After Zhang Yan entered the hall, many unfamiliar faces of disciples gradually arrived. Coupled with those who went to attack Nandang Lake’s Demon Island last night, the number of Xuan Guang Realm disciples standing beneath the hall had already grown to forty-eight.
When the disciples had all gathered, Master Ge scanned the crowd below, stroked his beard, and said, "Nephews, although Nandang Swamp has been cleared, Perch Eagle Land still stands ahead of us. Starting from today, we will attack this place. Although there are four Hua Dan demon cultivators on the island, I, Nephew Fang, and Nephew Fan can hold them off. The rest of you must seize the opportunity to fiercely attack one point. Remember these four words, ’Approach cautiously and attack slowly.’ Do not underestimate the enemy by advancing recklessly. After a few days, once their defenses are worn down, we will press forward decisively and capture this place in one fell swoop. Do you understand?"
The crowd immediately voiced their agreement.
Ge Shuo seemed to think of something else, looked toward Zhang Yan, and said with a solemn expression, "Junior Brother Zhang, since you are under Dean Zhou of the Elixir Cauldron Institute, there is no need for you to join this battle. In this hall, there is an alchemy room with many medicinal materials. Go there and refine some elixir pills for us."
Fang Hong, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly interjected, "Rather than letting him stay behind, why not have him follow me? That way, he might earn some merit."
Ge Shuo shook his head repeatedly and said, "I heard that Junior Brother Zhang’s meridian appearance during Opening Meridians was merely the lowest grade, and that he needed to venture into a Demon Cave to improve his cultivation. Even though he has reached the Xuan Guang Realm, his abilities are forcibly elevated and greatly inferior when compared to the Xuan Guang Realm of other disciples. Combat is not his forte. Furthermore, the elixir pills allocated by the Elixir Cauldron Institute for this expedition are limited. They are not an inexhaustible resource. With him refining pills for us, we won’t have to worry about our supply running out."
In recent days, Zhang Yan’s achievements in battle had actually been quite notable among the disciples, but Ge Shuo deliberately downplayed them, clearly harboring other considerations.
Fang Hong, unable to comprehend Ge Shuo’s intent, could only smile and say, "As Master says."
Yet in his heart, he thought, "What a pity. If Zhang Yan could come under my command, I could easily assign him anywhere to fight against a Demon General. No matter how lucky he is, there’s bound to be a time he slips up. Then, I can quietly eliminate him and curry favor with Senior Brother Zhuang. Heh, let him enjoy his ease for a few more days; mistakes will surely appear eventually."
Ge Shuo spoke again to Zhang Yan, "Junior Brother Zhang, if you perform well, I shall record your merits in the Merit Book and ensure you are not treated unfairly. Go ahead!"
With a wave of his sleeve, Zhang Yan felt a surge of force envelop his body. He did not resist, allowing the force to propel him out of the Flying Palace. After making a few loops in the air, he landed within an elixir room.
This elixir room stretched twenty paces front and back. Both sides were lined with shelves filled with rare medicinal materials. In the southern part of the room sat a cushion, while at its center stood a half-height three-legged pill furnace. The furnace, with auspicious beast-shaped ears and dragon-tiger carvings encircling it, emanated spiritual mechanisms. At one glance, it was easily identified as an extraordinary alchemy spiritual artifact.
Observing the layout of the room, Zhang Yan could tell that Ge Shuo was undoubtedly an expert in alchemy.
Indeed, before Ge Shuo began cultivating, he had been a Guarding Furnace Child in a mundane Daoist Temple. Later, he was recruited into the Mingcang Sect. Although he mastered upper-grade cultivation methods, alchemy remained one of his hobbies. In his free time, he loved refining elixir pills for himself.
Within the Mingcang Sect, Zhou Chongju’s alchemy skill was the most accomplished. Ge Shuo frequently sought instruction from him, but alas, Zhou Chongju never paid him any attention.
This time, however, having encountered Zhang Yan, Zhou Chongju’s direct disciple, Ge Shuo aimed to study refining techniques from him. How could he possibly let Zhang Yan join the battle and risk his life?
As for the open conflicts and hidden schemes among the True Masters, Ge Shuo did not concern himself with them.
While Zhang Yan was leisurely inspecting the elixir room, a spark unexpectedly flew in from outside and landed in the pill furnace. With a bang, the coal under the furnace ignited.
Zhang Yan couldn’t help but smile. It seemed that unless he produced elixirs satisfactory to Ge Shuo, the latter would not allow him to leave.
Very well, if refining pills could earn merit, and someone willingly provided rare medicinal materials for him to practice with, why should he resist?
Moreover, since the pill furnace was a spiritual artifact and required no manual tending of the fire, he would have ample time to continue cultivating. What’s not to like?
Still, Ge Shuo was clearly knowledgeable in alchemy. If Zhang Yan merely followed the conventional methods recorded in the elixir manuals, it was unlikely to impress him. He needed to take an unconventional approach.
Zhang Yan reviewed all the techniques he had learned, turning them over in his mind repeatedly. Before long, a smile appeared on his face, and he murmured, "I’ve got it!"
Reaching into his sleeve bag, he retrieved a bottle of "Qi Blood Essence Pill" that he had obtained from a disciple of the Blood Essence Sect.