Chapter 667 648: The Rise of the Medicine Garden

The Direct Disciple of the Elder with Real Power, the one who had sparked the whole incident, was stripped of his status!

The moment this news broke, it instantly silenced all dissenting voices.

Although no one knew the specifics of what had happened, everyone saw the result.

Afterward, a spokesperson for the Heavenly Brilliance Sect Master, Xiahou Kaiyuan, made a public statement, throwing his full support behind the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden.

"I don't know what's going through the minds of some of our young people these days. What is strength?"

"Elder Yuwen put it well. Strength... is the sum of all your hidden cards, your total combined power. That is what you call strength!"

"For many years, the Medicine Garden has finished last in the annual competition. But did they give up? Did they ever cry foul, claiming it was unfair because they are Alchemists with weak combat abilities?"

"The Medicine Garden Disciples are all geniuses of Alchemy and Medicine Making! The Sect Leader says: You have done very well!"

"This is how Medicine Garden Disciples should be! This is exactly how they should be!"

"To those objectors, have you ever considered that the annual competition... is merely an internal contest within the Celestial Brilliance Sect? It is a test of your comprehensive abilities."

"But eventually, you must all leave the Celestial Brilliance Sect, venture into Xi Hezhou, and go even further beyond!"

"At that time... which one of you can guarantee that you won't be begging the Medicine Garden for some of these miraculous Elixirs?"

"Object? What are the motives of those who object?"

"What the Medicine Garden has done is an innovation, a revolution! It is a contribution that strengthens the overall power of the Celestial Brilliance Sect!"

"You can't even face a small challenge like this... Do you even deserve to be called the proud and elite Heavenly Brilliance Disciples?"

Once this statement was made, all the objectors throughout the Celestial Brilliance Sect retreated in shame.

Many even denied that they had ever opposed the matter.

"I was for it the whole time. What do you mean, 'strength'? They're Alchemists. If they don't fight with Elixirs, what else would they use?"

"I was for it too, I just didn't dare say it publicly. I was actually thinking that I'd definitely have to go to the Medicine Garden to ask for some of those Elixirs in the future!"

"Yeah, that Itchy Pill is so damn awesome! I heard that even someone in the Great Saint Realm can't stand it if they're hit!"

"I like the Soft Bone Pill. Damn, once you're hit, your whole body goes weak... That Elixir... it's just too powerful!"

The tide of public opinion turned completely, just like that, overnight.

After years of being the weakest, the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden had erupted, pulling off a shocking, earth-shattering reversal!

Of the one thousand names on the list, Medicine Garden Disciples... accounted for an astonishing three hundred and seventy-five!

When this number was revealed, the entire Celestial Brilliance Sect, from top to bottom, was rendered speechless!

Although the recent controversy had already made many people re-evaluate the strength of the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden, few had imagined that its sudden rise would be so dominant!

The news sent the entire Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden into a state of jubilant celebration!

Emotions that had been suppressed for so many years could finally be released. All the Medicine Garden Disciples could at last hold their heads high, having the confidence to roar at the other Heavenly Brilliance Disciples: "We're not pushovers!"

Who among those who entered the Celestial Brilliance Sect wasn't a genius? Who wasn't one of heaven's chosen?

Why should they be treated like pushovers after joining? Just because their expertise was in... Alchemy and Medicine Making, they were looked down upon?

Now... the Medicine Garden Disciples had finally proven their worth with facts!

Their efforts had been recognized!

Even the Heavenly Brilliance Sect Master had declared that they had done very well!

It was an incredible morale boost!

Amidst their excited cheers, none of the Medicine Garden Disciples could forget one person: their Senior Brother Medicine Garden—Luo Tian!

If not for their Senior Brother's words that had awakened them, telling them to cast off all restraints, play to their strengths, and concoct various Elixirs to defeat their enemies... they would likely have remained the same as in previous years, the opponent everyone was delighted to face.

Still treated as pushovers, lambs to the slaughter!

"That situation... will never happen again!"

"Goodbye to the weak Medicine Garden!"

"Goodbye to the weak us!"

In a rare move, Qi Yue, the senior sister of the Medicine Garden, came to Xu Luo's residence before the start of the round to narrow the contestants from one thousand to five hundred.

"Um... Senior Brother." Qi Yue bit her lip, her lively eyes glinting with a complex light. She looked at Xu Luo and mustered her courage to say, "I have a match tomorrow. Can you come and watch, Senior Brother?"

"Tomorrow? Sure, my match is the day after," Xu Luo replied with a smile.

"That's great! I'll come cheer for you too, Senior Brother!" After saying this, Qi Yue seemed to feel a bit bashful. She gave Xu Luo a shy smile, then turned and ran off.

Sun Xiaohong poked her head out from the side, watching Qi Yue's retreating figure before looking at Xu Luo with an expression of pure admiration.

Xu Luo shot her a glare. Sun Xiaohong stuck out her tongue playfully, then skipped over to Xu Luo. "Young Master, I made it into the top one thousand of the Outer Sect group too!"

"Really? That's wonderful! This way, it will be even more natural for you to enter the Inner Sect!" Xu Luo said.

"No matter what, Xiaohong only wants to stay by Young Master's side and serve you," Sun Xiaohong said in a low voice.

"How could that be?" Xu Luo looked at Sun Xiaohong with a serious expression. "Once you become an Inner Sect Disciple, you'll have your own residence. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to still be by my side then!"

"I don't care!" Sun Xiaohong bravely lifted her head to look at Xu Luo, her eyes misting over. She said softly, "If it weren't for you, Young Master, Xiaohong would still be that lowly Servant in the Outer Sect, constantly bullied. Just being able to survive in the Celestial Brilliance Sect was the most I could hope for. Only after following you did I get the life I have today, entering the Outer Sect, being respected, and regaining my dignity."

"It wasn't that serious. Even without me, with your abilities, you would have made a name for yourself sooner or later!" Xu Luo said earnestly.

"No, it was actually more serious than you think, Young Master! You stand on high, so naturally, you see far. You can't see the dark corners beneath your feet," Sun Xiaohong said. "If I have to choose between entering the Inner Sect and staying by your side, Xiaohong chooses the latter!"

With that, Sun Xiaohong gave Xu Luo a deep bow. "This servant's mind is made up. In this life, I will be your handmaiden!"

Then, she turned and left.

Xu Luo's mouth twitched. He muttered, "What kind of handmaiden is this bold, daring to speak to her young master like that..."

Afterward, Xie Yurou came to visit. She had also made it into the top one thousand in this year's competition, which wasn't difficult for her.

"Wow, I never expected your Medicine Garden to be so incredible this time! What a huge breakout!"

"I really underestimated you. I heard the Medicine Garden's success is all because of what you, the Senior Brother, said?"

"Who would've thought... you have leadership skills too!"

The moment they met, Xie Yurou was chattering nonstop like a little songbird.

"Second Miss Xie, you didn't come here just to praise me, did you?" Xu Luo glanced at Xie Yurou and said with a smile.

"Don't be so smug. This young lady came today to warn you!" Xie Yurou put on a fierce expression as she looked at Xu Luo. "Someone has already declared that they're going to teach you a lesson!"

"Oh?" Xu Luo smiled, not feeling surprised at all.

The Medicine Garden's stock had risen sharply this year. It would be ridiculous to say no one was jealous. There were definitely more than a few people who wanted to use him, the popular Senior Brother of the Medicine Garden, as a stepping stone.

The fact that the spectator stands were packed for every one of his matches since the start of the competition was proof enough that many people were observing him in secret.

"Are you scared?" Xie Yurou tried her best to look menacing, puffing out her cheeks and widening her eyes, but it only made her look cuter.

Xu Luo couldn't help but feel the urge to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

The moment he reached out, Xie Yurou yelped and jumped back several steps, watching him warily. "What are you doing? Are you trying to flirt with this young lady?"

"..." Xu Luo looked at her, speechless.

"Don't even think about it. You're not my type! That friend of yours, that mysterious guy, he's the one I admire!" Xie Yurou said, glaring at Xu Luo. Then she added, "Aren't you even curious who wants to teach you a lesson?"

"Why should I be curious? The right to challenge lies with others. If someone wants to challenge me, can I refuse?" Xu Luo said coolly.

"You can't refuse, but at least you can know your enemy!" Xie Yurou rolled her eyes at Xu Luo and grumbled, "I try to help, and this is the thanks I get. If I'd known, I wouldn't have come to tell you!"

"Alright, alright. Luo Tian thanks you for the reminder. Please, do tell, which great expert wants to teach Luo Tian a lesson? What Divine Techniques do they possess?" Xu Luo said.

"Your attitude is terrible, but... for the sake of that friend of yours, this young lady will be kind enough to warn you. It's An Yu!" said Xie Yurou.

"An Yu? I don't even know him!" Xu Luo was a little puzzled.

If it had been Jin Ming, Xu Luo wouldn't have been surprised, since he had taught his younger brother, Jin Xian, a harsh lesson.

It was perfectly normal for an older brother to stand up for his younger brother.

But this An Yu... although Xie Yurou had highlighted this person on the list she gave him, he had never crossed paths with the guy!

Xu Luo couldn't figure it out.

Xie Yurou looked at Xu Luo and sighed softly. "Sigh, you dense idiot. Do you not pay any attention to the rumors flying around outside? Have you forgotten about the controversy from a few days ago?"

"That controversy?" Xu Luo raised an eyebrow and looked at Xie Yurou. "You mean all the dissenting voices?"

"That's right, that controversy. Wasn't there a Direct Disciple of an Elder with Real Power who was stripped of his status and demoted to an Inner Sect Disciple?" Xie Yurou looked at Xu Luo, then smiled. "The one who was demoted is An Yu's junior brother! Their common master is Elder Ge Datong!"

"Elder Ge Datong... I've heard of him. He's said to be a very upright person," Xu Luo said.

"Elder Ge is indeed very upright, which is why that guy who spoke out was so unlucky, going from a Direct Disciple to an Inner Sect Disciple..."

"But the problem is, his disciple An Yu isn't!"