“The assembly is adjourned” - Cheon Chu Han proclaimed. - “Those interested may attend the traditional feast.”
With that, the sect leader rose from his throne and vanished in a flash. The crowd immediately erupted into a louder buzz, discussing the latest developments.
“Elder Sun Wei Bonk wishes to speak with you” - said a servant who promptly approached me.
“Let’s go” - I nodded.
The crowd stared at me, pointing and murmuring. I doubted I had been summoned for anything nefarious. The servant wore the garments of the Sun family, so there shouldn’t have been any confusion about who needed me urgently — especially given that the elder himself was openly watching me without breaking his gaze. Following the servant, I entered an adjacent, richly decorated hall. The atmosphere here was more businesslike, and prying ears were notably absent.
“Tan Ji Tao” - Sun Wei Bonk said as soon as I stepped into the room.
“I greet the elder” - I replied with a slight bow.
“As you may know, my grandson recently perished” - the elder began without preamble. - “My own son has failed to live up to expectations, so I have decided to adopt a grandson who will inherit my legacy. Your powerful cultivation foundation caught my attention even back in the camp. I wish to give you the opportunity to prove that you are worthy of joining my family.”
“It would be an honor, Elder” - I said with another bow.
“You have become a senior student of the Outer Court and a Master Alchemist. That is a good start. But to even be considered as a candidate to join my family, you must first reach the first level of Foundation Establishment.”
“I will do everything in my power to reach that level as quickly as possible” - I replied sincerely.
“I expect nothing less. Your current status is still too low for me to take you under my protection. Therefore, you will become the personal student of Grandmaster Alchemist Mu Niam.”
At that moment, the smiling alchemist who had served as a judge during the trial entered the room.
“I greet you, Master” - I said with yet another bow. It was time to rise above the need to bow to everyone I met.
“Of course, I accept this highly respected alchemist as my new mentor” - I added.
“Then I leave him in your care, Mu Niam” - Sun Wei Bonk said, giving me a stern look before turning and walking away.
“Tan Ji Tao, as the representative of the Alchemist Guild in the Sect of Heavenly Blades, I want to congratulate you once again and present you with this guild member’s ring. You are now my personal student. However, let’s keep this between us for now. I will announce it officially later.”
“Understood” - I nodded. Oh, how these political intrigues amused me.
“For now, I would like to invite you to the Alchemists’ Banquet that our guild is hosting in honor of welcoming another Master Alchemist. Let’s go.”
“Thank you” - I said as I followed my new teacher.
Glancing into the ring he had given me, I found a set of clothing made from higher-quality materials in the guild’s colors. Other than that, it held nothing particularly interesting.
“I think I should change” - I suggested.
“We’ll stop by the bathhouse first, where you can wash off the sweat and blood of a student and don the attire befitting an alchemist” - Mu Nyan replied, making it clear which outfit I should choose.
“Of course.”
Half an hour later, I entered a cozy hall, freshly bathed, impeccably dressed, and smelling faintly of herbs. Around a large table sat about twenty people. Judging by the badges on their clothing, only three were Grandmasters. It seemed the guild was experiencing a shortage of skilled personnel.
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I was introduced to the assembly and seated beside Chu Zhu Zhu, who apparently was still officially considered my teacher. The initial toasts followed protocol: praises for the guild, the celebration of new achievements, and the raising of weak wine or herbal tea. I opted for tea, not wanting to discover how alcohol might affect me on such an important occasion. Besides, a drunk cultivator was a disaster waiting to happen.
Once the formalities concluded, Chu Zhu Zhu began boasting about how he had raised a genius student like me. He proudly declared that my success in the trials elevated him above ordinary alchemists. This unsubtle attempt to equate himself with Mu Niam didn’t go unnoticed. At the height of his triumph, the Grandmaster calmly interjected, revealing that I had already agreed to become his personal student, as Chu Zhu Zhu no longer had anything to teach me.
My former teacher was visibly disheartened, casting a reproachful glance at me before proceeding to drown his sorrows in wine, nearly chugging it from the bottle.
Meanwhile, Mu Niam decided to assert his superiority by inquiring about the "great treasure" Chu Zhu Zhu supposedly found in the toilet of the Eighth Expedition to the Blue Mountains. In response, Zhu Ru Ru retorted that Mu Nyam should handle toilet excavations himself, as he had never indulged in such activities. A squabble ensued, and, frustrated by his opponent's resilience, Mu Niam began recounting all the times he had managed to prank his former "classmate” with whom he had once started studying alchemy and cultivation.
Mu Niam took the spotlight during the banquet, recounting anecdotes of his youthful pranks on Chu Zhu Zhu. While some of the stories were humorous, they served a more strategic purpose — establishing his dominance over his old rival. As the tales continued, a heated exchange flared between the two alchemists.
At one point, Mu Niam declared, “I hope you meet your end soon, Chu Zhu Zhu.” The remark stirred the room, and I decided it was time to intervene before the banquet devolved into chaos.
“Master Mu Niam” - I said, turning to him with a respectful smile. - “You should not wish death upon Master Chu Zhu Zhu.”
“What? Are you daring to tell me what to do?” - Mu Niam glared at me, his intoxicated gaze narrowing in challenge.
“If Master Chu Zhu Zhu dies, who will entertain you with such delightful stories and pranks?” - I replied, feigning innocence.
Mu Niam paused, seemingly caught off guard. Then, he broke into raucous laughter. - “Ha! Ha-ha! You’re right, Tan Ji Tao. Long life to you, Master Chu Zhu Zhu! Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
The room joined in the laughter, the tension dissolving. Even Chu Zhu Zhu managed a drunken smile before collapsing face-first into a salad I had strategically placed in front of him. This prompted another round of laughter, and the gathering shifted to a lighter, more celebratory mood.
As the banquet continued into the evening, the alchemists began sharing amusing or interesting stories from their lives. While they sipped weak wine or herbal tea, I quietly observed, using the opportunity to gather valuable information about the guild’s inner politics — who allied with whom, who held grudges, and who could potentially be useful to me.
The room gradually emptied as the alchemists either left for their quarters or passed out at the table. I remained completely sober, seeing no point in dulling my senses. The insights I had gained during the evening would prove crucial for navigating the sect’s intricate web of alliances and rivalries.
Once the banquet concluded, one of the junior alchemists offered to guide me to the Outer Court steward, who would assign me living quarters. By then, it was late, and the main officials had retired for the night, leaving the task to their deputies.
We left the palace, descending a moonlit path that led to a small settlement clinging to the mountain slope. After half an hour of walking, we reached the designated building, and my guide promptly left.
Inside, behind a stone counter, sat a young man at the eighth level of Qi Condensation. He looked me over with a skeptical smirk as I introduced myself.
“I’m Tan Ji Tao, a senior student of the Outer Court and a Master Alchemist” - I announced. - “I need a residence suitable for my status.”
“Senior student?” - he sneered. - “Well, well. Follow me.”
He grabbed a glowing crystal that served as a light source and led me through a series of passages carved into the mountain. As we walked, I noted the condition of the living quarters. Most were simple stone cells with no amenities. Some didn’t even have doors. What a miserable sight.
“Here’s your room” - he finally said, pointing to a spacious but filthy chamber. The floor was half stone, half dirt, and one wall leaked foul-smelling liquid from a nearby latrine.
“Are you joking? I’m a Master Alchemist and a senior student, and you’re offering me this hovel?” - I asked, my voice sharp with anger.
“You’re just a boy with a fifth-level Qi Condensation” - he replied smugly, clearly relishing his perceived authority. - “If I say you’ll live here, then you’ll live here.”
I didn’t waste time arguing. Without a word, I drove my fist into his stomach. The force made him double over, but before he could cry out, I jabbed his throat, silencing him. What followed was a systematic beating, during which I broke several of his ribs and both his arms. Lifting his whimpering body by the throat, I looked him in the eyes and spoke coldly.
“You should respect alchemists and senior students. Consider this a lesson for your insolence. If you dare complain about me to anyone, I will ensure you die a slow, painful death, and your body will never be found.”
With that, I tossed him into a dark corner near the latrine. To emphasize my point, I activated the Malicious Gaze technique at full intensity. Judging by the urine-soaked puddle forming around him, the effect was convincing.