Volume 2 Chapter 3: The Night Before the Final Battle
In the Yao clan, storage rings were not considered uncommon, and even in Yao Chen's poor family they were not hard to obtain. However a storage ring with such a large space was still quite rare.
Liao Yuntu's heart was bleeding. A storage ring with such a huge space inside, even within the Liao family there would not be more than five. It was quite clear that the Violet Flame Pill, despite its value, was not worth using such a huge storage ring to exchange for. However only a large bait could attract a big fish. Yao Chen managed to enter into the top eight, so no matter his performance or what he obtained in the final battle he was still worth putting in a large investment in order to pull him closer.
Yao Chen smiled, sweeping his consciousness over the storage ring's interior. Other than the medicinal ingredients, there was also a medicinal cauldron whose grade matched his alchemist tier. At this time, Yao Chen took out the cauldron and medicinal ingredients and arranged them in the courtyard. Continuing his work, he waved his hands and with a booming noise the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique's Dou Qi appeared between his hands, and in a split second became a blazing serpent which wound around the medicinal cauldron, swaying back and forth around it. Yao Chen quickly completely merged his spirit into refining medicine, entering a mysterious alchemist's state.
At this moment, no one noticed that in the corner of the courtyard was a shadow that quietly appeared, which was the punishment hall's chief Yao Wangui. Who knew whether it was simply due to his quiet nature or because he trained in some kind of Dou Technique, but it was very easy for him to sneak in. Simply standing there, no one would pay him the slightest attention. Even if by chance you were to look over to where he was, you still wouldn't be able to notice his existence.
Yao Wangui narrowed his eyes, looking at the refining Yao Chen. The undulations of the fire serpent gave him a kind of subtle mysterious feeling. From Yao Wangui's recollection, this was simply a foundation building cultivation technique, the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, and yet Yao Chen had already trained it to a level where Yao Wangui was unable to understand, and in addition….
Dou Shi class!
This kid's strength was definitely not some nine star Dou Zhe, but was a three star Dou Shi!
Previous, was he constantly hiding his strength?
Yao Wangui was silently observing him, taking in Yao Chen's every movement, every detail. The more he looked, the more he was amazed. Yao Chen had entered a kind of "no me, pure alchemy" kind of state. Under this kind of state, he could completely ignore the outside world's disturbance and focus one hundred percent on the refining. In addition, his Spiritual Perception's ability to control the medicinal cauldron's ingredients that were merging in this kind of "no me" state made it several times easier for him to refine higher quality medicinal pills. If it was an experienced alchemist, then entering this kind of state made it many times more likely for them to refine a top grade medicinal pill.
Time flew by quickly, and this time's refinement of the Violet Flame Pill proceeded exceptionally well due to the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique's breakthrough. His Spiritual Perception managed to increase by another level, increasing the amount of control Yao Chen had when refining by several times. Under this kind of control, even though his Dou Qi couldn't compare to when he exploded out with a Da Dou Shi's strength during the Great Competition, it was still enough to perfectly control the various medicinal ingredients and perfectly merge and form the pill.
It was in this manner that in just three hours, Yao Chen let out a deep breath and using a pill collecting art, three bright lights flew out of the medicinal cauldron with a bang, throwing themselves into the pill bottle in Yao Chen's hand.
After watching Yao Chen collect the three pills into his hand, Yao Wangui's figure which was quietly standing next to the wall faintly twisted, and like a light's shadow, it momentarily faded away.
In a short period of time Yao Wangui returned home where his brother Yao Feng was in the middle of examining a couple of medicinal ingredients in front of him. These medicinal ingredients were all rarely seen and were top grade medicinal ingredients. Yao Feng carefully selected a couple, placing them into his storage. Although he was proud and arrogant and didn't believe anyone could compete against him at the Medicine Competition, he still wouldn't act like a stupid person. The more something seemed like a sure win, the more you had to do to be make it even more certain. After all, even if there were only a couple things to take care of, they all had to be meticulously attended to.
"Big brother, you've returned?"
"Yao Feng, that clan school kid who always follows you, where is he?"
"Yao Yun? Big brother, you have something you need to find him for?"
Yao Feng became distracted, not understanding why his big brother would want to find such an unremarkable character. In the clan school Yao Yun might be ranked in the top, but in the eyes of the main bloodline's talented Yao Feng, he was just a footman and nothing more. If he muddled along with him, the only good thing was being seen as an example model.
"I have something to ask him."
"Oh, I'll go find someone to get him to come over."
In a short while, Yao Yun arrived at the Second Elder's estate. Originally he had already been planning on coming over and just as he had arrived in front of the estate he was informed that Yao Wangui was looking for him.
"Yao Punishment Chief, brother Feng." Yao Yun lowered his head. Yao Wangui was the chief of the punishment hall, so he naturally had the title of Punishment Chief.
"This Yao Chen, just how much do you know about him."
"He's a…-"
"I know you have some enmity with him. Do not intentionally belittle him and just tell me the whole truth pertaining to everything about him. As long as it's something you know, then explain the whole thing."
Yao Wangui's gaze focused, and in a split second his originally ordinary air that would cause people to overlook him changed to become a limitlessly terrifying aura like being closely stared at by a savage devil.
Murmuring, Yao Yun swallowed a couple mouthfuls of saliva and a cold feeling seemed to come from his throat, "Yes. Yao Chen never was worth paying attention to in the clan school, but what everyone failed to notice, and what I only found out after he got first place at the clan school's Great Competition was that one and a half years ago Yao Chen had already become a nine star Dou Zhe, and for the whole remaining time he stagnated as a nine star Dou Zhe…."
Facing Yao Wangui's gaze, Yao Yun didn't dare to make up fake details, and only revealed what he knew for sure in a systematic and detailed way. From time to time Yao Wangui would ask for a couple more details about a subject, and in the end under all of Yao Wangui's encouragement and digging, Yao Yun's face became pale as a skilled and unfamiliar Yao Chen appeared in his mind.
That Yao Chen who had never entered the top twenty in the clan school was clearly not so simple. A lot of details ended up being revealed, such as Yao Chen's Spiritual Perception, his incredible talent as an alchemist, in the end the image of him was… simply terrifying! In Yao Yun's mind, only by letting out these two words could he describe how talented Yao Chen was as an alchemist. Merely, most people only noticed that Yao Chen practiced the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, a foundation building technique that no one else would select. Looking at Yao Chen's Dou Qi which was only at nine star Dou Zhe and considered extremely low when everyone else had already advanced to Dou Shi, very few people would pay attention to someone who was merely a trifling Dou Zhe!
Yao Wangui slowly reformed his imposing manner as he asked his questions, once again gaining his cold aura.
Yao Feng bit his lip, saying, "Big brother, you don't actually think this Yao Chen can be a threat to me? Although he might be gifted, but as a nine star Dou Zhe he's nothing to be worried about."
"Don't forget, he can borrow the power of the Violet Flame Pill and boost himself for a short period to release the power of a Da Dou Shi. In addition, he has already advanced to be a three star Dou Shi." Yao Wangui coldly replied. "The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique… while its Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame is difficult to advance in, once you advance you would directly be promoted to three star. With this strength, he isn't that far behind. Before he had a kind of seal putting pressure on him, but now that that seal is broken…."
What Yao Wangui didn't say was that if Yao Chen was already a three star Dou Shi today, just what level would he be after three days?
Yao Wangui's intuition told him that with just short three days of recuperation before the final battle of the Medicine Competition, Yao Chen might not just reach his peak state, but in addition, his purpose in practicing his refining right now might be because the seal had been put on him too long, and by using refining he wanted to persevere and continue to increase his strength. Three days later, Yao Chen might be a four star… or it might even be possible five star Dou Shi. As for the three star Dou Shi Yao Feng, could he even compete him then?
News that Yao Chen had refined the Violet Flame Pill for Liao Yuntu spread out, and immediately a crowd formed outside Yao Chen's family's courtyard. Members from various sects and families with close relationships or blood ties to the Yao clan all came over. However since Yao Chen was in the Medicine Competition's top eight they wouldn't dare to bother him before the Medicine Competition ended. Because they didn't dare bother him, the Luo family ended up being the focus of everybody.
However, the only one present was little fatty Luo….
Luo Bing couldn't return home, and the eldest son Luo Shan had received a mission from the clan and had to immediately leave. As for Luo Shu, it could be said he was suffering in deep water and scorching fire, as he was in a tangle of people who wanted him to help talk to Yao Chen to buy the Violet Flame Pill. But saying he was bursting with happiness was also not incorrect; many people were inviting him to have a meal with them. In Luo Shu's entire life, the one thing he was most interested in was the pleasure of eating.
Merely, afer Yao Chen helped Liao Yuntu refine three Violet Flame Pills he ended up going back into seclusion. While Luo Shu was eating, he couldn't help but to worry that he would end up like he did the last time when he secluded himself for the whole month without anyone seeing even his shadow.
Tomorrow was the Medicine Competition's final battle. By noon, Luo Shu had just finished eating his lunch when he anxiously walked over to Yao Chen's family's entrance. Looking at the hurriedly locked front door, Luo Shu patted his stomach, becoming increasingly worried. At the Medicine Competition's opening ceremony, Yao Chen had only barely managed to arrive on time with a weak complexion. If tomorrow he also came that way… just as Luo Shu was hesitating as to whether or not he should enter and remind Yao Chen, a "kacha" noise come out and the door opened.
"Aunt Qing! You came back home!"
Luo Shu eyes bulged with surprise as he joyously cried, "Aunt Qing, brother Chen entered into the Medicine Competitions top eight, tomorrow is the final battle, and also, aunt Qing, brother Chen he…."
Yao Qing chuckled, "I already know. You came to look for Yao Chen right? You can come in, he should be coming out of seclusion soon.
"Ha, great! I was actually just worried that he wouldn't be able to make it to the final battle tomorrow." Luo Shu scratched his head in embarrassment. "Uh, aunt Qing, over the past two days, there were a couple of people who invited me to go eat, uh…."
Yao Qing faintly smiled, saying "It should be for the Violet Flame Pill right? Of course it's no problem, it's just that everything will have to wait until after the Medicine Competition before we discuss it." Yao Chen was already a Dou Shi, and he was one of the members of the Medicine Competitions top eight; naturally he didn't have to be worried about his future training resources. However if he wanted to rely just on that status to be a towering figure within the clan then it would not be sufficient as a foundation. That's why the Violet Flame Pill still presented an opportunity.
Fatty Luo released a breath of air, "I'll go find brother Chen, hehe."
Luo Shu rushed over to Yao Chen's bedroom and saw Yao Chen arranging a pile of medicinal ingredients. He was making his final preparations for tomorrow's final battle.
"Brother Chen, these medicinal ingredients…" When Luo Shu saw the medicinal ingredients he couldn't help but to be shocked. Most of these medicinal ingredients were ones he had only ever heard the names of or seen pictures of. He had never before personally seen these precious ingredients.
"These are two years worth of preparations." Yao Chen raised his head as he laughed at Luo Shu, but his heart felt slightly sour. Of these medicinal ingredients, less than half were acquired by him trading medicinal pills and trading merit points in the clan treasury. Most of them were all obtained by his mother's gathering skill outside the clan. Who knew just how much his mother had to suffer. All this, just for his once chance to win the Medicine Competition!
"Brother Chen… what are you planning on refining for the final battle? Not a fifth tier pill right?"
Looking at the pile of rare medicinal ingredients, Luo Shu didn't think they were for a fourth tier pill. But a fifth tier pill, how was it possible for a nine star Dou Zhe to refine it? Just refining a third tier pill would be difficult, and refining a fourth tier pill would be a miracle… in all likelihood the reason Yao Wanhuo didn't give Yao Chen an alchemist title was because Yao Chen's Dou Qi level was too low.
Yao Chen laughed, shaking his head.
Looking at Yao Chen shaking his head, Luo Shu became relieved, smiling, "Don't overexert yourself. Refining another fourth tier pill is enough."
Yao Chen narrowed his piercing eyes, "What fourth tier pill? I'm going to refine the Seven Pith Pill."
"WHAT! Seven Pith Pill?"
Luo Shu mouth opened wide. Looking at Yao Chen's serious expression, he was totally unable to collect himself.
The Seven Pith Pill was a genuine sixth tier medicinal pill!
"Who!?"
Just at this moment, Yao Qing's cry came from outside, and a gust of wind arose.
Yao Chen's expression changed. Waving his hand he collected the table's medicinal ingredients into his storage ring and rushed out. Arriving at the courtyard, he saw his mother who had stopped just outside.
"Mother, what happened? Nothing's wrong right?" Yao Chen anxiously asked.
"Nothing's wrong, it's just a little thief." Yao Qing shook her head slightly.
A thief? Yao Chen's eyebrows knit together… since when did the Yao clan's territory have thieves? And even if there were, his family was so poor that they had nothing that a thief would be attracted to.
Was it for the Violet Flame Pill? Not possible, they were already too late, so why would they rush in?
Yao Chen analyzed it from every angle, but he couldn't find one reasonable answer.
However, Yao Chen didn't notice that Yao Qing's expression from the beginning to end was extremely solemn. "Chen-er, for tomorrow's final battle you must be extremely careful."
Yao Chen laughed, "Don't worry mother, while the Seven Pith Pill might be difficult for other people, for me it isn't a problem."
The most difficult part of refining a Seven Pith Pill lied in the control of the merger as all the different medicinal ingredients required a different temperature. With the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique along with Yao Chen's tyrannically strong Spiritual Perception, the two of them were perfectly suited for the needed control.
Yao Qing shook her head in a way that no one noticed. She wanted to say something more to Yao Chen, but in the end she just lightly laughed, "Fine, I might just be thinking too much."
In the Yao clan, if clansmen had disputes they would simply go to the clan's ancestral hall for judging. Even if it was an enmity that couldn't end without one of them dying, it would be settled in a duel so it was unlikely for someone to secretly take action in the dark. If they ended up crossing the clan's bottom line, once they did then they would end up severely punished by the punishment hall. Therefore no one would dare to cross over this line.
However, Yao Qing seemed to forget that there were some people who weren't afraid of the punishment hall… such as the punishment hall's chief.
Translator Notes
This is part 1, part 2 will be released in around 12 hours. Both parts will still count as 1 chapter (even though it was 8500 Chinese characters!!! q.q). I think the worst part of translating super long chapters is that I don't want to be scumbag and split it into two, but also the translation is super depressing. Translate for two hours, maybe get 3000 characters done, and then realize 5000 more to go q.q
On another note, buckle your seatbelts for the rest of this chapter and the next coming tomorrow....