Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
As for the elders below the stage, a small portion of them actually agreed with Gu He's opinion.
After all, their Young Sect Master had already fought to this extent—whether it was a draw or not hardly made a difference.
They might as well accept the draw and, in doing so, receive a scroll containing the Mighty Huang Pill recipe.
At that moment, Fa Ma suddenly stepped forward and said, "Sect Master Yun, if your Yun Lan Sect insists on attacking this young man, then our Alchemist Association will be forced to become your enemy."
"Woah!"
Fa Ma's sudden declaration instantly caused an uproar among the surrounding crowd.
Everyone turned their curious gazes toward Yun Yun, wondering what decision she would make.
Although most people didn't know why Fa Ma was siding with Xiao Yan...
With this Dou Huang powerhouse—who was also a peak fitfth-tier alchemist—joining in, if Yun Lan Sect still insisted on killing Xiao Yan, the difficulty of doing so would undoubtedly increase several times over.
Moreover, over ninety percent of the alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire had intricate ties with the Alchemist Association.
If Yun Lan Sect completely fell out with them, then the cost of hiring alchemists to refine pills in the future would skyrocket multiple times over.
Seeing Fa Ma's action, Yao Chen felt a burst of joy in his heart.
Years ago, during his travels in the Northwestern Region of the continent, he had casually given this junior a bit of guidance.
He hadn't expected that the little fellow would step forward to help him now—truly, the world worked in mysterious ways.
As for Gu He, although he didn't know why Fa Ma would do such a thing, the current situation was becoming increasingly favorable to him.
Gazing down at Nalan Yanran, who had recovered some of her Dou Qi and was now standing in the plaza, he said, "Yanran, why don't you try persuading your master? Things have already gone this far. We might as well do as that elder said."
After a brief pause, Gu He then threw out a tempting offer: "In the future, once my alchemy skills improve, as long as someone from Yun Lan Sect or the Nalan Clan reaches Dou Huang, I'll personally refine a Mighty Huang Pill for them free of charge.
And after this incident, I'm also willing to refine one Dou Spirit Pill free for every Dou Wang elder in the sect and for the Nalan Clan."
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong nearly suffered a brain hemorrhage out of rage.
Gu He, as an ally, was unreliable enough—but now he was actually doing everything he could to push Yun Lan Sect out of this conflict.
He had never seen such a pig-headed teammate in his life.
But as he calmed down, he also realized that Fa Ma siding with Xiao Yan had completely shaken his judgment.
After all, although Fa Ma's combat experience was far inferior to his own...
As a high-tier Dou Huang, he was still not someone that Hai Bodong—whose strength had not yet fully recovered—could take on.
Not to mention, the other side didn't have just one Dou Huang!
Thinking of this, Hai Bodong couldn't help but demand, "Old Fa, I don't recall ever offending you—why are you standing against me like this?"
"I received a favor. I have no other choice."
Fa Ma slowly closed his eyes, and a calm voice drifted out from his lips.
"You...!"
Seeing Fa Ma's expression, Hai Bodong was so infuriated that he couldn't even form words.
Meanwhile, Nalan Jie and the other members of the Nalan Clan were thrilled upon hearing that Gu He would refine pills for them free of charge.
They quickly gave Nalan Yanran meaningful glances, signaling her to go and persuade Yun Yun.
If this matter could be resolved, then if someone from the Nalan Clan managed to break through to Dou Huang in the future, they would receive a legendary pill coveted even by Dou Huang powerhouses.
And even if no one from their clan managed to reach Dou Huang, this event would still tie their family closely to the Pill King.
That would make things far easier whenever they needed high-tier pills refined in the future.
Nalan Yanran, having overheard their whispers, also realized that Xiao Yan had cheated in private during the duel.
But when she thought of the value that a single scroll containing the Mighty Huang Pill recipe could bring to Yun Lan Sect—combined with the fact that the opposing side wasn't weak at all...
If they really started fighting, no one could say how many elders and disciples in Yun Lan Sect would lose their lives.
Biting her soft lip, she lowered her head and said softly, "Master, it's my fault that I wasn't skilled enough and ended in a draw. If blame must be assigned, let it fall on me. Please... let's not pursue the matter any further."
"Yanran, you..."
Yun Yun looked at Nalan Yanran, then recalled Fa Ma's earlier words, and her heart began to waver.
After all, if they fell out with the Alchemist Association, then it would become extremely difficult for Yun Lan Sect's disciples to seek out alchemists for pill refinement in the future.
Although the Yun Lan Sect had a few alchemists of their own, including Gu He, a sixth-grade alchemy master, the numbers were far too few to meet the needs of their thousands of disciples.
Normally, many disciples had to venture out themselves to seek alchemists to refine pills.
If alchemists at the foot of the mountain became hard to find in the future, they couldn't possibly rely on Gu He to personally refine every single pill.
What's more, the relationship between Gu He and the Yun Lan Sect wasn't particularly solid.
Who knew if he'd just decide to leave the sect tomorrow?
Not to mention, if they offended Gu He this time, he would definitely bear a grudge in his heart afterward.
Gu He noticed Yun Yun's hesitation and quickly shot a look to the elders nearby.
"Sect Master, why not just let it go?"
A few elders stepped forward to offer advice as well.
After all, now that the Alchemist Association had openly sided against the sect, they couldn't afford to contend with so many Dou Huang powerhouses all at once.
Besides, if the Sect Master agreed, then each of them would receive a free Dou Spirit Pill.
How could they not be tempted by such an offer?
Even the usually aggressive First Elder Yun Leng fell silent.
With his current cultivation, in ten or twenty years, there was a real chance he could break through to Dou Huang.
If the sect could get that pill recipe, wouldn't Gu He be able to help him refine one too?
A treasure pill like that—how could he not desire one?
And yet, he also deeply cared about the sect's reputation.
Torn between both sides, he simply stayed silent, letting the Sect Master decide as she pleased.
Yun Yun, being naturally indecisive, saw all the elders aligned in their opinion and gave a slight nod.
She then took a step back, signaling her agreement.
However, she gave a reminder: "I won't interfere in resolving the grudge between you two, but you are not permitted to fight on the Yun Lan Sect's territory. I won't allow my sect's disciples to be harmed."
"You all…"
Hai Bodong looked at Gu He and the others before him, so furious he could barely find the words to speak.
Likewise, some of the Mittel Clan members who had come to watch the Three-Year Agreement were equally livid, their eyes full of resentment as they glared at Gu He.
If it weren't for that guy's persistent persuasion, the other strong individuals wouldn't have all retreated to their seats, choosing to stay out of the matter.
There was also some resentment toward the Yun Lan Sect.
After all, those who came here were core members of their respective clans, and after learning of Xiao Yan's identity, they also knew that this young man had previously displayed battle power on par with a peak Dou Huang.
If someone from the Mittel Clan went up against him now, the outcome likely wouldn't be pretty.
Seeing that all obstacles had now been cleared, Yao Chen's lips curved slightly into a smile.
Now that only Hai Bodong—the three-star Dou Huang—remained, dealing with him would be much easier.
----------------------------------------------
Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk