"Your Majesty, Master Yang An, if there is nothing further, I will take my leave."
After a bit more conversation, Hua Luoxuan took his leave.
The other Alchemists also departed.
For the past two months, every Alchemist in the royal court had been focused on research and discussion to suppress the Profound Yin Power in His Majesty’s body. They hadn’t returned ho in a very long ti.
"Everyone, to reward you for your hard work, We shall host a banquet in the royal palace this evening. I insist that all you masters attend," Zhao Jing said with a smile.
"Master Hua Luoxuan, there’s still so ti before this evening. Why not co to my residence so we can have a discussion? Moreover, now that His Majesty has appointed you Vice Chairman of the court Alchemists, there are so matters I need to go over with you."
As Hua Luoxuan was leaving the royal palace and preparing to head back, Yang An, the kingdom’s Chief Alchemist, called out to him.
Hua Luoxuan had planned on heading back, but after Yang An’s invitation, he couldn’t very well refuse. He nodded with a smile. "Since Master Yang An has invited , it would be rude to decline."
「Zhao Jing’s Bedchambers」
With the Profound Yin Power in his body suppressed, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.
"By the way, has anything important happened in the kingdom these past few days?"
He hadn’t dealt with any state affairs during his two days of treatnt, refusing all visitors.
"Your Majesty, Dongfang Yanyu of the Soul Master Tower ca to call several tis."
"Oh?" Zhao Jing raised an eyebrow. "Master Dongfang Yanyu never pays a visit unless sothing is amiss. What was his purpose?"
"This servant heard that the Soul Master Tower has a new Fourth Grade Soul Refiner. I imagine Master Dongfang Yanyu’s visit was concerning this matter."
"What? Our Liuyun Kingdom has a new Fourth Grade Soul Refiner?"
Zhao Jing shot to his feet, suddenly thrilled. "Hahaha, the heavens are truly smiling upon the Liuyun Kingdom! This is a double blessing! Why didn’t you inform of such a montous event sooner?"
The attendant fell to his knees, trembling. "Your Majesty was at a critical point in your treatnt those two days. This servant didn’t dare to disturb you, so..."
"Enough. We do not bla you. Who is this newly advanced Soul Refiner?"
"I’m told it is Elder Kuchen from the Soul Master Tower. When Master Dongfang Yanyu ca, he brought the elder with him."
"So it’s him?" Zhao Jing’s eyebrow twitched. He had, of course, heard of the Soul Master Tower’s Kuchen. He laughed heartily. "In that case, the Liuyun Kingdom now has two Fourth Grade Soul Refiners! I’ll have much more confidence in the upcoming Thirteen Countries Soul Refiner Competition. Guards, summon Elder Kuchen for an audience at once! We wish to reward him handsoly."
"At once, Your Majesty!"
「Soul Master Tower」
Elder Kuchen was grumbling to Chairman Dongfang Yanyu. "Chairman, His Majesty hasn’t summoned . What’s the harm if I just step out for a bit?"
Before him sat an old man with a ruddy complexion and graying hair, a constant smile on his face. This was none other than Dongfang Yanyu, Chairman of the Soul Master Tower and the number one Soul Refiner in the Liuyun Kingdom.
He chuckled. "Kuchen, my friend, you’re a Fourth Grade Soul Refiner now. How can you be so impatient? His Majesty’s old ailnt has flared up, and the court Alchemists have been in an uproar. However, I’ve heard they’ve successfully concocted the ancient Spirit dicine, the Spirit Suppressing Pill. I expect His Majesty’s condition will improve in the next day or two. As soon as he hears about you, he will certainly summon you. If you’re gone, what am I to tell him?"
"What’s there to explain? I’m just going to look for a young friend. It won’t take long."
"It doesn’t matter if it’s quick or not. You can’t go. You keep ntioning this young friend of yours. Who is he, exactly, that you can’t seem to get him off your mind?"
"A young friend nad Ye Xuan. If he hadn’t helped solve the issue with the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array, I’d probably still be stuck at the Third Grade. Besides, his talent with Arrays is simply astonishing. I can’t help but admire him."
"Oh? Such a remarkable person exists?" Master Dongfang Yanyu’s face filled with curiosity.
He was well aware of Kuchen’s expertise in Arrays. Even though he himself was the Chairman, if you asked who in the entire Soul Master Tower was most proficient in Arrays, the answer would undoubtedly be Kuchen.
Besides, Kuchen was notoriously stubborn and difficult. Anyone who could earn his admiration and stay on his mind was certainly no diocrity.
’I wonder what his background is.’
Chairman Dongfang Yanyu found himself growing curious.
"I don’t know his background either, but from what I gather, he’s most likely a student at the Royal City’s Profound Spirit Academy."
"What? A student from the Profound Spirit Academy?!" Chairman Dongfang Yanyu’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
Just as he was about to ask another question, a sudden knock ca from the door.
"Co in!" Dongfang Yanyu snapped, his brow furrowing at the interruption.
Liu Zhiwen, the manager of the Elder Area, entered cautiously. "Chairman Dongfang, Elder Kuchen, my apologies for the interruption. Elder, there’s a City Guard captain from the Royal City Public Security Office outside. He says he has an urgent matter and requests to see you. He’s been waiting for so ti."
Kuchen frowned. ’A City Guard from the Public Security Office?’
’I don’t recall having any dealings with the Public Security Office’s City Guard. What kind of urgent matter could they possibly have? Is it so commander with a Martial Soul problem, wanting my help?’
’Even if that were the case, they wouldn’t co to for it.’
’The Soul Master Tower has so many Soul Refiner elders. I’m the one who cares least about fa and fortune, and I rarely go out. Not many people in the outside world even know who I am.’
Dongfang Yanyu, who had assud it was sothing important, frowned as well. His gaze turned cold. "Kuchen, this manager of your Elder Area seems to lack judgnt. Does he think you have so much free ti that any City Guard can just demand an audience with you?"
Hearing this, Liu Zhiwen’s heart trembled.
Seeing Kuchen’s quizzical look, he quickly explained, "Elder Kuchen, I thought the sa thing. Never mind a captain, even a City Guard commander isn’t qualified to see you. But... he ntioned Ye Xuan, and he seed extrely anxious. I was afraid it might be sothing serious, so..."
This was the sa Liu Zhiwen who had been promoted to manager of the Elder Area after letting Ye Xuan use Elder Kuchen’s auxiliary refining chamber.
It was precisely because he knew how important Ye Xuan was to Elder Kuchen that he had dared to interrupt the Chairman’s eting to make this report upon hearing Ye Xuan’s na.
"What? Ye Xuan?" Kuchen’s languid deanor vanished in an instant. A sharp glint flashed in his cloudy eyes, and he shot to his feet. "Where is that City Guard captain? Where?! Quick, bring him in! What took you so long? Why are you only telling about sothing so important now?!"
This uncharacteristic reaction left Liu Zhiwen dumbfounded. He hastily withdrew.
Chairman Dongfang Yanyu, who had been slightly annoyed, cald himself. They had just been speaking of Ye Xuan, and now soone had arrived with news about him. Dongfang Yanyu couldn’t help but feel curious as well.
"I am a squad leader from the City Guard’s Public Security Office. I pay my respects to Chairman Dongfang Yanyu and Elder Kuchen. Please forgive my impertinent intrusion."
The squad leader dropped to his knees the mont he entered, his heart pounding with apprehension.
He had co to the Soul Master Tower to see an elder under orders from Fan Hao. In truth, with his rank as a re squad leader, he would have trouble getting an audience with a Tower attendant, let alone an elder.
But orders were orders, leaving him no choice but to bite the bullet and request a eting.
He never imagined that this Elder Kuchen, whom he’d never heard of, would hold such a high position as to be in a eting with the Chairman of the Soul Master Tower himself. And when the manager of the Elder Area heard his purpose, he was brought directly to the Chairman’s office door, which only made his heart pound more violently with nerves.
The Chairman of the Soul Master Tower was an imnse figure. Forget a captain like him; even the Commander-in-Chief of the City Guard would have to bow with the utmost reverence. Thus, he had made himself as small and humble as possible upon entering.
After paying his respects, the squad leader spoke quickly. "I have co on the orders of Commander Fan of our Public Security Office, specifically to see you, Elder Kuchen—"
"Alright, alright, cut the crap! Commander Fan, Commander who-gives-a-damn, I’m not interested." Elder Kuchen stood and strode over to the squad leader. "Get on your feet and speak clearly. What does this have to do with Ye Xuan? If you can’t tell the whole story, believe when I say you might have walked in here, but you won’t be walking out."
This was no idle threat. Deceiving the Chairman and an Elder of the Soul Master Tower was a cri so great that not even a Vice Commander, let alone the Commander-in-Chief of the City Guard, could save him.
The squad leader was so frightened by Kuchen that he nearly wet his pants. But he knew there was no turning back now. Trembling, he pulled a letter from his clothes and, steeling himself, said, "Commander Fan gave this letter. It was written by Ye Xuan himself, for to deliver to you, Elder Kuchen."
"A letter?"
Elder Kuchen tore the letter open. After a quick look, he nodded. "Yes, this is definitely young Ye Xuan’s handwriting..."
But as he read, his expression suddenly darkened. He scanned the rest of the letter in monts, his face growing as black as a thundercloud. His brow furrowed deeply, creating an oppressive atmosphere, like the calm before a storm.
Suddenly, he grabbed the City Guard squad leader and hauled him up, his face contorted with rage. "Ye Xuan says in this letter that he was arrested by your Public Security Office and frad! Tell , what is going on?!"
This sudden move startled the squad leader, who thought Elder Kuchen was about to kill him on the spot.
It was only when he heard the elder’s words that the squad leader could breathe again. He was beginning to suspect that Ye Xuan really did have a connection to this elder.
Elder Kuchen seed to realize his startling outburst may have terrified the man, so he set him down and said in a low, dangerous voice, "Tell everything that happened. And be honest."
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