Chapter 126: Promotion to Inner Sect Disciple

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Promotion to Inner Sect Disciple

Chen Yue had never actually refined a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill with his own hands, but his proficiency on the panel—Minor Success: 2265/5735—had already reached a considerable level.

Chen Yue began to process the medicinal herbs. His movements were slightly unpracticed, as this was his first time actually refining a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill. However, he was extremely methodical, completing each step in an orderly fashion without the slightest hint of panic or hesitation.

He ground what needed grinding, soaked what needed soaking, and regulated the heat when necessary. Every part of the process was performed in strict accordance with the Pill Formula, without a single error.

The disciples inside the Hundred Herbs Pavilion had, without realizing it, all stopped what they were doing.

Even those disciples who were in the middle of Alchemy had most of their attention focused on Chen Yue.

The only sounds in the entire Hundred Herbs Pavilion were the CRACKLE of the furnace fires and the faint noises of Chen Yue preparing the medicinal herbs.

They were all curious if this outer sect disciple, who had performed a miracle on the Life and Death Platform yesterday, could perform another miracle before the Pill Furnace today.

Zhao Weiyuan sat in the main seat, initially watching Chen Yue’s every move with the casual air of a spectator.

But as time went on, the expression on his face began to change.

His initial nonchalance gradually turned into focus, and that focus gradually became scrutiny.

When Chen Yue began the most critical step—fusing the medicinal ingredients—Zhao Weiyuan’s eyes even revealed a hint of stunned disbelief.

’Although Chen Yue’s movements are unpracticed, clearly showing he doesn’t have much hands-on experience, his judgment at every critical juncture is exceptionally precise.’

’He knew exactly when to raise the temperature, when to lower it, and when to add the next ingredient. His timing was perfect.’

’This kid... could he actually pull it off?’

「Half an hour later.」

A rich and unique medicinal aroma began to permeate the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

The aroma was unlike the mellow scent of a Solid Essence Pill or the crisp fragrance of a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. It was a deeper, peculiar scent, one that felt like it could seep into the very marrow of one’s bones.

Every disciple who smelled the aroma felt an involuntary jolt of energy, their minds becoming noticeably clearer.

A moment later, Chen Yue opened the lid of the Pill Furnace. An even richer medicinal aroma, accompanied by white steam, rose up and spread throughout the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

With a gesture, he guided a longan-sized elixir with a faint luster on its surface out of the Pill Furnace. It flew out and landed steadily in the Jade Plate he had prepared, letting out a crisp CLINK.

Chen Yue picked up the Jade Plate, stood up, and walked step by step toward Zhao Weiyuan.

Inside the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, the gazes of all the disciples were focused on the elixir in Chen Yue’s hand.

From a distance, the elixir was round and lustrous, perfectly formed. It gave off a pure, rich medicinal fragrance. One could tell at a glance that its quality was excellent.

’Did... did Chen Yue really refine it?’

’Or was he just lucky? A fluke?’

Lv Qianfang was also dumbfounded. He had taken a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill before and was extremely familiar with its unique medicinal aroma and appearance.

The moment the elixir came out of the furnace, he knew. It was, without a doubt, a genuine Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill, and a high-quality one at that!

’This kid... he actually has this kind of skill?’

A thought suddenly struck Lv Qianfang. ’If Chen Yue had this skill, why didn’t he reveal it sooner?’

But on second thought, Lv Qianfang suddenly understood. Without yesterday’s Life and Death Decision, without Meng Yu Jin as his master, if Chen Yue were still just a disciple with no background, things would be different.

Even if he had revealed his skill in refining the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill, the outcome would have been no better. In fact, it would have been worse.

A disciple who could refine high-level elixirs but had no powerful backer would only be seen as a fatter lamb for the Mutual Aid Association to slaughter.

Only because he had established his dominance on the Life and Death Platform and gained a powerful backer in his new master, Meng Yu Jin, did Chen Yue dare to reveal his Alchemy Skill so boldly.

At this thought, an indescribable, complex feeling welled up in Lv Qianfang’s heart.

Zhao Weiyuan reached out, picked up the elixir from the Jade Plate, and brought it close to his eyes to examine it carefully.

He turned the elixir over, observing its color and texture, then brought it to his nose to sniff its unique medicinal aroma. Finally, he gently scraped off a little powder with his fingernail and placed it in his mouth to taste it for a moment.

The entire Hundred Herbs Pavilion was deathly silent. All eyes were fixed on Zhao Weiyuan’s impassive face, everyone trying to read the verdict in his slightest expression.

A moment later, Zhao Weiyuan put down the elixir and looked up at Chen Yue.

His gaze flickered, carrying an indescribable, complex meaning.

He remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking in a deep voice, "It’s a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill. The heat control was off by a fraction, so it’s not a top-grade pill, but it’s perfectly fit for consumption. Dan Peak will purchase it at the standard rate. You’ve done very well."

Zhao Weiyuan paused, took a Token from his waist, and ordered:

"Yao Jin, take my Waist Token and make a trip to the Affairs Hall. Tell them that Dan Peak’s outer sect disciple, Chen Yue, successfully refined a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill today. I have personally verified it and confirmed that he meets the conditions for promotion.

From this day forward, Chen Yue is promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple of Dan Peak. Have the relevant documents and his new token processed as soon as possible."

As soon as Zhao Weiyuan said this, all the disciples in the Hundred Herbs Pavilion were shaken.

Speculating that Chen Yue might succeed was one thing, but having it personally confirmed by Zhao Weiyuan was another matter entirely.

That meant that Chen Yue, a young disciple who had only joined the sect eleven days ago, had really been promoted directly to an Inner Sect Disciple based on his Alchemy Skill alone.

Moreover, the timing was too pointed.

Just yesterday he killed members of the Mutual Aid Association on the Life and Death Platform, and today he refined a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill in the Hundred Herbs Pavilion to get promoted to the Inner Sect. The implications of this made many of the more quick-witted disciples’ minds run wild.

Some secretly exchanged glances, some lowered their heads in thought, while others quietly looked toward Lv Qianfang and the others, wanting to see the Mutual Aid Association’s reaction.

Chen Yue cupped his hands in a salute, his expression calm and unreadable. "Thank you, Martial Zhao."

After speaking, he did not linger and turned to leave the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

Zhao Weiyuan watched Chen Yue’s departing figure, his eyes narrowing slightly as a profound glint flashed within them.

’I could have just said he failed,’ he thought. ’With my status and authority, if I insisted the elixir was substandard, no one would have dared to question me openly, even if they had their doubts.’

’Then Chen Yue wouldn’t be able to use his Alchemy Skill to become an Inner Sect Disciple; he’d have to stay in the outer sect.’

’But I didn’t. I knew it would have been pointless.’

’Even if I had stopped Chen Yue today, he could have just gone back and had Meng Yu Jin step in, find another public venue, and refine another batch of Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills in front of an even larger crowd.’

’If I tried to obstruct him again then, it would look far too deliberate. It would only make people look down on me, Zhao Weiyuan.’

’Rather than taking on a thankless task that would just give my detractors ammunition, it was better to graciously acknowledge Chen Yue’s Alchemy Skill and let him enter the Inner Sect.’

’As for what comes next... We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’

Lv Qianfang only snapped out of his shock and daze after the figures of Chen Yue and Yao Jin had completely disappeared from the entrance of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

His expression turned hideous as he spun around and sprinted toward the Inner Sect’s mountain.

’I have to tell Zhao Zongzhen about this immediately. That Chen Yue has hidden himself too deeply!’

’He clearly has the Alchemy Skill to refine Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills, yet he’s been hiding it all this time, just making Solid Essence Pills every day.’

’That kid... he’s too treacherous!’

On the mountain path, Yao Jin walked beside Chen Yue, the two of them shoulder to shoulder.

Ancient trees towered on both sides of the mountain path, their branches and leaves intertwining to form a natural green canopy overhead. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

The mountain breeze drifted by, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees—a stark contrast to the dense medicinal fragrance in the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. It was a refreshing balm for the Heart Spirit.

Yao Jin started to speak several times but stopped himself. In the end, he couldn’t hold back any longer, his voice filled with an unconcealable mix of emotions:

"Junior Brother Chen, when on earth did you learn to refine the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill? How come I’ve never seen you practice?"

Hearing this, Chen Yue smiled slightly. "I only felt somewhat confident a few days ago. I gave it a try today and got lucky."

Yao Jin’s mouth opened slightly. He wanted to say something but didn’t know where to begin.

’You only felt confident a few days ago? But I’ve never seen you refine it, not even once! Where did that confidence come from?’

But on second thought, he figured Chen Yue had probably practiced secretly in his own courtyard, just without letting anyone know.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Yao Jin didn’t know what to say.

At this moment, his feelings were extremely complicated. Just two days ago, he had been standing in Chen Yue’s courtyard, earnestly persuading him not to be rash and to join the Mutual Aid Association to protect himself.

And the result? Yesterday, Chen Yue had fought one against two on the Life and Death Platform and killed two people from the Mutual Aid Association.

Today, in front of Zhao Weiyuan and all the other disciples at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, Chen Yue had refined a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill and been promoted directly from an outer sect disciple to an Inner Sect Disciple.

Yao Jin suddenly realized something. He had never seen Chen Yue refine a Dan Yang Pill.

The Dan Yang Pill was the cultivation elixir commonly used by Martial Artists of the Marrow Refining Realm, and it was also the stepping stone for many Pill Masters to advance from the outer to the Inner Sect.

But Chen Yue seemed to have skipped the Dan Yang Pill step entirely, challenging the much more difficult Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill directly. And he had succeeded.

On the mountain path, some disciples recognized Chen Yue.

When they saw Yao Jin next to him, varying degrees of surprise appeared on their faces.

To dare walk alongside Chen Yue at such a sensitive time showed immense courage.

Although the Mutual Aid Association hadn’t made a move yet, it didn’t mean the matter was over. On the contrary, the calm before the storm is often the most oppressive and unsettling.

Arriving at the Affairs Hall, Yao Jin took a deep breath, placed Zhao Weiyuan’s Waist Token and the relevant credentials on the counter, and explained his purpose to the disciple in charge:

"Dan Peak’s outer sect disciple, Chen Yue, successfully refined a Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill today. Martial Uncle Zhao Weiyuan has personally confirmed that he meets the conditions for promotion. We are here to process his promotion to Inner Sect Disciple."

The disciple in charge of these affairs looked up, staring at Chen Yue in surprise.

He remembered very clearly that just over ten days ago, he himself had personally processed Chen Yue’s Identity Token as an outer sect disciple.

At that time, Chen Yue had looked like just another young man from a small town; he hadn’t even given him a second glance.

He never expected that in less than half a month, this young man whose name he couldn’t even be bothered to remember was already about to be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple.

Moreover, he had also heard about what happened at the Martial Arts Arena yesterday.

Meanwhile, Lv Qianfang finally found Zhao Zongzhen in a courtyard in the Inner Sect area.

He was panting, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, and he paid no mind to etiquette:

"Senior Brother Zhao! This is bad! That Chen Yue has been promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple!"