The pharmacists sat near each other.
They were either people who were close to Xu Lingxiu in the Pharmacist Hall, or they were followers of several honored Immortal Realm martial artists. Apart from Gu Zuo, it could be said that they were all on the same side.
Gu Zuo felt a little conflicted.
Although he was Xu Lingxiu’s friend, what business did he have in staying here? If they wanted to share some private words, wouldn’t they feel that he was being shameless for eavesdropping?
However, just when he was originally going to leave, he was allowed to remain here due to Xu Lingxiu’s meaningful glance. Granted that he was a little too agitated to sit or stand right now, he still endured it.
Fortunately, it seemed that the others had long investigated the matter of him staying here, and didn’t reveal any strange looks. This allowed Gu Zuo to settle down.
Xu Lingxiu waved towards Gu Zuo, letting Gu Zuo sit in the chair next to him.
After a slight pause, Gu Zuo made up his mind and walked over.
In any case, it was always like this, so he would just go.
At this time, Xu Lingxiu said: “Chongyun Sect’s purpose for coming isn’t good. If it was only to target the martial artists, it wouldn’t have been my turn to take the lead. However, the facts really aren’t as such. Besides provoking the martial artists, the members of Chongyun Sect have also issued a writ of challenge to us pharmacists. It’s not something one can tolerate.”
Gu Zuo silently thought: Even if it could be tolerated, you probably wouldn’t restrain yourself anyway…
Following this, Xu Lingxiu discussed even more details about the matter. At this time, Gu Zuo finally understood why Xu Lingxiu waded through muddy waters so proactively. It was primarily because this matter has fallen on his head — Even if no one came to provoke the martial artists, he still had to lead the pharmacists to face the enemy.
As mentioned previously, the newly-arrived, unwelcomed guests were residing outside the Sect. Once Qingyun Sect dropped by to give a heavy denouncement, the other party apologized. However, after the other side entertained the Qingyun Sect members, a few younger generations spoke out, wanting to experience the graceful bearing of Qingyun Sect’s pharmacists first-hand. They said it would be an exchange between both sects and what not.
They all took the initiative to mention a spar. Could it be that Qingyun Sect would admit that it was afraid and wouldn’t accept? Moreover, they said that sparring with the pharmacists wouldn’t damage their good relationship, and those sparring would be limited to mid-level pharmacists. How could Qingyun Sect refuse?
In addition, the ones who Chongyun Sect brought this time around were only mid-level pharmacists. The ages of these mid-level pharmacists also didn’t exceed thirty years — There were quite a few teenaged mid-level pharmacists like Xu Lingxiu and Gu Zuo.
In brief, whether it was for the sake of saving face or to prevent malicious rumors from spreading, it was settled just like this.
Currently, among the lower-ranked pharmacist disciples, Xu Lingxiu was the one who played the leading role. Since he had the most prestige, after encountering this matter, only he could come forward to act.
At this time, Gu Zuo then realized that all of the pharmacists who came to this room were mid-level pharmacists. It was just that, although the ages of these pharmacists were as young as possible, not all of them were under thirty years old — There were as many as seven or eight people who were thirty-something years old. Based on this age, they were already somewhat inferior to the others. As such, when they later sparred with the others, how would they gain the upper hand and even out the achievements?
Xu Lingxiu’s idea was to select people from this room to spar with those Chongyun Sect pharmacists. He would look for volunteers first. After that, he would check their medicine refining levels.
As for Gu Zuo, he was already exempted from any tests. What Gu Zuo needed to do now was to consider with Xu Lingxiu what kinds of medicinal pills they’d refine which would be even more eye-catching and would make their skills appear even more brilliant.
This matter concerned the Sect’s prestige, and couldn’t be taken lightly. After listening to Xu Lingxiu’s words, the pharmacists discussed things in low voices. Meanwhile, Gu Zuo was pulled over by Xu Lingxiu, and he looked over.
Gu Zuo opened his mouth: “Senior Sect Brother Xu?”
Xu Lingxiu said: “How are you at refining mid-level pills right now?”
To be honest, Xu Lingxiu felt that, whether it was himself or Junior Sect Brother Gu, both of them barely became mid-level pharmacists. The medicinal pills they knew also weren’t that many. Presently, they needed to search the Sect for pill prescriptions so they could do some last minute cramming before time ran out.
Right now, Xu Lingxiu wanted to ask Gu Zuo which ones he knew and which ones he wanted to refine — It was for the best that they didn’t refine the same type of medicinal pill. Otherwise, it would give the appearance of a drop in quality.
Gu Zuo forced a smile.
He was already such a pharmacist in the truest sense long ago… After improving his realm a little bit more, he could become a high-level pharmacist who could refine Immortal Realm medicinal pills.
As for the categories of medicinal pills that he currently knew?
There were, at the very least, no less than dozens to over a hundred types… Moreover, there were also quite a few pill prescriptions he knew of that he could handle on the first try.
After hesitating for a moment, Gu Zuo spoke in a low voice: “I can make some medicinal pills that can treat the internal and external injuries of Xiantian martial artists. I’m comparatively skilled with the Qi Accumulating Pill and the Revitalization Pill. I can also refine a few pills that are related to the five elements. En, I also have some unorthodox medicinal pills. As for any more than that, I’ll have to check my pill prescriptions…”
Xu Lingxiu raised an eyebrow: “You seem to have improved a lot recently?”
Gu Zuo rubbed his nose: “Because I purchased lots of medicinal ingredients in Danyun City, I couldn’t hold myself back after returning, and I wasted a lot.”
Xu Lingxiu showed a pleased expression: “If you can further master these medicinal pills, what uses do these medicinal ingredients have for pharmacists like you and me? Nowadays, it seems that you’ve been studying more than me. From here on out, you need to give it your all. We can’t let those pests push down on our heads.”
Gu Zuo listened to Xu Lingxiu’s repeated warnings, and naturally answered positively again and again: “Senior Sect Brother Xu, rest assured. I’ll certainly do my best. I won’t be outdone by those domineering people.”
Xu Lingxiu was even more pleased with Gu Zuo. At the same time, he was somewhat displeased with his own skills, which currently weren’t too adequate. He reflected over something, and took out several sheets of paper from his sleeve: “Take these pill prescriptions, and give them a try. If you can learn one or two types in these next few days, then it’ll be even more advantageous.”
Gu Zuo looked at Xu Lingxiu treating him this way. Gu Zuo also took out a few sheets of paper, and wrote on them. He chose some which weren’t that hard to refine. At the same time, he also took out some unorthodox and fashionable pill prescriptions to hand them over to Xu Lingxiu. This was what one called tossing a peach and getting back a plum. Xu Lingxiu treated him sincerely, so how could he let Xu Lingxiu down?
Xu Lingxiu looked at Gu Zuo. He knew that Gu Zuo didn’t like to owe people favors, and didn’t stop the guy. Once Gu Zuo finished writing, he received the papers. His face became somewhat peculiar: “Junior Sect Brother Gu, it seems that the number of special pill prescriptions you obtained in that fortuitous encounter truly wasn’t low.”
Gu Zuo wasn’t afraid that Xu Lingxiu would see through anything: “Well, almost all of it has been taken out. Indeed, the senior who left behind that inheritance was an ancient and powerful personage.”
Xu Lingxiu put away the pill prescriptions: “You and I really need to give it our all.”
Gu Zuo nodded: “What Senior Sect Brother Xu says is right.”
In the back, the other pharmacists resolved themselves. Each and every one of them had confidence in themselves, and all of them were willing to fight for the Sect. There were many of these volunteers, so they needed to be filtered. Following this, Xu Lingxiu drew up some topics, and allowed these pharmacists to compete.
Gu Zuo was excused by Xu Lingxiu ahead of time. Xu Lingxiu asked him to go back to properly study the pill prescriptions. Gu Zuo also felt that this place wasn’t interesting, so he really went back — As for the pill prescriptions, Xu Lingxiu had given him three sheets. However, the refinement methods recorded in his item book were still more detailed…
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
During this period of time, Xu Lingxiu sent people to pass along some news. In other words, he talked about which pharmacists were chosen. He also discussed with Gu Zuo about some complicated problems in medicine refinement.
Gu Zuo answered diligently. From Xu Lingxiu’s correspondence, one could see that his improvements really weren’t small. This mid-level pharmacist’s level was stabilizing more and more.
At the same time, Gu Zuo also realized that those Chongyun Sect disciples had finally moved into Qingyun Sect.
Among the Tianlong Guards and all the subordinates, many had gone out to make discreet inquiries. Some news would be brought back intermittently. When combined with what Xu Lingxiu divulged, it allowed Gu Zuo to put everything together.
As it turned out, Chongyun Continent, which was the location of Chongyun Sect, wasn’t one of the dozen or so continents on the periphery of Qingyun Continent. It was classified as a continent of the Southeastern Expanse. As for Qingyun Continent, strictly speaking, it was only the largest continent of the Southern Expanse. Meanwhile, the Southeastern Expanse had over twenty continents. Chongyun Continent, which resided at the pinnacle of this region, was almost twice as strong as Qingyun Continent. It seemed that this was a very normal matter.
Gu Zuo paused.
There was a Southeastern Expanse and a Southern Expanse. Both were named after compass directions. Did this mean that there were six more regions? From looking at Chongyun Sect, one could see that the entirety of the Southeastern Expanse was stronger than the Southern Expanse. As such, what about the other expanses? How strong were they? In addition, since they were adjacent expanses, why weren’t they merged together, and instead divided into two expanses? How did one communicate and interact between different expanses?
Soon after, Xu Lingxiu gave Gu Zuo an explanation.
There were probably other expanses, but only the Southeastern Expanse had interacted with their Southern Expanse. The specific number of other expanses and their locations wasn’t within their current scouted information.
As for why it was divided into two expanses, it wasn’t because of any customary partitioning of territories. Rather, it was due to a barrier between the two expanses which was difficult to pass through.
Gu Zuo suddenly recalled a barrier-like thing between the continents.
In actuality, the division between the Southern Expanse and the Southeastern Expanse was precisely this type of barrier which separated the continents. Only, its strength was many times greater. Those flying ships basically had no way to pass through it. And if there weren’t any specific means of transportation, which only the two Sects solely possessed, then even ordinary martial artists who’d reached the Atomic Realm would likely fall to their deaths halfway through the journey!
As a result, there was no other choice but to have this kind of partition. Moreover, after the passage of countless years, it had truly formed two different worlds.
At the same time, Gu Zuo realized something.
It was that this current provocation wasn’t actually the first one.
The total strength of the Southern Expanse’s people was lower than that of the Southeastern Expanse. Also, Qingyun Sect wasn’t the sort of weaklings who curried favor with others. Therefore, Qingyun Sect seldom dispatched people to interact with the Southeastern Expanse.
However, the Southern Expanse’s people weren’t willing to go over, and those insufferable people of the Southeastern Expanse wanted to come over! Every time they came over, they basically swept the Southern Expanse’s face — This wasn’t to say that they wanted to tyrannically kill people on this side and shed all pretenses of cordiality. They would come to show off, suppress, and look down on people.
Unfortunately, Qingyun Sect had generally lost every time before. Only occasionally would they be able to win a little bit in certain segments. However, their overall strength still fell short.
As a result, every time the Southeastern Expanse arrived, the Southern Expanse would always lose face.
Gu Zuo learned even more about why Chongyun Sect’s matter wasn’t known to several generations of young disciples. It was because the last time the Southeastern Expanse visited, it was two hundred years ago. An uncounted number of generations had passed since then. That generation of disciples, which had been tormented by the Southeastern Expanse, had either died long ago or became Elders — As the Sect’s upper echelons, they simply didn’t want to talk about this kind of morale-lowering matter.
So to say, Chongyun Sect’s matter wasn’t circulated within the Sect. Thus, very few people even knew about it.
In his heart, Gu Zuo vaguely sensed something.
There still might’ve been some other matters within that he didn’t know about… He mentioned this feeling to Xu Lingxiu. However, Xu Lingxiu subtly implied that he shouldn’t dig any deeper.
Gu Zuo immediately realized that Xu Lingxiu knew a little bit more than him, but it wasn’t good to talk about this extra information.
After letting out a sigh, Gu Zuo decided to wait until Gongyi Tianheng returned before asking again and discussing things further. However, there wasn’t enough information in here. For some of his inklings, he had no way to make any guesses whatsoever! Well, when things came to a head, he would know then.
It was a pity that Tianheng still hadn’t come back.
However, the day of Chongyun Sect’s appointed battle had already arrived.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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