The entire situation on stage was broadcast live across the country through cultivators' exclusive online channels. Director Wang could capture every occurring event without missing even a single shot.
The image of Sword Saint Grandmaster Zheng Renyi appearing for the first time could easily draw cheers from audience members not at the association then.
Especially the scene of the audience parting into a path as the old man walked straight to the stage—it looked extremely awe-inspiring!
But what made it become such a hot topic that the online world nearly exploded was Grandmaster Zheng's sudden power eruption. Images of the hall falling into chaos, the building even shaking slightly, to the final roar—it looked incredible like watching a movie.
Combined with the truth that the serious injury in the middle of the old man's back gradually healed as if using magic, and most importantly, Grandmaster Zheng Renyi's power level surging up until even he was surprised—these things made audience members not watching live feel like being deceived. Some even came out attacking the cultivators' community for editing beyond reality.
Could any elixir in this world have such high properties!
"...This is too unbelievable."
"Right, if there's an elixir that can make one Grandmaster's power increase two minor stages in one breath, it would only be legendary elixirs!"
"If it just helped heal wounds, I'd still believe. But being able to increase users' power is too much..."
"Is the power increase temporary?"
"I think so too... if it truly lets cultivators break through, the cultivation world would catch fire over that pill!"
They debated heatedly. That latest opinion was most truthful.
If in this era there was an elixir with such tremendous properties, anyone would be interested. It could even attract Grandmaster-level beings to start wars fighting over it!
Increasing power by two minor stages might not seem like much, but the truth wasn't so. In this era where cultivation power had declined so much, even one minor Grandmaster stage could dominate to a degree.
Otherwise, the military with four generals having mid-level Grandmaster cultivation power, not counting the rarely-appearing Grand Marshal, couldn't control the cultivators' world to such order.
"...No, it's not temporary. I'm at the event. It's definitely not a temporary power increase."
One comment popped up arguing, while attaching a photo as confirmation.
"Grandmaster Zheng's power is both stable and complete. Even when not releasing it, just the pressure is more intense than when he first arrived!"
Similar confirmations occurred multiple times. They all said they were at the event. When many people who saw with their own eyes spoke like this, online audience could only show amazement and wonder.
Liu Yianfei was sitting in his office. The computer before him was broadcasting the situation without omission. The young general held his temples wearily seeing Grandmaster Bai's achievements.
"General..." Jin Ling gulped while turning to look at his big boss.
"If anyone looks for me, say I'm not here..."
The young man sighed. He could already imagine chaos about to occur soon. With such heaven-defying precious elixir, the military and higher-ups definitely wouldn't stay idle.
And who would they seek first?
Of course him!
Liu Yianfei looked at the medicine bottle in his hand. The medicine Grandmaster Lu Qing refined before disappearing wasn't much left. Should he find an excuse to take leave for a while?
Besides Liu Yianfei, there were naturally many other power factions eyeing the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill equally. The four great clans began moving, including the Han Clan of Han Junpo who had previous conflict with Bai Fanxian.
"Father, what should we do?"
Han Zhendong turned to ask his father sitting by the window of a hotel in Village Beneath the Clouds. Beneath the old man Han Clan head's robe were injuries still not healed from the recent clash. His face was slightly pale from injury, but Grandmaster-level pressure radiating from his body still confirmed he had power as a Grandmaster!
They'd waited for the Divine Doctor to emerge from training for two days, but news of the Divine Doctor remained silent. Even his disciples couldn't give definite answers. Some chaos was occurring inside Village Beneath the Clouds.
"The Divine Doctor still hasn't emerged...?" the old man murmured softly.
"Yes, even village higher-ups are getting anxious. They worry something happened to the Divine Doctor..." Han Zhendong nodded while reporting the situation he investigated.
Han Junpo frowned in displeasure. His injuries if left untreated would definitely be problematic. Even numerous precious healing medicines and herbs he obtained through Han Clan power could only relieve symptoms day by day.
"Heaven-Defying Revival... if it were that pill..." Han Zhendong spoke while his eyes stared at the screen broadcasting hall events. Sword Saint Zheng Renyi's chronic back injury could heal in a blink—his father's injuries should also be treatable with that medicine.
"You think Bai Fanxian would give me that pill?"
Han Junpo asked his son irritably.
"She definitely won't... but what if we pressure her until she agrees?" Han Zhendong turned to ask his father with a meaningful smile. The old Han Clan man hearing his son's sentence had eyes flash brightly.
"That day besides Xiaoyi who went to the Tang Clan house, who else was there?"
"Ting Kangming from the Ting Clan, Black Hawk Unit military people, and one young master from the Yi Clan..." Han Zhendong recalled memory and listed names one by one.
"The Yi Clan famous for alchemy... and Tang Clan rivals, right?"
"Yes... could Father be?" The middle-aged man's eyes widened. He looked at his father's face beginning to show a smile at the corners.
"Contact them. Especially the Yi Clan. They should be quite interested in this..."
Han Junpo watched his son leave the room to follow orders immediately. Internal injuries made him cough up a mouthful of blood. The old man wiped his lips while his eyes showed fierceness.
.
.
.
Back on stage, the association's elder-level beings were looking at the remaining Heaven-Defying Revival Pill like a precious treasure.
They wanted to rush in and take it for experiments, but knew well who its owner was. Even with twice the courage, they wouldn't dare steal it before three Grandmaster-level beings!
"...Grandmaster Bai, this other pill..." Chen Deming couldn't not understand other elders' gazes. He as representative brazenly came out to beg himself.
Because they had no rights to this pill at all. Even the materials, Grandmaster Bai had her butler obtain himself. What right did they have to snatch it!
"I promised to give him both pills." Before Bai Fanxian finished speaking, the other pill floated from Chen Deming's hands to before Sword Saint Zheng Renyi.
The old man turned to bow to Bai Fanxian gratefully. He quickly brought the other pill to his granddaughter to eat, with envious and reluctant gazes from elders watching.
The young girl looked at the elixir in her grandfather's hands with interest. Earlier she'd seen its power with her own eyes. Hope that her body would recover began appearing again.
She turned to look at the most beautiful elder sister she'd ever seen. Seeing she didn't mind, the young girl swallowed that pill without hesitation.
Like someone replaying video, the same phenomenon occurred again with the little one as center. The both thin and weak body began showing faint red. Vitality began returning. Skin began tightening, including a face no longer pale. The young girl's budding freshness and beauty appeared instead.
What differed from Zheng Renyi's case was no strange events of qi power exploding and cultivation level surging rapidly.
Of course, because this time Bai Fanxian didn't merge her pure qi. What occurred was the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill's true properties.
"Meiying..." Zheng Renyi grabbed his granddaughter's shoulders in surprise. Arms once so thin bones were nearly felt were full of flesh and youthfulness as should be. The old man pulled the young girl into a hug with joy and couldn't hold back tears.
Tang Tianjie seemed to see his own image overlapping. He pulled Tang Yeye and Hui'er into his elderly arms on both sides with happiness and gratitude for Grandmaster Bai.
Bai Fanxian didn't care much about these touching events. What caught her attention was weak life force flowing from the young girl's body instead.
Her Heaven Sense rushed to examine carefully again. The young woman frowned, because she found life force just filled from the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill was gradually flowing out like a balloon with a leak.
"...Can you sense it?" Only Zheng Renyi heard this voice. The old man showed surprise, but when focusing his Heaven Sense to cover his granddaughter's body, he could also find faint life force releasing from her body.
"Y-young lady, what's happening?"
Zheng Renyi showed a shocked expression. Regarding his granddaughter, he often couldn't control emotions like this.
"...I don't know. But as you see, the revived life force is gradually disappearing. At this speed, in about half a year this child will return to her original state."
Bai Fanxian answered honestly. She wasn't a doctor—she was an alchemist. Matters requiring deep investigation or finding causes for conditions like this, she really wasn't very proficient.
Even though lately she'd read many medical texts.
Zheng Renyi looked at his granddaughter's face confused. This child was everything in his life. Since her parents died, he had only her as family and sole granddaughter.
The old man gritted his teeth. He turned to Bai Fanxian again.
"Young lady... may I follow you?"
This sentence from Zheng Renyi wasn't sent out with qi power. It was full of power and audible. Not only people on stage—audience members below also heard this sentence.
It wasn't a joke. His eyes showed he was serious. With the Divine Doctor not knowing when he'd emerge like this, his only hope was Bai Fanxian before him.
Even if it couldn't cure, but if it could sustain his granddaughter's condition with her elixirs, even if he had to follow and work for her, he'd agree!
Moreover, his instincts warned he shouldn't be enemies with this woman no matter what happened. Perhaps agreeing to follow her might be his most correct choice.
"Hmph! Elder Sister only needs me as a follower!"
Unexpectedly Xie Suyao jumped up again. She clung possessively to Bai Fanxian's arm while turning to glare at the old man.
Seeing the situation getting more chaotic, Chen Deming had to quickly interrupt again.
"All three Grandmasters!... Well... shall we finish the test first?" Elder Chen spoke with eyes like someone about to cry.
His status was greatest in this Alchemists' Association aside from Grandmaster Lu Qing. His elder and acting president status would receive good reception anywhere in the country. But somehow before these three people, he became powerless!
Couldn't help it—these were three Grandmasters. Three!
If turned against the military, all generals would need mobilizing to barely handle them!
"Finish it..." It was Bai Fanxian who nodded. Seeing Bai Fanxian's answer, both Xie Suyao and Zheng Renyi immediately stepped back like good followers.
"Ahem!... Then..."
Chen Deming cleared his throat while speaking into the microphone.
"Testing for Grandmaster Bai Fanxian to become a Tier 4 alchemist will now announce results!"
The noisily chatting audience gradually quieted. Today alone, too many shocking events occurred until they couldn't believe they weren't dreaming.
"First test, Grandmaster-level cultivation power..." He turned to look at Bai Fanxian. The young woman still showed a calm expression, but her followers began lightly radiating pressure until the old man startled.
"Pass!"
"Second test, public Q&A test..."
This time intense pressure floated in from the audience seating side. Alchemists calling themselves "Empress's fans" sent glaring gazes his way without caring about his elder position.
Chen Deming swallowed once, then continued loudly:
"Pass!"
"And finally, alchemy testing..."
This time no one needed to radiate any pressure, because both he and the elders knew well the power of the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill she refined.
None among them could do that!
And the tester stood with arms crossed like a good follower behind her!
"...Pass!"
The final "pass" came with the audience's loud shouting. They all stared at the young woman on stage with sparkling eyes. The audience's fervor made Elder Chen sigh softly, because his duty wasn't finished.
"The Alchemists' Association hereby announces certification of 'Grandmaster Tier 4 Alchemist' status for Grandmaster Bai Fanxian!"
When finished, he glanced at Bai Fanxian once, then turned to the intently watching audience.
"And her title is..."
Her fans were praying excitedly. Brother Yang and Novice Alchemist's tears streamed down their cheeks. They waved cheering signs in their hands crazily without knowing fatigue.
"...Alchemy Empress!"
Alchemy Empress, Grandmaster Bai Fanxian!
End of Volume Two
Alchemy Empress of the Era
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