Chapter 524: Heading to the Heavenly Alchemy Expo

Chapter 524: Heading to the Heavenly Alchemy Expo

December 19, 2024

Three factions found common ground on this matter.

The Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion wanted to further elevate their legitimacy by using Su Chen's theft of their alchemy techniques as leverage.

Ever since Su Chen passed on the jade essence pill refinement techniques to Zhu Ming Palace, the palace's reputation had been on the rise.

The jade essence pills refined by Zhu Ming Palace were of higher quality and greater quantity than those produced by the two sects.

This had significantly boosted Zhu Ming Palace's status.

After the collaboration between the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion, the strength of the two sects had noticeably increased.

However, the damage to their reputations needed to be rectified through other means.

Criticizing Zhu Ming Palace's illegitimate acquisition of techniques was a way to restore their own prestige.

Many people had seen through the intentions of the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion.

But they secretly supported this strategy of the two factions.

The conflict between the Odd Tower, Crystal Pavilion, and Zhu Ming Palace benefited the other powers in the Jin Kingdom.

Although the jade essence pills refined by the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion had slightly more varieties, their quality was noticeably inferior to those of Zhu Ming Palace.

Through this dispute, perhaps obtaining jade essence pills in the future would become less challenging.

For the other powers in the Jin Kingdom, they certainly didn't want a monopoly.

As for Wulan Manor, they wanted to use this opportunity to redeem their negative image of breaking promises.

When it was clear that they had done something wrong and had no chance to argue, the only way to salvage their reputation was to...

...smear the victim.

Wulan Manor had challenged Su Chen, and if Su Chen won, Wulan Manor would not keep their promise.

There was no room for argument, and breaking their word went against the basic moral standards of the major sects.

To redeem themselves, they had to relentlessly smear Su Chen.

Just like in the stories from the storybooks, some righteous characters would resort to underhanded methods.

They would say that when dealing with such a person, one shouldn't bother with morals or keeping promises.

This was Fan Chengyan's plan, to portray Su Chen as a despicable and unscrupulous villain.

If Su Chen was portrayed as such, then breaking promises would be justified.

Perhaps many in the Jin Kingdom would still question and criticize them.

After all, once the act of breaking promises was committed, it was not easy to shake off the stigma.

But if Su Chen's reputation was tarnished, other voices would emerge.

When a matter became controversial, there would be no definite conclusion.

Some would choose to believe in Wulan Manor, thinking that they were still a trustworthy faction.

It had to be said that those in high positions always had ways to resolve crises.

After reading these messages, Su Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, contemplating countermeasures.

He wondered how the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion had learned of his existence.

But it was not surprising that the news had spread.

After Zhu Ming Palace demonstrated their jade essence pill refinement capabilities, the entire sect became a target.

Even if the upper and middle management of Zhu Ming Palace could maintain strict confidentiality, what about the lower ranks?

Many people knew that Su Chen was listed as an honorary elder of Zhu Ming Palace.

It was no surprise that the news reached the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion.

However, it seemed that they knew the jade essence pill techniques of Zhu Ming Palace came from Su Chen.

But to claim that Su Chen stole from them was going too far.

As Su Chen read these messages, it seemed that they were convinced of this point.

It was as if, apart from stealing from them, there was no other way to obtain the jade essence pill refinement methods.

A series of troubles intertwined.

Su Chen felt like he had become the solution to the problem, the root of all the troubles.

Amidst his thoughts, Su Chen prepared to tackle this issue.

With public opinion being so powerful, some mud couldn't be left for the other party to sling.

Especially when it came to charges of stealing alchemy refinement techniques.

In this world, such accusations were extremely severe.

They were as serious as stealing cultivation techniques.

If these charges were proven true, the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion could indeed issue an arrest warrant for Su Chen.

With their joint sale of jade essence pills, it would be easy to rally other Jin Kingdom warriors to arrest him.

That would truly narrow Su Chen's options.

Wulan Manor, on the other hand, might be very pleased with this outcome.

They wanted to make this young man pay dearly.

If the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion could be persuaded to assist in dealing with Su Chen, it would be much easier.

Moreover, Su Chen was only a nominal elder in Zhu Ming Palace.

Elder Fan Chengyan had always been clear about her identity and background. When discussing matters with the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion, she must have provided detailed information. She reassured both sects, stating that they need not worry about being influenced by the power behind her, as the only force she represented was Heaven's Pivot City.

In the Jin State, her city was insignificant. The upcoming Heavenly Alchemy Expo would be an opportunity for the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion to showcase their current capabilities. The two sects had been suppressed by Zhu Ming Palace for some time, and news of their alliance had been spreading. Rumors suggested that after joining forces, their elixir crafting abilities had significantly improved, and the quality of their Jade Essence Pills had noticeably increased. These rumors had been circulating in the Jin State for a while, and the larger sects were likely already aware of this.

However, while the news had spread, many had not witnessed it firsthand. The true alchemy prowess of the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion had not yet been fully revealed to the public. This year's Heavenly Alchemy Expo would be an excellent opportunity to showcase their skills.

The expo would not only attract the Jin State's elixir tycoons but also elixir forces from the Chu State. Of course, in addition to the elixir factions, many other sects would be present. For warriors, elixirs were an extremely important resource. Their cultivation journey was intertwined with resources, training, and talent. Elixirs were a core component of these resources. Aside from cultivation, elixirs were crucial for warriors' healing and recovery. It was not unusual for various sects to send representatives to the Heavenly Alchemy Expo. Furthermore, those who attended the expo were typically core members of their respective sects. No one could guarantee that they would never be injured or need healing throughout their lives.

The Heavenly Alchemy Expo would not solely feature Jade Essence Pills. In fact, before the alliance, the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion ranked around tenth in the Jin State's elixir community. They only had some expertise in crafting Jade Essence Pills. In other areas, they were significantly lacking. Many elixirs in the world did not require the techniques of Jade Essence Pills. For instance, elixirs with intense medicinal properties often needed to be mixed with neutral impurities to reduce their impact on warriors' bodies. As long as the medicinal properties were not too weak, many elixirs did not need the assistance of Jade Essence Pill techniques. Therefore, whether an elixir faction was strong or not was not directly related to their mastery of Jade Essence Pill techniques.

However, due to the scarcity of this technique and the fact that the Heavenly Alchemy Expo had not yet begun, it had already become a highly discussed topic. Jade Essence Pills would undoubtedly attract significant attention at this year's expo.

Su Chen had temporarily confirmed his itinerary. His next destination was the Heavenly Alchemy Expo, where he hoped to find an opportunity to clear his name. Perhaps he would need to seek a new collaboration. Zhu Ming Palace had not betrayed him, but they had also not provided sufficient assistance. Considering the benefits he had brought them, their efforts were far from enough. Maybe, in the eyes of Zhu Ming Palace, he had already given them all he could. His current value was to ensure that the Jade Essence Pill technique was not spread indiscriminately. Other values might no longer be visible to them. Perhaps, in the eyes of Zhu Ming Palace's higher-ups, his remaining worth had become a liability.

Picking up the teacup by his side, he took a sip before continuing to read. Among the related messages, Su Chen found that the truly valuable ones had already been read. The Array Alliance had indeed gathered a lot of information. However, there was little overlap with what he wanted to know. The Array Alliance was more concerned with matters related to border safety and conflicts between sects. They were indifferent to and generally did not inquire about such affairs.

In the Jin State, the Array Alliance seemed like a morally upright organization. Su Chen felt that their style was genuinely principled. No matter which sect or power it was, they were unlikely to have a falling out with the Array Alliance.

After reviewing the relevant intelligence, Su Chen did not stay at the Array Alliance's base. As an Eighth Rank Array Master, he was entitled to a private room at the base. However, Su Chen had no intention of working for the Array Alliance for the time being.

Even if the Array Alliance was willing to offer some benefits, Su Chen felt a bit embarrassed to accept such an offer.

This year's Heavenly Alchemy Expo was to be held in Summer Region City.

Summer Region City was located in the central region of Jin State.

In Jin State, the central area was often referred to as the Furnace due to its scorching climate.

From June to August, and even up to October, the weather could be unbearably hot.

Living here was like residing next to a furnace.

The name 'Summer Region City' originated from this very fact.

Each year, the city seemed to be ruled by the scorching summer, and its name became well-known for this reason.

The end of September marked the beginning of autumn, and the weather would finally become more comfortable.

Although Summer Region City had a few months of unpleasant weather, it became quite pleasant after that period.

Additionally, its advantageous geographical location in the heart of Jin State made it a frequent host to grand events.

The central location of Summer Region City ensured that hosting events here would be fair for participants from all over Jin State, as the travel distance would not be too far.

Su Chen thought carefully and decided not to waste any more time. He prepared to set off for Summer Region City.

The end of the month was not far away.

He wanted to familiarize himself with the environment first, so that when the Heavenly Alchemy Expo began, it would be more beneficial for him.

Along the way, Su Chen could already sense the scope of the Heavenly Alchemy Expo.

Many elixir factions were setting up in the cities along the route to Summer Region City.

These factions were promoting themselves by showcasing their elixirs.

When Su Chen participated in the Array Master examination, he had heard many people mention this.

Compared to Array Masters, the rarity and value of Alchemists were far less.

Jin State actually had quite a number of elixir factions, especially for basic types of elixirs.

Sometimes, there was even an extreme shortage of buyers.

What Jin State lacked were top-tier Alchemists with real skill and prowess.

But then again, what top-tier profession didn't face a shortage? Top-tier Warriors were also a rare breed.

Even top-tier blacksmiths and chefs were scarce.

Among the cities along the way, many small and medium-sized elixir factions displayed various elixirs they had crafted.

They were also aware of their limitations.

During the Heavenly Alchemy Expo, these small and medium-sized factions, lacking unique skills, would not be given a platform to showcase their wares.

They wanted to make a name for themselves, but opportunities to do so were few and far between.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, if they could find some buyers, it would be a huge help to these small and medium-sized elixir factions.

Su Chen didn't pay much attention to these small factions as he passed through the central cities.

These small factions held little value for him.

Continuing on his journey to Summer Region City.

It was just the beginning of October, and the city seemed to be much hotter than before.

Although it was already autumn, compared to other places, the heat was noticeably more oppressive.

Su Chen felt that the surrounding terrain of Summer Region City also contributed to this muggy atmosphere.

Even in autumn, the city was much hotter than other places.

Summer Region City hosted many grand events every year.

As a result, there were numerous taverns and inns in the city.

The locals of Summer Region City were not particularly enthusiastic about anything specific.

During events, the taverns and inns would set up corresponding decorations around the city to attract customers.

Early October, many elixir factions had already set up residence in Summer Region City for the upcoming Heavenly Alchemy Expo.

On the streets, more people were discussing the Way of Elixirs, and even more were setting up stalls to promote their elixirs.

Su Chen spotted a few familiar faces among the crowd.

The Jin Family had also come to participate in the Heavenly Alchemy Expo.

In Great Zhou, the Jin Family had gained a decent reputation.

They had learned some Jade Essence Pill techniques from Su Chen.

However, their mastery of this technique was still very basic.

They could craft fewer types of elixirs, and the effects were not as significant.

Nevertheless, being able to craft elixirs with a jade-like quality already made them far superior to other factions.

The Jin Family stood out among the numerous small and medium-sized factions.

Many factions in Jin State had placed orders for their elixirs.

At this moment, Su Chen had disguised himself, his true identity concealed.

Among the Jin Family members, Jin Yue was not present.

Only Jin Yue's father, Jin Shen, was there, and Su Chen was not particularly close to them.

Therefore, there was no need to greet them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end