C1430

After the Babel Chamber of Commerce and the Divine Soul Sect declared their alliance, they continued their trade relations with other groups as usual. Other sects, empires, and financial conglomerates were still able to conduct normal business with the Chamber. However, due to the Chamber's shift in allegiance, many sects that previously had close ties with the Chamber began to distance themselves to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Take the Medicine God Sect, for instance...

The Medicine God Sect had always maintained a tight-knit relationship with the Babel Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber sold a vast majority of pellets that were sourced directly from the Medicine God Sect, distributing them to its various branches and key imperial locations for selection by customers. But once the Medicine God Sect learned that the Chamber's leadership remained aligned with the former President Lyi, they promptly ceased their pellet transactions with the Chamber. Consequently, the variety of pellets available for sale through the Chamber dwindled.

Recently, the Chamber began scouring the globe for alchemists, offering attractive terms in their search. To the Medicine God Sect, it was clear that the Chamber had realized its overreliance on the Sect for pellets and, feeling the pressure, made a desperate move in response to their stranglehold.

Yet, within the Medicine God Sect, there were those who were unhappy with the status quo and, recognizing the Chamber's substantial resources, began to entertain thoughts of defection. Qu Yun would not stand for it. Standing before a mountain of medicinal herbs, his expression was one of severe anger as he berated those who lacked gratitude. After driving them back to their dwellings one by one, he pointed to the three individuals bound on the ground and said coldly, "Considering they took no concrete action and merely discussed leaving the Medicine God Sect, I've decided to merely whip them."

"But if..." Qu Yun's eyes glinted dangerously as he glared at his three disciples. "If you truly leave Medicine God Island, you'll face more than just flesh wounds."

The alchemists cowering in the cave, along with about a dozen others, seethed silently. The three disciples didn't utter a word. Under Qu Yun's oppressive rule, anyone with sense knew better than to cross him or openly provoke a confrontation.

Everyone was well aware of his reputation, his combat prowess, and his tactics.

"Great-Uncle Master!"

A slender young man, clad in a silk robe, halted his opulent flying boat before Qu Yun.

He then lifted two bodies from within and nonchalantly tossed them onto the rocky ground before Medicine Mountain. "These two left the island without authorization. My investigation confirmed they intended to defect to Babel Island, seeking to join the Babel Chamber of Commerce."

A sinister blood flower had blossomed on each of the corpses' foreheads, as though their skulls had been penetrated by a sharp instrument.

The Medicine Master, who had withdrawn into his cave, fell silent upon witnessing the bodies, with most too intimidated to utter a word.

Only a red-haired elder, leaning on a crutch and trembling with age, could not restrain himself from stepping out of his cave at the sight of the bodies. Shaking, he pointed a trembling finger at Qu Yun and exclaimed indignantly, "Qu Yun! Their actions did not warrant death!"

The red-haired elder possessed only the cultivation of the Profound Break Stage. He had dedicated his life to the study of pellets and had little interest in advancing his cultivation. Although he and Qu Yun were of comparable seniority, there was a vast gulf between their strengths.

The deceased were his own disciples, whom he had nurtured. Like him, they were engrossed in the art of alchemy, neglecting their cultivation.

In contrast, the young man in the brocade robe had been mentored by Qu Yun. While his alchemical skills were unremarkable, he had attained the realm of Yin God.

For him, dispatching two Spirit Accumulating Stage disciples was no challenge whatsoever.

"Leaving the island is not a capital offense. However, seeking allegiance with the Babel Chamber of Commerce is tantamount to betraying our sect!"

Qu Yun bared his teeth in a grim smile, his white teeth exuding a chilling menace, "Redbeard, I'm aware you're the leader, and I know you've always disapproved of our policies. But now, I need you to understand that the Medicine God Sect has pledged itself to the five great supremes! By attempting to join the Chamber of Commerce, they have chosen to stand against us all!"

Dark red flames, menacing as serpents, burst forth from Qu Yun's robes, coiling menacingly at the mouth of the elder's cave, poised to leap forward and rend the old man asunder.

Several alchemists, emboldened by their seniority and hoping to defuse the tension, witnessed the dark red flames morph into pythons. Fear flashed in their eyes, and they quietly withdrew into their caves.

"You are their master, so their rebellious spirits must surely be your influence!"

With a forceful stomp, Qu Yun caused Medicine God Island to shudder. The subterranean flame array seemed to awaken instantly, and radiant halos of light began to emerge from various parts of the island, effectively sealing it.

"I refrained from confronting you earlier because I wanted to apprehend your two disciples first, to gather all the evidence I needed!"

Qu Yun's presence was menacing, and he regarded the man with the red beard as if he were nothing more than an inanimate object.

"An alchemist should stick to alchemy. If you truly desired to pursue cultivation, why ever did you embark on the path of alchemy in the first place?"

The red-haired elder sensed the shift on Medicine God Island and realized that the hidden array had been triggered by Qu Yun, indicating that the situation was likely to escalate. "Qu Yun, you should have chosen to cultivate at the Red Devil Sect or Primordial Yang Sect right from the start, instead of joining the Medicine God Sect. Your talents are simply wasted here."

These words seemed to strike a chord with Qu Yun, darkening his expression as if dredging up old memories. He fell into a sudden silence.

"He once tried joining the Red Devil Sect, but his lackluster talent meant he wasn't accepted. His marginally better talent for alchemy led him to settle for the Medicine God Sect. The Red Devil Sect wasn't wrong about him; after all these years, he's only managed to cultivate a Yang God."

"He clearly lacks the capacity for true cultivation, yet stubbornly persists in leading the entire sect astray. It's utterly foolish!"

A voice tinged with mockery rang out unexpectedly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The dark red pythons released by Qu Yun burst one after another at the sound of the voice.

They disintegrated into thousands of sulfur-scented sparks, scattering across the ground like a shower of stars.

The red-bearded man, puzzled, gazed at the mysterious figure that had appeared before his cave, draped in robes shimmering with a rainbow's light. "Who are you?"

The newcomer, well-acquainted with Qu Yun's history, was taken aback.

Yu Yuan's smile was radiant as he glanced back at him before turning his attention to Qu Yun.

Qu Yun, with his secrets laid bare, had flames spewing from his sleeves. Behind him, crimson pillars of fire formed, resonating with the Earth Flame of Medicine God Island.

The agitating flame energy surged towards him, significantly boosting his aura and combat strength in that moment.

"How dare you meddle in the Medicine God Sect's internal affairs!" Qu Yun exclaimed in anger.

"I wouldn't say my words constitute meddling in your sect's business," Yu Yuan replied with a slight smile. He gazed at the familiar Medicine Mountain, the people huddled in their dwellings, and the others who had arrived upon hearing the news, and slowly closed his eyes.

He blended his three-century-old memories of the island with its current state.

Upon reopening his eyes, he saw that Qu Yun had become completely composed. The earlier rage and ferocity had been swiftly contained, and now Qu Yun was scrutinizing him with a deeply inquisitive look.

"I don't believe we've met before."

As Qu Yun spoke, he couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity with the man before him.

Yu Yuan's demeanor and even the smallest habitual gestures were unsettling to him.

It was as though the person he most despised had suddenly appeared before him, albeit in the guise of someone else...

Qu Yun was shaken to his core!

He had a suspicion, yet found it unbelievable and was reluctant to accept it.

The elderly woman, lying on the ground with whip marks, opened her clouded eyes and looked ahead curiously.

She watched Qu Yun, who was shaking, unable to comprehend why such a dominant figure in the sect was experiencing such a dramatic emotional upheaval.

The red-haired elder fell silent upon hearing Yu Yuan's last statement, his head bowed in contemplation.

Then, his eyes began to brighten.

The young man in brocade on the flying boat furrowed his brow, pulled out a stack of yellowed parchment from a hidden compartment, and rifled through it quickly.

He stopped abruptly at one sheet, studied the portrait on the parchment, and then hurriedly looked down at Yu Yuan.

His expression turned blank, and his body tensed.

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