The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 494: Chapter 494: Xuan Country Pill Alliance

“Take care on your journey.” Under the gaze of the members of the Purple Mist Sect, Fang Lin ascended Zhuge Cang’s flying boat, stood atop it, and bid the sect members farewell with a fist and palm salute.

“Farewell, Sect Master Han.” Zhuge Cang said, and then activated the flying boat to depart the Purple Mist Sect, carrying both of them.

Many disciples below watched with heads tilted back until the flying boat had completely disappeared from their sight, only then did they withdraw their gazes.

On the flying boat, there were only Zhuge Cang and Fang Lin. As the City Lord of Black Cauldron City, and the person with the highest status in the Pill Alliance in the Lower Three Countries, Zhuge Cang’s personal escort of Fang Lin signifies his acknowledgement and appreciation for him.

Fang Lin sat cross-legged on the boat, quietly cultivating the Purple Mist Sky Sutra. Qian Country was far from Xuan Country, and even at the flying boat’s speed, it would take a full month to reach there.

The journey was surprisingly smooth, with no incidents or surprises. Fang Lin had been worried about encountering an ambush from the Hidden Kill Hall, but such an event did not occur.

Before they knew it, a month had passed and the flying boat was gradually approaching the borders of Xuan Country.

Xuan Country was vast, almost ten times larger than Qian Country. Even compared to the other two countries of the Middle Three Kingdoms, Xuan Country had the largest territory.

Thousands of years ago, Xuan Country was divided into two nations – east and west – and experienced a stalemate that lasted for several hundred years.

Finally, under the intervention of certain forces from the Upper Three Countries, the country was unified and became the ever-prosperous Xuan Country that exists today.

Xuan Country valued martial arts as well as alchemy, and they invested heavily in nurturing Pill Refiners, making their training no less important than that of martial artists.

In particular, the Pill Alliance of Xuan Country held a position of extreme esteem. Even the royal family of Xuan Country would defer to the Pill Alliance, treating them with respect and caution.

Zhuge Cang’s flying boat descended outside Xuan City because the city was covered by an ancient defensive formation. Any flying boat that approached would instantly be attacked.

Moreover, as this place was the capital of Xuan Country, it was naturally impossible to let flying boats enter at will. Zhuge Cang dismounted the boat with Fang Lin, prepared to walk into Xuan City.

Fang Lin stood on the ground, contemplating in his heart, ‘So this is Xuan Country… It lives up to its reputation as a part of the Middle Three Countries. The nearby Xuan City is monumental and formidable, like a giant beast. On the walls of the city, there is a huge statue holding a longsword, pointing towards the sky, exuding an extraordinarily impressive aura.’

Zhuge looked and laughed, “That is the statue of the founding emperor of Qian Country, a great hero of his time. The current royal family is his direct line of descent.”

Fang Lin nodded in understanding. A statue located in such a place and of such size would definitely have a close relationship with Xuan Country.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you into the city,” Zhuge Cang said.

There were strict guards at the city gate of Xuan City, and there was also a heavy flow of people showing the city’s lively atmosphere.

Fang Lin and Zhuge Cang smoothly passed through the gate’s checks and entered Xuan City. Within the city was a bustling scene, truly a hive of activity.

Even on the streets of the city itself, Fang Lin saw a multitude of Heavenly Origin powerhouses, which shocked him inwardly.

“I don’t come to Xuan Country often either. You’ll have to stay here for a year, so be careful with your actions. This is not like Qian Country, and if you can let some things go, then let them go,” Zhuge Cang warned as they walked.

Fang Lin acknowledged these words, his eyes glancing around as though deeply curious about everything.

The Pill Alliance of Xuan Country was located in the best area of Xuan City. The buildings were magnificent and impressive, and there was a Pill Furnace statue placed in front of the main gate, as if it were suppressing the luck of the area.

People continuously entered and exited the Pill Alliance. Such places were busy typically every day.

Zhuge Cang took Fang Lin into the Pill Alliance. The inside was spacious, but crowded, with many disciples in Pill Refiner robes walking to and fro, making the scene quite lively.

“Master Zhuge? How are you here?” At that moment, an elderly man walked out and said in surprise to Zhuge Cang.

Zhuge Cang laughed, “It has been a long time since I last saw you, Brother Gao, so I thought I should pay a visit.”

Upon hearing this, the elder named Gao laughed, not taking the words to heart. He then turned his gaze to Fang Lin, who was standing behind Zhuge Cang.

“Is this young man Fang Lin, the one who took first place in the Pill Refiner competition in the Lower Three Countries?” Elder Gao asked with a hint of surprise.

Zhuge Cang nodded in confirmation, then signaled for Fang Lin to pay his respects to Elder Gao.

Fang Lin did as told, respectfully saluting the elder with a fist and palm salute.

Many people around them stopped their tasks, looking at Fang Lin curiously and engaged in whispered discussions.

“Is that Fang Lin? He looks quite ordinary.”

“He’s the number one Pill Refining genius from the Lower Three Countries; that’s quite a title.”

“The question is whether he’s truly a genius, or just a padded armchair.”

“He certainly has strength, but coming from a place like the Lower Three Countries… It’s not that significant.”

“Exactly, when he gets here, even a bull turning into a monster can’t hide its true nature.”

···

Many people were skeptical about Fang Lin, and even looked down on him a bit.

Although Fang Lin was the number one Pill Refining genius of the Lower Three Countries, most people here looked down on the Lower Three Countries. They treated Fang Lin with a sense of superiority, believing that a genius from the Lower Three Countries was just an average person here, regardless of how talented they were back home.

Fang Lin, naturally, heard their words. It was impossible to say that he wasn’t upset, but as he was still a newcomer, he decided to keep a low profile and pretended not to hear anything.

The elder named Gao, whose full name was Gao Wanghai, was one of the elders of the Pill Alliance of Xuan Country. His status was quite high, but he was not the decision maker here.

“You’re Fang Lin, right? Now that you’re here as part of the Pill Alliance of Xuan Country, you must obey our rules. Do not act recklessly, and don’t bring any arrogance from the Lower Three Countries into this place,” Gao Wanghai warned.

Fang Lin nodded in agreement, looking as innocent and as honest as a country boy who just came to a big city.

Zhuge Cang then took Fang Lin to meet several other elders of the Pill Alliance, some of whom were quite indifferent. Regardless of their attitudes, Fang Lin had to meet these individuals to familiarize himself with them.

However, Zhuge Cang did not introduce Fang Lin to Master Qi. He knew of the conflict between Fang Lin and Qi Sanxuan, hence he advised Fang Lin to avoid Qi Sanxuan and not draw his attention.

After familiarizing Fang Lin with the environment of the Pill Alliance, Zhuge Cang left. As the City Lord of Black Cauldron City, he could not stay with Fang Lin all the time. Personally escorting him here already proved his dedication and effort.

After Zhuge Cang left, Fang Lin asked around for someone named Mo Ziming, who was an old friend of Han Luoyun.

At this time, a group of young men and women came into the Pill Alliance. They were all young, men and women, dressed stylishly with a hint of arrogance between their brows.