Chapter 18

After his father left, every day, besides practicing his sword, Heng Xian used the "Profound Yellow Heavenly Hexagram" to research medicinal pills and herbs to replenish the Sword Saint True Body and break through his cultivation realm.

In just a few days, he had spent all 700,000 low-quality spirit crystals.

He chewed various medicinal pills as if they were candy; if outsiders knew, they would surely be scared out of their wits.

However, when used on him, one could only say it was just alright.

He discovered that his body seemed different from others; it was definitely enough to break through to the fifth level of the Innate Realm,

but after the previous continuous breakthroughs, his body still needed a period of balance and accumulation.

On the morning of the seventh day after his father left, the "Pill Medicine Assembly" of Donglan City began.

The "Pill Medicine Assembly" was held under the guidance of alchemists from the Donglan City branch of the "Pill Refining Alliance," one of the most mysterious and massive powers in the cultivation world,

and was an annual pill-refining exchange assembly for the five great families and thirteen small families.

This "Pill Medicine Assembly" had two purposes:

First, to screen for promising seedlings with talent in pill refining for the "Pill Refining Alliance."

Unfortunately, alchemists were as rare as cultivation geniuses; a family might not produce one in several generations.

Currently, the alchemists of the various great families were just third-rate, barely able to refine some first or second-grade ordinary pills.

Basically, they had no future.

Second, to distribute the annual quota of high-grade pills from the "Pill Refining Alliance" according to the rankings of the various families.

For example, Innate Pills, Qi Condensing Pills, etc., could not be refined by local families.

They had to be issued by the "Pill Refining Alliance."

Early in the morning.

The four main streets in front of the Heng Family Mansion had already been cleared.

South Street.

About fifty experts from the City Lord's Ye Family arrived slowly, riding a group of two-horned demon oxen.

City Lord Ye Baili was at the very front, followed by the Ye Family's genius youth, Ye Xiaoyao.

"This is the road to the Heng Family; surely you know that," Ye Baili said.

Ye Xiaoyao nodded: "Grandson knows."

Ye Baili looked at him: "Then do you know why we are targeting the Heng Family, and even want to destroy them?"

Ye Xiaoyao said without hesitation: "The Heng Family is the oldest family in Donglan City, and their strength has declined to fourth place,

yet they occupy the most resources; the other families should naturally unite to destroy them!"

Ye Baili stroked his beard with satisfaction: "Do you think doing this is right?"

Ye Xiaoyao smiled: "Naturally it is right; in the cultivation world, the weak are prey to the strong. The Heng Family is declining and should be destroyed!"

Ye Baili laughed: "Very good, but you have no talent for pill refining; I brought you here this time just to let you observe."

Ye Xiaoyao nodded: "Grandson knows. At this Pill Medicine Assembly, we will fiercely humiliate the Heng Family and take the opportunity to win over their family's retainers."

Ye Baili looked up and laughed.

East Street, about fifty experts from the Xiao Family arrived slowly, riding massive wind wolf demon beasts.

Leading them was the family head, Xiao Nantian, who looked at the Xiao Family's genius girl, Xiao Qiyun, beside him and said: "In the world of cultivation, one cannot harbor the slightest bit of kindness.

Possessing more resources is the hope for a family's rise. I brought you here to let you see the Heng Family's decline and the fate of being bullied by others!"

Xiao Qiyun was dressed in white, slender and pretty, with a cold expression: "In my heart, there is only becoming stronger, the strongest; there has never been a shred of kindness!"

"Very good!"

West Street, dozens of people from the Li Family also arrived slowly, riding demon beasts.

The Li Family head, Li Ruhai, was fair and plump, but a fierce glint appeared in his small eyes as he said to the two Li Family geniuses beside him, Li Lingxiao and Li Linghan:

"You two are currently only at the ninth level of the Innate Realm, temporarily lagging behind Ye Xiaoyao and Xiao Qiyun, but you must never be discouraged.

Before the Heng Family is exterminated, I will naturally strive to secure more resources for you.

This time, I'll take you to see the Heng Family's pathetic state first!"

Li Lingxiao and Li Linghan, the siblings, nodded: "Yes!"

"As I expected, the geniuses of the other families will all come to observe the ceremony this time.

You have no talent for pill refining, so you don't need to study pills; just study them.

At the Donglan Martial Arts Competition two months from now, they will be your opponents. When the time comes, let them be shocked."

"Grandson understands!"

On another street.

A group of people from the Sun Family also arrived slowly.

Sun Bufan followed behind with drooping eyebrows, looking up at the conversation between his grandfather, Sun Heshan, and the family genius, his cousin Sun Bukong.

He scratched the tip of his nose awkwardly.

Not only the four great families, but the teams of the other thirteen small families also arrived slowly.

Among them, the Xue Family's Xue Zhengnian, his son Xue Hao, and Xue Jiaojiao and others were full of hatred.

On the Heng Family's southwest martial arts field, the pill refining platform had already been set up.

Thirty pill furnaces stood impressively on the platform.

Seating for one thousand people had also been prepared all around.

One hundred of the Heng Family's most handsome and best-cultivating young guards stood guard around the perimeter.

One hundred pretty Heng Family girls had also prepared fresh snacks and melons and fruits.

Inside the building next to the martial arts field, Heng Xiu, Heng Wei, and a large group of Heng Family elders were giving final mobilization to three youths wearing pill-refining robes:

"This year is the Heng Family's home field, and only the three of you have talent for pill refining!"

"This is an opportunity for our Heng Family; you must not be nervous!"

"The quota and the outcome this time will determine how many high-grade pills we can get from the Pill Refining Alliance in the coming year."

"You must exert your full potential!"

"Yes! We will definitely do our best!" the three youths replied timidly.

Heng Xiu looked at Heng Ruze, Heng Yin, Heng Xu, and Xie Lingyu and the group of juniors: "You all follow along to watch too!"

"Yes!"

The group filed out of the building.

Just as they walked out, at the front gate, the people from the four great families and thirteen small families had already entered.

Heng Xiu immediately led Heng Wei and the group to greet them, smiling and cupping his hands: "City Lord, Brother Xiao, Brother Li, Brother Sun, everyone, your arrival makes the Heng Family shine!"

"You're too kind!"

City Lord Ye Baili, Xiao Nantian, Li Ruhai, Sun Heshan, and others nodded slightly.

Then the various families took their seats one after another.

Not long after, the cries of immortal cranes were heard in the distance, and five white cranes carrying five people flashed over from afar, standing in the air and looking down indifferently.

Whether it was the City Lord's Ye Family, the Heng Family, or the other three great families, or the thirteen small families, the hundreds of people all stood up and bowed: "Greetings, honorable alchemists!"

The immortal cranes in the sky then slowly descended, and five people stepped off; four of them wore alchemist robes, and the other was a young girl.

This girl looked to be fifteen or sixteen years old, with her hair in double-ring buns, wearing a water-green long gown, and she was very pretty.

An old alchemist with a white beard scanned the crowd and nodded faintly: "Everyone, no need for formalities."

Having said that, the five of them sat in the host seats in the front row.

The people from the five great families and thirteen small families then sat down.

A thin alchemist said: "This examination will only test five types of low-grade pills: Small Returning Pill, Body Refining Pill, White Dew Pill, Yuan-Returning Pill, and Gold Crushing Pill. Please have the Heng Family prepare the materials."

The Heng Family had long been prepared, and the herbs were immediately carried onto the platform.

The old alchemist with the white beard said: "Very good, there is no need for polite words. If there are good seedlings, they can go to the Pill Refining Alliance to take the alchemist qualification exam!

The final ranking this time will determine the quota of high-grade pills that the various families in Donglan City can purchase from the Pill Refining Alliance in the coming year.

Please, alchemists of each family, take the stage!"

"Yes!"

The alchemists of the five great families and thirteen small families walked to the platform one after another.

They sat down in front of their respective pill furnaces.

The thin alchemist said: "The first round is the Small Returning Pill. After everyone finishes refining, we will rank you based on quality! Begin!"

The platform soon became bustling with activity.

At this time, the girl in the water-green dress beside the white-bearded man curiously turned to look at the camp of the five great families.

Old Master Heng Xiu saw this and immediately whispered to Heng Ruze and the others: "Straighten your backs, the princess is looking over here!"

Heng Xu was surprised: "The girl beside the alchemist is a princess?"

Heng Xiu sighed: "Green phoenix gown, golden phoenix belt, the configuration of a royal princess. If nothing goes wrong, she is here to choose a husband!

The imperial family has always had a tradition of princesses traveling to choose husbands.

If you are chosen, my Heng Family... will have hope of rising!"

Heng Ruze and the others immediately straightened their backs, tossing their hair, looking like handsome young gentlemen!

On the other side, City Lord Ye Baili also whispered: "Xiaoyao, this girl is the Seventh Princess of the Chu Kingdom, Jiang Ziyi. Straighten your..."

Before he could finish speaking, he discovered that Ye Xiaoyao had already locked eyes with the princess.

The princess's face flushed slightly, she glared at him fiercely, and turned her head back.

Ye Xiaoyao smiled indifferently: "This princess, I'm determined to have her!"

(End of chapter)