C17 Pharmacy Conference
Inside the storeroom of the Skilled Hand Medical Hall, Jiang Xiaofan cradled a White Crow Worm Grass, lost in thought. He racked his brain for a way to extract the herb's poison without succumbing to its toxic backlash.
Despite his pondering, he ultimately abandoned the idea.
Tomorrow marked the final day before the Pill Refining Conference, and according to Ann Yunshan, Chu Zhu—the First Elder's grandson from Hanging Pot Pharmacy—was the most skilled alchemist among Breeze Town's youth.
Chu Zhu's prodigious talent in alchemy had propelled the Hanging Pot Pharmacy to prominence within the town.
A decade ago, Chu Zhu began his formal alchemy training. Astonishingly, he crafted a pill within seven days, advanced to a Fifth Grade Yellow Level alchemist in six months, and reached the rank of Profound Level Pharmacist in just three years—a truly exceptional feat.
For the average individual, becoming a pharmacist required innate talent. Those blessed with alchemical gifts would typically need thirty to fifty years to achieve the status of Profound Level Pharmacist. Yet, Chu Zhu accomplished this in a mere three years!
Subsequently, he was scouted by Ocean Pavilion, where he continued his studies, and now he stands as a Seventh Grade Profound Level Pharmacist. Each year, he returns to Breeze Town for the Pill Refining Conference, securing victory for the Chu family time and again.
The Chu family's influence loomed large, overshadowing other pharmacies in Breeze Town. The Skilled Hand Medical Hall had struggled to attract talented disciples, with only Qin Chuan's dedication allowing him to reach the Eighth Grade Yellow Level after four years of rigorous training.
The Medical Hall had little hope for this year's conference, merely wishing for Qin Chuan to gain experience from the event. However, Jiang Xiaofan's arrival heralded a shift in the tides.
Representatives from various sects and families would attend the conference, vying for the championship. The victor would forge supply partnerships with numerous powers, recruit a wealth of disciples, and grow ever more formidable. With so much at stake, every participant was determined to claim the title of champion.
Certainly, Jiang Xiaofan sought insights from Ann Yunshan to ensure he was fully prepared for the upcoming Pharmacy Conference.
It must be acknowledged that even Ann Yunshan stood no chance against a Pharmacist of the Seventh Grade of the Profound Level. Thus, Jiang Xiaofan was well aware that Yellow Rank pills wouldn't suffice to defeat Chu Zhu.
Only a Profound Level pill, as described in the Medicine King Scripture, could potentially match Chu Zhu's prowess!
Consequently, Jiang Xiaofan's immediate priority was to advance to a Profound Level Pharmacist!
He couldn't afford to spend too much time on the White Crow Worm Grass; a single misstep could render him unconscious for a full day and night.
He opted to refine several Ninth Grade Yellow Rank healing pills. While common, their simplicity made the refining process efficient.
Nonetheless, half of Jiang Xiaofan's creations were of supreme quality, and given the booming popularity of the Skilled Hand Medical Hall, he had no concerns about finding buyers.
The night swiftly passed, and Jiang Xiaofan finally ascended to the Tenth Grade of the Yellow Level, just one step shy of the Profound Level!
Meanwhile...
At the Hanging Pot Pharmacy...
Six figures clad in deep blue robes were seated in the main hall. Chu Qingshan, the Chu family patriarch, served tea with a smile, asking, "Do you bring any news, elder brother?"
Chu Lianchen, his demeanor frosty, seemed to regard the family patriarch with little esteem. In a grave tone, he stated, "A disciple from the Ocean Pavilion was ambushed and killed en route. We are here to investigate this incident, so I'm inquiring whether there have been any unusual occurrences in Breeze Town recently."
Chu Qingshan, caught off guard by the revelation that the Ocean Pavilion's assassin had perished along the way, quickly masked his surprise with a cunning smile.
"Actually, something notable did transpire. A pharmacist from the Skilled Hand Medical Hall recently crafted several long-lost pills. The Ocean Pavilion's assassins were after him, too."
Chu Qingshan's expression turned mournful as he continued, "Just yesterday, your third uncle sought his expertise and has since vanished without a trace..."
He was indifferent to who had slain the Ocean Pavilion disciple. Yet, seeing an opportunity, he seized it, implicating Jiang Xiaofan in the affair to leverage Chu Lianchen's influence to remove this thorn from Chu Qingshan's side.
Unbeknownst to him, the incident wasn't just related to Jiang Xiaofan—it was entirely his doing!
Chu Lianchen's eyebrows, sharp as swords, lifted in acknowledgment. "In that case, I'll look into this individual tomorrow. Even if he's not the one I'm after, I'll still avenge my third uncle!"
With those words, Chu Lianchen gripped the teacup in his hand, and his Profound Martial Level Four Martial Qi burst forth. When he opened his hand, the porcelain cup had been reduced to dust, sprinkling across the table.
...
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaofan had been in deep seclusion within the storeroom, crafting nearly a thousand pills. On the dawn of the Pharmacy Conference, he finally succeeded in concocting his last pill as a Yellow Rank Pharmacist!
"System Prompt: Congratulations to the player for advancing in Pharmacist skill. You are now a First Grade Profound Level Pharmacist, proficiency (0/100000)."
Having ascended to the First Grade of the Profound Level, Jiang Xiaofan exhaled deeply, emerging slowly from the basement. At that moment, everyone in the courtyard was awaiting his arrival.
The annual Pharmacy Conference was a significant event for Breeze Town's pharmacists, offering them a platform to showcase their talents. Thus, they had all risen early in anticipation.
Ann Yunshan stood before the assembly, giving Jiang Xiaofan a nod of approval as he appeared. "Today marks the Pharmacy Conference! Our Martial Artsed Hand Medical Hall will be represented by Jiang Xiaofan, Qin Chuan, and Ann Xiaobai. Are there any objections?"
Silence prevailed among the crowd, signaling unanimous consent to the decision.
After a moment's survey, Ann Yunshan stroked his beard and declared, "With no objections, Bai'er, Qin Chuan, and Xiaobai, you three are free to select spiritual herbs from the storeroom. You'll need to craft five pills today, so don't hold back on the herbs—take what you need from our supplies."
Ann Xiaobai and Qin Chuan made their way into the warehouse, with Jiang Xiaofan remaining still. He had been briefed by Ann Yunshan on the Pharmacy Conference rules the night before and was well-prepared. He gathered two stalks of spiritual grass, five stalks of Mind-numbing Grass, and a Qinglin Herb he had purchased days prior. These herbs would suffice for his needs today.
After selecting their own spiritual herbs, Ann Xiaobai and Qin Chuan joined the others following Ann Yunshan to the town square at the heart of Breeze Town.
The square, a vast expanse, had been transformed under the mayor's direction, now featuring ten stages and an array of wooden tables and chairs, with five ornate nanmu seats reserved for the soon-to-arrive judges.
Despite the cool air, the square buzzed with the energy of hundreds of people. Vendors had set up shop around the perimeter, their spiritual herbs priced several times higher than usual, yet the quality justified the cost, with many herbs ranking high in the Yellow Level and others in the lower tiers of the Profound Level.
Jiang Xiaofan took a stroll, purchasing a few extra herbs, and then settled in to wait for the Pharmacy Conference to begin.
...
Perched on the elevated platform, the mayor surveyed the lively throngs of people as the town's medicinal halls made their presence known. With nine halls in Breeze Town, the competition fielded 27 entrants, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive event.
As the sun climbed higher, heralding the dawn of a new day, the mayor rose to his feet. Soon after, figures glided across the sky, drawing the gazes and admiration of all below.
These were the esteemed Elders from the Divine Wind Sect, Ocean Pavilion, Taixu Pavilion, Seven Luminaries Sect, and the governor from the Royal Capital's Medicine Controlling Sect. Each was an Earth Level Pharmacist with formidable martial prowess. The extent of their strength was a matter of speculation, but their ability to soar through the skies was evidence enough of their formidable powers.
The five dignitaries descended onto the platform, where a young man stood beside one of the middle-aged Elders. He was slightly older than Jiang Xiaofan, exuding an air of arrogance.
Everyone furrowed their brows at the sight of him—Chu Zhu, the collective nightmare!
The Pharmacy Conference was a battleground for the younger generation from various medicinal halls. Chu Zhu's extraordinary talent cast a shadow over their hopes for the event. He stood like an insurmountable wall before them.
Upon landing on the high platform, the six individuals simultaneously did one thing: they scanned the area until they located the Wondrous Hand Medical Hall's section. After surveying the crowd, their gaze ultimately rested on Jiang Xiaofan.
The elusive Fighting Spirit Pill, Life Return Pill, and Stone Condensing Pill, along with the unheard-of Black Mystic Herb Pill, were all known to the residents of Breeze Town. Despite its modest size, the newcomer pharmacist at the Wondrous Hand Medical Hall had made quite a name for himself throughout the southern regions.
Yet, nobody knew who Jiang Xiaofan really was. Just a month prior, he was nothing more than an obscure failure from the Jiang family, a name no one would bother remembering.
Sensing the six pairs of eyes on him, Jiang Xiaofan cleared his throat and struck up a conversation with Ann Yunshan about the Pharmacy Conference. Meanwhile, the mayor, with a sycophantic smile, ascended the platform and greeted the six with a bow, "Esteemed guests, your presence graces our humble town."
"Let's get started!"
The First Elder of the Divine Wind Sect withdrew his attention, cutting short any further attempts at flattery from the mayor. He was eager to see what surprises this promising young man had in store.
With an awkward grin, the mayor cleared his throat and called out, "Silence, please!"
The surrounding din subsided instantly as all eyes turned toward him. The mayor then announced, "I hereby declare the Breeze Town Pharmacy Conference officially open!"
The competition began with participants drawing lots to determine their order. Competitors would then face off in pairs, matched by their attributes. Producing a high-grade pill meant victory and progression to the next round, while failure resulted in immediate elimination.
This initial round aimed to weed out the lower-level pharmacists, setting the stage for the more advanced practitioners to engage in a more deliberate exchange. The touted three available spots were merely a way to add a dash of excitement to the Pharmacy Conference.
Jiang Xiaofan drew number seven, which meant his task was to face off against number eight in a pill-refining contest on the stage!
Once everyone's numbers were confirmed, the first round of the competition kicked off!
Twenty contestants took their places across ten stages, ready to begin the challenge!
Among those competitors were Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Chuan!
