Chapter 12: Clan Rankings
In the end it was Luo Shu who treated, but Yao Chen also ceded a step, and they switched to just having soup at a vendor near their homes.
“Where’s aunt Qing? It’ll be unfair if we don’t tell her.” Luo Shu was extremely excited and cheerful, and he even started to add a couple obscenities into his chattering to give vent to the intense emotions in him. When he was angry he’d obscenely swear about people, and when he was happy he would spit out a couple forceful obscenities; this was simply the fatty.
Yao Chen shook head. He was also slightly nervous, as contrary to the normal, his mother had been out for an unusually long amount of time.
“Brother Yao Chen, hello hello, I am Liao Yuntu. Ah, brother Yao you entered the top eight, how can you celebrate just here? Over there is the Fragrant Yao House, and my humble self has arranged for a banquet. I don’t know if brother Yao Chen would be me the honor of coming?” Long Chen had just managed to refine a medicinal pill that satisfied all the various Yao clan elders and enter into the top eight for the final battle. It appeared that the Violet Flame Pill he had refined back then was not just refined out of luck.
Due to this, Liao Yuntu had gone to invite Yao Chen at the very first moment possible in order to get the Violet Flame Pill.
“This…” Yao Chen didn’t have the slightest experience when it came to invitations like these. For a moment he didn’t know what to say. But when Luo Shu heard him mention the Fragrant Yao House, his eyes almost started to emit hearts and he quickly interrupted, “Brother Chen, if there’s food, it’d be a waste not to eat it. Cough, you said that you’re treating?”
“I’ll treat. Order whatever pleases you.”
Liao Yuntu smiled. He could only use his own personal power for this matter. After all, it was for his own useless son, so he couldn’t use his clan’s resources too much or his position in the clan might become unstable. But looking at the circumstances, he felt that these two young ducklings were not that difficult to deal with.
Yao Chen felt truly strange in his heart, as this was the first time in his life he had been invited to eat by someone. Adding on fatty Luo Shu’s incitement, he ended up nodding his agreement.
Entering the Fragrant Yao House, they were led by Liao Yuntu into a private room. Luo Shu’s saliva was already overflowing; the table was already arranged with many cold meats and fresh fruit. The little fatty simply didn’t understand what was called being courteous, and directly starting eating the food in huge bites. That bowl of soup from the vendor near their homes simply didn’t fill his stomach.
“Brother Yao, whatever you want to eat, just order it.” Liao Yuntu smiled brightly. Yao Chen’s fame from the Medicine Competition meant that his future in the Yao clan would be extremely high; simply getting near him could burn your hand. If he wanted to invite him for medicinal pills at that time then it was guaranteed the price would be much greater and it wouldn’t be this easy to do. While the Liao family would be able to afford such a price, he himself could not.
Yao Chen hadn’t even touched his chopsticks. Instead he looked at Liao Yuntu, and with a humble smile he said, “Senior Liao, whatever you want to ask, please don’t hesitate.”
The smile on Liao Yuntu’s face receded slightly, “Don’t call me senior; although I might not be qualified, if you don’t think it’s too much, just calling me big brother is alright. As for business, I will not stand on ceremony. Although this may color your opinion of me, I do not have any nice way of saying this. I don’t know if brother Yao’s Violet Flame Pill is something he has some in stock. This older brother is genuinely anxiously looking for it.”
Yao Chen was startled; the Violet Flame Pill?
Looking at Yao Chen’s dazed expression, Liao Yuntu shook his head and laughed, saying “Brother Yao, I’m afraid you might not know this, after all you did isolate yourself from the clan for a whole month. The Violet Flame Pill you refined in the clan school’s Great Competition has already been determined to be able to let people jump across classes and temporarily gain a stronger strength. Letting people experience the strength of a higher class in advance has an extremely large help in breaking through bottlenecks. This big brother has a son who isn’t able to make anything of himself, and has already been trapped in the Dou Shi class for many years… brother Chen, I’m begging you to please help this older brother’s beloved son!”
Since when did Yao Chen ever receive this kind of begging demand? So for a moment he didn’t know what to do and became flushed with redness. He simply didn’t know what kind of way to respond.
Liao Yuntu was obviously an old swindler, and with just a glance he knew exactly how he could bait him. Although his heart was full of joy from getting this meeting, he still put on such an incredibly worried expression on his face, “I assume brother Yao knows that although there are plenty of pills that can help break through levels, they are all extremely hard to obtain. The Violet Flame Pill’s effect might be a bit worse, but at least it means there is some hope… no matter how high little brother’s asking price is, then even if I had to beggar myself it still wouldn’t matter.”
The way he addressed Yao Chen turned from ‘brother’ to ‘little brother’. Although there was just a one word difference, hearing it would give a different kind of feeling, as it imperceptibly pulled their relationship closer.
“It’s not that I’m keeping it for myself, it’s just that I don’t have any stored….” Although the Violet Flame Pill’s required medicinal ingredients were all ordinary, previously he had had to use seven full days to refine one before the Great Competition due to his strength being lower. He had refined a second one during the Great Competition, but it was only through using the first pill to increase his Dou Qi and using the explosive Dou Technique that he managed to refine it in a short period of time. And that Violet Flame Pill had already been given to the clan, so he really didn’t have any more pills on him.
“This….” Liao Yuntu’s face trembled, and he started to quickly think of ways to get Yao Chen to refine some more.
However, before he opened his mouth, Yao Chen ponderingly said, “If senior Liao isn’t extremely busy, tomorrow I can refine a second batch. However I want Ice Cold Grass and Seven Woven Flower Buds. In addition to these two medicinal ingredients, if you could use a top grade Tiger Bonetail to exchange for the Violet Flame Pill then that would be best.”
Top grade Tiger Bonetail. Tiger Bonetail might not be an extremely rare medicinal ingredient, but its top grade form was still hard to obtain. However as long as you were willing to pay a high price it was not something that you had to be worried about not obtaining. As for the Ice Cold Grass and the Seven Woven Flower Buds, their price was quite high, but they weren’t considered rare and precious medicinal ingredients. As long as you had money you could effortlessly obtain it.
In Liao Yuntu’s opinion, these kinds of conditions were not difficult. This kind of reverse made him feel a bit strange, but turning his head to look at fatty Luo who was struggling to gorge himself on the various delicacies on the table, he started to laugh in his heart. Thinking it over, he realized these two were just two children who hadn’t seen the world… this additional refinement would actually be quite cheap for him.
“Do you need anything else? There’s no need to hold back; you don’t need to be courteous to this older brother.”
“Nothing else. Top grade Tiger Bonetail is enough.”
The simple and unsophisticated Yao Chen shook his head. To the current him, refining this Violet Flame Pill wasn’t such a huge deal anymore and in addition… the Violet Flame Pill’s necessary medicinal ingredients were actually quite cheap. Other than the work in refining, just one top grade Tiger Bonetail was an equal cost for ten batches of Violet Flame Pill’s medicinal ingredients.
In Yao Chen’s eyes, he managed to obtain a small advantage. But Liao Yuntu was well aware that he was the one who had obtained an extremely large advantage, to the point where he was somewhat uneasy about it. Now when he looked at Yao Chen, the amount of sincerity in his gaze had increased by quite a lot.
As for Luo Shu, he was completely engrossed with eating. As a food-eater, once he started eating he would stop paying attention to other people’s chatting, so their conversation was like wind past his ears.
In the evening, the large plaza in front of the Clan Monument was already completely full. A crowd of people had arrived at the established time for the clan announcement.
Not only would this announcement include the top eight, it would also include the other top thirty. These thirty people would also go on to receive important positions within the clan. Although the resources would mostly go to the top eight, but other than the various medicinal pills and ingredients for training, cultivation techniques were also just as important. All the top thirty would have three opportunities to enter the clan treasury to obtain a cultivation technique.
In front of the Clan Monument was a wooden wall that was painted red, and on top of the wooden wall a Dou Formation that was currently on standby. Three well known elders walked up in front of the Clan Monument, their hands holding three scrolls. These scrolls linked up to the formation.
“The time has arrived… release the rankings!”
A rumbling sound like cannons rang out as the three elders simultaneously lifted the scrolls in their hand, and majestic Dou Qi connected them to their formation.
Light flowed out of the red wall. Golden words appeared on a black background.
“Rank 30, Bi Jianye, refined a third tier Lotus Sutra Pill….”
The rankings were displayed by those golden words, and after each person’s rank and name was also the pill they had refined.
This was just another way the Medicine Competition maintained its absolute fairness.
Nor far from the monument was the seventeen-year-old Bi Ye. He began to cry tears of joy and in a short while a whole crowd of clansmen gathered around him, giving him all kinds of veneration and trying to pull him in. This was simply the kind of thing that happened when you became famous.
Boom… the golden words continued to flash, and name after name started to appear.
Yao Yun’s expression was extremely dark at this time. Now that Yao Chen had obtained one of the top eight positions, the person he hated the most would have to be reserved for him. In Yao Yun’s thinking, Yao Chen had taken his qualifications, so Yao Chen’s current position should have originally been his. In the end, he didn’t even think it over in the slightest. Even if he was given the qualifications for the Medicine Competition, just how could he manage to enter the final eight with his level of strength?
“Rank 11, Zuo Hongle….”
Another disciple form the clan school’s social circle entered the list, but Zuo Hongle still wasn’t happy. Turning towards Li Yanxin, he raged, “Ah, to think I’d be ranked behind you.”
Li Yanxin smiled slightly. “It’s also possible that I didn’t get ranked.”
“Don’t speak nonsense. This time it’ll count as your victory, but I’ll beat you for sure next time.”
Zuo Hongle unwillingly slapped his leg; during the clan school’s Great Competition a month ago, it had been him who had obtained the advantage between the two of them, but this time it was Li Yanxin who ended up stronger than him by just a bit.
As expected, the next name to appear on the list was Li Yanxin.
Yao Yun who became even more infuriated when he saw his fellow clan school disciples appear on the rankings. He originally thought that it would be him on the rankings, but now, let alone entering onto the rankings, he didn’t even have the qualification to participate!
The hatred in his heart continued to grow, but Yao Yun continued watching, wanting to see just what Yao Chen relied on in order to enter into the top eight. In addition, Yao Chen didn’t obtain a title for his alchemy skills, which could be used to question his standing in the rankings. As long as he could bring up this problem with the public crowd, and then agitate the clansmen into making a ruckus about it… Yao Chen wouldn’t even be able to think about participating in the ultimate, final battle of the Medicine Competition.
Although this didn’t bring any benefits to him, sometimes just seeing someone you hated suffer was also a kind of joy. The wonderful flavor of vengeance was something that caused people to never be able to free themselves.
Finally the rankings arrived at the top eight.
Rank 8, Yao Chen. Refined a fourth tier Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill as the main pill, and a secondary fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill ….
When the fourth tier Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill appeared on the red wall, nobody had any kind of reaction. The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill was a fourth tier pill that could increase flame attributes’ Dou Qi’s strength for a time, and could also decrease the effect of an enemy’s flame attribute Dou Techniques. Of course such an increase in strength had a limit, and once a person was past the three star Da Dou Shi class, the defensive increase would be almost negligible.
Although it wasn’t that bad of a pill, it wasn’t something that could cause a person to be shocked or delighted. Within the Yao clan were too many pills to count that had similar effects and might even have higher efficiencies.
However when the next few words appeared, a secondary fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill, shouts and cries immediately started to ring out.
“What, a Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill? How could it be fourth tier!? Isn’t that a sixth tier medicinal pill?”
“Secondary pill? Why is the Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill the secondary pill?”
Only the word ‘unimaginable’ could describe the shock that the Yao clan members received.
Not everyone was necessarily an alchemist in the Yao clan. But every single clan member had a great knowledge of all the various famous pills. The Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill could resist the Demon Bug; whether it was in terms of subduing it or expelling the poison, there was a significant effect.
Amongst the demon clans, the Demon Bugs were undoubtedly the most difficult to deal with. Previously, every pill that had an effect on the Demon Bug was at least a fifth tier medicinal pill. But now they unexpectedly said that this Demon Bug Curse Suppression Pill was a fourth tier medicinal pill….
It wasn’t that they doubted the Yao clan elders’ impartial judgement, but it really did break people’s previous knowledge and assumptions, and the person who broke this knowledge into pieces was a younger alchemist without even a tier title… Yao Chen.
“The clan elders found three different Demon Bugs… the effect was very prominent, with two dying and one submitting….”
The following words about testing the medicine shocked people into an even more dull state. They didn’t want to believe it, but with the Medicine Competition’s complete impartiality, there was no need for doubt.
Such a test result stupefied everyone; they wanted to doubt it, but the Medicine Competition was absolutely impartial.
A bit further away, the female members of the Demon Saint’s clan were indifferently looking over. The Sacred Daughter who was being protected in the center their group was staring over.  With her vision, even if they were separated by over sixty meters she would still be able to clearly read the golden words announcing the rankings.
“Fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill? Wasn’t this originally a sixth tier medicinal pill? Did they simplify it? The effect is quite remarkable. Haha, this Yao Chen is actually a bit interesting. Granny, how about we go look for him?”
“Cough, exalted Sacred Daughter, this is the Yao clan, not Demon Saint Valley.”
The Sacred Daughter charmingly exhaled a breath of air, and her black veil lifted up, revealing a pair of fragrant red lips that caused all the world’s color to disappear.
“He could have refined any pill. Just why did he have to refine something targeting our Demon clan...”
“Exalted Sacred Daughter!”
“Ok, I know. If we want to take care of him then we have to wait till he’s out of the Yao clan’s territory.”
“Cough, exalted Sacred Daughter, please pay attention to your words.” The granny helplessly shook her head. Although this Sacred Daughter had been given her title by her master, but… if she was this stubborn and mischievous, maybe even he would also start to get a headache. Otherwise why would he have sequestered her to Demon Saint Valley? The amount of trouble the Sacred Daughter caused in Demon Saint Valley was something that every demon was aware of.
“That’s right, this Yao Chen, what does he look like?”
The granny remained silent for a good time before leaning in and whispering in reply, “He’s the one who the exalted Sacred Daughter said was extremely boring to watch.”
Hope for the best; humans, a good heart, etc., nothing could help your fate.
Passing late into the night, the Yao clan gradually become calm again….
However things were not calm in the Second Elder’s home.
“Big brother, father still hasn’t returned home?” Standing outside was Yao Feng. Whenever he was in front of his older brother Yao Wangui, he would always act respectfully, more like a disciple than a little brother.
Yao Wangui nodded. He was someone who appeared extremely plain, with nothing distinguishable on his body. Even when he was standing right there it would be easy for you to miss him if you weren’t looking closely. Compared to Yao Feng who was someone who displayed his talent for all to see, the two were completely different types of geniuses.
Completely ordinary; that was the kind of first impression that Yao Wangui gave off. Ordinary stature and ordinary appearance. Even his acquaintances and friends might have to think about it for a bit before they managed to recollect his appearance.
“However, father has passed some news from over there. This person called Yao Chen might end up being your greatest competition.”
“Yao Chen?” Yao Feng was extremely startled. “Big brother, you think that a bottom disciple like him is worth me paying attention to?”
“You didn’t go see the rankings?”
“What’s the point in me going? I’m already first place.”
“Yao Chen ranked number eight. His furnace had dual pills, the main pill being the fourth tier Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Pill corresponding with his Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique. His secondary pill was a Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill. Hearing this news, you still think that he isn’t worth your attention?”
Yao Feng’s expression changed, “Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill? Isn’t this a sixth tier pill?”
“You’re a smart person, so is there a need for me to explain further?” Yao Wangui coldly looked at his younger brother.
Yao Feng’s face whitened. “Don’t tell me… he simplified the Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill, and managed to refine two pills in one furnace… then that means, his Spiritual Perception….”
“It’s stronger than yours.”
“But….”
“The only thing you are better than him in is your Dou Qi class. If you don’t manage to seize first place at this time’s Medicine Competition, father will probably add another little brother into the family inheritance.”
“Big brother, I….”
“I’ll go out again and scout him to find out whether it’s simply that his luck is good, or whether he actually has such ability.”
Yao Wangui’s eyes turned faintly suspicious… Yao Chen, was he really just a nine star Dou Zhe?
Not taking into account whether he was actually a talent or not, obstructing his family’s path would only have one conclusion.
The next day’s early morning.
Liao Yuntu came to call, and who knows how he had calculated it, but somehow Yao Chen had just finished his morning training when Liao Yuntu coincidentally rang the courtyard bell, so the timing ended up being perfect.
“Haha, Ice Cold Grass, Seven Woven Flower Buds, and three top grade Tiger Bonetails. Little friend, please accept these things. As for refining the pill, it can wait….”
Liao Yuntu was just about to say that he could find an opportunity after the Medicine Competition had ended before finding the time to refine a Violet Flame Pill.
But Yao Chen smiled and said, “I can start the refinement right now.”
“Wha-, what?” Liao Yuntu opened and closed his mouth a couple times. Starting the refinement now? Didn’t he need to prepare for the final battle of the Medicine Competition?
There were only three days until the final battle. Yao Chen needed to relieve some of the excess fire attribute Dou Qi in his body over these three days. This was also a kind of training. Even if he didn’t refine medicine, he still had to find some other method to release this Dou Qi.
In addition, the pure and simple Yao Chen believed in handing over the purchase at the same time as the payment. Now that he had obtained the three top grade Tiger Bonetails, the faster he refined the medicinal pill, the faster he could fulfill his part of the bargain.
Of course, Liao Yuntu also felt that the sooner it was refined the better. Yao Chen’s fame was becoming greater and greater. First it was the Violet Flame Pill, then it was dual pills in one furnace, and one of them was even a simplified sixth tier medicinal pill, a fourth tier Demon Bug Curse Suppressing Pill. Obviously once he became famous more and more people would start to come looking for him.
Currently there was no one present because the Yao clan put up a restriction on meeting him. The people selected for the Medicine Competition’s final battle were protected from being disturbed during this time.
As for Liao Yuntu who could get close to Yao Chen, the main reason was that he acted quickly. As long as he didn’t cause Yao Chen to dislike him, then the Yao clan’s secret guards that were protecting him would naturally not meddle in other people’s business.
Although, Yao Chen’s decision to immediately refine the pill still caused him to feel uneasy. “Uh, you don’t need to do this. Don’t let this have an effect on your display at the final battle of the Medicine Competition.”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about this. Actually, refining medicine is a kind of training for me.” Yao Chen smiled. It was truthfully a kind of training that he had to do anyways.
As for providing medicinal ingredients, naturally it Liao Yuntu who provided them. He took out a Storage Ring filled with various kinds of medicinal ingredients, saying, “This Storage Ring contains all kinds of medicinal ingredients. Just treat it as a very small reward. Please receive them well little brother Yao Chen.”
Yao Chen simply accepted it. Focusing his consciousness into the ring, he became startled. This Storage Ring contained an extremely large space, enough for ten rooms.