Chapter 132: Zhen Dan Association

After joining the Medicine Saint Sect, Lin Chao's life became busy.

As a disciple, one is actually just a large-scale labor force.

Every day, besides studying alchemy, Lin Chao also had to take on some miscellaneous chores.

These chores were tasks that Lin Chao had to complete within the sect.

The chores Lin Chao craved were naturally those of a maintenance worker in the Library Pavilion.

However, such leisurely work was not so easy to obtain.

At this moment, Liu Yu looked at Lin Chao, accepted the Spirit Stones handed over by Lin Chao, and his gaze was kind: "I heard that Junior Brother Xiang Lin passed this assessment and successfully remained at Heavenly Pill Peak."

"Just luck," Lin Chao said calmly.

Liu Yu gave Lin Chao a meaningful look: "From now on, the task of managing the Library Pavilion will be handed to you."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Liu Yu."

For this Library Pavilion task, Lin Chao had also spent quite a lot.

"By the way, I must also congratulate you, Junior Brother." Suddenly, Liu Yu changed the subject.

"Oh?"

"I heard that your performance in this assessment, Junior Brother, was valued by an Elder.

If nothing unexpected happens, it won't be long before Junior Brother Lin Chao is invited to join the Zhen Dan Association, right?"

"Zhen Dan Association, what is this?" Lin Chao was puzzled; he pushed his hand, and immediately, quite a few Spirit Stones fell into Liu Yu's hand.

Liu Yu accepted them, a smile on his face: "Do you know why the Medicine Saint Sect was able to stay out of the great war between Dongsheng State and Aurora State?"

"Because most of the powerful alchemists in Jiuzhou come from the Medicine Saint Sect," Lin Chao answered with a common saying.

"Not so," Liu Yu shook his head, "Actually, it is because our Medicine Saint Sect has the Zhen Dan Association.

The Zhen Dan Association is the true core of our Medicine Saint Sect!"

Lin Chao fell into thought.

He did not quite understand.

What was the difference between this Zhen Dan Association and the Medicine Saint Sect?

Dongsheng State feared the power of the Zhen Dan Association's alchemists, and consequently feared the Medicine Saint Sect; wasn't that normal?

Liu Yu had a smile on his face; it was clear he did not intend to go into depth. He continued: "The daily routine of our Medicine Saint Sect's alchemists is to follow the Pill Manual, refine pills, and improve their alchemy techniques.

The Zhen Dan Association is different; the Zhen Dan Association does not refine pills, they study pills."

"So that's how it is." Lin Chao roughly understood what the Zhen Dan Association was like.

Actually, if he wanted to improve his alchemy ability and cure Jia Xiangjun, the Zhen Dan Association was more suitable for him.

"Many thanks for informing me, Senior Brother."

Lin Chao parted ways with Liu Yu and returned to his cave dwelling.

The next day, Lin Chao went to the Library Pavilion.

What he had to do in the Library Pavilion was very simple: put books back in their original places and categorize them.

This did not consume much time, so Lin Chao had time every day to soak in the Library Pavilion and read.

The books in the Medicine Saint Sect's Library Pavilion were even more numerous than those of the Xiang Family.

However, the books in this Library Pavilion were mostly about medicine, pills, and the like.

Lin Chao read books seriously every day, accumulating more and more knowledge about medicinal pills.

Under the blessing of the Scholar's Heart talent, his comprehension regarding medicinal pills became higher and higher.

Time passed slowly.

The second assessment ended.

The few people who had entered Heavenly Pill Peak with Lin Chao gathered for a small meal at a restaurant.

Lin Chao did not refuse.

At this moment, everyone had different expressions.

Of the twelve people who entered Heavenly Pill Peak, only Lin Chao, Long Qian, and Mu Yuntou remained.

The other nine had not passed the second assessment.

"In the future, I will have to trouble Senior Brother Xiang Lin, Senior Brother Long Qian, and Senior Sister Mu to look after me."

"Mm, easily done," Mu Yuntou had a very good personality, "Since we all entered the Medicine Saint Sect together, we should naturally help each other."

Long Qian looked at Mu Yuntou, a trace of infatuation appearing in his eyes.

"Naturally."

At this time, Long Qian looked at Lin Chao, squinting his eyes: "I heard that Junior Brother Xiang Lin was favored by an Elder and is about to join the Zhen Dan Association?"

The others all looked at Lin Chao, their gazes filled with envy.

They couldn't even manage to stay at Heavenly Pill Peak.

Yet Lin Chao was joining the higher Zhen Dan Association; how could one not be envious?

"As far as I know, alchemists who can join the Zhen Dan Association after only two assessments are rare even within the Zhen Dan Association," Long Qian revealed an envious look in his eyes.

He had traveled thousands of miles to come to the Medicine Saint Sect just to join the Zhen Dan Association.

However, although his alchemy talent was high, it would take at least several years to join the Zhen Dan Association.

Yet Xiang Lin could join the Zhen Dan Association in less than a year.

Lin Chao's expression was calm; he looked at Long Qian with interest: "Just luck."

Ever since he was favored by the Zhen Dan Association, Long Qian and Mu Yuntou often showed him favor, whether implicitly or explicitly.

This was human nature, and Lin Chao could understand it very well.

The meal dragged on until late at night.

The others drank until they were dead drunk.

This scene felt quite like the final dinner party before graduation.

During this time, one person named Wang Tengzhi expressed his feelings to Mu Yuntou, but was ultimately rejected.

Lin Chao sat quietly, his expression calm.

"Does the Zhen Dan Association have anything to do with a true dragon?"

Lin Chao had always felt that there might be traces of a true dragon's existence within Heavenly Pill Peak.

However, those traces were hidden very deeply, and Lin Chao had not discovered them.

Currently, his strength was still very weak, merely at the Nirvana Realm, and he could not yet run rampant in the Medicine Saint Sect.

Moreover, to Lin Chao, Heavenly Pill Peak was not as simple as it appeared.

He often felt many powerful auras flash past Heavenly Pill Peak.

Among them, one aura was as deep as the sea, lurking within Heavenly Pill Peak, making Lin Chao extremely wary.

Otherwise, he would have long since investigated the traces left behind by the true dragon.

The next day, Lin Chao was reading in his cave dwelling.

A voice came from outside.

"May I ask if this is Junior Brother Xiang Lin?

I am Jiang Tai, here to take you to the Zhen Dan Association."

The cave dwelling opened, and Lin Chao's figure appeared: "Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Lin Chao had not refused the invitation letter sent to him by the Zhen Dan Association.

Walking out of the cave dwelling, Lin Chao saw a thin figure and a woman.

"This is Hong Ying, a disciple of Heavenly Pill Peak who is joining the Zhen Dan Association with you this time."

After greeting Hong Ying, the three of them headed to the Zhen Dan Association together.

At this moment, Jiang Tai spoke: "The Zhen Dan Association is different from Heavenly Pill Peak; all disciples who join must first take on a master.

Then, your cultivation and research into alchemy at the Zhen Dan Association will all be under this master.

By the way, you must never offend your master, otherwise, the light punishment is being expelled from the Zhen Dan Association, and the heavy punishment... may even cost you your life."

"May I ask Senior Brother Jiang, which Elder is the master assigned to me and Junior Brother Xiang Lin?" Hong Ying asked.

A strange expression appeared on the thin man's face: "It is Elder Zimo; he is a Grandmaster-level Alchemist."

Alchemists are divided into Primary Alchemist, Intermediate Alchemist, Advanced Alchemist, Quasi-Master Alchemist, Grandmaster Alchemist, Grandmaster-level Alchemist, and King-Level Alchemist.

Anyone who reaches the level of Quasi-Master Alchemist can shed their status as a disciple and become an Elder or Deacon in the Medicine Saint Sect.

A Grandmaster-level Alchemist can be said to be a top-tier alchemist throughout the entire Jiuzhou.

Above King-Level Alchemist, it is rumored that there are Immortal-Level Alchemists.

It is rumored that Immortal-Level Alchemists can use spiritless, mundane objects to refine Immortal Pills, extending a mortal's life by a thousand years.

"It's Elder Zimo?" An excited expression appeared on Yun Ying's face.

"Yes." Jiang Tai nodded and warned, "Elder Zimo's behavior is somewhat strange, and his temper is not very good; do not be surprised when you see him.

By the way, you must never anger Elder Zimo, and do not talk back to Elder Zimo."

"Understood." Yun Ying was very excited.

Coming from a family of Immortal Cultivation, she naturally knew of Elder Zimo.

Among the candidates she wanted to apprentice under when she entered the Zhen Dan Association, one of them was Elder Zimo.

Soon, the group arrived in front of a cave dwelling.

Jiang Tai greeted the young attendant and then left.

Lin Chao and Yun Ying waited in front of the cave dwelling.

They waited for an entire day.

Lin Chao remained very calm.

Yun Ying was not impatient either; instead, she began chatting with Lin Chao.

"My family's elders once served under Elder Zimo.

He said that among Grandmaster-level Alchemists, Elder Zimo is absolutely top-tier, and he even has a chance to become a King-Level Alchemist.

Elder Zimo's alchemy skills are astonishing, it's just that his temper is very bad.

It is perfectly normal for us to wait here for a day or two."

"Who said my temper is bad?" A hoarse voice came from inside.

The cave dwelling opened, and an old man with messy hair appeared.

His eyes were sunken, and his face wore a look of exhaustion.

At this moment, he looked at Yun Ying, a trace of impatience appearing on his face.

Yun Ying's expression changed slightly: "Elder Zimo, these are all rumors; I was just repeating them to Junior Brother Xiang Lin."

Elder Zimo waved his hand: "Stop spreading these rumors; my temper has always been very good."

"Yes, yes." Yun Ying nodded quickly.

Elder Zimo did not seem to have such a bad temper after all.

At the very least, he did not hold it against her.

Just then, a trembling young man walked out from behind Elder Zimo.

Seeing the young man, Elder Zimo suddenly snorted: "Useless thing, you can't even do such a small task well.

Go to the Zhen Dan Association yourself and request to live in isolation at the Nether Ice Spring for one year."

Beside them, Yun Ying was slightly stunned.

The Nether Ice Spring is a ten-thousand-foot ice spring; the ice within can not only freeze a person, but also seize their soul.

With this young man's cultivation and physique, going to live alone at the Nether Ice Spring for a year would not only slow down his alchemy progress, but also leave his body with massive trauma.

This Elder Zimo truly has a bad temper; the punishment given is far too heavy.

Yet, looking at that young man, upon hearing Elder Zimo's punishment, he instead let out a sigh of relief.

"Many thanks, Master; I request to go to the Nether Ice Spring right now."

After speaking, the trembling man ran away as fast as a rabbit.

Seeing this scene, Lin Chao revealed a thoughtful expression.

However, he was not very concerned.

"Follow me into the cave dwelling," Elder Zimo said slowly, looking at the two of them.

(End of chapter)