Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 348: Chapter 319: Genius Treatment

’He succeeded again?’

’And the quality of this Pill!’

True Master Duobao’s eyes widened, and he nearly ground his teeth to dust.

Being able to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill were two completely different things. To the Primordial Sect, Foundation Establishment was merely the middle tier; Golden Core was the top. If they couldn’t refine the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill themselves, they would be at the mercy of others.

An Alchemy Master was one of the fundamental guarantees of a power’s prosperity.

’No... I can definitely find a flaw in this Pill!’

WHAP!

As the thought crossed his mind, True Master Duobao quickly reached out to grab it, but the Primordial Ancestor had already pressed down with a large hand.

”Don’t you dare snatch it!”

Instantly, Duobao felt as if a mountain was crushing him. The bones and sinews throughout his body crackled and popped. He couldn’t even move, let alone circulate his True Essence.

”Oh?”

On either side, the other True Masters all looked over with curiosity.

They watched as the Pill flew before the Primordial Ancestor, who leisurely scraped off a bit of powder. He took a small taste, and after a moment’s contemplation, his eyes lit up.

”Excellent!”

From the head seat, the Primordial Ancestor clapped his hands in praise.

”The effects of this Pill are rich yet gentle, pure and concentrated without the slightest impurity. Junior Brother, good, very good! You haven’t disappointed me!”

With that said, as everyone watched, he tossed the Pill to Huang Shiwo. The latter also scraped off some powder, tasted it, and praised it endlessly. ”The efficacy of this Pill is just slightly better than my own. After taking it, the condensed Golden Core will be even more perfect.”

”The only minor flaw is a slight lack of control over the heat, but it’s already on par with my own work. It’s highly likely he’s had little practice refining this Pill and hasn’t fully grasped its essence, but it’s a trivial issue.”

Huang Shiwo was truly worthy of his title as the sect’s Gold Medal Alchemist.

He had pinpointed the flaw in a single sentence.

The moment his voice fell, a long-faced True Master in a brocade robe next to him had already snatched the Pill and began his own brief appraisal.

More than twenty Golden Core cultivators each scraped off a tiny bit. By the time the Pill reached True Master Duobao, it had already shrunk by two or three layers. He had no intention of appraising it, however. Instead, his eyes flickered as he asked:

”Can Valley Master Chen refine other Pills?”

”It wouldn’t be difficult!”

Under the crowd’s burning gazes, Huang Shiwo nodded.

”This is a Tier Three Middle Grade Elixir. For Valley Master Chen, any Pills below this tier should pose no difficulty. Even if he’s never encountered them before, he should be able to master them quickly. Moreover, with this Pill as a foundation, he can also refine other Same Tier Pills.”

’Is he trying to kill me with praise?’

’No, it’s a fair assessment.’

Chen Che mused, just as Huang Shiwo turned to the Primordial Ancestor.

”Sect Leader, Valley Master Chen’s alchemy skills are so high that he could surpass me in four or five years at most. His talent is extraordinary, his ability immense. I believe we should grant the Valley Master the position of Tributor!”

”Absolutely not...”

True Master Duobao’s expression had already turned ugly after the first sentence. Hearing the suggestion of a Tributor position, he immediately interrupted:

”I think this boy is cursed by a malignant star! Whoever he serves as a Tributor for dies! He was once a Tributor for Ye Jingzhou, and Ye Jingzhou died. Then he was a Tributor for Thousand Eyes, and Thousand Eyes died too. If he becomes a Tributor for our Primordial Sect, who knows when...”

He didn’t finish, but everyone knew what he meant.

His gaze swept across the surroundings.

Clearly, he was seeking support. The many Golden Core cultivators’ eyes flickered, but they remained silent.

’...This old fool is being a little too obvious with his targeting.’

Chen Che shot him a glance, his gaze hardening. ’You had a conflict with Thousand Eyes, but instead of settling it with him, you’re blaming me for it now?’

However, what Chen Che didn’t know was...

...that True Master Duobao had been the same way when Thousand Eyes was still alive.

”Absurd!”

The Primordial Ancestor almost laughed in exasperation. He waved his hand, signaling for Duobao to shut up, then raised his right hand, and a streak of light shot out.

Chen Che caught it. He saw it was a Token but didn’t have time to examine it before the Ancestor spoke:

”Junior Brother Chen, this is our sect’s Tributor Token. With this Token, you can come directly to the seventh level of Primordial Mountain to see me. In addition, you will receive one hundred thousand Spirit Stones annually. Furthermore, you may purchase all sect Materials, Spiritual Artifacts, and Pills at seventy percent of their price.”

”Since you already have a Cave Mansion in Yunzhou, I won’t open up a residence for you within the Primordial Sect.”

”Thank you, Senior Brother.”

These were real, tangible benefits, not an empty promise like the one from Thousand Eyes. Chen Che immediately accepted the Token, paying no mind to Duobao’s unsightly expression.

”There is one more thing you must remember.”

”Please speak, Senior Brother.”

”From this day forward, you are forbidden from refining the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill at will. You are permitted to refine only one every thirty years. As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, I will grant you a quota of five per year. There are no restrictions on any other Pills.”

’This is...’

Chen Che understood instantly.

Back then, Meng Changtu had said that the Primordial Sect had always controlled the quantity of Foundation Establishment Pills. Any Pill Master who dared to refine them in large quantities often wouldn’t live past three years. That was why, even at his auctions, Foundation Establishment Pills were extremely rare.

As for the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill, the reason was even simpler to understand. Limiting the number of Golden Core cultivators was the Primordial Sect’s way of maintaining its own status.

”Understood.”

Chen Che cupped his fists.

It was a good thing, though. They had opened a loophole for him, and now he could refine them openly and legitimately.

The Tributor position was secured, and the loophole was open. Duobao’s face immediately darkened. He let out a cold sneer.

”Since the examination is over, I should return to my Cultivation. In the days to come, I still have to go to the Black Tortoise Calm Sea...”

With that, he took a step and was already out of the main hall.

Then, he stopped, waiting for the others to join him. He still needed to discuss how to teach this kid a lesson.

’What a headache, though...’

’If he were just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, making things difficult for him would be easy. The key is that he’s also a Tier Three Alchemist. Still, with my connections, tripping him up shouldn’t be hard.’

But as he thought this, he realized no one had followed him.

Instead, he heard Huang Shiwo’s congratulatory voice. He turned back to see everyone gathered around Chen Che, and a soot-faced Huang Shiwo excitedly slapping Chen Che on the shoulder.

”Tributor Chen, congratulations! From now on, we’re colleagues, so we have to look out for each other. Ah, finally, a Tier Three Alchemist at the Golden Core Realm has arrived! If you had come three years earlier, my eldest disciple wouldn’t have worked himself to death.”

”Greetings, Chief Huang.”

Remembering the story about this Pill Hall Chief, understanding dawned on Chen Che.

Tier Three Alchemists were hard to find. For a Low Tier Alchemist to refine a single High-tier Elixir, the energy consumed was no less than that of a grueling battle. Over time, it was entirely possible to die from exhaustion. No wonder Huang Shiwo hadn’t tried to push him out, but was instead the first to welcome him.

”A Tier Three Alchemist who’s barely over twenty, and a Golden Core on top of that! It probably won’t be long before we in the sect can enjoy Tier Four Elixirs refined by one of our own.”

A long-faced Elder in a brocade robe walked over, cupped his fists, and introduced himself:

”I am Qiu Tianshui, Chief of the Internal Affairs Hall. If you need anything in the future, there’s no need to trouble the Sect Leader. Just find me!”

’Isn’t this guy supposed to be on good terms with Duobao?’

’What’s going on?’

Chen Che glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw True Master Duobao at the entrance of the hall, his face ashen. A thought flickered in his mind, but he still cupped his fists in response.

”I’ll be in your care. If the Chief needs any Pills refined, you need only let me know.”

Qiu Tianshui’s smile grew even brighter.

He wasn’t that foolish. If it were just a newly promoted Golden Core cultivator, he naturally wouldn’t need to go out of his way to build a connection. On the contrary, that person would be scrambling to curry favor with him, and even then, it would depend on his mood.

But a Pill Master...

...sooner or later, he would need a favor from one. Why make an enemy of him beforehand?

Meanwhile, Duobao’s expression grew even uglier.

At this moment, the other Golden Core cultivators also walked over.

Chen Che greeted each and every one of them.

It wasn’t the tense, confrontational scene he had imagined; everyone was quite enthusiastic. Of course, he was also aware that if he hadn’t passed the examination, while he wouldn’t have been in any danger, the scene would have been incredibly awkward, undoubtedly filled with scorn and ridicule.

PHEW!

A great weight lifted from Chen Che’s heart.

The many Golden Core cultivators of the Primordial Sect had become friendly. Apart from Duobao, who had left, most of them were smiling.

”So this is how a genius is treated...”