his eyes, happening to arrive at Yao Chen's ear, "Yao Feng plans on making you an example, killing the chicken in front of the monkey, did you not know this?"
"With you talking to me like this, are you not afraid he'll switch targets from me to you?"
Zuo Hongle touched his noise, "What if I told him I was helping him scout out what was true and what was false?"
"Haha, you really are expecting too much of me, I wouldn't want to disappoint him."
"Not a bad idea, but no matter what happens, I'm appreciative of you, and wish you good luck."
"You're no better or worse."
"Hmph. However, what I'm interested in is what pill you plan on refining. The Violet Flame Pill is not bad, but for the Medicine Competition, a third tier pill is truly not good enough to even look at."
In reality, Zuo Hongle was very curious towards Yao Chen. Allowing him to win by a surprise move again could definitely not be allowed. However, he didn't know why but Yao Chen's pale and sickly expression gave him a kind of feeling that this guy had once again set up some kind of secret. Towards his own intuition, Zuo Hongle always had confidence, as most of the time whenever he had this kind of feeling it turned out true.
"When the time comes, you'll know."
The confidence on Yao Chen's face made Zuo Hongle even more curious, but even if he overlooked his current state, he should only be padding the bottom of the rankings.
By now, from the elder's stage, Clan Chief Yao Dan was already standing, and after saying a couple of traditional sentences, he revealed the First Elder Yao Wanhuo, who stood up and took charge from there.
Yao Wanhuo's gaze was like a torch as it swept through the competitor's area's waiting Yao clan disciples. With a majestic and dignified voice, he announced, "The ones waiting here my Yao clan's future. I hope you all do your best… in addition, there is a bit more good news. This time's Medicine Competition's first place will have the chance to pay respects to and become a direct disciple under the guidance of the Clan Chief. They will also have the opportunity to enter into the clan treasury and select a Di class Dou Technique."
Rumbling…
All around acclamations sounded out!
Every year's Medicine Competition would have additional rewards for the first place. In the past, these were all a Battlegod Weapons[i] and a Xuan class technique chosen the clan treasury. Comparing the two, this time's rewards made people go a little crazy.
A Di class Dou Technique was one thing, but to be able to train under Clan Chief Yao Dan, it was this reward that really made the disciples go crazy!
Clan Chief Yao Dan, whether it was the strength of his Dou Qi or his skill in alchemy, he was the undisputed strongest within the clan. He had previously had a direct disciple before, which was First Elder Yao Wanhuo.
Rumor had it that when Yao Wanhuo had become the Clan Chief's disciple, in terms of his talent he could just barely be considered as above average. However, under Yao Dan's tutelage, in just one year he had completely surpassed his fellows. Whatever talents, they all were suppressed by him. Even to this day, Yao Wanhuo had become even stronger, become the strongest in the clan (after Yao Dan) as a Dou Sheng elder.
Thus it was possible to say that as long as you became Yao Dan's disciple, your future might not end up like a second Yao Wanhuo, but with such a high starting point, as a direct disciple of the Clan Chief, your position in the future would most certainly be a core elder in the clan. As for core elders, when compared to the likes of Yao Lan who were in charge of the clan school or outer elders who were in charge of business outside the clan, they would be completely different entities. Such a position was extremely exalted.
But in reality these were just minor things, the real thing that caused people to become crazy was Yao Dan's ability to change something rotten into something magical. Becoming his disciple, as long as you weren't a complete idiot, would mean it was possible for you to become a famous Dou Sheng!
In the competitor's area, all the disciples' eyes were erupting with an intense fighting spirit. The always calm Yao Tong's face's faint smile disappeared, and he stared towards the direction of Yao Feng.
Sensing Yao Tong's gaze, Yao Feng's face was still smiling. Having the will to fight was not bad, but was there any meaning to it?
Strength was strength, polishing your guns before the battle was only for looks.
The Di class Dou Technique, becoming the Clan Chief's disciple, these were already in his pocket. Actually, this news was something Yao Feng had long ago heard about.
Not only was his older brother the chief of the inner clan's punishment hall, but his father's position was second only to elder Yao Wanhuo. Having the authority to be able to find out about the vast majority of the Yao clan's inner and outer affairs required true power. Any secrets happening within the clan had difficulty bypassing Yao Feng's house.
Yao Feng actually felt that having the Clan Chief use the Medicine Competition to pick a disciple was because he had taken a fancy to his personal talent. After all, in the Yao clan's younger generation, if he didn't pick him then who could he pick? Yao Tong was not his match, let alone Yao Chen who was basically nothing.
As for the various families and branches, they all had their own well-known talents, but most of them were only capable of matching up to half the skills of Yao Tong. If they wanted to fight with him, he only had two words: "give up," or one word: "naïve."
Upon hearing this news, on Yao Chen's pale face emerged a trace of rosiness, as his heart become entirely excited. His father had once told him that within the clan, the person with the greatest reputation for fairness was First Elder Yao Wanhuo, and the person who brought him up was the Clan Chief. In his father's eyes, Clan Chief Yao Dan was essentially a legendary character.
Yao Chen had been influenced by this thought since childhood, so to have the opportunity to become the Clan Chief's disciple, even if it was just in title….
No, not even the Clan Chief, even if it was becoming Yao Wanhuo's titular disciple was still an extremely wonderful affair, and if his father knew about this he would also be extremely gratified.
"All of you should reveal your talent to demonstrate how strong you are the clansmen. Now, everyone take your places, this place is now considered your playing field!" Following the First Elder's decree, rumbling sounds burst out, and flames starting rising towards the horizon, exploding like fireworks. Although it was daytime, the blazing flame's radiance was still distinctly visible. This was the official signal to the start of the Medicine Competition!
In the competitor's area, over a hundred Yao clan disciples all respectfully stood up, and automatically following the clan guard's directions, they walked towards the refining area.
Yao Chen expression was also solemn and respectful. Towards everything in the clan he considered it all to be sacred.
The beginning of the competition was also a ceremony, and would determine the final eight who could participate in the final battle. On this battlefield, your enemies were all of the more than a hundred similarly outstanding alchemists. As for who could elatedly grab a place in the top eight and receive the clan's status as the elite seeds, anything was possible. As an elite seed you would have a special cultivation position, and compared to the others, who although would also have preferential treatment for resources, the difference in treatment was like heaven and earth.
Yao Chen found his position, and in the corner of the table next to the storage ring he placed his nameplate.
Just as they were all set, a loud booming noise rang out from the sky, and a flowing light came from all over, scattering, it blinkingly fading away. This was a formation in order to seal off the refining area from the outside.
At the same time, it was also another part of the signal for the official start of the Medicine Competition.
Everyone immediately started to quickly take action.
Yao Chen also moved quickly, as he grabbed the storage ring and inserted a strand of his Dou Qi. In few seconds, his spirit could sense the various medicinal ingredients arranged inside.
Most of them were often seen medicinal ingredients used for refining, but there also a couple of rare ingredients. However their amount was extremely small, and so they couldn't be used as main ingredients. They could only be used to neutralize or raise the other ingredients' character. Yao Chen took a deep breath. If he were to only rely on the ingredients arranged in the storage ring then he could only refine some commonly seen high tier medicinal pills. If they were placed outside the Yao clan then maybe there would be thousands of people who wanted to steal it, but this was the Yao clan's Medicine Competition. Wanting to rely on just a regular high tier medicinal pill to beat the over hundred cream of the crop disciples of the Yao clan was just simply delusional.
Yao Chen lifted his head, looking around, he saw many people were already starting, igniting their medicinal cauldron with a glowing flame. Actually, they were so quick because they taken out all kinds of uncommon medicinal ingredients they had already long since prepared. Evidently, they were going to put their all into this fight.
Yao Chen knit his eyebrows, as he saw people were using their meticulously prepared, excellent medicinal ingredients for this time's decisive battle… what else would they use?
Ordinary branch families were not the same as the main bloodline; if they were to expend many years they might only be able to collect enough rare medicinal ingredients for just one attempt at an extraordinary pill. If more were needed, only the clan's rich and powerful branch families could obtain extra.
Yao Chen did not even have the necessary rare medicinal ingredients to attempt an extraordinary medicinal pill once, so at this time the only things he could use were the medicinal ingredients provided by the clan.
The Luo family's father and sons were all staring. When Luo Bing looked at his own son who couldn't make anything of himself, he felt a bit helpless. "What's the matter with Yao Chen? Did you see aunt Qing?"
Whether or not he could pass through and enter the top eight was not important, as in terms of his future what was actually crucial was displaying his skill at the Medicine Competition. With his talent, strength, and with the afterglow of the Medicine Competition, was there still a need to worry about the clan not supporting him?
As long as a disciple obtained the favor and support of the clan, then as long as they weren't completely lacking in talent, their future prospects would be without limits. In Luo Shu's opinion, Yao Chen should be focused on this, and as for taking victory at the Medicine Competition and leaving his name of the Clan Monument, this type of thinking should be let go.
Luo Shu scratched the top of his head, "I don't know. When I arrived I didn't see aunt Qing, and brother Chen had just come out of seclusion in that condition… is it possible that he had excessively over practiced his refining?"
Luo Bing shook his head, his eyes flickering. Apparently he knew where Yao Qing was, but in front of his two sons he didn't say anything.
Boom!
Suddenly, the formation that was sealing the entire refining area let out a strange sound. This sound couldn't pass through the refining area, but outside the formation were still bursts of noises like thunder.
"Heavenly Flame! Nine Isolation Wind Flame!"[ii]
The attending people from the various powers all changed color.
The Inflammation Clan's elder Yaoxiao focused his gaze, and towards the follower beside him who was in charge of information, he asked, "Who is that?"
The Inflammation Clan was also in expert in flames, and within the clan were three major Heavenly Flames, and towards the Yao clan who was similarly also experts in flame techniques they paid extra attention. Within the Yao clan were two Heavenly Flames, the Nine Isolation Wind Flame and the Earth Tortoise Spirit Flame. Since they were comparable in strength, due to the Heavenly Flames, the two ended up with quite a few conflicts.
"Disciple."
"Elder An, this person's name is Yao Feng, this year he is 17 years old. Born into the main bloodline, he is the younger brother of the chief of the punishment hall Yao Wangui."
"Oh? Yao Wangui's little brother? 17 years old, yet he has already obtained the Nine Isolation Wind Flame… no, that's not right, he has not completely obtained it and is only using a medicinal pill to borrow its strength. He is unable to completely subdue the Nine Isolation Wind Flame and is only borrowing the pill's effect."
The Inflammation Clan had a history of playing with fire, so towards the Heavenly Flames they were extremely familiar. In just a short couple blinks of an eye he had managed to figure out Yao Feng's ins and outs. But although it was borrowing the power, the source was still the Heavenly Flame. If he used it to kill enemies he might not be able to control the flame, but using it to refine pills was just right. Precisely because he was borrowing the power of the Heavenly Flame, even if his Dou Qi was insufficient, he could use the Heavenly Flame to refine the pills.
Yanxiao wasn't concerned with who won or who competed in the Medicine Competition. As long as could obtain some good pills from the Yao clan, who cared about the Yao clan's inner workings. However, seeing the Yao clan's ability to allow a younger generation 17 year old disciple to directly borrow the Heavenly Flame's strength….
Yaoxiao's eyes were staring, as Yao Feng's expression became even more imposing.
His two hands emitted a rumbling wind sound, and two streaks of Nine Isolation Wind Flame shot out from his hands, entering into the medicinal cauldron. These blazing flames seemed to come to life as they revolved around inside the medicinal cauldron. A strange and bizarre wind sound accompanied it, and while the noise was not loud, it faintly entered into everyone's ears and indescribably caused their hearts to feel jittery.
Yao Chen had just started to activate his Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique to start the medicinal cauldron's fire when his ears received the Nine Isolations Wind Sound. Unbeknownst to him, his heart started to indescribably become dry and warm, and he almost lost control of the medicinal cauldron's flame.
"Nine Isolation Wind Flame!" The clan had two Heavenly Flames under their control; this was a public secret. However, although the Heavenly Flames were within the clan, not anyone was capable of subduing them. The Heavenly Flames had their own dignity and character. The Nine Isolation Wind Flame was born in extreme Yin terrains found in an endless abyss, and after taking form its Yin wind was the most violent of all. An unknown number of years of absorbing souls and swallowing the extreme Yin had to occur for it to be born, and it had long since formed a consciousness, making it even harder to subdue.
However, at this time during the Medicine Competition there was actually someone using the Nine Isolation Wind Flame!
This time, it caused the originally confident and ambitious disciples' resolutions to waver. With the unexpected Nine Isolation Wind Flame, just what could they use to fight back?
Heavenly Flames, at least to alchemists, were a type of legend, and alchemists that had Heavenly Flames were all people of outstanding talent in the alchemy world, with no exception. Each alchemist with a Heavenly Flame was a legend amongst the population of people.
Yao Chen's heart was also shaking, as the sound continued to enter his ears, and his heart couldn't help but become moody. The sound gave him a feeling of wanting to give up everything and become depressed.
No matter how many preparations he made they were useless when facing the Heavenly Flame. It was without a match, so just what could he use to fight back? Not to mention his goal….
Suddenly, Yao Chen's heart seemed to become alert! Give up?
Just now he had unexpectedly wanted to give up on the Medicine Competition!
The "Nine Isolation Wind Flame" gave Yao Chen's heart a violet jump. The Medicine Competition was Yao Chen's number one target, as it was his only chance to have his named carved onto the Clan Monument. He would rather die than give up on the Medicine Competition!
A bead-sized drop of sweat rolled down Yao Chen's face. Close call! Just now he had nearly succumbed to the Nine Isolation Wind Flame's ability. The Nine Isolation Wind Flame's fire would release Yin wind; this wind releases a sound that would attack and try to seize the will/spirit of the people. After hearing the wind sound, people would feel discouraged, nauseated, and distracting thoughts of abandoning oneself to despair would form. Collecting his mental state, Yao Chen's Spiritual Strength abruptly spread out. It didn't go resist the Nine Isolation Wind Flame's wind sound, but instead it resolutely firmed his own self-conviction; win, win, have to win, MUST WIN!
BOOM!
A Samadhi[iii] flame blazed into being in Yao Chen's medicinal cauldron, making a loud roaring noise as it arose. Yao Chen took a deep breath, taking the storage ring from the table, he inserted his Dou Qi, and from within he took out a couple types of medicinal ingredients. Using his Dou Qi to wrap them, he cautiously and solemnly cast them into the medicinal cauldron. His Spiritual Perception and Dou Qi combined together in order to be able to sense any changes at any time in the medicinal ingredients' merger within the Samadhi flame, the Golden Mica Essence, the Bone Forming Rock, the Revolving Shore Insect[iv]… all the various medicinal ingredients and all their various changes, under the strength of the Samadhi flame and the Dou Qi's urging, gradually began to merge. Yao Chen's entire being was focused on the merger, and at this moment he seemed to be like God[v], as from above the medicinal cauldron, streams of Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi were controlling everything.
On top the elder's stage, First Elder Yao Wanhuo gaze was patrolling over all the contestants. These disciples were his clan's future seedlings. Looking at Yao Feng using the Nine Isolation Wind Flame, a faint smile appeared on his face. Although it was borrowing the flame, but to be able to gain the Nine Isolation Wind Flame's spirit's approval, in the future there was still hope that he could genuinely obtain the Nine Isolation Wind Flame for his refining. Pausing slightly, Yao Wanhuo's gaze fell on Yao Tong. Although this child was from a branch family, his father was still extremely powerful in the clan, as he made many contributions from leading his family's army. Other people might not be aware, but Yao Wanhuo was extremely clear on Yao Tong's hidden strength. Only at the moment, under the Nine Isolation Wind Flame's pulling force, Yao Tong's state of mind was apparently suffering.
Actually, it wasn't just Yao Tong, but every disciple in the refining area was being affected. The people closest to Yao Feng received the greatest impact; however everyone present were elites of the elites, and in a short moment they managed to collect themselves and once again focus on refining. Merely, comparing to their initial enthusiasm, their spirits' inevitably were impacted, which was something that was hard to avoid that would affect their pill's quality.
Apparently, this time the main bloodline would once again obtain first place, unless….
Suddenly, Yao Wanhuo's gaze consolidated onto Yao Chen. His gaze appeared a bit confused, "Strange."
A slim, middle-aged man who was just walking over beside him heard Yao Wanhuo speak, opening his mouth with a laugh, "First Elder, is there something wrong?"
Yao Wanhuo turned around, faintly smiling, "So it was elder Wuhuang. It's not that there's something wrong, it's just that I feel like that disciple is a bit strange."
Saying this, Yao Wanhuo pointed his finger towards Yao Chen.
This middle-aged man's eyes and brows were long and narrow, and his noise was crooked like a hawk's, making his face appear particularly malicious. His position in the clan was behind only to Yao Wanhuo; his first son was the chief of the punishment hall Yao Wangui, while the one currently using the Heavenly Flame in the refining area was his second son, Yao Feng.
"Yao Chen? First Elder couldn't actually believe that he has entered into a state of 'just me and the pill, forgetting everything else?'"
Elder Yao Wuhuang's long eyes stared at Yao Chen, and his mouth formed into a slight sneer as he coldly laughed, "So it was actually the youngster who obtained the clan school's Great Competition's first place, this kind of stupid affair is something that you naturally hear something about. However, he has basically turned into a subpar joke, and if one were to sum up what happened with two sentences: Yao Tong was too careless, and Yao Chen was too lucky. After all, his ancestors had to be capable people with talent, but he is just a one star Dou Shi. Just where could he obtain the strength to enter this battle."
When the time came to advance to Dou Shi… "This child practices the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, yet with his pace how could he still manage to breakthrough at this time. At twenty years old, it's basically impossible to train to the Dou Shi class. In all your years, have you ever heard of something becoming a Dou Shi with this technique before twenty? At most they would be nine star Dou Zhes. This cultivation technique at the beginning omits the foundation building work, so to jump from nine star Dou Zhe to Dou Shi, a practitioner can only wait for their Dou Qi to reach the proper condition." Saying this, Yao Wanhuo's gaze once again fell on Yao Chen, and his eyes had a hint of astonishment, seeming to have a hint of expectations for him.
Looking at his faint expression, Wanhuang's malicious look had some slight agitations as he once again looked at Yao Chen, and seriously looking, it was like a sudden blade slashing through the day. Yao Wuhuang's eyebrows wrinkled, "A person who could break the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique's common sense has finally appeared."
[i] I couldn't find any reference to these Battlegod types of weapons.
[ii] Baidu said this about the flame: ranked number 10. Born in an extremely Yin endless abyss, where a Yin wind (also could be evil/chilly wind) endlessly blows. This Heavenly Flame was formed from wind, and is the fiercest of them. Having a kind of bizarre wind noise, when it enters the ear it will cause people to feel peculiar and jittery. This kind of strange sound can lead people's state of mind to fluctuate.
[iii] Samadhi is a Buddhist term for "the centering of consciousness and consciousness concomitants evenly and rightly on a single object...the state in virtue of which consciousness and its concomitants remain evenly and rightly on a single object, undistracted and unscattered" (Vism.84-85; PP.85)" according to Wikipedia. In terms of the Chinese, the term is 三昧, and the first word refers to three, such as in the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique. The second word means dark or to conceal on its own. You may recall in Stellar Transformations, the first few chapters there was a mention of a Samadhi flame, so this is probably a refining term and not something related to the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique.
[iv] Anyone have cooler names for云母精金，化骨岩，回岸虫?
[v] Literally Christian God.
Officially caught up to the old translator , and over 1/4 of the way through the book!
Each chapter is around 4500-6500 Chinese characters, with I believe the second chapter to be the longest at over 8500 characters o.O. Which means each chapter is pretty much twice as long as a regular chapter of DE, BTTH, ISSTH etc which are around 3000 characters.