C1431 Snatch the Island

Yu Yuan's lips quirked into a smile, yet his eyes betrayed not a trace of mirth. The moment he arrived at Medicine God Island, every scene, both on and above the island, was laid bare before him. He could see everything. He could even detect that the individuals clad in the Medicine God Sect robes standing beside Qu Yun lacked the faintest scent of herbal medicine. This indicated that they hadn't engaged in alchemy for at least six months. Typically, those immersed in the study of alchemy or even those who simply harvested herbs would carry traces of pellets and herbs—it was inescapable.

Yet, these people bore no herbal scent, despite wearing the alchemist robes of the Medicine God Sect, rather than the attire of external affiliates. Moreover, their cultivation levels were surprisingly high, all of them encircling Qu Yun as if they were the true masters of the island and the Medicine God Sect. Those skilled in pellet refinement had been reduced to their servants—existing solely to serve them. It seemed they were using the pellets, meticulously crafted by the alchemists, to trade for spiritual materials from the Babel Chamber of Commerce and various other sects, for their own cultivation purposes. The alchemists had been relegated to mere tools for their breakthroughs!

In his past life as Hong Qi, on his first day at the Medicine God Sect, his master had earnestly declared that it was a sanctuary and home for alchemists, not an organization ruled by cultivators. Alchemists were always meant to be the true masters of the Medicine God Sect, with powerful cultivators serving merely as guests. Now, it appeared that the principles of the Medicine God Sect had been turned on their head.

The red-haired elder, known as Chi Ye, belonged to the same generation as his master and had devoted his life to the study of medicinal theory. Chi Ye had been kind to him once, but after a drastic shift in his demeanor, Chi Ye distanced himself and they lost contact.

The elderly woman who had collapsed was also someone Yu Yuan recalled; three centuries earlier, she had been a young girl with a ponytail. Named Zhong Ying, she was known for her charming little tiger teeth. He remembered overseeing the conclusion of her initiation ceremony, watching her and a group of young boys and girls being welcomed into the Medicine God Sect.

Tucked away in the cave, Yu Yuan recognized some of the elderly figures. Mortals often lived for several decades, or even a century, but it wasn't unusual for these alchemists, despite their modest talents, to embark on the path of cultivation and live for several hundred years. Since alchemists weren't required to engage in external battles, they avoided the risk of dying unexpectedly in combat.

Thus, with only a cursory glance at Medicine God Island, Yu Yuan spotted many familiar faces. Among them was a young man with a delicate frame like that of a woman, yet with an oversized head, who was observing the fiery trenches before him. Suddenly, he rose to his feet. Clutched in his hand was a massive red wine jug, surrounded by numerous wine jars.

While his true form remained seated below, guarding the depths, this big-headed youth, the external manifestation of his Yang God, seemed to be responsible for tending to the subterranean fire. He directed the fiery essence through the trenches into various caves on Medicine Mountain, aiding the alchemists in their pellet refinement.

Alerted by the noise outside, he stealthily shot out and came to a halt beside Qu Yun. "Lian Hu!" The young man in the ornate clothing on the flying boat, along with a few others near Qu Yun, were instantly invigorated.

Lian Hu, once a demon, had been recruited by the Medicine God Sect and now served as a guest elder. His eyes flashed red as they fixed upon the clearly unfamiliar Yu Yuan. "Who might you be?" he inquired.

"Lian Hu, is it that you don't recognize me, or do you not dare to acknowledge me?" Yu Yuan's smile grew slightly warmer as he regarded the big-headed youth before him. "I must say, Lian Hu, I'm quite surprised to find you alive."

Confusion clouded Lian Hu's expression. Suddenly, numerous crimson rings of light materialized beneath his feet, and the island's volcano trembled gently, hinting at the brewing of lava and flames within its crater.

"Lian Hu, have you forgotten the master you once served?" Chi Yi, with his fiery red hair, scoffed and spoke with biting sarcasm, "It's only someone like you who could manage to thrive after your master's downfall. But tell me, without your former master's nod of approval, how would a lost cur like you have ever been admitted into our Medicine God Sect?"

"It's precisely because you, Lian Hu, are cut from the same cloth as him. He saw something in you, and that's why he was willing to take you in!"

Yu Yuan had been inadvertently insulted by Chi Yi's harsh words.

Yet Yu Yuan remained unfazed, his demeanor betraying a sense of familiarity with such scorn. After all, he had endured far worse from Chi Yi in a previous life.

"Master from before?!"

The young man with the large head looked stunned, his gaze fixed on Yu Yuan as he rubbed his eyes, struggling to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

"Not bad, you've advanced to the Late Period of the Yang God. It seems my senior brother has been quite generous to you," Yu Yuan remarked with a sardonic smile that didn't reach his eyes.

During his last visit to the Crack Archipelago, he hadn't explored Medicine God Island, lacking the means to do so. Now, with a keen eye for detail, he discovered that Lian Hu, the guest he had once recruited to commit misdeeds, was actually hiding beneath the island, apparently faring quite well.

"I..."

Lian Hu's voice quivered as he began to speak.

"Hong, Sect Master Hong!"

"Hong Qi!"

"Yu Yuan!"

Across the island, Chi Yi, Zhong Ying, and a host of herbalists and guest elders exclaimed various names, each looking at Yu Yuan with distinct emotions—fear, disdain, surprise, and even schadenfreude.

Yet, none displayed the genuine joy or excitement Yu Yuan had anticipated.

It seemed that regardless of their past relationships, none present harbored any fondness for him. This realization left Yu Yuan with a bitter taste, as he acknowledged that his later life actions might have alienated those who had once supported him.

"Those who understand the times are wise. That's what you told me when you recruited me," Lian Hu said, taking a deep breath, his face turning crimson as he suppressed the fear welling up inside him. "After your failed reincarnation, with your body and spirit both extinguished, I chose to remain loyal to the Medicine God Sect... so I continued as your guest."

"Furthermore, Sect Master Zhong has been good to me. Over the years, he's made sure I had all the spiritual materials I needed for my cultivation."

Lian Hu spread his hands with an innocent expression. "How could I have known that your reincarnation would be successful after three hundred years? Once you were resurrected, you spread the news and then left for the Outer Sky from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. And I..."

His face twisted into a look of aggrieved bitterness. "Tell me, what do you expect me to do?"

"Just stay put and don't cause any trouble. I'll have more to discuss with you later." Yu Yuan dropped this line and then raised his gaze to the young man in the embroidered robe who remained on the flying boat, his expression cool and detached.

Suddenly, a burst of blood light exploded beneath the flying boat, instantly obliterating both the vessel and the young man.

The young man's Yin God didn't even have a chance to flee before dissolving into a wisp of smoke.

"Hong Qi!"

Qu Yun, who had been silent until now, couldn't contain his outburst at the young man's demise. "The Divine Soul Sect and the five great supreme forces have an agreement. For now, neither side is permitted to wage war! You're no longer with the Medicine God Sect. Why have you barged in here and killed one of our own? What is your intention?"

"An agreement? If someone below the Yang God Stage dies, it's not considered breaking the rules. Aren't you aware of that?" Yu Yuan replied with a nonchalant smile.

Qu Yun was taken aback.

"Even for someone like you, who has reached the Yang God Stage, I'm willing to bend the rules a bit!"

Yu Yuan's smile remained as he gave a slight shrug of his shoulders and stopped abruptly in front of Qu Yun. Noticing Lian Hu's hesitant look, he gave him a meaningful glance and said, "Think it over."

Chilled by that glance, Lian Hu felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss, suddenly recalling the ruthless and decisive nature of the man before him.

Lian Hu, initially torn, subtly bowed his head, as if Qu Yun and he were no longer in his line of sight.

"Hong Qi! What exactly is your purpose at the Medicine God Sect?" Qu Yun demanded, his voice laced with anger.

He had recently come to know some details about Yu Yuan through Chu Yao, which had left him restless, constantly fearing an encounter with Yu Yuan.

In the end, what he feared most came to pass. Yu Yuan, who was supposed to be in the Outland Star River, suddenly made his presence known on Medicine God Island.

He was caught off guard, his fear of Yu Yuan fueled by the information from Chu Yao.

"The moment my foot touched this island, everything here once again fell under my dominion. The fate of all the alchemists on this island, whether they live or die, is now mine to decide."

Yu Yuan paused briefly, then continued with a detached tone, "Naturally, that includes you, Uncle Qu."

"You dare?!"

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