Chapter 35: Six Astral Array . . .
The Endless Trials, essentially a hunting expedition, served as a crucible for the students of Dan Wu Academy to refine and temper their skills. Nestled within the confines of the Endless Forest were myriad demonic beasts, creating an ideal environment for students to test their mettle. However, this trial-by-fire often came at the cost of injuries and even fatalities.
The harsh reality within Dan Wu Academy surpassed any utopian ideals. Here, cruelty reigned, and the weak faced inevitable elimination. It was a world dictated by the rule of the strong.
While the academy offered a relatively safe platform for genius students to compete, it could never replace the true forging ground required to cultivate powerhouses. Without the harsh baptism of adversity, these geniuses would remain stunted in their growth.
Conflicts within the academy necessitated an outlet, and the Endless Trials provided precisely that. Unresolved grudges found resolution amidst the trials, even if the academy officially discouraged students from taking action against their peers.
"Senior Apprentice Brother Su has indeed chosen a fitting burial ground for Ye Yuan," Liu Ruoshui complimented, her words laced with approval.
Su Yishan, casting a contemplative gaze her way, caused Liu Ruoshui to blush, enhancing her allure. Despite her lack of a prestigious family background, her innate talent led her to the Dan Wu Academy. Yet, the dearth of resources due to her background hindered her progress. Liu Ruoshui harbored deep resentment toward her family and hoped to prove her worth without their support.
However, within the academy, she realized the limitations her background imposed. Resource-starved, she resorted to associating with men to secure cultivation resources, leveraging her naturally attractive persona.
While Liu Ruoshui previously considered Ye Yuan, she deemed Wan Yuan a more viable option due to his potential and the sway of his family. Wan Yuan, for his part, reciprocated her affection.
Su Yishan, an extraordinary genius, barely registered her presence. Aware that individuals like him wouldn't entertain her, Liu Ruoshui set her sights on those with untapped potential, including Wan Yuan.
Liu Ruoshui's recent advancement to the Earth Rank hadn't acquainted her with extraordinary geniuses like Su Yishan. However, a single glance from him made her feel exposed and uncomfortable.
"Junior Apprentice Sister Liu isn't bad," Su Yishan remarked casually, leaving Liu Ruoshui puzzled.
Subsequently, he shifted his attention to Wan Yuan, discussing their collaboration to eliminate Ye Yuan. Su Yishan anticipated that Ye Hang, upon losing his son, would act impulsively. This would pave the way for both families to join forces and uproot the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion. Wan Yuan, elated by the prospect of Su Yishan personally taking action, expressed confidence that Ye Yuan would have no escape this time.
Liu Ruoshui couldn't shake off a sense of foreboding. Su Yishan's schemes were far-reaching, encompassing not only the resolution of the Ye Yuan issue but the orchestration of a broader plan involving the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion.
The Su Family, reliant on medicinal herbs and pills, held deep ties with the Drunken Star Manor, while the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion, spearheaded by Ye Hang, operated independently of the Su Family's influence. This lack of collaboration intensified the Su Family's disdain for Ye Hang.
Su Yishan aimed to leverage Ye Yuan's situation to dismantle the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion completely. His meticulous plotting revealed a cunning streak that belied his age, marking him as an outlaw-like figure within the academy.
After Su Yishan took his leave, Liu Ruoshui's eyes gleamed with excitement as she congratulated Senior Apprentice Brother Wan. She expressed confidence that with Su Yishan's assistance, Ye Yuan's demise was inevitable. Her enthusiasm extended beyond Ye Yuan, anticipating the removal of Wan Yuan's father's thorn in the eye.
However, Wan Yuan's demeanor drastically changed after Su Yishan's departure. He didn't share Liu Ruoshui's exuberance, appearing almost like a different person.
"Sr. Apprentice Brother Su is feeling threatened!" Wan Yuan remarked in a subdued tone, taking a deep breath.
Liu Ruoshui, astute and perceptive, immediately grasped the implication. The unsettling thought that Su Yishan might feel threatened by Ye Yuan, a Third Level Essence Qi Realm, sent a shiver down her spine. The notion was inconceivable, considering the usual reverence students held for those in the top ten of the Martial Roll of Honor.
In Ye Yuan's dwelling, Lu-er observed her young master diligently working with Essence Qi Pills that filled the room.
Ye Yuan carefully selected six Essence Qi Pills and arranged them in a hexagon array he had drawn. Injecting some essence energy, the array emitted a faint white light, causing the six pills to slowly liquefy and converge at the array's center.
After a brief period, the light dimmed, and the liquid pills began to reform at the center, coalescing into a single medicinal pill. The luster of the reformed pill surpassed that of the original high-grade Essence Qi Pills.
"Is this a transcendent-grade Essence Qi Pill, Young Master?" Lu-er, familiar with medicinal pills due to her upbringing in the Ye Family, marveled at the miraculous transformation.
While high-grade Essence Qi Pills were relatively common, transcendent-grade pills were a rarity. Even if Ye Hang excelled in alchemy, producing one transcendent-grade Essence Qi Pill from an entire furnace of pills would be considered impressive. Yet, Ye Yuan effortlessly created one using six high-grade pills.
Ye Yuan, nonchalantly placing the transcendent-grade pill in a medicine bottle, explained, "Not bad. This is called the Six Astral Array, a specialized array for extracting and refining low-level medicinal pills."
Lu-er, deeply impressed, praised her young master's skills, "Young Master, you are too amazing!"