Volume 2 Chapter 2: Clan List
In the end, Yao Chen let Yao Shu win and treat. After eating out, they switched to eating soup at a vendor near their families' laneway.
"Where's aunt Qing? Such good news, if we don't inform her as soon as possible it'll be too unfair." Luo Shu was extremely excited and cheerful, and he even started to add a couple obscenities into his chattering to give vent to the intense emotions in him. When he was angry he'd obscenely swear about people, and when he was happy he would spit out a couple forceful obscenities; this was simply the fatty.
Yao Chen shook head. He was also slightly nervous, as contrary to the normal, his mother had not come home in quite a while, and there were not even any messages.
"Brother Yao Chen, hello hello, I am Liao Yuntu. Ah, brother Yao you entered the top eight, how can you celebrate just here? Over there is the Fragrant Yao House, and my humble self has arranged for a banquet. I don't know if brother Yao Chen would be me the honor of coming?" Just now, this brother Yao Chen had to suffer through many obstacles, and he unexpectedly still managed to refine a pill that the Yao clan's Clan Chief and various elders were satisfied with. Thus he managed to enter the top eight, and will participate in the Medicine Competition's final battle. Apparently refining the Violet Flame Pill was not just luck or coincidental.
Therefore, the first thing for him to do is to catch up to him and use every method in order to ask for a Violet Flame Pill.
"This…" Towards this kind of invitation, Yao Chen didn't have the slightest experience. For a moment he didn't know what to say. When Luo Shu heard the three words Fragrant Yao House, his eyes almost started to emit hearts, and he said, "Brother Chen, if there's food, it'd be a waste not to eat it, cough, also we had agreed that you would treat me."
"I'll treat, whatever you two would like to eat you can ask for, as long as you are satisfied."
Liao Yuntu smiled. For this time's request, he could only use his own personal power. After all, it was for his own useless son, so he couldn't use his clan's resources too much or his position in the clan might become unstable. But looking at the circumstances, these two young ducklings were still not that difficult to deal with.
Yao Chen truly felt strange in his heart, as this was the first time in his life he had been invited to eat by someone. Adding on fatty Luo Shu's incitement, he ended up nodding his agreement.
Entering the Fragrance Yao House, they were led by Liao Yuntu directly sitting in a private room. Luo Shu's saliva was already overflowing; the table was prearranged with many cold meats and fresh fruit. The little fatty simply didn't understand what was called being courteous, and directly starting eating the food in big gulps. That bowl of soup from the vendor near the laneway in terms of how much it filled his stomach was basically just like one hair from nine oxen.
"Brother Yao, whatever you want to eat, just order it." Liao Yuntu seemed to be blooming in smiles. Yao Chen's current state which had become famous from the Medicine Competition meant that his future in the Yao clan would be extremely high; simply getting near him could burn your hand. At that time if he wanted to invite him for medicinal pills, it was guaranteed the price would be much greater and it wouldn't be this easy to do. While the Liao family was able to afford such a price, he himself could not, as the Liao family was not so simple.
Yao Chen hadn't even moved his chopsticks. Instead he looked at Liao Yuntu, with a humble smile he said, "Senior Liao, whatever you want to ask, please don't hesitate."
The smile on Liao Yuntu receded slightly, "Don't call me senior; although I might not be qualified, if you don't think it's too much, just calling me big brother is alright. As for business, I will not stand on ceremony. Although this may color your opinion of me, I do not have any nice way of saying this. I don't know if brother Yao's Violet Flame Pill is something he has some in stock. This older brother is genuinely anxiously looking for it."
Yao Chen startled, Violet Flame Pill!
Looking at Yao Chen's dazed expression, Liao Yuntu shook his head and laughed, saying "Brother Yao, I'm afraid you might not know this, after all you did isolate yourself from the clan for a whole month. The Violet Flame Pill you refined in the clan school's Great Competition has already been determined to be able to let people jump across classes and temporarily gain a stronger strength. Letting people experience in advance the strength of the higher class has an extremely large help in breaking through bottlenecks. This older brother has a son who isn't able to make anything of himself, and has already been trapped in the Dou Shi class for many years… brother Chen, I'm begging you to please help this older brother's beloved son!"
Since when did Yao Chen ever receive this kind of begging demand? So for a moment he didn't know what to do and became flushed with redness, as he didn't know what kind of way to respond.
Liao Yuntu was obviously an old swindler, with just a glance he knew exactly how he could bait him. Although his heart was full of joy from getting this meeting, he still put on such an incredibly worried expression on his face, "I assume brother Yao knows that although there are plenty of pills that can help breakthrough levels, they are all extremely hard to obtain. The Violet Flame Pill's might be a bit worse, but at least it means there is some hope… no matter how high little brother's asking price is, then even if I had to beggar myself it still wouldn't matter.
The way he addressed Yao Chen turned from "brother" to "little brother." Although there was just a one word difference, hearing it would give a different kind of feeling, as it imperceptibly pulled their relationship closer.
"It's not that I'm keeping it for myself, it's just that I don't have any stored…." Although the Violet Flame Pill's required medicinal ingredients were all ordinary, but previously due to Yao Chen's strength not being enough, he had to use seven days of meticulous effort in order to refine one. He had refined a second yes, but it was only through using the first pill to increase his Dou Qi and using the explosive Dou Technique that he managed to refine it in a short period of time. And that Violet Flame Pill had already been given to the clan, so he really didn't have any more pills on him.
"This…." Liao Yuntu's face trembled, and he started to quickly think of ways to get Yao Chen to refine some more.
However, before he opened his mouth, Yao Chen ponderingly said, "If senior Liao isn't extremely busy, tomorrow I can refine a second batch. However I want Ice Cold Grass and Seven Woven Flower Buds. In addition to these two medicinal ingredients, if you could use a top grade Tiger Tailbone to exchange for the Violet Flame Pill then that would be best."
Top grade Tiger Bonetail. Tiger Bonetail might not be an extremely rare medicinal ingredient, but its top grade form was still hard to obtain. However as long as you were willing to pay a high price it was not something that you had to be worried about not obtaining. As for the Ice Cold Grass and the Seven Woven Flower Buds, their price was quite expensive, but they weren't considered rare and precious medicinal ingredients. As long as you had money you could effortlessly obtain it.
In Liao Yuntu's opinion, these kinds of conditions were not difficult. This kind of reverse made him feel a bit strange, but turning his head to look at fatty Luo who was struggling to gorge himself on the various delicacies on the table, he started to laugh in his heart, and thinking it over he realized these two were just two children who hadn't seen the world… it was actually quite cheap to get him to refine this new batch.
"Do you need anything else? There's no need to hold back; you don't need to be courteous to this older brother."
"Nothing else. Top grade Tiger Bonetail is enough."
The simple and unsophisticated Yao Chen shook his head. To the current him, refining this Violet Flame Pill wasn't such a huge deal anymore and in addition… the Violet Flame Pill's necessary medicinal ingredients were actually quite cheap. Other than the work in refining, just one top grade Tiger Tailbone was an equal cost for ten batches of Violet Flame Pill's medicinal ingredients.
In Yao Chen's eyes, he managed to obtain a small advantage. But Liao Yuntu was well aware that he was the one who had obtained an extremely large advantage, to the point where he was somewhat uneasy about it. Now when he looked at Yao Chen, the amount of sincerity in his gaze had increased by quite a lot.
Luo Shu was completely engrossed with eating. As a food-eater, once he started eating he would stop paying attention to other people's chatting, as to him, the words were like wind past his ears.
In the evening, the large plaza in front of the Clan Monument was already completely full, as a crowd of people had arrived at the established time for the clan announcement.
Not only did it list the ranking for the top eight, but as long as you were in the top thirty the announcement would include you. These thirty people would also go on to receive important positions within the clan. Although the resources would mostly go to the top eight, but other than the various medicinal pills and ingredients for training, the cultivation techniques were also just as important. All the top thirty would have three opportunities to enter the clan treasury to obtain a cultivation technique.
In front of the Clan Monument was a wooden wall that was painted red, and on top of the wooden wall a formation was currently on standby. Three well known elders walked up in front of the Clan Monument, their hands holding three scrolls. These scrolls seemed to link up to the formation on top of the red wooden wall.
"The time has arrived… release the list!"
A rumbling sound like cannons rang out, as the three elders simultaneously lifted the scrolls in their hand, and majestic Dou Qi connected them to their formation, revealing their strange use.
On the red wall, a couple of lights started flashing into existence, as on top a black background there appeared golden words on top:
"Rank 30, Bi Jianye, refined a third tier Wondrous Release Pill…."
These golden words were precisely the list's contents, and following each rank was the medicinal pill so that everyone could know why they obtained that position.
This was just another way the Medicine Competition maintained its absolute fairness
Not far, a young seventeen year old's eyes seemed to be holding back a river, and it was the just recently announced Bi Jianye. In a short while a whole crowd of clansmen gathered around him, giving him all kinds of respects and trying to pull him in. This was simply the kind of thing that happened when you became famous.
Boom… the golden words continued to flash, and name after name started to appear.
In front of the wood wall, Yao Yun's expression was extremely dark. With Yao Chen obtaining one of the top eight positions, the person he hated the most would have to be reserved for him. In Yao Yun's thinking, Yao Chen had taken his qualifications, so Yao Chen's current position should have originally been his. In the end he didn't even think it over in the slightest, as even if he was given the qualifications for the Medicine Competition, with his strength just how could he enter the top eight?
"Rank 11, Zuo Hongle…."
Another disciple form the clan school's social circle entered the list, but Zuo Hongle still wasn't happy, turning towards Li Yanxin he raged, "Ah, to think I'd be ranked behind you."
Li Yanxin faintly smiled, "It's also possible that I didn't get ranked."
"Don't speak nonsense. This time it'll count as your victory, but next time will be my turn."
Zuo Hongle unwillingly slapped his leg; the month before during the clan school's Great Competition it was him who had obtained the advantage between the two of them, but this time it was Li Yanxin who ended up stronger than him by just a bit.
As expected, the next name to appear on the list was Li Yanxin.
Yao Yun who was similarly a clan school disciple. When he saw his fellow schoolmates appear on the rankings, he felt his heart become even more depressed. He originally thought it would be him on the rankings, but now, let alone entering onto the rankings, he didn't even have the qualification to participate!
The hatred in his heart continuously grew, and Yao Yun unexpectedly kept watching, wanting to see just what Yao Chen relied on in order to enter into the top eight. In addition, Yao Chen didn't obtain a title for his alchemy skills, which could be used to question his standing in the rankings. As long as he could bring up this problem with the public crowd, and then agitate the clansmen into making a ruckus about it… Yao Chen wouldn't even be able to think about participating in the ultimate, final battle of the Medicine Competition.
Although this didn't have any benefits for him, but sometimes if you hated someone, as long as they suffered harm, it would also bring a kind of joy. The wonderful flavor of vengeance was something that caused people to never be able to free themselves.
Finally the rankings had jumped to the top eight places.
"Rank 8, Yao Chen. Refined a fourth tier Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill, and a secondary fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill[i]….
When the fourth tier Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill appeared on the red wall, nobody had any kind of reaction. The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill was a fourth tier pill that could increase flame attributes' Dou Qi's strength for a time, and could also decrease the effect of an enemy's flame attribute Dou Techniques. Of course such an increase in strength had a limit, and once a person was past the three star Da Dou Shi class, there wouldn't be much of an effect on preventing injuries, and it would only have a slight effect on increasing their defense.
Although it wasn't that bad of a pill, it wasn't something that could cause a person to be shocked or delighted. Within the Yao clan, there were too many pills to count that had similar effects and might even have higher efficiencies.
However when the next few words appeared, a secondary fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill, shouts and cries immediately started to ring out.
"What, a Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill? How could it be fourth tier!? Isn't that a sixth tier medicinal pill?"
"Secondary pill? Why is the Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill the secondary pill?"
Only the word unimaginable could describe the shock that the Yao clan members received.
In the Yao clan, not everyone was an alchemist. But towards the various famous medicinal pills, everyone knew them like the back of their own hands. The Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill could resist the Demon Bug, whether it was in terms of subduing it or expelling the poison there was a significant effect.
Amongst the demon clans, the Demon Bugs were undoubtedly the most difficult to deal with. Previously, every pill that had an effect on the Demon Bug was at least a fifth tier medicinal pill. But now they unexpectedly said that this Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill was a fourth tier medicinal pill….
It's not that they were doubting the Yao clan's elders' impartial judgement, but it really did break people's previous knowledge and assumptions, and the person who broke this knowledge into pieces was a younger alchemist without even a tier title…Yao Chen.
"The clan elders found three types of Demon Bugs… the effect on Demon Bugs was very prominent, with two dying and one submitting…."
The following words about testing the medicine shocked people into an even more dull state. They didn't want to believe it, but with the Medicine Competition's complete impartiality, there was no need for doubt.
A bit further away, the female members of the Sacred Demon's clan were indifferently looking over. The Sacred Lady who was being protected in the center their group was incessantly staring with the quick-witted eyes. With her vision, even if they were separated by over sixty meters, she would still be able to clearly read the golden words announcing the rankings.
"Fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill? Wasn't this originally a sixth tier medicinal pill? Did they simplify it? The effect is quite remarkable. Haha, this Yao Chen is actually a bit interesting, Yuanyuan, how about we go look for him?"
"Cough, exalted Sacred Lady, this is the Yao clan, not the Sacred Demon Valley."
The Sacred Lady charmingly exhaled a breath of air, and her black veil lifted up, revealing a pair of fragrant red lips that could cause all the world's color to disappear.
"He could have refined any pill. Just why did he have to refine something targeting our Demon clan."
"Exalted Sacred Lady!"
"Ok, I know. If we want to take care of him we have to wait till he's out of the Yao clan's territory."
"Cough, exalted Sacred Lady, please pay attention to your words." Yuanyuan helplessly shook her head. Although this Sacred Lady was declared by the master, but… if she was this stubborn and mischievous, maybe the Demon master would also start to get a headache. Otherwise why would he have sequestered her to the Sacred Demon Valley? The amount of trouble the Sacred Lady caused in the Sacred Demon Valley was something that every demon was aware of.
"That's right, this Yao Chen, what does he look like?"
Yuanyuan remained silent for a good time before leaning in and whispering in reply, "He's the one who the exalted Sacred Lady said was extremely attentive, the 'fellow' was extremely boring to watch."
Pray for the best; humanity, sincerity, nothing could help your fate.
Passing late into the night, the Yao clan gradually become calm again….
However in the Second Elder's mansion, things were not calm.
"Big brother, father still hasn't returned home?" Standing outside was Yao Feng. Whenever he was in front of his older brother Yao Wangui, he would always act respectfully, more like a disciple than a little brother.
Yao Wangui nodded. Nothing of note that could be used to distinguish him could be seen on his body. Even when he was standing there, if you didn't pay attention you wouldn't notice him, and it was very easy for his existence to be overlooked. Comparing to Yao Feng who had just showed off his abilities, the two were completely different types of geniuses.
Completely ordinary; that was the kind of first impression that Yao Wangui gave off. Ordinary stature and ordinary appearance. Even his acquaintances and friends, if they wanted to suddenly remember what he looked like, might have to think about it for a bit before they managed to recollect his appearance.
"However, father has passed some news from over there. This person called Yao Chen might end up being your greatest competition."
"Yao Chen?" Yao Feng unexpectedly became startled. "Big brother, you think that a bottom disciple like him is worth me paying attention to?"
"You didn't go see the rankings?"
"What's the point in me going, I'm already first place."
"Yao Chen ranked number eight. His furnace had dual pills, the main pill was the fourth tier Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill corresponding with his Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique. His secondary pill was the Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill. Hearing this news, you still think that he isn't worth your attention?"
Yao Feng's expression changed, "Demon Bug Suppressing Pill? Isn't this a sixth tier pill?"
"You're a smart person, is there a need for me to explain further?" Yao Wangui coldly looked at his younger brother's face.
Yao Chen's face whitened, "Don't tell me… he simplified the Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill, and managed to refine two pills in one furnace… then that means, his Spiritual Perception…."
"It's stronger than yours."
"But…."
"The only thing you are better than him in is your Dou Qi class. If you don't manage to seize first place at this time's Medicine Competition, father will probably add another little brother into the family inheritance."
"Big brother, I…."
"I'll go out again and scout him to find out whether it's simply that his luck is good, or whether he actually has such ability."
Yao Wangui's eyes faintly turned suspicious… Yao Chen, was he really just a nine star Dou Zhe?
Not taking into account whether he was actually a talent or not, obstructing his family's path would only have one conclusion.
The next day's early morning.
Liao Yuntu came to call, and who knows how he calculated it, but somehow Yao Chen had just finished his morning training when Liao Yuntu coincidentally rang the courtyard bell, so the timing ended up being perfect.
"Haha, Ice Cold Grass, Seven Woven Flower Buds, and three top grade Tiger Bonetails. Little friend, please accept these things. As for refining the pill, it can wait…."
Liao Yuntu was just about to say that he could find an opportunity after the Medicine Competition had ended before finding the time to refine a Violet Flame Pill.
Unexpectedly, Yao Chen smiled and said, "Right now I can start the refinement."
"Wha-, what?" Liao Yuntu opened and closed his mouth a couple times. Starting the refinement now? Didn't he need to prepare for the final battle of the Medicine Competition?
The time to the Medicine Competition's final battle was just three days, and Yao Chen could no longer stay idle… in addition, in these three days he had to go find a way to relieve some of his body's fire attribute Dou Qi. This was also a kind of training. Even if he didn't refine medicine, he still had to find some other method to release this Dou Qi.
In addition, after receiving three portions of the top grade Tiger Tailbones, the simple and pure Yao Chen believed in if receiving payment in one hand, one had to deliver the goods in the other hand. The faster he refined the medicinal pill, the faster he could fulfill his part of the bargain.
Of course, Liao Yuntu also felt that the sooner it was refined the better, as Yao Chen's fame was becoming greater and greater. First it was the Violet Flame Pill, then it was dual pills in one furnace, and one of them was even a simplified sixth tier medicinal pill that had been refined into a fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill. Obviously once he became famous more and more people would start to come looking for him.
Currently there was no one present because the Yao clan put up a restriction. The people selected for the Medicine Competition's final battle were protected from being disturbed during this time.
As for Liao Yuntu's who could get close to Yao Chen, the main reason was that he acted quickly. As long as he didn't cause Yao Chen to dislike him, the Yao clan's secret guards would protect him, but naturally they wouldn't meddle in other people's business.
Although, Yao Chen's decision to immediately refine the pill still caused him to feel uneasy. "Uh, you don't need to do this, don't let this have an effect on your display at the final battle of the Medicine Competition."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about this. Actually, refining medicine is a kind of training for me." Yao Chen smiled. Actually it was a kind of training that he had to do anyways.
As for providing medicinal ingredients, naturally it Liao Yuntu who provided them, as he took out a storage ring filled with various kinds of medicinal ingredients, saying, "This storage ring contains all kinds of medicinal ingredients, just treat it as a very small reward. Please receive them well little brother Yao Chen."
Yao Chen accepted it, and focusing his consciousness onto the ring, he became startled. This storage contained an extremely large space, enough for ten rooms.
[i] The pill is called镇盅化神. The second word refers to a legendary poisonous insect, similar to a caterpillar or perhaps a beetle in some cases.