Chapter 61 - 54: When Did I Learn Alchemy?

Fireworks exploded ceaselessly across the sky, scattering specks of light that drifted down from above.

Led by Lin Qingfeng, Su Ling’er stepped into the sect plaza, which was bathed in the glow of orange-red lanterns.

There was a sea of people. The plaza was packed with disciples of the Guixi Sect, more than she had ever seen before.

So many disciples were gathered here at once...

’Does that mean?’

A possibility suddenly struck her. If most of the disciples were concentrated in this one place, wouldn’t the other areas of the sect be left unguarded?

’Wouldn’t the chances of my little bugs escaping be much higher?!’

Joy bloomed in her heart.

’Just what happened in the sect while I was asleep?’

Many disciples she had never seen before had appeared.

They stood in small groups, unable to suppress the smiles on their faces as they chatted about something.

From time to time, the gleam of a sword would flash overhead, leaving a long trail of fire in its wake and drawing cheers from the crowd below.

The deathly, eerie silence of the past was gone, replaced by a... more unsettling clamor.

’Are they about to hold some kind of evil ritual here?’

’It can’t possibly be some "Golden Autumn Harvest Festival," a holiday I’ve never even heard of, right?’

In the very center of the plaza, an immortal platform rose from the ground.

Atop the immortal platform, a figure stood before a throne at the very front.

’It’s Mr. Qian again!’

He was just dressed in a more magnificent robe this time, and his aura was even more powerful.

To his left and behind him stood a Mr. Qian wearing the robes of a Skills Bestowal Elder;

to his right, another Mr. Qian wore the robes of the Law Enforcement Elder.

Beside them stood several more identical Mr. Qians, all looking down upon the reveling masses below.

And this formation...

’Could it be... that the most lavishly dressed Mr. Qian at the front is playing the Sect Leader?’

’They even have a puppet playing the Sect Leader on stage?!’

’Just how cautious is the mastermind behind this demonic sect?’

Meanwhile, her Senior Brother couldn’t help but facepalm.

’It would’ve been fine if only one or two of them showed up.’

’But with a whole series of them appearing at once, it’s giving off a serious uncanny valley effect.’

It was starting to creep even him out a little.

’Ah, whatever. Forget it.’

Just then, a loud bell rang out with a great "DONG—".

The several "Mr. Qians" on the high platform walked forward together.

The "Sect Leader Qian" in the center raised his hand, his voice echoing throughout the entire sect:

"The auspicious time has arrived! The Golden Autumn Harvest Festival officially begins!"

As his voice fell, a tsunami of cheers erupted from the plaza.

Su Ling’er saw the disciples raise their hands high once more:

"Sect Leader! You are our sun!"

"Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!"

Countless shouts of "Loyalty" reverberated through the center of the plaza.

One disciple even used a Sound Wave Array to play a little tune she couldn’t understand.

"You came from Dandong, traded for my snow-white clothes, want to eat some Guangdong food..."

???

’This level of fanaticism... it really is an Evil Cultivator celebration!’

’And what’s this Dandong?’

’What’s Guangdong food?’

’What in the world is all this???’

This country bumpkin Su Ling’er looked at the grand spectacle, completely baffled but thoroughly impressed.

Meanwhile, a list of the celebration’s various activities appeared in the players’ announcements.

"Junior Sister."

Lin Qingfeng’s voice pulled her back from her thoughts.

He pointed to a corner of the plaza, which was already bustling with people.

"Come on, your Senior Brother will take you somewhere."

Su Ling’er looked in the direction he was pointing.

A huge enchanted banner stood there, with two large words written on its surface.

[Alchemy Clinic].

It was a temporarily set-up area where dozens of Pill Furnaces were lined up in a row, their fires roaring.

Dozens of disciples sat properly in front of the Pill Furnaces, looking every bit the part of renowned Alchemy Dao masters dedicated to saving lives.

In front of them were rows of sickbeds.

Three "Mr. Qian patients" were going back and forth, allowing the disciples there to "treat" them.

[Event: Alchemy Clinic]

[Event Rules]:

Players will act as Pill Masters and treat "patients."

For every severely ill patient cured, you will receive: Sect Contribution +150, Spirit Stones +50, and a random herb reward.

If treatment fails and the patient’s injuries worsen, you can still receive: Contribution +30.

If the patient dies, you can also receive: Contribution +10.

The reward for mildly ill patients is one-fourth that of severely ill patients.

Each treatment has a chance to increase Alchemy skill proficiency.

After a Pill Master has performed 30 treatments, subsequent treatments will only provide a base of 1 Contribution point, with no reward for failure.]

Still completely bewildered, Su Ling’er was led by her Senior Brother to the Pill Master area and sat down in front of an empty Pill Furnace.

’What is Senior Brother trying to do?’

"Senior Brother, this is..."

The little Junior Sister tilted her head up to look at her Senior Brother and ask.

"It’s fine. Just hurry up and start refining pills to treat people."

Su Ling’er’s head was spinning.

’What does he mean?’

’Alchemy?’

’Treating people?’

’Me, refining pills to treat people?’

’Did I mishear him?’

’Since when do I know how to refine pills and treat illnesses?’

’How come I don’t even know that I know how to do this?!’

’Shouldn’t you be the one doing this, Senior Brother?’

’Even though those three pills of yours were pitch-black and looked like poison, their healing effects were surprisingly miraculous!’

"Senior Brother... you want... me to perform Alchemy and treat people?

But... but I don’t know how!

I’ve been to the Elixir Furnace Pavilion, but my aptitude was too poor. I couldn’t understand a thing.

Senior Brother, even if you force me, I can’t do it!"

"It’s fine. Just go ahead and treat them. Refine the pills however you want. Don’t worry about it, just relax and go for it."

"Senior Brother, are you sure it’s okay?

This... won’t it kill someone?"

"It’s fine! Just treat them!

Trust your Senior Brother. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility!

Now hurry up, no more nonsense!"

So she waited there, waiting for a "patient" to arrive.

Finally, a disciple came stumbling over and lay down on the sickbed in front of Su Ling.

"Yo, Junior Sister, I’m counting on you!"

’What does he mean?’

’Aren’t... aren’t you perfectly fine and full of energy?’

The disciple then took out a sword. The moment Su Ling’er saw it, she was so frightened she shot up from her seat to back away.

But her Senior Brother, standing behind her, grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her back down into her seat.

Fear gripped her heart once more!

’He’s holding me down!’

’Senior Brother is holding me down!’

’That disciple drew his sword!’

’Was this all part of their plan?!’

’Are they... are they going to finish me off right here?!’

’They’ve finally dropped the act!’

’What "Golden Autumn Harvest Festival"? This is clearly a Feast at Hong Gate!’

’Do they think I have no more use to them?!’

’Are they going to kill me here, in front of all the sect’s disciples, as a sacrifice to liven up this evil ritual?!’

’Sect Leader, I’m going to die!!!’

’My path to Foundation Establishment!’

’My journey to immortality!’

Her body began to tremble uncontrollably as she watched the disciple raise the longsword high in his hands.

The blade reflected a bloodthirsty light under the red glow of the lanterns, and then, it pointed straight at...

Himself!

!

Su Ling’er blinked, somewhat stunned...

?

?!

!!!!