Chapter 4837 — Deliberately Erased
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
The proposal to inspect the pills had not been a mere whim. With their years of experience as stewards, they genuinely believed these pills had been hastily cobbled together by Chai Laoshi on the spot—otherwise, if the Hong Clan Merchant Guild truly had such a formidable supply, it would not have fallen to the point of being set upon by all sides as it was today.
"No." At this, Qing Xuanzi's expression suddenly turned cold, shifting ominously. "Every pill here is an alchemist's masterpiece. Even if now and then one or two lacked a divine-sense mark, it would be impossible for all of them to lack one. This is the perfect opportunity to cement an alchemist's standing—I guarantee you that not a single alchemist would lightly give it up. Not a single one."
An alchemist cannot get by simply shutting himself away in secluded cultivation. To put it plainly, this is a profession that burns through spirit jade at a terrifying rate; nearly every step of progress demands the consumption of vast quantities of alchemical materials—and at the seventh grade especially, the amount is an incalculable astronomical figure, which, if tallied up, would be far more staggering even than ninety million spirit jade!
And precisely because of this, no seventh-grade alchemist can exist independently. Only a powerful force like the Eastern Continent Academy can afford to support one. And in pursuit of better treatment, every alchemist will exhaust every means to raise their own status and renown—for only thus can they have a chance to go further.
Qing Xuanzi himself had done exactly this, and every high-grade alchemist he had ever met had done the same, without exception.
"A top-grade Golden Core of Gestation, a superior Great Return Pill, a superior Beauty-Enhancing Pill, a superior Thunder Mystic Pill—every pill here is a rare top-grade pill for a seventh-grade alchemist. Simply stamping one's mark on these pills would make one a chief alchemist at any Yellow-Rank Academy without question. Do any of you think there is anyone who would voluntarily give up such an opportunity?" Qing Xuanzi cast Chai Laoshi a glance.
Faced with Qing Xuanzi's invisible pressure, Chai Laoshi involuntarily retreated two steps, while the others nodded repeatedly. No alchemist would not want to become a chief alchemist—Qing Xuanzi's words were indeed quite reasonable.
"B-but... but these pills truly bear no divine-sense marks at all. How do you explain that?" Chai Laoshi questioned, steeling himself.
"Very simple. These pills did originally carry divine-sense marks—they were merely deliberately erased by someone. As for why anyone would do that, I doubt I need to explain further." Qing Xuanzi's tone was unfathomable.
"Master Qing Xuanzi is right. Chai Laoshi, you look like an honest man, but who would have thought you'd be so cunning behind the scenes—resorting to such filthy tricks just to swindle the supplier qualification. How sinister!" Wan Zhongjie, Steward Hao, and the others chimed in at once, kicking a man when he was down.
"You—!" Chai Laoshi opened his mouth in grief and indignation, yet could not get out a single complete sentence. This Qing Xuanzi was plainly siding with the other guilds, yet the man's words, spoken from his position, were flawless—and even if he argued, it was obvious whom the people present would believe.
"Academy Head, that is my conclusion." Qing Xuanzi did not so much as glance at Chai Laoshi, turning directly to Ling Yuanqing. The implication was plain for all to see. (To be continued.)